Write Now Editing

The Making of a Christian Bestseller by Ann Byle (book review)

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Journalist Ann Byle takes readers and writers inside the world of Christian publishing. Includes reflections and interviews from more than forty well-known authors, editors, agents and other publishing professionals. Provides inspirational and up-close insights from those who help shape the books that are enjoyed by millions as well as helpful information about the publishing craft for aspiring writers. Among the interviews are Jerry Jenkins on handling success, Terri Blackstock about writing fiction and Karen Kingsbury on connecting with readers.

A collections of interviews, this is equally parts writing tips and encouragement. Some of the marketing tips are outdated now (websites were just becoming a thing when this was written), but the rest of the book was not only easy to read, it was educational and enjoyable (if you like reading about publishing; otherwise it’ll bore you).

There’s something for just about everyone in this book, from tips on fiction and nonfiction, adult books and children’s books, writing, editing, and marketing. I would definitely recommend this book to any writer who needs a bit of encouragement and wants some advice thrown in as well.

Get your copy here!

5 Editors Tackle the 12 Fatal Flaws of Fiction Writing by C.S. Lakin (book review)

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Fiction writers often struggle to improve their craft, and the biggest challenge comes from the inability to see what isn’t working. The prose feels off. The scene isn’t gelling. The dialogue sounds stilted or clunky. But they don’t know why or how to fix it. This book lays it all out.

5 Editors Tackle the Twelve Fatal Flaws of Fiction Writing demonstrates the deadly dozen pitfalls on the road to a strong story, along with revisions that show writers exactly how to avoid novel failure.

No other writing craft book offers such detailed instruction in how to spot and remedy the major flaws of fiction writing. What makes this book an important addition to a writer’s bookshelf?

This in-depth guide to self-editing is an invaluable resource for any writer of any genre. It shows, not just tells, how to write better fiction. Using it, you’ll be armed with the tools and skills you need to conquer the twelve fatal flaws of fiction writing.

As an editor, I work with a lot of new novelists, and most of them make the same mistakes. I’m always looking for good books to recommend to help them learn how to identify and correct those mistakes — this book is going at the top of my list.

I’ll be honest — it’s not a great cover and the title is a bit tedious. I know three of the contributing editors, though, so I picked up a copy. Still, it took me a couple of years before I decided to read this.

If you’re a new writer struggling to understand and master the basics of fiction writing, you need a copy of this book. It approaches each “fatal flaw” from five different angles, increasing the odds that the reader will connect with and understand one of the explanations. On top of that, the book is full of before and after sections, so even if the reader doesn’t completely understand what the author is saying, all you need to do is compare the before and after examples to see how something was edited.

I’ll be adding this to my list of must-haves for new authors, next to Jeff Gerke’s The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, Brown and Kings Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, and Kathy Tyers Writing in Deep Viewpoint.

G rated. Get your copy here!

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass (book review)

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Take your fiction to the next level!

Maybe you’re a first-time novelist looking for practical guidance. Maybe you’ve already been published, but your latest effort is stuck in mid-list limbo. Whatever the case may be, author and literary agent Donald Maass can show you how to take your prose to the next level and write a breakout novel – one that rises out of obscurity and hits the best-seller lists.

Maass details the elements that all breakout novels share – regardless of genre – then shows you writing techniques that can make your own books stand out and succeed in a crowded marketplace.

You’ll learn to:

– establish a powerful and sweeping sense of time and place
– weave subplots into the main action for a complex, engrossing story
– create larger-than-life characters that step right off the page
– explore universal themes that will interest a broad audience of readers
– sustain a high degree of narrative tension from start to finish
– develop an inspired premise that sets your novel apart from the competition

Then, using examples from the recent works of several best-selling authors – including novelist Anne Perry – Maass illustrates methods for upping the ante in every aspect of your novel writing. You’ll capture the eye of an agent, generate publisher interest and lay the foundation for a promising career.

This was a re-read for me, as I’d read this book several years ago and wanted to revisit it after I had a few more years of writing experience. My opinion about the books hasn’t changed:

It’s a great book full of good information, but it’s NOT for new writers.

You really can’t write a breakout novel until you can successfully write a novel. As an editor, I see too many manuscripts from authors wanting to breakout, but they haven’t yet mastered the basics.

I also think it’s important to realize that breakout novels aren’t for everyone. Do they sell well? Absolutely (that’s why they’re breakouts)! But out of all of the examples he used, not many of them are contemporary, and not many of them are in the style/genre that I like to read.

Takeaway?

There’s some great info in the book and it can definitely help you improve your writing, but first you need to learn the basics. Then you need to figure out if this type of breaking out is what you really want to do.

I absolutely recommend reading this book, but not at the beginning of your writing career. Get your copy here!

Boundaries: When to Say Yes and How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend (book review)

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Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries impact all areas of our lives:

— Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us and under what circumstances
— Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions
— Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others
— Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God’s will from our own and give us renewed awe for our Creator.

Often, Christians focus so much on being loving and unselfish that they forget their own limits and limitations. When confronted with their lack of boundaries, they ask:

– Can I set limits and still be a loving person?
– What are legitimate boundaries?
– What if someone is upset or hurt by my boundaries?
– How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money?
– Aren’t boundaries selfish?
– Why do I feel guilty or afraid when I consider setting boundaries?

Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.

A friend recommended this book as I was having some relationship issues in my life. I’d heard of it but had never considered reading it. I’m of mixed emotions about this book.

For one thing, it’s fascinating — I had no idea people start learning and setting boundaries at such a young age. I also hadn’t really considered how many different ways there are to establish boundaries (with family, at work, with friends, and even with God). It was also interesting to see how many unhealthy relationships I have in my own life. It’s easy to identify boundary issues in others (especially when it’s not your issue), but it’s a little startling to realize you’ve allowed so many unhealthy behaviors in your own circles.

That brings up the mixed part of the emotions — it’s a little heartbreaking to realize how many people don’t relate well to each other. This book will probably point out a lot of things that you didn’t realize needed tweaking in your life (and they won’t all be easy to accept).

I most enjoyed the sections that used examples. There were a few descriptions that I couldn’t really wrap my head around, but for the most part I found the book easy to read and follow (though not always accept). This isn’t a read-it-in-a-weekend sort of book. It will make you think about your life a lot. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who’s looking for a light read, but it could definitely be good from that person who wants to establish deeper, more meaningful relationships in his/her life.

Copy and Paste Book Reviews

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Authors love book reviews. Not because we want to hear how great we are but because review numbers help us (and others) see how many people are reading our books. They let us know if (and how) we’re connecting with our readers. In some cases, they even help us promote our books by tipping the algorithms in our favor. If every person who bought a book left a review, it could possibly change the course of an author’s career!

But a lot of people don’t leave reviews for a lot of reasons:

  • They don’t know what to say.
  • They want the review to be perfect.
  • They’re afraid of saying something wrong or hurtful.
  • They’re not great writers and the thought of writing even a few words for a review terrifies them.

If you fall into any of these categories, can I offer some comfort?

  1. A book review is an opinion, and you’re entitled to your opinion regardless of whether or not anyone else agrees with it.
  2. All book reviews help.
  3. You’re not responsible for the author’s feelings. If you didn’t like the book, be honest. If the author can’t take criticism, he/she shouldn’t be publishing books.
  4. Reviews don’t have to be long or perfect. Two words (loved it/hated it) work.

And now, the reason for this post—I want to help readers stop worrying so much about reviews and actually post them! Here’s how this works: below are reviews divided into three categories (loved it, liked it, hated it). Feel free to copy and paste as your book review anytime you want to help an author out but you don’t want to worry about what to write:

Loved It

Great story—couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait for the next book.

Loved it!

Loved the characters. Loved the plot. Love this author.

Another great book by a great author. I can’t wait to read the next book.

So good I’ll probably read it again!

Liked It

A fun read.

Good story.

Not my favorite book by this author, but I still enjoyed it.

Not my favorite type of story, but I still enjoyed it.

A little unbelievable in some places, but I still liked it.

A fun way to spend the weekend.

Hated It

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t. It’s just not my style.

I tried to like this book, but I couldn’t get into it.

I know a lot of people liked this book, but it’s not for me.

Owner of Write Now Editing, Karin Beery is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Christian Editor Network, where she teaches several editing classes through the PEN Institute and serves as the coordinator for the Christian Editor Connection. She is the Managing Editor of Guiding Light Women’s Fiction, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Her sophomore novel, Practically Married, is a 2020 Serious Writer Book of the Year finalist.

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.

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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

Press Release Tool Kit Stop waiting and hoping for people to notice you and your organization! With this Press Release Tool Kit, you’ll learn to apply the step-by-step process I use to … [more]