Write Now Editing

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

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A long read but worth the time, this book is a bit outdated but still incredibly relevant.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

May 22, 2023 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

What is your favorite craft book?

I read more of those when I was first starting out, but as an established author of 26 books, I gravitate toward the inspirational, as opposed to the theoretical. My favorites would be Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard, Reeve Lindbergh’s Under a Wing, and, in general, the works of George MacDonald and Catherine Marshall. I also have benefited from Karen Chase’s marketing book, Brand Author.

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

What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
My publisher, Elk Lake, regularly leads its authors to all kinds of helpful resources from a variety of sources. I am currently enjoying Robin Dykstra’s videos.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?
C.S. Lewis—his multi-faceted genres encourage me to step outside my comfort zones to write what’s on my heart at any given season. Jan Karon—I love the way she writes about the sacredness of the every day, always with a winsome hope grounded in the gospel.

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?
“Just the facts, ma’am.’ For my first years as a writer, I avoided descriptive elements because my editor (who did much more good than harm) was a bare-bones kind of person. Also right up there was, “Stick to one genre.” I hate being typecast as an author when I can slip between genres and audiences.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
“Read good writing.” By immersing myself in the writing of excellent storytellers, I have become better at my own writing.

What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
Manage your distractions. Stay focused. The world is too much with us, sucking our creativity dry. I read that David McCullough writes in a shed without a phone or computer because he wants to stay focused on the writing before him. I haven’t mastered that exactly, but I do try to limit the amount of time I spend on emails and social media. Click bait is the worst.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
No one ever “arrives” as a writer. Everyone needs a good editor to come beside us and help us hone, hone, hone. There is always some improvement or discovery ahead. Come humbly before God each time you sit down to write. This is his gift, to be used according to his good purposes, inspired by him.

Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Always stay connected to the Source of all creativity. If you’re certain God has called you to this work, don’t let anything get in the way, including yourself.

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release. 
Easton at Sunset, the sixth and final book in my award-winning Easton Series with Elk Lake Publishing. This is a split-fiction novel in which the two main characters, bound by their ancestry, live in the 18th century and today. The novels were originally inspired by Jan Karon’s Mitford Series.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I love speaking about American history almost as much as writing about it. Thanks for the opportunity to share some of my writing journey!


REBECCA PRICE JANNEY is a historian and multi-award-winning author of twenty-six books, including her beloved Easton Series. Books three and four, Easton at the Crossroads and Easton at the Pass, captured 2019 and 2020 Golden Scroll Awards for Historical Novel of the Year, along with her other winning novels Sweet, Sweet Spirit: One Woman’s Spiritual Journey to the Asbury College Revival, and Morning Glory.

She began writing professionally at the age of fourteen and by the following year was covering the Philadelphia Phillies. With her love of American history, she earned degrees in that subject from Lafayette College and Princeton Seminary, and a doctorate from Biblical Seminary. Rebecca is a popular speaker and appears regularly on radio shows and her podcast, “American Stories.” She is the Regent (President) of the Bethlehem, PA Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and resides with her husband, son, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley where her ancestors have lived since the 1740s.

Find her online at www.rebeccapricejanney.com, “American Stories” with Rebecca Price Janney on Spotify, Facebook, LinkedIn, MeWe, or Instagram.

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

Writing Tips from Linda Evans Shepherd

May 8, 2023 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

What is your favorite craft book?

I’ve read many books on topics ranging from article and novel writing, as well as plotting, and editing. My current favorite writing book is Save the Cat, The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need. I love to write screenplays, but I find that understanding story, whether for writing a movie, a book, or an article, will help you better connect your message to readers.

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

I’d have to say The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White and though it’s not as colorful as Save the Cat, it covers the fundamental principles of grammar, syntax, and style. Today, with so many authors trying to figure out the writing and publishing process without the benefit of an editor, it’s more important than ever that they study writing basics. For brilliant books, with enlightening truths inspired by God Himself, can be not only tarnished, but possibly overlooked when the author ignores the basic principles of writing.

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

I’m a huge fan of the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, but I’m in love with the Advanced Writers and Speakers Conference (AWSA.com), which precedes the Munce Christizan Book Expo for Christian booksellers. Yes, I founded AWSA and run the conference, which makes me a bit prejudiced. But I do this because I’m very passionate about helping women who both speak and write books not only develop a community and a support system but learn the latest from the best authors and presenters. Plus, we have the opportunity to serve the bookstores of CPE by leading the Sunday worship service and participating in their personality party, with book signings, as well as being a part of their expo.

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

I love Zooming in our AWSA mastermind communities. We have a monthly live training, a Superstar group for authors who have written five or more books and a Protégé group for writers writing their first book, plus we have speaker, screenwriting, as well as fiction and nonfiction writers’ groups. These groups offer community, prayer, and training. I’m not a member of every group, but I absolutely love the groups I’m a part of, not only because of the professional friendships, but because of the continual live training which helps keep me on the cutting edge.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

One of my dearest friends is the amazing Bold Vision publisher Karen Porter, who also serves as the AWSA steering committee president. I’ve often spoken alongside her, and now we work together to lead the AWSA Certified Speakers course. Her insights into organizing talks and storytelling turns out to also be excellent writing advice. We’ve also worked together on several book projects, including the AWSA-led devotional, Arise to Peace.

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

The worst writing advice I ever received was to write faster by never making mistakes. I remember attending a writers’ conference and going to a class that promised to teach writers how to save time. However, the speaker’s emphasis on never making errors discouraged me. As a writer who struggles with mild dyslexia, I knew for me at least, that mistakes are a natural part of the writing process. Instead of striving for perfection in my first draft, I’ve concentrated on becoming a better self-editor. I’ve learned that by honing your editing skills, you can catch errors and improve your writing significantly. Turning in a well-edited manuscript is more important than turning in your first draft, no matter how much time you save by skipping the editing process.

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

Stop worrying about writing your first draft perfectly.  The problem is that when you stop to edit, your inner perfectionist interrupts your creative flow.  Work to perfect your writing once you start working on your second draft.  You’ll not only write faster, but your writing will also have a better flow.

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

New writers often struggle to find the time to write amidst their busy lives. However, even writing just one page a day can lead to a completed manuscript of up to 365 pages in a year. If finding time during the day is a challenge, consider setting aside time early in the morning before others in the household are awake, during a child’s naptime, or in the evening when the house is quiet. Another option is to make a weekly writing date with yourself, perhaps at a favorite coffee shop or other location outside the home. Remember, even writing once a week can lead to progress and ultimately a finished manuscript.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

Listen to your writing.  I love to have my computer read my writing aloud to me as I view the screen.  That way, I can hear if I’ve left out a word, or jumbled a thought.  And I’m not ashamed to admit this, but spellcheck is a dear friend.  If you aren’t aware that your computer can read your writing aloud, google for instructions.

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

The thing that motivates me most is to imagine my readers reacting to my words.  When I can “see” my words making a difference, it’s easier to push through the roadblocks to publication.

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

Make Time for Joy, Scripture-Powered Prayer to Brighten Your Day  paves the road to joy with scripture, then transcribes those verses into powerful prayers.  Perfect for daily reflection.  This is a book which will help you transform sadness into gladness as you rest on the love, joy, and provision that comes from God.


Despite the challenges that she faced as a young mother with a baby on her hip and a toddler in coma following a car crash, Linda Evans Shepherd was willing to say “Yes!” to God’s call to write a book. This led to a successful career as a writer, with thirty-eight books, many of which have won prestigious awards.

In addition to her writing, Linda has also been called to unite Christian women authors into an online group, which is now known as the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). This group has grown to include 900 women communicators, who support and encourage each other in their mission to spread God’s love and compassion to a hurting world.

Linda has a new YouTube show called The Prayer Investigator, and is a publisher of the Leading Hearts Magazine, which has won multiple EPA awards, and she is also founded the AWSA’s yearly conference and the Golden Scroll and Christian Market Book Awards. Her latest book, Make Time for Joy, is inspiring readers to find joy in their daily lives.

To learn more about Linda’s ministries, go to LindaEvansShepherd.com, youtube.com/@gottopray, awsa.com LeadingHearts.com, AriseDaily.com, AriseEstherEvening.com/, and PeaceBlueprint.com.

You can interact with Linda at:

  • Facebook: LindaEvansShepherdAuthor
  • Twitter: @LindaShepherd

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, encouragement for writers, Linda Evans Shepherd, self-editing, writing advice, writing encouragement, writing tips

In Honor of Martha Rogers

April 24, 2023 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

Martha Rogers was scheduled to share her writing tips and encouragement today–she didn’t publish her first novel until she was in her 70s, and by age 86 she’d published more than 70 novels, novellas, devotionals, and personal stories. She never let anyone tell her it was too late or she was too old!

Martha encouraged so many in the writing community, especially members of the American Christian Fiction Writers, who received a verse of the week and devotional from her each week. One author shared, “I believe it was Martha who took time to listen and encourage me at my first ACFW conference after a pretty horrendous meeting with an agent. So very kind.”

Sadly, Martha went home to the Lord this month. Instead of skipping today or posting something else, I wanted to take the time to honor and remember Martha. If you have a memory to share, please do.

If you never had the joy of meeting Martha, please take some time to get to know her now. She was a truly remarkable woman.

http://www.marthawrogers.com/

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: Christian author, Christian fiction author., Martha Rogers

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

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 67
  • Next Page »
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·