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How I Write: Joan Benson

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Writing can be an isolating endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be–there are ways to connect, and author Joan Benson has made some great connections that have helped her on her writing journey.

Thanks for being here! Let’s start with the most important question: what do you write? How did you pick your genre?

My debut traditionally published novel, His Gift, is historical fiction based on a true story from my mother’s life. Because the main character of His Gift is 18, the novel is technically YA. However, many of my readers have been adults of all ages. The story resonates with anyone of any age who has dared to dream and experienced loss.

Since the writing of His Gift, I have co-authored four children’s picture books called The Cornerstone Series. These stories are written to help little ones grasp biblical truth despite anti-Christian ideologies pressing on every side.

I currently am working on a contemporary fiction novel (YA-NA) dealing with the topic of the value of human life. So, I guess you can see that I write according to the purpose I feel God has given me and which audience he has laid on my heart. This defies most marketing branding, but it seems to be who I am as a writer.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

For historical fiction, the hardest part was getting an innate sense of the era. My mother’s diaries gave me some direction and an idea of her voice as a teen. However, they were scant in comparison to the length and depth of a novel. I did a lot of online research in the beginning. Then, when I couldn’t locate the information I wanted, I hired library researchers at the Detroit Library to dig through microfiche and old newspapers. Finally, I was able to make an in-person visit to the actual setting of the story in Michigan. That was a thrilling adventure, and I am grateful I could do such a trip. I realize not all historical fiction authors can do first-person research.

The next challenge was using the historical details without making the novel read like an encyclopedia. All that research was to make the story sing with authenticity, not detract from the storyline.

What’s your favorite writer’s conference?

My favorite writer’s conference is my most recent. I had the privilege of God “making a way where there seemed no way” for me to attend the Greater Philly Christian Writers’ Conference in the summer of 2018. My husband had some health issues, and we also had two small dogs he would have to care for. Even still, he encouraged me to go. I met a younger writer who wanted to attend the conference, and though we had never met before, after twelve hours of road trip, the Lord knit our hearts together as only He can do. The conference was a blessing filled with learning and networking. Even more, I met my wonderful agent, David Fessenden there. Since my husband’s health problems do not allow me to travel now, the Lord used that conference to position me with an agent, a publisher, and many lifelong connections.

In addition, the Lord and I had some serious heart-to-heart talks in the wee hours of the night, even as exhausted as I was from the long and busy days. After these times in deep prayer, I was certain of the direction he wanted me to go with my future writing. It was surely a God-encountering conference for this author.

What’s your writing process—plotter, panster, or something else?

I would say I began writing as I felt the inspiration, more of a by-the-seat-of-my-pants, i.e., a pantster, as they say. As a former educator, reading specialist and writing coach, I knew the plot structure I needed before I began. However, I let the muse lead me from one element to another not knowing for sure how it would develop.

How did you find your agent? What advice do you have for new authors trying to find the right agent?

I found my agent at the GPCWC, as I mentioned. He liked my historical novel and saw promise for it when others did not. He also was willing to take a chance on me with a bare essence of an author platform in place. Some agents and editors thought people would not want to read about The Great Depression, and I’m sure some readers feel that way. However, given the Christian theme of overcoming loss, His Gift lifts the reader to see how God steps into our messes, often redeeming them and showing us His grace.

As for picking an agent, I guess it would be a matter of finding someone who likes what you do, and if he or she does, then there will be a mutual benefit and blessing. Conferences are probably the best place to meet potential agents. Be prepared with a gracious heart and your proposal ready according to the recommended standards. Then pray for God’s leading!

What’s surprised you most about the publishing process?

One of the most surprising things about the publishing process was the rigor of in-house editing despite my ability to “write clean.” My editor even told me so while we still had to make several rounds of jot-and-tittle perfecting. I also didn’t realize the impact of Amazon reviews and how important it is to get ranking immediately when the book is first launched. I learned if you are independently published instead of with a traditional publisher, there were more ways to advertise on Amazon and control the book’s exposure through KDP. Amazon has more recently added ways for traditionally published authors to develop advertising, but it wasn’t so in 2020 when my first release came out.

What advice do you have for new authors?

My advice for new authors is the same as what I was told as I began this journey. I wondered how I would know when to stop revising. It seemed like I could revise until the cows came home, and every time I reread, I could see another way to improve it. My mentor, Craig von Buseck, multi-published author and teacher, said when the story was “told,” and I had done my due diligence, stop, knowing the next book would be better than the last. Wisdom.

Other advice would be to read-read-read whatever genre you write, and then write-write-write what the Lord is leading you to write. The more you do both, the more efficient you will be. I would never advise someone to write to the market, looking for a niche in which you can publish. Write your dream, your passion, your hope.

What does your revision process look like?

Oh, the revision process is such a tangled web, is it not? I tend to revise as I write. I think that’s the teacher in me. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t leave mechanical mistakes, especially when I change one part of a sentence, but don’t revise the whole of it. Often revising as you go slows down the drafting process and many writers find it better to just get the words on the page. So, I try to “write clean” as I draft, but then go back and nit-pick both for content, plot structure, dialogue, etc. It really depends on who you are and how you think to find the best revision process, in my opinion.

Joan C Benson is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author/speaker. She has been writing professionally for over thirty years, in addition to her career as an educator, serving primarily as a reading specialist. Her debut historical fiction novel, His Gift, was released in 2020. She has been published in multiple Christian magazines including LifeWay’s “ParentLife,” and Regent University’s “The Christian Leader.” She has published devotional writings on CBN.com. Joan also contributed to children’s ministry curriculum for LifeWay Publishing for twelve years. She and her husband, Jan, live in Chesapeake, VA, with their Bichon Frise, Cupcake.

Buy links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1649490305/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-gift-joan-c-benson/1137413827?ean=9781649490308

https://www.joancbenson.com/

www.bensonjj.blog

https://www.facebook.com/YIHAVEHOPE

https://twitter.com/11Ccaj4life

https://www.instagram.com/joancbenson/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20555254.Joan_C_Benson

How I Write: Lisa Betz

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Lisa Betz isn’t afraid to write something a little different–that’s how she ended up writing first-century mysteries! Like most authors, she’s honed her own unique approach to writing, and she shares some of her tips and secrets with us today.

Thank you so much for being here! What do you write? How/why did you pick your genre?

I have always been drawn to books that were a little different than what everyone else was reading (or writing). That’s how I ended up writing mysteries set in first-century Rome. My novels combine the intriguing setting of a far-off time and place with the action and suspense of a mystery, and then I throw in a dash of quirky humor and some eccentric characters.

My interest in the Roman Empire stems from many years teaching Bible studies. I have tried to absorb as much as possible about the culture and history of first-century Rome so I can bring the ancient world to life and make the Bible more relevant to modern Christians. I love learning history the “painless” way through good fiction.

Which was harder: the first book or the following books?

Both were hard in different ways. Death and a Crocodile was my first attempt at a mystery, so getting the plot and structure right was a challenge. I spent a lot of time revising scenes to get the clues in the right place and the logic clear enough to follow. When I started the manuscript for the second book in the series, Fountains and Secrets, it was harder than I expected to match the voice that had seemed so effortless in the first book. I discovered I was overthinking and creating too much drama. When I relaxed, the voice flowed.

What’s your favorite book on writing?

Wired for Story by Lisa Cron. It’s a mixture of neuroscience and good writing advice. I’ve found it fascinating as well as invaluable in helping me avoid the kind of mistakes that annoy readers. She explains why some common writing misconceptions don’t work, and what to do instead.

What’s your favorite writers conference?

I’ve been attending the Lancaster Christian Writers annual one-day conference each spring for many years. It’s local and it was just the right size for me as a beginning writer. It has been an invaluable resource over the years as I have grown in my craft, offering workshops and opportunities to have one-on-one talks with writers and editors. Now I’ve graduated to being a workshop presenter at the next conference.  

How do you combat writer’s block?

My biggest struggle is overcoming Resistance. Often my feelings tell me I don’t have the energy to write, or my brain tells me it’s too weary or stressed to think right now. I’ve found that when I sit down and start working anyway, I discover I had more energy and focus than I thought.

I also suffer from what I call mini writer’s block. I get stuck on the wording of a particular sentence or on how the character should react in the middle of a particular scene. I’m learning to simply make a note of the issue that needs to be resolved and allow myself to deal with it later. [I type comments to myself in square brackets so they’re easy to find later.]

Another trick I use when I’m stuck is to jot down every possible action the characters could take (even the stupid or obvious ones). After listing five or so I usually think of one that feels like a good choice.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Read a variety of books in the genre you want to write, so you have a firm understanding of what readers expect and what makes a great book in that genre. (Every genre has its unwritten expectations about what the book should deliver.)

Find critique partners who can give you valuable feedback. We all have blind spots, so we need peers who can help us. For example, I have a critique partner who is always asking, “What is she feeling in this scene?” I tend to skip over emotions, so my critique partner reminds me to include those important descriptions.

If you’ve ever worked with a freelance editor, how did you find that editor? How would you describe the experience?

I’ve hired an editor to do a content edit of all my manuscripts and it has been invaluable! I learn so much, and my books are SO much better. The editor I use is someone who I’ve gotten to know over the years through my local writers’ group. That prior connection was important.

You must find someone who “gets” you and your work. I’ve received sample edits from editors who didn’t understand my style or my story, and their feedback wasn’t as helpful.

What does your revision process look like?

I compose on the computer, but I revise better with a printout and a pencil. Most scenes take many rounds of editing. I used to try to fix all the problems in a scene with one round of editing, but I’ve learned that’s not productive. First of all, it’s impossible, secondly, it’s too stressful, and thirdly, I waste time perfecting sentences that I’ll end up cutting later.

Now I give myself permission to only fix so much in any one round of editing. I try to focus on the big, structural stuff in the first rounds before wasting time worrying about the details. (It’s really hard to ignore awkward sentences but I remind myself I can trust my process. Those sentences will be fixed eventually.)

Once I have the scenes and overall plot structure settled, I focus more on the character responses and relationships, getting the right clues in the right order, and layering setting details. The more rounds of editing I put into a scene, the more my voice starts to shine through.

I also remind myself that all that paper and printer ink isn’t being wasted. It’s an investment in creating the best product I can.

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric characters, independent females, and an occasional sausage-snatching cat. Her debut mystery, Death and a Crocodile, was named the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year.

Website:  www.lisaebetz.com
Email: lisa@lisaebetz.com
Twitter:  @LisaEBetz
Facebook page: LisaEBetzWriter

How I Write: Judy DuCharme

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Across Lake Michigan in the land of delicious cheese (a.k.a. Wisconsin), Judy DuCharme writes award-winning fiction from her home in Door County. Today, she gives us a look at her process, her experiences, and her latest release.

Welcome! Thank you so much for being here today. Let’s start with the nuts and bolts: how long does it take you to write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?
That has varied quite a bit. My longest book, Blood Moon Redemption, took only 9 or 10 months to write, but 3 years to find a publisher. Lainey of the Door Islands was written over a period of 3 years but was published very quickly. It’s sequel, which I just finished, was written in about 9 months. It depends on time available with life interruptions, the anointing/inspiration, the need for research, and many other variables.

Editing takes time. The one I just submitted took me a month to edit. Of course, editing is done all along in the writing process. It’s good to let the book sit a while between edits and then give it fresh eyes. A publisher friend told me once, “Editing is never done, you just finally quit.” And you’ll edit more with your assigned editor from the publisher.

4If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first book or the following books?
Each is unique with its own difficulties and fun. My books are in several genres, so each one is an adventure.

I think the sequels are difficult as I feel I must write them to level of the first one or beyond. In the first in the sequence, I simply marched forward. In the second one, I needed to be careful to tie it to the first and continue.

My fiction sequel was fun and flowed, but I had to doublecheck times and places and names from the first one to make sure all fit. Then it went in a different direction than I expected, so that was interesting. My Cheesehead Devotional sequel required a lot more research and I had to make sure I wasn’t making the same point or drawing the same principle as I did in the first one.

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?
I’ve enjoyed many conferences and they all have a special aspect though very similar. I loved Blue Ridge and would like to go again. The Florida (FCWC) is one that I’ve attended several times and really enjoyed. I’ve been to both the Philly and the Wheaton (Write to Publish) ones, and they are great as well. Each one offers timely instruction and connections.

What’s your writing day like?
Very undisciplined. For a season, I may find that 10 a.m. – noon is a great time to write. Some days that’s not possible. I may write at night. I often intend to write several hours or at a specific time, but those goals rarely work for me. I’ve learned, for the most part, to grab times when I can. I’ve found that even 45 minutes is helpful. I know many authors write 4-8 hours a day, but that rarely happens with me.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?
I’m definitely a panster. Inspiration, anointing, and ideas that won’t leave are what get me writing. Deadlines keep me going. I have had times where it seems I’m watching the characters decide the direction and action and I just try to keep up. Other times I pray and write as best I can, knowing I can go back and change it if it isn’t that great. And I do my research, whether its books or online, visiting the location, or interviewing people that have knowledge of the necessary info.

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process?
That I’m expected to do most of the marketing, a completely different skill than writing.

What advice do you have for new authors?
Go to a conference. That’s where you meet publishers, agents, editors, and other authors. You’ll be able to pitch your piece and have it critiqued. You’ll also have several workshops to improve your craft—and we can always improve our craft. And do your research.

What does your revision process look like?
It has evolved as I’ve gone through the editing process with my publishers. I’m also in a critique group, Word Weavers. I’m learning to look at the story and recognize areas that can be eliminated. So often we feel that every word we write is inspired and it’s very difficult to cut some of those things. But it gets easier as time goes by.

I usually print my manuscript and go through and edit. Then, I go back to the computer and do those corrections and more as I go through online. Then I go through again and am always amazed at how much still needs edited. I know when the publisher assigns an editor, there will be more edits.

Walk with Lainey into the world of Door County and its islands in the late 1800s, a time of shipwrecks, lighthouses, and strong individuals who never gave up. Lainey becomes one of those rugged individuals as she faces tragedy and hardship. Her aunt and uncle, the lighthouse keepers on tiny Pilot Island, demonstrate the toughness needed to survive, but Lainey takes it a step further with her spunk and grace and becomes a shining light to all those around her. With humor, faith, close friendships and the young man who interferes with her ability to function, Lainey of the Door Islands will capture your heart, and she’ll inspire you to know that no matter what happens, God has a plan to prosper and not to harm.

Judy DuCharme grew up with Lake Huron next to her back yard and has always loved the water. She, her husband, daughter, and son moved to Door County in 1984. After teaching 5th Grade at Gibraltar School for 22 years, Judy followed the calling that tugged at her all her life to write. She has 7 published books, one more to be released this summer, and another one submitted to the Publisher. She also writes for Guideposts Magazine. Her awards number near 20. If you visit Door County, you may find her hiking in the woods, jet skiing on the bay, worshipping at her church, teaching a Bible study, cheering for the Green Bay Packers, playing with her amazing grandson, or sitting outside enjoying the beauty around her.

https://www.judithducharme.com/
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How I Write: Jennifer Uhlarik

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Looking for a good writer’s conference to attend? How about tips for breaking through writer’s block? Today, multi-published author and editor Jennifer Uhlarik sits down to tell us what it’s really like being a writer.

Welcome! Let’s start with what you write and how you picked your genre.
I write historical fiction, with my favorite time period being the Old West. I kind of fell into this genre accidentally. I come from a long line of history nerds, and as a child, I read a lot of “horse” books—The Black Stallion series, etc. But when I got to the point that I’d read every young adult book I could find with a horse on the cover, I started searching for something new. I went into my oldest brother’s room and raided his bookshelf, found the only book that had a horse on the cover (a Louis L’Amour western), and began to read it. I quickly discovered that the horse was okay, but the guy on the horse was amazing, and the time period in our country’s history was rife with struggles and adventure. That’s where my love for the genre was born.

If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?
Oh gosh. I’ve found that every book comes with its own challenges. No one is any easier than another. Some take inordinate amounts of research to get the history down. Others, the characters are tight-lipped and won’t tell me what they’re thinking. So each one is difficult in its own way.

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?
My new favorite is Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. I love the faculty—they always have a great group of authors, agents, editors, and other industry professionals teaching classes at this conference, and everyone is so encouraging, no matter what stage of writing you’re in. And hey, you can’t beat the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain setting!

What’s your writing day like?
A typical day for me is to wake up, read my Bible, then go to the gym with my (retired) hubby. Once we’re home, we’ll have lunch together, and I’ll get to work. I’ll work through the afternoon until dinnertime. We’ll prepare and eat our meal, maybe watch a bit of TV together, and depending on how much more I need to get done that day, I’ll usually sit back down and write a while more. If I’m on a close deadline, then all bets are off, and I’m shackled to my computer until the story is done.

How do you combat writer’s block?
Usually, my writer’s block comes in the form of not knowing how to bridge the gap between where I am in the story and the next major plot point, so sometimes all it takes is to re-read the synopsis I wrote for the story. Other times, I go back and re-read part or all of the story to catch the flow and spirit again. Or I talk to my husband and writing friends who are familiar with the story to see what advice they might give on how to proceed from the point I’m at. And—most of all—I pray for God’s inspiration and try to be quiet and listen for His answers.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?
I’m what I call a “plantser”—a hybrid between a plotter and a pantser. I’ve written a full synopsis (usually 1-3 pages long) on every story that I’ve published before I began the story. This gives me a nice broad-stroke framework. But it also gives me lots of freedom to explore the twists and turns and be a bit more free-spirited in how I move between the major plot points.

What advice do you have for new authors?
First, it’s a proven fact that people who set realistic/attainable goals are far more likely to achieve them. Those who write them down and post their goals where they can see them are even more likely to make them reality. So set writing goals, write them down, and put them where they are staring you in the face every day—above your desk, on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, or all of the above. Second, never give up in pursuing those dreams. No matter how many times you get told “no,” keep moving forward until you hear a “yes.”

What does your revision process look like?
By the time I write “the end,” my stories are usually pretty sound as far as the story itself. I’ve got two readers—a dear writer friend and my husband—who help me keep the story on the right track. But I am always over my word count, so a lot of my revision process is finding ways to cut words without having to cut content. That means examining every sentence to see if I can cull even one or two words to bring the word count down. Across a full manuscript, those one or two words per sentence adds up to thousands of words and has always gotten me to my goal.

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West.

Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has finaled and won in numerous writing competitions, and been on the ECPA best-seller list several times. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers, Women Writing the West, and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, college-aged son, and four fur children.

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How I Write: Terri Wangard

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Not all editors are created equally, as Terri Wangard discovered in her early writing days. She persevered, though, and is now a multi-published author. Today, she shares some of her tips and the strategies that worked for her.

Welcome! I always like to start with the fundamentals: what do you write and how did you pick your genre?

I first started writing contemporary romance in the early 2000s, until I put writing aside for a few years. After reading Debbie Macomber’s Twenty Wishes in 2008, I decided to write again. This time I was inspired by letters written in 1947-1948 by distant cousins in Germany to write a WWII novel. An editor told me I’d probably need to write a series, so I kept going. My last two books are WWI era, but I have ideas for going back to WWII.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

Maintaining the historical accuracy. I believe that’s so important. I may go overboard. My first three books (the Promise For Tomorrow series) are based in the 381st Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force. The group’s flying schedule is readily available. I slavishly stuck to it. Only one mission did not occur, and I noted that in the Author’s Note at the end. With my Lusitania novel, that too has a strict timeline.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?

Too long! Writing a book takes a year. I’m a weekend writer. I know others work full-time and still manage to write a little each day, but that doesn’t work for me. My job entails enough computer work. I’m prone to migraines and don’t need more time staring at a screen. After I finish and get beta readers’ opinions, I get a proofing copy and fill it with post-it notes where I want to check a fact, use a better word, tighten it. My biggest challenge in finalizing a book is getting all the formatting codes right. They tend to change, and I end up with blank pages.

If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?

My last book, and I’m not sure why. Half way through, I totally bogged down. Finally, I set it aside for half a year and wrote a contemporary novella. Then I was ready to dive back in and got it finished.

How do you combat writer’s block?

If it’s minor stuff, like how to turn a phrase, I’ll play games—spider solitaire, free cell—until I’m ready to go. Depending on the weather, I may go for a bike ride. If I’m having a major problem, like with my new book, I set it aside. That was the first time I interrupted a book and worked on another project.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different? Describe your strategy.

Lots of research. Lots of notes. I don’t make a complete outline, but I have an idea of what each chapter will feature. Changes do take place. I guess that puts me somewhere between pantser and plotter. My biggest problem is keeping track of my notes and finding them when I need them.

If you’ve ever worked with a freelance editor, how did you find that editor? How would you describe the experience?

Before my first book was published, I sent it to an editor, who made worthwhile suggestions. I sent her my second book. The results shocked me. Nothing was right. DNEs (data not in evidence) were all over the manuscript; apparently everything should have been revealed in the first few pages. She suggested I should be writing for young adults. At the same time, this novel was a Genesis finalist. I took the critique to the ACFW conference, where I had a mentoring session with Gayle Roper. She advised me not to take it to heart. (Whew!) With my last two books, I worked with two different editors, who both were helpful.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

Since I self-publish, I order a proofing copy and read through it for any typos, anything that needs to be verified, or I may decide something doesn’t need to be there, or is repeated, and delete it. With my latest book, The Storm Breaks Forth, I read the book backwards, as suggested by author Lisa Carter.

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

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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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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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Fiction: Substantive Editing Classes Substantive Editing for Fiction 101 In Substantive Fiction Editing 101, we’ll look at the basics of a well-written novel and learn how to help our … [more]