Write Now Editing

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

How I Write: Tara Taffera

June 20, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Tara Taffera’s making a name for herself in contemporary Christian romance. You might not know her name yet, and she’s okay with that–it’s part of her process. Today, she’s introducing herself to MY section of the publishing world and telling us a bit about her writing life.

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 contemporary Christian romance. Writing in that genre was the easy choice as it’s what I love to read.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?
It takes me seven months on average to write, edit and publish. I do have a full-time job, so the writing and editing happens early in the morning and on the weekends.

What’s your favorite book on writing?
Right now, it’s How to Write a Swoon-Worthy Romance Novel by Victorine Lieske, which I learned about from your blog (I’m so glad I could help! LOVE that book and wish more people knew about it). I have seen others recommend it as well. What sticks with the me the most is her description of the romance levels and how those should increase throughout the novel. When I wrote my last book, I kept that in mind during the writing and editing process.

What writing book do you want to read next? Why?
I just purchased Advantage by Joe Solari and I’m excited to read that. I heard him speak recently during a virtual session hosted by the Fiction Marketing Academy. This session was so helpful and encouraging to me. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything you must do from writing to marketing, but he talks about the long game, and how to develop fans. It doesn’t happen overnight, but if you build your reader base, it will happen. It’s what I really needed to hear. “It’s a round-after-round-game,” was one of his quotes that stuck with me.

That sounds amazing (adds it to wish list). What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?
I have only attended the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference (FCWC) and I absolutely loved it. I can’t say enough about the connections I made, and how much I learned. It was the most amazing experience. I would love to go back, but I also look forward to traveling to others in the next few years as well. I would love to attend Blue Ridge and ACFW.

How do you combat writer’s block?
When I sit at my desk and think about what I want to write, it never comes. For some reason, if I think about it while driving or laying in bed, or in the shower, inspiration always strikes.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different? Describe your strategy.
For my first three books, I was more of a pantser. I just started a new series and am using an outline method I discovered through another speaker at the Fiction Market Academy. I’m excited to see by the end of this novel, which approach I liked most.

What advice do you have for new authors?
Find other authors and learn from them. I love meeting other authors and sharing information, asking what works for them and then figuring out what works best for me. I have several authors I network with monthly, and it has been so helpful. I also recommend joining an association or two. The information I gained from the Christian Authors Network and the American Christian Fiction Writers has been more than valuable. It’s a great way to network, ask questions, and learn about marketing opportunities.

If you’ve ever worked with a freelance editor, how did you find that editor? How would you describe the experience?
For books one and two, I didn’t hire an outside editor. When I went to the FCWC, I learned this is a necessity, and immediately decided I would hire an editor for book three. It was the best decision. I am part of Word Weavers and there is an author in my group (Sara Turnquist) whose writing I admire. I went to her website and found that she offers editing services. She made my book so much better. She found a major issue with one of my characters which required a lot of cutting and rewriting. The result was much improved over the first draft she read. I know it’s my best book thus far, and a lot of that has to do with her advice, as well as everything I learned along the way. Many people who have read all three books in my series agree as well.


Elizabeth Carlson turns heads wherever she goes but has never moved on from Tyler Williams, with whom she shared a whirlwind relationship her senior year of high school. After only a month together, Elizabeth ran away from her past and her broken family. Ten years later, Tyler comes crashing back in her life, eager for a second chance. But she can’t forgive him for the order he issued all those years ago.

Slowly, a high school romance turns into so much more, but her secrets, and his anger, threaten to ruin their happily ever after. Will God’s grace and love lead them back to each other?


Tara Taffera is an avid reader and the author of A Divine Love Series. She writes contemporary Christian romance enveloped in God’s grace and love. Book two in her series, Love Unfailing, won the silver medal in the 2022 Illumination Book Awards in the romance category. The program shines a light on Exemplary Christian Books. Love Unfailing was also a semi-finalist in the Indies Today Awards.

She lives in Virginia with her husband of 25 years, a non-reader himself who provides valuable advice on her books—all those baseball scenes! He is one of her biggest cheerleaders, along with her three daughters.

www.tarataffera.com

www.facebook.com/authortarataffera

www.instagram.com/tarataffera

www.twitter.com/tarataffera

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, fiction writing, writing books, writing conferences, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Linda Rondeau

March 21, 2022 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

Linda Rondeau’s been on both sides of the manuscript — as an author and as an editor. Today she shares about how she strengthened her writing skills.

Welcome! You’ve written several books in your career. Which was harder: the first book or the following books?

Writing is hard, whether the first or the most recent book. After fourteen published works, I’m still fearful when I start a new manuscript. I think the first book was the easiest because I was not encumbered with fears of failure; I was too enthralled with the ride. After the first book was published, I was overcome with the responsibilities of the aftermath—thinking about marketing as I was writing.

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

The best book on writing I have read is On Writing by Steven King. The first half was about his life and how he came into writing. The second half was basic concepts. I liked the book because he understood and encouraged every writer to follow their own style. It can be harmful for an author to think there is only one correct way to manage a manuscript or to even create one. While traditional concepts may be helpful, they are not commandments. Like the pirate’s code, they are guidelines.

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

I have to give the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference two thumbs up, at least for me. I attended the first one in 2001 and received the Writer of the Year award for a poem. God had called me to write in June of 2000, but I had no clue what I needed to do. At that conference, God cemented his call and reinforces that call each time I attend. Though the conference is managed by different folks, I still feel that same anointing.  

What’s your writing day like?

I must laugh whenever asked this question—I never know what my day will bring.

When my husband and I married, we made only one promise to each other: never a dull moment. Very few of my days resemble one another. I might have a plan when I wake up, but the Hubs and God are very good and rearranging my lofty ambitions.

I do have a few habits involved in my day-to-day life, certain must-do activities in order to function. When I get up, I’m in fog territory. I grab a cup of coffee and do brain exercises to wake up. Then I have my quiet time with God. I look at what I had written down as must do, should do, and maybe can wait a few days. I do try to plan out my writing and marketing tasks as well as my editing expectations, but I’ve learned to be flexible.

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process?

So many things I had to learn in this process. Perhaps the most humbling was how much editing my works would require. The carpenter’s house barely stands and the plumber’s pipes are always leaking. No matter how much we think we know about writing, we are unable to be adequately objective of our own manuscripts. I was surprised because I thought I had a good command of English, grammar, and syntax. I was humbled as I learned the craft. Writing fiction is much different than writing  a term paper!

What advice do you have for new writers?

Don’t be in a hurry to get published. Learn the craft, get involved with writers’ groups, take online courses and/or attend writers’ conferences, join a critique group, and be patient. Good cooks are not born as good cooks, though they may have talent. To become a master chef takes preparation, thought, and practice.

Don’t start with a book. Perhaps start with a blog. If you’re writing fiction then start with some flash fiction, then perhaps short stories, and then evolve them into books.

How do you self-edit your manuscripts?

I often tell writers the person who edits their own work has a fool for an editor. I’m an editor and I desperately need a pair of objective eyes on my manuscript. That said, there are things we can do to polish our manuscripts other than proofreading. I go over each chapter a dozen times or more. I will look for inconsistences in description. Did my character with blue eyes all of a sudden have brown eyes? Did I change the name in places? I highly recommend the book Self-editing for Fiction Writers.

What does your revision process look like?

Revision is not the same as self-editing. Besides some of the above, I put my manuscript aside for a minimum of three-five days. I need to look at my work with fresh eyes and a less fatigued brain. Ideally, Steven King recommends six weeks or more. I often don’t have that much luxury of time.

While some authors prefer to work chapter by chapter, I prefer to complete the story first. Because I’m a more intuitive writer, I can’t really critique myself on story development until I’m finished.  Then, I examine the work for cohesiveness, consistency, impact, and relativity. Rather than look at the trees, I examine the manuscript as a forest.


Award-winning author, Linda Wood Rondeau writes stories that grip the heart, inspired by her nearly thirty years of social work. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys the occasional round of golf, visiting museums, and taking walks with her best friend in life, her husband of forty-five years. The couple resides in Hagerstown, Maryland where both are active in their local church. Readers may learn more about the author, read her blog, or sign up for her newsletter by visiting www.lindarondeau.com.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lwrondeau
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-wood-rondeau
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Wood-Rondeau/e/B006FNG1BI
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/lindawoodrondeau
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authorlindawoodrondeau/ 

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, editing tips, fiction writing, Linda Rondeau, self-editing, Stephen King, writing conferences, writing fiction, writing tips

How I Write: Angela Breidenbach

January 31, 2022 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

No two paths to publication are the same, even for the same author! Angela Breidenbach has published fiction and nonfiction books, and she’s here today to share from her experiences in both world’s.

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

I write historical fiction with elements of romance and genealogy. I want to preserve the stories of people and history. I also write non-fiction because I love to teach and share so others can grow, too.

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

Research is the most challenging for me because it’s so easy to get lost in the rabbit trails. When I realize I’ve gone down a trail, I start a new document and write a story idea with citations to the research. That helps me know I can go back and dive in again for a purpose. Otherwise, I’m just fascinated with learning. I have to be disciplined about it or I’d never come up for air.

Also, when I’m writing the story, I put a comment in my writing program (Scrivener) so I can research just that point later. Then I continue writing. But those rabbit trails can be really beneficial. That’s where the entire 6-book series for Queen of the Rockies ideas came from! The fifth book, Bride of the Rockies, was a rabbit trail that led me to the women who represented Montana at the 1893 World’s Fair.

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

Writing a book takes 3-6 months for me. My favorite part is editing for the art. I spend more time there once I get the gist of the story on paper. Finalizing it, to me, means interior and cover design. That takes me a week or so because I play with the look until I’m happy. But I adore Vellum and the updates in that program.

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

The first book in both fiction and nonfiction were the hardest because I had so much to learn about the craft and formatting. Now formatting is second nature. I know where I can play with elements. But writing in different arenas, fiction and nonfiction, creates a lot of different issues in the right and left brain. I can write both in the same day, but I have to take a break between them to switch gears. I’ll never stop learning. But adding to what I know or brushing up a skill is a lot easier than learning it all from a fire hose like the first books!

What conference do you most want to attend?

I’m looking forward to attending the London RootsTech conference one day. The amount of research I still want to do in Britain can happen, but I really love attending genealogy conferences. Hoping Covid-tide will end soon so I can go, meet more people across the pond, and sit in a lot of great research spots discovering things not on the internet.

How do you combat writer’s block?

Writer’s block makes me feel frozen. I’ve bonded with other writer friends. When I’m feeling stuck, I call or video conference or go to lunch with one of my friends. We’ll brainstorm until I’m excited to get the words on the page again. Works every time!

What advice do you have for new authors?

Go to as many different writing conferences as you can. Writing conferences have personalities too. Not every conference is suited to you. If one feels “off”, it’s not for you. Try another. You’ll meet your group of friends like I did. We all started out as newbies. Now literally all of us are multi-published, many multiple bestsellers. But none of us had sold a book when we started out. Bonding together, building our careers between friends has really made a difference. It’s especially important for those rough patches—we all have them—when we lose a family member, experience multiple rejections, or must make a hard choice financially. Those friends have made all the difference and I would not have achieved what I have without writing conferences and the friends who have run the race with me.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

I have at least 3 steps in my editing process before I send it to anyone else. I edit as I go when something doesn’t seem quite right to me. Then I upload the document to my ProWritingAid application and go through line-by-line. Then I load it to Vellum and see what it finds. Finally, I ask someone else to edit. That saves me a lot of money, but also teaches me in the process.

I always miss something. Everyone always misses something. But the surprise is often how I have “pet” words in every book. They’re not usually the same book to book. But there are a handful that connect with the tone, story, and world of the book that tend to repeat. So those are my last search/replace action before it goes anywhere else.


Would she give up her dream for love?

For botanist, Bettina Gilbert, mining is an offense against God’s green earth. With the shortage of women in Montana, Luke travels to Chicago to manage the Montana mining exhibition hoping to also find a wife. Only that pretty botanist keeps disrupting his mining presentations … and his chances of meeting the right woman! A city girl who despises his way of life would be the worst choice for a miner’s wife, wouldn’t she? 

Angela Breidenbach is a professional genealogist, media personality, conference speaker, bestselling author of eighteen books, and screenwriter. Angela lives in Montana with her hubby and Muse, a trained fe-lion, who shakes hands, rolls over, and jumps through a hoop. Surprisingly, Angela can also. Catch her show and podcast, Genealogy Publishing Coach!

https://AngelaBreidenbach.com
Social Media: @AngBreidenbachAmazon
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Breidenbach/e/B00460W4F4
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/angela-breidenbach
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3370320.Angela_Breidenbach
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AngelaBreidenbach

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

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody (book review)

January 21, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

SAVE THE CAT!® by Blake Snyder is a popular screenwriting book series and storytelling methodology used by screenwriters, directors, and studio execs across Hollywood. Now, for the first time ever, bestselling author and writing teacher, Jessica Brody, takes the beloved Save the Cat! plotting principals and applies them to the craft of novel writing in this exciting new “workshop style” guide, featuring over 20 full beat sheets from popular novels throughout time.


Whether you’re writing your first novel or your seventeenth, Save the Cat! breaks down plot in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step method so you can write stories that resonate! This book can help you with any of the following:

Outlining a new novel
Revising an existing novel
Breaking out of the dreaded “writer’s block”
Fixing a “broken” novel
Reviewing a completed novel
Fleshing out/test driving a new idea to see if it “has legs”
Implementing feedback from agents and/or editors
Helping give constructive feedback to other writers

But above all else, SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A NOVEL will help you better understand the fundamentals and mechanics of plot, character transformation, and what makes a story work!


I think this may be my new favorite craft book ever.

As a fan and writer of character-driven fiction, I’ve always struggled to figure out plot structure. I’ve read a lot of books that talk about that and have learned bits from all of them, but this book explained structure in a way that I really understood. It could be that I’m just finally starting to understand structure after all of these years (and multiple craft books), but I really think the format of this book is what I connected with.

First, the author lists out and explains the different beats of every good story. Then she explains the nine different plot types. Finally, she takes the list of beats and applies it to each of the plot types to help the reader see what it looks like. (She also includes a list of the books that use the various plot types.)

If you want to learn how to write a novel and you learn best from lists and examples, I highly recommend this book. I will reference it often.

Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: book review, fiction writing, How to Write a Novel, Jessica Brody, writing a book, writing fiction, writing tips

How I Write: Sally Jo Pitts

December 13, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Sally Jo Pitts paid attention when they said, “write what you know.” Wait’ll you find out what she writes! Here’s another fun interview full of great writing tips and ideas.

Thank you so much for talking with me today! What do you write? How/why did you pick your genre?

I write Mystery/Detective because I have worked as a private investigator with my husband in his detective agency for almost thirty years. I also write romance because I enjoy discovering the happily ever after!

I bet you have some amazing perspectives to add to your books! What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

The most difficult part  of writing in both genres is getting the rough draft on the page. I work through my  character and plot idea with dogged determination and attempt to write a scene a day. The first draft is a pretty ugly batch of dialogue, narrative, scene set ups, and notes that I proceed to shift here and there like puzzle pieces throughout the document. I use the Scrivener program which helps me move from scene to  scene and keeps my characters and research notes together in one workspace.

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

The length of time to write a book has varied depending on the contractual time given for completion. The last three books in my mystery series took six months each: two months rough draft, one month first rewrite, two month rewrites of the rewrites, one month final edits.

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

The first book, Autumn Vindication, was hardest because I had so much to learn. I knew about being a PI but not how to  portray the story and characters. I actually published two romance books before the first mystery book came out. The main characters totally changed from the original draft.

What’s your favorite book on writing?

The Story Equation by Susan May Warren. The book presents a very practical way to think through your characters and the purpose of the journey you are going to put them on.

What writing book do you want to read next?

Writing 21st Century Fiction by Donald Maass. He offers lots of examples of good writing and analyzes why. I am always ready to learn more.

What’s your favorite writers conference?

American Christian Fiction Writers. They offer excellent speakers and agent and editor appointments.

What does your revision process look like?

Here ya’ go. Lots of scribbled notes. This photo was during rewrites of Spring Betrayal and Designed for Love romance book launch going on at the same time.


About the Author: Sally Jo Pitts brings a career as a private investigator, high school guidance counselor and teacher of family and consumer sciences to the fiction page. Tapping into her real-world experiences she writes what she likes to read, faith-based stories, steeped in the mysteries of life’s relationships. She is author of the Hamilton Harbor Legacy romance series and the Seasons of Mystery series. Residing in north Florida with her spunky schnauzer Gibbs, Sally Jo enjoys hot mochas, old movies, and writing scenes from scribbled notes that clutter her house. You can connect with her at  and https://www.facebook.com/sallyjopitts

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, book review, editing tips, fiction writing, Sally Jo Pitts, self-editing, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »
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 Editing Classes (via the PEN Institute) 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 … [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·