Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 101

Seekerville Is Closed Today

Seekerville is closed todayas we pause to celebrate with family and friends a special day of giving thanks to our God who has blessed us beyond measure.
Please join us again soon!

Our Seekerville Thanksgiving Table

My family had a tradition that I imagine is shared by many others as we gather to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day. Before diving into the turkey and all the trimmings, we joined hands in prayer and then shared what we were most grateful for that year.

I thought it might be lovely to gather us all around a communal Seekerville table and share that tradition.





I asked some of the Seekers to get us started.





Missy

This year, I'm very thankful my son just moved back to the Atlanta area on Sunday. We're thrilled to have him nearby once again!

Annie

I'm thankful for God's perfect timing this year on so many events, big and small. 

Ruthie

I am grateful for the everyday people God puts in my life. My family, my friends, the Seekers, the folks I can say anything to and not get into trouble. It's an absolute pleasure to be able to be just me... the ones who know my ins and outs and ups and downs and love me regardless. And that includes the friends I might not see for months or years... and yet still love. They never make me feel guilty! More reason to love them.

Erica Vetsch

I am thankful for my family, for new relationships forming, and for the many blessings God has given me.

Mindy 

I’m thankful for my family and God’s many blessings.

Carrie

I’m thankful that God is good even when life isn’t, even when the world is falling apart, even when I can’t see His plan - His heart can be trusted & for that I’m so grateful. 

Debby

I give thanks for all of you, dear friends, who are on this writing journey with me. May God bless you and your families abundantly. Happy Thanksgiving!

Mary

I remember the night I sold my first book at the ACFW Conference. Barbour Publishing … represented by Tracie Peterson, announced from the podium that they were offering me a contract. It remains one of the very best moments of my life.On that night when I got my first contract, I remember saying to someone, "I don't want to sell ONE book, I want a career."Later I couldn't believe I had the nerve, the--to me--arrogance to speak of a career after selling one little Heartsong.
But I said it. I wanted it. I hoped and prayed for it.This month Bethany House has offered me a new three book contract. It will be for my 66, 67, and 68th books.I will never take it for granted. I will never stop being stunned and amazed. I will never stop being thankful for having a career as a published author.

Jan

I'm thankful for so much, but especially for all of you. May you have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving! 

So, dear Seeker friends, we hope you will join us round the table as we raise our voices in a Thanksgiving prayer, and share what you are thankful for this year.

Should I Experiment with Writing Other Genres?

One of the things we're told as aspiring writers is to "Stick to one genre. Find one that works and don't hop around." And as published authors, we're told to "Create your brand, and don't stray from it. Consistently meet reader expectations to grow your career."

For super-creative people like writers, who love to explore the possibilities on a daily basis, this can be frustrating. But, as with most general rules, accepting is easier when we understand the 'why' behind that dictate. (And also how and when we can and should break that 'rule.')




From what I have gathered from my agent friends, the reasoning behind agents preferring an author find a genre and stick to it is this: When an agent is trying to sell an author's work to a publisher, they are also trying to sell the author. They want to create a situation where a long-term career with a publisher is possible. If the author has one historical romance, one contemporary romantic comedy, one self-help book, and one memoir they'd like to shop, this gives the impression that the author is a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none. That their identity as a writer is all over the shop. "I can write anything! I love writing everything" isn't a brand.

From the publisher's perspective, they're usually looking to fill a 'hole' in their stable of authors. If they need more cozy mysteries, they're looking for a writer who will write cozy mysteries for awhile. If they're in the market for espionage thrillers, they are seeking a thriller-writer who will stay the course and become known for writing thrillers. They are not interested in investing thousands of dollars on an author, only to have that author swap horses mid-stream and say they don't want to continue providing content for the reader-base the publisher has gathered.

This might not be what an aspiring writer wants to hear, but it's how things are in this business, so learning it now is less painful than learning it later when you're faced with rejection after rejection and don't know why.

All that being said, there are times when trying different genres makes sense.

If you're not yet published, you can experiment a bit to find your writing voice and what genre fits it best. This needs to take place before you EVER query an agent. I'll say that again. Experiment with different genres before you query an agent. Try writing in the genre you most like to read. Try writing something wildly different from your usual taste. Write in first person. Write in third person. Try writing a YA. You'll know quickly where your heart, talent, and most importantly, your writing voice lies.

If you're published, the stakes for getting this right are higher. You might have a variety of reasons for changing genres. You might have hit on a great story idea that is outside your genre, and you're eager to try it. By all means, give it a whirl (with a couple of caveats that I'll mention later.) Or, you might be a published author who has run into a dead end with your current publisher, genre, sales, etc. It's time for a change and a re-inventing of yourself. You might have a sudden opportunity presented by your publisher or offered by your agent that you would like to try. All valid reasons to consider changing genres.

Should I stay in my lane or try a new direction?

But how do you go about it? You've spent a long time building your readership. Readers expect certain things from you, and if you don't deliver those things...the outrage can be huge. (Think of when John Grisham wrote The Painted House. The tens of thousands of fans of his legal thrillers bought the book expecting one thing and got something totally different. I don't think Grisham has quite recovered yet.)

But changing genres is sometimes a viable option, and it can be done, even by wildly popular authors with a consistent brand and following. Before you take the leap though, consider these things:

1. Think long and hard, not just about yourself, but about your publisher and your readers. If you jump too far afield too quickly, you risk blowing up all that you've worked so hard to accomplish. If you're considering a radical shift, give it a lot of thought, talk to your agent who will have their perspective, and have a sound plan and reason for the change.

2. Consider only changing one or at the most two things at a time. I'll use myself as an example. For thirty or so novels and novellas, I wrote stories set in the American West. I wrote in the time period between 1860 and 1918. Then my publisher asked if I would be interested in writing a novella set during the Regency period. England, sometime between 1811 and 1820.

I would still be writing historical fiction. It woulds till be romance, but it would have a different setting/time period. Reader expectations from an Erica Vetsch romance include:

a) Extensively researched historical settings
b) Swoon-worthy romance
c) A rich and varied vocabulary of period words
d) A smash-bang finish

A switch to writing a Regency romance meant I could still do the things readers were expecting, but with a fresh twist of a new locale and time period. I agreed to write the novella, and I had great fun! The story, Jamie Ever After, in the Regency Brides Collection was well-received.

3. Consider a pen name. If you're going to make a radical shift that is more than one or two degrees of separation from your well-established brand, consider using a pen name. This will avoid any confusion on the part of your readers about what to expect. Think of the shock for your reader if you're known for your humorous cowboy romances, and suddenly, you publish a serial killer psycho-thriller! Mary Connealy did just this a few years ago, and she was wise enough to use a pen name, Mary Nealy (Though you have to admit, that's still pretty close. :D ) Fans of Mary Connealy's romantic cowboy stories are not necessarily the fans of crime thrillers involving psychotic, deranged serial killers. ( I happen to be, but that says more about me than about Mary!)

Many authors use pen names when swapping genres or venturing out into a new genre. Probably the most famous is Nora Roberts, who, when she wanted to switch from contemporary romance to police procedural mysteries, chose the pen name J. D. Robb. Stephen King wrote under the name Richard Bachman when he wanted to pen something other than super-scary thrillers.

Should I relax and keep doing what I'm doing
or should I launch into a new direction?
If you find yourself needing to change genres, rather than just wanting to change, don't despair. I've a friend who found door after door closing to her after having published many titles in the historical romance genre. But a door opened to write both contemporary romance and contemporary mystery. She said she'd try it and BAM, contracts galore.

For myself, I found that I had gone a bit stale on writing American historical romance. The Regency novella had sparked a renewed interest in research and given me a new historical era to immerse myself in. Since I had no pending contracts to fulfill, I decided to please myself and pull together a proposal for a Regency series. My agent was excited about the prospect, and she found a home for that proposal more quickly than I imagined.

That series will release in 2020, and I hope that I will bring along my current reader base for the ride, as well as find some new readers along the way. It still has those hallmarks of my writing I listed above, but it's got a touch of mystery/suspense to it as well!



Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she is married to her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!

Weekend Edition

  



If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com







Friday 11/15: Winnie Griggs is here to belatedly post the winner of her Home For Thanksgiving novella included in the 3-for-1 Love Inspired Historical Classic reissue Once Upon a Thanksgiving. And the winner is Sandy Smith! Congratulations Sandy.
Monday: Jan Drexler took a look a revision letters. Are we all thankful for those gifts from our editors? Of course! And the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card is Kara! Congratulations!
Wednesday:  USA Today Bestselling Author Debby Giusti shared her "Countdown to Thanksgiving" and held a drawing for her November Love Inspired Suspense, HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST. The winner is JAMIE ADAMS! Congrats, Jamie!
Friday: Pam Hillman offered us a recount of "it's not my fault" and other excuses for mediocrity. 




Monday:  Erica Vetsch will be talking about when (and how) an author should change genres, and when they should just stay in their lane!
Wednesday:  Cate Nolan is our hostess today!  Friday: Seekerville Closed for post Thanksgiving love.





Graphic created by Carla Olson Gade
Used with permission.
The Homestead Brides Novella Collection hist the ECPA Best-seller list! Congrats to all the authors, including Seekers Mary Connealy, Ruth Logan Hearne, Pam Hillman, and Erica Vetsch! 
If you haven't read this fabulous collection yet, you can get your copy HERE. 

HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PASTBy Debby GiustiShe can’t remember who she’s running from.
Is she safe with the Amish?Someone wants Becca Troyer dead, but who or why is a mystery to her. Seeking refuge at the home of Amish farmer Zeke Hochstetler is her only hope to stay one step ahead of the killer. With every clue she finds about her past leading to more confusion, Becca and Zeke must untangle the truth before her pursuer discovers where she’s been hiding.Order now at Amazon.








How To Overcome Fear As A Writer and Embrace Your Profound Courage by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

The Book Marketing Shake Up by Troy Lambert at Live Write Thrive

When Your Story Opening Does Nothing But Blow Smoke by Peter Selgin at Jane Friedman 

How To Write Your NEXT Story by David Rawlings at Learn How To Write A Novel

What Were They Reading? by Tamela Hancock Murray at Steve Laube

What Kind Of Planner Are You Using? by Sarra Cannon at Heart Breathings 

It's Not My Fault and Other Excuses for Mediocrity

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Several years ago, I was helping categorize responses to a survey. When responding to a question asking what the organization had done right, a respondent said something to the effect that the organization had made the successful people feel good.
I tilted my head and read that response with a furrowed brow (much like the warrior in The Last of the Mohicans when the girl throws herself off the cliff) and more than a bit of confusion.
This happened to be within hours of the Oscars where I’d heard almost the exact same phrase (ie. that the sole purpose of the Oscars was to make the successful people feel good and everybody else was just the scum of the earth), and even though the two instances have nothing to do with each other, the idea is the same.
Should all the movies, actors, and actresses who don’t get nominated for an Oscar blame those who do for being recognized as the best in their field?
Should all the authors (published and/or unpublished) who don’t final in a contest blame those who do for being acknowledged?
How do you reconcile that? If someone is successful at something (anything—fill in the blank), but someone else is not, why can’t we recognize that person’s success? The whole idea of not praising someone for doing a good job or going above and beyond because it might hurt someone’s feelings who didn’t achieve the same goal is ludicrous.
Let’s say I want to be a NFL football player, but since I’m not successful at it, I get all up in a huff because someone else is. For the record, never, ever in this lifetime have I wanted to be a football player, so I don’t even get upset that I’m not. In the interest of full disclosure, I may or may not be a little peeved at their astronomical paychecks, though. Ahem.
Carrying this topic into a whole ’nuther realm, if y’all don’t mind my sharing, there’s this whole “accept yourself as you are” and “it’s not my fault” mentality regarding an unhealthy lifestyle, health issues, and obesity. I’m not pointing fingers, unless at myself for wallowing in self-pity more than often than I should. And yes, I do know that there are real health issues that do limit some people’s ability to lose weight and keep it off. I know that some people have debilitating pain that limits mobility and makes something as simple as walking excruciating if not impossible. I have a friend who is unable to walk, unable even to feed herself. She’d give anything to be able do do one of those two things. Just one.
But sometimes if we give in to the naysayers and our own “pity-party” mantra, we miss out on so many blessings and things that we could do if we just believed in ourselves and pursued our dreams, our passions, our health.
Let’s drill down to this writing gig. How about, “it’s not my fault that I’m unpublished”. It’s not my fault that my stories aren’t up to par. It’s not my fault that I haven’t written a word on my wip in days, weeks, or even months. It’s not my fault that my books aren’t selling. It’s not my fault that readers don’t like my stories and are giving me two stars.
I suppose by now you’ve gotten the memo that I think the, “It’s not my fault” whine attitude has gone a little too far.
Because sometimes, it is my fault. 
While I have embraced social media with gusto and enjoy connecting with “like-minded” people online, reading about their triumphs and tragedies and sometimes sharing my own, all this information can be more than is healthy for me.



I was listening to a podcast the other day that addressed this topic to a certain extent and this whole … it’s not my fault, making excuses to underperform, and feeling sorry for ourselves mentality sort of rolled into one giant rant.
We align ourselves with groups and then, like our characters who believe a lie about themselves (one of Susan Warren’s plot points), we begin to believe lies about ourselves whether it is about our health, our weight, our lack of success in our chosen field, and even our relationships. We go to extremes with this.
We feel that if we can’t have the “perfect” body, then we might as well give up and eat an entire tub of ice cream. And toss in any semblance of exercise as well. I won’t even try to get in 5K steps a day.
If we can’t be a NYT Bestseller, then why bother to write at all.
If I can’t be a NFL Football star, then I won’t play ball. (Yeah, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
If I can’t be CEO of a Fortune 500 company, I’ll just go on welfare.
I know this is a hodge-podge of topics, but they somehow all go together in my mind. After listening to that podcast, I thought about a FB group that I’m in with thousands of other women with a medical condition that inhibits weight loss. (I’m being deliberately vague as it’s too complicated to go into here.) I’ve seen more than one of these women declare, “It’s not my fault” (speaking of obesity) because of said medical condition. And they just give up.
What if aligning myself with a group who wallows in self-pity and voyeuristically reading their stories of failure also makes me more apt to accept and embrace my own failures? It’s one thing to be aware of our shortcomings (you know, that whole NFL (not) football star dream of mine) vs. embracing and actively pursuing skillsets that we excel at.
One size doesn’t fit all, but I don’t think that most people who’ve found a measure of success in their professional life, their health, their finances, their addictions, go around saying… it’s not my fault.


I dare say that instead, they OWN it, whatever IT is, and then they go about fixing it to the best of their ability.

Countdown to Thanksgiving

By Debby Giusti
I started buying Advent calendars for my kids years ago when we lived in Germany. Since then, the calendars have become popular in the U.S., and I always get them for my grandchildren before Advent begins. The little ones love the chocolate candy “surprise” as they count down to Christmas.
By the way, have you checked out the stores recently? They’re overflowing with Christmas items to buy, everything from Jolly St. Nicks to Christmas trees and evergreen wreaths. But what about Thanksgiving?

I’ve never seen a calendar that counts down to Turkey Day. In fact, Thanksgiving knick-knacks and decorations—think Pilgrims, Indian corn and cornucopias filled with the bounty of Mother Nature—are few and far between. Any Thanksgiving items on store shelves are squeezed between Halloween and the Christmas season that starts earlier and earlier. This year, in my part of the world, Santas and snowmen were on the shelves and ready for purchase by mid-October.


You’ve got to admit Turkey Day gets short shrift, yet I love Thanksgiving. What’s not to like about gathering family and friends around a table heaped with food. Being together with loved ones is central to the celebration, but the most important aspect is giving thanks. Remember the story in scripture about the ten lepers Jesus cured? Luke 7:11-19 reminds us that only one leper came back to offer thanks. The Biblical account underscores the importance of gratitude so this year I’ve created my own Countdown to Thanksgiving.

Day 1 – November 20Today, I’m giving thanks for this wonderful blog community, for my Seeker sisters, and for all of you, dear ones, who join us on this writing and reading journey. I treasure your friendship and your support, and I ask the Lord to bless each of you and shower you with love.

Day 2 – November 21As we read in the Book of Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything— a time to be born and a time to die. I give thanks for the gift of my life and for the gift of my parents, both of whom have gone home to the Lord. I’m grateful for their love and nurturing, for their wise counsel and guidance, for the part of them that lives on in me. I also give thanks for family members—yours and mine—who have transitioned from this life to the next. I ask God’s blessings on our dearly departed and await the joyous day when all of us can be reunited with them once again.


Day 3 – November 22On this day, I give thanks for my health and the health of my family, for strength, for right judgment and a formed conscience. I pray for the chronically ill, for those who battle pain, debilitation and mental anguish, and I beseech the Lord to bring healing, comfort and peace to all our infirmed brothers and sisters in Christ.

Day 4 – November 23God comes first; family is a close second. I give thanks for my wonderful husband, for our children, their spouses and for our precious grandchildren. They bring joy to my heart. This day, I pray for my loved ones and for yours. Guard them all, Lord, and keep them in your care.

Day 5 – November 24I give thanks for the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. My heart overflows with love for this great nation that stretches from sea to shining sea, for her people, for her beauty, her diversity, her resources, her abundance of goodness and grace. God bless the USA.

Day 6 – November 25Our military deserve thanks, each and every day. They give selflessly, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, so this nation will endure and so liberty and freedom will ring not only here but throughout the world. Lord, protect our military heroes at home and abroad.
  

Day 7 – November 26This day, I give thanks for readers—for their reviews, their kind posts on social media, their sweet notes that come in the mail, and their words of encouragement when we meet in person. Each comment is treasured and appreciated as is each and every person who opens one of my books. I hope those of you, dear friends, who have read my stories can feel my prayers and my love. As an aside, I just checked my sales numbers and the tally added up to more than One Million Books in Print. Any success of mine is because of readers and friends like all of you who fill my heart to overflowing!

Day 8 – November 27I give thanks to God who guides me along the right path, who forgives my shortcomings, who loves me in spite of my flaws and who wants only the best for me and for those I hold dear, which includes YOU. God is good all the time, and I am grateful.
My Countdown to Thanksgiving brings me to November 28th. On this day, I wish you abundant blessings and much love!

Share your own Countdown to Thanksgiving and all that fills you with gratitude. Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for my November Love Inspired Suspense, HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST!
Happy Writing! Happy Reading! Happy Thanksgiving!
Debby Giustiwww.DebbyGiusti.com

HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PASTBy Debby Giusti
She can’t remember who she’s running from.

Is she safe with the Amish?

Someone wants Becca Troyer dead, but who or why is a mystery to her. Seeking refuge at the home of Amish farmer Zeke Hochstetler is her only hope to stay one step ahead of the killer. With every clue she finds about her past leading to more confusion, Becca and Zeke must untangle the truth before her pursuer discovers where she’s been hiding.
Order now at Amazon.

The (Dreaded?) Revision Letter

I remember my first revision letter like it was yesterday. Page after page from my editor at Love Inspired that showed up in my inbox soon after I had received “THE CALL.”

How could there be so many things wrong with my manuscript? After all, on the phone she had sounded so positive. Had I misunderstood her?

The letter mentioned “lingering concerns,” and both characters needed a lot of work. Then came the line notes…bullet point after bullet point. Three pages of them.

I wasn’t devastated, but my balloon of glee definitely deflated a bit. I worried that I was never going to be able to sign that contract. 
My Debut Novel
Fast forward seven years….

Last week I received the revision letter for my most recent book, Softly Blows the Bugle, which is scheduled to be released Fall 2020. I had been looking forward to this letter from my editor at Revell and had been checking my email daily. I was anxious to get started on it!

What made the change?

After seven years, I had gained experience and grown as a writer.

As a newbie, I hadn't been sure I was in the right place. I felt like an imposter, and when I was found out…well…my career would be over before it started.

Do I see heads nodding? I think most new authors feel that way.

And being a newly published author isn’t like anything I had ever done before. The learning curve was a steep one! In that first year, I was trying to stuff so much information into my head that it literally hurt. But I just kept eating up whatever I could learn. 


But back to revision letters.

Yes, the editor’s comments might hurt a little at first. But if you keep the following points in mind, you’ll soon learn to look forward to your own revision letters. 



1) Remember that very few people have looked at your manuscript before you sent it to your editor. 
If you’re part of a critique group or have a critique partner, you’ve already received their feedback. (I’ve learned that I don’t work well with critique partners. I’m the only one who has seen my story before I send it to my editor.) But no matter how many people have read your story before this point, your editor is the one who matters.

If you are publishing traditionally, she or he is the representative of your publishing house, and she reads your manuscript with her foot in both worlds – yours and the house’s. She has an eye for your story that no one else can have.

If you are publishing independently, hire your editor carefully – and by all means, hire an editor! You get what you pay for, and a quality editing job is worth every penny.

Either way, your editor is not only a different set of eyes, she is also a professional set of eyes. Her advice is valuable and should never be taken lightly. You might disagree with a point, and you can bring that up with her, but for the most part you should listen to her. 



2) Understand that what is in your head doesn’t always translate onto the manuscript well.

When I’m writing a scene, I visualize it first. It’s as if I’m watching a movie of the action. As I write, I go back to that visualization frame by frame. What sounds do my characters hear? Where did she place her hand? What was the expression on his face?

But even though I know exactly what I’m seeing when I write down those words, sometimes it doesn’t translate to another person’s mind.

An aside here – isn’t that the magic of writing? Using your words to show your readers what your mind sees? It gives me goosebumps! 

My editor is the one who will put a question mark in the margins, or say something like “what is going on here?” That’s when I know I haven’t communicated clearly.

Read that again: If my editor doesn’t understand what I’ve written, it isn’t her fault. It’s mine. I’m the communicator. If my words aren’t clear, then I need to rewrite them! 



3) Your story is no longer your baby.

We all know how hard we work on our stories. We spend months thinking about them, researching ideas, developing characters, working out plot points, and writing, writing, writing.

But there comes the time when you must let them go. Once I hit “send,” my story now belongs to my publisher, and soon to the world.

It is no longer part of me. It is its own entity.

Much like our real babies. When they’re young, they are ours. But before long, we realize that they are no longer part of us – they grow into their own identities.

Think how tragic it is when a mother doesn’t allow her child to grow into an adult mentally or emotionally. Now translate that image to your story. What good will your story be to others if it is never published?

That’s what happens too many times. Some authors can’t make any changes to their stories once they write “The End.” They refuse to take advice from their critique partners or their editors. They refuse to let their stories go beyond what they think is the best possible version.

But when you write "The End," your story isn't finished yet. Keep in mind that you want your story to make its way into the world. You want your story to impact lives. You want your story to make a difference.

How can it do that if its still tied to your apron strings? How can it do that if you don’t allow your editor to suggest changes that will take your story from good to great?



We all respond to revision letters differently, but I hope you will see that letter as an affirmation of your talent (after all, no editor is going to waste time trying to fix an un-fixable story!) and a challenge to make your story the best it can be. 
Let us know what you think about revision letters in the comments! Are they something you dread? Or do you welcome them? Or do you have a memory about your first revision letter that you can share?
One commenter will win a $10 gift card from Amazon!

Have a great Monday!

Weekend Edition

  



If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com







Monday: Missy Tippens brought in a few Seekers to discuss how they get their book ideas.
Wednesday: We caught a glimpse of Holiday Time & Holiday Stories in a Christmas at Star Inn starring Margaret Brownley, Ruthy, Mary Connealy! Tanya A gets an ecopy of Christmas at Star Inn, Joy will receive a hardcopy and Sandy Smith gets the 2 in 1 featuring Ruthy and Jill Hart.
Thursday:  Jill Kemerer stopped by, offering up a few tricks to motivate us to write. The winner of a copy of her latest release Her Cowboy Till Christmas is Jenna Night!
Friday: Winnie Griggs gave us an update on a reader event she attended and then discussed some ways to handle scene transitions.  Check back later for the announcement of her winner


Monday:  Jan Drexler takes us into the world of the revision letter. Do you dread it or welcome it? Stop by to see what Jan has to say, and leave a comment for an opportunity to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
Wednesday:  USA Today Bestselling Author Debby Giusti will be talking about Thanksgiving and the writing life. Stop by and leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for Debby's November Love Inspired Suspense, HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST.  Friday: Pam Hillman will be our hostess.








Introducing the Serendipity & Secrets Series coming on 2020! Brand new Regencies from Erica Vetsch!

You can Pre-Order The Lost Lieutenant at: https://amzn.to/32NYANi and The Gentleman Spy at https://amzn.to/2qOjkHD


About The Lost Lieutenant:

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?
Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

Christmas is coming! It's time to make your gift list (or your wish list!) I know you want to put a few books on those lists!










23 Tips for a Zero Waste Home Office by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

What Really Drives Your Characters? by Jim Dempsey at Writer Unboxed

What Makes Readers Give An Unknown Author A Chance by Barbara Linn Probst at Jane Friedman

To Romance or Not To Romance by Tamela Hancock Murray at Steve Laube

3 Secrets To Writing Vivid Setting by Laurence MacNaughton at Fiction University

Pre-Publishing: Developing the Five P's by Janet Grant at Books & Such Literary Management

Conference Fun and Transitions

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. Last weekend I attended the Readers & Ritas Reader Weekend in Dallas and wanted to share just a little bit of the fun we had with a few quick photos:

The weekend kicked off with a reader scavenger hunt on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately I forgot to get a picture of my table, but here is a photo of the spinner I used at my table to award the various little prizes I handed out.


Next was an author bingo sponsored by me and four other author friends - Julia London, Angi Morgan, Sasha Summers and C.A.Szarek. These are always so fun, for both the authors and the readers. Here's a pic of the author team (some of us took the PJ party aspect more serious than others :) )



On Saturday I hosted a table for lunch. This year I chose Cool Chicks Read as my theme and I had a great time collecting and creating items that would fit.


Then Saturday afternoon I was part of a panel titled I'm Holding Out For A Hero along with authors Bethany Turner, D B Reynolds and Tif Marcelo. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a competition with me and Tif paired off against D.B. and Bethany. We were given questions that required us to answer with either lists or drawings and then the attendees voted on whose responses they liked best. Suffice it to say there was a LOT of laughter at our responses. The session actually ended in a tie (or maybe the moderators just decided to cut it off there :)  )




Then there was a booksigning where I got to sit next to my panel-mate, Tif Marceello.

The day ended with supper where I got to sit at the table hosted by the always fun and fabulous C.A Szarek

A wonderful end to a wonderful event!


And now for the writing portion of this post, I thought I'd dust off a post I did here ten years ago on Transitions:

Transitions: Getting From Here To There

When writing your story, you don’t want to include a detailed account of every action taken by every character in your story, nor do you always want to tell the story linearly. Instead, a good writer will select those scenes that are not only of interest but that also progress the plot in some way. Which means, by necessity, gaps will occur: gaps in time, in movement from one location to another, in point of view, in scene focus.

Transitions are those small but oh-so-important words or phrases that help guide your reader across these story gaps smoothly and while still remaining grounded in your story. There are several techniques or devices that you can utilize to do this effectively. Some of them are:

The Direct Method or ‘Clean Break’- Simply tell the reader what change has taken place:
Early the following Monday, Michael.... (Time change)Once he reached the parking garage.... (Location change)
Mood - Use feelings, emotions, atmosphere to help convey the change:
As Stan pulled out of the company garage onto the congested highway, his hands clutched the wheel in a death grip and the cords in his neck tightened. It would take forever to get out of this tangle of traffic...Once the city was behind him, however, the tension drained away and he breezed down the open road that led to his summer cabin. (Time and Location change)
The Five Senses - Use sound, sight, touch, taste and smell to bridge a story gap:
Margie hummed as she applied an extra spray of her favorite cologne, enjoying the light floral scent.

Andy’s nose started to twitch before Margie even entered the room. Why did she insist on using that nasty flowery perfume that always made him sneeze? (POV change)Cassie heard a distant grumble of thunder off to the east as she closed her book. Maybe Allan was finally getting some of that rain he’d been hoping for.

Allan squinted through the windshield, looking for a safe place to pull over and wait out the violent storm. This wasn’t what he’d had in mind when he’d prayed for a ‘bit of rain’. (POV and location change)
An Event - Use an ongoing, recent or anticipated event to unify your scenes:
Hesitating for only a heartbeat, Lynda dropped the letter into the mail slot, determined to make the first move toward reconciliation.
When a week passed without a response, however, she began to wonder if contacting her grandfather had been such a wise move after all. (Time change)The near-crash triggered a memory, one she’d rather not dwell on. But there it was, full blown and swooshing in like an avalanche. That other crash had happened six years ago. Her mom was driving her and her friends to the airport... (Time change - flashback)
A Character (whether human or otherwise) - Use the mention of a character to guide us through a story shift:
Stacey pulled into her driveway on Friday afternoon, wondering how she’d let her sister talk her into dog-sitting their troublesome mutt for the weekend. She really wasn’t big into the whole pet scene.
But by Sunday evening,, Rufus had wormed his shaggy way right into her heart. (Time change)
An Object - Use an object or activity to move from one scene to another without jarring the reader:
Roger halted mid-sentence as a baseball came crashing through the window. Blast it all, he’d told Jimmy not to play ball in the yard.
He picked up the ball and marched to the door . Jimmy was going to pay to fix this, even if it meant he had to mow every yard in town to do it. (Change in focus)
The Environment- Use weather, terrain, scenery, seasons to depict change:
The autumn seemed long that year. Perhaps it was because she was so homesick for the Ozarks, where nature painted the mountainsides with magnificent blazes of color. Winter was easier, and by spring, the Texas gulf coast was beginning to feel, if not like home, at least less alien to her.   (Time change - extended period)

These are just a sampling. There are, of course, other ways to handle transitions. Just keep in mind - your main goal in using transitions is to keep your reader grounded and oriented in the who, what, where, and when of your story without their having to reread passages to figure it out.

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And now for some fun news. Just in time for Thanksgiving, my publisher has re-released my novella Home For Thanksgiving as part of their Love Inspired Classics program.  Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy



All that stands between Ruby Anne Tuggle and a fresh start is an escort to Tyler, Texas.
Rancher Griff Lassiter is too kind to refuse, but too wary of being hurt again to offer anything but protection on the journey. 
Then a fever forces an unexpected detour and a chance to find the place they both belong...

To learn more or get your copy, check HERE

10 Tricks to Motivate Yourself to Write with Guest Jill Kemerer

By Jill Kemerer
Your manuscript taunts you. It’s there unfinished on your laptop or in a half-filled notebook. Sure, you want to keep working on it. In fact, you can’t wait for it to be done so you can move on with your life and start developing the new idea calling to you!
Maybe you already have a few unfinished manuscripts tucked away. Maybe this is your first. Either way, the excitement about your current work-in-progress faded long ago, and you’re frustrated that you just can’t seem to motivate yourself to keep working on it.
I have some experience with this. Believe it or not, I just finished writing my 23thnovel. Now before you throw darts at me, I want you to know that of the 23, three are contracted for future release, ten are published and ten aren’t.
Yes, a solid ten unpublished books linger on my laptop. I wrote them with no guarantee they would ever be published, but I finished each and every one of them, and I’m glad I did.
For me the act of writing is a contract with myself. When a story is in my head and I decide to write it, I write a complete draft no matter what. This helps me avoid the distractions of wondering if an editor will like it, if the book is any good, and if I’m going in the right direction career-wise.
If I only wrote when I believed an editor would like it, when I thought the book was good, or if I was convinced it would be good for my career, I would quit every four days! I have little control over those things, and they’re all based on feelings anyhow. Who knows if anyone will like the book or if it’s any good or if it will hurt my career?
That’s not why I write. It’s not why you write either.
The writing merely stalled. Let’s figure out why.
Why isn’t the book already done?The opening scenes came easily. Now you’re not sure where the story is going.You’re in the middle. The saggy, terrible, total-waste of a middle. And you have no idea how to get out of it.You’re closing in on the end of the book—but you don’t want it to end. The characters are part of you. You’ll miss them!You haven’t touched the manuscript in over three days (or three months), and it feels daunting to get back into it.You don’t have time to write.Your loved ones aren’t supportive of your writing.You’ve been trying to get published for a while, and you worry you’ll never get a yes.The day job, laundry, bills, Hallmark movies, children, spouse, hunting season, donuts…
We all have excuses as to why we’re not writing. And some of them are legitimate (like donuts—yum!). The thing is, though, when we’re not working on our stories, we feel guilty and icky and bad.
First, it’s important to remind yourself there’s a reason you’re writing. Not everyone feels compelled to write even if they have ideas for stories. The fact you took the plunge to write a book is a big deal! It doesn’t matter if it’s your first, fourth, or seventy-fifth. Books don’t exist until the writer commits to getting it on the page.
Second, whatever your “why” is that’s been keeping you from writing, pray to move past it. The following verse helps me.
Psalm 90:17 (NIV) “May the favor of the Lord rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Third, you’re far from alone. We all have ways to push past the slumps in order to finish our books.
10 Tricks to Motivate Yourself to Keep Writing   1.  If you don’t have a deadline, make a deadline.Set it for 6 days, 6 weeks, or 6 months from now, but create a firm date when you will have the book completed. Write it down.
2.  “Gold Star” it until it’s done. When I was a kid, teachers sometimes gave us gold stars for reading a certain number of books or getting all the words correct on a spelling test. Create a chart for yourself to put an X (or a gold star) for every thousand words you write.
3.  Track your page count, word count, or both.
Create a simple chart on paper or in a program like OneNote and track your progress. Make a column with the date, page/word count, and total pages/words. It’s motivating to watch your progress add up.

4.  Get out of the house.If you find a million-and-one excuses not to write when you’re at home, go to a coffee shop, library, or anywhere you can write without distractions. 
5.  Rewards!Create mini-goals and reward yourself when you meet them. Example: If you write for one hour every weekday, at the end of the week treat yourself to an hour at the bookstore. Or every time you add 10,000 words to your manuscript, buy a small item you’ve been too cheap to get.
6.  Fall in love with the story all over again.Read through what you’ve written. Spend time thinking about why you initially set out to write the book. My finished books rarely resemble my initial idea, and that’s okay. The story that needs to be told always comes out. Fall in love with it!
7.  Use your creativity to gain insight into your story.Our local writing group recently had a guest speaker, Alyssa Alexander, who encouraged us to write down any impressions that came to mind when we thought about our works-in-progress. They could be colors, seasons, objects, feelings—anything really. When we went through our lists, things stood out that we hadn’t expected. For instance, I saw wheat fields and blue skies, telling me the book would be set in the summer. I really enjoyed this exercise!
8.  Consider your personality. What motivates me might not motivate you.Gretchen Rubin wrote a fabulous book, The Four Tendencies , where she groups people into four types. You can take the quiz HERE to find out if you’re an Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, or Rebel. The book gives detailed advice on motivating yourself according to your tendency.
9.  Think about how you’ll feel if the book NEVER gets written.The thought makes me sad. I’ve spent hours, days, maybe months thinking about these characters. I want to know how it ends for them!
10. Write for ten minutes.Everyone can squeeze out ten measly minutes to write. I don’t care if you get one sentence down or two paragraphs, writing fuels writing. Stop overthinking it! Open your manuscript and start.
Still not ready? Try these.
“I Almost Quit Yesterday—Again” Excellent blog post by Carol Sparks.
The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win Fascinating book by Jeff Haden. One of my favorite quotes:
“You’ll stay motivated when you find a process you trust and commit to working that process for as little as a week.”
I found this to be true. My trusted process involves creating a schedule for my writing with set dates and times, engaging in a little ritual before I begin and end each session, and tracking my progress. It made a world of difference in my attitude and my writing output.
“The Best Motivation Apps of 2019” via Healthline.com.

Please share YOUR tricks on how to stay motivated! I’d love to hear them!

Thank you, Seekerville, for hosting me today!

My tenth Love Inspired novel releases in a few days! Her Cowboy Till Christmas is the first book in my new series, WYOMING SWEETHEARTS, in stores November 19, 2019! I’m hosting a cozy giveaway on my website. Stop by and enter—click on “Her Cowboy Till Christmas Giveaway” and scroll down for the easy entry options. (US only, 18+)



HER COWBOY TILL CHRISTMAS
Can a Christmastime reunion become forever?
She’s only home for the holidays…Can he convince her to stay?
The last person rancher Mason Fanning ever expects to see again is the girl who once broke his heart. Brittany Green is in town for Christmas and trying to convince her ailing grandmother—the only maternal figure the widower’s little boy has left—to move away. Can Mason show her all she really needs to fulfill her dreams is right here in Wyoming?
For purchase links and more, click HERE !
Seekerville peeps, if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Jill's latest release, Her Cowboy Till Christmas, simply leave a comment for a chance to be entered. Paperback for US, ebook for international readers.  

Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her mini-dachshund, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com.