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How I Write: AnnaLee Conti

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Many people dream of writing books, but not many succeed. There are a dozen different excuses, but AnnaLee Conti hasn’t let any of them stop her. This former Alaskan started her journey with a typewriter and celebrates another book release this month.

Thank you for being here! Let’s start with what you write. How did you pick your genre?

After writing short stories, articles, and church school curriculum on assignment for Gospel Publishing House for 25 years, I published my first book in 2002.  Frontiers of Faith is the story of my grandparents, who went to Alaska as pioneer missionaries in 1917, and their adventurous 65-year faith journey. As I researched that book, I discovered stories of people they ministered to in Alaska that triggered my imagination to write my Alaska Waters Trilogy of historical Christian fiction (Till the Storm Passes By, A Star to Steer By, and Beside Still Waters). The trilogy is the life and death saga of a fictitious Norwegian immigrant family who battle the beautiful but often treacherous waters of early twentieth century Southeast Alaska to find love and happiness in the midst of tragedies.

My current project, which will release this month, is Footsteps of Faith, a sequel to Frontiers of Faith. It is the faith-building true story of God’s direction, provision, and protection in the lives of my parents and my husband and I as we followed in the ministry footsteps of my grandparents.

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

To me, the most challenging part of writing historical fiction, as well as biography, is making sure it is historically accurate. I did family interviews and research online, in books, and in magazines. Since I grew up in Alaska, I knew the settings and much of the history firsthand.

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

In 1982, my mother-in-law invited me to her home to write the first draft of my first book in one week, weaving together the short accounts my grandmother had written about their experiences and filling the spaces in between. I holed up in a bedroom in her house and wrote, using an electric typewriter, stopping only for meals, which she prepared. Due to the downturn in the economy, though, I was unable to find a publisher. In the next few years, I retyped the manuscript into a Smith-Corona word processor. In 2002, I discovered a print-on-demand publisher, First Books, now called Author House. I was able to get the word processor disc converted to Word, and my uncle paid to have it published. I reimbursed him from book sales.

For years, I’d been writing fiction in my head. In 2007, I joined a writer’s critique group at the local library to begin fulfilling my lifelong goal of writing novels. I learned a lot from that group that included published authors, and began writing a minimum of one chapter a week. My first novel took me about four to five years to write, edit, and finalize. The next two I completed in two years each.

During those years, I started a blog, “Nuggets of Faith,” including many stories from my life. When I read the book, How to Blog a Book, by Nina Amir, I decided to develop those stories into a memoir that is soon to be released as Footsteps of Faith.

What’s your favorite book on writing? What do you like about it?

I have four shelves of books on writing. They have all been helpful, but Writing Deep Scenes, by Martha Alderson and Jordan Rosenfeld, was the best, especially the section on writing emotion from a deep POV.

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

Before I begin a book, I usually have a general idea of the beginning, middle, and end. I don’t make an outline per se, but I do develop a timeline since my stories have a historical setting with certain fixed dates. When I sit down to write, I reread the previous chapter to get me back into the flow of the story.

What advice do you have for new authors?

For a number of years, I adjudicated creative writing for fine arts festivals for teens in our denomination. The one recommendation I gave repeatedly is to study the art and craft of writing. Schools today do only a superficial job of teaching grammar, spelling, sentence construction, etc., so new writers must devote themselves to study on their own.

Then I tell them to read lots of good books and write a lot. Thirdly, I tell them to never give up. A quote by Raymond Obstfeld encouraged me: “The main difference between successful writers and wannabe writers is not talent but perseverance.”

I would add that “I am a failure” is different than “I failed.” We can learn from our failures if we don’t give up. Only when we quit trying are we truly a failure.

How do you self-edit your manuscripts? What does your revision process look like?

Even though no one recommends it, I tend to do a lot of editing as I write. My writing group gives me good feedback on content editing and revision. I worked in editorial at Gospel Publishing House for four years and learned how to do technical editing, copyediting, and proofreading, so I do that myself. I always print out my books and edit from hardcopy. My husband also reads my manuscripts and tags needed changes with sticky notes. My editors at my publishers rarely make changes.

An ordained minister, author, and teacher, AnnaLee Conti grew up in a missionary family in Alaska in the fifties and sixties. She earned a B.A. in music and elementary education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an M.A. in Bible at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. For 25 years, AnnaLee wrote many articles, stories, devotionals, and curriculum for Gospel Publishing House and has published five books.

For more than 35 years, AnnaLee served as Minister of Christian Education and Music in the churches she and her husband pastored in New York State. In addition, she served on leadership teams in Christian Education and Women’s Ministries at the state level, conducting seminars and organizing conventions. She has taught grade school, GED classes, Berean School of the Bible (an extension of Global University, Springfield, Missouri), and continues to teach classes in the New York School of Ministry, which trains pastors and teachers for ministry in local churches. AnnaLee and her husband, Bob, are now retired and reside in the Mid-Hudson River Valley. They have one son, who lives nearby, and five adult grandchildren, who give them much joy.

Website: www.AnnaLeeConti.com
Email: FrontiersofFaith@AnnaLeeConti.com
Blog: “Nuggets of Faith” at https://www.AnnaLeeConti.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/AnnaLeeConti.Author
Twitter: @AnnaLeeConti
www.goodreads.com/author/show/2562235.AnnaLee_Conti
amazon.com/author/annaleeconti

How I Write: Amanda Cabot

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Some writers seem to be naturally gifted–they sit down and write, then submit an award-winning manuscript to their editors.

Not exactly. Amanda Cabot’s had more than 30 books published and she still takes the time to edit and revise. Want to know how she does it? Keep reading…

Hello, and thank you so much for being here! Let’s start at the beginning: what do you write? How did you pick your genre?

I write romances – short, long, contemporary, historical, with and without suspense elements. What my stories have in common are heroes and heroines who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach the happily-ever-after (HEA) that romance readers demand from their books. As for how or why I chose to write romance, I’m not sure I had a choice. My favorite books to read were always those that had the classic HEA, so when it was my turn to write a book, it seemed natural to write a romance.

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

For me, the whole process (which I describe in more detail below) takes between six and eight months.

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

The following books have been harder for me, simply because I strive to make each one better than the preceding one. That puts a lot of pressure on me to find new plot lines and characters who are distinctly different from the ones in earlier books. It’s hard work, but anything less would disappoint readers, and that’s not something I’m willing to do.

What’s your favorite book on writing?

It’s a toss-up between Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer and Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey. Swain, as his title indicates, outlines the basics of writing as a craft, while Vogler provides guidelines for effective plotting.

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?

Although I haven’t been there in a few years, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ annual Colorado Gold conference is one of my favorites. The hotel is one of the best venues I’ve found for conferences; the workshops are excellent, the attendees and presenters friendly. I always come home energized and enthusiastic about writing.

How do you combat writer’s block?

Writer’s block – what’s that? While I haven’t suffered from it in its classic definition, I used to reach the middle of the first draft and be convinced that what I was writing was the worst prose in the English language and that my editor would reject the book and demand that I return the advance. But, since I had a contract, I continued writing. Each and every time, when I finished the first draft and reread it, I realized that it wasn’t the worst prose in the English language. It was simply a first draft, and first drafts can – and will be – edited into good stories.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Never give up. If you choose the traditional publishing route, rejection is a fact of life. I won’t sugarcoat it: rejection hurts. But if you let it defeat you, if you stop sending out your manuscript because it was rejected, you’re only hurting yourself. Believe in your book and in yourself.

What does your revision process look like?

For me, writing is a multi-step process. I begin with a brief synopsis, which is my selling tool. Once I have a contract, I create a chapter-by-chapter outline, deciding which scenes will be in each chapter. Note: this is not cast in stone. It often changes during the actual writing process, but it provides a basic roadmap.

Next comes the first draft, which I describe as the skeleton. Like Halloween skeletons, it’s ugly, but it’s the framework for the story. I do not revise during the first draft, although I may make notes on pages I’ve already written about changes I want to incorporate into the second draft.

Before I begin the second draft, aka the flesh-and-blood phase, I read through the full manuscript in printed form, making more notes of things I want to change. The second draft is where I incorporate those changes, which may involve adding or deleting scenes. I also add more description and more emotion.

When I finish the second draft, I do another readthrough of printed pages, this time doing what I call the accessories stage – you know, adding makeup and jewelry. The modifications at this stage are minimal, but this is where I catch word repetition, punctuation errors, or other problems that a copyeditor would flag.

Once I’ve finished this phase, I read through the entire manuscript one more time, this time on the computer. It always amazes me how differently my brain sees sentences on the screen compared to on the printed page. It’s only when I’ve done this final readthrough that I’m ready to send the manuscript to my editor.

A young woman with a tragic past has arrived in town . . . and trouble is following close behind

Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents’ murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds shelter in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don’t include a family of his own.

At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?

Suspenseful and sweetly romantic, Out of the Embers is the first in a new series that invites you to the Texas Hill Country in the 1850s, when the West was wild, the men were noble, and the women were strong.

Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city. Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards. A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication.

www.amandacabot.com
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot
https://twitter.com/AmandaJoyCabot/
http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/

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How I Write: Janet Sketchley

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There’s no right-or-wrong answer when it comes to the best way to publish a book. It boils down to what you’re willing and able to do. Janet Sketchley has been on the traditional and self-published sides of the aisle, and today she talks about why she picked the path she’s on.

Hello, and thanks for being here. What do you write?

I write Christian fiction, currently mysteries. The genre kind of picked me, with a suspense idea that wouldn’t leave until I started writing it. Eventually, that story became my debut novel, Heaven’s Prey, and while it’s more intense than I want to write again, it set my genre direction. My next two novels are romantic suspense, and now I’ve moved to mysteries. I’ve also written a daily devotional book and published a couple of fill-in-the-blank reader’s journals.

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

First-draft-wise, the first book was easy: seat-of-the-pants and only write when the next bit’s burning in my imagination and ready to pour out. Revision-wise, it was the hardest. I had so much to learn about writing fiction, and I found it difficult to rearrange structure in a single Word file. (I have since discovered Scrivener.)

Later books have been harder to start because it’s daunting to know how much work is ahead. I want to write well, and I’m aware of how many layers and nuances need to be woven in. Still, there’s the comforting truth that I’ve done it before. Revision’s getting easier, but writing and rewriting are always work. On the most challenging days, I remind myself that it’s better than cleaning toilets 😊

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?

Write Canada, held annually in Ontario. I’ve missed the last few, and this year’s will be online like so many others (thank you, COVID-19). I’m on Canada’s east coast, and air travel is expensive, so I’ve never made it to the larger US-based conferences on my wish list.

In its early days, Write Canada was held in a private, Christian retreat centre. It felt like three events for the price of one: professional development, spiritual retreat, and reunion with friends. It’s the one place where people may actually mistake me for an extrovert. I wish I’d picked a different question to answer, because now I’m feeling homesick—yes, I’ll attend this year’s event virtually, but I miss my friends.

Oh, I’m so sorry! Let’s get back to writing and get your mind off the sad times, okay? How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?

With each novel, I become more of a plotter. Discovering the story is fun, and doing it ahead of time doesn’t make it less fun to write. I actually find my writing flow is more consistent this way because I’m not stopping to figure out what happens next or how it unfolds. And going in with a map means I can assess whether a new idea is good for the story or would derail it.

A novel outline isn’t one of those sterile, bullet-point skeletons high school English teachers want for essays. K.M. Weiland’s books on outlining and structure have been a huge help in learning how to organize my stories. With my current novel, I’ve nearly finished this level of plotting and I’m planning on actually outlining each scene. Again, not bullet-point, but I want to understand the characters’ scene goals and conflicts and discover where and how each scene will play out.

You’re an indie-published author—why did you pick that route?

My first novel was with a small traditional publisher, who then closed. One of their other authors reacquired the rights to her novels and went indie and since she was willing to share what she learned in the process, I followed her. I released a second edition of my published novel and carried on with the series.

I like the flexibility of being my own publisher because I can set prices, manage promotions, etc. And I like having final say over content and direction—of course, balanced by input from skilled freelancers for editing and cover art. Self-publishing is expensive to do well, and it means I’m doing things like my own formatting and promotion, but I don’t think I’ll ever go back to looking for a traditional publisher.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Enjoy the writing journey, keep learning, keep persevering.

Make friends with other writers because you’ll need encouragement from people who understand.

Learn from those ahead of you on this road, support those alongside you, and share with those behind you.

Read books and blogs on the craft.

Listen to podcasts.

Attend conferences if you can (to learn, and to meet those writing friends).

Learn the rules so you’ll know how and when it’s okay to break them.

Listen to different authors’ methods, but don’t try to force yourself into their mold.

Use what works and ignore the rest.

Set aside time to write regularly, and write.

If you recognize your writing ability as a gift from God, submit it to Him in gratitude and pray regularly for His leading in how to use and develop it. The longing to be published—or the drive to finish your work in progress—can become an idol. Be careful to resist this and to keep God first. You are a writer, but that’s only part of who you are. Keep grounded in your identity in Him.

How did you find your editor? How would you describe the experience of working with an editor?

I found my current freelance editor through my membership in ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). So far, we’ve done one book together.

I might describe the experience as “tough love.” Definitely eye-opening to some of my weaknesses. After I sulked a bit, I felt encouraged that I was in partnership with someone who wanted the best for my story and who believed I could achieve it. Editing comments came with advice, encouragement, and even positive feedback.

I appreciated being able to send off occasional questions while I revised. Then she made a second editing pass, which left me feeling much more confident in the final version. As soon as my current work in progress has a foreseeable completion date, I’ll be contacting her again to see where I can fit into her schedule.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

When the first draft is done, I let it sit for a while until I can look at it with some distance. Then I read it through and flag everything that jars me. I try not to “fix” anything other than simple typos or grammar but to leave myself notes and keep reading. Then I’ll go back and address each note. I’ll go through this process a few times, deepening some scenes, condensing others, sometimes adding or deleting.

My outline has vague targets for the percentage of word count and I use this in identifying areas that could benefit from extra cutting or expansion. Once I’m happy with the content, I search for words and expressions I tend to overuse. Then I’ll go back through to be sure there are enough sensory details and to see where else I can condense. I may ask for input from a trusted reader at this point, or I may submit it to my editor first.

Once the manuscript has passed the editor’s second look and I’ve made any changes she highlights, my final stage is to give it to a few eagle-eyed advance readers whose mission is to find those pesky typos that somehow always lurk.

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer who likes her fiction with a splash of mystery or adventure and a dash of Christianity. Why leave faith out of our stories if it’s part of our lives? You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca.

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How I Write: Kathy McKinsey

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Writing a book is not easy. In fact, from the time most authors think about writing their first book to the time that books is actually published can take years!

A lot of authors give up, but not Kathy McKinsey. She committed to her writing, and it paid off. Here’s a look at why she writes and how she does it:

Thank you so much for being here! Let’s start with the basics: what do you write? How did you pick your genre?
I write women’s fiction. The stories that come to my mind are the ones I’d like to read.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?
I worked on my first book for more than five years, with editing and re-editing and rewriting and re-editing. It took about a year once it had been accepted by my publisher, Mantle Rock Publishing.

What’s your favorite writers’ conference?
I have attended the Ken-Ten Writers’ Retreat, and I plan to attend again. I enjoyed having a small group of writers to get to know and focus on the craft we love.

How do you combat writer’s block?
This is still a battle for me. I try to make sure I do something writing-related every day, studying writing books or lessons, proofreading or editing for others, editing something of my own.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?
I am mostly a pantser, but I have a general idea of how the story will end. I do write down a very simple outline at the beginning, including main parts of the story, character names. Not much else.

Who’s your publisher? Why did you decide to go with a traditional publisher?
I am published by Mantle Rock Publishing. I never felt that I could handle all the many things involved in publishing by myself.

What advice do you have for new authors?
Don’t give up. My dream of publishing a book lived for close to fifty years before God gifted me with it.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?
My editing style has changed much over the years. As a teen writer, I was pretty sure the story was just as it needed to be when I first finished it. When I came back to writing after more than thirty years, I was much more humble. I’ve learned much about the writing craft, and I believe I will always need to keep learning. I thoroughly do a line-edit of my stories multiple times. Having critique partners gives me a widening in my thinking about the stories. I am able then to rewrite and re-edit multiple times.

Kathy McKinsey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri, and although she’s lived in cities for nearly 40 years, she still considers herself a farm girl.  She had two careers before writing—stay-at-home-Mom and rehabilitation teacher for the blind.

She’s been married to Murray for 32 years, and they have five adult children. She lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband and two of her children. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille transcribing, crocheting, knitting, and playing with the cat and dog.

Kathy.mckinsey@gmail.com
https://www.kathymckinsey.com
https://www.facebook.com/kathy.brinkmann.mckinsey
https://twitter.com/kathymckinsey
https://www.amazon.com/Millies-Christmas-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B07YTF53KT
https://www.amazon.com/All-My-Tears-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B07P92QZPJ

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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