Write Now Editing

5 Unique Gift Ideas for Writers

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It may seem early to bring up Christmas, but it’s only two months away so this is the perfect time to start planning your shopping list.

There are some pretty standard gift for writers that never fail—Amazon gift cards, journals, pens, subscriptions to Writer’s Digest. But what if you want to buy something different?

Here are five fun options for the writer in your life:

  1. A gel seat cushion. Writers spend a lot of time sitting. Make it easier and more comfortable with a high-quality seat cushion.
  2. An ergonomic keyboard. Wrist and arm problems are actually an issue for writers. Help alleviate that with a keyboard that takes the stress off.
  3. Coffee shop card. Even the most introverted writers like to get out of the house occasionally. Make it easier on them with a gift card to their favorite coffee shop.
  4. Noise cancelling headphones. A little more expensive than the other gift ideas but well worth the investment, these will make it easier to write during those trips to the coffee shop.
  5. Membership fees. Whether your writer is a novelist or a journalist, there’s a professional organization out there whose membership will benefit your writer.

If you have any other gift ideas—or you’ve received something that really wowed you—let us know!

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Evaluating Subsidy Publishers by Linda Harris

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When you’re looking to publish a book without a traditional publisher, what’s the best way to go? The answer is that it depends. Are you looking for the least expensive alternative, or are you willing to pay more to get services you would rather not handle yourself?

In the true sense of the word, self-publishing means that the author does all the work. However, not all authors want to go that route. Some need the guidance of a subsidy or hybrid publisher.

Not all subsidy and hybrid publishers are the same, just as not all traditional publishers are the same. Both types of publishers often have different packages authors can purchase. The higher the price, the more you will get. Subsidy publishers usually require a substantial outlay of money at the beginning of the process. Basically, you’re paying them to publish your book for you.

Hybrid publishers often have a combination of services and royalty payments (thus the label “hybrid”). In my experience, subsidy publishers are more expensive than hybrid publishers.

How can you determine which publishers are best? Here are some questions I ask:

  1. How much support do they supply to their authors? How much work do they expect you to do, such as all your own marketing?
  2. Are they selective about what books they accept? Or will they publish anything? Do they require professional editing, either through their company or an independent editor? Those who will publish anything are often called vanity publishers and are happy to take your money without supplying any guidance or support. Avoid these publishers.
  3. Are they listed in The Christian Writer’s Market Guide? While the market guide cautions authors to be careful, I’m sure they avoid listing any publisher that has a bad reputation. The introduction to that section says that, for every author who has a bad experience with a particular publisher, there are others who are satisfied.
  4. Are the books they publish available on Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, and other online book sellers?
  5. Do their books look professional? Telltale signs of unprofessional books are larger type than usual, odd spacing and formatting, and unattractive covers.
  6. Are the costs in line with what other subsidy and hybrid publishers charge? I don’t look at the price as much as the other things. But it can be a factor.

Evaluating these questions can help you choose the right avenue of publishing for you and your book. When you find some publishers that look like they might work for you, contact them and start a conversation about what they can do for you.

Owner of Perfect Word Editing, Linda Harris has been a freelance editor and writer for over 35 years:

  • Gold member of The Christian PEN (Proofreaders and Editors Network).
  • Member of The Christian Editor Connection, which requires rigorous testing to qualify.
  • Instructor for Editing Children’s Books 101 for The PEN Institute.
  • Certificates in several courses from The PEN Institute, including editing fiction.
  • Published in Moody Monthly, Guideposts, Psychology for Living, Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and other publications.
  • An article published in Home Life, a Southern Baptist magazine, was included in the book How to Write for Christian Magazines, published by Broadman Press (now B&H).
  • Placed twice in the top 100 of the Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition.
  • Editor for ten years of The Helping Hand, a Seventh Day Baptist publication, writing and editing over 500 church-school lessons. As part of that position, she worked with the Committee on Uniform Series, both as a member and as a consultant; CUS is the organization that develops the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching, used by various denominations and church-school publishers (such as David C. Cook).
  • Assistant editor for two years at The Kansas Christian newspaper in Topeka, Kansas.
  • Editorial Director for two years for Springs Writers, a ministry designed to reach writers of all levels in the Colorado Springs area.

Crafting Point of View to Create Immersive Reading by Chad Pettit

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I tend to get caught up on strange things when I listen to public speakers. I notice their idiosyncrasies and analyze odd things like their voice. Have you ever thought a person’s voice didn’t match their appearance? That’s the kind of stuff I think about. Weird, I know.

It’s the same in fiction, though, isn’t it? We notice the way writers use certain words or phrases more than others. It’s a sort of signature the writer may not even know is there. We call them “crutch” words, the words we lean on when we can’t think of anything else. The problem? They tend to create a voice that doesn’t match the passage, and this can be damaging to immersive reading.

I try to adapt the voice of a passage to the personality of the point of view character and the tone I want to create for a scene. I think this is something expert writers inherently do when they’re creating powerful scenes because they’re natural students of people and environments. They understand certain things:

  1. The feelings that come up in moments of fear, anticipation, grief, loss, happiness, or confusion
  2. What escalates or deescalates a situation
  3. How one person’s words can affect the minds and emotions of others

Knowing those things, writers use word choice, sentence structure, and tone to evoke those emotions in readers. Done poorly this makes for an unpleasant reading experience. Wouldn’t it seem awkward if a climactic moment in a Frank Peretti novel was written in the style of a Karen Kingsbury climax? Peretti is writing about warriors colliding whereas Kingsbury is writing about two people coming together in love. Imagine that the language and tone of the man professing his love for the woman were used for the angel fighting the demon.

See? Awkward.

The idea is to be as real-to-life as possible. Here is an example of a scene from my upcoming release, Fate of the Redeemed:

“Yara sat bolt upright and screamed. Ibrahim ignored the protests of his frail and cracking bones as he sprang to his feet and rushed to her side. He dropped down to his knees in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders, calling out her name.”

Although we’re not getting deep into the character’s emotions, we’re getting an understanding of the urgency. This is done through a mixture of complex and compound sentences with varied length to create a sense of urgency. The idea here is to imitate the increased heart rate of someone in an emergency. Imagine if we did this with a different approach:

“Yara sat up and screamed. Ibrahim’s eyes blinked open, and he felt the protest of his frail and cracking bones as he lifted to one shoulder and regarded his screaming granddaughter. Seeing that she was upset, he got up, moved over to her, and tried to comfort her by placing his hands on her shoulders and calling her name.”

The second example employs a three-step list, but people don’t think that way in an emergency. They move from action to action, and they certainly don’t do so with a slow, methodical manner.

Good writing makes us feel the way characters feel. We suspend our sense of reality and get lost in the story, but this takes a great deal of effort on the part of the writer. When you read a book that has done this well, try to appreciate the craft as well as the story. Then, get back into that story!

Chad grew up lost in the world of fantasy fiction but alienated from a knowledge of God. With no real direction in his life, he shipped out for basic training twelve days after high school. He continued down a path of sin and destruction through two combat tours to Iraq, but then God pulled back the blinders, and he met his Lord and Savior.

One passion that never left him was his love for fiction, and in 2013, he went back to school and earned his degree in English. This helped him develop his craft, spending long hours pounding away at the keys until his battles with guilt, fear, and shame came alive on the page.

Now he is on a mission to pull back the curtain on spiritual warfare and show others how to overcome trials through faith and start living their best lives for God.

Before time froze, angels and demons battled for a man’s soul.

Hidden among the rooftops of a dark city, the archangel, Orac watches as a lone vehicle travels into the night. Armed with his fiery sword and orders to protect the driver of the vehicle at all costs, Orac takes flight. He seizes on the element of surprise to defeat the demon, Talnuc, but soon discovers that the demon is not alone.

When the archangel’s defenses are penetrated by the spirit of fear, he must rely on the help of a powerful watcher named Draven.

But, when an even greater and more sinister threat is revealed, drastic measures must be taken by Orac and Draven, and the remnant of the heavenly host must follow unprecedented orders for the sake of mankind’s future. As eternal forces collide, the journey of fate begins.

The Chunky Method by Allie Pleiter (book review)

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Can’t seem to finish that novel you’ve been writing? Want to write faster and get published but fear squelching your muse? 

Pleiter’s innovative Chunky Method offers practical, real-world productivity advice in an easy to read and inspiring workbook. Follow a step-by-step plan to identify your unique writing “Chunk” and wield it to create a solid plan that works “even when life gets in the way.” No matter what your writing style, The Chunky Method Handbook will help you chart a individualized path to your creative writing goals.

The award-winning author of over twenty novels, Pleiter has been teaching her nuts-and-bolts tactics across the country for years to writers of all genres, ages, and experience levels. Filled with real-life examples, humor, honesty, and encouragement The Chunky Method Handbook is an essential resource for thriving in spite of all that the current market—and everyday life—demands from a writer’s creative energy.

In this book, you’ll learn how to write your book one step at a time. You’ll discover the secret to finishing your novel at your own pace.

It happens all the time — people start writing, then stop. Life got in the way. Or worse, they want to write, but they can never get started.

I’ve always struggled with it too. People say, “write every day!” but I don’t always have time, so I’ll go days (or weeks) with writing a word. That always made me feel guilty, which made the writing process harder than it already was.

This book, however, is going to forever change how I write (for the better!). It took a long time to read this book not because it’s long or a difficult read, but because I’m a big chunk writer. The book explains it, but the gist of it is that I can’t do a little bit at a time. I had to wait several weeks before I could see down and figure out my chunky personality. It was well worth the effort, though!

I can’t say enough good things about this book as a functional tool for any struggling writer. If you want to write but don’t know how to find the time, GET THIS BOOK! I’ll be recommending it everywhere.

Don’t wait! Get your copy today — you won’t regret it!

A Dozen Do’s for Editors by Denise Weimer

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The word “editor” elicits a strong response—whether positive or negative—from most authors.

Likewise, good or bad experiences working with certain authors stick with editors for years.

Those of us who have worked on both sides of that equation gain a unique perspective. From day one, the editor can take steps to strengthen his or her relationship with the author. In fact, what a great opportunity to employ a Christ-like model.

Mark 10:45a: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

A Dozen Do-s for Editors who want to be that servant leader:

  1. Introduce yourself. In the initial e-mail, include where you live, what your family is like, and a few interests. This paints a picture of a real human rather than a stock image of the author’s eighth grade English teacher with a red pen in her hand.
  2. Are you also an author? Share that. It’s a relational plus, not a minus.
  3. If your publisher allows, or you’re independent, consider giving the author a little control by offering to send edits in one, two, or three batches.
  4. If you’re running late on edits, communicate. Wouldn’t it be better for the author to know that you had to help your mom who just got out of the hospital than assume that you’re overbooked or just … slow?
  5. When you deliver the first round of edits, consider preceding those with an e-mail. Track change markings can take aback even a seasoned author. And an emerging author may need a quick primer to avoid panic.
  6. Give a few specifics you liked about the story, letting the author know you recognize his or her strengths. You may also take the opportunity to share areas you’ll help move the story from good to great.
  7. In the e-mail, mention the types of edits you made on a repeated basis. In the manuscript, explain the first time, then use a simplified term to identify repeated edits (like “POV” to remind the author to stay in deep point of view). Clarify changes made to comply with your style manual. This can help an author self-edit in the future.
  8. Let the author know if you are expecting him or her to click to accept or reject every track change, and if you want them to explain their reason for rejecting. Not being clear can mean a whole lot of clicking left to you.
  9. Comment throughout the manuscript on positives. Statements such as “this is the type of active voice I’m looking for” or “great hook” let the author know when they’re hitting the target.
  10. If you are working under a managing editor, copy him or her on all but minor communications. That avoids misunderstandings, provides documentation should a conflict arise, and allows the ME to chime in if there’s a need.
  11. Before the second round of edits, prepare the author that fresh changes might arise from moving and adding text in the first round and issues that weren’t visible when marking the biggest things. This is the chance to beef up or trim and polish the story.
  12. Connect on social media. View the partnership as ongoing. Become one of the most vocal proponents for book release. Your relationship should be mutually beneficial and can open further doors for both of you.

Past betrayal has turned John Kliest’s passion to his work as a builder and surveyor in the Moravian town of Salem, North Carolina. Now, to satisfy the elders’ edict and fulfill his mission in Cherokee Territory, he needs a bride. But the one woman qualified to record the Cherokee language longs for a future with his younger brother.

Clarissa Vogler’s dream of a life with Daniel Kliest is shattered when she is chosen by lot to marry his older brother and venture into the uncharted frontier. Can she learn to love this stoic man who is now her husband? Her survival hinges on being able to trust him—but they both harbor secrets.

Now available on Amazon!

The tragic death of Shelby Dodson’s husband—her partner in a successful Home Network house flipping business—stole love, status, and career. Now a bungalow redesign thrusts Shelby into the company of a new contractor. Scott Matthews remembers high-and-mighty Shelby from high school, and her prissy, contemporary style goes against his down-to-earth grain. When the house reveals a mystery, will its dark secrets—and their own mistakes—cost a second chance at love?

A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses!

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Represented by Hartline Literary Agency, Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. She’s a managing editor for Smitten Historical Romance and Heritage Beacon Historical Fiction imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and the author of The Georgia Gold Series, The Restoration Trilogy, and a number of novellas, including Across Three Autumns of Barbour’s Colonial Backcountry Brides Collection. Her contemporary romance, Fall Flip, and a historical, The Witness Tree both release September 2019 with LPC.

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

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Lover of all things fiction, I also love University of Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, kayaking, gluten-free cupcakes, and my husband.

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Press Release Tool Kit Stop waiting and hoping for people to notice you and your organization! With this Press Release Tool Kit, you’ll learn to apply the step-by-step process I use to … [more]