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How I Write: Billie D. Jauss

May 31, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

When Billie originally agreed to chat with me about her writing style, she didn’t know my main focus is fiction. However, I assured her the I (and my readers!) also read and enjoy nonfiction, so I encouraged her to answer the questions anyway.

I’m so happy she did! If you’re looking for some nonfiction writing tips, you’ve come to the right place.

Thank you so much for talking with me today.What do you write? How did you pick your genre?

I write Christian living/Spiritual Growth non-fiction. I began writing devotions for BaseballChapel.org after meeting the coordinator at a Christian baseball conference. Sitting by the pool in some downtime, we talked about my baseball experience and my walk with Jesus. She encouraged me to write devotions.

Fast forward ten years, another friend encouraged me to work through a book she was writing, Write a Novel in 10 Minutes a Day. My love for writing and acceptance of being a writer began during that process. The merging of the two led me back to writing nonfiction to help women overcome obstacles in life so that they can experience peace of mind.

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

I don’t want to write what I think others want to read when writing about Spiritual Growth. I want to experience it myself to help with each small step of the process, so the hardest part is living it out before the idea for the book begins to simmer.

I’m a list maker and note taker. I start with a list of the experience unfolding. I’m a processor, so I need to write it down in a journal. In time, the Lord begins to show me through his Word the lesson he desires for me to learn. As the lessons unfold, I see a pattern, a process. Then I dig into God’s Word to help layout a practical plan to grow in our faith by overcoming those obstacles to make room for the Lord to move in and through our lives.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?

It takes me about three months to write the book. The longer process is the book proposal I write to pitch to publishing houses. The more time and effort I take to lay out the chapters and summarize them, the less time it takes to write the book.

As I go through the writing process, I have two wonderful editors who read through the content, chapter by chapter. They help me see if the flow works, if the content is encouraging and inspiring, and if I’ve made any huge blunders. Editing goes along during the three months of writing the book.

When writing for a traditional publishing house, my experience has been a three-to-six-month process. When it’s complete, and you see the book all laid out, it is such a satisfying experience.

If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first or the following books?

It took me many years to identify as a writer, much less an author. Imposter syndrome is real. After my first book, I began to doubt my abilities. I questioned everything. Not until I overcame the negative thoughts and replaced them with truth could I move forward. That process led to my second book, Distraction Detox: Release Emotional Barriers, Restructure Priorities, Realize God’s Best.

What’s your favorite writers’ conference?

My favorite conference was the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference. The professionalism of the conference was outstanding. The level of teaching was better than any other conference I had attended. I loved that you could be in a class with many newbies and veteran best sellers.

After 2020, Mt Hermon canceled the conference. However, another has risen from those ashes. Vision Christian Writers Conference has taken its place.

What’s your writing day like?

Each day is different. When writing the book, I schedule time each day to write. I take much-needed breaks to take a walk, what a TV show, or just sit by the pool. Living in Southwest Florida is a benefit!

When not actively writing a book, I have days when I focus on social media posts, my podcast scripts, and the daily devotion, Morning’ Son’shine, that I send by email.

But each day, I write something. If I change it up each day, I don’t get bored or stuck. The ideas and freshness come as I change up my subjects.

What does your revision process look like?

I love to print out the chapter and revise it. Using a red pen, I read and edit line by line. Arrows are drawn to reposition paragraphs. I even write notes to myself. Then I go back to the keyboard to rewrite the chapter. After many revisions for each chapter, I send it to my editors. When I receive their notes, I print them out again and repeat the process.

I know it takes a lot of ink and paper, but I am a visual person and need the lines and space to revise.

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process?

The most surprising to me was the length of time it takes to publish. From the time I pitch a book proposal, it gets accepted, and the book is written, edited, and released, it can take about two years. When I began writing, I didn’t realize it took that long. I understand now that the process is methodically planned out and is in the book’s best interest.

What advice do you have for new authors?

  • Pray a lot before you write the first word.
  • Embrace the process.
  • Release the self-limiting thoughts that are holding you back.
  • Dig into God’s Word to lead and guide you.
  • Show yourself some grace.
  • Enjoy the ride. It’s so much fun!

Billie Jauss is the author of Making Room: Doing Less So God Can Do More and Distraction Detox. She helps women overcome obstacles so that they can find peace and purpose. She is also a speaker and the host of the start small BELIEVE BIG podcast. Billie and Dave, a Major League Baseball coach, spend the summers chasing baseball and the off-season in southwest Florida.

Website: www.billiejauss.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billiejaussauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billie_jauss/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/billiejauss

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Christian nonfiction, editing tips, self-editing, writing nonfiction, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Lori Hatcher

April 4, 2022 by Karin Beery 3 Comments

For all of my nonfiction writers and readers, today’s interview is for you! Lori Hatcher writes Christian devotions, and today she’s talking about her experiences writing and editing those books (including her lastest — see more at the end!).

Thank you so much for being here! Why did you decide to write devotions?

I didn’t pick my genre. My genre picked me! Devotions are my sweet spot. I’ve always loved writing devotions, but for a long time had the (wrong) impression that devotions were the “kindergarten” of Christian writing. You know, something I needed to grow out of as I gained writing skill. The more devotions I wrote, however, the more I discovered it takes great skill to communicate spiritual truth in a small number of words. Now I consider devotion writing the post-graduate of Christian writing (smile).

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

The wordcount! Some projects I write for allow as little as 150-200 words to craft a cohesive and meaningful piece. It’s easy to write long-form content, but extremely challenging to compose a devotion with a hook, a body, and a conclusion in only a few hundred words.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?

A normal contract for me has been 5-6 months. I spend five months writing, then I let the manuscript cool for a few weeks, then edit it one more time before I submit.

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

Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible was much easier to write than Refresh Your Prayers because it had a natural order. The devotion on Leviticus followed the devotion on Exodus, which followed the devotion on Genesis. In Refresh Your Prayers, my editor and I spent a lot of time dividing the book into sections and finding a logical sequence for the devotions within the sections. We began with What Is Prayer, then moved to The God To Whom We Pray to, then Why Pray?, and What Should I Pray? And within those divisions, we also had to order the content.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different? Describe your strategy.

Both! I plan a general framework first. I write five-minute devotions for busy people, so I knew each devotion had to be no more than 800-900 words. In Refresh Your Prayers, this included an Uncommon Power statement, a Praise Prompt, and a Live It Out challenge. As I crafted each devotion, I prayed for inspiration, studied a ton of Bible verses about prayer, and then selected a real-life story to go with every prayer principle. I call this I guess you could call this plotted pantsing  😊.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Dedicate your writing to God and pray about every aspect of it. Ask Him to guide and inspire your writing. Invite Him to direct your paths and open the doors He wants you to walk through. Trust Him to move you along at the pace He knows is right. Surrender your efforts to Him. Thank Him for allowing you to write for Him. When praise comes your way, give Him the glory.

How did you find your freelance editor? How would you describe the experience?

I’ve had the privilege of working with Rachel Kirsch, an amazing freelance editor, on Refresh Your Faith and Refresh Your Prayers. She was assigned by my publisher, Our Daily Bread. The experience was a wonderful learning opportunity. Rachel provided me with a style sheet that guided me through the preferences of the publishing house (ex. Capitalized deity pronouns, books of the Bible spelled out). She helped me organize the devotions into a logical sequence, suggested additional topics she felt were important, and challenged me not to avoid hard topics. My books are so much better because of her guidance and partnership.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

I always read it aloud or have my computer read it to me. It’s amazing the errors I catch this way. Sometimes I’ll run it through ProWritingAid, a super helpful (free) online editing software. When I’ve polished it as much as I can, I send it to my critique partner. She’s my second pair of eyes. When the manuscript is complete, I let it rest for several weeks to give my brain and eyes a break. Then I print it (yes, all 55,000 words) and read it aloud again, making notes on the hard copy. When I’ve made those edits, I know I’m ready to submit.


Lori Hatcher has been on a lifelong quest to know and love God more. Her deepest desire is for others to join her on the journey. As an author, blogger, editor, women’s ministry speaker, and career dental hygienist, she writes for Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, and Crosswalk.com. She’s written three devotional books, including Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, and Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Her latest book, Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise releases March 1, 2022. Connect with her at www.LoriHatcher.com or on Facebook, Twitter (@lorihatcher2) or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, self-editing, writing devotions, writing nonfiction, writing tips, writing tools

Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide (book review)

April 1, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Successful writers spend a lot more time editing than they do writing. They know that first drafts need extensive revisions to ensure their stories or messages come across clearly and effectively.

In this book you’ll find a wealth of suggestions from best-selling authors who have studied editing techniques and implemented them in their books, which have touched the hearts and lives of readers around the world.

If you’re an aspiring, beginning, or intermediate writer, this book will help you polish your manuscript and get it ready for publication. If you’re an established author, these tips can help you edit other writers’ manuscripts, either in a critique group setting or as an editorial freelancer.


For years, the go-to self-editing book for novelists has been “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” by King and Browne, but I think this book has supplanted that book and made it my must-have recommendation for writers and editors alike.

“Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors” doesn’t go into as much detail when it comes to self-editing, but it identifies and addresses MANY more issues than appear in King and Browne’s book. Ide’s book also looks at nonfiction editing, as well as identifying different types of editing. In my opinion, if you’re looking for a comprehensive explanation of what’s involved in a self-edit, this is the book for you.

This is also a book I’ll recommend to people wanting to start their editing careers–the detailed lists of what’s involved in the different types of editing for different types of books will give new editors a good idea of the type of work they’ll need to master and provide to their clients.

Without a doubt, this book is on my must-have shelf for writers and editors.

Rated G. Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: book review, editing fiction, editing nonfiction, editing tips, fiction editing, Kathy Ide, nonfiction editing, self-editing, writing tips

How I Write: Linda Rondeau

March 21, 2022 by Karin Beery 1 Comment

Linda Rondeau’s been on both sides of the manuscript — as an author and as an editor. Today she shares about how she strengthened her writing skills.

Welcome! You’ve written several books in your career. Which was harder: the first book or the following books?

Writing is hard, whether the first or the most recent book. After fourteen published works, I’m still fearful when I start a new manuscript. I think the first book was the easiest because I was not encumbered with fears of failure; I was too enthralled with the ride. After the first book was published, I was overcome with the responsibilities of the aftermath—thinking about marketing as I was writing.

What’s your favorite book on writing? What do you like about it?

The best book on writing I have read is On Writing by Steven King. The first half was about his life and how he came into writing. The second half was basic concepts. I liked the book because he understood and encouraged every writer to follow their own style. It can be harmful for an author to think there is only one correct way to manage a manuscript or to even create one. While traditional concepts may be helpful, they are not commandments. Like the pirate’s code, they are guidelines.

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?

I have to give the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference two thumbs up, at least for me. I attended the first one in 2001 and received the Writer of the Year award for a poem. God had called me to write in June of 2000, but I had no clue what I needed to do. At that conference, God cemented his call and reinforces that call each time I attend. Though the conference is managed by different folks, I still feel that same anointing.  

What’s your writing day like?

I must laugh whenever asked this question—I never know what my day will bring.

When my husband and I married, we made only one promise to each other: never a dull moment. Very few of my days resemble one another. I might have a plan when I wake up, but the Hubs and God are very good and rearranging my lofty ambitions.

I do have a few habits involved in my day-to-day life, certain must-do activities in order to function. When I get up, I’m in fog territory. I grab a cup of coffee and do brain exercises to wake up. Then I have my quiet time with God. I look at what I had written down as must do, should do, and maybe can wait a few days. I do try to plan out my writing and marketing tasks as well as my editing expectations, but I’ve learned to be flexible.

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process?

So many things I had to learn in this process. Perhaps the most humbling was how much editing my works would require. The carpenter’s house barely stands and the plumber’s pipes are always leaking. No matter how much we think we know about writing, we are unable to be adequately objective of our own manuscripts. I was surprised because I thought I had a good command of English, grammar, and syntax. I was humbled as I learned the craft. Writing fiction is much different than writing  a term paper!

What advice do you have for new writers?

Don’t be in a hurry to get published. Learn the craft, get involved with writers’ groups, take online courses and/or attend writers’ conferences, join a critique group, and be patient. Good cooks are not born as good cooks, though they may have talent. To become a master chef takes preparation, thought, and practice.

Don’t start with a book. Perhaps start with a blog. If you’re writing fiction then start with some flash fiction, then perhaps short stories, and then evolve them into books.

How do you self-edit your manuscripts?

I often tell writers the person who edits their own work has a fool for an editor. I’m an editor and I desperately need a pair of objective eyes on my manuscript. That said, there are things we can do to polish our manuscripts other than proofreading. I go over each chapter a dozen times or more. I will look for inconsistences in description. Did my character with blue eyes all of a sudden have brown eyes? Did I change the name in places? I highly recommend the book Self-editing for Fiction Writers.

What does your revision process look like?

Revision is not the same as self-editing. Besides some of the above, I put my manuscript aside for a minimum of three-five days. I need to look at my work with fresh eyes and a less fatigued brain. Ideally, Steven King recommends six weeks or more. I often don’t have that much luxury of time.

While some authors prefer to work chapter by chapter, I prefer to complete the story first. Because I’m a more intuitive writer, I can’t really critique myself on story development until I’m finished.  Then, I examine the work for cohesiveness, consistency, impact, and relativity. Rather than look at the trees, I examine the manuscript as a forest.


Award-winning author, Linda Wood Rondeau writes stories that grip the heart, inspired by her nearly thirty years of social work. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys the occasional round of golf, visiting museums, and taking walks with her best friend in life, her husband of forty-five years. The couple resides in Hagerstown, Maryland where both are active in their local church. Readers may learn more about the author, read her blog, or sign up for her newsletter by visiting www.lindarondeau.com.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lwrondeau
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-wood-rondeau
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Wood-Rondeau/e/B006FNG1BI
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/lindawoodrondeau
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authorlindawoodrondeau/ 

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, editing tips, fiction writing, Linda Rondeau, self-editing, Stephen King, writing conferences, writing fiction, writing tips

How I Write: Rebecca Barlow Jordan

February 21, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Multi-published author Rebecca Barlow Jordan is trying something new this year with her latest release–she’s going indie. After years with traditional publishing houses, Jordan decided to publish herself this year, and she shares a bit about her experiences with us today. Welcome!

What do you write? How/why did you pick your genre?

I discovered my love for writing in the 8th grade, but after I was married, I began writing and selling greeting cards. I wrote a newspaper column, articles, devotions, copy for inspirational gift items, even some children’s things—whatever an editor would pay me so I could stay at home. My 13 books are nonfiction, inspirational, and primarily devotional and biblically inspired, although my husband and I co-authored a marriage book, and I co-authored a CBA bestselling, inspirational humor book with four other women. Because I love Christian fiction and always wanted to write it, I completed a women’s fiction book a few years ago that I hope to publish in the future.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?

That depends on the book. I wrote a 3-book series in four months. The last one took me a year and a half. Each one is so very different.

Which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?

Every book was hard in some ways. The first one I co-authored with my husband. We retreated to a borrowed cabin and wrote the majority of it the week after my husband’s father died. Extremely hard, but therapeutic.

The one I am currently launching, Day-votions® with Your Faithful Father: 90 Days with the One Who Wants to Meet All Your Needs, is my first independently published one (the rest are traditionally published). The learning curve was huge, and I had to learn everything. It was exhilarating because I learned so much, and because it was the completion of a successful “Daily” devotional series I first wrote almost twenty years earlier.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different? Describe your strategy.

When I attended a college fiction class years ago, I discovered I am a pantser, even when I write nonfiction. I generally outline many of the chapters for a nonfiction book, but love where my pen takes me. I’ve written an unpublished women’s fiction book as a pantser. I free-write for every genre, then edit later. That’s the mystery and fun of writing for me.

How did you find/pick your agent? What tips do you have for others looking for an agent?

I met the agent for six of my books when we were both on staff at a writer’s conference years ago before I became an author. Years later, when he became an agent, he remembered me and accepted my book/request for an agent.

Before you look for an agent, join online writers associations or Facebook groups and make sure you have written the best book possible. Learn how to write a great proposal, and detail how you plan to sell it. Ask for recommendations from other Christian writers. Research writers conferences, even virtual ones, and check out the agents who will be attending. Whether you contact an agent at a writers conference or submit a proposal online, follow that agent’s online guidelines for submitting your proposal. And most important of all, ask God to lead you to the right one.  

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process?

I was surprised by God’s grace, and that He allowed me to do what I love! Why surprised? Because I’ve always felt like an ordinary woman/writer in the presence of an extraordinary God.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Do you have a few hours? I think I’ve always learned things by trial and terror. Depending on whether you have already written your book and what genre you choose, my advice would vary. You might enjoy the humorous tips I wrote on my website, called “Rebecca’s Writing Rules of Disorder.” The publishing market is changing. Be willing to adjust, learn, and keep growing. Improve your craft. Ask for advice from those who have been successful, but only keep what applies to you. Writing is different for everyone.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

In the past, I’ve used a spell-checker, thesaurus, and word finder in Microsoft Word. I also read everything out loud and read through it multiple times. My husband is also a great editor, and he has helped me with each book. In the new Day-votions book,  I did all the editing, again with my husband’s help. This time I included Grammarly, the Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, The Chicago Manuel of Style, and general internet researching for help. I took much more time for a thorough edit. It involved a great deal of research and time.


Rebecca Barlow Jordan is a day-voted follower of Jesus who loves to help others find joy and purposeful living through deeper intimacy with God. A CBA bestselling, inspirational author, she has written 13 books, including her newest book, Day-votions® with Your Faithful Father: 90 Days with the One Who Wants to Meet All Your Needs. She paints encouragement on the hearts of others through her encouraging blog and website at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com. Rebecca is a member of AWSA and ACFW. She is a minister’s wife, has two children and four grandchildren, and makes her home in Texas.

Website: www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com or www.day-votions.com
Facebook profile page: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccabarlow.jordan/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/rebeccabarlowjordan
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rebeccabjordan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads/rebeccabarlowjordan
Newest Amazon book: https://amzn.to/3AOzsJe

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Christian books, Christian nonfiction, editing tips, self-editing, writing devotionals, writing nonfiction, writing tips, writing tools

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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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