Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 115

Help Your Reader Fall in Love with Your Characters

by Jan Drexler 
The literary world has changed in the last fifty years. In the past, authors like J.R.R. Tolkien could spend three pages introducing us to his main character in “The Hobbit” (Bilbo Baggins,) complete with a description of his home and family history – and he does this in the first three pages of the book. I happen to like that style, and when I read “The Hobbit,” I settle into my comfy chair ready to lose myself in the story.



But things have changed! In our time, authors need to get to the action as soon as possible and leave the backstory and descriptions for later.

How do you do this?

Layer by layer.


 

Onions or cake. Take your pick!

Either way, we peel our character’s layers back little by little, letting our readers learn to know our characters by their actions. Or a comment here. A thought there.

It’s tempting to tell the reader everything! We love our characters and we want our readers to love them, too!

But an information dump (where you give your reader way too much information at once) is like your co-worker setting you up for a blind date with her favorite cousin. She has been gushing over this guy for two weeks, telling you all about his job, family, house, dog, his appendicitis attack in 8th grade… But really, don’t you want to meet him first? Don’t you want to be the one to decide if you want to get to know him better?

Do your readers a favor and peel away those layers little by little.

Here’s an example from my work in progress, Softly Blows the Bugle. We’ve already met the hero, Aaron, in the first scene. There we found out that he was wounded and captured at Gettysburg. First layer.

In the second scene, we begin to see him through his own eyes as he’s talking to his friend Jonas:

“But the war changed you.” Aaron let his mind go back to the angry, fiery young man he had been, hot to kill any Yankee he could find after a scouting party shot Grandpop. “It changed both of us. War will do that.”

That snippet is all we know so far about Aaron’s past. It’s just one more layer, but the story isn't finished yet.

Later in the book, but still early, we’ll learn more about Grandpop and what he meant to Aaron. Another layer.

Somewhere around the middle of the story, memories of Aaron’s mother will begin to surface. Thin layers peel away, revealing his home life as a child.

Toward the end, we’ll learn the secret of Aaron’s past, and the reason he believes the lie that has ruled his life. Peeling back layer by layer by layer.

Meanwhile, all through the story we watch Aaron’s actions, how he treats other people, and how they respond to him. Layers.

By the end of the book, if I have done my work well, we will know Aaron’s story, his struggles, his spiritual battles, and his physical battles. And we will know the inner man. The hero the readers will fall in love with.



At the same time, we need to be careful not to peel back a layer, revealing a hint of an important detail, and then never bring it up again.

For example, what if you read that smidgen of information at the beginning of the book (Aaron let his mind go back to the angry, fiery young man he had been, hot to kill any Yankee he could find after a scouting party shot Grandpop,) but then you never learned any more about Grandpop or that event? Or what if I didn’t let the readers see the process of the change between then and now? What if I never let the other shoe drop?

Among the things I look for in my revision process are unfinished trails like this. And if I don’t catch them, I pray that my editor will!




Let's chat! Have you ever experienced the "information dump" in your writing? What about in your reading? Or, does it bother you when an author leaves a detail hanging? (It's one of my pet peeves!)

Thanks for reading, and have a blessed Holy Week!




Jan Drexler spent her childhood dreaming of living in the Wild West and is now thrilled to call the Black Hills of South Dakota her home. When she isn’t writing she spends much of her time satisfying her cross-stitch addiction or hiking and enjoying the Black Hills with her husband of more than thirty-six years. Her writing partner is her corgi, Thatcher, who makes life…interesting.

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 shared a lot of great ideas she learned at a 1-Day workshop in her post titled YOU are Your Brand.
Wednesday: Ruthy Logan Herne brought us an inspiring report from the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat! The winners of her giveaway are "Rosalyn-All-Of-A-Kind-Mom" and Sherida!
Friday: Carrie Schmidt hosted fellow blogger/reviewer Beckie Burnham who shared about her wonderful Faith and Fiction Bible Study/Book Club!


Monday:  Jan Drexler will be bringing our post today!
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti will be sharing a Holy Week Reflection that applies to writing. Stop by and leave a comment to be included in the drawing!  Friday: Winnie Griggs will be sharing with us about how to construct an effective Black Moment.


In anticipation of the release of The Crossing at Cypress Creek, book #3
in Pam Hillman's Natchez Trace Novel series,
the first two ebooks are on sale for the entire month of April!
Click here to get The Promise of Breeze Hill!
Click here to get The Road to Magnolia Glen!


TODAY!!! SATURDAY APRIL 13th, RUTHY'S KIDS ARE HOSTING "HELP FOR THE HOMELESS"

From 8:00 this morning until 6:00 tonight (and before and after) Ruthy's former daycare clients and current grandkids will be gathering money (noisy money and quiet money, too!!!) new clothes, food, baby supplies for two homeless shelters in Rochester, NY, a city where poverty has gripped far too many for way too long. If you're in Western New York, stop by the farm and chat a while... And there could be cookies in the mix!

Proceeds will go to House of Mercy, a wonderful shelter founded by Sister Grace Mitchell when she saw too many shelters closing doors on ice-cold nights.... And 50% of the donations will go to The Margaret Home, a brand new home for homeless unwed mothers. They'll be able to have their babies and stay there up to two years while working on their GED and/or job placement. Two beautiful additions to our community.



How to Create Conflict by Discovering Your Character's Objects of Desire by David Safford at The Write Practice.
Fired Up: Robert Crais on Passion, Process and Plot Twists by Jessica Strawser at Writer's Digest.

What's the Problem? The Four Classic Conflict Types by Janice Hardy at Fiction University.

Writing Tips: 8 Ways to Take Your Book from Good to Great by guest Braeden Phillips at The Creative Penn

Writing a Novel: How to Hook Your Reader by guest Robin Murphy at The Creative Penn.

What is Flash Fiction by Lindsey P. Brackett at The Write Conversation.

Faith and Fiction Bible Study

Happy Friday, Seekers! Carrie here.

Forgive me for being late with this post today - I blame post-CFRR brain fog ;) 

Today I am honored to host a blogging friend of mine, Beckie Burnham, from By the Book! I love Beckie's blog, and if you haven't yet checked it out you really must.

She's here today to talk about her Faith and Fiction Bible Study/Book Club, which I think is one of the BEST ideas EVER...


***



“Just because it isn’t real, doesn’t make it not true.”
That is my standard answer when someone says *gasp* they don’t read fiction because it is not real. This maxim is especially true for Christian Fiction. I am an avid reader, a book-pusher, who manages to work books and reading into just about every conversation and activity. When my church’s book club was looking for something a little different to pique interest and encourage attendance, we came up with a combo book club/Bible study. I had just read Charles Martin’s Long Way Gone and knew that this excellent reimagining of the Prodigal Son would be just the thing for our new experiment. When it was met with great enthusiasm the Faith And Fiction Bible Study was born. Studying the Bible plus reading fiction — what could be better!?
The Faith And Fiction group always chooses Christian fiction to accompany its study of scripture. Christian fiction is not only unique in its world view, but CF authors are committed to excellence in writing and research and producing a work that not only entertains, but is written with an audience of One in mind. Across many genres, truths are expressed in unique ways. With hundreds of books to choose from, my group is set for many more studies to come.
From the earliest days our goal was to study the Bible first, but the addition of a complimentary novel has opened our imaginations to dig even deeper into the Word. We have chosen a number of Biblical novels to accompany scripture study — Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith and Delilah: Treacherous Beauty by Angela Hunt are just two. Other genres have also offered extraordinary insight into the stories of the Bible, but application in a modern world — How Sweet The Sound by Amy K. Sorrells and For Such A Time by Kate Breslin. Whether we are studying a specific Biblical figure (Miriam by Mesu Andrews) or broader topics like the the healing ministry of Jesus (Madman by Tracy Groot), the novels we have chosen add details of life that we sometimes overlook while reading our Bibles. We find ourselves questioning and researching to ferret our what is truly real. Creative twists are also a wonderful surprise. Many of us were forced from our reading comfort zones when we studied the role of Old Testament prophets and lost ourselves in the fantasy world of Prophet by R. J. Larson.
The format of Faith And Fiction is quite simple. We meet once a week for three weeks of Bible study, and then on the fourth week we have book club. Those book club meetings are great for discussing the usual — character, plot, setting — and also what God was and isup to! Food often plays a role in book clubs, and our group is no exception. We have had middle eastern honey cake, lentil stew, and Hamantashcen to add our own bit of authenticity and fun.
What do you need to start a Faith And Fiction Bible Study / Book Club of your own? Just a love of books and the Book. The following are the topics/people we have studied and the novels we read. Along with the novels listed, there are many, many more CF to choose from.
Delilah: Treacherous Beauty by Angela HuntFor Such A Time by Kate Breslin (Esther)How Sweet The Sound by Amy K. Sorrells (Tamar)The Legend of Sheba by Tosca Lee (Solomon and the Queen of Sheba)Long Way Gone by Charles Martin (The Prodigal Son)Madman by Tracy Groot (healing ministry of Jesus)Miriam by Mesu Andrews (Miriam and Exodus)On This Foundation by Lynn Austin (Nehemiah)Prophet by R. J. Larson (Old Testament prophets)Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith (Jacob and Rebekah)Reign by Ginger Garrett (Ahab and Jezebel)

***

Beckie Burnham is a wife, mom to grown kids, and an avid book pusher! A blogger of Christian fiction for almost 10 years, she also leads two book clubs, one of which combines Bible study and a fiction discussion (Faith And Fiction Bible Study). When not reading books (when is that really?!?) she enjoys spending time at her cabin in the north Georgia mountains.  
*** 
What are some other books you think would be great candidates for a Faith & Fiction Bible Study? (tell us the book & what theme it would be great for)Have you participated in something similar?
How does this appeal to you as an author? As a reader?

Christian Fiction Readers Retreat: A Road Less Traveled

A thoughtful post by Seeker Ruth Logan Herne
Note that I used the word "thoughtful" because today I am not scolding anyone. I'm not lifting a brow, reminding them that writing is a job and they should just do it, nor am I exalting how much I love my job (but I do!!!! To the moon and back except that would be highly unlikely for a non-astronaut like me), nor am I waving pompoms to get your attention and cheer you on because honestly... you don't need that, darlings.
Nope, today is dedicated to Seeker Annie (of the Just Commonly blog) Seeker Carrie Booth Schmidt (of the Reading Is My Superpower blog) and Beth Erin (of the Faithfully Bookish blog) and posthumously to our dear friend Bonnie Roof, whose goal was to not only see Christian fiction get the love it deserved, but to hook up readers and authors, something that used to be done quite commonly by publishers before sales dipped and the world began buying online and Amazon developed the biggest, easiest (although don't be fooled, they are not the cheapest) shopping site ever... and those special moments that publishers had arranged for gatherings and get-togethers became economically unfeasible unless you were a New York Times selling author.
Bonnie saw this gap, recognized it, talked about it with several authors and bloggers, and her dream became reality when these three Seekers jumped on board to make it happen. With Annie shouldering the bulk of the heavy lifting with her to-die-for adorable husband "Darcy", they have hosted three amazingly wonderful events... events that brought such joy to Bonnie's heart as her body waged war against cancer, and events that brought joy to authors and readers and gave us a forum to laugh and talk and discuss all kinds of things in a prayer-filled, joyful atmosphere with absolutely no agenda other than celebrating authors, readers, faith, hope and love.
They set a precedent that made a difference, so I wanted to use today's post to say how grateful I am-- how grateful so many of us are-- for the opportunity they offered. They showed no favoritism, they worked hard to cross all lines of publishers and indie authors, they were unafraid to broach topics like diversity and sexuality in stories, the "how far is too far" question that varies in answer from publisher to publisher. But in the end, they always made sure that the glory and honor was God's as it should be.
So thank you my dear beloved friends. You are good and faithful servants and I am so appreciative of what you did! You amaze me.
I'm posting some pics of my trip down.... it was a beautiful day, filled with joy, and then to gather with writers and readers for two full days, to have the opportunity to help the gals get stuff ready, and to share time with them was priceless.
Beth Jamison (daughter and free-lance editor) and I had the very best time! No one could have done it better.
Seekerville Loved CFRR!!!!
Back row: Debby Giusti, Erica Vetsch, Mary Connealy and Carrie Schmidt
Front row: Ruth Logan Herne, Beth Erin, Annie "Just Commonly"
Beautiful grotto of the Women at the Cross here in Maryland at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine



We had a lovely trip down from New York, through Pennsylvania and Maryland... Look at that sky! And this beautiful statue grouping of the women at the foot of the cross touched our hearts. They walked the walk. They didn't run and hide like so many others.... they stayed by Christ's side although I can't even imagine how difficult that must have been. So much strength and honor in this visual.
And we found blossoming trees, so that brings us hope because we won't see them for a couple of weeks in northern New York, but we know that the spring roll-out is coming our way! 
And then this...
Beth took this picture after I climbed the steps. There was a spot for kneeling and/or a spot for sitting to pray. Think. Repose. And that's what Annie and the crew brought to this weekend retreat, a sincere love for prayer, faith and hope that wound its way through everything. The reminder that it's good to stop and pray.... 
And aren't we blessed to be in a country where we can do that? 
Yes! So let's celebrate with a giveaway.... I have some lovely books that Beth and I got duplicates of! One from Karen Barnett and a beautiful Love Inspired written by Lisa Carter ...
Lisa Carter is one of the cutest, funniest people on the planet, by the way. And she looks so innocent!!!! :)

Leave a comment below to be entered, my pretties and once again: Huge and hearty thanks to Annie, Carrie, Beth, Bonnie and all their posse for three of the best writerly weekends I've ever had. 
You Rocked It.

Multi-published, bestselling inspirational author Ruth Logan Herne loves chatting with readers and writers and loves writing beautiful stories that make readers smile... sigh... and sometimes cry.... but she professes that tears are quite therapeutic, thank you very much! Find her on facebook, email her at loganherne@gmail.com or stop by her website ruthloganherne.com. She'd love to chat with you!

YOU are Your Brand

Missy Tippens


Writers, have you ever thought about your brand? If you’re a seasoned published author, then you probably have. If you’re new to writing but plan to publish down the road, you may not realize YOU are your brand.
I recently attended a 1-Day workshop, Your Author Brand,hosted by my local ACFW chapter, ACFW North Georgia. The presenters were Lindsey Brackett, Brandy Heineman, Kristi Ann Hunter and Hope Welborn. They shared their knowledge and experience and have generously allowed me to summarize for you what I learned and want to focus on to improve my own branding.
I learned that branding is a lot more than a tag line and logo. One quote that really spoke to me is that if you’re not intentionally creating a brand, then you’re UNINTENTIONALLY creating a brand.


Yep. Ouch.
In this workshop, I learned how important brand is. We need to attract the right readers—the ones who will love our stories. We do that by honestly portraying ourselves and our work. We want to build trust with our readers so they’ll become loyal fans. Ideally, someone would see our website or social media pages or logo and would recognize them. We aim to earn brand recognition.
So how do we do that?
First, it’s important to establish what our brand will be. In the workshop, I learned that good branding makes promises and sets expectations. We need to make sure we fulfill those expectations. My website for my small town southern contemporary stories will look different from someone who writes historical romance, different from someone who writes suspense.
Part of branding is figuring out why you write and the type stories you want to write. Where does your passion lie?
Here are some really helpful questions to ask, taken from a 2013 article by Margie Warrell at Forbes.com titled Do You Know Your Why? 4 Questions To Find Your Purpose:
  *what makes you come alive?  *what are your innate strengths?  *where do you add the greatest value?  *how will you measure your life?
Once we figure out why we write and the type stories we want to write (and thus, who our target reader is), there are several steps we can take to help brand ourselves. These are the items I plan to work on:
--Come up with a color palette. 
It’s really interesting to look at this webpage that discusses The Psychology of Colors.  I want to keep this in mind as I choose colors. Also, we shouldn’t use too many (maybe two or three). Plus, we also need to keep in mind things like the effects of using contrasting colors, complimentary colors, etc.
One thing mentioned in the workshop is that color can help improve brand recognition by 80%! So once we choose our palette, we need to use it (or portions of it) everywhere—website, social media, logo, newsletter, ads, and print collateral.
Note: Once the color palette is established, make sure to identify and save the colors using the HEX or RGB color codes. Here is a style sheet that Beth Erin created for our Seekerville blog.


--Decide on the typography.
We should choose fonts wisely. We shouldn’t rule out default fonts, because they are very readable. Don’t go too fancy—they can be hard to read. It was suggested to use no more than two font families. It’s okay to mix a serif font with a sans-serif. And we need to make sure the line length and spacing makes everything legible and neat. It was also suggested to align everything on the left. When I was reading more about this, one website said not to center text because it creates unsightly uneven edges on both sides. (Oops. I’ll be working on that!)
--Choose a style guide (ie. Chicago, AP…).
Traditional publishers can tell you what they have chosen to use. Indie authors should also choose one. It’s helpful for author brand to use this consistently through all content we create.
--Choose appropriate Images.
Our brains process images 60k times faster than text. Images are our visual language and create emotion, so we need to choose them to appeal to our typical reader and to create a certain experience for our readers.
--Create content that fits within the brand.
Everything we write or create should fit in our brand. We don’t want to create anything that will make our readers lose trust in what we’ve promised (unless we have plans to change our branding, which would be another blog post). For example, in addition to my inspirational novels and novellas, I also took part in a short story project by Callie Smith Grant, Second Chance Dogs, as well as a devotional project from Guideposts, All God’s Creatures. Both fit my brand as a writer of Christian fiction. Plus, I sometimes include animals in my novels/novellas, and I also post about my beloved pets on social media.
My precious Duke.
My takeaway from the workshop was the importance of consistency. The importance of figuring out who I am and how I want to present myself. I need to figure out exactly who my typical reader is and to be intentional about that reader’s experience. I want to come up with a style sheet for fonts, colors, etc. that will portray the emotion I want to create (the same emotion someone would feel while reading one of my stories).
Writers, I hope you’ll chat today about what you’ve done (or need to do) with your author branding! Readers, I hope you’ll tell us about how you’ve experienced author branding, and what you find attractive. All of you, share authors you think have done a great job!
A big thank you to my fellow ACFW North Georgia writers for sharing their knowledge at the workshop and for allowing me to talk about it today! I hope you’ll check out their websites and book links below!
Hope Welborn’s website
Lindsey Brackett’s  website and info on her book,  Still Waters
Brandy Heineman’s website
Kristi Ann Hunter’s website and info on her book,  A Defense of Honor , which is on sale right now.

After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, Holt Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.

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: Ruthy answered the question: After Critique Part II: What Next? Don't lose momentum now. Write, write, write!
Wednesday: Mindy shared some tips on getting your manuscript ready for submission in Finessing a Story . The winner of a signed copy of Her Colorado Cowboy is Sandy Smith!
Friday: LIVE (sort of) from Christian Fiction Readers Retreat 2019! Get the full scoop here!


Monday:  Missy Tippens recently attended a 1-Day workshop on branding sponsored by her local ACFW Chapter, ACFW North Georgia. She'll be sharing some of her takeaway ideas with you!
Wednesday:  Ruthy will wow us with her very vivid imagination which tends to churn out great books. Stop by to see how she does it!  Friday: Carrie is hosting fellow book reviewer/blogger/avid reader & friend Beckie Burnham as she talks about her Faith and Fiction Bible Study!























Christian Fiction Reader's Retreat: Ruthy, Mary, Erica, Debby, Annie, Beth, and Carrie are all participating in the 2019 Christian Fiction Reader's Retreat today in Rockville, MD. Check out the live update blog post that started yesterday (right here on Seekerville) for photographic proof/possible future blackmail potential throughout the weekend.


 
JustRead Publicity Tours are celebrating the release of Mary Connealy's new book THE UNEXPECTED CHAMPION with a blog & review tour that kicks off on Monday, April 8th. Follow along on the JustRead launch page (starting 4/8) to enter for a chance to win the entire High Sierra Sweethearts series.

We're celebrating! Seekerville has once again been named a 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest. A big thank you to all who nominated us! We love our readers!


Be ready for some pretty pictures featuring our own, Mindy Obenhaus' latest release, Her Colorado Cowboy, the 3rd book in the Rocky Mountain Heroes series.  Here's a bit about the book:
Lassoing the single mom’s heart…

Socialite Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses. But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school. As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears?

Plus there's a chance to win this pretty prize pack! It starts on JustRead Publicity Tours' Instagram account on April 9th!

In anticipation of the release of The Crossing at Cypress Creek, book #3
in Pam Hillman's Natchez Trace Novel series,
the first two ebooks are on sale for the entire month of April!
Click here to get The Promise of Breeze Hill!
Click here to get The Road to Magnolia Glen!



$8K in Image Copyright Infringement Penalties: Bloggers, Beware! by Kari DePhillips at The Content Factory. (Thanks to Cate Nolan for the link.)

How to Fall in Love with the Writing Process: 6 Questions to Hone Your Creative Workflow by Bob Mayer at Writer's Digest.

When Slow Writing Leads To Great Writing by Tara East at Live Write Thrive

APODS - Analysis: The Three Ps, Part Two by Amanda Cabot at Thyme For Writers

5 Ways To Use Theme To Create Character Arc (and Visa Versa) by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

8 Mundane Elements You Should Cut From Your Story by Jordan Rosenfeld at Jane Friedman

LIVE (KIND OF!!!!) FROM CHRISTIAN FICTION READERS RETREAT 2019!!!!

A not-really-written blog by Seekers at the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat in Baltimore!




This is not a writing conference.

This...

THIS!!!!!

Is all about joining up authors with you guys... readers... the ones that read our books and love our stories and love us and want to hang out and find out more and, well... you get it... it's about books!

And readers...

And writers....

THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE OF CHRISTIAN FICTION!!!!!


Beth Jamison (beloved daughter and my indie editor for all of my independently published work) and I drove down from Western New York.... many are flying in. Some are driving in. We're all here for a Friday night Meet-and-Greet and an all-day Saturday fun time of prayer, praise, laughter, joy, maybe a tear or two... and a chance to talk and laugh together over a favorite subject: Books! We'll post pics as we get them, but today we're in set-up phase.... and tonight is meet-and-greet.... and we wish every one of you could be here, writers and readers alike!

Maybe next year! Or the one after...

In the meantime, we'll share the fun with you via Seekerville!!!! Here are some pics from the trip down through Pennsylvania and through Maryland (where spring has arrived!!! WE FOUND SPRING!!!!)

A little gathering at Panera with Tina Marie Sinclair, Deb Marvin, Ruth Logan Herne, Beth Jamison and Winnie Thomas  

Here's a tree in full bloom!!!! (forgive me, this is Ruthy and you know spring is about two weeks off in the cold, cold north!!!  But I keep rotating this photo and the GOOGLE GREMLINS won't let it stay, so lie down and look at this one sideways... Oh Mylanta!!!!



Ruthy and Beth at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine outside of Gettysburg, PA.....

Grrr...... The rest of the pictures are all coming through upside down or sideways and it is too late at night to fight with Blogger.... today we'll hit up Starbucks and Krispy Kreme (health food conscious as always....

And then we're helping organize some things for tomorrow....

And then the Meet and Greet tomorrow evening...

And I have noticed that when I do selfies, my short arms keep me way too close to the camera and my nose looks big.

It is a distinct notation that when I start rambling about big noses, it is time for sleep... We'll pop in later with more pictures, friends!

Finessing a Story

I have a book due in less than three weeks. The story is out of my head and on the page, the metamorphosis from idea to book almost complete. But before I can submit this story, it must be finessed.
Finessing involves skillful maneuvering. As writers, we need to skillfully, purposefully, write our stories in a way that takes readers on a journey and leaves them basking in the glow of a satisfying ending.
When finessing a manuscript, there are certain things I look for.
Have I adequately described each setting? 
Each and every scene needs a sense of place to ground it, otherwise you just have talking heads. However, too much description can bore a reader. Too little leaves them wanting and maybe even feeling a little lost. Determine what aspects of your setting are important, then sprinkle those details throughout the scene. Also, ask yourself if you’re showing the reader the scene, allowing them to see it through the POV character’s eyes, or if you’re telling them. 
Showing is always better because it allows the reader to experience the story.
Strong word choices.  
Is your character running, hurrying, scurrying or speeding? Each of these words means, essentially, the same thing, but which is best for the context of your scene? If it’s a lighthearted scene, your heroine might be scurrying to gather things for a party. On the other hand, your police office hero would likely race or speed to the scene of an accident. 
What words best fit the emotion and feel of your scene?
Are my characters actions/reactions believable and appropriate?  
When I receive my line edits, they sometimes contain notes from my editor saying things like, “This seems out of character for her.” Or “His reaction is too strong,” or even, “Not strong enough.”
Whether it’s in word, thought or action, a character’s response to an event or comment, needs to fit not only who the character is becoming, but who they are at their core. Yes, your meek heroine might need to show a little backbone, but does her response show growth and change, that she’s finally standing up for herself, or does she simply come off as rude?

Even as they change, your characters will remain true to their essence.
Characters’ journey. 
Reading is about watching someone embark on a journey. Hopefully, your main characters have grown during the course of your story. But will the reader be able to see that growth?
When a baby is born, he or she is completely helpless. Newborns can’t feed themselves. They can’t hold up their little heads. They can't sit up and they’re only mobile when someone carries them from one place to another. Yet week by week, month by month, they change and grow. So by the time baby’s first birthday rolls around, he or she can do all of these things and more. 
No matter how long or short the timeframe of your story, the characters need to grow and change. But don’t just ask yourself what they can do at the end of the story that they couldn’t do at the beginning. Make sure your reader knows how they got there. Show those baby steps of growth along the way. How did the heroine who was deathly afraid of horses end up being comfortable in the saddle? 

And if you’re writing for the Christian market, don’t forget about their spiritual journey.
Writing a book is a process. All of the elements have come together for a story to be successful. Taking the time to finesse will help ensure the finished product is the best it can possibly be.
Now it's your turn. Readers, in your opinion, what makes a good book great? Writers, how do you know when your manuscripts are ready to submit?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of my latest release, Her Colorado Cowboy.


Lassoing the single mom’s heart…A Rocky Mountain Heroes story

Socialite Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses. But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school. As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears?





Three-time Carol Award nominee, Mindy Obenhaus, writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired Books. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com

After-Critique Part II: What's Next?

An afterthought post by Ruth Logan Herne...

So maybe you played with our online critique party last week and we gave you advice about how to proceed, what we thought, what we liked, didn't like....

Or maybe your critique partner red-lined your work until it's unrecognizable in its current form.

Or it could be that your critique group said that while your writing is beautiful, ten pages of telling is really better than Melatonin to put you to sleep... (guilty, first book ever!!!)

And now you've had the allowed 24 hours of pouting, whining, thinking, grumping...

And you're back to work.

The first book I got revisions on, I panicked. I thought "Can they take the contract back? Are they firing me? IS IT OVER SO SOON???"

Which is hysterical newbie stuff because I write and revise all the time now and I don't blink an eye, nor do I lose any sleep over it. And my 50th book releases in 8 weeks and will go out to thousands of readers through the Harlequin Reader's Service in three weeks... which means I've revised a lot of work in nine years!

And you know why I don't panic, darlings?

Because the story always comes out better!!! Sometimes we're so entrenched in our own 'vision' that we fail to see where that outlook becomes monocular.

A MOST INCONVENIENT LOVE
My newest indie book and first long historical, edited by Beth Jamison, Jamison Editing
Fresh eyes help.

Fresh eyes in an editor's chair aren't just targeted toward the book's well-roundedness, but also toward sales. Trust them to understand who the customer is for that particular line of books and how to reach them. I have taken so much new knowledge away from every editor I've worked with, from Penguin/Random House (Waterbrook) bestselling award-winning series, Amazon's Waterfall (best-selling series) Love Inspired (bestsellers and award winners) Guideposts (crazy hot-selling mystery series "Mysteries of Martha's Vineyard" 2017-19) Harper Collins, Summerside Press, Jamison Editing (for my indie work) and several others who've helped shape stories.

Wishing Bridge Stories From Amazon's Waterfall press, Faith Black Ross, editor 
So when you have people critique your work, take a little time. Step back. See what they're saying.

Sometimes something will jump right out at you and you'll have an aha! moment.

Sometimes you need to think things through and see how you would re-write to fix certain elements.

Her Secret Daughter, Love Inspired Books, Christy Award Finalist, Melissa Endlich, Editor
I re-write all the time.

I love it. Because my first draft and second draft (done together daily) are the "getting words on paper" drafts... but then that's where the creativity begins in my house. How to parse, and simplify and plant foreshadows and thoughts and I am STILL KICKING myself for what I see as a glaring mistake in a book because I forgot to go back and foreshadow something... and two hundred and fifty pages later, that little foreshadow would have supported the point I was making.

OOPS.

Don't be afraid of the rewriting process. We all face it, do it daily, and move on... It's part of the gig.

Wishing you all well!!!!

And hoping those tips pay off in making you a better, stronger, faster writer.

Citius. Altius. Fortius.

(I was a track-and-field and cross-country mom. And a soccer mom. And a tennis mom.)

Faster. Higher. Stronger.

Go for the gold and polish until your work shines.

You both deserve it.

Multi-published, award-winning and bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves God, her family and her country along with an odd assortment of animals who win and lose favor on a regular basis... kind of like kids do. She writes in the wee small hours of the morning so that no one bothers her and then has the rest of the day to eat bon bons and leaf through quaint ladies' magazines... or help run a pumpkin farm and her sprawling large family. She loves chatting with readers and writers. Email her at loganherne@gmail.com or friend her on facebook and stop by her website ruthloganherne.com. She'd love to swap stories with you!

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: Erica Vetsch educated with talk of Accents, Dialects and Historical voice. We had a great discussion, so f you missed it, be sure to check it out!

Wednesday - Friday:  Open Critiques! Good times were had by all!  And the winner of a box of chocolate shipped out from Seekerville to you is KIMBERLY!!!!





Monday:  Mary is on Monday talking about What Happens Next...her method for avoiding writer's block. There will be prizes!
Wednesday:  Mindy will chat with us about Finessing a Story.  Friday: Tune in for more info!!







Barbour books is having a BLOWOUT Sale, including The First Loves Forever Collection! Find out more here: https://www.barbourbooks.com/first-love-forever-romance-collection/

https://www.barbourbooks.com/warehouse-blowout-sale/


No foolin'! Her Colorado Cowboy will be available in ebook format Monday, April 1!

Lassoing the single mom’s heart…Socialite Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses. But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school. As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears?
Order your copy HERE.







Lots of Seekers will be in Rockville, MD, next weekendfor the fabulousChristian Fiction Readers Retreat 2019!Thanks to Just Commonly AKA Annie, Carrie Schmidt and Beth Erinfor organizing another amazing event, featuring 40 authors and 100 readers!Ruth Logan Herne, Mary Connealy, Debby Giusti and Erica Vetschwill be there for the Friday night Meet & Greet and the full-day Retreat on Saturday.Books, Goody bags, Games, Fun, Laughter, Prayer, Singing, More Fun,Talks, Panels, Luncheon, Giveaways, Book Signings, plus lots more!CFRR is The Writer/Reader Event of the Year!




GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY!!!! Ruthy's BookSweeps promotion is going on until NEXT WEDNESDAY!!!!! No cost, no fuss, all youse have to do is click on the link below and follow people on BookBub. Ruthy will be so grateful! You know she loves to make her editors happy and BookBub followers make editors very happy... because BookBub followers get the first news of any new Ruthy book! :)  Enter for a chance to win an e-reader and 30 Small Town Romances!!!! 
LINK TO BOOKSWEEPS ENTRIES!




Book Marketing Tips Introverts Will Love by Penny C. Sansevieri

On the Importance of Having Community by M.K. Rainey at Live Write Thrive

Biting The Bullet - Tracking My Writing Habit by Liz Michalski at Writer Unboxed

The Differences Between a Crime Novel, Mystery Novel and Thriller Novel by David Corbett at Writer's Digest