My Secret To Juggling Life in Ten Words

Last week, blogging friend, Sarah Forgrave hosted me for an interview, and she asked me one, and only one, little question. But it was the hardest question I've had to answer on any interview so far this fall. (Thanks, Sarah!)

Here's what she asked: What is your secret to juggling life in 10 words or less? 

I thought about her question all weekend long, wrote down several ideas, and finally decided it was too hard. After all, did I really have a secret? And was I juggling life or merely surviving the chaos?

The reality is that the fall has been incredibly busy for me, busier than I ever expected. As a homeschooling mom of five, my days are already jam-packed with teaching my kids. In addition I’m delving head first into published author life. I attended a big writer’s conference in mid-September. Then on the heels of returning from the conference, my debut book released. I had a big book release party, numerous blog interviews, giveaways, guest posts, along with an assortment of other new-release responsibilities. I had an out-of-town book signing and have been trying to keep up with my blog. AND I’m under deadline for my rewrites for my second contracted book. (Welcome to my pity-party!)

While the debut has been mostly fun and exciting, the stress has been enormous. And there are days when I literally can’t get everything done. I just can’t. And that’s not something I like or am used to.

Sarah’s interview question forced me to evaluate how I handle all my many responsibilities. What have I done in the past? And what can I do to make things work now? I’ve always lived by a couple of principles (#1 & #2). And now this fall, I’ve had to add a new one (#3) .

Principle #1: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

In other words, I try to keep up with things as they come up—in real life and work. Whatever the job might be (whether answering emails or washing dirty dishes), I do it when I’m thinking about it and it’s fresh on my mind, instead of putting it off for later.

When we can check something off our to-do list (whether written or mental), we have greater energy and more capacity to freely embrace other things.

Principle #2: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

Put another way, I work hard at my priorities and whatever I commit to doing. I labor diligently during the day to be a good teacher to my children, challenging them with a rigorous education. But I don’t expect more of them than I expect of myself. I work equally hard at my writing.

My uncle, who recently published his first book, sent me this email message and I printed it off to keep as a reminder: “The key to staying on top is exerting the same 100% effort and the same detailed preparation as you did for your last book . . . Do your best in all of life’s endeavors. Give it all you got.”

Principle #3: “Live intentionally, clinging to what matters, letting go of the rest.”

So, in answer to Sarah's interview question, Principle #3 is my not-so secret answer to not-really juggling life. It’s 11 words, but it summed up what I’m having to learn to do this fall. I can’t do everything I’ve done in the past. Not even the vital, most important things—like cooking dinner every night or making grocery lists. I’ve had to figure out what things are critical, be intentional about doing those things. But then be okay with not doing the others.

It’s all too easy to get swept away in the day to day rush of activities and responsibilities. But instead of being carried along, I want to stop, go against the flow, and carefully pick and choose to do those things that matter most at this point in my life.

~Summary: I’m not perfect. I fail often. But whenever I do fall down, I eventually pick myself back up and keep on striving to live after the high principles that are set before me.

What about you? Do you have any secrets for juggling writing and life? What principles do you live by?

WHY Do Writers Do It?

Last week I shared some of the myths that people have about what it’s like to be a published author, and then I also gave a glimpse into some of the realities I’ve experienced (See The Myths and Realities of Being a Published Author). I loved ALL of your comments in response! Here are just a couple:

Medical suspense author, Dr. Richard Mabry said this: “James Scott Bell told a group I was in one time that the average writer would earn more as a greeter at Wal-Mart than from writing. Despite having two novels published, a third coming out soon, and a fourth on the way, I'd have to say I meet his definition of an average writer...doggone it.”

And historical author, Sarah Sundin commented: “I was able to calculate how much I earned for my three-book series. Just over $2 an hour. I made more slinging hamburgers at Carl's Jr in 1983. Royalty checks are pushing me closer to minimum wage, but I still haven't reached it . . . no, Oprah has not called.”

Eric W. Trant said: “My first royalty check for a story in a short anthology was less than $100. So there you go. Dinner's on me! The rich-and-famous writer!”

If not for the fame, the fortune, and the fantastic work hours, WHY do writers do it? Why do we work such long hours, why do we sacrifice so much, why do we keep at it day after day, year after year against such adversity and tight competition?

As one of my twitter friends once joked about the writing life, if writers want to do something easier, then they should take up neurosurgery.

What is it about publication and writing that appeals to so many of us?

There’s always the chance we can make it big.

Anything is possible if we work hard and long enough. With a little bit of talent, a little bit of luck, and the hand of Providence, anything can happen. Becoming a best seller isn’t impossible (and neither is winning the lottery).

Patricia W said this tongue-in-cheek in the comments of last week’s post, but there is a ring of truth to it: “Terry McMillan said her first royalty check for Waiting to Exhale was like $2M. Needless to say, most authors don't earn anything near that, but the possibility does exist. Wouldn't want to kill the dream by being too firmly planted in reality.”

We long to communicate what’s inside us with others.

Whether non-fiction, fiction, memoir, or otherwise, writing is a medium in which we communicate deeply with other human beings. We can encourage, entertain, teach, help, etc. Whatever our goal in our writing, we long for our words to be digested by others, for them to experience them the way we intended.

Since the release of my book, I’ve realized just how much I appreciate hearing from readers—hearing how my book impacted them, or how they stayed up late reading it, or cried at the end. Knowing my words connected with someone and moved them makes all of the hard work and heartache worth it. It truly does.

Writing feeds our souls.

Karen Walker said this about the money she’s making from her writing: “It won't feed anyone, but the writing feeds me and hopefully, those who read it.”

We were made to create—whether through art, music, inventions, ideas, hobbies, or through stories and the written word. There’s a place in all of us that longs to express ourselves, and when we do, we find something deeply satisfying and fulfilling about the process. The creative act nourishes and replenishes us.

The love of writing consumes us.

In today’s market, publication isn’t easy, (both before and after). There’s no guarantee of making it big, communicating with readers, or even feeding our souls. Sometimes with the amount of time and energy we put into writing, the quest can even begin to drain us.

Roni Loren said, “The only people who should get in to this field are those who simply just love to write.” And Sarah Sundin summed it up well with the rest of her comment, “I love writing, must write, can't not write! The fact that anyone's willing to pay me at all is a major blessing and a deep honor.”

Ultimately, when it’s all said and done, those who stick with writing for the long haul are those who are consumed with a passion for it. We’re in love with telling stories and spinning words, and would do it anyway, whether paid or not.

What about you? Which of the reasons I listed above best describes your motivation for writing? Are there any other reasons why people write or pursue publication?

How Much Does a Book Change From First Draft to Final Copy?

No writer that I know has ever written a perfect book on the first attempt. Most writers finish the first draft with the full expectation that they will self-edit and get feedback from others. Even if a writer somehow manages to produce a “perfect” first draft, once we get a book contract, there’s very little chance the book will escape a publisher’s in-house rewriting and editing process.

Yes, change is inevitable. But how much change can the average writer expect?

Heather Sunseri recently asked me: How much did The Preacher’s Bride change from the first draft to the final copy?

Although every writer’s editing experience will vary, I’m guessing my experience with The Preacher’s Bride is fairly typical.

Self-Editing

After I finished writing the first draft of The Preacher’s Bride, I took approximately twelve weeks to self-edit. My self-editing process has evolved more over time, but I’ve mostly used Three Simple Stages of Self-Editing: First substantive edits (big picture changes), then line edits (scene and paragraph changes), and finally, copy edits (smaller detail changes).

Of course the three types of edits will overlap at times, but starting with the big issues and working my way to small problems, helps me stay focused. I can usually cut and change upward of 5000 words during this stage.

Outside Editing

Once I completed my self-editing, The Preacher’s Bride had the input of a several other outside critiques including a beta reader, freelance editor, and three judges (from a contest entry which consisted of the first 15 pages). During this stage of the process, I probably cut or changed close to 5,000 words. It was at this point I completely rewrote the opening chapter into the current version (and Chapter 1 is now available to preview on my Books Page).

It was after these edits, that my book finaled in a nationwide contest for unpublished authors and garnered the attention of my agent. She felt my story was solid enough to send on to a publisher without her edits, and she was able to attain a 3 book deal with Bethany House.

In-House Editing

A team of editors at my publishing house read The Preacher’s Bride and came up with a list of things they thought needed to be changed. Many of these changes had to do with story elements they didn’t feel fit their Bethany House readership. Here are a few of rewrites I made at that point:

• I had to re-do the ending of the book. Originally, I had my main character John stay in prison (to replicate what had happened in real life). But I had to have a Happily-Ever-After and so needed to come up with a believable way to get him home by the end of the book.

• I had to add in a new character arc for my hero. At first I had John struggling intensely with the grief of dead wife. But this made him a bit whiny and negative. So I toned down his grief and had to revamp his arc into a struggle with work being more important than his family.

• I had to clarify some of the historical conflict and make sure I wasn’t overwhelming the readers with the Anglican versus Puritan issues.

• I had to take out a subplot thread regarding John’s past and how he ended up with the scars on his back. My editors thought my first reason was too contrived and so I had to figure out another way for him to get his scars that was more believable and fit the story.

I could literally fill pages with all the in-house changes I had to do. Some were more major than others, and in the end I likely changed up to 15,000 more words between two rounds of substantive edits. Then the book went on to receive in-house copy and line edits as well.

In all, from first draft to final copy, the story slowly and pain-stakingly evolved into what it is today. At least a full quarter of the story is completely different from the first draft, if not more. Some of the changes were chopped out in large sections, but most were chipped out in bits here and there.

How did it feel having to make so many changes? Of course some of the changes were easy, especially the early ones. But there were others that I found much more difficult to want to make, particularly some of my publisher’s requests. At the time, I wondered if I was “compromising” my story and making it into someone else’s.

Now in hindsight, especially in light of what readers are beginning to say about the book, I can see the wisdom in ALL the changes my editors asked to make. The story is giving readers a satisfying reading experience, which in turn makes me very, very satisfied.

We would all do well to have the attitude, “I’ll do whatever it takes to make my story better.” And we can do that by staying humble, teachable, and hardworking.

What about you? How much of your story has changed over time from your first draft? And how much are you willing to change and where do you set the limit?

The Myths & Realities of Being a Published Author

Most writers start off naïve to the realities of publication. I suppose in some ways the ignorance is a good thing. If I’d known years ago what I know today, I don’t think I would have jumped in the publication waters with as much vigor or determination.

Writers need only start swimming to the opposite shore before we realize the distance is much longer and harder than we’d planned. Unforeseen obstacles get in the way and slow us down. Sometimes we get bit by the dangers lurking in the waters. Other times we get tired of paddling and want to give up. Maybe there are even moments when we feel like we’re drowning.

For the most part, I’m surrounded by other writers who understand the difficulty of the journey toward publication, who realize they won’t be on Paradise Island when they reach the coveted publication shoreline. Most of us who’ve been swimming toward publication long enough lose our false assumptions.

Yet, I’m learning that there are still plenty of people who think published authors live on Paradise Island. As I’ve rubbed shoulders with people at book signings, and the longer I wear my new published author suit, I’m realizing that THE MYTHS about published authors are very much alive and thriving. Here are just a few I’ve heard recently (And, yes, I really have heard each one of these):

“I suppose now you’ll be busy with all of your traveling.”

The Myth: Published authors travel across the country doing book signings, bookstores are eager and willing to host authors, and readers can’t wait to go out and meet them.

The Reality: Authors rarely travel anywhere except to the coffee pot and back to the laptop. The day and age of authors riding across the country for book signings is largely over. For the most part, book tours have been replaced by blog tours.

I’ve heard plenty of dismal book signing stories, where even more popular authors fail to entice busy, internet-oriented readers into the shop. My publisher has the philosophy that if book signings are something an author enjoys, then they’re willing to help with the promotion. But they don’t push signings because they’ve become unreliable in today’s busy society.

“With all the money you’re making, your husband can retire early.”

The Myth: Once your book hits shelves, you’ll be rolling in money. In fact you’ll be making so much money, all of your financial worries will be over forever.

The Reality: I wrote The Preacher’s Bride over three years ago. Since then, I’ve gotten one check—my advance which wouldn’t be nearly enough to feed and clothe a family of seven in a year’s time—not even close. If I spread the income over the three years I’ve worked on the book, then I’ve made only pennies per hour. When I explained that to my daughter she said, “Authors have to do a lot of work for nothing, don’t they?”

Granted, now that my book is on shelves, I hope eventually I’ll be able to earn enough to equalize some the work I put into the book. But there’s absolutely no guarantee. And before I can see my first royalty check, I’ll have to earn out my advance. So in reality, it will still be a while (possibly many more months) before I’ll see another check.

“Now that you’re an author you’ll probably move to the big city near other famous authors.”

The Myth: Being a published author brings us fame. We’ll become too popular for ordinary life and will need to move to places where we can rub shoulders with the rich and famous.

The Reality: Unless an author becomes a consistent New York Times bestselling author, there’s very little chance we’ll become a household name. There’s always the possibility we can become popular among the readers of our particular genre. They may send us fan mail from time to time. They may even tell us they’re anxiously awaiting our next book. But . . . most of the world is oblivious to all but the most noteworthy authors. The rest of us must learn to be content with obscurity.

“Oh, you mean you have to do other things besides the actual writing?”

Myth: The sole focus of our writing career is the book itself. We get many opportunities to take our lap tops to the beach or to the mountain cabin and type away at our stories for endless hours.

The Reality: Like any other job, a writing career has many various responsibilities. Sure, writing should remain the primary focus. But we’ll have increasingly more to do as we move closer to publication and beyond. We’ll need to respond to emails, write up interviews, network on Twitter and Facebook, craft blog posts, send out books to contest winners, work on intense edits on a second book, and eventually find time to start researching and writing a third book.

So what do you think? Have you ever heard any of these myths? Or have you ever believed one of them? Why do you think such stereotypes about published authors still exist?

Ways to Generate More Traffic to Our Blogs

Whether we admit it or not, most of us like having people stop by our blogs and read our posts. We get discouraged if we take the time to write up a thoughtful post and then have a dismal showing. When we consistently get very little response from others, we may even begin to question whether we should blog at all.

Lorena asked this question: "A group of writers and I have started a blog, but we’re new at this and don’t know how to generate traffic. Any suggestions?"

In other words, how do we get people to know about our blogs, stop by and read them, and then keep coming back?

In my experience with blogging, here’s the NUMBER ONE factor in generating traffic:

Socialize with other bloggers.

Remember, blogging is a SOCIAL media, just like twitter or facebook. And social media works best when we use it to socialize. With the millions of blogs out there, we can’t throw out a post, sit back, and wait for people to stumble upon it. Effective blogging just doesn’t work that way, unless we already have a well established brand.

Instead, most of us will need to go out and meet other bloggers, be generous with signing up to follow blogs, leave comments, and genuinely show interest in the lives of others. When we work at being a friend, we’re likely to make some.

The socialization aspect of blogging is the most important one. I’ll list a few other things that have worked for me. But, in reality, if we’re socializing and not doing anything else, we’ll still likely develop a good following over time.

However, for those wishing to generate even more traffic beyond the usual socializing mixture of bloggers, here are a few other suggestions:

Know our target audience.

Before publication writers will have a difficult time drawing true genre readers to their blogs. So most of the time, writers end up using their blogs to chronicle their writing journey, to share from their hearts, and to build community. And that’s okay. That’s what I’ve done. But if we have a more specific audience we can target, then we can begin to build up a base of future readers who will be interested in our specific books. We can ask ourselves, who is the audience for our books and how can we start to mingle with those people in blogging land now?

Keep our posts interesting and relevant.

Often the way a post is presented is more important than the actual topic. In other words, maybe we won’t have a specific audience at this point, but we can still write compelling blog posts that interest a wide readership. We can attract people through our story-telling and word-spinning abilities no matter what the subject.

Interact with commentors, if possible.

If we have the time to interact within the comments, this can help make our readers feel connected. But if we don’t have the time, we can still jump into the conversation at times, make sure we answer questions, send follow-up emails occasionally.

Use the title of the post as a hook.

In the hectic pace of life, we often can’t make the time to visit all the blogs we follow. So we pick those that sound interesting or helpful—often because of the title. Crafting careful, appealing titles might be the only chance we’ll have to draw busy readers to our blogs.

Tweet about relevant posts. (Or post to Facebook.)

If we’re taking the time to write interesting posts with titles that hook, then we can make use of twitter or facebook to share the link to our posts. On Twitter, hashtags are a great way to draw in new people. For example, when I’ve done posts about being a writer mama, I’ve used the hashtag #parenting which sends the link to people interested in parenting advice or encouragement.

Have a way for readers to easily share your posts with others.

We should all have "share buttons" at the tops or bottoms of our posts. Then when readers like what they read, we’ve made it easy for them to share it with their followers. (Blogger now has simple buttons available in "Edit Layout.")

Find ways to give and to involve readers.

Giving could be something as simple as inspiration and encouragement. It could be prizes, book giveaways, or resource links (like my Character Worksheet posted in the sidebar). We should also be on the lookout for creative ways to involve our readers. I’ve had fun posting first-sighting pictures in a slide show in my sidebar and also blog reviews on my debut book.

~Summary: Throughout it all, I still believe socializing is the key in drawing readers to our blogs. Eventually we may reach a place in our blogging where enough people know about us and our blogs that we won’t need to put as much effort into it. But for most of us, the relationships we develop are what make blogging such a rewarding experience.

What about you? What has been THE most helpful thing you've done to generate traffic to your blog? Are there any other ways bloggers can attract more readers? Please share your ideas! We'd all love to learn more!

Making a Book Stand Out: What Helps the Most?

Among the millions of books out there, is there anything that can help a book stand out from all the others? A great cover? An incredible internet presence? A superb tag line? Stellar writing?

As I’ve considered all the things that are helping to sell my debut book, I’ve tried to narrow down what has been the most beneficial so far. Here are just a few things:

*ARC’s (Advanced Reading Copies): My publisher sent out numerous ARC’s to strategic industry personnel—particularly book chain buyers who decide which books to purchase and promote. The ARC’s were a way to introduce my book to the book-buying community and to elicit their interest. The buyer from LifeWay Bookstores read the ARC and liked my book enough to feature it on the cover of latest LifeWay flier and also spotlight it as a “Buyers Choice.”

*Influencers: My publisher also mailed out a limited number free books to those who were willing to read The Preacher’s Bride and help “influence” others to read it. Those influencers have been spreading buzz in many different ways including writing reviews, promoting the book to friends, tweeting about it, hosting me for interviews, etc.

*Publisher’s Sales Team: Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing, has an excellent sales force. They’ve worked hard over the years to establish connections with stores and are able to get Bethany House books into many different places, including most of the major book chains, as well as Walmart and Sam’s Club. The more shelf space our books get, the more recognition they can garner.

*Publisher’s Marketing Team: For all the negativity unleashed against publishers for their diminished marketing efforts for authors, I can honestly say the team at Bethany House has made incredible efforts to promote my book in too many ways to recount in this post. Perhaps the smaller the house, the smaller the marketing budget. Obviously the closer we get to the self-publishing side of the spectrum, the more marketing the author must shoulder.

*Strong web presence: I’m not convinced yet that my web presence has made much of a difference in selling more of my books. It’s made a difference to me personally and professionally, and perhaps there are those who bought my book because they met me online (and I appreciate it!). But has it helped me sell significantly more books than another author who may not have a web presence? I’m not sure. Time will tell.

*Appealing book cover: The design team at Bethany House did a fantastic job on my cover. It looks Amish (even though it’s not). And bonnet books are still really popular. Enough said.

Our publishers can market our books and so can we. We can use every gimmick known to man to draw attention to our books. We can giveaway ipads, books, and gift cards. As much as all of these things may initially generate interest, we need to have something that will keep the ongoing attention.

And the one thing that can consistently win over readers is a COMPELLING STORY. We need to give our readers something to fall in love with, something to genuinely get excited about, something they’ll WANT to share with others.

It’s like opening a new restaurant. We can advertise all over town, start a lot of buzz, and perhaps even throw a big opening party and invite everyone in town. But what’s really going to make the difference in the success of our restaurant? All the marketing? Or the food we’re serving? If what we dish up is mediocre, lukewarm, re-hashed, or unoriginal, then all the initial hoopla isn’t going to sustain our restaurant.

And the same is true of our books. It’s what’s between the pages, what we’re serving to the reader, that matters the most.

Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, said it well last week in his post, “Great Product is the New Marketing.” He said if writers want a shot at best seller then: “Start with a compelling topic or story. This will win over great writing every time. I am not saying it’s either/or. It should be both/and. But if you don’t have the right idea, no amount of polish will save it.”

So, maybe we’re not shooting for the best-seller list. But most of us DO want to have a successful publication experience in one form or another (and perhaps the definition of success will vary for each of us). Whatever the case, the longer I travel down the publication road, the more I realize the truth to Michael Hyatt’s statement. A compelling story is critical in today’s saturated market.

What do you think? Do you think a compelling story is the key to a book rising to the top? Or do you think it has more to do with marketing efforts? Or is it both?

Initial Reviews on My Debut Book and My Strange Reaction

Warning: Very personal blog post! I debated whether to even post this, but I decided I owe it to you, my readers, to share not just the exciting stuff along the road to publication, but to share the real, raw emotions too.

My debut book, The Preacher’s Bride has been out on shelves exactly two weeks. Of course the book had been trickling out before then, but now it’s officially out there everywhere.

Every writer always wonders, “How will readers like my book?” And during the weeks leading up to my release date, I held my breath waiting and wondering, “What will everyone think once they read it?”

Well, no more waiting. I’m beginning to hear from a wide variety of people who have finished the book. Writing friends have been showering me with kind words through emails, facebook, and twitter. Many have been leaving stellar reviews on blogs, Amazon, and other places.

Real life friends are beginning to report back to me. I’ve had several different friends tell me my book was the cause of them staying up too late at night. Others have stopped to hug me and tell me how much they liked the story.

I’ve also begun to hear from genre readers (as opposed to writer and real life friends who are supporting me by reading my book). In fact, I love checking my Author Facebook Page for comments from these readers. Since they don’t know me, they don’t have to say nice things to boost my ego. They don’t have to tip-toe around and try not to hurt my feelings. In fact, they dodn’t have to stop by at all.

So, when readers make a point of tracking me down to tell me what they think about my book, I know they really mean what they say. Not that my friends aren’t sincere, because I’m sure most of them are too. But it’s just different when a complete stranger compliments you on a book.

Anyway, last week, I couldn’t help crying over a couple of comments I got. No, they weren’t tears of joy. And no, the comments weren’t horrible. In fact both readers said something like, “Your book was absolutely the best book I’ve read in a long time.”

So why did I burst into tears after reading the kind of compliment every author longs to hear?

Because I was absolutely terrified.

I hadn’t anticipated such positive responses to The Preacher’s Bride. In fact, when I’d read my galleys on The Preacher’s Bride several months ago, I’d been ready to chuck the entire manuscript out the window. I didn't think it was good enough or ready for publication.

So when I started getting compliments on it, especially the “this is the best book” kind of statements, I was surprised, then scared. If you remember, over the past few weeks, I’ve been in the middle of a second round of intensive rewrites on The Doctor’s Lady (my next book releasing in September 2011). I've had to make a lot of significant and difficult changes. And I couldn't keep from wondering, “What if I can't make The Doctor’s Lady into a worthy story? What if it just doesn’t resonate with readers the same way the first seems to be doing?”

Hence, the fear. The deep, gut-wrenching fear.

I was afraid that I’d fail at my rewrites, fail to get my characters likable enough, fail to make the plot a page-turner, fail to weave an encouraging message throughout. In other words, what if The Doctor’s Lady doesn't live up to my first book?

Fortunately, I’m blessed with a talented team of people who are pushing me to make my story the best it can be. My critique partner Keli Gwyn recently called me to encourage me and share her wisdom. And last week I spent close to six hours on the phone with one of my Bethany House editors going through the book chapter by chapter and talking through the additional rewrites. So while I’m still battling my fears, I’m trying to move forward with confidence.

The point is, no matter where we’re at in our writing careers, FEAR is a very common reaction. We will probably always fear putting our work out there whether in front of beta readers, critique partners, agents, editors, and ultimately readers.

When we step out of our private writing fortresses, we open ourselves up to stinging arrows of criticism and gunshot rejections. We’re bound to get wounded from time to time (yes, even with blog posts that may not resonate with some readers). But it’s in taking those risks we grow stronger. If we cower away and don’t fight the battle, how will we ever win?

My agent Rachelle Gardner recently encouraged me in an email: “The fear you've been dealing with is normal . . .You can do this. You may not do it without fear and trepidation, but you can do it! I know how it feels to want people to keep liking your work. Of course you do! But all you can do is write what you write, keep following the direction of your editors and doing your best, and then it's out of your hands.”

What about you? What do you fear the most in the writing journey? Are you stepping out in spite of your fear? And are you surrounded by others who can help you grow stronger as a writer?

*Picture curtesy of Wendy Delfosse.

4 Tips for Researching a Novel

Research is an integral part of the writing process for most writers. I write historical novels and as you can guess, the research process is quite extensive. Whether we write thrillers, suspense, or contemporary romance, we’ll all have areas within our stories to research.

Granted, contemporary genre writers may have fewer things to research than a historical writer like myself, especially if they’re an expert with the subject matter. For example, Dr. Richard Mabry writes romantic medical suspense. After practicing as a medical doctor for many years, he weaves his firsthand knowledge into his stories. He obviously doesn't need to expend much effort researching the medical aspects of his stories.

Most of us, however, aren’t experts in all the various topics we want to thread into our stories. And so we resolve ourselves to the fact that research will indeed be part of the writing process much the same way editing is. Research adds authenticity, depth, and interest to our stories.

Fortunately, in this day and age, most of us have the benefit of the internet. A click of the keyboard can unleash more information than we can possibly use. And yet there are times when the research process can become overwhelming and even bog down our writing if we’re not careful.

Occasionally, I get asked about my research process. I certainly don’t claim to be the expert researcher! I’m sure there are many others who are much more proficient at it than me. But I’ll share a few of my research steps (and in the comments, I’d love to hear your tips!).

1. Set the foundation before beginning the first draft.

I spend approximately two months researching and plotting before I’m ready to begin writing the first draft. Intensive upfront research is usually more typical of historical writers. We have to become familiar with the time period, search out appropriate plots, and understand the motivations of characters from long ago. I often read several biographies, search out original documents (like diaries or letters), and read books about the big topics within my story.

All of the initial research helps lay the solid foundation for the development of the plot and characters. We immerse ourselves into the setting so that when we start writing it flows naturally, as if we're already comfortably living in that time and place.

2. Try not to let the ongoing research stop the story-flow.

Once I start the actual writing, I try not to stop too often to look up information. If I come to a point in the story where I don’t know something, I often highlight the word or phrase so that I can come back to it later, or I make a note in the margins. When I switch settings between scenes or chapters, sometimes I may need to do additional research in order to get a grasp of the setting. I’ll take an hour or two to get enough of what I need to proceed. But I try not to linger too long over the research so that I don’t hinder the flow of the story.

3. Go deep but stay narrow.

The Preacher’s Bride is set in the 1600’s. And my second book, now titled The Doctor’s Lady, is set in the 1800’s. Two different time periods. Two completely different settings. I’m not an expert in either era or place. Sure, I’d probably make life easier for myself, if I stuck with one particular time period in history and became an expert on it. But at this point, that’s not apart of the program!

Instead, I try to narrow down exactly what I need to know for my particular story. I don’t have to learn everything about England after the Restoration. I lay the beginning foundation as mentioned above, but I don’t need to acquire a PhD in English Civil War history in order to research the pillory and its usage for the poor of the 1600’s. I dig deep for what I need and don’t get side-tracked by all the rest.

4. Keep a record of all documents and research.

At the beginning of each new novel, I open a three-ring binder specifically for research. I divide it into several main categories. And as I research, especially online, I print out information, three-hole punch it, and stick it into my binder. Then I can easily refer back to it during the story. I also keep a running bibliography of all of the books I’ve used.

I’ve realized now how important it is to save a record of all the research. During the line and copy editing phases of the publication process, we’ll be asked to verify the tiniest details. Having those links, books, and pages at our finger tips can save us effort later.

Your turn! How much effort do you put into research? And are there any other methods or tips that help you in the research process?

Are Book Signings Worth the Time & Effort?

In today’s online culture, are book signings becoming an outdated marketing tool?

I’ve heard plenty of book-signing “horror stories.” In fact, I’d even convinced myself that I wasn’t going to do any, except for my local community book release party (which was a fantastic experience—read about it here.)

But when my Bethany House publicist contacted me with the possibility of doing a book signing at a LifeWay Bookstore in Toledo, Ohio, I knew I couldn’t automatically say “no way.” I had to at least consider her suggestion.

Toledo is only a two and a half hour drive from where I live—so I couldn’t use distance as an excuse. Instead, I tried to use my debut status as a way out—after all, who would want to come to a bookstore to see me, a new, unknown author?

But my publicist was quick to inform me that other debut Bethany House authors had liked their book signing experiences at LifeWay stores. In fact, LifeWay would take care of the promotion, would make sure to have enough of my books in the store, and would be having plenty of sales to draw in customers. In other words, for a first book signing, a LifeWay store was the perfect place.

After some debating, I decided to give the book signing a try. So my publicist made all the arrangements, the bookstore sent out fliers, and I drove the distance.

When I walked in the store, it was already busy with shoppers. The manager had positioned a table near the entrance and had arranged my books into an attractive pyramid. Another author, Mary Ellis (who writes Amish fiction), was also scheduled to participate in the book signing and her books were neatly piled on the other side of the table.

As I arranged my bookmarks and promotional cards in baskets and put out a dish of candy, a man and his daughter approached the table. He smiled warmly. “You look just like your picture.”

I caught a glimpse of the flier in his hand advertising the book signing—and yes, there was my picture next to Mary Ellis’s. I introduced myself and chatted with him only to discover he’d been to my website, read some of the blog reviews about my book, and because of them was excited to read my book. (So, thank you to those of you who’ve taken the time to write reviews! And if you write one, let me know. I’ll add it to the list.)

The two hours went fast. There were never any lines of people waiting to have books signed. In fact, there were lulls when no one came to the table. I don’t think I sold more than 15 books. Compared with the sales at my book launch party, the number seemed dismal.

So, was the book signing worth the time and effort? Now that I’m on the other side of the experience I’d have to answer “yes” and “no.”

Yes, book signings are beneficial—for connecting with readers.

There’s something to be said for making real connections with people. One older woman had purchased my book the week before, but when she learned I would be at the store, she came back to get her book signed. Another man was buying books to send to his elderly mother. When he shared how his mother had written him one letter a week since he’d left home at 17, I could understand his love for her and why he was going to the trouble to do something special for her.

I also got to meet several blogging friends. Deanna Rupp and her daughters drove 40 minutes to meet me. Also, Jill Kemerer came to the store for the morning to take pictures and support me. She stood by my side, pointed people to the table, and raved about my book. (Thanks, Jill!) And then afterward I had the opportunity to go out to lunch with Jill and another blogging friend, Patrice Kavanaugh.

Those connections with readers and friends were priceless.

But no, book signings aren’t beneficial—for selling lots of books.

From a financial standpoint, the day was not cost-effective. Sure, the bookstore’s promotional fliers may have generated interest in my book beyond the actual sales at the signing. But overall, selling 15 books (if that!) doesn’t make up the costs to me—not only in terms of money, but also in time.

As a busy mom trying to juggle my writing and family responsibilities, I realized I have to reserve my time for the things that will help my career the most. While the connections at book signings are wonderful, I don’t have the luxury of giving up an entire day. If I wasn’t at such a busy point in my life, I might be able to justify taking off a coveted writing day for the fun of meeting a few readers. But the reality is that my writing time is limited, and I need to guard it carefully.

~My summary: For the average author, book signings are a great way to connect with readers, but not necessarily a great way to sell large quantities of books. If we have the time to spare, if the signing is in a close location, and if we keep our expectations realistic, perhaps we’ll find some benefit. But overall, I think book signings are becoming an out-dated marketing technique.

What do you think? For published authors, what’s been your experience with book signings? And for pre-published, what will you do? What do you think is the future role of book signings?

Keeping Ourselves & Our Stories as Pliable as Clay

My daughters took a pottery class this past summer. They learned various techniques for manipulating clay—everything from pinching by hand to smoothing it on a pottery wheel. They kiln dried their creations and glazed them.

By the end of the three weeks, they came home with more bowls, cups, plates, and decorations than we’ll ever be able to use! But working with the clay was a valuable experience, one that lends itself not only to the nurturing of their creativity, but also to many life lessons.

I could probably write a book with all the analogies that come from comparing clay to the human spirit. As an adult, my character isn’t fully shaped. I’m still on the potter’s wheel and the master’s hands are gently but firmly plying me. And my children, likewise, are still very much in need of shaping. As a parent, it’s part of my job to continually smooth out the rough edges and mold them into the unique but beautiful works of art they’re meant to be.

And isn’t that true of our stories too? They’re a lot like clay.

As you may remember, this past summer I turned in Book 2 to my publisher. I was certain it was the best story I’d ever written. When my editor finished reading it and told me it would need significant rewrites, I was shocked and slightly devastated (okay, very devastated!). But after a thorough pity-party, I put my head down and got to work. For approximately five weeks, I pushed myself day and night to make some sweeping changes—primarily to the character arcs of both my hero and heroine.

Finally, I finished the rewrites and sent the book back in to my publisher, crossing my fingers and praying I’d finally gotten things right. When I talked with my editor at the writer’s conference I attended a few weeks ago, he’d indicated I was on track but would still have more work to do. Thus, I should have been prepared for the email I got last week. But as I opened the email attachment to see eight pages of notes of additional changes I needed to make, my heart sank.

With tears in my eyes, I looked at my mom who was visiting and said, “This is just too hard. I don’t know if want to keep writing if it’s always this hard.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment. I could see her wise mind churning behind gentle eyes.

“I just want to be able to get it right the first time,” I continued. “It’s so painful to go through all the work only to continue to fail to make my story likeable enough.”

“You need to look at your first draft like a lump of clay,” my mom finally said. “The book isn’t a failure. It’s just not finished. It still needs to be shaped and worked from a lump into a something beautiful.”

My story, a lump of clay. I let her words roll around in my mind.

“Very few people are able to produce a polished product without time on the potter’s wheel,” she said. “In fact, you’re blessed to have a talented team of people who are working with you to shape and polish that lump. They’re helping you make it into something that others can really admire.”

And I knew she was right. I didn’t need to be discouraged about continuing the process of editing my novel. In fact, I should be encouraged that I had the opportunity and the excellent help to mold my story into a book that someday, hopefully, readers will enjoy and appreciate.

That’s true for all of us. When we’re discouraged by how much work our stories need, when we're disheartened by the length of time the writing and editing takes us, or when we’re tempted to toss the lump aside, we need to remind ourselves the beauty comes out of the shaping and molding and polishing. We have to remain as pliable as clay. Both in writing and life.

What about you? Have you ever been discouraged by the amount of work it takes to shape your stories? Are you staying pliable and open to the molding process? Do you have a team who can help you?

How to Get a Foot in the Door With Agents

Since most royalty paying publishers are closed to unsolicited manuscripts, writers usually need to find an agent who can represent them to publishers. But the "agent hunt" can be one of the most discouraging aspects of the quest for traditional publication.

When I began my agent hunt, I quickly realized that a large number agents had hung out the "not accepting unsolicited manuscripts" sign too. After I narrowed down those that might possibly be interested in what I write, I was left with a very short list of agents to query. I felt rather discouraged, knowing if none of the agents were interested, I might end up at a dead end.

With so many publishers AND agents closed to unsolicited manuscripts, what are writers supposed to do, especially if they're seeking traditional publication? What hope is there of getting a foot in the door when it seems like it's slamming shut?

It may appear hopeless, but the longer I'm in the publishing world, the more I realize that there are ways to get around the dead ends and push the door open a crack, especially when hunting for an agent. Here are just a few of the ways to overcome the barriers:

1. Get to know the agent through blogging, twitter, or facebook.

It's probably not a good idea to "stalk" agents in cyberland! But commenting regularly on their blogs, joining in their twitter discussion, and retweeting their helpful advice or posts can make a difference if done appropriately.

The internet makes agents more accessible than ever before. When we take the time to get to know them, they in turn can become familiar with our names (which is an important reason why we should be careful of the kind of online image we’re projecting). Of course there's no guarantee agents will remember our names among the hundreds they see every week, but I've heard plenty of stories about writers who were able to get a head start with a query or manuscript request because agents recognized their names through the interactions on blogs and twitter.

2. Developing a strong web presence could perk the attention of an agent.

In addition to getting to know agents on their home turf, we can take our internet presence a step further. When we begin to develop a wide-reaching web presence in our own unique ways, and as our name shows up more and more, we might garner the attention of an agent.

Agents sometimes pop onto writer blogs. I’ve had agent visits from time to time, especially when I’ve written a particularly interesting post or if I’ve discussed something an agent talked about in one of their blog posts. While most agents aren’t out cruising blogging-land for new clients, I have known writers who’ve landed their agents because of their strong web presence.

3. Attend a writer's conference to pitch to agents.

This tends to be one of the primary ways for writers to get their material in front of agents (and editors) who are otherwise closed to queries. It can be a fantastic way to get a foot in the door. It’s also expensive. If we hope to garner interest from an agent through a conference, we should do our research thoroughly. Get to know the agents and what they represent, target the best fit, and make sure our writing is really ready (we should even consider having a freelance editor help us polish the first 15 pages).

4. Connecting with published authors could lead to agent referrals.

Of course no published author wants to feel like someone is befriending them in order to get a referral to their agent. But because authors (like agents) are so accessible, it’s possible to form genuine friendships with them. Sometimes, through those relationships, authors will make recommendations to their agents on behalf of friends.

5. Building relationships within the writing community can lead to new possibilities.

All writers must start as unagented and unpublished. But as we move forward on the journey toward publication, doors will begin to open. We’ll soon find ourselves or our best buddies getting agents. Through the natural progression of our networking and friendships we never know what fresh opportunities will arise for us. That’s why it’s so important to join in and become a part of the writing community. We can all help each other reach for our dreams.

What about you? Have you ever been frustrated by reaching a dead end in querying? When so many top agents are closed to querying, what’s a writer to do? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

3 Reasons to Start Blogging Before a Book Contract

I don’t believe every writer needs to blog, especially unpublished writers. I’ve discussed my views on this in a previous post: How Important Is Blogging For Unpublished Writers. Of course, having a web presence is important in today’s media-oriented culture. But ultimately, every writer needs to find the social media presence that works best for them.

With that said, I do highly recommend blogging. And now that I’m on the other side of the publication mountain and hiking up a new cliff, I can honestly say, I’m really glad I have a blog AND that I started it months before getting a book contract.

I’ve noticed 3 huge benefits to having started a blog well in advance of publication:

1. We can network with genuineness.

When we begin blogging early (before getting a book contract), then we can form genuine friendships with other writers—without strings attached. If we wait to start networking until we have a book in the publication pipeline, we risk being perceived by others as self-serving, as using them and blogging simply for marketing. It would be somewhat like knocking on our neighbor’s door just when we need something, instead of because we truly care to know them.

Effective blogging isn’t about building our platform and marketing—although that can be an aspect. Like all the other social medias, blogging is most fulfilling and beneficial when we socialize with others (especially early in our blogging efforts). When we begin blogging well before publication, we’re able to relate with others without asking for anything but their friendship.

2. Our writing friends become our biggest supporters.

If we’ve made the effort to know others and form relationships through blogging, then those friends get excited for us when we succeed. They know how hard the journey is. They’ve watched us struggle along the way. And so when we have a moment of success, whether a contest final, landing an agent, or getting a book deal, they’re there cheering for us.

My blogging friends were some of the first to step up and offer to be Influencers for The Preacher’s Bride. They’ve helped spread the buzz, written reviews, and hosted me for interviews. They’re willing to go the extra mile because we laid the foundation for our relationships long before publication. We want to help each other because we care about each other and want to cheer each other on toward success.

3. We can save ourselves time and effort later.

I can honestly say I didn’t realize how much work and effort my writing career would require, especially the closer I got to the release of my first book. Recently, I’ve been juggling all of the marketing of The Preacher’s Bride—planning the launch party, writing up online interviews, doing giveaways, etc. Besides that, I’ve been in the middle of some very difficult rewrites for my second contracted book as well as the beginning stages of planning my third book.

While I still make it a priority to write up and post my blogs, I’ve had to temporarily let go of my ability to visit the blogs of friends. I try to pop in to various blogs on occasion, but because of the intensity of all that’s going on right now, I can’t socialize through blogging the way I could earlier in my writing career.

However, because I started blogging early enough, most blogging friends can extend grace to me right now and hopefully know I still care about them, but realize it’s almost physically impossible during this busy time to keep up with visiting. If I’d waited to start blogging until now . . . I shudder to think of the additional stress it could have involved.

~My Summary: If we’re considering blogging, we need to evaluate exactly when the right time is for us to plunge in. If we start too fast and furiously we risk burnout. But if we wait too long, we could lose out on the benefits I’ve listed above.

When do you think is a good time for writers to begin blogging? What are the other benefits to blogging early? And are there other drawbacks to starting a blog too close to publication?

The winner of last Friday's Release Party Giveaway is: Liza Carens Salerno. She wins a copy of The Preacher's Bride and a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Congratulations, Liza! Thanks to everyone for stopping by and joining in the party! Your warm wishes meant the world to me!

Release Day!! Come Celebrate With Me!!

It’s OFFICIAL!! The Preacher’s Bride is on shelves! Of course it's shown up in various places during the month of September as it’s become available. But as of today, October 1st, the book is guaranteed to be out!

I’ve been collecting pictures of first-sightings and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see friends with the book. Check out the slide show in the side bar. I’d LOVE to include everyone. So please continue to send me your pictures.

As I’ve anticipated the release of my debut book, I’ve realized that what makes this time so special is sharing the moment with all my friends. I had my debut book party with real life friends last weekend (see this post to read all about it). But I also wanted the chance to celebrate with all of YOU, my online friends. So today’s post is an online party!

First, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone. There are quite a number of online writing friends who’ve walked alongside me since the early days before I had an agent or contract. They’ve been with me through the incredible lows and highs, always encouraging me, believing in me, and cheering me on. Thanks. You all know who you are.

And I also wanted to thank my newer friends. It’s always such a joy to connect with new writers, to find kindred spirits, to share in bearing one another’s burdens. I love when my circle of friendship continues to grow.

Then there are the real life family and friends who read my blog. And I wanted to thank you too. It means SO much to have a few real life people who “get” how important writing is to me, who understand the difficulty of the journey, and who are walking alongside of me. Thank you.

And I can’t forget to thank my READERS! Hopefully this is a growing group of blog followers. Make sure you say hi and join the party today too.

I can’t start naming names, because I’m afraid I’d leave somebody out. But I just have to mention a couple daring feats. Walt Mussell saw my book on the bottom shelf at his local Borders. Being the manly man that he is, he moved my book up to the top shelf and now my book has a friend (see the slide show!). It gave me a good laugh. Thanks, Walt. And then Janna Qualman, being a wonderful gutsy lady, turned the book face-out at her Borders. You rock, Janna!

I’m deeply grateful for all the emails, facebook messages, and tweets you’ve been sending me as you’re reading my book. I’ve cherished each and every one of them. Your kind and encouraging words have warmed my heart. I wanted to list a few of your comments here on my blog, but as I started to type them, it sounded like a litany to myself. And that’s not what I want this post to be about!

In celebration of my book’s release and as a way to say thank you to everyone, I’m doing a final giveaway to commemorate RELEASE DAY! The lucky winner will receive a copy of my debut book, The Preacher’s Bride AND a $25 Amazon gift card. All you need to do to be entered into the drawing is leave your EMAIL address in the comments of today’s party post! (If you tweet this post or put a link on Facebook, let me know and you'll qualify for a second entry!) The deadline for the giveaway is Sunday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time. I'll announce the winner on Monday's post.

And since this is a virtual party, let’s get to it! PARTY! I’m bringing what I’ve dubbed “Book Party Punch.” It’s clear (so that it’s fairly safe at any book party!). Apple juice, white grape juice, and ginger ale—half frozen. Very tasty. (Thanks to my author friend, Karen Witemeyer, for the recipe!)

So, what are you bringing to the party!?

P. S. The winner of this week's Trivia Question #4 book giveaway is: Emily Reilly. Congratulations Emily! Thanks to everyone who played along! It was a very fun month counting down with everyone!