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Writing Tips from Debbie Wilson

September 25, 2023 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

What is your favorite craft book?
On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book? Why?
I can’t think of one.

What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?
Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. Love seeing fellow authors and always learn a lot.

What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
I’m a member of Jerry Jenkin’s Writers Guild, and I’ve enjoyed some of Thomas Umstattd Jr.’s writing courses with Author Media.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?
When I became serious about writing I took courses from Jerry Jenkins Writing for the Soul. DiAnn Mills was my mentor. She is a caring and wise mentor.

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?
This is more of an experience than advice. At my first writer’s conference, I met with an agent whose first questions was, “Tell me about your national platform.” I’d spoken and ministered in different parts of the country, but I didn’t have a national platform. His body language told me he wasn’t interested in anything I had to say after that. I left wondering if I’d made a mistake even attending the conference.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Work on your craft.

What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
I’d repeat the above. Work on your craft. I’ll add, learning a new skill takes time. Give yourself grace and enjoy the process of discovering your lane.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
Jerry Jenkins says to be a fierce self-editor. I love watching him edit drafts. Use action verbs instead of passive, show don’t tell, and give the reader credit. In other words, resist the urge to explain everything. Your reader gets it.

Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Do the work and growth will come. Keep expanding your skills and knowledge. As I think Jon Acuff said, “Don’t compare your beginning with someone else’s middle.”

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.
Little Strength, Big God presents timeless truths to slay our giants.This Christian Living/Bible study looks at those who became strong in battle. Consider their predicaments.

What if you had to choose between―

– Drowning your baby or letting your worst enemy raise him?
– Bowing before an idol or being thrown into a fiery furnace?
– Compromising your convictions or being tossed to the lions?
– Living in fear or leading ill-equipped volunteers against an intimidating enemy?

The believers who faced these decisions felt their limitations yet found strength in the Lord. We can too! The men and women highlighted in the last half of Hebrews 11 help us turn our weaknesses into strengths for God’s glory.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Karin, thank you for your writing and encouragement to writers. And thanks for inviting me to be with you today.


Debbie W. Wilson is an award-winning author, Bible teacher, and former Christian counselor who speaks and writes to connect fellow sojourners to the heart of Christ. She and her husband lead Lighthouse Ministries, a non-profit Christian counseling and Bible teaching ministry. Connect with Debbie, find free resources, and learn about her books, including Little Strength, Big God at debbieWwilson.com.

debbieWwilson.com
https://twitter.com/DebbieWWilson
https://www.facebook.com/debbie.wilson.963871
https://www.pinterest.com/djwwilson/

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing advice, how to write, how to write a book, self-editing tips, writing advice, writing books, writing tips

Stein on Writing by Sol Stein (book review)

May 29, 2023 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Stein on Writing provides immediately useful advice for all writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether they are newcomers or old hands, students or instructors, amateurs or professionals. As the always clear and direct Stein explains here, “This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions–how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place.”

With examples from bestsellers as well as from students’ drafts, Stein offers detailed sections on characterization, dialogue, pacing, flashbacks, trimming away flabby wording, the so-called “triage” method of revision, using the techniques of fiction to enliven nonfiction, and more.


A long read but worth the time, this book is a bit outdated but still incredibly relevant.

Written in 1995, many things in publishing have changed since this was published (the entire last chapter of this book is basically worthless as a resources guide), but the heart of writing never misses a beat — you need fully developed characters, a solid plot, and tension in novels, and nonfiction needs to tell the truth in a captivating way.

Whether your write fiction, nonfiction, or articles, there really is something for every writer in this book. Not to mention its fascinating to see how much has changed in less than 30 years, especially regarding commercial or “popular” fiction. Stein seemed to have a bit of an issue with popular fiction (what we call genre fiction today). I wasn’t writing in 1995 so I don’t know what the industry standards were, but most of the craft techniques he taught in this book do, in fact, apply to today’s genre fiction–craft matters, and successful writers spend years studying it.

If you want to write better books, I highly recommend this one. Get your copy here!

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: book review, how to write, how to write fiction, self-editing, writing books, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

Writing Tips from Sarah Hamaker

April 10, 2023 by Karin Beery 4 Comments

What is your favorite craft book?

I love the thesaurus books by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, particularly the Emotional Wound Thesaurus and The Conflict Thesaurus. These books give writers a great place to start for crafting character’s backstory and conflict/emotional responses to their current situation.

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book? Why?

The Careful Writer: A Modern Guide to English Usage by Theodore Menline Bernstein. I learned so much about grammar by reading this book (especially those tricky combos like lay/lie and then/than). While it’s out of print now, you can still find copies in used bookstores. It’s well-worth a buy to keep you on your toes with grammar (the glue that holds our sentences together and makes them readable!).

What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?

I enjoy one-day conferences more than several day conferences, mostly because my brain gets full rather quickly. But that’s not to say I don’t attend multiday conferences. This year, I’m hoping to get to Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference and maybe the ACFW national conference too.

What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?

I like to watch/listen to YouTube videos for writing info and try to watch at least one new one per month, especially for marketing/indie publishing. There’s always so much more we could learn, it’s tough to pick and choose which ones to partake of.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

I’m not sure I have a writing mentor, but for inspiration, I read a lot in my genre, Christian romantic suspense. I try to read a wide variety of authors in the genre to both keep up with current writing trends and to enjoy good stories.

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?

Use Scrivener to write. My brain doesn’t work the way Scrivener is set up—more trouble than it was worth for me (and I was very glad there was a trial period, so I didn’t end up with buying software I hated). What I learned was it’s okay to try different methods of writing if what you’re doing isn’t working for you. What I was doing was working for me, so I should have just kept doing that, even though many writers love, love, love Scrivener. If it’s working for you, you don’t have to change the way you write.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Try to write every day. The more you can write every day, the more your story will move along because you don’t have to reacquaint yourself with your story.

What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?

To give your writing the best of your time, not the leftover time. I realized a few years ago I was leaving my writing time to the end of the day, when I’d done all my other work-related and family-related tasks. That meant I was tired and often didn’t end up writing because I ran out of time. I determined to give my fiction writing the best of my time and now start each day (as often as I can) with writing before opening my email and tackling other things. That has helped tremendously in making progress on my current manuscript.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

When you’ve finished the first draft, let the manuscript sit for a few days or more before going back to edit it. You need to create some distance between you and the manuscript so you can look at it with fresh eyes.

Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.

Remember writing, like life, has seasons. Some seasons, the words will flow easily. Other seasons, each word on the page will be hard fought. Some seasons, the book contracts will come in rapid succession, while other seasons, you’ll struggle to find an outlet for your work. It’s easy to keep going when the current writing season is, well, “easy,” and hard when it isn’t. But if you’re called to write, then you’ll find a way through the tougher times to continue putting words down on paper.

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

The Dark Reckoning is the conclusion of my Cold War Legacy trilogy.

A good deed turns into a search for a missing woman.

When Isana Thomas finds a smartphone among the cherry trees, her life is put in jeopardy. Isana discovers the phone belongs to Lillian Hillam, whose son, Cyrus “Cy” Hillam, works at The Heritage Museum with Isana. But Lillian is missing, and someone doesn’t want the pair to find her.

Cy can’t believe his mother would disappear without telling him, not after his father’s suicide when he was a child. Then kidnappers claiming to have Lillian contact him, asking to exchange her life for a list of names. Cy and Isana must delve deep into his parents’ past to find the list and save his mother’s life.

But someone doesn’t want them to succeed and will do anything to stop their search. Will Cy and Isana uncover the truth about the list before their lives are snuffed out?


Award-winning author Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Website: sarahhamakerfiction.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahhamaker
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.s.hamaker/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sarah-hamaker
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1804799.Sarah_Hamaker
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzI8JVSzbms6MoQbFc6SiLQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hamaker-7295a01/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002TIARBS

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, fiction writing, self-editing, writing books, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

Writing Tips from Pegg Thomas

March 27, 2023 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

Do you need some inspiration today? Are you frustrated with your writing?

Sit back and let award-winning author and editor Pegg Thomas encourage you (and maybe introduce you to some new writing resources!).

What is your favorite craft book?

My favorite is Writing Deep Viewpoint by Kathy Tyers.

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book? Why?

The dictionary. People seriously need to broaden their vocabularies so their books are less language redundant. There. See how many people have to look that up. 😉 Seriously, you don’t want to flummox the reader, but you don’t want the monotonous repetition of words, either.

What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?

Maranatha Christian Writers Conference near Muskegon, Michigan. Love it.

What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?

Podcasts

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

My granddad. That man could tell a STORY!

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?

Write what you know. Really? How about doing a little research, broadening your horizons, digging deep to know the characters, the setting, and what makes your conflict work? Much better than writing just your viewpoint of your little world.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

“That book ain’t gonna write itself.”

What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?

Go to an in-person writers’ conference. There really is nothing to compare with those for hands-on learning and elbow-rubbing with the professionals in your chosen field. Yes, it costs money, but most forms of education do. And without education, you don’t get very far.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

Look for the telling words: saw, felt, heard, thought, imaged, seemed, smelled, etc. and nix every one that you can. Sometimes you can’t—sometimes they are necessary—but most of the time they are just shallow writing.

Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.

The mightiest oak was once just a little nut that held its ground.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’m happy to be one half of 2 Editors for 5 Minutes with my good friend, Karin Beery!


Cobalt Skies released on January 17—coincidently (or not) on my birthday! It’s the 2nd in my series, A More Perfect Union. A post-Civil War story that joins a Union cavalryman and a Southern widow, both with more baggage than the Union Pacific, and both on a journey to a new life in the West.

Pegg Thomas lives on a homestead farm in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. They raise chickens and keep a few barn cats, along with Murphy the spoiled rotten dog. When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her barn, her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at her spinning wheel creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls. https://PeggThomas.com

PeggThomas.com
https://www.subscribepage.com/PeggThomas (newsletter signup)
Facebook 
Goodreads
BookBub
Amazon

Filed Under: best practices, interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, fiction writing, how to write, self-editing, writing books, writing fiction, writing resources, writing tips, writing tools

Writing Tips from A.C. Williams

March 13, 2023 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

What is your favorite craft book?

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass changed my entire understanding of how to tell a story. The entire section on emotional impact helped me truly understand the relationship between the words on the page and the readers themselves. I have used it (and its workbook) with everything I’ve written since 2012 or so.

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book? Why?

Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss is legit one of my favorite craft books. I mean, yeah, it’s British English and grammar, but if we can’t laugh about punctuation, what are we doing with our lives?

What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?

My favorite writing conference of all time is Realm Makers. It’s specifically for speculative fiction writers of faith, but I have learned more about professionalism and the publishing industry from Realm Makers than nearly anywhere else. It’s an environment that feels like a family reunion every year, and with the annual award banquet doubling as a costume party, you can’t go wrong.

What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?

Honestly, I just read a lot. I would like to listen to more podcasts and watch more YouTube videos about writing, but usually I just don’t have time. So I read and listen to audiobooks, preferably ones that are bestsellers so that I can learn what is popular in the industry. Oftentimes I do read craft books or books on marketing tactics and strategy as well.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

That’s a hard one. As far as impact and reach, I would say that an author who inspires me is J.K. Rowling. Whether you like what she writes or not, that woman has turned the world upside down multiple times in the last 20 years. She pretty much created the literary fandom concepts we are so familiar with in popular culture right now. She taught an entire generation how to read, how to fight for what’s right, and how to be brave when you don’t feel strong enough—all through a series of books. That’s what I want to do with my stories.

But I can’t in good conscience call J.K. Rowling a mentor because I don’t agree with most of her worldview. I’m certain she’s a good person, but I don’t want to be a good person. I want to live a life that honors God. So while J.K. Rowling’s industry-shaking achievements are a goal I want to aim for, the author I consider a mentor would probably be C.S. Lewis. He had an extraordinary gift of taking spiritual truth and making it simple enough that even children could understand it.

I want to write stories that turn the world upside down for Jesus. I want to tell stories that challenge the status quo and make readers ask questions about what they believe, no matter what side of the political or religious line they stand on. And I want to have a relationship with my readers that makes them feel like they’re part of my family.

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?

I’m sure I’ve gotten bad writing advice, but I can’t remember any of it.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t be afraid to let your own life experiences inform the characters you create. That doesn’t mean you have to regurgitate every trauma you’ve survived on the page. Nobody wants to read that. But the struggles and trials you have survived in your life taught you something about yourself and about God. Don’t discount that. Use it. Because there’s a good chance someone else out there needs to hear what you learned in your dark valley.

What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?

Just finish. That’s it. Don’t get bogged down with the details. Don’t get discouraged if it isn’t making sense. Stop editing as you write. Get to the finish line and go back and rewrite. You can’t edit a blank page.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

Only take advice from people who actually understand and know the genre you’re writing in. If you’re writing a sci-fi adventure novel, and you give it to a beta reader who only reads regency romance, they aren’t going to have useful feedback for you. People who read regency romance are used to different expectations for their genres, and the same is true for sci-fi adventure.

Now, if you’re writing a sci-fi adventure that has elements of regency romance in it, absolutely give it to that beta reader. They will be able to give you better insight on the love story than an average sci-fi reader.

The bottom line is be careful who you accept critique and feedback from. Make sure your critique partners speak the same language you do before you implement their feedback in your writing.

Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.

A career as a professional author/storyteller is a long game. This is one of the most competitive industries in the world, whether you go the traditional route or not. Don’t rush it. The most successful storytellers are the ones who understand that we are all learners. Get excited about learning new things, and you’ll never have a disappointing day.

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

My latest book is Karl Goodson and the Food Truck Fiasco, a hilarious novella from my superhero adventure series, Reishosan: Samurai Defenders. It’s a wild, hysterical ride through the streets of San Francisco in search of a lost engagement ring, and the fact that everyone looking for the ring is wearing samurai armor isn’t even the funniest part.


A.C. Williams is an author and writing coach with fifteen published books. She loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks will never match. A senior partner at Uncommon Universes Press, she is a Realm Award Winner and the 2022 Arise Daily Writer of the Year. She also contributes to two blogs ranked in Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 sites for authors.

You can find me and my books at www.amycwilliams.com or subscribe to read my daily devotions at www.alwayspeachy.com.

Filed Under: writing Tagged With: A.C. Williams, author interview, editing tips, fiction writing, self-editing, writing books, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

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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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