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How I Write: Barbara Britton

February 8, 2021 by Karin Beery 2 Comments

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to novel writing, as is evident with Barbara Britton. She doesn’t have an agent. She lets music inspire her. And she’s here to share some of her writing tips and suggestions with you!

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

I write primarily Biblical Fiction, but I have also published a WWI Historical novel. Looking back, I think my genre chose me. I taught Bible stories to elementary students in a chapel setting. When I decided to write a novel based on a Bible story, that manuscript sold to a publisher. I had been honing my “voice” in my teaching without knowing it.

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

When you don’t live in the time period that you are writing about, you have to research the lifestyle and customs. With Biblical Fiction, you may have to cross-reference Scripture to get the entire background to the story or characters. With anything related to the Bible, an author wants to get the theology correct. When Scripture is silent on a part of the story, I have learned to place an author note in the back of the book with reasons why I chose a certain interpretation.

Research can take time away from actually writing the story. An author must be diligent to not let research derail their inspiration and determination to get the story written.

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

A debut novel may have taken one, five, or ten years to write. No one knows about the book except the author and their critique partners. There is no pressure or deadline to finish the book. Once you publish a book, your readers and publisher want another one and they want it fast. The traditional publishing process is slow, so the faster you write, the more your books can release closer together.

The pressure of “your next book” can slow the creative process or stymie it altogether. I’ve heard it said that if you are going to indie-publish a series, have at least three books written in the series, or all of it written, before you release the first book. Then you can rapidly release the series and keep the interest of your readership. Of course, after the series ends, you will still hear, “When’s your next book coming out?” Only the author knows what is a practical, and realistic, timeline for them to write a book. I can’t write a book in six weeks. I can write a book in six months if I have a deadline. I prefer to write a Historical in nine months.

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

One of my favorite craft books is Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson. The book makes Deep POV easy to understand. It’s a short book and the answers to Jill’s questions and exercises are in the back of the book.

What writing book do you want to read next?

A book that I recently purchased and want to use more in my writing is The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I like seeing the list of physical reactions to emotions in the book and the reasons for such emotions. I once had an editor tell me that my character had sweaty palms too many times. A writer has to vary the emotional and physical reactions of their characters.

How do you combat writer’s block?

I try to have a playlist for each story. I find music that is the essence of my character or tells the emotions my characters are going through. I like fast-paced music for action scenes and quieter songs for impactful scenes. I play the music before I sit down to write, and it helps put me in the mood to write.

I also recommend having critique partners and deadlines to submit chapters for review. If you have to get a chapter written for your fellow authors, you will find the time to do it.

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process? Why did it surprise you?

I began writing stories before social media existed. Publishers and agents didn’t talk about platforms because they didn’t exist in the world of fiction. Now, a writer must have a following on several social media platforms, and a website, before their work will be considered by some agents. Being active on social media takes time. The interaction can take time away from drafting new stories.

Some authors will hire virtual assistants to manage their social media accounts. This helps with the time crunch, but it costs money. A writer has to find the right mix between being engaged on social media and making their writing a priority.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

Grammar is not my best subject. I rely on grammar books, Google, and my critique partners to catch mistakes before I submit my manuscript to my publisher. I write my story on paper and edit it as I type it onto the computer. I review a chapter before I send it to my critique partners for feedback. When I think my story is done, I will read it from start to finish. I also send it to beta-readers for their comments. When I think the story is as good as I can get it, then I send it to my publisher.

I do not have an agent. If an author has an agent, the agent will go over a submitted manuscript for errors or improvement.


Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb ventured into Christian Historical fiction in 2020 with “Until June.” Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America, and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html

Barb is also active on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Barbara Britton, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Amy R. Anguish

January 25, 2021 by Karin Beery 2 Comments

Authors tend to write what they read, but not always. Amy Anguish is one such author. It’s not that she never reads her genre, it’s just that … well, I’ll let her tell you.

Welcome! Let’s start with what you write — how did you pick your genre?

Can I say my genre picked me? Is that weird? I write mostly contemporary romance with a little women’s fiction. I read a lot of Contemporary romance and women’s fiction, although I might actually read more historical. Why don’t I write historical? I’m too lazy to do all the research. 😉 But also because the stories that come to me are set in the here and now, and I have to write what’s in my head. Otherwise, it won’t shut up.

Same here! I love to read historical romance but have no desire to research and write it. So, what’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

I’d say my biggest challenge is making sure my books and characters are all different enough from each other that people don’t feel they’re reading the same story over and over again. I’m sure that’s hard for authors across all genres. I try to give each character their own quirks and flaws and favorite drinks.

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

I started writing (seriously) by participating in Nanowrimo. The goal is 50k words in 30 days. I’ve won ten times now, and four of those books have been published with another coming in Dec. Cram-writing seems to work for me. Editing, I have to wait a few months before I even look at a manuscript after writing it or I won’t catch much. Then, I can usually go through it again in less than a month. Finalizing? I’m honestly not sure. Each book has been different so far, so I don’t have a standard to go by.

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

The first was obviously hardest simply because of lack of experience. I started that one knowing how it began and that there was a conflict, but having no idea why the conflict existed until I neared the end of the book. It evolved while I was writing it and became rather different than I thought it would. Now, I am better at knowing how and why things need to happen, and usually go in with a bit more of a plan, although I’m still a bit of a plantser (see below)

What’s your writing day like?

Being a mom of young children (4 and 6), I have to grab writing time when I can, mostly during naptimes and after they’re in bed. That includes all my editing, marketing, and other writing-related stuff too. But they’re both going to be in school in a year and a half and then who knows? I’m looking forward to finding out.

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

Plantser—which is sort of both. I started a pantser, going in not knowing what all would happen. Now, I start with a VERY rough outline, which may or may not change as I write. And still not knowing everything that will happen.

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

How long things take in the traditional publishing world. I knew books weren’t published overnight, but I’ve learned, more often than not, it’s more than a year between contract and release date.

Something else that surprised me is how amazing the Christian publishing world is. I feel like I’ve gained several families with my various publishers and editors and other author friends, and it’s so nice to have these people to walk through this world with.

What does your revision process look like?

I think I might be a little strange about how I write and revise. I usually write about two books a year now. One of those is most often during Nanowrimo in November, but the other is done in usually less than two months, if I have my way. With cramming all those words into just a few weeks, I’m exhausted afterward and wait for a bit before even looking at the manuscript again. This lets it be fresh so I can catch more mistakes. Then, I send to a friend or two who help catch a few more things and point out sentences that might have made sense in my head but didn’t on paper. Then, thankfully, if I get a contract for it after that, I have at least two more rounds of edits with professional editors.


Can letters from the past spur a couple on to the future of their dreams?

Christiana Jones dreamed her whole life of living in Huntsville, Alabama, so she can’t figure out why it doesn’t feel like home. Her relationships—on social media and in real life—seem shallow and empty. When she unearths a stack of her grandparents’ letters, it spurs an idea. Could she find something deeper with a penpal?

Jordan White is taken aback when his cousin Tina suggests he become penpals with her childhood best friend. What could a Louisiana boy have in common with a girl two states away? After all, he’s happily settled on his family’s property and working the job he always wanted. But every letter they exchange has him wishing for more.

As they grow closer through their written words, the miles between them seem to grow wider. Can love cross the distance and bring them home?


Amy R. Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Follow her at:

http://abitofanguish.weebly.com
http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor
https://twitter.com/amy_r_anguish
https://www.pinterest.com/msguish/my-books/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEiu-jq-KE-VMIjbtmGLbJA

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: Amy R. Anguish, author interview, editing tips, How I Write, writing fiction, writing tips

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

January 19, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

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!

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: book review, C.S. Lakin, Christy Distler, Linda S. Clare, Rachel Starr Thomson, Robin Patchen, writing books, writing fiction, writing resources, writing tips

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass (book review)

December 28, 2020 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

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!

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: book review, Donald Maass, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Julie Arduini

November 30, 2020 by Karin Beery 2 Comments

Julie Arduini is a multi-published author with traditional and self-publishing experience, and today she’s sharing her knowledge with us. Thank you!

Welcome, and thank you so much for being here. Let’s start with: what do you write? How/why did you pick your genre?

My preference is contemporary romance. I did write one series, Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’, with my teen daughter for YA/Women’s Fiction. I love reading romance, but overall I believe God picked the genre for me.

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

Does it take and should it take are two different time frames for me. I think barring any interruptions, I can write a book in three months, edit in a couple weeks, and finalize in a couple weeks. The reality is life gets in the way. I have a husband with a demanding job. I have two children who live at home. I’m active with my church. My family lives 300 miles away and because it’s just me and my sister helping our mother, I travel there as often as I can. My upcoming release, Anchored Hearts, has taken nearly two years to write.

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

I think the following are harder for me because they were never in my plans, only God’s plans. The first book, Entrusted, I pictured for almost two decades before writing it for publication. I didn’t take being an author seriously until I finished Entrusted and knew within the story there was an open door to write another book. Entangled was the next one, and I struggled. I really agonized on how to write the second one because I stressed myself out.

What’s your writing day like?

No day is the same. As I type, I’m out of state helping my sister move, so my writing is delayed for a few weeks. When I’m home, I tend to get everyone ready for their work/school, then exercise, shower, and read devotions and pray. By then it’s late morning, so I try to get a couple hours writing in before I have to make dinner and deal with home issues. Some evenings I can get back at writing. But it’s hard.

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

I think I’m a little of both. I have a bulletin board with index cards everywhere. Each book has a card with the overall goal. Then I create cards for each character. If I have a certain chapter where I have goals I want to achieve, that gets a card as well. Otherwise, I have a team that prays for me, and I pray as well. I ask God to direct me and write from there.

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?

I was with a small publisher and enjoyed it, but I felt a nudge from God to go indie. In doing so I felt it would be more than a small business, but a ministry where everything I do—writing, speaking, or mentoring—can fall under my surrender and chocolate brand. Being self-published gives me that freedom to do all these things.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Set deadlines for yourself. Whether it’s a first draft, submitting to an agent, or handing chapters in o a critique group, deadlines are essential. Treat your writing like a hobby and you’ll get hobby results. Treat writing like your calling/business, and your work will show.

What does your revision process look like?

I go through a chapter at a time. Once I’ve cleaned it up, I send to two critique groups. Once I receive their marks, I make changes. I finish the manuscript and go over it a couple more times before sending to an editor. I make those changes, and then to BETA readers.  After they return their comments, I go over it one more time.


Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and —maybe one day—the chocolate. She’s the author of the contemporary romance series SURRENDERING TIME, (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged,) as well as the stand-alone novellas, MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY.

Her other latest release, YOU’RE BRILLIANT, is for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah, and is book 3 in their SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ series.She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, as well as monthly with Inspy Romance. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to opt in to her content full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini
Facebook Author Page: http://facebook.com/JulieArduiniAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini
Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-arduini
Julie Arduini Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/321e32f02e17/juliearduininewsletter

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, Julie Arduini, writing fiction, writing tips

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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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