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Writing Tips with Sharee Stover

January 3, 2023 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

If you’re writing romantic suspense, you won’t want to miss today’s interview. Award-winning Love Inspired Suspense author Sharee Stover shares her tips, suggestions, and encouragement.

Welcome!

What is your favorite craft book?
Any of the thesaurus books from Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are a MUST HAVE in my opinion.

Which do you think is the most underrated craft book? Why?
I’m unsure it’s underrated, but it’s one that I think is essential. GMC by Debra Dixon.

What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?
Writers Police Academy by far was my most favorite of all the conferences I’ve attended. 

What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
I use YouTube, podcasts, newsletters, online classes, etc. and especially love any features with forensic specialists.

Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?
I’ve been blessed with several wonderful mentors over the years who have prayed with me, critiqued my work, and offered wisdom in my writing journey. I appreciate candidness, but also love having their kind support on those super rough days.

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?
I can’t say I’ve ever had bad writing advice.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Learn craft. It’s important to understand the rules before you go breaking any of them if you choose to do so.

What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
Get involved with writing groups and attend conferences. There’s a great wealth of information out there. Use it!

What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
I always do an audio read through of my books. Our minds can tend to fill in anticipated words even if they’re missing from the page. Hearing the words helps me to filter out typos or missing information as well as listen to the characters’ dialogue interactions.

Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Pray before you start, while you’re writing, and when you’re finished. A rejection letter isn’t the end of your journey. It’s a part of the process, see it as a learning opportunity. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a short break, then start again. Never give up. Never give in. Writing is tough. But there’s so much involved in the journey beyond a published book. Be willing to learn. Nobody knows it all.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to join you today!


Proving his innocence may cost him his life…

After a brutal attack, US marshal Riker Kastell regains consciousness only to find a murdered gang member in his mudroom. Even worse, Eliana Daines—his ex-sweetheart—has a DNA program that pinpoints him as the murderer. And Eliana’s technology has them both targeted by criminals.

Now he and his K-9 must protect Eliana…and find the killer who looks just like Riker before they become the next victims.


Award-winning, Publisher’s Weekly Best-Selling author, Sharee Stover transplanted from Colorado to the Midwest where she lives her happily-ever-after with her real-life-hero husband and three wonderful children. A self-proclaimed word nerd, she loves the power of the written word to ignite, transform, and restore. She writes Christian romantic suspense combining heart-racing, nail-biting suspense, and the delight of falling in love all in one. Sharee also enjoys reading, crocheting, and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd. Visit her at www.shareestover.com.

Website: https://shareestover.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shareestover
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorshareestover/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shareestover/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sharee-stover
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shareestover
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/shareestover
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3PgASBB

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Love Inspired Suspense, romantic suspense, writing a book, writing advice, writing fiction, writing tips

How I Write: Heidi Glick

December 19, 2022 by Karin Beery 2 Comments

We’re getting close to the end of the year, but we have time to squeeze in a few more interviews! This one’s for you plotters and suspense writers–Heidi Glick is both, and she’s here to give us a peek at her writing life. Welcome!

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

I write romantic suspense and suspense with romance elements. I chose my genre because I enjoy suspenseful movies and books. In addition, it’s easier to create tension because I can include suspense and romance. I write Christian fiction because I want to share my faith and encourage readers in their walk with God, but I want to do so in an entertaining way.

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

For me, the hard parts of writing suspense include researching and drawing out suspense. I rush through things, so I have to leave a note in my manuscript to go back and draw out the suspense. With research, I have worked with Wesley Harris, who is a consultant with Write Crime Right. Also, I have sought research help from friends and family. Basically, if you have an area of expertise, watch out, because I might ask you some questions.

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

My favorite book on riting is Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody because it’s formulaic, and I’m mainly a plotter. The Emotion Thesaurus (by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi), which is a reference guide more than a book on writing, comes in as a close second. I use that book almost daily. I like it because sometimes it’s hard to describe emotion, and I like to vary my descriptions.

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

While not a traditional writing conference, my favorite is Writers’ Police Academy (WPA) because it’s like Disney for suspense writers. I had the privilege to attend WPA in Wisconsin for the first time in June 2022. The guest speaker was author Robert Dugoni. I liked WPA because it was fun and helpful in terms of law enforcement research.

What’s your writing day like?

Because I’m a stay-at-home mom, my day is never the same. Just this past week, my children had two two-hour fog delays, which meant I didn’t start off my day writing. Today, Lowe’s came to my house to take measurements for flooring, so again, I didn’t start my day off writing. I don’t have a regular schedule. I make a list of things to do and try to get done as much as possible. I focus more on long-term goals versus a rigid, daily schedule.

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

I’m 98% plotter and 2% pantser. I outline and then write in layers, similar to a method advocated by author Hallie Bridgeman. I find I focus better on individual elements of writing better in separate passes of a document.

What advice do you have for new authors?

My advice for new authors today differs from the advice I gave years ago, though some of it remains the same. I still recommend joining a professional writing organization. After that, I would tell new authors to decide if they are a pantser or a plotter. If one is a plotter, I recommend reading Save the Cat Writes a Novel. Conversely, if one is a pantser, then I recommend reading Story Trumps Structure by Steven James. Finally, I would recommend signing up for at least one writers conference.

What does your revision process look like?

I self-edit my manuscript, then sub it to a critique group. Afterward, I submit to beta readers. Sometimes, in between, I submit portions to a subject matter expert or sensitivity reader. I review the manuscript again after I have made all changes from others and then submit the final product to my publisher.


Heidi Glick has a B.A. in biology from Cedarville University, a Master of Technical Communication from Utah State University, and a passion for writing Christian fiction. Additionally, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers and has written two articles for Intercom. Before becoming a suspense writer, Heidi taught science to middle and high school students and edited science documents. Heidi resides in rural Northwest Ohio with her husband, two children, and six pets. Heidi’s first novel, Dog Tags, is available through Pelican Book Group, while her second novel, Hold for Release, is set for release from Pelican Book Group in 2023.

http://heidiglick.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorheidiglick
https://twitter.com/HeidiGlick1
https://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/glick.heidi/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7035003.Heidi_Glick

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, fiction writing, How I Write, romantic suspense, self-editing, writing fiction, writing suspense, writing tips, writing tools

How I Write: Aubrey Taylor

December 5, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

We’re down to our last two interviews of the year, and I’m excited to introduce you to indie author Aubrey Taylor. Everyone goes indie for different reasons, and Aubrey’s story is no different. But before she tells us about that, let’s get to know more about her and her writing.

Thank you so much for joining me! What do you write? How did you pick your genre?

Thank you for allowing me to share today! I write historical fiction. Specifically, I’m working on a German-perspective 20th century series entitled Gott Mit Uns. I don’t feel that I chose this genre, rather, God placed it definitively into my heart. As I was doing research for my debut novel, Sani: The German Medic, I began to see glimpses of how much more there is to the story beyond the themes we commonly encounter about the Second World War. However, I longed to go back to the years before the war and explore what led up to it.

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

It gets harder with each book! Sani is about one soldier’s wartime experience. Now that I have a whole family of Schmidts, I have to figure out what’s going to make the most gripping novel each time. I can’t tell everyone’s entire story, and that creates a problem when I get attached to a certain character and want to keep going with them.

It’s the same thing with historical events. I can’t possibly include everything that happened, especially when we’re talking about such a volatile period of history. What is just begging to be included? A great example comes from Sani: there are accounts of the German Army reopening churches that had been closed by the Soviets, but I can’t say whether this was actually done by the infantry division on which Frederick’s path through the war is modeled. I was so fascinated by these accounts, however, that I couldn’t resist including a chapter on this in the book.

What conference do you most want to attend?

I belong to a group of Christian writers who are in the “mommy” stage of life, just as I am. I love the idea of a small, intimate retreat with these ladies, and that might be what I really need at this point, rather than a large conference.

How do you combat writer’s block?

Flying by the seat of my pants is the best way to combat writer’s block. Sometimes I just have to sit down and write. If it has to be revised, fact-checked or pulled out entirely later, I’m good with that.

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

I do both: plot and pants. I mentioned the pantsing above. I take time to work through the main character’s story arc beforehand, and continue to do so as I’m writing. It seems that with every book, the secondary story arc kind of emerges as I go along. I then have to slow down and develop that alongside (and sometimes within) the primary arc. I’m also already plotting years into the series, two or three books away. That’s the cool thing about series writing. You get great ideas for the future that you can work in to what you’re doing right now.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

Self-publishing was really a matter going forward with the knowledge that God had given me something to say because He wanted me to share it. I didn’t feel that He would have me stressing over trying to share it while being rejected indefinitely. There is so much opportunity in the self-publishing industry. Even if your market is smaller and you have to do more of your own legwork, it is really a (positive) challenge to trust God to get your writing where it needs to go.

I’m also aware that German-perspective fiction isn’t something that publishers here in the States are looking for (although I am tempted to wonder if the release of Netflix’s adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front could change that). Even if WWII fiction is a hugely popular genre, and the interest in WWI is growing, we usually like to see protagonists of a certain type, and not all of my Schmidts fit that description.

I fully respect and admire writers who are under a contract. However, even though I don’t actually think of myself this way, I guess it’s hard-wired into me to want to blaze my own trail. When I was in 5th grade, everyone in the class was asked to choose an explorer to research and write a paper on. I must have been sick the day the list of explorers was handed out, because I managed to pick one that wasn’t on that list. Naturally I only found that out after I’d already written the paper, and to this day I’m not really sure why he didn’t qualify.

What advice do you have for new authors?

God has given you something to say, so be faithful: write, read, walk through the open doors, knock on doors you think might be for you, don’t be discouraged if they aren’t, and don’t stress yourself out trying to meet the expectations of other people. Concern yourself with pleasing God. He’ll do more than you can think or ask. Keep your expectations in Him and discover what His definition of success is. But, be teachable. While we don’t have to meet everyone’s expectations, we can learn a lot from those who have been in the industry for any length of time. We’re not meant to go it alone!

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

If I know I’ve typed something wrong, I can’t just let it sit there. I have to fix it right away. Granted, I used to type for a living, so my WPMs are pretty high and I don’t always look at the screen. A lot of stuff gets missed the first time around. I reread my manuscripts occasionally and am always fixing things as I go through. Unfortunately, I also write like I talk, so even though something might have sounded great in my head, it reads poorly on paper. Of course, I run a few spellchecks throughout the entire process too!


Aubrey lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. She’s busy keeping the home, caring for her family, doing research for and writing her books. She enjoys music and is involved with the worship ministry at her church as well as German choral and dance groups, and plays gigs occasionally with friends as a singer and acoustic guitarist. After all that, she finds time to sketch, craft, and hike. She is a lover of Jesus, the Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats, and has a special heart for those who struggle with severe anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

You can find Aubrey online via her website and social media pages:

Website: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aubtaybooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, editing tips, fiction writing, writing a book, writing fiction, writing tips

The Essential Books on Writing Boxed Set by Bryn Donovan

October 29, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Get all three books for writers in one collection perfect for novelists, screenwriters, short story writers, and National Novel Writing Month enthusiasts!

From editor, author, and writing coach Bryn Donovan, you’ll turn to these essential tools on writing again and again to write faster, write more, and write your best work yet.

5,000 Writing Prompts
Blurb: Creative writing prompts for many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, young adult, and poetry, as well as prompts for writing about yourself, blog writing, and more. Use it for your work in progress or for a good way to free your imagination from writer’s block!

Master Lists for Writers
Blurb: A reference book and thesaurus designed to make the writing process go more quickly by offering lists for common writing elements…from facial expressions and physical descriptions to conflicts, plots, and character names. Please note that Master Lists for Writers does include adult content for romance writers.

Review: I’m reviewing these two together because I had the same thoughts about both. Here you go:

These books are everything the titles promises: THOUSANDS of ideas on a variety of lists to help motivate and inspire any writer. Whether your a newbie who needs an idea of how to get started or a veteran who needs a fresh idea, you can’t open this book without finding something to inspire you.

(There are some formatting issues, but if you can look past those, this book will get your creativity flowing.)

Blank Page to Final Draft
Blurb: a step-by-step handbook to prep for, write, and edit a novel from with either getting published traditionally or successful self-publishing in mind. It contains help with pacing, dialogue, character development, and more. Even if you’re in the middle of writing a draft, it can provide clarity and a guide for revision.

Review: This was a very different type of writing book. IMO, it’s more of a motivational book than craft book, and I can see it being the go-to book for new writers because of it’s step-by-step approach.

Donovan’s book includes lots of tips and advice, but it’s value isn’t in teaching you fiction-writing techniques (though there are several discussed); it’s value is in walking you step-by-step through writing a novel. Like the title says, it starts with a blank page and gives you the steps you need to finish your first draft.

If you need to strengthen your POV or showing skills, I wouldn’t recommend this book, but if you’re not sure how to start your novel–or you keep starting novels without ever finishing them–I wouldn’t hesitate to pass this along. Donovan’s info and tone are perfect for the struggling, discouraged writer who needs an experienced cheerleader.

Get your boxed set here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: book reviews, fiction writing, fiction writing tips, writing advice, writing books, writing fiction, writing prompts, writing tips

How I Write: Christina Sinisi

October 24, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

It’s always a good day to get to know a new writer of contemporary Christian romance — today’s a good day! Author Christian Sinisi gives us a peek at her writing life, experiences, and writing tips for new authors. Let’s find out more…

Thanks for being here today! I sort of spilled the beans, but let’s start with you telling us what you write. How did you pick your genre?

First, thank you for having me on your blog—I truly appreciate it!

I write Christian Contemporary Romance. I actually started writing secular fantasy romance because I love creating imaginary worlds. Over time, though, I would only get so far with those stories and became frustrated. My mentor, Eloisa James, looked at me and said, “why aren’t you writing inspirational? Your faith is so much a part of who you are.” I had no good answer and switched—and am very happy that I did.

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

This is one of those, “it depends,” answers. My first published book was a novella I wrote in three and a half weeks. This year, I’m struggling to finish one novel. Life happens. In June of 2019, when I wrote Christmas Confusion, I had nothing else going on and could write seven plus pages a day. This year, we were short-handed at work in the spring semester, I’ve taken two big trips, and there’s my new release to market. I’ve learned to be patient with myself. The book will get done as long as I keep moving forward.

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

The first book was the easiest. Then, I was on a roll and wrote five more books, one every six months. This seventh book is some of my best writing—I believe—but I’m just struggling to find the time.

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

Deb Dixon’s GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict is my go-to book on writing. I always do a GMC chart for the hero and heroine in every book. I also add a couple of rows to her basic chart—personality quirk (something that makes the person interesting) and faith arc (since I’m writing inspirational romance, I believe the characters need to undergo a faith change or struggle).

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

I haven’t been able to attend a Christian writer’s conference in person—so I’m planning on doing so next year. I’d love input as to which to attend. The only problem is, I can’t attend ACFW because the conference takes place in September and I’m a professor. I can’t miss class!

What’s your writing day like?

Over the years, I’ve found myself less and less able to concentrate for long periods of time. But again, I am patient with myself. So, I write a page or two, and then clean something and so on throughout the day. I am writing at best 5-7 pages right now but have been known to write 25 pages in a day when I was younger. I don’t think it’s age, but rather, so many distractions with everyone else at home so much.

How do you combat writer’s block?

Be patient with yourself—if you can only write a paragraph, write a paragraph. Then, do something else and come back and write another paragraph. I do find if I’m kind to myself and no one comes in my office to chat, I can write longer. Also, if life has been busy, and you haven’t been able to write for days or even weeks, reread and remind yourself of the mood and where you were going.

Also, I’m a big fan of storyboarding—if I get stuck, I can glance at the storyboard and remind myself of where I should be in the story.  If anyone is interested in learning more about storyboarding, I have posts on my blog about how to create one.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

I go through a series of steps. First, I do searches for “bad” words like it, that, and words that end in -ly. As I’m going, I notice if there are any other words that are over-used in the manuscript and do searches for those. As I search, I try to find a better wording rather than those over-used words. If I can’t, I don’t worry too much. Most of the time, I get rid of half or more of those sticky words.

I also search for grammatical errors—looking for blue and red squiggly lines in Microsoft Word as well as rereading.

I have a critique partner who reads for bigger issues. For the last two manuscripts, I have used freelance editors—one is a friend who volunteered, and the other was a local editor who critiqued for free in exchange for a testimonial. I found out about her through one of my two writing groups.

Right now, I’m procrastinating (not for long, but still) going through my latest manuscript for faith development—the last step for me.


Formerly the wild child of three sisters, Emma Marano grew up to be a single mom working two jobs, estranged from her mother, and lying to her friends. She’d told everyone that her daughter’s father wanted nothing to do with his child, but in reality, her own inability to deal with her mistakes and shame led to the biggest lie of her life. But her daughter, Haley, is all Emma has in the world, so how can she regret keeping Haley to herself? Emma’s struggling, though, and her life is slowly imploding.

Right after high school, Justin Lee broke up with Emma Marano and joined the Army, leaving her and all her drama behind. Years later, he stumbles upon her and what turns out to be a daughter he never knew he had. Angry and confused, he insists on having a relationship with his daughter, but to do so, he’ll need to rebuild some sort of relationship with Emma, too. As he gets to know his daughter—and Emma again—he soon realizes that his biggest mistake was leaving her all those years ago. What he dismissed as drama turns out to be a serious mental health issue, and Emma needs help. Now, Justin has to decide if he can see past her flaws and forgive her lies, and together, they’ll have to work to reclaim their love and a faith in each other and in God, or they risk losing something precious in the process.

https://amzn.to/3JBuB2f


A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. Her published books include Christmas Confusion, Sweet Summer, and Christmas on Ocracoke. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband, two children and her crazy cat Chessie Mae.

https://www.christinasinisi.com/
https://twitter.com/christinasinisi
https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Sinisi-Author-105861987440664/?modal=admin_todo_tour https://instagram.com/csinisi123
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christina-sinisi
https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/

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

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