Is Our Culture Becoming Too Critical and Open?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Lately an author friend shared a snippet of a critical email she received from one of her readers. After reading the rather brash words, I was struck with the feeling of, "Wow, since when did readers become so critical?"

In my opinion the reader had a condescending tone and mentioned some nit-picky issues that had no bearing on the worth of the story. (In fact, I've read the book–which is excellent and has finaled in numerous national contests–and I didn't notice those issues).

As I thought about my friend's email along with some of the more negative reviews and emails I've gotten, I couldn't help but wonder, have readers always been so open with their thoughts or is this analytical honesty a growing trend?

On the one hand, readers have always enjoyed discussing the merits or problems they find in books–hence the popularity of book clubs.

On the other hand, I can't help but think we're seeing an increase in readers sharing their thoughts about books more publicly (instead of privately or in the confines of book groups). And hence with the increased openness, we're also seeing more negativity (as well as positivity).

And let's face it, when a handful of people start being brutally honest or saying exactly how they feel (without holding back), and other people read those comments or tweets or reviews, then it opens the windows for them to share just as openly too.

Obviously the growth of social media has changed the way our culture operates. Every TV show has a Twitter hashtag for live tweeting. Every star has a Facebook page for interacting. And every book has a Goodreads page for reviews.

People everywhere are voicing their thoughts and opinions about everything, without reservation. The windows are wide open, the bars are down, and people feel the freedom to say whatever they want no matter the repercussions.

In fact, when I was recently watching American Idol and browsed the idol hashtag, I was surprised by the level of emotion (even cussing) that people tweeted when their favorite contestant was voted off. And during the Survivor finale, I was taken aback by the number of blatant hate tweets leveled at one of the finalists.

Many were spewing out whatever came to their minds. And when so many are vomiting their every thought (whether critical or not), then that gives others permission to do the same.

Does that permission to vomit our every thought carry over into the reading world as well?

As an author, I admit, I'm usually a much more critical reader than non-writers. I can rarely read a book without my internal editor turning on. I analyze the writing mechanics, plot, characters, you name it. It takes a well-written and riveting plot to capture me.

But because I know this criticalness is a hazard of the occupation, I also tend to be gracious in my reviews. I realize that most average readers will probably like the stories that I don't. They don't have the same expectations that I do. Thus I'm careful to temper my reviews with grace.

I've realized that in a culture of openness, I don't want my subjective criticisms to negatively sway someone who may not have even picked up on the faults if I hadn't pointed them out. Why focus on the wilted petal on an otherwise beautiful blooming flower?

The other issue is that after being in the public spotlight with my own books, I've come to realize that no one is perfect. I won't be able to write perfectly and therefore I shouldn't expect it of others. If they have some faults in their book, I remind myself that I have just as many, if not more.

All that to say, sometimes I wonder if we're taking our public openness too far these days. For example, when people read scathing reviews on Amazon, does that make them feel that they have the permission to write the same? When readers nitpick a book, then does everyone begin to think a nit-picking review is the norm? Even going so far as to send nit-picking emails to authors?

Yes, I've thrown out a lot of thoughts for us to think about today! But this openness is an issue I'm still mulling over and trying to understand. My conclusion for today is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Put yourself in the shoes of the person you're criticizing. If you wouldn't like it done to you, then why do it to someone else?

What are YOUR thoughts? Do you think our culture has become too open and thus perhaps inadvertently fostered an attitude of negativity? Or do you think the openness is a good thing?

Writing Time: A Guilty Pleasure or a Necessity?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Summer is quickly arriving. And for most of us that means our nice neat schedules get turned upside down and shaken around. Whether it's having the kids home, one-hundred-and-one summer activities, the family vacation, or out-of-town company, we usually find ourselves scrambling to find writing time.

Not only are we chasing after that allusive time, but when we DO actually catch a free moment, we feel GUILTY, like we should be out playing in the sunshine with the kids, or heading to the beach, or walking the dog.

Yes, we writers are good at feeling guilty for "sneaking" in writing time. But is writing time a guilty pleasure or is it a necessity?

Of course, those writers who are under contract, who have advances, or who have a steady income from their books, might be able to more easily justify holing away in front of their laptops while the sun is beaming brilliantly and summer activities beckon.

And yet, I still find myself struggling with writer's guilt, even though I'm a wage-earning, work-from-home, published author. Whether we're published or not, we all experience guilt. I think it's inherent to working at home, no matter what the job. We're easily distracted by what goes on in our homes. And our families are quick to interrupt us.

And let's face it, for writers, it's even easier to feel that pressure. After all, we spend hours dreaming up stories, devising twisted plots, and writing about people who exist only in our imaginations. And the thing is, we actually love it. We thrive on it. We usually wish we had more time for it.

Should we feel guilty for loving what we do, for actually deriving pleasure in our jobs, especially when WORK is a dirty word for so many people? Or should we feel sorry for those who don't have that same privilege, for those whose work is drudgery, who aren't able to use their gifts and talents, or who are caught in a dead-end job for reasons they can't control?

Perhaps instead of feeling guilty, we can count it a blessing that we can get out of bed every day and do something we love so much.

And we can also accept the fact that writing (or using our talents) is a necessity. It's the way we're designed. As human beings, we're each uniquely wired, and we function best when we're doing the job we're wired to do. Our mental health and physical well-being flourish when we're doing what we were created to do.

All that to say, we can't let summer derail our writing efforts. It's not a guilty pleasure. It's a necessity (whether we're published or not). And here are just a few ways to alleviate writer's guilt:

1. Set blocks of work time. Be clear with your family when those times are. Post it on the refrig or on the calendar. Then everyone knows when you're busy and when you're not.

2. Plan scheduled time or days off. If the family knows when you're working AND also when you're free, then it's easier for them to respect your work time. They'll know that they get YOU later in the day or later in the week during that planned time.

3. Consider getting help. A couple summers ago, I hired a college-age young woman to come over a couple afternoons a week and watch my kids, drive them to activities, and take them swimming. Then I didn't feel so guilty that my kids were sitting at home on such nice days. They were still able to get out and enjoy summer activities.

4. Teach our family/kids that it's okay to be home. Yes, summer is a wonderful time to be doing camps and swim lessons and all that other good stuff. But we also have to remind ourselves that it's okay for our kids to play at home. We don't have to fill our lives with every activity available to mankind. In fact, some of the best creative play comes when kids are allowed the space and time to use their imaginations.

5. Take full advantage of our work time. When I get a block of concentrated writing time, I don't respond to emails. I don't write blog posts. I don't answer interviews. I don't do anything except work on my stories.

How about you? Do you ever feel writer's guilt? Is writing a guilty pleasure for you or a necessity?

Seven Ideas for Crafting Creative Book Reviews

*Pin Credit: Caroline Flory*

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I've been really blessed with some fantastic readers! I don't catch all the blog reviews that readers post about my books, but when one comes to my attention, I try to add it to an ongoing list on my Books Page.

So far readers have written over 40 blog reviews for A Noble Groom (and if I've missed your review, PLEASE let me know!) A BIG thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write something up! I appreciate it SO much!

From a reader's perspective, I appreciate the wide variety of types of reviews.

The least helpful to me personally are the book reviews that simply give an overview of the plot. Usually I can get that kind of summary by reading the book description or back cover blurb. The exception is when I'm reading reviews on books that my kids want to read. Then as a mom, I appreciate a longer, more detailed summary of what's in the book.

The most helpful types of reviews are those that offer personal impressions, in particular what the reader really enjoyed about the book and then perhaps what didn't resonate (if anything). I really like when readers break down the review into smaller sub-sections like "What I Liked" and "What I Didn't Care For" or categories like Plot, Characters, and Writing Style similar to what Kathi O. Peterson did in her review of A Noble Groom.

From an author's perspective, I appreciate any review or mention of my book no matter how big or small and no matter how it's organized! Lately in particular, I've noticed that some reviewers have been thinking outside the box and offering their reviews in various formats.

Here are just a few of the creative types of reviews that readers have done with my latest book A Noble Groom: 

1. Spotlighting the main characters in a movie star format. Rel Mollet does a great job at this, and here's her Character Spotlight for Carl and Annalisa the main characters in A Noble Groom. She describes the character's physical appearance, what movie star they resemble, quirks, and strengths and weaknesses.

2. Chatting with the main characters in an interview format. Karlene Jacobsen made herself the interviewer and asked questions of both Carl and Annalisa like how they met, whether it was love at first sight, why he decided to stay and help Annalisa on her farm, etc.

3. Sharing the writing lessons learned from the book. Amanda Barratt picked five writing lessons she learned from reading A Noble Groom including lessons about similes and metaphors, conflict, descriptions, making likable characters, and romantic tension.

4. Making a video review of the book. JoJo Sutis from JoJo's Corner does a variety of video book reviews and recently did one for A Noble Groom. She starts by giving a basic description of what the book is about and then ends with her specific impressions of the characters, themes, etc.

Here's an idea of what she does:




5. Making Pinterest pins out of quotes from the book. Caroline Flory made pins out of quotes that were meaningful to her from the book. She pinned them onto Pinterest, used them in her review, and also sent them to me so that I could use them too. (The top picture of this post is one of her pins!)

6. Sharing the review in a party format. Jill Kemerer does a fantastic job celebrating releases and supporting author friends. For every one of my releases, she's thrown a party, had virtual food, invited friends to join in the fun, had giveaways, and celebrated the milestone.

7. Writing a short story or poem to highlight the author or review. Lisa Bartelt did a great job with this, basing her review off the book series by Laura Numeroff’s brilliant “If You Give a …” series of books. To give you an idea of what she did, here's her review:

If you give me a book by Jody Hedlund, I will want to start reading it right away.

If I start reading it right away, I will let the children play anywhere in the house.

If I let the children play anywhere in the house, the house will get messy.

I will feel guilty and want to clean.

I will help them pick up,

Make them dinner,

And put them in bed as early as possible so I can get back to my book.

If the kids are in bed and the house is quiet, I will keep reading.

I will stay up too late.

In the morning, I will need extra coffee to start my day.

If I’m drinking coffee, I will need a book to read.

So I’ll continue reading the new Jody Hedlund book.

One cup of coffee will turn to two.

And soon it’s midmorning and I haven’t washed a dish or folded a piece of laundry.

I will Tweet the author to tell her my house is being ignored because her book is so good.

She will have no sympathy and tell me I can clean later.

I will turn on cartoons so the kids will leave me alone to finish the book.

I will set the book down a dozen times near the end to wait on them.

When I read the last word, I will close the book,

And sigh.

I will plunge my hands in the dishwater and feel a sense of loss.

Because if I finish a Jody Hedlund book, chances are,

I’ll want to read another one. ~Lisa Bartelt

So what kind of reviews are most helpful to you? What kinds are the least helpful?

Theme: What is It? And How Do We Develop One?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

In interview questions I'm often asked, "What is the message you'd like readers to take away from your book?" or "What is the theme of your book?"

Those kinds of questions are deep and aren't necessarily easy to answer.

What exactly is a theme? And how do we go about developing one?

In his book for screen writers, The Moral Premise, Stanley D. Williams gives an intense, very detailed look at message vs. theme vs. moral premise. He boils it down into an almost scientific distinction. And while I appreciate the breakdown, it's a little confusing and I'm not sure that we as writers need to get bogged down with trying to decipher between all the terms.

Whether we call it message, theme, or moral premise, the key is coming up with a universal truth that touches the heart of readers. Williams says, "Audiences come to stories looking for answers or hints about life's meaning. And when stories give them new insights, they're given fresh hope for a better future."

He defines this concept as "the dramatic heart" or the "practical lesson" of a story.

Ultimately a theme will be an over-arching and controlling idea that is woven throughout the story that teaches, inspires, or otherwise draws in a reader so that they can relate to the characters.

Perhaps our readers won't always be able to directly point out what the theme of the book is, but it will resonate with them and connect them to the story on a deeper level. In fact, a good storyteller should work at weaving in the theme so that readers don't see it. They just feel it.

What a theme is NOT:

–It is NOT preaching at our readers.

–It is NOT giving a political tirade.

–It is NOT using a story as our soap box.

–It is NOT badgering our readers into believing something.

Instead a theme is the whisper of a powerful and transcending truth that echoes deeply within the human soul. It's the aura and beauty that readers can cling to and remember long after they close the pages.

Themes will vary, but the more widely appealing we can make our themes, the broader audience we'll reach. Of course there will be writers who may hone in on narrower themes that will appeal to a niche audience. And that's oaky too. But writers need to recognize that the more universal the theme, the more readers will be able to relate.

So what are some common themes? Here are a few:

–Perseverance leads to growth.

–True love is difficult to vanquish.

–Letting go of bitterness and learning to forgive is freeing.

–Truthfulness leads to hope and life.

–Humility is the handmaiden of honor.

Obviously there are many, many more universal themes. Once we know the main theme of our book, then we're in a position to use that as a measuring stick that keeps our story moving forward with intentionality:

–Theme can be used in both the external and internal plot. Whatever the character is dealing with internally as a result of the theme can also show up in the external plot.

For example in A Noble Groom my hero is in the habit of running away from problems. He has to learn that running away leads to cowardice, but staying and fighting develops courage. He does this on two levels. Externally he physically turns himself around and races into the heart of a ferocious wild fire to fight to save the family he's come to love. And internally he has to stop running from his fear of marriage. The theme shows up both externally and internally.

–Theme can be used in symbols throughout our story. We can place strategic items within the lives of our characters that mirror the theme.

For example, in The Doctor's Lady my heroine has a cameo pin. The pin represents her ties to her family and all that's important to her. Throughout the book she's learning that letting go of prejudices leads to greater opportunities to love. She has to let go of her past expectations and the life she once knew. At the end of the book she fulfills the theme symbolically by giving her cameo pin to an Indian woman.

Besides plot and symbols, theme can show up in lots of other places throughout our books. We can weave it into character growth, setting, dialogue, backstory, etc. The trick is to do so invisibly so that reader doesn't know we're doing it. But in the end, the story resonates within them because the truth touches them deeply.

How much thought do you put into developing the themes of your books? Do you think it's necessary for a book to have a theme? Why or why not?

On Growing Older and Wiser . . .

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Since Mother's Day is just around the corner, I wanted to take this chance to wish all the mothers reading this blog a happy Mother's Day!

I always chuckle when I see "mom-humor" pins and pictures because I've been there and done that plenty of times over the years.

Like most kids, when I was growing up I didn't appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices my mom made for me. Nor did I realize the incredible amount of time and effort she was continually pouring out.

But there's a funny thing that happens as you get older (especially when you have your own kids). And that's this: You begin to see your parents, particularly your mom, in a new light. As you raise your own kids and deal with struggles, you FINALLY empathize with what life was once like for her. And you realize she was a saint for putting up with you back when you were so awful.

I now realize that everything my mom did was because she loved me and wanted me to turn into a hard-working, well-functioning, wholesome adult. Not because she loved to torture me with chores or rules.

I have to remind my kids of these truths quite often. I'm not trying to make their lives miserable by making them work or limiting their screen time. Everything I do for them is out of a deep love–because I want them to be able to thrive when they grow up.

And while I get glimmers that they understand that concept from time to time, I have the feeling they won't be able to fully grasp it until they're adults, especially when they begin training their own children.

The growing older and wiser principle can apply to a lot of things in life, can't it?

When I think about the writing life, for example, I realize that growing older and wiser applies there too. Once upon a time, before I was published, I had certain expectations about what life was like for a published author. I believed that once I was published the road would be paved with roses and rainbows. And that every day would be filled with sunshine.

When I looked at other published authors, I only saw their success, smiles, and popularity. I thought that getting an agent, a book deal, and being a multi-published author would somehow catapult me to the "other side."

But now that I'm here, I realize there really is no "other side." I'm not all that different than I was before. I still have bad days. Things don't always go perfectly in my life. And some days the road is paved with dandelions and thunderstorms.

In looking back at the naive young writer I used to be, I see that I wasn't able to appreciate just how hard those more experienced authors worked day in and day out. I didn't understand the incredible amount of time and perseverance they'd put in to get where they're at. I didn't realize all the sweat and tears they'd shed to reach success.

But now that I'm more experienced myself, I can appreciate (just like in parenting!) those who've gone before me. I see them in a new light. I now realize what it takes. And I can look upon all of their accomplishments with more awe because finally I know first-hand just how hard it truly is.

Yes, growing older and wiser is a funny thing. We realize how foolish we once were and at the same time recognize how far we still have to go.

This Mother's Day I'm reminded of just how much I have to appreciate about my Mom and all she did for me. And I'm reminded to stay humble and not take for granted any of those who are ahead of me in this journey of life.

How about you? Are you doing anything special to celebrate Mother's Day? How have YOU grown older and wiser over the years?

Social Media for Writers: A Kool-Aid Drinking Cult?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Last week I read an interesting article about social media called, "I Drank the Social Media Kool-Aid."

The article was written anonymously and compared social media (Twitter in particular) to a "junior high school clique, an impenetrable inner circle."

And as the title of the article implies, the author apparently feels he or she has been fooled by industry professionals into believing social media was "the answer" similar to those who join a kool-aid drinking cult believe whatever they're told.

Of course I had to smile at the comparisons. They're just slightly embellished to make a point. And the point is well-taken. Anywhere we go in life, there will always be those who are unfriendly and treat us like an outsider. And I'm sure there are groups, even among writers, who get cliquish.

But strangely, I've not had the same experience as Anonymous among the large online writing community. I've had an active social media presence over the past several years. And honestly, I can't remember a time when I was shunned, where I got the cold shoulder, or when more "popular" people refused to talk to me.

I've actually had the opposite experience. I've had published authors, agents, and editors stop by my blog or interact with me on Twitter. I've rubbed shoulders with a huge variety of industry professionals.

I've found the barriers that once separated people seem to fall away on social media.

But what about those who jump into social media because they're told they must build a platform, only to experience what Anonymous did in the article listed above, the cliques or the disillusioned cult-like feeling? Why do some people end up feeling that way?

Here are a few things Anonymous said along with my thoughts:

1. Regarding giving and taking: 

Anonymous said: "I frequently retweeted the postings of a number of writers, who never retweeted mine—even though our web sites served overlapping audiences . . . They (other writers) only posted their own work and that of a handful of online associates."

My response: I NEVER retweet anyone with the expectation that they must retweet me. Never. In fact, I never endorse, promote, or otherwise help another writer expecting they do something back for me. I give without any strings attached.

Moreover, when I tweet links, I do so because I think the information is something that will interest or benefit my followers. I don't pay attention to WHO wrote the article as much as WHAT the content is about and whether it will appeal to others.

Social media really works best when we aren't thinking about what we can get out of it for ourselves but rather with the mindset of what we can do for others. And usually in the process of blessing others, we're blessed in return.

2. Regarding interacting: 

Anonymous said: "These writers gave nothing away, no response of any kind, just a surrounding silence."

My response: I always interact with people who chat directly with me (unless they're spamming me). I never intentionally ignore a tweet or comment (although some may have slipped through the cracks).

On the flip side, I don't often make the time to watch my tweet or facebook streams and begin conversations anymore. For various reasons, I've cut back the amount of time I actually socialize on twitter or other sites.

All that to say, if any writer is hesitant or feels left out, the best thing to do is to start initiating the conversations. Don't sit on the sidelines and wait for others to notice you. Like any other social situation, we have to jump right in and start talking. As the saying goes, we have to be a friend to make a friend.

3. Regarding building a platform: 

Anonymous said: "We writers are told we must have a platform, if we want agents and publishers to even consider our work, and the major social media sites are critical elements of that platform."

My response: I've recently done a couple of blog posts about social media for novelists. In my post, "The Changing Nature of Blogging for Fiction Writers" I mentioned that my large social media platform has not helped me sell significantly more books. Sure, it's been helpful in other ways. But by and large, fiction writers will build their platform by writing one great book after another.

4. Regarding followers: 

Anonymous said: "Some writers who write about writing ask that you, “Follow me on Twitter." Then I go to their Twitter page and find they have say, 6,000 followers, but follow only a tenth that many."

My response: I've made it my personal policy never to solicit follows. I don't ask people to follow me on any of my social media sites. Of course I prominently display links to all my sites. But I never demand, coerce, bribe, or beg for more followers.

I want people to follow me because they want to. Plain and simple. I never promise to follow people back either, even though I do my best. I honestly can't keep up with returning follows on all my sites, especially because it's difficult to wade through who's legit and who's spamming.

All that to say, I try to connect as best I can on social media. I want to be available, real, and helpful to my readers and to fellow writers. I may not be perfect, but if I'm having problems with connecting, I usually lay the blame at my own feet first before pointing a finger at others.

How about you? Do you agree or disagree with Anonymous? Have you found social media to be full of cliques? Impenetrable? Frustrating? If not, what advice do you have to give those who do feel shunned?

Do Free Ebooks Really Hook New Readers?

*Image Source John Atkinson*

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Over the past couple of years with the rise of ereaders and ebooks, I've noticed an increasing trend in free ebooks. In fact, most online bookstores have a special place readers can go to browse free ebooks.

Usually authors and publishers offer those free ebooks for a limited time with one main rationale: to HOOK the reader. They want the reader to enjoy that book enough to take some kind of action including leaving a good review, talking about the book with others, and most importantly purchasing the author's already published and future books.

Over the past months, I've chatted with other authors and my publisher about the pros and cons of offering free ebooks. Whenever my publisher has offered my books or other Bethany House books for free, we usually see a short spike in the sales of that particular book after it resumes its cost. Apparently by making the higher end of free lists, the book hits the radars of new readers and draws interest.

However, I personally haven't noticed a spike in sales of my other books during a free promotion. Of course, over time the free ebook does hook some new readers (because fans have told me they read one of my books as a result of a free promotion and went on to purchase the others).

But . . . it's very difficult to breakdown how many sales result from such tactics, the same way it would be difficult to tell sales that result from someone reading my book free at the library and then going to purchase my other books.

The bottom line is that whether a reader gets a free ebook, free library read, or even a free ARC or influencer copy from a publisher, some become fans and some do not.

Even though readers can get free books from the library or through a publisher's review program, those kind of books come with strings attached. Obviously a library book must be returned on a deadline. And if a publisher or author gives ARCs or influencer copies, they usually expect the reader to make some promotional efforts as a result.

But when a reader downloads a free ebook, they have no obligations or deadlines. And I think it's the obligation-free aspect of a free ebook that may be troublesome in hooking new readers.

As I've analyzed my own habits regarding free ebooks, here are a few conclusions I've come to:

1. I always read the books I purchase. In fact, I make myself slog through it even if it's not especially engaging. I figure if I paid for it, I need to get my money's worth. This is usually true of ebooks that I purchase for as low as 99 cents, although I am more willing to give up halfway through on lower costing books.

2. I can download a free ebook and easily forget about it. For one thing, it's not physically staring me in the face like a paper book. But also because I didn't have to invest anything in the book, I have no motivation to actually read it. And with so many other books demanding my attention, it's all too easy to let the free books slide to the bottom of the stack that I'll read "some day."

3. I'm more willing to try debut authors if the book is free. While I may not always highly value a free ebook, I'm more apt to give a new author a try when I can read their book for free or at a low cost.

4. When I finally get around to reading a free ebook, the story has to WOW me in order for me to go over and purchase other books by that author. Once again, I have too many other books sitting around (particularly free books on my Kindle!). So if I'm going to actually purchase a book, I REALLY have to like the author.

In conclusion, free books haven't made me stop buying books of authors I love. I continue to do that. I'm not sitting around expecting to get all my books for free now. But free ebooks certainly don't have the hook power over me that publishers and authors hope for. And if that's true of me, I have to think that's true of other readers as well.

What do YOU think of free ebooks? Do free ebooks hook you into taking some kind of action like purchasing other books of an author or leaving a review? Do you value a free ebook as much as one you purchased?