Write Now Editing

Book Recommendations from Melissa Heiland

by Leave a Comment

There was an issue…

If you didn’t know, I run two blogs: this writing-centered blog and a reading-centered blog at www.karinbeery.com. I’m usually very good about keeping the guest authors organized. Except for this year. I sent the wrong questions … again. I promise to be better next year. Until then, here’s Melissa Heiland!

What was your favorite picture book as a kid?
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

What was the first “real” book (with chapters and without pictures) you remember reading?  
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

What was your most favorite book in high school?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

What was your least favorite book in high school?
Moby Dick by Herman Melville

What was the last novel you read?
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

What was the last nonfiction book you read?
Prayers for My Teen by Mark Gregston

Which book lived up to the hype (from the past 1-2 years)?
Digital Body Language by Erica Dhawan

Which book do you love that needs more hype?
Prayers for My Teen by Mark Gregston

Next novel on your TBR (up to three). 
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah

Next nonfiction on your TBR (up to three).
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller
His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Jr. Harley
Jesus in Me by Anne Graham Lotz

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.
Each of the forty entries include a short and meaningful devotional, a prayer prompt, and journal space for writing—or even drawing—your thoughts. As you come before God each day, you will be affirmed in his love, care, and devotion. And as you finally let go of the lies of confusion and condemnation, these truths will set you free. It’s a resource to complement professional counseling that can be turned to not once but many times to be reminded of God’s care.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
In addition to No Shame, Melissa has authored several works, including A Mother’s Journey (written for expectant mothers), A Mother’s Comfort (written for baby’s first year), and You Are Wonderful, Psalm 139 for children. (Available in English and Spanish)

Melissa Heiland holds a BA in Education from Wake Forest University and a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Missouri State University. She’s worked in pregnancy care ministry for over 25 years and has served as a full-time missionary with the International Mission Board since 2000. She is the Founder of Beautiful Feet International, an evangelical mission organization that plants international pregnancy centers in over 20 nations.  She trains pregnancy center staff and volunteers worldwide. She received the 2014 EvanTell Matthew 4:19 award and the 2022 Heartbeat International Servant Leader award.

https://www.beautifulfeetinternational.com

Writing Tips from Dyann Shepard

by Leave a Comment

What is your favorite craft book? 

To be very honest I have not read a lot of books on writing. Embarrassing, I know. I have taken classes through Speak Up conference and Hope Writers, though. I liked Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont and Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy. Eat that Frog is not specifically a writing book but the principles of doing the most difficult task first are transferable to writing because it is so easy to procrastinate.

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book?

I don’t have a book to note as the most underrated writing book. My goal for 2024 is to read more books about writing. I want to my writing to be excellent and to glorify Jesus.

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

My favorite is the Speak Up conference in July. I love the courses, the keynotes and the fellowship of Christian writers. My heart is filled to overflowing each year.

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

I enjoy the wonderful tips and tools from AWSA and Word Weavers, Inc., as well as Hope*Writers.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration?

Carol Kent is definitely my inspiration. I have had the privilege of being in a mentoring program with Carol for the past two years. She is encouraging, inspiring and always looking for ways to make others shine.  Each month she provides focused learning and an opportunity for us to ask questions.

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

To be honest, I haven’t had advice that I considered really bad.  I can always learn from others. What I have learned is to have more than one person read my writing.  Sometimes, a reader simply doesn’t get you.  I learned this when I wrote a piece for publication and submitted it for critique to two different editors.  One editor said I should remove a particular paragraph. The other editor said that same paragraph was her favorite and most meaningful.  

Why was it bad?

I did not see this as a bad experience but as an opportunity to learn. This experience taught me not be discouraged and to have more than one person critique my work.

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

Pray for your readers.  Pray for the one who needs to hear what God has put on your heart to share.

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

Keep honing your craft. Keep learning, then learn, learn and learn some more.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

Do not edit as you write.  Dump it all out on the page, then go back and edit. Remove everything that is not pointing the reader to the message you want to convey.

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

Don’t give up and don’t fall prey to comparison.  Someone needs to hear God’s message through your voice.

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

My newest release is my book, “Wisdom: Capturing the Power of our Words.” The book is based on a study of the tongue in Proverbs and my upcoming release is “Parables and Paradigms- 52 Devotional Essays of walking with Jesus in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life.”  This is the working title but it may change. It will be released later in the year or early in 2024.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

It is never too late and you are never too old to have a new calling from God. I wrote my first blog in December 2018 at the age of 71. God was pouring into my life many lessons I wanted to pass on.  I had never written before.  I didn’t like writing as a student. Suddenly, I could not stop writing.  It is my passion.  I realize I have limited years left and my heart’s desire is to share through the joys and sorrows of my life the truth that God will never leave you or forsake you.  As long as you have breath, God can and will use you if you are willing. I love the promise of Psalm 92:14 “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.

Dyann Shepard is a wife, mother, grandmother, author, speaker, and mentor. She loves to share the power of God to redeem, restore, and renew our lives especially through tumultuous storms.  Her passion is writing and speaking about the transforming power of Jesus in our daily lives when we open our hearts to Him.  A retired CPA, Dyann is a former staff member of CRU and was a Stephen’s Minister for many years.

www.dyannshepard.com

www.personalparables.com

Writing Tips from Michele McCarthy

by Leave a Comment

What is your favorite craft book?

I don’t know that this is considered a craft book, but one I use is Children’s Writer’s Word Book-Mogilner

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

Your Guide to Marketing Christian Books- Sarah Bolme—we can all use pointers in the marketing arena.

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

Florida Christian Writers Conference

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

I will go with Rene Tatullupe’s Lyrical Language Lab—as a children’s writer, I need that rhythm and beat reminder!

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

My writing inspiration comes from the hundreds of books I’ve read, enjoying a phrase or humor that paints a picture in my mind.

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

I’ve been blessed; seems I have encouragers all around me.

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

Let your words sit for a while. Come back with a fresh perspective.

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

In the natural, write. Jot ideas down quickly. Read. In the Spiritual, pray. Does God have you on a specific assignment? Are you being led by Him?

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

Give your work time, set it aside, come back to it. Allow others to contribute opinions or ideas.

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

Get involved in a critique group, perhaps through Word Weavers. Each meeting gives you encouragement and sage advice for this big adventure.

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

Across the Sky. Two books with the same title, one a picture book, the other an elementary to adult chapter book. Both point to God’s love letter written across the sky through the constellations that tell the story of Christ.

Michel McCarthy is an author, teacher, and speaker. She taught middle school grammar and reading. She’s a wife, mom, and grandmom to six grandchildren. If she has a piece of paper, she’ll doodle and draw, and she can’t keep her head out of a book.She enjoys journaling and writing poetry, but she never thought she would become an author. Never say never! 

You can find her online at www.michelemccarthybooks.com

Writing Tips from Rhonda Dragomir

by Leave a Comment

Welcome back for another round of writing advice and inspiration from people like you–writers who understand the struggle of writing a publishing books!

Today, author Rhonda Dragomir shares her writing best practices with us. Welcome, Rhonda!

What is your favorite craft book?

I greatly appreciate The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I also own and use other books in their thesaurus series.

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

Because it’s so new on the market, most writers haven’t discovered the fabulous material in Exploring the Art of Character by DiAnn Mills, published in 2020 by Bold Vision Books. All of her craft books are terrific.

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

I look forward every year to attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

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

Linda Goldfarb’s podcast, Your Best Writing Life is informative and entertaining.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

I had the privilege of being mentored for a full year by DiAnn Mills. She doesn’t write in my genre, but her grasp of all aspects of writing excellent fiction is unparalleled. Her approach is thoughtful and methodical, both of which appeal to me.

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

An industry pro once told me I couldn’t write a book featuring protagonists who were not members of my own race and culture. I’ve since learned this isn’t true. With the help of a sensitivity reader, my manuscript with African-American characters is authentic and meaningful.

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

One hundred percent of the books you quit writing never get published. The admonition to keep writing despite discouragement and rejections is paramount to success.

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

Before you submit your manuscript, be certain to hire an editor. It’s sometimes expensive, but you should never submit a manuscript that’s not been vetted by someone besides your mom or your best friends.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

I run all my writing through an online program, AutoCrit. It’s little-known, but it helps me with pacing, word choice, repetition, and many other aspects of good self-editing.

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

When discouragement comes—and it does for all writers, no matter how talented—I step back for a look at the big picture. I keep a document on my desktop with my personal mission statement for writing. When I’m frustrated, I open it for reminders that I write because I’m called by God to write, not because of any certain measure of success. Success is obedience to my calling, not winning a particular award or contract.

Thank you, Rhonda!

Look for Rhonda’s Christmas stories in The Cat in the Christmas Tree by Callie Smith Grant and Christmas Spirit compiled by Terri Kalfas.

Rhonda Dragomir is a multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky, insisting her home is her castle, even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. She has published works in several anthologies and periodicals, and she is currently seeking publication for her finished novels and screenplays.

Rhonda has garnered numerous writing awards for both fiction and nonfiction, including her selection as 2019 Writer of the Year by Serious Writer, Inc. She was also a finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest in 2020 and 2022 in the Historical Romance category.

View Rhonda’s published works and read excerpts of her works in progress at www.rhondadragomir.com.

Writing Tips with Patricia Bradley

by Leave a Comment

What is your favorite craft book?

It’s so funny that you ask. Every time I start a new book, it’s like, how did I do this before? With so many good craft books, that’s a hard question to answer. Right now, I’m studying Story Genius by Lisa Cron in preparation for the next book in the Pearl Springs series.

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book?

Randy Ingermanson’s How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method. Why? I wish more beginning writers studied it because it shows how to write a novel using a story to explain the concepts.

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

The MidSouth Christian Writers Conference!

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

K. M. Weiland’s blog—she changed the way I write books.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?

Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck took me under their wings ten years ago and taught me how to write. They poured themselves into new writers at their Deep Thinkers Retreats—it was like a college education crammed into eight days.

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

I’ve never received bad writing advice. Maybe it’s the writers I hang out with… 😉 I will say that a lot of people when asked this question respond with Write what you know. But, I think they misunderstand the advice. I write romantic suspense that usually involves a murderer. Now, I’ve never murdered anyone, but I can understand the emotions that might drive someone to do that. So, the way I take that advice is, identify the emotion of a scene and write what you know about that emotion.

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

Don’t give up…and study the craft and find a good mentor. I wrote for many years making the same mistakes because I wasn’t involved with a critique group or a mentor to tell me that’s what I was doing. Once I got connected to a great writing group, my writing improved.

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

The same as what I received—study the craft, get connected, and don’t give up. The publishing world moves very s-l-o-w-l-y.

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?

Use the dictation feature in Word before you submit your manuscript. Let it read your story to you—so many things will jump out at you. Missed words, typos, cadence, and more.

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

I believe that all writers are called by God to write—it’s too difficult a task otherwise. If He called you to do it, He will empower you, but you have to let Him have control. Let it be in His timing. If I’d been published any earlier than I was, I would be so embarrassed by that book. I learned so much in the year just before I received a contract. All I wanted was to sell one book, but by waiting I was offered a contract for three books. Wait on Him.

For years I focused on Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  I was delighting, but I didn’t see the desires being fulfilled. Then one day as I read that psalm, verse 7 jumped out at me: “Wait patiently for the Lord to act…”  That’s why I say, “Don’t give up!”

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

Counter Attack released May 16, 2023. I loved writing this book! Not only did I get to revisit the game of chess, but I got to delve into the mysterious world of the Dark Web. Here’s the back cover copy: A brand new heart-stopping series from a USA Today bestselling author.

No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen’s Gambit Killer strikes again–this time in her hometown. Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex’s real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer’s calling card–a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it–cannot be ignored.

Pearl Springs chief of police Nathan Landry can’t believe that his high school sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town, and he can’t help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can Nathan come through on the promises he makes to himself to bring a killer to justice before it’s too late.

Patricia Bradley is the author of sixteen Romantic Suspense books set in the South. She is the winner of a Selah award and an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. She’s been the keynote speaker at several conferences where she also teaches workshops on writing fiction.

She and her two rescue kitties call Corinth, Mississippi home, and when she’s not writing, she likes to throw mud on a wheel to see what comes out.

https://www.patriciabradleybooks.com/
https://ptbradley.com/
https://twitter.com/ptbradley1
https://www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor
https://www.instagram.com/ptbradley1/

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.

Connect

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]