Writers Digest: Novel Writing–7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great

I subscribe to Writers Digest. It’s a great resource for both aspiring writers and writers who are well-established. I frequently read articles that teach me something new about the world of writing– especially fiction. (Note: Writers Digets most often promote traditional publishing, which is not a bad thing for those considering that publishing option. Even if you decide to independently publish, their writing tips are incredibly useful.) Here is an excerpt of one of the latest articles I received through email. Enjoy and be inspired to write well!

7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great

Whenever I think of the word gatekeeper, a little film clip from The Wizard of Oz starts up in my head, where the fearsome palace guard denies Dorothy and friends access to the Wizard. “The Wizard says, ‘Go away!’”

If aspiring authors are Dorothy, agents and editors are that guy. They seem bigger than you. They give stern lectures.

Except remember what happens? Dorothy’s sob story melts the mustachioed, bearskin-hatted guard’s heart, and he winds up letting them in.

Thus the great secret is revealed: You don’t have to do anything but tell a fabulous story to make them love you.

There are subtle differences between fiction that’s passable and fiction that pops—fiction that shows that you know what you’re doing. Consider agents and editors your über-readers. If you win them over, a larger audience won’t be far behind.

Here are seven ways successful authors make their stories crackle with authority and get the gatekeepers on their side. These techniques will work on any kind of fiction: literary, romance, mystery, sci-fi, you name it. What’s more, you can implement them no matter where you are in your writing process, from first draft to final polish.

Click here to read the full article “Novel Writing: 7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great” from Writers Digest.

Enjoy,

Kennisha

Picture source: Google Images. Disclaimer: NyreePress is not affiliated with Writers Digest. We help promote them as a credible resource for writers. Visit www.writersdigest.com to subscribe and join their community.

Writers: Be True to Your Writing Style and Purpose

Trends nearly dominate our culture. There are countless hair trends, fashion trends and even “business- trends.” And guess what? There are also writing-trends.

I didn’t know about that until a few years ago when it seemed like certain types of books were releasing around the same time. Maybe it’s me– but I noticed it. The reason is clear and evident. Whatever is popular (selling) is what some writers decide to write. And if you’re considering traditional publishing, you should know that they consider trends as well.

For example: It seems to me that after the Twilight series was turned into movies, Vampire series started to pop up everywhere. I’m assuming, writers considered Twilight’s success and thought to give it a shot. It was a trend.

Many Literary Agents notice trends because they are the ones who get query after query from aspiring authors looking to be traditionally published. Literary Agent, Chip MacGregor was asked about “writing trends” and he shared his thoughts here. 

The truth is, they exist. And if you’re not careful, you can lose your identity as a writer by trying to keep up with them.

I admit, I once nearly got sucked up in that type of excitement myself.  A certain trend gripped me– a specific genre that I thought always delivered the most beautiful work. But I quickly realized that I’d just be jumping on the bandwagon in that trend instead of staying true to who I am. I could explore that genre– and there is nothing wrong with that. But, much like other trends (i.e. fashion) you can lose yourself in them. You don’t want to be a “wavering writer.” Following your heart and writing what you know you’re meant to write will help you develop your platform and build your audience.

I believe trends come and go like the whispering wind around us. And it’s perfectly okay to consider switching up a style or trying something “new” if you really want to. However, the harm is that it can hurt your own writing goals.

Be True To Who You Are

When I began my writing journey, one of the first things the experts talked about was “being true to my own writing style and voice.” They asked me, “As a writer, what’s the one thing that would separate you from the millions of author’s in this word?”

When you pick up books by popular authors, you can easily distinguish between their book and others. It’s their style– you can “hear” them as you read. This is what you want to learn about yourself. You want to write in your own distinct voice and style. You want readers to read a book and say,”Yep, that’s Suzy alright. That’s her.”

Writers don’t have the same voice. We may have the same style or genere preference, but we don’t have the same voice or writing styles. We’re all uniquely designed to have a different voice. Learn more about your writing voice from Best Selling author, Jeff Goins. He has an excellent blog-post with tips on how to find your voice!

A Quick Recap…

If we’re not careful, we can lose our identity. I’d like to encourage you to consider how special you are and what makes your words important and unique.

Trends come and go. Don’t worry about what the trends are. Write what is in your heart to write– in the genre that you are led to write in and with your own style. Learn more about who you are as a writer and what message you’re trying to say (fiction or non-fiction). Here are a few more suggestions:

• Consider what genre you love and stick with it.
• Consider what makes you unique
• Consider blogging. It’s a great way to practice consistency.
• Consider ignoring trends.

Question for you:

Are you aware of “writing-trends?” Does writing-trends affect you in any way? How do you handle this?

 

Picture Source: Google Images. Artist: Kurven Design

Writers: Common Self-publishing Scams

In all of the years I’ve been writing professionally, I always hear from writers who consider publishing their own work independently. It’s one of the reasons NyreePress was birthed. (NyreePress is not a self-publishing company. Read our FAQs here.) Self-publishing is such a popular way authors are getting published– by the way, it’s also a booming industry since e-books are on the rise.

I hear many questions and concerns that writers have. They want to know who to trust, how I published my books and what all is involved in the process. The truth is, self-publishing is a great way to publish. It’s becoming more and more respectable because authors are learning the proper way to do so. But, there are a few things aspiring writers should know if they want to publish a book– a great book that is polished and appealing to readers. In the self-publishing world, it’s crucial to know what scams you should avoid.

Yesterday, I came across an article in LA Times about “Unhappy authors (who) file class action (law) suits against PublishAmerica.”

I wasn’t surprised by this article. This isn’t “new” news. There many scams out there. Quite honestly, just because someone calls themselves a reputable publisher, it doesn’t mean they really are.

When I began to tip-toe into the writing community, there were a few things experienced authors shared with me about the world of self- publishing:

• Many self-publishing companies charge obscene amounts of money to do things that you can do on your own or with a reputable Print-On-Demand service like the one Createspace offers.
• Some self-publishing companies have expensive start-up fees and make make false promises (i.e., they can get your book into local bookstores.. some even promise success.)
• Some self-publishing companies don’t offer great editing, book cover designs or book formatting. They may not specialize in these areas and these are important elements of your book! I have personally seen self-published books from authors and they did not look professional or appealing. The formatting was off and the design was horrible.

These are just a few examples. Before you consider any self-publishing company that ask for money, look carefully at the packages they offer. Examine them with a thick lens and decide for yourself if any one of these places will help or hurt your book and publishing experience.

Beware of the scams!

Thanks for visiting. Don’t forget, you can sign up for a free 30 minute consult by clicking here. Let’s talk about your book!

Question for You:

Have you considered self-publishing with any of the companies that have upfront cost? Do you have a bad self-publishing experience? I’d love it if you would comment below!

Happy Writing Today,

Kennisha

Photo source: Google images

My biggest publishing mistake

Source: Google Images

I couldn’t wait.

This is really a horrible truth about me. At times, I can be pretty impatient and I can rush into things too quickly without being absolutely sure. Over the years I’ve learned from horrible mistakes just how grueling the effects of that really is. This is one example.

Awakened was my first novel. I love the “love story” that it is, however, I made a horrible mistake. I published it without getting it professionally edited.

Before I released it on LuLu, my husband and I sat down and read through the entire novel. I read most of it out loud– hoping to catch the errors. We were sure it was “decent.” My husband encouraged me, “There are Best Sellers who misspell words and have grammatical errors in it. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure it was good enough.

I remember the day I hit send– the day I submitted my manuscript. I said, “Oh well, here we go.”

And then– in an instant– it released and was available to the public.

It was into hands of readers.

Eek!

I received great feedback. Readers loved the suspense, story-development and they fell in love with the characters. But I truly believe most people were too kind enough to tell me the truth: I needed an editor. Eventually, some friends shared their honest opinion. “We love the story, but…”

I knew they meant well. I knew the truth about it. I was embarrassed and ashamed.

One day I picked up a paperback copy of Awakened and I cringed.

“How could I have missed this?”

“And this…?”

“And this…?

There were too many errors. I couldn’t keep count. I realized I made a horrible mistake.

Why I didn’t hire an editor:

• I didn’t have the money. I was flat broke and didn’t have the extra money to hire one. As a stay-at-home mom, I couldn’t afford it.
• I assumed “group critique” was good enough.
• I didn’t want to wait.
• I was excited.

Before you publish:

My experience taught me something very valuable. It taught me the importance of seeking professional help and working harder at perfecting my craft. I highly recommend the following before you publish:

• Join a writing critique group: I recently blogged about how connecting with other writers is incredibly beneficial.  At a critique group, you’ll get lots of great feedback about your work. They’ll be honest and you need honesty. If you are having trouble finding a critique group, having a writing mentor (or consultant) can be as beneficial. We can certainly help you with that!
• Research affordable editors and hire one. Editors charge various prices– but that mostly depends on their “resume” and “skill.” Writers who have been in the publishing industry for years may charge a bit more for their expertise (according to my research). However, there are also very credible writers who are very affordable. Comment here for any referrals. I have great resources I can highly recommend. Hiring an editor is a great investment into your project!
• Ask supportive family and friends to read your manuscript. Ask for honest feedback. Sometimes family will give a very unbiased opinion because they love you and want you to do well. Connect with the people you know will give constructive criticism.

Take your time. That’s one of the most important things I can share. It’s exciting to consider the end result– your book in your hands. But let’s also remember that it takes time. Don’t rush the process like I did. You don’t want readers to get a bad taste in their mouths from reading an unedited book! And readers can be vicious sharks!

Source: Google Images

In the next post, I’ll talk about some of the first “constructive criticism” comments I received from my first critique meeting! And later, I’ll share “my common writing errors” that my editor was nice enough to share with me!

Stay tuned!

**A quick addition to this post: I am so grateful for the people who have read Awakened and who really did enjoy it. I was touched by the encouraging comments that many people gave me. I was told it was an easy read, had a great story line and it was truly inspiring for single women. That blessed me tremendously. Those are the things writers (even newbie writers) like to hear. So, thank you from the depths of my heart! Awakened will be re-released soon and it will be edited and polished well!**

Do you need a literary agent?

Google Images

It is a great big world out there for writers interested in publishing their books. So many choices stand before you and most times, you can feel like you’re standing at a fork in the road wondering, “Should I go left?” “Should I go right?” Traditional or Independent? Invest a few thousand dollars or Not? Another question that ends up in the minds of many writers is whether or not they should chose a literary agent.

In the traditional literary world, one of the most important and useful people to authors are literary agents, publicist and assistants. Over the coarse of the next few days, I’ll share my thoughts about each and if they are essential to your independent publishing needs.

Here are my thoughts about the role of a literary agent and if you should inquire about one as an independent author:

Literary Agents

When writers are interested in traditional publishing, they seek a literary agent. A literary agent works hand and hand with the author to land a deal with a traditional publisher. In the traditional publishing world, they are very helpful because most traditional houses won’t accept unsolicited submissions– meaning, if they didn’t meet you at a writing conference or already have met you prior to your interest in their publishing house, they are not interested in your material unless it’s through an agent.

I don’t have a literary agent. However, I have heard very different stories from different author’s about them. One award winning Christian writer shared how she has had the same literary agent for years. She’s helped her land great contracts with publishers! I love hearing stories like that. Unfortunately, not all stories about literary agents are successful. Some don’t work as proficient as others and aren’t that great at making deals with publishers. So, it’s very important to know that even if an agent is interested in your work, it’s no guarantee you’ll get a contract. And, there’s no guarantee that the contract you get will be what you are hoping for.

 You can search for a literary agent by Googling “Literary Agents”. It’s the best way I  know to do a great online search. Another way, is by going through a manuscript  submission service. I’d caution you here because some charge outrageous prices to  “help” you get an agent. I wouldn’t pay a red cent up front, in my opinion. Here are  two ways I suggest looking for a literary agent:

1. Sally Stuarts Christian Writers Marketing Guide. It’s a great book worth investing    in. Tons of great resources!

2. Writers Market. (www.writersmarket.com). This is a great website I frequently  visit. It gives you the ability to search for a literary agent, magazine or publisher. You can save query letter’s and book proposals on site and send them from there. This is a place I highly recommend.

In my opinion, a literary agent is not necessary for independent publishing. They do serve a great purpose for traditional publishing, though. If you are seeking traditional publishing, you should explore this option.

 

Writing a book: Where do I begin?

One of the reasons I have started this consulting firm was so I could share as much information as I could with other writers interested in self-publishing. The truth is, it’s a crazy world out there filled with lots of options. And honestly, if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself becoming so overwhelmed that you don’t get anything done. Trust me, I know that feeling.

I’m often approached by other zealous writers with questions about how to self-publish. And sometimes, they want to know where to go first. “What is step one,” they ask.

Well, I’ll break it down to you in a few simple answers that might help you get started right now:

#1 Write.

When I first started writing my first book, I had no idea how to write fiction. I started writing my first novel (Awakened) before I published my devotional (Simply Wisdom). And trust me, I did not know a THING about fiction writing. I didn’t know much about how to properly write dialogue, the art of “showing vs. telling”… I had no clue. But all I did know was that I had a story in my brain that I wanted to write on paper. So, I pulled out my laptop and started from chapter one.

The truth is, all writers are growing. The more you write, the better you become at it. So, write what it is in your heart to share. Start there first.

#2 Connect with other writers/authors.

I didn’t know a thing about book writing until I stared blogging. I remember Googling “Writing Mentors” because I knew I was going to need some help with this. Well, little did I know that I could connect with one of the sweetest and one of my favorite Christian authors, Tricia Goyer, that way. She had a blog titled “My Writing Mentor” at the time and I logged on there consistently every day to see what wisdom she had to share. From there, I learned about the Yahoo writing group “The Writers View“. Suddenly, the world of writing started to open up to me in such a colorful way. I had no idea this world existed. From there, I met Mary DeMuth and learned of a writers group she’s a part of here in Dallas. I have met so many more sweet writers who have a heart to share the messages God placed in their heart to share.

Connecting with other writers helps you grow. And, don’t be afraid to ask questions from the experts. The more you know, the more you’ll grow.

#3 Read.

One of the greatest pieces of advice I’ve heard when I started was “Read!” The books you have in your library right now are from people who have been right where you are right now. It just makes sense for writers to read to learn from them. I joined Writers Digest where I was able to get writing books at a great discount. I wanted to learn more and more about how I can become a better writer. And there are many great books out there.

So, if you’re writing a devotional, read devotionals. Pay attention to how they are structured. Are they too preachy? Are they filled with compassion and share a message of hope? If you’re writing fiction, pay attention to dialogue. Is it believable? Does it sound like something you would hear in a regular conversation? Did the author paint a great picture for you? Whatever type of book you’re writing, it’s a good idea to read that type of book to learn from them.

There are many more writing tips that I’ll share on this blog. But for now, I wanted to highlight the three more important ones for writers who are hoping to finish their book and get published.

Question for you:

Do you have any other tips for writers who want to get published? What helped you the most?