Play it Safe Newbie Writers

This week I'm taking a break from writing and instead am shushing some great powder in Steamboat Springs. Sound like a fantastic getaway? Yeah, it would be, if it weren't for a killer headache, perpetual nausea, shortness of breath, and a general feeling of being hit by a Mack truck. Turns out skiers from lower altitudes like me shouldn't hit the highest slopes on day one because of altitude illness. Apparently I should've acclimated myself first.

Which is a really good idea for newbie writers as well. A wannabe writer needs to acclimate or risk a writerly-type version of the same sort of malaise. How to do that? Here are a few tips . . .

#1. Don't expect to write a best seller with your very first manuscript. Slow down. Take your time to practice on a few stories before you expect to sell one.

#2. Slow and steady wins the race. Rushing to pump out a novel is going to sound like a rushed novel. Take your time to learn the basics and practice with them.

#3. Give yourself a break and don't be so hard on yourself. It's normal to feel like a loser when you don't land a contract right away, but don't give up. Most writers I know took 5-10 years before selling something. Others even longer.

Yeah, I'll be hitting the slopes again tomorrow but I won't be going to the top peaks again. I've learned my lesson to take it easy for the first few days. Learn your lesson, writer, and don't be overly ambitious in what you expect to accomplish at first.

Why Your Book Doesn't Sell ~ an Infographic

Share or outright steal, this is for you, folks.

How to Uncliché a Cliché

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times . . . avoid clichés like the plague. Okay, so yeah, that whole first sentence was a royal no-no, but today I'm here to say you can use clichés in your writing, as long as you know how to do it. So slap on a helmet and let's go.

The reason clichés are frowned upon is because they're so overdone, readers not only gloss over them, they do so with a gag reflex. Using common phrases are a sign of a rookie writer. No one wants to look like a novice, so here are some handy dandy ways to incorporate clichés with a fresh twist.

3 Ways to Uncliché a Cliché  

1. Freshen up the old with the new.
A fun way to surprise a reader is to use an old phrase but give it a new twist. Add on to it. Example: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence — because his neighbor uses fertilizer.

2. Do the unexpected.
Spicing up a cliché is really an opportunity to get creative. Instead of using "not in a million years" you could use the same concept by applying it to something else that lasts a long time.
Example: Not in an ocean's lifetime.

3. Go opposite.
Twist a negative cliché into a positive one, or vice versa. Instead of the positive: you have to look through the rain to see the rainbow, tweak the end so it's negative.
Example: You have to look through the rain to see the tornado that's headed straight at you.

As you can see, it takes way more brain work to breathe life into an old, worn-out mess of words, but when done creatively, it's a great way to perk up your writing and delight a reader.

A Case for Inspirational Romance

When people ask me what I write, I usually say historical fiction -- not historical romance. Why? Because a good Christian girl shouldn't be interested in that sensual kind of earthly stuff. Right?

Wrong.

Granted, romance has some negative connotations, but there is a flip side. Think about it for a minute. God is the author of love. He's the one who created it and put into motion an everlasting romance between Christ and the church. Stories about heroes loving their heroines are a dim reflection of that. Is it any wonder we love a happy ending?

We all have an inner craving to be loved. Deep down in everyone's heart there is a desire to be cherished. Reading/writing about that desire (note: not talking about sex/erotica here) reminds us that feeling is but a shadow of what will be some day be fully consummated.

We cannot out-imagine God when it comes to things that delight our souls. When you enjoy a romantic story, imagining wonderfully awesome things, let it put you in a spirit of worship via 1 Corinthians 2:9 ~ "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

What's more lovely than love? Philippians 4:8 says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable." Am I taking that out of context? Maybe. But thinking on grander concepts such as mercy, grace, justice, or yes indeedy, love fit that bill.

Even God uses romance via story in the Song of Solomon as a picture of a desirable romance. Inspirational romance stories provide the same sort of picture, of a beautiful, overcoming love. A turning point for my faith that gave me a greater sense of God's love for me was via just such a story. Streiker's Bride, in case you're interested.

All this being said, of course you can take this to the dark side. Lusting after a fictional character, becoming dissatisfied with your "real" relationships, using inspirational romance as a springboard to erotica (giving in to the hey-that's-just-a story-too mentality) are not only ill-advised but are outright rebellion against God's plan.

Personally, I'll probably still say I write historical fiction instead of romance. Not because I don't believe in it being perfectly acceptable. It's the slanty-eyed looks of of condemnation that I'd rather not endure.

Stop the Political Madness

Is anyone besides me sick to death of the current political feeding frenzy on social media? Yeah, our country has problems, but here's a newsflash for you: we always have and we always will. Getting frothed up online damages your reputation.

Case in point: I moseyed over to Facebook the other day to check out a particular actor who's picture was an inspiration for one of my heroes. Whewie! The venom this fella was spewing about the current administration kept me from 'liking' his page. Not that I'm a huge Trump supporter, but the man's negativity was a huge turn off.

There was also a blogger who I used to avidly follow until his posts morphed from awesome writing advice to rant-filled nastiness about those in charge.

Now don't get me wrong . . . I'm not saying you shouldn't voice your opinion. The first amendment is still my all-time fave. I'm simply saying make the extra effort to be kind in how you express yourself.

It's an ugly world out there. Bring a little beauty to your little piece of turf by smiling at someone today.

New Book Announcement

Pull out your jing-dingle-horns and bang on your twiddly-drums because it's time for an announcement . . . drum roll please . . . Coming your way sometime early next year (yes, I know it's still early this year, but patience is a virtue, my friend), I give to you THE INNKEEPER'S DAUGHTER.

Tension is high with the threat of a Napoleonic attack in Regency England, but risk from abroad means nothing when there’s danger at home.

Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue . . . until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm.

All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother.

Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

It’s a race against time for them both.

Now then, is that hero's name ringing any bells? It should be if you read Brentwood's Ward. Alex is a fellow officer of Nicholas Brentwood, so yes, there will be a cameo scene featuring Brentwood and you'll get caught up on how he and Emily are doing.

Writing Software Tools

Scrivener is the top dog when it comes to organizing story material. It's the writerly tool of choice for lots of writers. I'm not one of them. Not that I have anything against the program. It's just that I'm old school, preferring actual slips of paper and writing in cursive with a pen. But old school and Scrivener aren't the only 2 choices out there. Here are a few more you might want to consider . . .

Storyist

This word processor helps you track plot, characters and settings while keeping all of your writing organized and accessible. This one is great for screenwriters as well. And as a bonus, this includes all the tools you need to output your final novel if you're planning on self-publishing.

Pricepoint: $59

yWriter

This program is the step between old school and high-tech. yWriter was made by an author, so while there aren't a whole lot of bells and whistles, it does break your novel into chapters and scenes. But the best thing about this program is that it's free.

Pricepoint: $0

Ulysses

In their own words: "A pleasant, focused writing experience combined with effective document management, fast syncing and flexible export make Ulysses the first choice for writers of all kinds."

Pricepoint: $24.99

Bibisco
Here's another freebie that's even jazzier than yWriter. You can organize chapters and scenes, manage revisions and even export your novel in pdf or rtf.

Pricepoint: $0