Writing Advice with Crystal Bowman
What is your favorite writing craft book?
Since I write for children, the Children’s Writers’ Word Book (Writers’ Digest) is the book I use the most. It’s a book that lists vocabulary words with the corresponding grade level. It also gives synonyms of the word with their grade levels as well. So, if a word is too advanced, you can use one of the lower-level words that has a similar meaning.
Which do you think is the most underrated writing craft book? Why?
This may be a bit of a stretch, since it is not a writing craft book, but reading the Bible has inspired so many of my devotions and blog articles. Even one verse can be the source of inspiration for a devotion that might reach thousands of readers. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through God’s word and equips us to write what God puts on our hearts.
What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?
I love them all, but since I don’t travel as much as I used to, I opt for the local conferences in Michigan. The WELL Writers’ Conference has only been around for a few years, but it has grown so quickly and has much to offer the writers who attend.
What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
I subscribe and contribute to The Write Conversation, a daily blog for writers created by Edie Melson who knows so much about the writing and publishing industry. The experienced writers who contribute have much to offer other writers.
Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?
The best mentors I have had in my 30-year writing journey have been some of my editors. Editors have a different skill set than writers and they can zero in on something that I may have missed. If something jumps out at them, then it could be a problem for the reader as well. I always keep an open mind and tweak and revise until we are both satisfied. There are several editors who have mentored me through my writing journey and have made me a better writer.
What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?
Being told that an experience I had as a child should be turned into a book. Not everything we experience needs to be a book. You can reach more readers with a blog post or magazine article, and not everything we experience needs to be shared with the world.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Be the writer God created you to be. You can learn from other writers but develop your own voice and style.
What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
Don’t rush into publishing your book. Be sure to have it edited thoroughly by someone who is experienced in your genre. Also, critique groups can be great, but they can tell you that your manuscript is ready to send to a publisher when that might not be true. I have seen many picture book manuscripts that got a green light from a critique group, but still needed lots of work.
What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
Use the Read Aloud feature on your computer! I discovered that way too late. It could have helped me with my manuscripts for years, but I never really noticed it. It’s a game-changer for sure! Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Don’t give up. If you believe God has called you to write, then learn all you can to prepare for that calling. Publishing a book doesn’t just happen. Like anything else, it takes time and acquiring knowledge.
Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.
My latest book is Our Daily Bread for Kids—365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation. I co-authored it with my daughter, Teri McKinley, and it’s for kids ages 7-12. The devotions are based on Bible stories and passages of Scriptures and apply biblical lessons to everyday life. It’s like a Bible study for kids. Each devotion also includes a Bible verse, prayer prompt, and a short trivia that kids will enjoy.
Crystal Bowman is a bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 books for children and families. She writes stories for Clubhouse Jr. magazine, lyrics for children’s piano music, online blogs and devotions, and has contributed to numerous compilation books. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have sold more than three million copies worldwide. Crystal enjoys helping writers of children’s stories find the right voice and technique to reach a young audience. She and her husband live in Michigan and Florida and have eight huggable grandkids.
http://www.crystalbowman.com
https://www.facebook.com/crystaljbowman/