Two Challenges Facing the Nonfiction Writer by Diana Flegal

Publishers are looking for nonfiction titles to address a felt need. And most large publishers publish what they call perennial titles every year. Parenting, relationship, and marriage are examples of titles they need for each year’s list.

Why? Because there is a continual felt need for these.

Other publishers are looking for issue related titles: Divorce Recovery, Depression, Spousal Abuse, Cancer, and Overcoming Living with Disabilities. These books will find a pretty large audience due to general relatability.

When one breaks these issues down to a smaller audience, then we are looking at a niche audience. Battling and Surviving Eye Cancer, Pastoral Wife Abuse, and The Plight of the Homeless Vet. We know these are actual demographics, but they are smaller, and more difficult to reach. This type of audience is best met through a speaking platform or online forum. For this author, most book sales will happen at the back of the room after a speaking engagement.

My nonfiction clients have several large challenges. One of the largest is discoverability (though the demands on a fiction writer’s platform are increasing). How is the reader going to find them and their book? The other is breaking into a publisher as an expert on a topic. If a large publisher has an established and well known writer on the subject of marriage, they will most likely continue to invest in the author making them money. As this writer ages out, the door will again open, but only to a writer well connected online with their readers felt needs.

One can have a great nonfiction book topic, well written outline and sample chapters and still get nowhere near a publishing committee.  If after a few query’s resulting in a rejection due to insufficient platform (though I believed they had impressive numbers), I recommend to my clients we table their book and dissect their individual platform building needs. Building up their speaking platform is of utmost importance. This means planning to attend a speaker’s conference, and joining a few speakers’ organizations. Contacting their local organizations with their speaking topics list, tweaked to meet that particular organizations needs.  And all of this takes time. If you do it right, at least two years.

For a nonfiction writer attempting to break into today’s market, the book comes after discoverability. In my mind speaking engagements and maintaining a vibrant online presence is a necessary ingredient to ones success.

If you believe you have been given something that can be a help to others, check out this list of organizations, conferences, and webinar offerings. Find one that fits your budget and schedule. Let this be the year you take a leap and develop your discoverability and expand your influence and reach.    

 

 

 

 

 

The Trouble with Real Life by Diana Flegal

Truth is often stranger than fiction.

I have received countless promising submissions that I end up turning down for this reason; the character encountered a situation, and dealt with it in an unbelievable manner.

When questioning the writer about this part of their story they often tell me, “But it really happened like that!” I have no reason to doubt them. My own personal story holds many such incredible circumstances, but they would not come across as believable by any stretch of the imagination to a reader of fiction.

“It’s no wonder truth is stranger than fiction, fiction has to make sense.”― Mark Twain  

A writer must be willing to edit out the unbelievable. And for some, that feels like they are being untrue to themselves. But if their personal life experience brought them to a good story, it has served a grand purpose and the writer needs to be content with this.

Cardinal Rule: A good writer must keep their reader in mind.

“Sometimes the truth isn't good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded”. – Batman-The Dark Knight

Remember: ALWAYS keep your reader in mind. And be willing to cut those unbelievable segments of your story out.

Here is a list of articles a Google search supplied on writing believable characters.

Read through a few when you have the time. There will certainly be a nugget or two here that might, when applied, strengthen and enrich your story and characters.    

And be encouraged, Spring is around the corner!

Contrast: A Great Writing Tool by Diana Flegal

Light/ Dark

         White/Black

                        Good/Bad

                                        Fun/Sad

Smooth/Rough

                        Mean/Nice

                                                                                Rich/Poor

                                                                                                    Young/Old

Every good story has the push/pull of contrast. A character we love to hate. A crisis that requires a hero or a problem that needs to be solved.

But how it is woven into the story line is the key to its success.

A few questions I always ask when doing a critique are: Are the characters believable? Is this a plausible situation or just random tension thrown into the plot line? Sequentially, is this doable?

In the book Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, Charles Shultz and his Peanuts comic script often expressed the thrill and the agony of the writing life. Snoopy penned these lines in one comic strip: It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a shot rang out. The maid screamed. A door slammed. Suddenly a pirate ship appeared on the horizon! “This twist in the plot will baffle my readers”, said Snoopy. (Might just be one reason Snoopy was always receiving those rejection slips).   

One does not want to baffle their readers.

Literary Devices shares here examples of the way contrast is employed in some well known writing.

I would imagine as you read this blog a particular story you enjoyed, or a movie you have recently seen, popped into your mind.

A few that came to my mind as I constructed the list above were: Fiddler on the Roof, War and Peace, The Agony and the Ecstasy, Les’ Miserables, You’ve Got Mail, Alice in Wonderland, and even Forrest Gump.

Take some time and think about each of the books you have recently read and list the ways their characters were in contrast, or ask yourself where and when in the story their situation changed, or love was won or lost. There is always contrast involved in the evolution of your characters.     

And definitely stop by and peruse these many Snoopy images on the writing life. Caution though, you might just get a stich in your side from laughing so hard.

One Word Difference by Diana Flegal

The book by Austin Kleon, Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and How to Get Noticed is both profound and simplistic. 

Though Austin's first book, Steal Like an Artist came out in 2012, followed by, Show Your Work in 2014, and, Keep Going in 2019, I find myself still recommending them to my coaching clients. His advice is timeless.


In Show Your Work, Austin said: If you want to be more effective when sharing yourself and your work, you need to become a better storyteller. You need to know what a good story is and how to tell one. 


He then shares this quote by John le Carre':


"'The cat sat on a mat' is not a story, 'The cat sat on the dog's mat' is a story."


I agree, do you?

Permission to Run Wild by Diana Flegal

G.K. Chesterton said, “The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”

Perhaps Chesterton was speaking about Christian fiction writers when he talked about permission to ‘run wild’.

Over the years, many have asked me what purpose Christian fiction serves.

I have my own opinion, but here with their permission, are some published fiction authors, fiction publishing house editors, and other agents offering their ‘wild’ thoughts.  

Joseph Max Lewis, author of The Diaries of Pontius Pilate shared: “Christian fiction explores the human condition, including its dark recesses, but always celebrates the life affirming principles of our faith. Christian fiction imparts hope, especially in dark times like now; it celebrates courage, perseverance and self-sacrifice, and it reaffirms the truth that with God all things are possible no matter how impossible they might seem. The purpose of Christian fiction is to shine light into a dark world.”

One of my favorite fantasy authors, C.S. Lakin wrote in a recent blog post: “… I don’t write for fun. I don’t write to entertain other Christians. I feel a pressing calling from God to reach out to those who have no hope and do not know that a plan of salvation has been executed on their behalf and is being offered to them. I look at my writing as 100% ministry, and my efforts and prayers are all directed toward those ends. I take the views of authors like Flannery O’Conner and Madeline L’Engle who felt strongly that their writing should honestly and even painfully reflect the true state of the human condition, of sin, and all its ugliness without censoring.”

Agent Jim Hart: “Christian fiction serves to tell the Truth through engaging our imagination.”

Author, Aaron Gansky believes “Christian fiction fills an important spot for those who enjoy good literature but prefer not to witness the brutality of our fallen world. Christian storytelling demonstrates hope through adversity, and an opportunity for grace for the fallen.”

Acquisitions editor Vicki Crumpton said: “My usual answers are escape and entertainment. I'd probably also add a gentle affirmation of our faith.”

Author of Mercy’s Rain and director of The Asheville Christian Writers Conference, Cindy Sproles, believes “we can find guidance through the stories of others. We seem to learn best from example and in a day when fewer and fewer folks are picking up their Bibles, I think the Christian worldview in fiction can plant seeds that can grow in the hearts of those who may not otherwise see it.”

Literary Agent, Linda Glaz, “it serves a large group of previously displaced readers who want clean, well-written fiction with a slant of faith, and who have found it difficult to find such stories in the secular market.”

Marsha Hubler, published author and director of the Montrose Christian Writers Conference put it this way: “Who was the most influential fiction author of all times? Although Jesus penned his all-time best-selling nonfiction book, The Holy Bible through godly men, while He was on earth he also told parable after parable to his listeners, imparting deep biblical and moral truths that changed lives. Jesus loved “story.” It has the power to change lives.”

I couldn’t have said it any better than this group of talented people in the know. What do you get out of your fiction reading? 

Hope and Encouragement Found in Community by Diana Flegal

The Circles of Hope nonprofit program, founded by Scott Miller, Co-Founder of Move The Mountain Leadership Center, brings together the best efforts and resources of individuals, organizations, communities, and government in a program proven to raise people out of poverty. Operating in 23 states and 62 communities, Circles is committed to helping families build new systems of support.  

Such a worthy mission. But its success is related to a system of support, encouragement, and community.

Support enables us to stretch further, be bolder, and accomplish much more.

This also relates to the writing life.

When we find support, and feel safe expressing ourselves, we become better writers.

Though writers initially express concern their ideas will be stolen, or they are too embarrassed to share their first efforts at a novel, the benefits of joining a writers group quickly dissolve those misgivings.  

Community and encouragement are essential needs of the creative. 

Crave it. 

Seek it out.


Question: Have you found or built a community of writers?

Start, Stop, and Continue in 2016 by Diana Flegal

Happy 2016!








In his last message of 2015, my Pastor challenged us to ask ourselves these three questions in preparing for the New Year.

What do I want to start?

What should I stop?

And, what should I continue doing?

As a writer beginning this New Year, I challenge you to ask yourself the same three questions. Here are a few suggestions to consider under the various categories.

START TO:

• meet with a writers/ critique group once a month- even if it has to be online
• journal or write daily morning pages (Google ‘morning pages, Julia Cameron’)
• wake early to grab writing time before daily tasks and commitments claim your day
• write and post a weekly blog / seek guest blogging opportunities
• submit your finished work to literary agents or magazines
• build an Instagram, twitter, or Pinterest account after researching how to utilize them
• invest this year in your dream- a small investment might be the purchase of a writing resource book- a larger one- to register for a writers conference  

STOP:

• making excuses for your writing passion to family and friends
• ignoring the advice of the experts advising you to make changes to your manuscript (especially if you have heard the same thing from several professionals)
• editing- there is a time to stop, say enough, and submit your work
• using weed words that clutter up your story- examples are: ‘just’, ‘always’, ‘really’, that, and ‘as if’

CONTINUE:

• to hone your writing skills by attending a writers conference
• build your social media platforms
• to blog (once you have begun, letting a blog go stagnant is not a good thing)
• build online friendships with other writers
• to post book reviews on Amazon and Goodreads for books you enjoyed

Please feel free to share your ideas my suggestions brought to mind. Stay inspired and write on.

Goals, Resources, and Writing Deadlines by Diana Flegal

The New Year is just around the corner. I feel it bearing down, asking me questions, challenging the way I have functioned this past year, thinking I can do better this next one. It is awful to be accompanied by such a chatty specter.  After all, it can not possibly know all of my excuses, I mean reasons I did what I did – the way I did it in 2015.

But I am reexamining things, clearing out my inbox, and catching up on the reading of client proposals and filed away submissions. Pushy bugger.

This past week I was prompted to buy a book (at retail) titled, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon. I think it will be useful as I encourage writers this next year at conferences, and through blogs like this, as well as when I need to provide a ‘pep-talk’ to a discouraged client. I also plan to buy Donald Maass’s book Writing the Breakout Novel. It was recently recommended to me by a well published author and a screenwriter. Though it was published in 2004, I am going to check it out since I highly respect these two individuals.  

I am also finalizing workshop topics and outlines for this year’s writing conference season. So far I will be attending:

February 19-21^st Writers Bootcamp/ AshevilleChristian Writers Conference, at The Cove, Asheville, North Carolina  

May 22-26^th Blue Ridge Mountain Christian WritersConference (BRMCWC) held at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, North Carolina

August 3 – 6^th The Greater Philly ChristianWriters Conference (GPCWC) held at Cairn University, Langhorne, PA

How do you plan to switch it up this next year, improve your writing, or schedule some serious training?

No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone sitting on the couch. J

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Diana Flegal

I recently completed reading The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. It provoked in me a strong emotional response. It wrecked me. I went back to the story – reread the ending, then the opening. Set it aside, then picked it back up.  I Googled: Is The Life of Pi fiction or nonfiction?

Apparently I am not the only one to ask the question. Several sites discuss this, Goodreads included.

The author hooks the reader with an ‘authors note’. Fiction presented as truth. Martel has been quoted as stating: ‘Anything is believable if you give it the guise of reality’. After reading the fantastical tale, I couldn’t say convincingly it was a work of fiction. Though I reasoned it was, my heart was convinced otherwise.

Friends and I went opening night to see the new Star Wars movie. We saw it in 3D. Highly enjoyable entertainment, though far easier to distinguish as fiction. While I was emotionally impacted, it did not affect me the same as The Life of Pi.

The awakening of The Force happened in a galaxy far, far away. I don’t hang with Wookie’s, or own a hover craft. Pi’s adventure began in a country I can locate on a map. I know people who have visited there. I am familiar with life on the ocean, and know what life aboard a ship is like. I could identify the animals mentioned in the story.  

Four days later I still feel sorrow and outrage when I think of the things Pi suffered. Yet it was fiction. Masterfully written fiction. Word pictures so vivid, I tasted salt and grew thirsty.

Writer, strive for that kind of mastery. Practice, rewrite, read, then write some more. Don’t be in a hurry to be published. Learn the craft. Hone your skills.   

  

  

   

Tech Overload or Great Science by Diana Flegal

InBound, The blog!  recently shared a Bold Talk by Amber Case titled: Designing Calm Technology. Calm technology describes a state of technological maturity where a user’s primary task is not computing, but being human. 

Calm Technology sounds great to me right now.

The last couple of weeks have been a media marketing frenzy as authors and publishers promote new book releases, and attempt to breathe new life into titles that released earlier in the year, knowing this is a time when people buy gifts for one another. No pressure there! (She says sarcastically.)   

Frankly I am looking forward to unplugging next week and the week after.

I’d like to schedule my tweets and FaceBook posts, but I have never set up a Hoot suite account or subscribed to any other service.

If you are like me, and are now ready to schedule a break from your social media posts, Mashable.com offers a list here of: 11 Free Services for Scheduling SocialMedia Posts.     

Could be I will suffer withdrawals, but instead I will most likely enjoy the extra free time. I plan to catch up on my reading stack and squeeze in some real face time with friends.

What service do you use to schedule your social media posts? Why would you recommend it? Do you enjoy the free-time scheduling offers you?

Formulas: The Answer or Not? By Diana Flegal

My personality type wants to formulate life for myself and others. Do this and get that response- every time. Neat and tidy. And controllable.

Yet God has taught me, this is not the best way to go about life. Just as we know not to put God in a box, for he will be sure to act differently when we do, we should not formulate our past experiences.

Writers and their techniques will have some similarities with other writers. And some bold distinctions. There is great liberty in writing once you get down the fundamentals. One must first learn the rules of grammar, punctuation, and the particular language you will express yourself in, but from there, ones creative freedom and poetic license can begin.

Julia Cameron, author of ‘The Artist’s Way’ says; “The creative process is a process of surrender and not control. Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.” Her artistic philosophy is founded on a belief that creativity is bred from self-confidence, personal development, and divine influence (rather than from the human ego).

Simple examples of diversity in writing are: Plotter verses the Pantser. One writer might start with an outline.  Another begins with the story then edits out the extras. James Scott Bell is a strong advocate of doing character journals. Another author recently said he interviews his characters when he needs to further develop them. As a fiction writer, it might be fun for you to try journaling your character. An interview with one of your characters makes for a great blog post as well.   

A nonfiction writer attacks their topic differently than a fiction author. One well published nonfiction author I know uses a spreadsheet, believing it helps her see the big picture in a simple, logical format. I do think nonfiction writing lends itself well to outline preparation, enabling your reader to clearly see the logical progression and development of your thought.  

Don’t be afraid to try out some creative processes recommended by others. Then discard what does not work for you, and keep the new methods that do.

Are you a Pantser or a Plotter? What writing techniques have you tried that worked, or attempted and discarded?

November is National Novel Writing month and many of you participated this year in the 30 day writing experience of Nanowrimo. If so, we would love to hear what expectations you had when you entered, how you did or did not meet them, and what you learned from the experience.

Penalty! Interference or the Impeding of a Writer by Diana Flegal

We have already established through previous blog posts of mine, that I am an avid football fan. Of the Pittsburgh Steelers in particularly. (Please do not hold that against me, I am a nice and courteous opponent.)

In Sunday’s game this week, we had a 15 yard penalty called against us. I became frustrated. The penalty was impediment. Seriously? The receiver caught the ball. Sheesh.

But, I must be reasonable. The last two years the NFL has implemented new penalties in the hope of protecting players from injury. Apparently this is one of them.

Here is how it reads in the 2015 NFL Rulebook:

Rule 10   Opportunity to Catch a Kick, Fair Catch

Section 1 Opportunity to Catch a Kick / Interference

During  a  scrimmage  kick that  crosses  the  line  of  scrimmage,  or  during  a  free  kick (punt),  members  of the kicking team are prohibited from interfering with any receiver making an attempt to catch the airborne kick,  or  from  obstructing  or  hindering  his  path  to  the airborne  kick,  and  regardless  of  whether  any  signal was given.

Item 1:   Contact with Receiver.

It is interference if a player of the kicking team contacts the receiver, or causes a passive player of either team to contact the receiver, before or simultaneous to his touching the ball.

Item 2:   Right of Way.

A receiver who is moving toward a kicked ball that is in flight has the right of way. If opponents obstruct his path to the ball, or cause a passive player of either team to obstruct his path, it  is  interference,  even  if  there  is  no  contact,  or  if  he  catches  the  ball  in  spite  of  the interference,  and regardless of whether any signal was given.

We (The Steelers) were guilty of Item 2. Which got me to thinking about my clients, and writers in general. (Of course it did- that is all I think about. #ineedalife)

What impedes or obstructs the path of a writer?

Is it direct contact: a rejection from the literary agent you submitted to, a face to face meeting with an editor that results in- nothing, or criticism from a crtique? Or is it indirect interference; self sabotage, poor health, or growing weary that blocks us, even though we might have gainded some success?

Learning any craft is strenuous and takes time. When we grow impatient, we will not ‘receive’ the rewards of our hard work. We will fail to reach our goals (cross the goal line), and fail to score a win.

Take some time to examine what is impeding your success and keeping you from reaching your goals. The New Year is around the corner, and as writers and literary agents, we can reassess our game plan.

  

A Few of My Favorite Things by Diana Flegal

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I love all things about this holiday. Gathering with family and friends, great food, and great FOOTBALL! Seriously, can it get any better? Wait- and then there are LEFTOVERS!!


Although this year will be different than many of the others I have known, it will be spent with great friends, eating good food, and watching FOOTBALL! 


And my contribution to the meal will be my baked corn casserole dish. I thought I'd share my recipe with you. There are many versions circulating now, but I stick to this tested and beloved one. Do not count carbs or calories tomorrow. Enjoy and recoup the next week.

Diana’s Baked Corn 

One stick of butter – melted in 2 quart casserole dish 

Add 6 oz’s of sour cream and one box of Jiffy corn muffin mix to melted butter  

Mix well 

Add one can of creamed corn and one can of sweet corn (do not drain) 

Mix again 

OPTION: add one small can of green chilies 

Pour batter into lightly oiled casserole dish. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 60 minutes.

And in case you are asking, "Any new recipes for those leftovers Diana?"

These Hot Brown's are really terrific. Open faced hot turkey sandwich with cheese gravy and crispy bacon...what's not to love?

I pray, no matter what personal challenges you face, your heart is full to overflowing as you list the things you can be thankful for.  

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!

Writing Advice According to Dr. Seuss Compiled and Arranged by Diana Flegal

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!

Whenever things go a bit sour in a job I'm doing, I always tell myself, 'You can do better than this.'

Step with care and great tact, and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act.

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/dr_seuss.html#XlXofa17mdO5MkuE.99

We All Need a Team by Diana Flegal

I was thinking how the game of football is a lot like writing. Let me explain.

 I now live in Asheville, North Carolina, and while there are a huge number of Steeler fans in this area, (Go Steelers!), this past Monday night it was all about the undefeated Carolina Panthers winning their 7^th game by a field goal in overtime. My friends were ecstatic the next morning, their passion for the game, and their team very evident as they regaled me with stories of the heroic efforts of each player in gaining them this victory. The game had been won in a solid team effort.

Offense, defense, running backs, tight ends, receivers, quarterbacks, and kickers. Vital members with specific roles to play.

When the offense doesn’t protect their quarterback, the ball doesn’t advance down the field and there is a loss of yardage. If blocks aren’t thrown to open a hole, the receiver can not run the ball down the field. But when they all execute their plays, and that timing pass gets into the right hands, victories are won.

As a writer, who are the key players on your team? Who protects you in the huddle when the pressure is on, and you are surrounded by distractions?

Offensive people clear the deck so you can write. They call the plays or offer you timely advice.  “OK, since you have to drop the kids off at school for band practice, how about on my way home from work I pick up the dog from the vet so you can write while the house is quiet?”

GO TEAM!!     

Defensive players defend what you are doing. Believe in you and help make it easy for you to invest in your writing. Often with cash – for that conference you’ll never forget or that writing resource book you need. Just released, Shock the Clock: Time Management for Writers and Other Creatives, by Jeanette Levellie is a good example.

NOTE: Beware the trash talker who tries to get into your head, saying things like; “You’ll never get published, your mama wears combat boots!” All that does is set you back, making it all that much harder to reach the end zone.

HERE WE GO!

A properly executed keynote pass- delivers needed information that enables you to write with excellence.

TOUCHDOWN!!

 It really does take a village, or a team to win at writing, as well as at life.

Here’s hoping you have a great one gathered around you.

 

 

 

Rewriting Makes for a Better Book by Diana Flegal

I’ve recently been working with an author client, responding to requests from a publisher for changes to her nonfiction proposal outline and sample chapters.

Two different publishers are interested in two different books she is writing. A great problem to have, isn’t it?

Both publishers like her titles mission, and her credentials are excellent; in other words she is qualified to write on the topics she is writing about.

One publisher asked her to widen her target audience and that has resulted in changing the chapter outline and the books focus.

The other publisher asked her to tone down the sometimes academic voice into a more conversational tone so she can better connect emotionally with her reader.

It has been so rewarding, collaborating with these editors, willing to sacrifice their time and wait patiently while she made the changes. She and I have learned a lot in the process. As a result, both of the books have expanded and grown into much better books than they were before.

I hope the work will result in contracts for my client, but I know this- she has grown as a writer, learned new skills and I am very proud of her progress and willingness to do the work involved in making the changes. It was a lot of work.

Has it ever been suggested you make changes to your WIP (work in progress)? Are you willing to rewrite if asked too?

The Best and the Worst by Diana Flegal

I was recently asked by a conference presenter if I could share with him my best and worst experience of a 15 min. pitch appointment. Here is my response. I thought you might find it informative.

 

Most Positive 15 minute appointment:

 

I was presented with a well crafted nonfiction one sheet, answering all the questions I might have asked. As we further discussed her book, she showed me her incredible platform. She had gathered thousands of blog followers, as well as an outstanding number of followers on her twitter and Facebook sites. She spoke three times a month on average and showed me where she had procured a VERY famous celebrity to write the forward of her book, along with several A list endorsers. A nationally known organization had already committed to ordering large quantities of her book and were offering to advertise it on their website.

 

Then I woke up. Unfortunately none of the above is true. :-(

 

I actually enjoy meeting with authors at any stage in their writing journey. But a good appointment is one where the writer is informed, comes prepared and is open to advice. There has only been two times that I signed an author at a conference in 8 years.

 

Worst 15 minute appointment I have experienced:

 

A woman sat in front of me and handed me a full proposal. After quickly reviewing her one page I said that I did not believe this was a book I could sell. She burst into tears, placed her head on her arms, and sobbed hysterically. Everyone in the appointment room stared at me like I was the meanest person. I later learned she had gotten the same response from many of her appointments. I was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.      

 

Unfortunately this is a true story.

 

She obviously did not come prepared and had not done her research.

Six Steps to a Good Clean Draft by Diana Flegal

Recently I was involved in a discussion about writers knowing when their writing is completed, finished, and submit-able. While many novice writers prematurely submit a first or second draft to an agent or a publisher, other writers  edit, and edit, and edit. Wanting their material to be perfect, they eventually delete the life out of their writing. When is enough, enough? These are the points we all agreed on.

6) Just write and get it all down- this is called a first draft.

5) Send it through spell check- It will highlight the gross grammatical errors.

4) Go back and eliminate unnecessary adverbs and adjectives, and replace them with strong nouns and verbs.

3)  Read it out loud or put it through a program that will read it to you. For fiction, this will show you where your plot has holes or your dialog is poor. With nonfiction, you can adjust your sentence structure to better get your point across.

2) Then walk away. After you have walked away from it for a week or a few days you can make a few final edits and pass it along to your critique group. You do belong to one of them, right? They are vital to a writer.

DRUM ROLL: The numero uno way to know your manuscript, article, blog, poem or flash fiction is ready is when you agent or critique partners wrest it out of your hands and threaten your life if you make one more change.  

Read More to Write Better by Diana Flegal

I was amazed the first time an author pitching me his story of a certain genre informed me he did not read stories of that particular genre or really read much at all. It was obvious to me he hadn't and didn't.


While I am sure there are exceptions, and one of you might be that one, I believe strongly that in order to become a good writer one must be a great reader. 


I can't imagine an aspiring pianist having no familiarity with melody.


Assuming you are a lover of words, I am curious to know how you choose your reading material.


I know some who visit their local indie bookstore and ask the staff what they have recently read and liked. Others ask their librarian, and others go with book club picks.


How do you choose, and what have you read recently that you especially enjoyed? What are you currently reading?


I am reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller (for the second time), as well as The Aviators Wife by Melanie Benjamin

9 Dialog Tags for Unlikable Characters by Diana Flegal

Recently in a local monthly women’s publication I read an article written by a business life coach that mentioned certain words you shouldn’t use in negotiating a promotion.

I realize the dialog she suggests avoiding is also dialog to avoid in novel writing. Unless you are going for an unlikable secondary character. If you are, here is the way to have your reader cringing in no time.

Have your character:

•  apologizing or saying “I’m sorry” often.
•  “I feel …” this and that
• “You always…” or “You never…”
• “Well we all know…” or “The fact of the matter…”
• “To be honest with you…”
• “Yes but…”
• “Don’t misunderstand me…”
• “Oh, by the way…”
•  “This is not personal…” (yeah, right!)

What faults do you give your unlikable characters? Remember, you must show the miserable ones in your book, not just tell us they are unhappy, or a know-it-all. Dialog is a good way to paint us a picture.