Writing Advice with Janet McHenry
What is your favorite writing craft book?
Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird is probably my favorite. I love her self-deprecating, humorous style in her books, but that one in particular taught me the importance of focus. I have the words one thing in a small silver frame on a shelf in my office. A book is about one thing. A chapter is about one thing. A blog is about one thing. A devotion is about one thing. Early in my career I needed that reminder often.
Which do you think is the most underrated writing craft book? Why?
These days it might be The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., who teaches important basics about the craft of writing. Many would-be writers just don’t write well. They have good ideas but can’t execute well to develop them.
What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?
My new fave is the Speak Up Conference in July in Grand Rapids. It does a great job providing solid content and coaching for writers, speakers, and podcasters. A bonus is that I have two publishers in Grand Rapids, so I can visit them and talk shop. Lots of nonfiction editors and agents attend Speak Up.
What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
Linda Goldfarb’s Your Best Writing Life Podcast is excellent!
Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?
One of my editors, Alice Crider has given me a lot of encouragement over the years. She has also been an agent and now is a coach of writers. Alice has pushed me to reach beyond my abilities into what God has designed for me.
What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?
“Just write.” At writers’ conferences I have read some of those “just write” manuscripts, and they’re just not structured well. I tell writers, “Stop writing and learn the form.” New writers should work on learning the craft by attending writers’ conferences and reading good books on writing—even grammar books! Ultimately, your writing will flow more easily and will be more effective.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
“Study the form.” While I never had an instructor who taught me what this meant, I figured it out. You study what a good writer is doing as a writer (as opposed to what he/she is saying). In nonfiction you notice how writers start a chapter (usually anecdotally), how they transition to teaching points, how introduce and teach Bible verses and principles, and more. I teach writers how to study the form at my own writer retreats and at conferences.
What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
If you’re writing nonfiction, don’t make it all about you. Limit your anecdotal portions to one-third of your chapter and work hard at teaching biblical principles. And let the Bible teach you these principles—don’t just refer to it to prove your point.
What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
Read your work out loud to listen for problems in syntax and clarity.
Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Jesus and the disciples faced discouragement too, but they persevered because they knew their calling. Discouragement is the enemy’s greatest weapon. Don’t let him win. Remember your calling. Persevere.
Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.
Our Daily Bread Publications is releasing my 365-day devotional book, Looking Up! Finding Joy as You Read and Pray Through the Bible. I’ve been reading through the Bible yearly for over twenty years and lead the 500-strong Facebook group called Bible Girls, which is in its eleventh year of reading through the Bible. Each day I ask God to show me something in our reading that will encourage others, and then I create a meme with that verse that I share six places on various social media. Scientific studies show that reading the Bible four or more times a week begins to change your mindset and thinking. I have found that to be true, and I love encouraging others to read God’s love story.
Please share a short biography.
I live in the Sierra Valley in a remote area of northern California, where my husband Craig is a beef cattle rancher. We have four great adult children and ten wonderful grandkiddos. God called me to write in 1986, and I’ve had twenty-seven books published traditionally—eight of those on prayer, including the bestselling PrayerWalk and Praying Personalities. I lead the prayer ministries at The Bridge Church in Reno and am on the California leadership team for the National Day of Prayer. I have an online Teachable course called Prayer School and love to speak to groups about having a Looking Up! perspective.
I post daily on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter (occasionally on LinkedIn), and folks can also contact me through janetmchenry.com.
https://www.facebook.com/JanetMcHenryAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/janetmchenry/
https://www.pinterest.com/janetmchenry/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-mchenry-18793b24/
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I am a certified life coach for writers and love teaching and coaching at writers’ conferences around the country and at my own Sierra Valley Writers Retreat, which I hold once in the spring and once in the fall.