Write Now Editing

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Editing Services
  • Testimonials
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

How I Write: Jennifer Uhlarik

July 12, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

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.

Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.subscribepage.com/Jen’s_Newsletter
Website: www.jenniferuhlarik.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferUhlarikAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferUhlarik
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenuhlarik/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferuhlarik/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-uhlarik

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, historical fiction, How I Write, Jennifer Uhlarik, Old West, writer's conference, writer's block, writing tips

How I Write: Valerie Goree

June 28, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Do you lose your writing inspiration during the summer? It can be hard to focus when there are so many things going on and the beach is calling your name. You still need to write, though, and today Valerie Goree is going to talk about her publishing experience to help motivate all of us to keep writing!

What do you write? How did you pick your genre?
I write romantic suspense because that’s the genre I prefer to read. In writing romantic suspense, I create the level of suspense I’m comfortable with, and although I sometimes question law enforcement officers to make sure I get the details correct, I still control the action.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?
The most difficult aspect of writing romantic suspense is to develop a balance between the two elements. The romance must blossom alongside the suspense thread. Neither should overshadow the other. I create situations where the characters have to rely on each other to solve the mystery and so build the bonds that will lead to romance. All my novels have a strong spiritual thread, too, that has to be woven throughout the story.

If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?
I think the following books were harder to write because by then I knew more about the craft of writing a good story. The first novel I wrote flowed freely, however, when I presented it for a critique at a conference, I was sadly disappointed that my book baby was no instantly snapped up by a publisher. So yes, it might have been easy to write but it was not a polished product. I have since revised it considerably, and now it is in print. Forever Under Blue Skies, available from Amazon.

What’s your favorite book on writing? What do you like about it?
My favorite book is The Emotions Thesaurus, by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, published in 2012. Authors are familiar with the “rule” Show Don’t Tell. This book lists a variety of emotions, then describes the physical actions or gestures that reflect that emotion.

For example, I can write: Rosa was anxious. (Telling.) Or, I could write: Rosa clutched her purse to her chest and blew out a serious of short breaths. Then she rubbed the back of her neck and glanced at the clock again. (Showing.) Naturally, I also rely on how I would act in a given situation, but the book delves deep into the emotion.

What’s your favorite writers conference?
My favorite conference is the Mount Hermon Writers Conference. They offered a plethora of workshops for fiction and non-fiction authors. The causal atmosphere in the lush forests near Santa Cruz, California, allowed want-to-be authors to visit with multi-published folks, agents, and editors. The website indicated the conference may be cancelled. Sad.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?
I’m a pantser/plotter. I begin by completing background information for my major characters. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What happened in their pasts that makes them who they are today? What jobs do they have? What are their hopes and dreams for the future?

When I know who will star in my story, I outline the basic plot, especially the suspense element. I know how I want the story to end … and so the writing begins and the pantser takes over.

Quite often a character will “give” me details during a conversation with another member of the cast. My plan might be for the plot to veer left, but the character will say something that takes the story in a completely different direction. This may sound strange to some readers, but believe me, many authors will agree that if your characters aren’t “talking” to you, maybe it’s because you’re taking them in the wrong direction.

What advice do you have for new authors?
Read the genre you write, study craft books, attend conferences and workshops, but keep on writing. As with any other skill, you have to practice to improve.  If possible, join a critique group. You’ll be surprised by how much you’ll learn.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?
I edit as I write. Sometimes this interferes with the creative process, but my OCD tendencies usually won’t allow me to continue if I’m aware of mistakes or plot holes. Before I begin a chapter, I generally know what I want to cover and sometimes I jot down notes to remind myself. Many times throughout the process, I stop and reread what I’ve written. This allows me to spot inconsistencies or problems.

When the novel is complete, I search for weasel words and either remove or replace them. I’m always surprised at how often I use the word “just.”


American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Glenn and Valerie moved to Texas. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs. Now retired in Washington, Valerie spends her time writing, and spoiling her grandchildren.

Novels include: Deceive Me Once; Colors of Deceit; The Stolen Lives Trilogy, Weep in the Night; Day of Reckoning; and Justice at Dawn, to be released July, 2021. Valerie’s latest novel Forever Under Blue Skies, is now available from Amazon.

https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMasseyGoree/
www.valeriegoreeauthor.com

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, How I Write, Valerie Goree, writer's conference, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Christina Sinisi

August 17, 2020 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Some writers wait for the muse before they write (not a recommended strategy), but not Christina Sinisi. She actually turns to simple math to help her get her stories written–and it’s working! With two novellas and one novel releasing in three years, she’s figured a few things out, and she’s here to share her secrets.

Thank you for being here! First things first: what do you write?

Thank you for having me! I write Christian Contemporary Romance. So far, I’ve sold two Christmas novellas—The Christmas Confusion came out last November and Christmas on Ocracoke is expected this December—and one full-length novel is expected next summer, Sweet Summer. 

I chose this genre because it reflects who I am. My faith is the most important thing in my life, followed by my husband of 34 years and my children. Now, did I realize that at first? No. I was writing fantasy/sci fi and getting nowhere until a friend (who also happens to be a NY Times best-selling author) said I think you should write inspirational. She was right.

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

There’s a balance between demonstrating how God works in people’s lives and being preachy; I need to work to find that happy medium, not lukewarm, but neither do I want to turn people off. I want to depict people’s struggles with their faith as well as how wonderfully faith can be a comfort in the tough times.

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

Don’t hate me—but I can write in whatever time frame I’m given. I wrote The Christmas Confusion in 3 and a half weeks because that’s how long I had between seeing the call for novellas and the deadline. I set a goal and I reach it. Now, if I could only do that with my diet. J

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

Deb Dixon’s GMC, Goal Motivation and Conflict is a very hands-on and useful book. I use her charts for every book I write. I find it really important to get to know my characters as people and the plot follows from there.

What conference do you most want to attend? Why?

I’ve attended RWA and Moonlight and Magnolias several times each, as far as the general romance writing world, but I have yet to attend ACFW. Since this is my writer’s world now and I really love our local chapter members so I look forward to attending the national conference as soon as I can.

What’s your writing day like?

I rarely get a day to just write. I’m a professor in my day job and that, along with being department chair, never seems to completely stop.

In the summer, though, I do get afternoons or mornings depending on what comes up. When I sit down to write, I usually journal first as a warm-up. Then, I write until I reach my page count for the day.  I set my page count by literally counting the days until the book is due (or, when I don’t have an official deadline, I’ll set one) and divide.

So, for example the typical novel is around 300 pages (check guidelines for whichever publisher you’re considering submitting) and if I have three months…I’ll give myself a week for plotting and planning and creating the GMC for my characters. Then, I’ll deduct at least a week or two at the end to revise and edit and send to a writing partner for critique. So, that gives me about 2 months and a week which rounds out to 5 pages a day. That’s not hard!!

What advice do you have for new authors?

If you love writing, keep at it. Don’t let rejections or the lack of time or everybody’s confusion—how can you keep writing when you’re getting nowhere—get to you. I mean, what else are you going to do with your spare time? Binge watch Netflix all day? Nah.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

I was a member of RWA for over a decade and attended monthly workshops as much as possible so I’ve learned quite a few strategies on self-editing and revising. Generally, I love the process where you take turns going through the manuscript, maybe with different colored post-it notes looking at different things. These passes can include—POV, romance threat, conflict thread, faith thread, and grammar. I’ll also take notes as I go about small points I need to check on—like does my secondary character have the same name through the entire thing (I tend to write fast and try out different options). I talk more about plotting and this pass-through process in my own blog at www. https/ChristinaSinisi.com


A member of the American Christian Ficiton Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest and the American Title IV Contest in which she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. Her published books include The Christmas Confusion and the upcoming Sweet Summer, the first two books in the Summer Creek Series, as well as the upcoming Christmas On Ocracoke expected this December. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and cat Chessie.

Website/Blog: https://www.christinasinisi.com/
Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Sinisi-Author-105861987440664/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Instagram: @csinisi123
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, self-editing, writer's conference, writing tips

How I Write: Janet Sketchley

July 20, 2020 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

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.

Newsletter signup: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews
Facebook: fb.me/JanetSketchley.author
Goodreads: goodreads.com/janetsketchley
Follow me on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/janet-sketchley

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Christian fiction, editing tips, interview, Janet Sketchley, Write Canada, writer's conference, writing tips

Meet Book Publishing Professionals in 2019

January 7, 2019 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Are you looking for an editor for your Bible study? I can help. Would you like an opinion on an early draft of your story? I can help. Is your manuscript ready for publication but you haven’t found a publisher yet? I can help!

Last year, I started several new gigs that have put me in a position to help others navigate the publishing world. In case you missed it, here are the biggest changes:

  1. Christian Editor Connection Coordinator: Whether you write novels or nonfiction, whether you need a developmental edit or proofread, the Christian Editor Connection is a free service that matches you with editors who provide the specific services you need. As Coordinator, I process the requests and test applying editors to make sure all of our editors provide the best level of service.
  2. Write Now Editing—Turning Good Manuscripts Into Great Books: My dream has always been to work in fiction, whether I’m writing or editing it. Last year, I took a step in that direction by cutting “and Copyediting Services” from my business name to focus solely on fiction. My expertise? Substantive edits and critiques.
  3. Guiding Light Women’s Fiction: Venturing onto a path I’d never considered, I started working as Managing Editor for Guiding Light Women’s Fiction, meaning I acquire books for the imprint, then work with the authors through the publication process. It’s a weighty responsibility, but one I’m happy to accept. (For regular updates on the imprint, join our Facebook group!)

All of these changes came with new responsibilities, but they also provide new opportunities. For example, this year I am already scheduled to be on faculty at four writers’ conferences across the country. Now you have the chance to ask me in person for advice on writing, editing, or publishing (and here’s a tip for free—if you want to get your novel published, you need to start attending some conferences). Here’s where you can find me this year and who I’ll be representing:

  • April 2019: Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference (WNE and GLWF)
  • May 2019: PENCON (WNE) and The Well (CEC and GLWF)
  • June 2019: Write-to-Publish (GLWF)

There’s the potential for at least two more conferences in late-Summer/fall, but this should keep be busy!

If you’re ready to take that next step in your writing journey, consider attending one of these conferences (at the very least, attend any conference near you). Invest in yourself and give yourself an opportunity to meet like-minded people who will support and encourage you along the way (like me!).

What do you like the most about conferences? If you’ve never been to one, what’s holding you back?

My debut novel—Summer Plans and Other Disasters—is now available on Amazon! Sign up for my monthly newsletter and you’ll receive the unpublished prologue: find out what inspired Calista Stephens to make those summer plans. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for writing tips, updates on Guiding Light, and more!

Filed Under: best practices, publishing Tagged With: book publishing, Christian Editor Connection, Guiding Light Women's Fiction, writer's conference, writing conferences, Writing Now Editing, writing tips

10 Times You Should Be Sending a Press Release

Download this 2-page, easy-to-read PDF that will show you how often you can get your name out there - don't miss another opportunity to promote yourself!

Enter your email address to sign up and receive your FREE copy today!

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.

Contact Me

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copywriting

Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

Editing

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]

Author Page

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.

Resources

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]

© Copyright 2015 Write Now Editing · All Rights Reserved · Design by Pink Haired Pixels/Carol Jones Media

· All Logos & Trademark Belongs To Their Respective Owners·