R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 60

Five Important Website Issues

Perhaps you are a new author and have decided to build a website or you have one up and running. There is much advice floating around about website design. Some is very good and some not so much. After fourteen years of working my own website, I have identified five critical website design issues.

You may have additional ideas and I welcome your comments. But here are mine.

The Home Page

This is regarded as the most critical page because this is where your visitors will most likely land. And this is true whether you have one or more home pages.

More than one?

Yes. As an Independent author I am also an independent publisher. Therefore, I have designed my website as a publisher’s site, and every author (all two of us) have their own Home page, plus more.

The Home page is where you want your usual visitors to come to. Therefore, you will have most or all of your marketing linked to that page. If the visitor Google’s your name (author’s name) it should bring the potential customer to your Home page.

On this page it is always wise to employ good SEO practices. As you build your site you may want to see how well you are doing. I recommend Website Grader, which you can use for free.

The Url

The Url is critical. Put a lot of thought into this. Among the things to consider is whether you are a one book author or you have or will write more books. If you write multiple books, you will want to use your author’s name in your url. The exception would be like a publisher’s site. But even then you want a url that goes to the author page, such as r.-frederick-riddle-books.html. If you are doing your own publishing don’t forget the primary site. Click on the link above to see the full url.

Most of you will have your own personal site. You might wonder why it has to be your name and not the name of a book. Simple. As you write more books you want people to know your name. People may seek a particular book title, but as your name recognition grows they will seek your name.

The About Page

The About page is very important because you want the visitor to know as much about you as you can reveal. How much you reveal is up to you, but a variety of experts say we should include our bio (of writing career), education, awards (if any), and a peak into your personal life.

Only reveal that which you want people to know. And please don’t include your Social Security Number or other potentially vital information.

The Store Page and/or Book Page

A Store page is very important if you sell on site. I would recommend that you also have a Book page where visitors can learn about your books. If not selling on site, it is important to have links from each book to the site(s) where it is sold.

A Book page should include a Cover photo, a description of the book, important stats (such as publisher, author, title, ISBN, and ASIN) and, of course, the links.

Media Page

Aside from potential buyers, you also want the media (newspapers, radio, tv, etc.) to also visit. This page is designed to provide them as much information as possible without their having to search the site. Some of the things included is a listing of every book you’ve written, a photo of you (a professional photo is recommended), links to any blogs you may have written, links to such things as Press Releases and other marketing sites where you are active.

Contact Page

Even if not selling directly, you need this page. It provides an opportunity for your visitors to talk to you. Perhaps they have questions about you, your books, or even an opportunity for your book to be marketed or turned into a movie.

These are only five ideas, but you might want to also include a Blog page (assuming you write a blog). But the five listed above are absolutes. You need these. Seek expert advice and don’t be afraid to visit other authors websites. This will combine a visual with the technical advice available all over the web.

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

Filed under: Author's website, books, Website Design, Writing Tagged: Website, Writing

Show, Don’t Tell!

SHOW DON’T TELL!

When I first began writing I received the advice: Show, don’t tell. But what does that mean and is it good advice?

It pretty much means what it says. When writing a scene, it is often better if your character or characters describe or act out what you want the reader to see. This might mean the character’s thoughts reveal what he is seeing. Or possibly, the conversation reveals a picture of the setting. Or the action. In any case the author is unobserved and the characters are doing the telling.

Sometimes when I want the reader to see the landscape that the characters find themselves in, I reveal it through their eyes, speech, and/or action. Most of the time such an approach enhances the scene.

For example, maybe a character is approaching a house. Instead of simply describing the house, I might have the character silently admiring it. Like this, What a beautiful house! I’ve always liked homes with white picket fences. And look at the those flowers lining the sidewalk! It’s so beautiful and relaxing.

I made that up on the spur of the moment, but you get the idea. The reader’s imagination is triggered and pictures the scene. Sometimes a character can show the scene better than you can tell it.

But not always!

While that advice revolutionized my writing, I am glad that I haven’t followed it to the extreme. The simple truth is that sometimes it is warranted that the narrator (you) gets involved.

For example, in Refuge: The Genesis Chronicles I described the Majestic Mountains at least in part in a narrative form. While I did use ‘show’ from a character’s viewpoint it would have been almost impossible to describe the mountain without straining the character. In the end I did both. I described in broad, colorful terms the overall view, while later on characters were able to expand or even expound on that view.

In Perished, I described a scene introducing the death of Adam. It went like this:

‘Word spread quickly in whispers, shaking heads, and tears. Visitors walked softly. Outside the news spread house to house, to the shops and soon ships were sailing forth with the news.’

 Could I have done that through the characters? Of course I could. But it would have taken longer to get it out. This was only to set the stage for the events that followed. By opting for this approach I created a sense of action that quickly set the stage and prepared the reader – all in one paragraph.

To answer the question Is it good advice, I answer yes, with moderation. As the author you have ultimate control. A general rule of thumb would be to show not tell, but be aware that sometimes telling can be more effective.

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

Filed under: Description, Writing Tagged: Authors, Viewpoint, Writing

A New Year’s Message

Soon we will be entering the year 2017. Before taking a look at what we might expect in the new year, let’s take a look at 2016.

2016 was a very active year, although it didn’t start out that way. It was for us a normal year until March when we bought ourselves a new (for us) 2013 Ford Fiesta. While a great car, it was God’s miraculous hand in our getting it that really stood out. But that is not the subject of today’s blog.

Instead we are looking at T&R Independent Books, our adventure in self-publishing.

Here is how 2016 unfolded:

August/September – T&R Independent Books bought the publishing rights to Perished. This was the foundational book of The World That Was series.
October – T&R Independent Books published the rewritten and reformatted Perished. This was the publisher’s first novel.
November – Perished was placed in the KDP Select program.
December – T&R Independent Books published Noah and the Ark, book two of The World That Was series.
December – T&R Independent Books began seriously getting ready to publish Tress Riddle’s debut novel sometime in January 2017.

As can be seen T&R Independent Books has had a rush of activities in the latter half of the year. It has truly been an exciting and busy year. Behind the scenes Tress Riddle has been working on her first novel, a mystery aimed at teens and young adults.

Also during this past year we have witnessed an explosion politically thinking. In Britain they had the Brexit  vote and in America we had the rise of Donald Trump. In both cases the average citizens revolted against the political elite demanding that they be heard and represented.

Whatever you may think of President-elect Trump he was wise enough to hear the rumblings and tap into them. Here are a few reflections:

November – Donald Trump won the national election for President of the United States.
November – Uninformed men and women took to the streets and rioted in protest. This represented a national disgrace in our education system as the protestors showed their ignorance of the United States government. (We are a representative democracy, not a pure democracy where popular vote dominates.)
November – 3rd party candidate pushed for meaningless but costly recounts. Results were essentially the same.
December – Trump begins assembling cabinet showing that he actually intended to keep his campaign promises.
December – Trump won the Electoral College vote.

If I was writing on political issues I would spend some time addressing the lack of knowledge some people have demonstrated. As mentioned, our country is a representative democracy – a fact our citizens should have learned in high school! It was so designed to prevent large populous states from ruling the country (there are only four or six states that fit that bill) and from anarchy that often comes from pure democracy.

However, this is a blog on writing, so let’s move on.

I am really proud and excited about the achievements of T&R Independent Books! Founded in 2014 by my wife and myself, T&R had to withstand my heart attack and much foundational matters for the fledgling business. But 2016 has been a breakout year for the business.

I have now had three books published by T&R Independent books: So You Want to Write? (2015), Perished (2016), and Noah and the Ark (2016). In the meantime, my wife has been working hard on her debut novel which will soon (probably January) be published.

So what are my predictions for 2017?

Here’s a list of possibilities:

Publication of Tress Riddle’s debut novel.
Rewrite and publish So You Want to Write? with new material.
Write and publish book 3 of The World That Was.
Tress Riddle’s second novel published.

These represent another active year for the Riddle family. Sandwiched in-between are a variety of marketing events. Plus a renewed commitment to this blog.

I am seriously looking into adding video blogs to this blog. I plan to explore the idea of interviewing other authors, plus have videos on writing techniques and aids. I have the capability, but it comes down to cost versus effectiveness.

We wish all of you a happy New Year.

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured in greater detail.

Filed under: blogging, business of writing, Publishing, T&R Independent Books, Uncategorized, World that was, Writing Tagged: blog, blogging, Holiday, New Year, Writing

A Christmas Message

This year Christmas comes on a Sunday. This is the best time ever. People gathered in their respective churches worshiping the very Savior Whose birthday we celebrate!

You will notice that I still call it Christmas. In the world we live in today Christ has been all but taken out of Christmas. Instead you get Xmas. People have forgotten why we celebrate this day.

Over 2000 years ago Jesus was born to a virgin not on Christmas day, but that is when we celebrate His birth. A miraculous event that has never been repeated (although some will try to prove it has happened). The world doesn’t mind Him as long as He stays in the manger, but it bothers them greatly when He preaches and claims to be the One True God, the Only Way to Heaven.

The truth is that we don’t know when Christ was born. One belief, supported by both Biblical and secular history is that He was born sometime in the September/October period of time. One supporting fact is that such a time would agree with the shepherds being in the fields not too far from Bethlehem. Back when I had my own podcast I did a program on the subject of Christ’s real birthday.

I studied the subject and discovered that people who put a lot of emphasis on numbers arrived at a time in September. They even identified the day and year! I don’t know if they are right (I’m not into numerology), but when all the facts and speculations are put together September and October seem far more likely than December.

But the best we can do is speculate as to the actual date. It would be nice to know the date, but God has withheld that information. Probably because we would turn the date into some idolatrous thing. In any case, we simply don’t know the right date.

You might ask why I am writing this in a blog devoted to authoring. But our writing careers would not exist but for what He did on the Cross. There would not be Christian anything. We would all still be in our sins, without hope. Not only did He save us, he has directed our lives. And He gave us whatever writing talent we may have!

He saved us, equipped us, and is using us. Not just us, but He uses other Christians as well. Perhaps you. So whether you attend church on Christmas day (I hope you do) or not, it is a good time to remember what He did for us.

This Christmas take time to remember Him. I thank Him every day for my salvation, but on Christmas that thanks takes on a deeper more intimate meaning. He delivered me from the bondage of sin and provides daily strength and guidance.

There is much going on during Christmas day, let’s not forget the One it is all about!

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

Filed under: Christmas, Uncategorized, Writing Tagged: Christmas, Holiday, Writing

What a Week!

Have you noticed that you haven’t seen my blog in over a week? Well, it wasn’t planned that way.
A week ago last Wednesday my wife and I were on the way to church when our car suddenly shifted in to neutral (or at least seemed to).  The engine was racing, but the car was coming to a stop. After stopping I turned the car off, then a few moments later turned it on again, and shifted into drive. The car was working again!
We arrived at church and I immediately sought out two friends who have been or are car mechanics. After church service, they checked the car out and took it for a test drive. Their verdict: Transmission.
Not something I wanted to hear, but I knew they were right. The next day I took the car to the dealership where I bought the car. Fortunately the car had an extended warranty on the transmission (by manufacturer).
However, while I waited for the car to be repaired I was without personal transportation. So Teresa’s sister stepped forward and provided it.
But that was not the only thing that happened.
Enter the Charlotte Crud. That is the name we in Port Charlotte call a disease that hits about this time each year. It is not always the same, but seems like a really bad cold. You lose your energy and do a lot of coughing. It doesn’t last only a day or even two days. It can last weeks. In my case it lasted at least a week. Being the loving husband, I shared it with my wife and hers’ lasted about a week.
The result of these two situations was that I got very little accomplished. I was able to get enough energy to publish my second book of The World That Was series, Noah and the Ark. It is now available on Amazon and will soon be published by Smashwords (after I do the necessary preparation).
However, most tasks that I normally perform didn’t get done and that includes this blog. But now I am back.
I am really thankful that the Lord God watched over us throughout these days keeping us safe from harm on the road and healing us from sickness. I also am thankful that he provided Teresa’s sister to chauffeur us around. That was a blessing.
By the way, the series The World That Was is now available on Amazon with two books, Perished and Noah and the Ark. If you know someone who loves reading historical fiction these books would make an excellent Christmas gift. Take advantage of this season as next year the prices may go up. Best way to get these is to visit my website and go directly to the Amazon page. Just click here.
 Your comments are welcome. Just make a comment below.

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

Filed under: Life, Noah and the Ark, Uncategorized, World that was, writers, Writing Tagged: Authors, blog, blogging, Noah, novels, Writing

Are You A Real Author? Part III

This four part blog asks you four questions and addresses each. Here is the third question:

DO YOU HAVE A TRIBE?

Another way of saying this is, Do you have fans? Or readers who love your books? Or an audience?

Every author wants (or should want) to have a tribe. And every time you sell your book that tribe grows. That tribe will include people you don’t know, but it will most likely also include people who you do know.

How?

By building your email list. This takes time, so be patient.

How do you build your email list? There are a multitude of ideas on this subject. Believe me, because I have check several out. Here is a partial list of building ideas:

Friends who like your book
Relatives who like your book
Blog followers
FaceBook followers
Twitter followers
LinkedIn followers

In other words, anyone who has given you their email address and likes your books!

So how do I use the email list?

First, you need a provider. There are quite a few out there. I am familiar with three: Vertical Response, MailChimp, and Benchmark. All three are good, although I am only now learning about Benchmark. So far I have been impressed and amazed with the tools they provide within their Free package.

Google email marketing providers to find a more complete listing. Check them out and decided for yourself which is best for you.

How big should my email list be?

That’s a good question. I recently read where one expert suggests 1,000. That is 1,000 people who really like your books – the true fans! So, practically speaking, you should have several times that many.

Secondly, you need to incorporate the email list into your marketing plan. Caution: you don’t want to saturate them with your ads, it will turn them off! Remembering this is separate from your Social Media Campaign (below) send out periodic emails announcing:

Upcoming books
New books
Specials
More

But don’t overdue it.

What about Social Media?

An effective Social Media Campaign requires the input of some money. Not necessarily a lot of money. So first determine what your budget allows. Next determine where you will focus your efforts. Some experts discount Twitter, but others are high on it. Your best course of action is to experiment and discover which two work best for you.

One last thought. You may not yet have 1,000 true fans. Use your email list to garner them.

 As always I am interested in your comments.

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

His eBook Perished: The World That Was (Volume 1) can be found on Amazon Kindle. The paperback edition is found on Amazon.

Filed under: Facebook, Marketing, marketing strategies, Marketing Techniques, Social Marketing, Twitter, Writing Tagged: marketing, Social Media Marketing, Tribe, Writing

Are you a Real Author? Part II

This four part blog asks you four questions and addresses each. Here is the second question:

DO YOU HAVE A PLATFORM?

Different people have different ideas about what a platform is. Here is my definition: A platform is a website, a blog, and social media.

A Website

I’ve talked about this before, but it cannot be overstated. An author needs to have a website. And not just any old website. An author needs to own a website.

Now this can have different connotations, so let me be specific. An author should have an website that reflects who they are. This can mean:

A website that reflects the book you’ve written
A website that reflects your name or alias
A website that reflects the you as an independent author.

For example, a website that reflects your book’s name will work if you have written only one book and won’t be writing new books. But if you write more than one book, such a website would be poor. Instead, you will want the website to reflect you as an author. By reflecting I mean both the domain name and the content would emphasize you as an author. I have used RFrederickRiddle.com as my website name.

However, when we founded T&R Independent Books and I decided to set up a new website, I created a typical publisher’s website where the author has his or her own pages. My former website RFrederickRiddle.com redirects to my author’s pages on the publisher website.

The important thing is that you want critical information within the domain name. In my former website it included my name and my new pages also include my name. This is a very important consideration, so if you have not done so yet, seriously consider it.

For more indepth wisdom check out my blog article, Hosting Your Website.

A Blog

As you know my blog’s url is RFrederickRiddleBlog.com. It tells the potential reader who I am and that it is a blog.

Your blog does not have to be about writing, but it should be about something you know and can be passionate about. And it should interest readers.

Social Media

You need to have a social media presence. While you don’t need to use everything that’s available, you should certainly be on at least two social media platforms. I use Twitter and Facebook, plus Goodreads and Bublish. Some authors also like LinkedIn, although that is primarily aimed at business to business.

It is not necessary to spend every minute of the day on your social media, but you should be active.

Why Is Having A Platform So Important?

Because people want to know about you and your book(s). And you want people to know about you and your books. Social Media provides excellent opportunities to self promote both yourself and your book.

Take a moment or two and tell us about your platform.

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

His eBook Perished: The World That Was (Volume 1) can be found on Amazon Kindle. The paperback edition is found on Amazon.

Filed under: Authors, business of writing, Facebook, Marketing, Social Marketing, Website development, writers, Writing, Writing Techniques Tagged: Authors, Website, Writing, Writing tools

Are You A Real Author? Part I

This four part blog asks you four questions and addresses each. Here is the first question:

Do you have a clear message?

Let me start at the beginning. When you write you should be writing with your reader in mind. Don’t get me wrong, I write books that I, the author, enjoy and so should you. But you also need to write for others.

Everyone of my books are written for people who enjoy Christian fiction and historical fiction. That said, what is your message?

Are you just relating a story or do you have something to offer? I believe that one reason it took so long before I published my first novel in 2003 is that every story I wrote had no message. But when I wrote Refuge: The Genesis Chronicles, I wrote with the idea of bringing the Biblical facts to life and giving people insights into the Biblical story.

Ever since then that or something similar has been my message: Bringing the facts to life. I would say that is one of the unique things I do. According to one reviewer I brought the people, places, and events alive giving her a deeper, wider understanding to the Biblical events.

The title of today’s blog is: Are you a Real Author. In other words, does your story jump off the pages? Do people like certain characters? Do they identify with them?

That is what the craft of writing is all about. Namely, to get the reader to use his/her imagination and be able to picture the unfolding story. If you can accomplish that you have become a real author!

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

His eBook Perished: The World That Was can be found on Amazon Kindle. The paperback edition is found on Amazon.

Filed under: Authors, fiction, Focus, Message, writers, Writing, Writing Techniques Tagged: Character, fiction, Grammar, Writing, writing tips, Writing tools

Getting Book Reviews

How do you get book reviews?

This is a time question since I am currently seeking reviewers for my latest novel, Perished: The World That Was (Volume 1). Over the years I have used different approaches. My primary approach in the past was to make use of First Wild Card reviews. However, that is no longer available.

So I have move on to a broader, and potentially, more effective approach. In this blog I will share with you some of this overall strategy. Let’s start now.

Strategy.

As a member of KDP Select make use of Free Days. My first set of 2 days are November 3 – 4 (Thursday and Friday). I use this in conjunction with my inquiry, offering the reviewer a free Kindle copy.
Emailing friends/relatives and inviting them to review my book. I offer them the free Kindle (on 3rd and 4th).
Research and contact actual book reviewers, offering them the free Kindle, a PDF copy, a ePub copy, a Mobi copy, or a paperback.
Make use of a Goodreads review request.

I can ask friends?

Yes. But don’t be surprised if they don’t respond. Friends want you to succeed, but for a variety of personal reasons may not want to be a reviewer. It’s not personal, so don’t take it personally.

What are the results?

Since I just began using this strategy it is too early to be concerned about results, although I have already had three positives replies. This is an ongoing process that will take weeks and maybe months for me to complete.

In number 3 above I mentioned research. I used Indie Book Reviewers, although there are others out there.

How many book reviewers do you need?

I have heard several different answers to this. One is to get as many reviewers as possible. I totally agree with that as a long term goal. But short term I believe your goal should be a minimum of twenty. (If you fail to get twenty it is not a disaster. It’s a goal not a requirement.)

Who can review a book?

There are different types of reviewers. The Indie list covers those men and women who are professional in their approach yet charge no fee. (Using paid reviewers on a limited bases may be ok, but don’t build on them.) Then you have the more casual reviewer who occasionally reviews a book, but still takes the job of reviewing seriously. Finally, there are those who may never have reviewed a book before, but love to read.

All of these are acceptable. Try for a mix, if possible. You can find lists like the Indie Reviewers by Googling ‘book reviewers’ or something similar.

When doing your research remember that not all reviewers are interested in your particular genre. If possible visit their website and discover their likes and dislikes. And are they accepting books for review and what format they require?

How do you ask for a review?

This varies according to the type of review you are seeking. For example, when contacting friends/relatives your approach is more personal. You are actually asking for a favor, so I suggest you begin with “may I ask a favor of you?” or something along that line.

With the others you want a more professional approach. I will show an example in a moment.

There are at least two ways of doing this. One is to send out an email to all your potential reviewers at one time. This has the benefit of saving you time. But different reviewers have different requirements and a one letter fits all approach could backfire. I prefer one reviewer at a time. Requires more time and effort, but allows for a more personal and accurate approach.

Did you get the idea that seeking reviewers is work? Good, because it is. But don’t be afraid of it. Book reviews can be beneficial to your marketing efforts. With that in mind, what follows is an example of valuable content to include in your inquiry.

An Example

But no matter who you are asking or how you contact them you need to provide them with certain information. So with that in mind here is an example of information I recently sent out: (The highlighted parts are necessary.)

Title: Perished: The World That Was (Volume 1)
Publisher: T&R Independent Books (http://tr-indbkstore.com)
Published: 10-12-16 using Create Space publishing platform


Author: R. Frederick Riddle
Pages: 469 (paperback)
Reading age: 18+
ASIN: B01M4IDHNY
ISBN: 1537476378
ISBN-13: 978-1537476377

I also provided a brief description of the book. (Some reviewers may request an excerpt.)

Here’s my example:

Based on the first six chapters of the Book of Genesis this story brings to life the Bible especially as it relates to places, events, and people. You get to meet and know such people as Adam, Eve, Enoch, Methuselah, and Noah as well as Cain and his descendants.

And remember to thank them. You are asking them to do something for you and that includes taking the time to read your inquiry. So thank them.

In conclusion, let me add that while this is a blog and not a inquiry, if any of you readers would like to review my book, feel free to contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

And thank you!

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R Frederick Riddle is co-founder and vice president of T&R Independent Books, an author of six novels, and blogger. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page.

Filed under: Authors, book review, Book review inquiry letter, Getting book reviews, marketing strategies, Writing Tagged: Authors, book review, inquiry letters, Writing

The Consequences of Research

That’s an interesting title to this blog, but I think you’ll understand better when I am finished.

From the day I began writing I have believed that a good author should support his work with diligent research. Since most of my writing deals with Biblical history it meant really digging into the Bible.

However, it also required me to dig into secular history. This is much harder because not all countries keep accurate historical records. For example, Egypt is a country with a rich history, but its records are confusing, at best.

When writing about Shem (The Rise of Shem) I quickly learned this fact. So what did I do. First, I looked for other secular sources that might provide accurate information. In a few instances I went only with the Biblical record.

This was true when dealing with time frames. Egyptian chronology is a mess. The consequence of this meant I had to reconstruct history as best I could by comparing Biblical chronology and Egyptian chronology. This was necessary to bring a semblance of reliability.

Why was this so important?

The story ranged from the Mountains of Ararat to Egypt and to Libya. As a storyteller I wanted the story to be as accurate as possible although it is a novel.

Another example of consequences was the writing of Refuge: The Genesis Chronicles and Perished: The World That Was. Both of these books dealt with the pre-Flood world.

Unfortunately there is precious little evidence of that world in secular writings.

The consequence of this fact was that I had to dig deeper and widen my net. I not only looked at the Biblical record, I also took a look at myths. While obviously myths they did provide hints at what ancient people believed about their past.

But while studying this issue I made a discovery.

Both in Biblical and secular history there was a sudden explosion of societal growth. Nations were founded, knowledge increased tremendously, and both economic and military growth were demonstrated. In the Bible this phenomenon occurred right after the Flood, while in secular history it simply occurs with no apparent reason.

But when I made the assumption that the Bible was correct and that it happened right after the Flood I discovered what I regard as a truth: The only way society could have advanced so far so fast was if they already had the fundamentals!

Using that truism I narrowed my study to the first 500 years after the Flood. It is simply amazing how advanced the society became in that short period of time. That realization led me to this conclusion: Those 500 years afford us a peek into the past; a peek into the world existing before the Flood.

That opened the past up for me and enabled me to write a reasonable description of what that world was like. Reasonable and probable. It made my novel work!

An author should never be afraid of the consequences of research. Sure, you may discover things that contradict your presuppositions, but you may also learn something powerful and transforming that will take your book to the next level.

Now you may have noticed that I made some assumptions along the way. This is true of all writers, no matter what their views are. My assumptions were that the Bible is always correct (a proven fact) and that secular history is often influenced by other factors other than a search for truth. I also made assumptions about the 500 years. These assumptions had the consequence of opening up my story and bringing it alive!

Your research may not take you where mine took me, but good solid researching will uncover facts that you can incorporate into your novel. The more facts you have, the more believable your story.

Perhaps you have been researching a particular subject. Has it changed your views or heightened them?

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books. For more information on him visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured.

His eBook Perished: The World That Was can be found on Amazon Kindle. The paperback edition is found on Amazon.

Filed under: book research, books, Creation, History of the Bible, Noah and the Ark, World that was, Writing Tagged: Authors, book research, fiction, history, Writing