A Reason for Being (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

Lajos Egri, in his book The Art of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Emotions, calls it premise. He says that without a premise, a writer doesn’t know where he or she is going. The writer is wandering through a self-made, literary desert, looking for a reason to continue and having no earthly idea which direction to go.

Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose-Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission, believes if a church doesn’t know it’s purpose, then it can easily get sidetracked or bogged down in earthly matters which have no heavenly relevance.

Robert Marzano, in his book The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction, gives the basis for his growth model which focuses on the Learning Goals in a classroom. If the goals are not the focus, then much of what is taught in the classroom denigrates into simple but boring busywork, or it shapes up into well-intended but misguided assignments which leave the students wondering how their work is relevant to life and worth their time to complete.

It seems that no matter what profession you enter, you can find a book, read an article, or hear an expert say virtually the same thing. I find this interesting and opportunistic. To me, it proves our world is searching for answers to the eternal. People inside and outside the church long for meaning to this life. The “Why am I here?” question arises within all souls, I believe. And Heaven knows they try to find the answer in everything but God, it seems. Nevertheless, the fact they are looking for it is good news for us as writers.

Within the realm of writing, Egri states other writers have used different words to describe this concept: theme, thesis, root idea, central idea, goal, aim, driving force, subject, plan, plot, and basic emotion.[1]  Of course, he believes the term “premise” encapsulates all of these ideas, including the term “purpose.” I believe arguing over which word best describes what an author is to do is a bit of a “potatoe-pototoe” squabble, personally.

The point is, if a writer starts a fiction manuscript, a poem, a non-fiction article, or whatever floats her boat, and she doesn’t know where it will start, doesn’t know how it will end, and really doesn’t understand why the piece needs to be written in the first place, then the writing will show it. It will wander aimlessly, filling page after page with helpless details and hopeless dialogue. The reader—if she gets very far into it—will plow through these meandering sentences searching, even hoping, for anything meaningful. Why? Because there was a purpose in their purchasing of the book.

They spent money making a decision to buy your book over the 10,000,000+ books out there from which to choose (Wow! Chew on that for a minute.). They also made a conscious decision to set aside valuable time from their busy schedule to read your work. So, why would an author sit down and start plucking away at the keyboard if he or she doesn’t have a clue what they are ultimately writing? Egri would say you need to be very specific. Writing about love isn’t good enough. What kind of love are you targeting? How deep does that love go? What direction? And is it engaging? Does it have a goal? A purpose? A reason for being?

We would call a family who jumps into their car and takes off for the family vacation with no destination in mind a bunch of buffoons, right? Who does that? Not only do they need all those things decided BEFORE they start the engine, they also need to ask some deeper questions, like did they want to stay busy? Or do they want to relax? Did they want to sightsee? Or do they want to “get away from it all”? City or country? Hotels or camping? With no specificity—i.e., a reason for being—vacations, like writing forays, become beyond silly.

When I write, I have overarching themes which drive the tenor of the book or series. There might be underlying themes—subplots which carry their own reason for being—but they are subservient to the overarching purpose of the story. For example, in The Serpent’s Grasp, the purpose/overarching theme is, “What is truth in light of scientific discovery?” In other words, science isn’t going away, nor should it. But how do we as Christians take scientific discoveries—viewing them through the lens of scripture—and help explain it all to a world searching for its own reason for being?

In my Blake Meyer series, the purpose/overarching theme is: “What is true peace in light of patriotism and nationalism?” In other words, where does being a patriot and protecting your country—while trying to bring about peace to your country—cross paths with what true peace is and is not? Can they coexist? And if so, how?

These bedrock questions help keep me grounded when I want to write my way off the grid or into a corner.

If you want your writing to be money and time well spent in the mind of your reader, then before you type the first word of the first line of the first chapter, figure it out. What is the premise to your story? Why are you writing it in the first place? What is your story’s reason for being? If your answer is, I just want the reader to feel good or be entertained, that’s not good enough. There are too many other things clamoring for people’s time and money that can bring about the same end result.

How do you determine your story’s reason for being? How do your novels’ premises differ from one story to the next?

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[1] Egri, Lajos. The Art of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Emotions. Touchstone; New York, NY. 2004 ed. p. 2.

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link:  "A Reason for Being"





*Photo used courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

My Story - Part 6: The Not-So-Final Chapter (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

After my incident with the unscrupulous agent (Part 1 of my story) and my aversion to Christian writers conferences and fledgling, self-publishing houses (Part 2 of my story), I realized I still had to keep writing (Part 3 of my story). I also decided to give one of those “Christian Writers Conferences” a try (Part 4), and that turned out not so bad (Part 5).

You get an idea. Feel the urge to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). You forge a story out of the block of marble that is your imagination, and voilà, you have a novel, short story, or whatever.

You methodically trod the steps given to you at those writers conferences, and Wham!

You land a contract!

With a traditional publisher!!!!

Now, you’re on Cloud Eleven because Cloud Nine is too low. However, there should be warning labels on contracts for first-time authors much like what appears on cigarette cartons:

WARNING: When taking Contract, patient may become unrealistically euphoric. Patient may not be able to live with normal people due to excessive giddiness. Please consult your doctor before taking Contract. Some patients who took Contract experienced many days of angst waiting for Contract to deliver on its promise. XYZ Publishing Company is not responsible for hair loss, increased cholesterol levels, blood pressure spikes, wrinkles, sleepless nights, sudden changes in dietary needs, changes in relationship statuses, deterioration in marital bliss, eyesight strain due to monitoritis, back pain due to extended internet surfing of analytics, bouts with mild depression, bouts with despair at various depths, and feelings of general malaise associated with the use of literary narcotics. Some patients have even experienced death while using Contract. Please use responsibly.

Had that warning been written on my contract, it may have saved me some hair.

Now, before I make this whole ordeal sound like a real downer, understand something. In multiple venues and from myriad angles, I was already forewarned. In books on writing, I had read chapters on how the industry works; especially on turnaround times from contract to publication. One year and up to two can be the norm. Less than a year is doable, but more unlikely the larger the publishing house is. I had also heard similar instruction at writer’s conferences.

It’s a favorite question among newbie authors who have never driven down the road to publication before. “Are we there yet?” I know. I was one of the badgers, I’m afraid. I tried not to be pesky. I really did.

Obviously, just sitting and waiting, not hearing back for months on end is not the way to go, either. Publishers will even admit that a courtesy contact (preferably via email) asking for an update is not looked upon as detrimental. Sometimes, things happen and communication gets garbled.

I remember sending my completed manuscript the first time. I waited about two months for a response. After two months, I felt it was sufficient time to “inquire” as to the status of my submission. The Christian Writers Conference people told me, by industry standards, it was well-within my right and privilege to do so. I was expecting to hear something like, “Yours is next in the queue. We should have an answer within the week.” Instead, the reply was, “We never received it.”

I was, uh, horrified! Two months of my writing life…lost in cyberspace. And I’m not getting any younger. I checked.

So, I resubmitted the manuscript and checked back with a “read receipt” email of sorts. Once I had confirmation the submission was not sitting at the Siberian Cyberspace Depot again, I moved on with writing.

It was approximately three months before I heard back with a glowing review and offer of a contract. So, this is how it went:

Time table from Conference meal (see Part 5) to glowing review and contract offer: 6 months.

Time table from contract offer to signing of contract: almost 1 month.

Time table from Contract to Release Date: 15 months.

Total time table: 22 months.

See how handy a warning label would have been?

In those last few months, things picked up. Interior proofs, book cover designs, and back cover copy proofs all had to be edited for final approval. I was told to “get ready.” This was the flurry. Soon, there would be a squall.

But after the first flurry, there was a lull. No. Actually? It was “crickets.”

I would later learn something profound. Publishers and editors are real people, too. Real people have lives. Real people get sick. Real people have family members who need care. The list goes on, as you well know. It was one of these “real people” moments that postponed the squall. Like meteorologists trying to supply us with an accurate 10-day forecast, so too, the publisher/editor cannot always predict the weather of life.

Once “life” stepped aside, the process began again until the final product sat on my kitchen table, in a box, revealing to me that dreams do come true after all. Even on Contract.

Moral of the story: Don’t fret. Just keep writing. My prayer has always been for God to use my work for His glory and honor. That prayer has never changed, although I had to go back to it often to steer myself back onto the pavement of righteousness and keep myself from careening off the guardrail or sailing over the cliff of self-absorption. We wish there was a step-by-step guide handed out by the publisher so we could always look to it and see the “You are here” arrow. However, there is no such guide because real people have lives, the industry changes overnight, and what sold two years ago (vampires, anyone?) morphs into the newest bobble in the window (dystopian, anyone?).

Little did I know my family would have a medical setback during those 22 months. Had the book come out during that period, I would probably have no hair by now, but God knew.

So, don’t fret. Write. Write some more. Check periodically, if needed, with your editor, agent, whoever. Then, write some more. Because you know, once the book is out, and if it does well enough, the next question to arise will be, “Do you have another submission ready to look at?”

That’s when it’s time for another dose of Contract.

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: Part 6 of "My Story."

My Story - Part 5 (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

After my incident with the unscrupulous agent (Part 1 of my story) and my aversion to Christian writers conferences and fledgling, self-publishing houses (Part 2 of my story), I realized I still had to keep writing (Part 3 of my story). I also decided to give one of those “Christian Writers Conferences” a try (Part 4).

In the months, weeks, and days leading up to the writer’s conference, I remember looking over the brochure that came in the mail. I must have perused it seemingly a thousand times, checking out authors, agents, and companies on the internet, trying to find out information about each one. I also prayed and asked God to guide me. Some of the people and companies I had heard of, many I had not. I did not want to get bamboozled again by a scoundrel.

There was one, however, to which God kept pointing me. I spent several hours on that website wondering if this company would be a good match.

During the evening meal on the first day of the conference, I walked into the dining hall to get in line and saw the table with the company’s placard setting on it. The table had some people's belongings on it. I made a mental note and thought that if the table wasn’t full, I’d sit there. Sure enough, there was room…right next to the editor.

I went through the typical pleasantries and sat down only to find that editors are people, too. They have families both large and small. They face challenges that make them human. They experience joys and hurts of body and soul. Many have laudable accomplishments, lofty expectations, and enough disappointments to fill an entire world within the expanding universe we call publishing.

During the next few meals, we connected, talking about family and the physical challenges members had faced. And of course, this editor asked me about my writing. When I informed her that I had a science thriller finished and ready to present, she was very interested, asking me questions about it. So, right there, at the very table God had flagged down for me days prior with the help of the brochure, an opportunity was born. By the time the meal concluded, I had a business card, instructions on how to email the manuscript to her, and an assurance that there was high interest in my work because of the subject matter.

Once the conference was over, I did a re-edit and submitted the manuscript as instructed. (We'll call that publisher "Pub #1.")

Then, the wait began.

Now, before I ever attended the conference, I had “submitted” my work to another publisher who was interested (we’ll call them “Pub #2”). Before I submitted the manuscript, however, Pub #2 told me about a contest they were sponsoring that I might be interested in joining. It was a new concept being tried wherein contestants were asked to write the following about their novel:

• A one sentence synopsis (20 words or less)
• A Blurb (100-words or less) or Back Cover Copy
• A one page synopsis
• The first page of the novel 

In a series of “elimination rounds” (think American Idol meets Writer’s Digest), readers could view these entries and vote for their favorites. The first round was purely based on the one sentence synopsis. If I remember, they could vote for their top three.

The entries were then whittled down from everybody who entered to the top 30 or so vote-getters (I really don't remember how many were left). Round 2 revealed the Blurb. Voting would commence again and narrow the field of contestants down to 20 or so. Then Round 3 revealed the one-page synopsis, etc., until the final round narrowed the contestants down to the top three vote-getters. Those three would then receive the prize of getting a priority “read” by the publisher to consider their work for publication, i.e., their works would go to the head of the class.

I finished 17th.

I have to admit I was discouraged. I thought that if someone would just read the novel and not just what I wrote about it, they’d love it. However, I learned a very valuable lesson through that entire process. If a person picks up your book off a shelf or clicks on it via the internet, it is largely based on:

1. Whether or not your book cover caught their eye
2. Whether or not your synopsis grabbed them
3. Whether or not your back cover copy intrigued them

It is not until AFTER they have reviewed those things do they then open the book and read the first page or two (unless they have already been sold by the word of mouth of friends and acquaintances, which by the way, means someone else liked the cover, found the back cover copy intriguing, and was willing to read the first couple of pages).

In other words, you cannot escape the need for good covers, a good synopsis, or a great BCC. And of course, the story has to be good, too! (How many books have you picked up and thought, Wow! I'd love to read this! So you buy it, only to find the synopsis, the BCC, and the book cover were the best parts?)

After the contest was over, Pub #2 did contact me some months later and request my manuscript, stating that my query letter and other submitted items made my submission one of the more promising ones they had received in a while. That was encouraging.

There were two other publishers interested in my novel as well. One was from the writer’s conference, a result of making an appointment and pitching my work. That one was a pretty big publishing house. Just to have them give my manuscript a sniff was an honor and encouraging. The other house I heard about through a series of discussions with some friends online. I sent them the items requested based on their instructions. They felt the project was too big for them, which was understandable. It was a newer press. Again, I was encouraged; someone thought it worthy of a look-see.

I told other conferees I had two requests for my work via the conference and the two others from outside the conference. I was just plain excited and couldn't contain myself. Being a newbie, I was really excited, actually. My writer friends informed me this was a little unheard of. I guess not too many people get that many requests their first go ‘round at a conference for their first novel.

Again, encouraging.

Pub #1 eventually contacted me and said they were interested in sending me a contract. So, after much prayer, I agreed to sign with Pub #1 and notified Pub #2 of my decision, as they were still mulling it over.

Moral of the Part 5: Follow God’s lead. His paths are not our paths; His ways are not our ways. Follow His Holy Spirit’s nudging. That’s how I sat down at that table for dinner. I simply felt a pull. A nudge. I’m glad He didn’t have to shove or yank. I had never heard of Pub #1 until I received the brochure, and still didn’t know anything about them until I researched them online. And even then, I still didn’t know they would be the one. I actually thought it would be Pub #2 or another publisher who, as it turned out, never even gave me the time of day.

Just shows how much I know.

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: Part 5 of "My Story"

My Story - Part 4 (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

I'm wearing my granddaughter's glasses

After my incident with the unscrupulous agent (Part 1 of my story) and my aversion to Christian writers conferences and fledgling, self-publishing houses (Part 2 of my story), I realized I still had to keep writing (Part 3 of my story). I also decided to give one of those “Christian Writers Conferences” a try.

I sent my check, received my email confirmation, and remember feeling a knot in my stomach the size of a large millstone.

What do I do now? I thought. Surely there’s a “How To” Guide online somewhere…

The email spoke of setting up appointments with agents and editors, gave tips on how to present yourself well. It mentioned the dreaded “elevator pitch.” There were descriptions of workshops and general sessions. I had attended numerous secular conferences for various reasons before, so I knew how conferences worked, but how would “they” do it? What was appropriate and what wasn’t? Were you expected to be “over the top” enthusiastic about your own work, or should you be more reserved? The more I thought about it, the more I started to think I was in way over my head.

The big names which donned the docket didn’t help my nerves, either. Cec Murphey. Jeff Gerke. Nancy Rue. Angela Elwell Hunt. T. Davis Bunn. And, oh yea. Some guy named Jerry Jenkins.

No pressure.

As the days of the conference approached, I grew more excited and alarmed all at the same time. I was asking questions, trying to get as much of a handle on this conference thing as I could. I was a novice, but I didn’t want to appear to be one. Yet, as the conference date approached, I often thought the conference director was probably sitting at home, wondering if she should refund my money with no strings attached.

“Just give this guy his money back so he’ll stop asking all these questions.”

Yeah. I was that guy.

The day finally arrived, and I remember driving to the first-timers meeting at the beginning of the conference thinking to myself, “Okay, so don't get your hopes up, dude. The odds of you getting anyone interested in your story on the first shot are astronomical.” It was as if I was trying to fail ahead of time.

I know, I need help. Most writers do.

Little did I know what would happen next.I attended the first meal of the first day of my first Christian writers conference. Lunch. At the meals, I learned you can sit with agents and editors and other writers and get to know them. As people. As something other than agents or editors or writers. It was an enlightening experience. So enlightening, in fact, this became one of my favorite parts of the conference experience. Never mind the eating part (something I’ve been known to enjoy). It’s the camaraderie and networking. I got to know some great people I never would have known otherwise.

The experience was so great, I showed up the next morning for breakfast, all excited about sitting at the table of one person I wanted to get to know due to some previous conversations we had before the conference via email. I anxiously awaited for him to show up at “his table” (the one with his name tag on it), but he didn’t sit there. He had the nerve to sit somewhere else and ignore me entirely. I was getting a little bothered until a fellow conferee informed me that the conference faculty and other dignitaries didn’t have to sit at their “table” for breakfast. They could go where they wanted. Lunch and Supper were the “locked-in” meals. It was then I recalled why I was so nervous in the days and weeks leading up to the conference.

Stupid Newbie. You’re such a novice. You’re gonna look the part regardless of how hard you try to avoid it.

Despite the breakfast faux pas, there was one meal that transformed my entire conference outlook, and that meal will be served next month.

Moral of Part 4: The “experts” who teach at these conferences (although they will be the first ones to tell you they often get things wrong as often as they get it right) know the business. So, if you are a newbie, listen to them. Take the advice, sift it through your own personal system of discernment, and act on what you feel will honor God. Trust me. You’ll be glad you did. 

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: Part 4 of "My Story"

My Story - Part 3 (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

After my incident with the unscrupulous agent (Part 1 of my story can be found here) and my aversion to Christian writers conferences and fledgling, self-publishing houses (Part 2 of my story can be found here), I understood one very important thing: You have to keep writing. It’s a lot like any worthwhile pursuit in life. If you want to be good at something, even at a professional level, you have to practice. Study the playbook. Know all the basics, the nuances, and tricks of the trade to be the best. For in this business, aren’t we all attempting to be professionals? If not, we should be. Otherwise, it’s the arena leagues of life for the rest of our careers. Say, “Goodbye,” to your “NFL” dreams.

On this road to publication, the common fallacy is to believe those New York Times bestselling authors out there, whose work you love to read when it’s released, wrote his or her first bestseller and immediately skyrocketed to stardom. Often, though, that is not the case. Rarely does an author write the great American novel on his or her first try. Usually, there are works in the files, stored away, that will never see the light of a bookstore. There are often several lesser known works flailing away in mid-list purgatory. Even Michael Crichton, with all his success, had Pirate Latitudes tucked away in his files. My guess is it would have remained there if he was still alive.

So, getting back to my story, after reading scads of books on writing, I realized that while I suffered the agony of defeat in the form of rejection letters and emails, coupled with the raw nerves of being duped by the bad agent, I was not going to improve unless I kept writing. So while A Case of Deja Vu slowly moved into the filing cabinet, I started work on my second novel, Q Do You Believe?, based on the Star Trek-TNG series. This work was strictly a labor of love and written for my oldest daughter because we both were big ST fans. It was never intended to be submitted for publication. It was to be a gift for her 16th birthday. I proudly presented it to her on her 18th birthday.

So much for deadlines.

I then tried my hand at YA fiction, completing the first book in a proposed series entitled The Doulos Files, titled after the Greek word for a “servant.” The series was designed to be used in youth groups to help spark discussions and teach members about servanthood in the Kingdom of God. Did I try to get it published? Yes. I farmed it out. And I got rejected. I got discouraged, too. However, I didn’t quit, although the thought had crossed my mind a time or two.

All the while, I studied up on self-publication and had almost settled on a new self-publishing house which was affiliated with a big publishing house everyone would know if I mentioned it. If the book did well, then the big parent house would pick it up. Sounded good to me. Everything, except the price. Several thousands of dollars if I went with the Cadillac of packages offered? Only a couple thousand if I picked the Yugo package. However, even if I had the money, which I didn't, spending that much moola was a high hurdle for me to jump.

Then, I received a flyer from a writer’s conference. The cost of going to the conference fit the budget better, but I still had my hang up about conferences to overcome. After praying about it, I felt led to give the conference a try. If it proved to be a waste of time, then I’d pat myself on the back for having my spiritual reservations confirmed and start saving my pennies for an incursion into the land of self-publication.

Moral of Part 3: Stop talking about that next book you want to write. Stop reading the rejection letters and throwing those pity parties for which we writers are so famous. Instead, write. Read about writing and write. Read the works of other authors you like to read. Then, compare your writing. How does theirs differ? What makes their writing good by industry standards? Find those answers and apply it to your writing. And never stop. Even when you get published, you’ll always feel it could have been better.

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: Part 3 of "My Story"