Friday, November 27, 2015

My Story - Part 2 (A Seriously Write Blog Post)




After my incident with the unscrupulous agent (Part 1 of my story can be found here), I was left a little gun shy. To be perfectly honest, a little ticked, too. No one likes to be taken advantage of, and this embarrassing event forced me to learn what good agents do and don’t do.

Along the way, I also learned the business of writing novels was evolving. The pool of agents, who were touted as “agents who desire to see new authors’ works” by reputable magazines and Sally Stuart’s yearly reference work, seemed to be drying up. Instead, rejection letters stating interest in manuscripts from “already established authors” or “references from the aforementioned already established authors” seemed to be the trend. Despite my efforts at attempting to land an agent, it appeared the only thing I was accomplishing was helping to keep the United States Postal Service solvent.

Then, another evolutionary turn took place. Snail mail was replaced with email queries and submissions. This helped the budget, mind you, but it did little in way of encouragement.

Sometime later, I had read (or maybe I heard it) that the way to go was to attend writers conferences. There, at one of these forays, you could meet editors and agents face-to-face and “pitch” your work. This concept, I have to admit, turned me off for quite some time. I probably postponed my career about two years while I doggedly defied the better part of wisdom and held out from attending a conference while I kept submitting email queries.

My belief was (and don’t laugh, please) that writers conferences were just another step the Christian world had taken down the path of its secular counterpart. “Why do we always have to copy what the world does?”became my mantra. “And do I want to be a part of that?” My answer, for over two years, was, “Negative.” So, I started looking into self-publishing. I mean, if it was good enough for Mark Twain, it was good enough for me, right?

Now, remember, this was in the day when Author House wasn’t Author House. It was 1st Books. CreateSpace had not been invented by Amazon yet because Amazon had just been founded in 1994. All the other self-publishing venues were either in their infancy or still a twinkle in the eyes of their developers. I had some serious dialogue with 1st Books about A Case of Déjà Vu (my very first manuscript) and the ins and outs of publishing it with them. However, I had this feeling in my gut that this wasn’t the right path, either. This feeling was based on what I was seeing published by self-publishing houses. Let’s face it, in the early years, it wasn’t very good. That’s not to say that all the books that come through the traditional publishing routes and houses are all stellar. I’ve read some real groaners and wondered how many favors that editor must have paid off, cashed in, or collected with that one. However, my overall feelings about self-publishing, at that time, were ones of hesitancy. I always wondered if the $1,000-$2,000 I would have to spend to get my manuscript in print would be money well spent. This thought, coming on the heels of just being snookered by the bad agent, was one I was willing to think about for awhile longer.

Take out a loan for my book? Do I believe in it that much? Those were the questions of the day.

Moral of Part 2: Despite all the struggles, disappointments, frustrations, and pity parties, as a Christian writer, you have to keep your eyes on the One who called you to write in the first place. If you are not writing for Him, then you probably shouldn’t be writing (Colossians 3:23-24). 

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link:Part 2 of My Story.








Friday, October 23, 2015

My Story - Part 1 (A Seriously Write Blog Post)






I always get inspired by hearing other authors’ stories. We always think writers became household names overnight. Climbed the New York Times’ Bestseller List with their first book. Yet, for many of us, that simply wasn’t the case. So, as I tell my story, I hope it will inspire and challenge others to persevere and save some from pitfalls this business can have waiting in the shadows.
_____________________

By the mid-’90s, I had published several articles in various Christian publications and was set to continue that path for however long I cared to do it. However, the creative bug bit me years prior, and I thought, “Why not try my hand at writing a novel?” Little did I know what that thought involved.

As a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, I started writing what became a novel entitled, A Case of Deja Vu. I thought it was good for a first novel by someone who was darker than Kelly green when it came to “the business.” I did a little research and sent it off to some Christian publishing houses thinking this was the great American, Christian novel they all had been waiting to read. (Have you ever thought that way before?) So, you can guess the huge dose of disappointment I incurred when the rejections letters and rejection postcards came streaming into my mailbox. I appreciated the personal touch the postcards conveyed.

Believing in my work, I did a little more research and found that most houses only accepted “agented” manuscripts (mss). So, you guessed it. I farmed out my mss to agents. The same results occurred. Devastated, I staggered away like a boxer who just failed to beat the ten-count.

So, I placed my novel on the back burner and continued to write a few more articles, which were published. This success prompted me to trudge ahead with the novel.

Then, one day, I found an agent who said she would love to offer me a contract and represent me. She praised my work and said it was one of the best novels she had ever read from an unpublished author. You can imagine my delight. So, I sent her the required contract and the $300 signing fee….

I can hear you now. “Uh-oh. Didn't he know good agents never charge up front?”

No.

He didn't.

I only found the website Preditors & Editors AFTER the whole ordeal. So, in my zeal “to be published,” I followed the “professional” instructions of my agent to the letter. She sent me names and addresses of publishers she thought would be interested in my mss, and I sent them the listed items: a copy of the mss and a copy of a letter from her agency.

I never heard from any of the publishers. Not long afterward, I learned why.

She and her husband had been arrested for fraud.

I now get a check from their correctional facility in Texas. It’s the court-ordered attempt to pay back the $300 they stole from me. A few dollars and cents at a time. About three times a year.

Guess I should add that to my will.

When I realized what I had done by learning more about the industry, I felt about one-inch tall. Still do when I dwell on it. I allowed zeal and novice beliefs to trump reason and preparedness and became a casualty as a result.

Moral of Part 1: Patience and doing your homework by networking with those “in the know” will save you a great deal of grief and humiliation in the future. It will be money well spent.

Next month, I’ll continue my story. 

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link:  Part 1 of "My Story."  










Friday, September 25, 2015

Another Four-Letter Word (A Seriously Write Blog Post)




The very first blog entry I wrote for Seriously Write was entitled “How Many Four-Letter Words Do You Need?”  It was a tongue-in-cheek look at marketing. Most of the “four-letter” words didn’t actually have four letters, but they often feel it and roll off the tongue with the same air about them.

This month, I actually have a four-letter word I want us to address: TIME.

It’s a big deal. We’re so tied to it (and I’m not so sure that was God’s plan in the beginning). Every day is controlled by it. Our jobs. Our tasks. Our marriages. Our livelihood. All judged by some increment of time. As a result, it seems even our worth is inextricably tied to it whether we want it to be or not.

I’ve been struggling with this age-old dilemma (See? Even our phrases are tied to time!). As an assistant principal at a middle school, we are now four weeks into the school year. Time is literally of the essence these days. With the demands of education growing like amorous rabbits, it often feels like you can only be a good educator if you live and breathe it 24/7. Just ask a teacher you know. They’ll tell you. Doesn’t matter where they live in the U.S. The demands seem to cross all boundaries.

Now, I’m being strongly encouraged to take the next step and become a principal. Sit in “The Chair.” Having talked and worked with numerous principals I respect and admire, many of them being those encouragers of which I speak, I know what a pinch for writing time that move would be.

I, like you, am always trying to carve out healthy, productive blocks of time wherein I can do something I truly love. Sometimes, it’s twenty minutes here, forty minutes there. I often get up at 4:00 AM and spend upwards of two hours plunking away at the keyboard before getting ready for work. Writing in the AM is better for me. I’m fresher. My mind has had a chance to shut down and reboot. Conversely, writing at night is hard after a long day for me. The only time it works is when a lightning bolt of inspiration strikes, the adrenaline kicks in, and I have to get that “Eureka! Moment” down on paper before it fizzles out into a wafting rumble of thunder.

How about you? And no, I’m not going to ask if finding writing time is an issue for you. That’s like asking a dentist if he enjoys looking into the mouths of his patients. Some things are a given. They go with the territory, and you’d better enjoy dealing with it if you wish to be productive.

I’m asking the tougher question. What extremes are you willing to take to make time for your writing? I’m not advocating becoming a recluse and abandoning all family activities. So, don’t go and tell your spouse Kevin said you should stop mowing the lawn or cleaning the house or babysitting the grandkids because you have to write. Some sacrifices trump writing. But for those other activities you enjoy that have little or no eternal value, are you willing to enjoy them a little less for the sake of your writing? I find this to be the #1 reason why those who say, “I want to write a book!” never do. Like so many other correlations we could list here, writing “that book” will only be important enough to you if you make the time, sacrifice the time, and enjoy it along the way.

How do you sacrifice that precious thing we call time? What methods have you found useful? What works best for you?


To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link:  "Another Four-Letter Word," 





*Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Friday, August 28, 2015

Parabolic Tales for the Ages (A Seriously Write Blog Post)





“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around, him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying…” (Matthew 13:1-3; NIV, emphasis added). Jesus goes on to tell the crowds about a farmer sowing seed: The Parable of The Sower. He follows this up with other parables: The Weeds, The Mustard Seed, The Yeast, The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl, and The Net.

After telling The Parable of the Sower, the disciples came up to him and asked why he spoke to the crowds in parables (v. 10). Jesus’ answer is very telling:


“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them…This is why I speak to them in parables‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ In them is filled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Matthew 13:11, 13-15; cf. Ezekiel 12:2; Isaiah 6:9-10; emphasis added).
 

Jesus tells the disciples that they are blessed because they do have eyes that see and ears that hear (v. 16).

A stark contrast to the crowds.

As storytellers in our modern society, it seems the pattern for writing fiction has been established for God’s people, and was done so by our Lord Himself. When we create a story, no matter what the setting, no matter who is involved, no matter the time period, the story should “reveal the kingdom” or explain what “the kingdom of God is like.”

Now, it doesn’t have to be allegorical. Every single name doesn’t have to have a double meaning or mystical root (See Pilgrim’s Progress for reference). Nor do your characters have to be fictionalized caricatures of real people in the Bible (e.g., The Lion in C. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series being Jesus; “Aslan” being the Turkish word for “Lion”). Even though these kinds of stories and techniques have their place, one size does not fit all. And neither does the story have to take on ALL the aspects of the world in order to have a real impact (e.g., profanity, etc.). Jesus managed to use tell parables, using worldly images like birds and flowers and gold and pearls and hate and greed and power and corruption without soiling the language itself.

Sometimes, however, your story may deal more with a theological truth/concept than a person, place, or Biblical passage. My first book, The Serpent’s Grasp, asks the question, “What is truth? In the world of science, can truth be found?” My second book, 30 Days Hath Revenge, begins to delve into the question of “What is true peace? In a world that cries out for peace like in the days of Jeremiah, can politics, military might, or economic clout bring about true peace, or is there something more to it?”

As a fiction writer, our job is to dive deep into these biblical passages and truths and bring forth a story the crowds can begin to understand. If Jesus only spoke to the crowds in parables, then shouldn’t that be our pattern, too (see Matthew 13:34)? We are the keys God uses to open up the doors of their hearts. After that, it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to break down the door and enter in.

If we write fiction solely for the Christian community, we’re missing out on so much.* Jesus explained the parables to the disciples only when they were dull in understanding. However, the parables were never intended for them. I liken it to our publishing world today. Fiction serves as the parables. That’s why “preachy fiction” never flies very well. Jesus never got preachy with his parables for good reason. Those hearing the stories needed the concepts to come down to their level of spiritual understanding.

In the same vein, non-fiction is for the disciples. This style tends to get into the nitty-gritty details of a spiritual truth. This is when Jesus explains things to us, has us stop, pause, reread a page, so our understanding can increase so we don’t have to keep stopping him and ask, “Can you explain that to us, please” (see Matthew 13:36)?

Does that mean a believer can’t enjoy a good fiction story? Of course not. Does that mean an unbeliever should never pick up a non-fiction book on some biblical passage or truth and read it? Please, say, “No!” You and I both know God can use anything to reach a person’s heart for the first time.

Apparently, though, the norm is as follows: The stories, the parables, the fiction is intended for those who “have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people” (Ezekiel 12:2).

And those were Jesus’ words. Not mine.

So, may our stories be for the lost as well.

Especially in this ever-darkening world.


  
*Could this be a reason why Christian fiction is falling on such hard times? Parables solely for Christians doesn’t follow Jesus’ model, does it?


To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: "Parabolic Tales for the Ages."





Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Getting Heard Above the Noise (A CAN Blog Post)





Take it from me. When researching the topic of marketing for fiction, it seems there are about as many “experts” out in cyberspace and our local bookstore as there are writers of fiction. Each one believes they have the formula for success. Yet, when you check their sales numbers on Amazon or CBD (if they are Christian-based), their sales are often not very good. What does that say to you and me?

What it tells me is that selling books is a lot like creating a product. Some become household names, like Kleenex and Ford. Some were mistakes that found a purpose in another realm, like sticky notes and Rogaine.

Others never get past the cutting room floor.

In just about every case, marketeers abound. You’ve got your Ronco people, who appear in your face every Saturday afternoon and at night between the hours of 2:00-4:00 AM, offering their wares to the “Next 20 callers.” This has become so popular, a spin off crowd of QVC mavens have taken this concept to 24 hours a day! I wonder how many of these folks actually read books…

Then there’s the Guru group who put out ads in the next city on the tour, inviting you to a convention center setting for an evening. Their promise is to hand you their million-dollar fiction marketing makeover kit, regularly $599.00 for only $149.99. Others create companies that do the same thing and are primarily cyberspace cadets.

Lastly, there’s the “local experts” I spoke of earlier. They’ve written a book. Usually, it’s self-published. And they desire to sell it to you. They promise 10,000 followers on Twitter when their own personal account has only 702. Hmm….

What I do find amidst the noise is they all end up in the same stomping grounds. Arenas of expertise that seem to ebb and flow based on a variety of factors.

For example, authors must have social media accounts, they say. What I’m finding is that most people on social media like me are doing the same thing. We all “like” and “follow” each other, but how many of us actually purchase and read each other’s works? Not get it for free in exchange for a review. Not wait until the eBook goes on sale for 99 cents. But actually buy it when it first comes out in all of its $17.99 per paperback glory?

Authors, they say, should hold promotional gimmicks like giveaways and swaps. Again, what many people are finding is these folks get the free copy, read it, give a review, and then sell it online…some of them making more money than the authors. Sigh.

Another thing is, authors need a website. I’d be interested to know how many fans actually go to their favorite author’s website.

What’s the point of all this?

Perspective.

Finding what works for you amidst all the noise is so critical. It’s really one big roll of the dice. Sometimes, we come up snake eyes. Other times, we hit it big. Some love social media and find that it works for them very well. Others see social media as the spawn of Satan. Some love book signings. Others would rather go to the dentist for a week of days before sitting behind a table, pen in hand.

So, find what works for you. Get good at it. Then, expand to the next trial and error method.

Build your platform.

One thing at a time.

One day at a time.

So that, in the end, it’s something you can live with.


To see this article on the Christian Authors Network (CAN) website, click the link below:

The Christian Authors Network!






Friday, July 24, 2015

God's Still on the Throne (A Seriously Write Blog Post)






You’ve probably heard the news.

Abingdon fiction. Gone. They join a long litany of publishers and imprints that have decided to get out of the Christian fiction market in one way or another citing the bottom line as the main reason. No one can blame them, really. It is a business. Businesses have to stay afloat.

Some of these publishers are relatively new to the game. Only been publishing fiction for less than ten years. They had a good run. Won lots of awards. Had good sales for such “fledgling start ups.”

The cry, however, from the news when it broke has been mixed. These were some of the “headline reactions” I noted when reading the various articles which arose from the ashes: 1) “Doomsday: Another Christian publisher bites the dust and makes getting Christian fiction published more difficult. Christian Fiction Authors are left scrambling for fewer contracts.” 2) “Don’t Worry, Be Happy: Abingdon hadn’t acquired anything new in a year anyway. So, everybody, just Chillax.” 3) “The Proof is in the Pudding: Too many Christian novels cater to the same, declining audience of Amish/Christian Romance fiction readers. That’s why sales are slipping.” 4) “Long Live the Indie Writer: The only way to survive these troubling times in the world of publishing is to join hands with Amazon and sing Kum ba yah.”

As I read and thought and prayed about my little boat in the ocean we call “Writing,” I had two primary conclusions. First, has anyone ever heard of a company called Apple? Does anyone remember Apple in 1996? The company’s stock had dropped to a 10-year low and was then $18 a share. So, in December of 1996, they spent $429 million and also gave 1.5 million shares of their stock and purchased a company called NeXT. In the deal, they acquired a guy by the name of Steve Jobs as a consultant. Out of the ashes, what you know as The Apple Corporation today arose to become a leader in the world of technology. They “reinvented” themselves and came out with a gadget called the iPod. No doubt, plans were well underway for the iPhone, the iPad, and the other spinoffs. The iPhone came out in 2007. Seems longer, doesn’t it. Just think about how the world has changed in a mere eight years. Oh, and by the way, Apple’s stock price as I write this blog is now $129.51.

Second, I’m a Christian. As one, I have two roads I can travel. I can be a wishy-washy, tail-between-my-legs kind of believer, a la Peter at the fire in Luke 22:54, willing to do whatever it takes to save my writing behind in this world of publishing, or I can be the kind of believer who stands tall for Christ, unwilling to compromise, run, or water down the message. Now, with that in mind, I also live in a world whose growing sentiment for anything even resembling God or Jesus is becoming more vile and “anti-Christ-like” with each passing day. Couple this with the sale of major Christian houses like Zondervan and Multnomah to secular publishing companies, and the venues in which I can write, publish, and sell my writing, especially if it has a “Standing Tall” kind of message, decrease exponentially.

When you look at the world in general, the message is becoming clearer by the day. Christians are no longer wanted on planet Earth. Our values, our morals, our God’s way of doing “business” are being vilified in the courts of judges, justices, and public opinion.

However, you and I both know that God’s not done yet, either. I haven’t heard any trumpets yet. My eyes and ears, looking to the heavens and listening for the “Shout of the Lord,” are still waiting.

So, I watch and wait. For a possible Christian “Apple Company” to rise up and become a viable leader in this crazy business. For the next Christian novel and next Christian movie to shine a light in the darkness of these last days. Hoping that, if God chooses to use me, one of those could be mine.

God’s not done yet. And when He’s still in play, you know exciting things will happen.


To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: "God's Still on the Throne."










Friday, June 26, 2015

What's in a Name? Memories, Perhaps? (A Seriously Write Blog Post)





Ever wonder how authors come up with names for their characters? I’m not sure if they are unique or not, but I’ve used several methods. For example, surname lists on the internet for foreign characters can be very helpful to pick that perfect name to match the character’s persona. First name lists, organized by which name was the most popular in whatever year your character was born, is another helpful way to locate that correct name and spelling. Probably weren’t that many Gertrude’s born in 1975. Nor were many Heathers or Brittanys born in 1776. 

Sometimes, I just look to the shelf. Often, names of authors or names used within some of those books can be useful. I found the perfect name for a Russian scientist in a book about Vladimir Putin. Name mining, I call it. Makes it very real.

However, my favorite way has been to pull a page out of Thomas Kinkade’s “book,” so to speak. Many of you may already know this, but when Kinkade painted, he would embed the initials of his wife, or her name, into his paintings. It became a sort of trademark. People would obsess with trying to find that “N” for Nanette. It’s been reported that he put 156 “N’s” in his Golden Gate Bridge painting.

As you read my first book, The Serpent’s Grasp, you find some important names, to me, that is. Since I dedicated the book to my wife, I felt using her name in the story would be melodramatic, so, instead, you’ll find the married names of my two oldest daughters. They are introduced in the order in which they got married: middle daughter’s married name appears first, then my oldest daughter’s married name appears later. They’re not major characters. But that’s just it. I needed names for some role players…and this method was just kind of born out of necessity. (And no, I’m not going to tell you what they are…that’s part of the fun. I’m sure the information will come out eventually when I do my Entertainment Tonight interview…a guy’s got to dream, right?)

In my second book, 30 Days Hath Revenge (A Blake Meyer Thriller – Book 1), you’ll find I utilized my namesake grandson, but I used it in a bit of a more creative way by making his first name the last name of the character. When he gets older (he’s five), I’ll show him, explain it all, and it will be something we two can cherish together.

In the manuscript of Book 2 to the Blake Meyer Series, you’ll find my granddaughter’s first and middle name used, again, in a creative way. And in the manuscript for Book 3, you’ll find my oldest and youngest grandsons’ names. With one, I used just his first name because it’s a little unique. The other, I used his first and middle name in the same fashion as the granddaughter. I plan to use my third oldest grandson in Book 4, and eventually use my daughter’s first names in the remainder of the series, if they work out. If not, they pop up eventually.

The point is this: You need names, so why not use ones that have meaning? It’ll make for a great coffee table discussion when the fan club’s book group tries to figure out where the “N’s” are. But more importantly, it uses the people you love, within the craft you love, with the everlasting power of the written word, to create a legacy you all can treasure.


To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the link below:

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Is Writing More Enough? (A CAN Blog Post)




You’ve probably heard it said, “To sell more books, a writer must write more books.”

There’s some truth in that statement. If you write more GOOD books, people may stumble upon you in a bookstore or hear about you via word-of-mouth, and, after reading book #4, ask, “What else has this author penned?” And another set of eyeballs has been tapped.

However, is that enough? Do writers of fiction have to spend every waking moment (when not actually writing) Twittering, Facebooking, and whateverelse-ing to get their name “out there”? Rob Eagar, founder of Wildfire Marketing, would say, “Yes, and No.”

He claims marketing should not be hard. But simply writing more stories doesn’t cut it, either.

There are three things he notes in his Writer’s Digest article, dated January 27, 2012, entitled, Tips to Make Selling Fiction a Reality.”

The three things he lists are: 1) Enhance your website; 2) Generate Effective Newsletters; 3) Connect your story to a current event or a cause.

For more details on how to accomplish these, click on the hyperlink above. It’s a short article, but it may help redirect your efforts.

I know it has mine.


To see this article on the Christian Authors Network (CAN) website, click the link below:




Friday, May 22, 2015

Cheers! A Place Where Everybody Doesn't Know Your Name (A Seriously Write Blog Post)




David Koepp. Chuck Lorre. Brian Garfield.

Ever hear of these people?

Do Jurassic ParkThe Big Bang Theory, and Hopscotch ring any bells?

David Koepp helped write the screenplay for Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park: The Lost World. He also wrote or co-wrote some other notable films like, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise), Mission Impossible, and Men in Black 3, just to name a few. Koepp has won three awards, including a Hugo Award, and been nominated seven times for various industry awards.

Chuck Lorre is the creator (and one of the directors and writers) for The Big Bang Theory. He has also created or written stories for shows like Two and a half MenMike & MollyMom, Dharma & GregGrace Under Fire, and Cybill. He’s garnered several Emmys and been nominated some 22 times for various awards.

Brian Garfield goes back a little further in time. I bring him up because he not only wrote the novel, Hopscotch, but he also helped write the screenplay for the movie, too…my favorite movie of all time, by the way. His novel won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1976. Other novelists to win that award are people you might know, like Steven King (Mr. Mercedes, 2015), John le Carre (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, 1965), and Frederick Forsythe (The Day of the Jackal, 1972). So, not bad company. Garfield’s screenplay earned him an Edgar Award nomination for Best Motion Picture (1980) as well as a Writers Guild of America nomination for Best Comedy adapted from Another Medium (1980). Ironically, I thought the movie was so much better than the book. Not often the case, but in this one, it was. Garfield is also known for the Death Wish series, starring Charles Bronson, and Death Sentence (2007).

Looking at all the accolades mentioned above, one could easily surmise life for these three men as always being glamorous and glitzy. All the time. Every day. One look at their credits, and years of fame and fortune jump off the list. At face value, for no names like you and me, that can become discouraging.

Yet, did you know their names? When I asked you, did you say to yourself, “I know him!” In most cases, I would say, probably not, especially if you are a novelist.

In this day and age, with information glut adding pound after pound of unwanted trivial fat to our writer bodies and reading diets, and coupled with the specialization that occurs in most industries these days, is it any wonder you may not have heard of them? If you are a screenplay or teleplay writer, then you probably did know who they were. But you’d be scratching your head on writers’ names we novelists know.

The point is this (In my best Yoda voice): A name makes known one not. A name makes important one not.

Instead, it’s the work. The work makes the person. Not the name. And in most cases, there was a lot of work done before these men ever “caught their first break.” And yet, even though they are responsible in part for helping create some of the most famous TV shows, movies, and novels out there, many people still don’t know who they are. If you did your own Man on the Street interviews, Jay Leno style, the percentage of people who would correctly recognize these three men is small.

Chuck Lorre just wrote his 500th vanity card, a kind of trademark for him, at the end of his most recent episode of The Big Bang Theory. In those cards, which always appear in the credits at the end of one of his shows, some little editorial or comment from Lorre is printed and shown. The topics vary, but often have something to do with the show itself, or his life as a writer.

In this 500th card, he wrote the following1: 

When I sat down to write this, my five hundredth vanity card, my first inclination was to use self-deprecating humor. Something along the lines of how proud I am to have a large body of work. Sure, it has no real value, but hey, it's still large. If a person were to sit down and try to read all my cards, the verb "wade" might come to mind. But then I thought, "No. I am not going to waste this momentous event with false modesty. I am going to trumpet my accomplishment. I am going to take a well-deserved bow for eighteen years of hard work. Unpaid work. Work done just for the love of doing it. And let's not forget, I've really spilled my guts in some of these things. A man's life and innermost thoughts exposed for all to see. And oh, how I've labored over the jokes. Literally thousands of hours, grinding away, trying to find just the right combination of words to make you laugh. What was I thinking with the self-deprecation? Five hundred vanity cards. Who else has done that? I'll tell you who. Nobody. Just me. Yeah, that's right. You heard me. And I'll tell you another thing. No one ever will do it. You know why? Because you have to produce five hundred friggin' TV shows first!"

Okay, I'm done trumpeting.

And I think I need help.




Did you catch it? Eighteen years of hard work? And he’s only referring to the work done that we would probably recognize (See aforementioned shows above). What about the phrase, “Unpaid work”? Did you catch that one? Pro bono? Famous people don’t do pro bono work, do they? Only if they can write it off their taxes or get some great pub, right?

Apparently, yes. They do. Probably as a favor. Possibly as a means of “getting their name out there.” When you look up Lorre’s work, there are a great deal of “one episode” listings on his IMDb page, including Muppet Babies and some cartoon named Defenders of the Earth (Ever hear of that one? Me neither.)

It’s all about the work. Not what comes to us as a result of the work. Those things fade. But the work lives on long after the last paycheck’s been spent. And don’t be concerned if someone doesn’t know your name. If they know your work, isn’t that good enough?

So, before you go on your next self-deprecating tour, remember, it’s really all about the “hard, unpaid work” that makes us who we really are. For us, as Christians, that means even more (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Getting paid is gravy.


To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the link below:



Friday, April 24, 2015

What are You Reading? (A Seriously Write Blog Post)





This isn’t an article to suggest which writer’s handbook you should have on your shelf. Nor is it about who’s come out with the next best book on writing.

This is an article to ask you this question: Are you paying attention to what you are reading? To put it another way, when you read, do you analyze the writing? Do you notice the good, the bad and the…not-so-good?

I’m presently reading a novel which promised “suspense” and a “dabbling into the supernatural.” Unfortunately, thus far, what I have witnessed is unrealistic dialogue, and situations that leave me questioning if that would really happen in real life or a supernatural occurrence. I’m 30 pages in and wondering if I should continue.

Before I started reading the aforementioned book, I read another one written many, many years ago. The language was British, and the setting was the 1800s, which would have made this novel “contemporary” fiction at the time, so, I just overlooked the literary strategies that would never work with today’s reader (How sad!) and moved on. However, what I did glean from this book was the attention to detail and the careful use of words. I also noticed how the book jumped from first person in one chapter to third person in another and back again. And we thought that was something new… (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

I’m reading two more books right now. Both are non-fiction works on how to write screenplays. (“Hi. My name is Kevin, and I’m ADHD when it comes to reading.” I try to have at last one fiction and one non-fiction going at the same time.) What I appreciate from these books is the step-by-step progression. One of them builds off from a previous title in a collection of three, and illustrates the first book’s points in a “real-world” style so the reader can witness what was talked about (in the first book) and see it come to life on the big screen.

The other screenwriter’s book I’m reading is more of “Screenwriter’s 101” kind of book. Much of what I’ve read so far is material I already knew from attending screenwriting workshops at writers’ conferences. But what I love about this book is the methodical method used by the author without being laborious or making the reader feel like a dolt.

The point is, whatever you’re reading, whether fiction or non-fiction, there is something on the pages from which you can glean expertise. That proficiency may come in the form of reading a book that’s not very well written, so you learn from the mistakes. It may arise from a great novel, where before you realize it, you were swept away by the writing. Go back and digest how that writer did it. Ask the tough questions, like “What is this author doing that I’m not?” and “How can I take that style, that turn of a phrase, that imagery, those word choices, and apply it to my writing while, at the same time, make it my own and not just duplicate what would amount to being literary theft?” How can I learn from non-fiction, although being a fiction author, and vice-versa? What makes this such a great non-fiction book? Is it the stories told by the author to illuminate a point? Is it the insider information you never knew before? It is the turn of a phrase? The word choices?

You’ve heard it said, “We learn by doing.” But if you’re not teachable, then not much will be learned. We become great by listening. We become even better by being observant with both our ears and eyes. We become the best when we are pliable enough to be molded by those great things we see in others’ writings. If you don’t believe me, read Proverbs 1 and notice how many times you are urged to listen and make wise choices. It applies to the literary world, too.

None of us have arrived yet. No one writer knows it all. So, don’t try to start that club. You’ll be its only, lonely, sad, little member.

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link:  What Are You Reading?







Wednesday, April 22, 2015

An Interview with Author Dan Walsh




One of the things I love about writing is meeting great people. In this interview, my friend, Dan Walsh, gives us some real advice about the world of Christian publishing. 

Dan, Welcome! Let's get started!

Give us a short bio (Who are you, hobbies, where do you live, etc.; whatever you feel comfortable telling).

Let’s see…I’m in my late 50s; I’ve been married for 38 years. We live in the Daytona Beach area and have lived in the same home for thirty years. We have two grown children; one is married the other is getting married this summer. We have two grandchildren who, thankfully, live less than ten minutes away. Since I began writing full-time in 2010, I don’t really have any discernible hobbies except for hanging out with my wife and getting with my kids and grandkids. We do like to take walks with our dogs, or on the beach which is only a ten minute drive away.


           
How did you become a fiction author?

Back in high school, I thought that’s what I’d be doing for my career. Life took me in a different direction after experiencing a call to pastoral ministry at nineteen. I became a full-time pastor at twenty-eight and served full-time in the same church for the next twenty-five years. I never lost my desire to write fiction, just didn’t have the time to pursue it. In 2007, with my kids now grown I had some free time on my hands. My wife suggested I take up writing fiction again. I finished a Christmas novel that year, rewrote and polished it up in 2008. I submitted it to a few A-list agents and, to my surprise, two of them loved what I sent. I signed with one and she had a book deal with a major publisher (Revell) within 2 months. My first novel, The Unfinished Gift, did very well. It sold over 50,000 copies, won 2 Carol awards and still sells well every Christmas. That began a fairly long-term relationship with my agent and Revell. My 12th and final novel with them comes out in September, another Christmas novel called Keeping Christmas.
           

What are you working on now?

In 2014, I could see that a major shift in publishing was underway. Many of my author friends were no longer being re-signed by their publishers, some of whom went out of business and others began a major downsizing due to all these changes. I decided I should prepare myself to become an indie publisher. Sure enough, at the end of last summer my publisher chose not to re-sign me, but I was ready. Since then, I released my first two indie books. A suspense novel called, When Night Comes, which has done very well since its release in November (sold over 6,000 copies). And I just released a new 31-Day Devotional called Perfect Peace a few weeks ago. I’m currently writing the first novel in a new trilogy. It’s called Rescuing Finley. I hope to have it ready to release by the end of June.

What are some of the challenges of being a fiction author?

I could take a long time on this one. Let me see…I guess the biggest challenge is learning how to write well enough, and tell stories with enough suspense, that people don’t want to put them down once they start. No amount of marketing skill or social media expertise can make up for a poorly written story. But once a writer hones the craft well enough, I suppose the greater challenges they will face is learning how to market and promote your own books. Writers by nature are more artistic and creative, not typically gifted in the business side of things.
           

Piggybacking on the question above, what was your greatest marketing obstacle, and how did you overcome it?

I’m something of an oddball. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial bent. I started a business from scratch when I was nineteen, then became a church planter at age 28. Until the church had grown to a certain size, I pretty much had to wear all the business hats. But I liked it and found the challenges stimulating. The problem was, I couldn’t do both things at the same time (the administrative/business things and the creative/artistic things). After leaving fulltime ministry in 2010 to write full-time, I’ve been a “kept man” being with the major publisher. They handled most of the marketing activity themselves, leaving me free to mostly just write. In the last 6-8 months, since going indie, I’ve had to learn to do both things at the same time. It’s still quite challenging, but I’m finally through the rapids and into calmer waters.
           

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

I’m not sure I can pinpoint any singular event, but I can definitely say my expectations of what it means to be a published author have dramatically changed. Before being published, I used to share the perspective I think many people outside the publishing world still have. That is, that published authors become wealthy and famous. The truth is, 95% of published authors don’t even make enough off their writing to be full-time, and only 1% actually enjoy the kind of success typically depicted on movies and TV shows (like Castle).


What marketing tips have you learned from your experiences as an author which may help our readers?  

In some ways, my answer to this question would be very different depending on whether an author is under contract with a traditional publishing house (like I was for my first 12 novels), or is an indie like I am now. Most of the tips I would share would better help an indie author because, as I’ve said, when I was with Revell most of the marketing was done by their marketing or publicity departments (I just did what they asked me to).

Most of the things I’ve learned as an indie only work because I have complete control of the process behind the scenes. For example, I recently did a promotion for When Night Comes that required me to make all my e-books exclusively available through Amazon. But I was able to promote the book on a large email service that reaches tens of thousands of readers in a single day. I priced the book for 5 days at 99 cents. During the promo, Amazon let me keep 70% of the royalties. It cost me $420 to do the promo but I sold over 2,500 copies of the book in 5 days and made back over 4 times the cost of the ad in royalties. I wouldn’t have the freedom to do that before and if my publisher did something like that, I would only receive a small fraction of the sales.

In your “past lives” (think jobs you’ve had in the past you no longer have – not trying to get “new-agey” here), are there any “Do’s and Don’ts” you can list for writers when it comes to marketing? (Think Ten Commandment-style here, but you don’t have to use the Thou Shalts J)

1.      Be creative and courageous but not foolish.
2.      Map everything out as best you can to minimize surprises. Trust God for the results.
3.      Learn from what others have done, pay attention to what has worked for them. But don’t just do the same thing. Be willing to make adjustments, as needed, in areas where your situation is not the same.
4.      Don’t major on minors. I’ve found there are certain marketing activities I enjoy but they don’t do very much to help book sales. Other things I don’t enjoy very much turn out to be very effective. The goal of writing is to write a great book; the goal of marketing is sales (a very different goal). In marketing, you need to major on the things that are the most effective.


We know readers are leaders, and leaders are readers. Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better marketer? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life as a writer?
           
I’m sure there are some excellent books out there, but I’ve actually learned way more from interacting with other indie authors on Facebook than I have from any books I’ve read. There’s one group called Christian Indie Authors (CIA) that’s been especially helpful. I’ve asked many questions in this group and often receive exactly the help I need within an hour or two. It’s better than Google.



If you were asked to be on an editorial board for a publishing company, responsible for picking and choosing which books get published that year and which ones don’t, what advice would you give an author, based on your prior experiences?

I wouldn’t pay attention to trends, unless the publishing company was some radical new venture that could have a book on the shelves within two months of its completion (which indies can do). Most publishing houses require a year. There’s no way to know if what is trending now will still be trendy in a year. I would suggest they write a book that completely hooks the reader from the first few pages and doesn’t let up until the end. I would help them remove all the parts of their manuscript readers would probably skip. To me, the best asset for a book’s success is still the book itself. A great book is much easier to market.

           
What Bible scripture has impacted your life the most, and why?

Having walked with the Lord fairly closely for 40 years, it’s hard to pick just one Scripture above all others. Lately, it might be Isaiah 26:3, which says, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. Because he trusts in You.” This is a verse that anchors my soul and serves as the key verse for my new devotional, Perfect Peace.


Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, your writing, or anything we didn’t mention?

Maybe just a way they can connect with me online if they’d like. Probably the best thing is to simply go to my website www.danwalshbooks.com. There are buttons there to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or send me an email. You can also preview all my books by clicking on the Books button, then click on any of the covers to get a preview.


Thanks, Dan! May God bless your future endeavors!




C. KEVIN THOMPSON is an ordained minister with a B.A. In Bible (Houghton College, Houghton, NY), an M.A. in Christian Studies (Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS), and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (National-Louis University, Wheeling, IL). He presently works as an assistant principal in a middle school. He also has several years experience as an administrator at the high school level.

A former Language Arts teacher, Kevin decided to put his money where his mouth was and write, fiction mostly. Now, years later, he is a member of the Christian Authors Network (CAN), American Christian Fictions Writers (ACFW), and Word Weavers International. He is the Chapter President of Word Weavers-Lake County (FL), and his published works include two award-winning novels, The Serpent’s Grasp (Winner of the 2013 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference Selah Award for First Fiction) and 30 Days Hath Revenge - A Blake Meyer Thriller: Book 1, as well as articles in The Wesleyan Advocate, The Preacher, Vista, The Des Moines Register and The Ocala Star-Banner.

Kevin is a huge fan of the TV series 24 , The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, and Criminal Minds, loves anything to do with Star Trek, and is a Sherlock Holmes fanatic, too.

Website:           www.ckevinthompson.com
Blogs:               www.clevinthompson.blogspot.com
Facebook:          C. Kevin Thompson – Author Page
Twitter:            @CKevinThompson

Goodreads:        C. Kevin Thompson