Write Now Editing

How I Write: Shadia Hrichi

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I talk with a lot of novelists here, but today we’re going to chat with a Bible teacher because I love learning about all kinds of writing. If you’re interested in writing Bible studies (or other instructional books), today is your day, and Shadia is your girl!

Thank you so much for being here! What do you write? How did you pick your genre?

I write women’s Bible studies that center on “messy” stories in the Bible that are often overlooked or even avoided. I am drawn to these stories because I can relate to them. But with each one, I also want to know what I have been missing, and what fresh insights will I discover about God through the story? For example, my latest Bible study centers on Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, who disguised herself as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law. Talk about messy! She took risks, and God used her actions to alter the trajectory of human history!

At the same time, Tamar’s story gives me hope. I look at her story and think: if God can step into kind of mess and turn it into something beautiful, He can certainly help me get through whatever I’m dealing with.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

Usually, the hardest part is when God asks me to share something difficult from my own experiences. As a Bible teacher, I love studying God’s Word and writing studies that encourage readers to really dig deep into their Bibles. But when God taps me on the shoulder and essentially says, “Let’s make it personal,”that’s sometimes hard. And yet, those stories are often what God uses to help the reader connect to me as the author, so that they feel like we are journeying through our stories together.

How long does it take you to: write a bible study? Edit it? Finalize it?

I typically structure my Bible studies to be divided into 6 or 7 weeks (however, because the studies are in-depth, I often recommend readers double that time to get the most they can out of them). I usually spend one and a half to two weeks writing each day of homework, including editing and rewrites. Once a full week of study is drafted, I’ll then reread the full week several times and make additional edits. Once I’m satisfied, I send the week (chapter) to my team of five beta readers for their input/suggestions/feedback, after which I’ll make even more changes. Each study takes an average of 14 to 16 months total before it’s ready to send to the publisher.

Which was harder to write: the first book or the following books?

The first Bible study was definitely the hardest. When I wrote my first in-depth Bible study on Hagar, I had to think through and create many structural elements to organize the days and weeks of the study in a way that was both functional and appealing to the readers. A study that is merely academic is not always interesting, so I added special features to the structure, such as Pause to Ponder sections for personal reflection and Your Turn sections for personal application. These types of structural elements became the template for the next studies.

I’ll never forget the first developmental edit I received back from my publisher. The publisher asked me to cut 10,000 words from the last two weeks of the study. The editor explained that readers would be unprepared to suddenly discover the last weeks required more work. I realized he was right, but ouch! Ten thousand words was hard! (Believe me, I never made that mistake again.)

How do you prepare to write your books?

I actually created a 10-step form to help me outline my Bible studies before I write a single word. The form guides me (or any writer) through a series of steps whereby I brainstorm answers to specific questions.

For example, my first step is to list the primary and secondary themes for the study. That may sound simple, but having a topic in mind for the study is different from identifying the primary themes of the study. I include questions on the form to help me narrow down the key themes. Step two is to brainstorm the main takeaway for the reader (this is something you envision will appear on the back cover of the printed book). There are 10 detailed steps in all. Several will take days to brainstorm and complete, but once I complete all of the steps, I have everything I need to begin writing.

I’ve taught these 10-steps at writers conferences, and the workshop is now available on my website if that’s something your readers might be interested in.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Wherever you are in your writing ministry, before you go any further, gather a prayer team to support and encourage you. Writing is HARD for anyone, but for the Christian, you also contend with an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep your words from ministering to others. Schedule monthly prayer meetings at home or on Zoom. Communicate with your prayer team regularly via email, so that they can print your prayers and praises and pray for you.

Writing is not only hard, but it’s a solitary experience. Staying in touch with a committed circle of prayer warriors and sharing your struggles – and triumphs – in your writing journey (or in ministry in general) will provide a strong foundation of support and much needed encouragement.

What does your revision process look like?

I like to physically print the pages and go through them word by word with a simple red pen. First, I’ll read it silently and look for breaks in the flow, questions that aren’t clear, or anything else where I see room for improvement. After that edit, I’ll type in the changes, print the pages again, and grab the red pen.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Several times.

Once I have a working draft that I’m satisfied with, I’ll print it out again; only this time, I read it out loud all the way through. I may pause briefly to make some quick notes, but my aim is to read it straight through to hear the flow and rhythm of the study. Finally, I’ll read it again silently and make further edits until I believe it is as good as it can be.

But I’m not finished. Then, I sleep on it and re-read it the next day (or a few days later). God usually shows me ways it can be improved even more. After those changes, I send it to my beta readers along with a document I put together called a “chapter evaluation form” and wait to read their suggestions, which always help to make the manuscript even better. After all, God describes his church as “one body; many parts.” We cannot do this alone!

Shadia Hrichi is a passionate Bible teacher, author, and speaker who stirs the hearts and minds of her audience through personal story, illustration, and her unwavering confidence in the authority of God’s Word. She holds a master’s in biblical and theological studies as well as a master’s in criminal justice. Shadia is the author of several Bible studies, including TAMAR, HAGAR, LEGION, and WORTHY OF LOVE, and is the recipient of the 2022 WCCW “God’s Word is Alive” Award.

In addition to writing and teaching, Shadia leads Online Bible Studies, and provides coaching for writers, theological review of manuscripts, and online workshops. Visit her Just For Writers page for details. Currently residing in northern California, Shadia often speaks at churches, conferences, women’s retreats, and loves to join women’s Bible study groups on Zoom. Each week, she makes it her aim to head to the beach for “a date with Jesus.” Visit https://www.shadiahrichi.com

How I Write: Ginny Dent Brant

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Writing a book is hard enough. Writing a book while battling cancer? I can’t even imagine!

Ginny Dent Brant doesn’t have to imagine–she did it. And she published it. And she’s won awards for it.

Today, she’s sharing tips and wisdom from her experiences as a nonfiction and cancer survivor.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Please tell us what you write. How/why did you pick your genre?
I write memoirs and Christian living books. I enjoy writing about real people. I’ve also written over 50 articles that are interviews with Christians about their faith. Some of those articles have made it to The Baptist Press, Townhall, and The Christian Post. My most popular articles were my tributes to Chuck Colson (carried by 15 different newspapers/magazines), Billy Graham, Robertson McQuilkin, and Dr. Avery Willis after they passed.

What’s the most difficult part of writing? How do you work through those challenges?
I wrestled with God over writing a book about my cancer journey. While meeting with the hospital chaplain about the dilemma of dealing with cancer, he told me, “Consider this a gift from God for you to help other people. You’re a writer and a speaker—think of all the people you could help.”

My response, “No way. I don’t want this gift.” But the more I researched, the more I felt compelled to share with others what I’d learned. It was difficult to do the hard work while with dealing with the side effects of treatments and medications.

In my first book, Finding True Freedom, the difficult part was deciding which intimate details to share and getting the okay from family members. A memoir about your own family can be like walking through a field with landmines.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?
Unleash Your God-given Healing required two years of research, one year of writing, one year of editing and polishing, and 18 months of promoting it. I’m still doing podcasts and interviews.

Which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?
This recent book Unleash Your God-Given Healing was harder because it is loaded with footnotes to medical research. My editor made me type out every name noted in the research articles instead of using “et al”. I was also asked to recheck all of the footnotes several times, note the last date I checked the websites, and verify all the difficult to spell names!  Oh my! Memoirs that require a lot of footnoting can be difficult to write, and they also require the most of the writer including fiction techniques.

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?
I’ve attended the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s conference four times. They have a wonderful faculty, and many experts have poured their lives into me. It’s also a great place to make connections with other writers, publishers and agents. It’s only 90 minutes from my home.

If you’re self-published, why did you decide to go that route? If you’re traditionally published, why did you decide to go that route?
My first book was traditionally published. For this second book, I knew that Christian publishers do not usually publish books on health and wellness. I knew a “cancer book” would be difficult to get published. I remember going to writer’s conferences and seeing acquisition editors with signs saying, “I’ve heard enough cancer stories.”

I then submitted to eight publishers I had connections with. I heard from three immediately who did not publish health books. In a few weeks, I heard back from three other interested publishers who wanted to see more. One suggested I get a doctor to write commentary in each chapter. I took their advice. Three of these publishers took my book up the ladder. It got close with two publishers, but all of them wanted the doctor commentator to be the co-author.  I could not provide that. My book is from the patient’s perspective. It’s not about what the doctors do. It’s about the role the patient can play in their own prognosis. All the publishers said, “This book needs to be published.” That was reassuring.

At that time, I made the decision to self-publish. I went with Westbow Press because they’re the self-publishing arm of Thomas Nelson (Harper Collins). If my book sold well, they would begin distributing it. As of two weeks ago, Harper Collins is both distributing and promoting my book. After winning three awards (Golden Scrolls First, Selah Award Second, and Director’s Choice Award Second for Non-fiction overall), Westbow Press recognized my book with the Lighthouse Recognition Award.

Congratulations! What advice do you have for new authors?
Chuck Colson was the cover endorser for my first book. He advised me to start in the middle of a crisis. I did that in both books. He also advised me to use a theme from beginning to end to tie my story together.

In Finding True Freedom, the theme was dance. My father taught me to dance, he met my mother at a dance, and from a young age, we danced to the same tune, When I gave my life to Christ, we began spinning in different directions. My father tried to block my path, but God moved in his heart, and he became everything he forbid me to be including a missionary. In the end, we were dancing to the same beat with our heavenly Father.

The theme tied throughout my Unleash Your God–Given Healing book was an analogy to the Wizard of Oz. The analogy begins when my doctor shows me the MRI that looks like a tornado has invaded my body. Like Dorothy, I desperately want to get back home to a normal life. When discussing the eight steps, each one has a shared truth from God’s Word and a tie to the Wizard of Oz. For example, in the chapter on hydration, how ironic that Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water!

I would advise any authors to take Chuck Colson’s advice.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?
I was under cancer treatment during most of the process. I was actually making mistakes I’d normally not make due to brain fog. I asked five friends to go behind me and look for errors and recommendations. Two were English majors, two were nurses, and one was a cancer patient. They caught many mistakes. Mistakes are part of the process. I even found ten mistakes after my first book was published. Although mistakes are normal, you must do everything you can to catch them.

I couldn’t agree more. Thank you so much for joining me today!

Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer. It was written with commentary by an oncologist, and was recently given a Golden Scrolls Award and named a Selah Award Finalist.

Cancer prevention and wellness blog at www.ginnybrant.com 
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/ginny.d.brant/
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/ginnydentbrant/

How I Write: Susan Neal

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Writers love to write, and many of them write in different genres. Sometimes, however, it takes some trial and error before we find just the right genre for our talents and passions.

That’s how author Susan Neal stumbled into a genre that’s helping her reach tens of thousands of people with life-changing books.

Thank you so much for being here today! How did you pick your genre?

I write healthy living non-fiction books. It took me a long time to figure out my genre. I tried to write fiction, short stories, and devotions. But I received rejections with everything I submitted. I think all along God wanted me to use my nursing background and experience with losing my health to write books to help others improve their health and weight. I feel as though I had a Divine-led genre path.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? 

Research is the tough part. I read clinical research articles and search valid websites for pertinent information. This takes time and effort, but I want the most accurate information for my readers. My book, Solving the Gluten Puzzle: Discovering Gluten Sensitivity and Embracing the Gluten-Free Lifestyle required loads of research regarding the four gluten related disorders, how to diagnose them, and treat each one. If you would like to discover if you may have an intolerance to gluten, take the quiz I created at glutenintolerancequiz.com.

I can’t imagine the work, but I’m sure your readers appreciate it! How long does it take you to write, edit, and finalize a book? 

Five months. About halfway through each book, I send several chapters to my professional editor. She helps with the development of the book. We go back and forth the last two months.

How did you find/pick your agent?

Cyle Young was my agent for three years. I found him at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC). I sent him my unpublished Star Wars Bible study to critique. (If you plan to attend a writers conference, be sure to send a submission for a literary agent or publisher to critique, so you get that extra appointment and they get to see how well you write.) At the BRMCWC, my Star Wars Bible study won third place in the awards contest. The next morning, Cyle offered to be my agent. Entering contests is essential to an author’s writing career. When you win, other people notice.

If you self-published, why did you decide to go that route? 

The first manuscript I self-published was Scripture Yoga. I could not find a publisher to publish this book since it had such a small target market. Therefore, I chose to publish it on my own because I felt compelled to provide a safe environment for Christians to perform yoga. I went on to self-publish six other healthy living books. My best seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates sold 17,000 copies in its first three years and won the Selah Award at the BRMCWC.

Congratulations! Since then, you’ve also dipped your toe into traditional publishing. What led to that decision?

Elk Lake Publishing published my latest book, Eat God’s Food: A Kids Guide to Healthy Eating. I did not feel qualified to self-publish a children’s picture book, so I found a traditional publisher.

What’s surprised you most about the publishing process? 

At first, the self-publishing process was difficult—just like riding a bike for the first time. But after I published a second book, it became easier. Therefore, I was most surprised that the publishing process was easy after I found out what to do—just like riding a bike. I became a certified writer coach, so now I help other authors self-publish their books. You can find my coaching services at https://susanuneal.com/authorcoaching.

What advice do you have for new authors? 

Understand that whether you are self-published or traditionally published, the author is responsible for book marketing. I recommend joining the Christian Indie Publishing Association to help you figure out how to market your book. Learning about the publishing industry can be overwhelming. So why not get help from an association. 

If you’ve ever worked with a freelance editor, how did you find that editor? How would you describe the experience?

I asked the Director of the Florida Christian Writers Conference, Eva Marie Everson, to recommend an editor. Eva Marie had critiqued my work at a small conference, so she knew what I wrote. She matched me perfectly with a Christian, nonfiction editor.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with my editor. I learned so much from her and even took some extra coaching sessions to develop my writing further. My writing improved with each chapter and book. I’ve now published eight books.

As a Certified AWSA Writer Coach, Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, desires to help others publish and sell their God-given message. She is the author of eight healthy living books. Susan won the 2020 Christian Author Network Excellence in Marketing Award for Outstanding Broadcast Media for her book marketing campaign. Susan is the Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and Christian Indie Awards.

You can follow Susan on:

https://www.facebook.com/ChristianIndiePublishing
https://www.pinterest.com/SusanUNeal/_created/

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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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]

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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]

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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.

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Fiction Editing Classes (via the PEN Institute) 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 … [more]