Write Now Editing

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

How I Write: Janet McHenry

September 29, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

All roads don’t lead to publication, but there are many paths to get there, and Janet McHenry has traveled many of them! Today she’s going to tell us about her writing journey and share some tips and ideas with us.

Thank you so much for being here! Let’s start with what you write: how did you pick your genre?

Some might call me an agent’s nightmare. While I primarily focus on nonfiction (Christian living, devotional books, gift books, Bible studies), I also have written board books for children, first chapter books, YA mysteries, and a cozy mystery—a total of 24 traditionally published books. I simply write as God leads me. My focus in the last 20 years or so has been on prayer.

Wow! That’s quite diverse. How long does it take you to write a book?

Writing a book doesn’t take me that long—usually three months or less—because I already have a detailed outline and a good sense of where the book is going. Because I mostly write nonfiction, I only create one or two chapters for the proposal. When I get a contract, then I finish it quickly—usually early.

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

I’ve written two series for children—a first chapter book series of six books and a girls’ mystery series of three books. Those were challenging because I had the sense that the readers expected something bigger and more dramatic with each successive book. For example, instead of one villain in the final girls’ mystery (Mystery at the Old Stamp Mill), I created three. No reader has ever told me she guessed the solution. That makes me smile!

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

Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird is my favorite book on writing. I have a little oval picture frame with her advice in it: “one thing.” A book should be about one, focused thing, Lamott teaches, but her expression also reminds me that my work can also just be about one thing at a time. I tell myself to just finish the one thing I’ve listed in my bullet journal. Then when it’s checked off, I tackle the next one thing. It’s a profound but simple concept that keeps me from feeling overwhelmed.

That’s great advice. Thanks for the reminder.

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

My favorite writers conference has been the one at the Mt. Hermon Conference Center in Mt. Hermon, California. I’ve probably attended it 20 or more times; I’ve lost count. It was there I learned to write, found lifelong writing friends, and met my agent and many editors in the industry. The teaching has been superb over the years, plus the conference center is in the middle of the redwoods near Santa Cruz—a bit of heaven on earth. While the 50th and last conference was in 2019, Inspire Writers has taken the baton to continue a writers conference that will look very much the same, and I’m excited that I will be teaching there again in 2022.

What’s your writing day like?

I start with devotional studies in the morning, which lead me to create a meme from my reading in the Bible that I then share across various social media platforms. After answering email and doing other marketing work and shorter writing assignments, I then shift to my bigger writing tasks after lunch. Sometimes I write into the evenings if I’m inspired or if I’m simply determined to get something done.

How do you combat writer’s block?

I read through the Bible each year. Daily I find ideas to inspire my writing. In fact, I blog daily about something I’ve read. When people ask me what inspires my writing, I say, “The Bible.”

How did you find/pick your agent? What tips do you have for others looking for an agent?

My agent and I were friends before she became an agent, so I’m actually one of Janet Grant’s first five clients. For those looking for an agent, I highly suggest going to writers conferences to meet with them in person and genuinely be interested in them as human beings. Worry less about impressing someone; just be genuine and share your life’s mission/vision and passion. If you don’t know what that is, figure it out before you pitch to an agent or start writing.

How did you find your freelance editor? How would you describe the experience?

For four of my books I worked with a freelance editor hired by WaterBrook Press. Liz Heaney truly taught me to write nonfiction Christian living books. I had decent ideas, but she made me work hard and dig more deeply into content creation. She would continually tell me to “Explain this more,” and to come up with fresh ideas, as opposed to merely reworking others’ thoughts from other books.

Great tips! How do you self-edit your manuscript?

I am an editor myself, so I edit as I write. I can’t help it. I’m not one of those writers who can just pour thousands of words onto pages. The internal editor won’t let me spew unorganized thoughts down onto the screen. Part of that self-editing process actually occurs before I write, because I work from a detailed outline. I also re-read the prior day’s writing before I continue writing, editing and adding new thoughts. Then I’ll go through the whole book before I send it off to my editor. It’s usually pretty clean by then…and should be, as I’m a former high school English teacher and newspaper journalist.

What does your revision process look like?

For me, the revision process starts with the feedback from my editor. I simply work through the book, page by page, making the requested changes. After 35 years of writing, revisions aren’t as painful for me as they were when I started writing. In fact, the last three books had very few edits needed. I couldn’t say this 20 years ago though; in 2004, I had a book that the editor completely rejected. I had to start from scratch and write another book entirely. However, the editor was right, and the book is one of my faves now: PrayerStreaming: Staying in Touch with God All Day Long.

Thank you so much for being here and sharing your tips with us!


Janet McHenry is a national speaker and the author of 24 books—six on prayer, including the bestselling PrayerWalk (now 20 years in print) and her newest, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus. A former high school English teacher, she and her husband Craig live in the Sierra Valley, where he is a rancher and where they raised their four children. She has been featured in national magazines such as Health, Woman’s Day, and First for her prayerwalking practices. The Sierra County CA coordinator for the National Day of Prayer, Janet also leads the prayer ministries at The Bridge Church in Reno.

Facebook personal: https://www.facebook.com/janet.mchenry.9

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/JanetMcHenryAuthor/

Facebook groups: Bible Girls 2021, The Safe Place Prayer Group, The Walking Club

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LookingUpFirst?lang=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/janetmchenry/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-mchenry-18793b24/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetmchenry/

Website: https://www.janetmchenry.com


Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Janet McHenry, writer's life, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Jo Ann Brown

March 22, 2021 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

Publishing has changed a lot in the past twenty years, and those who are willing to adapt are continuing to succeed and thrive in the new market. Jo Ann Brown has made some changes over the years, so she’s enjoyed a long, successful publishing career. Here’s how she does it:

Thank you for being here! Let’s start with what you write and how you picked your genre.

I write Amish inspirational romances. I’d been writing other types of inspirational fiction for several years, including cozy mysteries, when an editor asked me to do a story with Amish characters. Because I have lived (and now again live) near the Amish, I was excited to try. That was several years ago, and now I write exclusively Amish books for Harlequin Love Inspired and Annie’s. My next book will be the launch book for the new Love Inspired Trade line, and it will be an Amish inspirational romance.

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

The first book was the easiest to write and the toughest to sell. I came into the project with unbridled enthusiasm and incredible naivety. I didn’t know the “rules” so I could break them. POV, what was that? Or maybe it’s because I typed it on a standard typewriter (all 500 +pages). Seriously, when I move from one genre to another, I find it so much easier to write the first book in the new genre because all my ideas are new and there wouldn’t be any chance I’ve used them before. I’ve been known to spend hours looking through past files to see if I’ve used a phrase or a plot twist before. I didn’t have to do that with the first book. Also I’m not much more conscious of how story structure and other writing skills work, and I use them to enhance my book.

What conference do you most want to attend? Why?

Any in-person conference at this point! I love the energy that comes from being in close proximity with other writers. The shutdown hasn’t been that bad for me because I’m accustomed to working by myself. Yet, I need those times when I can be with other authors to talk business, to talk ideas, to talk life. Zoom just isn’t the same!

I hear you! I can’t wait to meet in person again.

What’s your writing day like?

I’m a night owl. I start my day (around 10 am) with writing that doesn’t have anything to do with the work-in-progress. I answer emails, check Facebook and do any other tasks. After lunch, I go to work on my current manuscript. I work for about four hours, then take a break for supper and spending the evening with my husband. I go back to work after the late news, which is my best writing time because nobody interrupts.

How do you combat writer’s block?

When I get blocked on what comes next (usually a comeback to a comment the hero or heroine have made), I just move on to another part of the book. I’ve got a structure for the book in mind, so I go to the next spot where I know what’s going to happen. I’ll always jump ahead or back when inspiration hits and I see a better way to do a scene. This way, I’m always writing a scene that I want to work on instead of slogging through one that I’m not interested in at the moment.

If you have an agent, how did you find/pick your agent? What tips do you have for others looking for an agent?

I’m currently working with my fourth agent. I’ve been with her for almost twenty years. For my first agent, in 1985, I selected six agents from a list in a guide by Writer’s Digest, three from the beginning of the list, three from the end. Fortunately one was interested in my work, and he did go on to sell my first six books. But that’s not the right way to find an agent. With my current agent, I got to know her through workshops and through conversations at writers’ conferences before I thought about changing agents. I like her market savvy and her sense of humor that fit with mine. I also liked her no-nonsense point of view on what makes a manuscript marketable. When the time came to change agents, I contacted her. We had a long conversation about what I wanted to do and what she could do for me before I hired her.

The most important tip I can give to anyone looking for an agent is to make sure the agent has read your material before offering representation. This has happened to me and other writers.  I insisted the agent read my published work and the proposals I had to market before I’d talk with him. He did, and I hired him. On the other hand, I know authors who’ve signed the agency contract without pushing for that, especially when they have an offer on the table. When things hit a bump (as they inevitably do in this business), the agent stopped returning the author’s calls. The agent had gotten the 15% commission from a quick sale, which was all the agent was interested in. You want an agent as invested in your career, both short-term and long-term, as you are. Don’t settle. A bad agent is worse than no agent.

If you’re self-published, why did you decide to go that route? If you’re traditionally published, why did you decide to go that route?

Deciding to become traditionally published wasn’t a real choice. I sold my first book in 1987 when that was the only route (other than vanity presses) to publication. As I’ve gotten the rights back on my earlier books, I’ve placed them with other publishers rather than publishing them myself. There is a whole, huge learning curve to self-publishing, and it involves a lot of self-marketing. I learned a long time ago that my talents were writing books, not promoting them, so staying with traditional publication has been the best choice for me.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

The most vital aspect of self-editing is being able to see it in a different way, a true “re-vision.” I don’t begin editing until I’ve finished a first draft. I print out a copy of the ms, so I can see it differently than I do on the screen, and get out my red pen. As I overwrite, it’s cut and burn time. Every book, I have a word that I use over and over, so I’ve got to look out for that. Fortunately, it becomes quickly obvious. Less obvious things like pacing and POV need to be checked as well. If I start getting bored with a scene, I know readers will, too. Then I look to punch up the emotion wherever I can.


Publishers Weekly best-selling author Jo Ann Brown has created characters and stories for as long as she can remember. After college, serving as an US Army quartermaster officer, getting married, and increasing her blessings with three children, she sold her first book in 1987. Since then, she has sold over 100 titles. Romantic Times called her “a truly talented author.” She loves teaching and established the romance writing course at Brown University. She lives in Pennsylvania Dutch country with her husband of over forty years. Find out more about Jo Ann and her books at:

www.joannbrownbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100023928423266

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: Amish fiction, author interview, fiction writing, Jo Ann Brown, literary agents, writer's life, writing fiction, writing tips

2020: Forgive and forget? I don’t think so…

December 31, 2020 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

NOTICE: I’m doing something different today — I’m sharing my newsletter on my blog. I don’t often do this (after all, I want you to sign up for my newsletter!), but I felt like this needs a wider audience. If you like what you see here, please consider signing up for more encouraging content like this (as well as blog posts sent directly to your in box)!

Raise your hand if you enjoyed 2020.

(looks around; slowly raises hand)

It’s been hard to admit this, but I didn’t hate 2020. I know it was hard for a lot of people—I had my own bouts of tears and frustrations. Overall, however, it was a pretty good year. Different, but good.

And now it’s time to move on.

Regardless of what happened in 2020—if your book was published or rejected; if you had your best sales year or your worst—2021 is a clean slate. If you messed up this past year, or if someone misused or hurt you in some way, now’s your chance to forgive and forget.

I’ve never actually liked that phrase. I prefer forgive and learn.

Did you self-publish a book and have menial sales? Look at what you did wrong and learn from it. Don’t make the same mistake next year.

Did you send out query letters and get zero responses? Find someone (or hire someone!) to review it for you and apply their advice to your next query. Improve your pitch.

It doesn’t matter if someone wronged you or if you’re your own worst enemy. The new year gives you the chance to start fresh, so take advantage of it!

What do you want to do differently this year? How can I help you with that?

Filed Under: goals Tagged With: encouragement, inspiration, New Year's Resolutions, newsletters, writer's life

Get Noticed for the Right Reasons!

Learn how (and why) one easy fix will keep agents and publishers reading your manuscript. It's not a secret, but it might surprise you!

Enter your email to receive this 2-page PDF with the easiest way to make a great first impression, and get monthly tips, book reviews, and author interviews.

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·