Ten Ways Seekerville Made Me A Better Writer

with guest Virginia Carmichael (aka Mary Jane Hathaway).

Hi, everybody!  I’m so excited to be back in Seekerville. It’s the one website that has really shaped me as a writer and here are just a few ways that’s happened. 

1.) Seekerville taught me to ‘walk on water’ 

A beginning writer is filled with self-doubt. A seasoned writer is filled with self-doubt. This job has a lot of what I call ‘walking on water.'

My husband drives off to work and he knows his employment will be open, his boss will be there, his crew will be there, and the day’s work is pretty much going to be what he’s done for the last twenty years. No real surprises.

That’s not the way this business works. EVERYTHING changes. But there’s no reason to be afraid. Seekerville is the place I realized that we’ve been given a divine calling to write. Change is good. Pray hard, have a little faith, and don’t look down at the waves. 

2.) Seekerville exposed me to a variety of authors.

This might not sound like much, but we all know that writers have to be readers. Unlike some writing blogs, it’s never been just the biggest sellers or a very small circle of the ‘old guard’. I’m so thankful for the many and varied authors that have come through this site, and all the wisdom they’ve given us so willingly!

3.) It’s not all sunshine and roses. 

When you first start writing, you float around on a bright and shiny cloud of optimism! You know your book will be brilliant. You know you’ll find an agent and sell to a Big Five House. (Seasoned writers are all laughing loudly at this.) Seekerville has never shied away from tackling the tough topics like rejections, writer’s block, time constraints, low sales, etc. The writer’s life isn’t all brownies, hot coffee, and unlimited writing time. Sometimes it’s bruised bananas, tap water, and six kids with the flu. And that’s okay. Persistence is key, and Seekerville prepares you for the long haul (with friendship and virtual coffee).

4.) Sometimes that “hand up” is one you can touch.

I’ve probably told this story a dozen times here and there, but way back in 2011 (or was it 2012?) I won a printer on Seekerville. Back then, everything was sent by mail, so every time I queried an agent or sent a partial, I had to pay .10 a sheet at the library. It doesn’t sound like much, but as a struggling young family living on one income, that turned into $50 or more a month when I was sending out partials and fulls. When I won that printer, it helped me tremendously. (I also edit better on paper so that is another way that prize made me a better writer!) Can you believe it’s still going strong? Seekerville isn’t just a place where people type into the void. The support is real, tangible, and life-changing. I can’t promise you’ll win a printer, but you might win some really good books, and those can be just as life-changing.

5.) How the book comes into being is not the important bit.

Before I discovered Seekerville, I thought that if I made a bullet point list of plot points, then plotted it out in a short form of thirty pages, then handwrote it into a notebook, and then transcribed it, the book would be better. Is it any wonder it took me two years to write my first book???

Seekerville taught me that every writer has a different method. The typewriter isn’t better than pen. Mac isn’t better than PC. Scrivener isn’t better than Word. Plotting isn’t better than pantsing. Writing from A-Z isn’t better than writing scenes as they occur to you. You get the idea… The book is the important part, and how you get there doesn’t really matter.

6.) Community is key.

The writing life can be very isolating. No regular person wants to hear about your character dilemmas, or how you have to erase three chapters because you realized your villain wasn’t mean enough. You need someone to talk to, preferably a whole group of someones! If you can’t find the right group of writer friends, keep looking. When you find it, you’ll realize that having these people behind you is the difference between night and day. They’ll pray for you, cheer for you, go to bat for you, listen to you when you’re obsessed with a book, and hold your hand when things go wrong. There’s no substitute for that great group of writing friends. 

7.) Craft Must be Learned

OK, I may be speaking for myself here, but a lot of what I understood writing to be when I first started was simply wrong. I’m not talking about grammar, formatting, and fonts. I’d had plenty of time in academia to know how to use a dictionary. I’m talking about story structure, POV, switching perspectives, the hero’s journey, inspirational theme, saggy middles, engaging the reader, starting with a bang, a satisfying ending, etc. There are a few instinctually good writers who can simply pick up a pen and craft a masterpiece. The rest of us have to learn it. Seekerville is responsible for 85% of my understanding of craft. The other 15% comes from books recommended by Seekerville posts.

8.)  Word Count Is Key.

Another reason it took me two years to write my first book was that I didn’t really grasp how connected word count was to actually finishing. I know, you’re rolling your eyes. 

I crafted what I thought was a masterful first three chapters. (Let’s not debate whether it really was masterful, haha.) Then I’d learn something new, and go back and revise. Then I’d write a few paragraphs, have a week or so break because I was a busy mom and life was crazy, then write a few more paragraphs. When I looked back at those first few chapters, I saw things I wanted to change. So I’d spend precious writing time revising… again. 

Lather, rinse, and repeat for eighteen months. When I read a Seekerville comment on 1K a day word counts (I think that was you, Ruthy) the light FINALLY DAWNED. Good grief, I might still be revising those first three chapters six years later if I hadn’t read that comment!

9.) Genre is everything.

In 2011,  I simply wrote the book that had appeared in my head. I had no idea that what I was calling romance, was actually Christian romance. Having a Christian element suddenly slotted my book into a different category, one that most agents weren’t interested in selling. Also, most books in that genre weren’t the five hundred page tomes I liked to read. (I blame Julie Lessman for that misunderstanding, haha!) They were more three hundred or less. 

Part of writing to sell is understanding the market. Knowing the genre of the book you’ve written (and adding or deleting, if you must) is absolutely key in finding a publishing home for your book. Seekerville helped me understand not only how to write, but what it was exactly that I had written. 

10.) It’s okay to not have all the answers. 

Sometimes, years after you’ve written a book, you realize the ending was THIS CLOSE to being fantastic, but you simply weren’t a good enough writer at the time to get to it. And that’s okay. There’s no shame in looking back on old books and seeing flaws you didn’t see before. That means you’ve grown and changed as a writer. Seekerville reminds me that we’re writers with a calling, souls on a journey. We do the very best we can, where we are, right now. It’s not about awards, royalties, or headlines. It’s about reaching readers with a story and honoring the Giver of this gift called writing. 


Happy TENTH anniversary, Seekerville! The original Seekers, the blog posters, the commenters, the community… I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without you!

What about you, Villagers? Do any of these ten ways resonate? How has Seekerville made you a better writer-or reader?

Virginia/Mary Jane is giving away a copy of Autumn's Majesty: Seasons of Faith Book Two to one commenter today! Winner announced in the next Weekend Edition.

Can the town busybody learn to keep a secret? 

Vivacious Jamie Lawson has a lot in common with her first-grade students. She’s bright, curious, energetic, has a big heart… and lacks any kind of filter. Her friends laugh about how she can’t help sharing what’s on her mind, but her mother warns her that trouble will find a woman who can’t hold her tongue.

The day Jamie accidentally breaks her best friend’s trust, she finally realizes that what is charming in a six-year-old, just isn’t as adorable in an adult. She vows that with God’s help, she’s going to listen more and talk less, especially around handsome Theo Delis. He’ll be helping her run the Lawson Family Blueberry Farm for the summer, and it will be the perfect time for Jamie to learn a little introspection. His serious, no-nonsense demeanor is the polar opposite of her gabby personality, and she’s sure he’ll be drawn to her new, aloof personality. 

But as the heat of an Arcadia Valley summer settles in, Jamie discovers there’s more to wisdom than silence and more to love than mystery. 

When an old friend needs confidential support can Jamie finally learn to lead with her heart, and not her mouth? 


A story of deep friendship, laughter, and learning to listen to grace.

Virginia was born near the Rocky Mountains and although she has traveled around the world, the wilds of Colorado run in her veins. A big fan of the wide open sky and all four seasons, she believes in embracing the small moments of everyday life. A home schooling mom of six children who rarely wear shoes, those moments usually involve a lot of noise, a lot of mess, or a whole bunch of warm cookies. Virginia holds degrees in Linguistics and Religious Studies from the University of Oregon. She lives with her habanero-eating husband, Crusberto, who is her polar opposite in all things except faith. They've learned to speak in short-hand code and look forward to the day they can actually finish a sentence. In the meantime, Virginia thanks God for the laughter and abundance of hugs that fill her day as she plots her next book. She writes under the pen names of Mary Jane Hathaway and Virginia Carmichael.

We brought along some Villagers to say

 Happy Birthday today and cupcakes! 

Becky B (Ohiohomeschool)

Anne Rightler

Beth Erin & Jessica Price

Stolen Advice, From Me to You

with guest blogger Rachelle Dekker.


The number one question I get asked as a published author is, “What advice would you give to other writers?”

I’m going to be honest: most of the time when this is asked of me, I want to scream, Don’t ask me that! Don’t you know that I spend most of my time in a dark hole, talking to fictional characters in my head—and my cat—about my problems, which almost always circle around the fact that I have no idea what I’m doing?!

But then I force myself to take a deep breath, smile, and remember that other authors have shared some amazing insights with me throughout my journey, so I can just repeat what they have shared and sound like I know what I’m talking about (also, because screaming at people in public is frowned upon). Because the truth is, all advice comes from someone around us who has taken the journey already, discovered heartache and freedom along the way, and then been brave enough to pass it on.

So I will continue the trend. Here is some of the best advice on writing that I’ve received.

There Is No Secret Formula 

You can’t imagine the number of hours I have lain on the floor of my office, or bedroom, or random coffee shop (I’m not allowed to go there anymore) and wondered, What’s the secret to writing a great novel? The time it would save me, if someone could just type out the instructions, hand them over, and end my suffering.

But the problem is, there isn’t a grand secret that the greats are hiding in some locked cellar, being guarded by dwarf ninjas and a fire-breathing dragon. The only secret is there is no secret. Which is a big bummer. Everyone is just figuring it out as they go along. They are following their hearts, listening to their Muses, and trying their best to write something they believe in. They are all just doing the work.    

Of course there are some small tools that help—tricks of the trade, like different methods of dealing with writer’s block (which I will get to) or better ways to build strong characters. These are all fine, good, and even helpful notes, but at the core, the only way to write a great novel is to do the work. Every day . . . unless of course you are reading this and have, in fact, found a secret formula. Then please share in the comments below, thus making the world a better place.

Intention Is Everything    

 Intention has become a pillar in my career. When I first started writing, I was young and in love with everything about the process. I could write for hours that bled into days that had me losing track of weeks. But now I often struggle to pull myself out of bed, brew my coffee, walk the thirteen stairs that lead up to my office, and sit in my chair. Because I know once I get up there I’m going to have to write.

 Don’t get me wrong, I still love it. But it’s also work. And like I mentioned before, the only way to write a great novel is to do the work. So intention becomes extremely important. I’ve created little cues for myself that help set my intention for the day. Silly things like, I wear contacts most of the time but wear my glasses when I write. I intentionally wear glasses so my intention for the next couple of hours is clear. When I wear glasses, I write. It tricks my mind and gives me a structure to create within. 

 I often go away to write. I lock myself in a hotel for two or three days to get as much work done as possible. My body and mind know that once I cross the threshold of that hotel room, the intention is to work nonstop. Something about these practices really helps me focus and get the work done. Intention is key.
   
When in Doubt, Kill Someone

If you’ve ever heard my father, Ted Dekker, speak on writing, then you have probably heard him say this: “When in doubt, kill someone.” This is one of the methods I use to deal with writer’s block. Whenever I get stuck in a space where I’m not sure where to take the story next, I play a game with my own imagination.

I think: Okay, so I’m stuck. Well, what if I kill my main character? Of course I can’t do that; the reader would hate me. Okay, well, what if I give her cancer? Or what if she gets hit by a car and loses the ability to walk? Oh, or what if I kill the man she just fell in love with? The one she’s been searching her entire life for, the one that almost got away? Yes! Or maybe he’s the one who gets diagnosed with cancer? Or maybe he’s secretly a dwarf ninja? (Note: I realize all of this is extremely depressing and dramatic, but just go with me.)
   
My point here is that once you start throwing hurdles at your own imagination, that creative juice that seems to have dried up tends to stir. That little monster opens an eye, and then both, and before you know it, you’re back into the story and dreaming up scenarios faster than you can write them down. 

 It’s about pushing your limits and seeing where the creative side of you will venture. And it’s important to mention here not to be afraid of where that creative spirit leads you. Sometimes it can be hard to step out of the boat and onto the waves, but if you trust in yourself and the leading that is calling you, I think you’ll be surprised to find you can actually walk on water.
   
If You Are Writing, Then You’re a Writer

I heard someone say once, “The only path to being a writer is a simple one, and it just requires one step. To write.” (I really wish I could remember who said this, because it would be great to be able to give them a shout-out here). 

This idea revolutionized the writing journey for me. I started to have a conversation with my inner Muse that was something like this:

ME: “So, wait, you’re saying I’m already a writer?”
MUSE: “Yes.”
ME: “But I’m not published yet.”
MUSE: “Are you writing?”
ME: “Yes.”
MUSE: “Then you are a writer.”
ME: “But what if I never get published?”
MUSE: “Getting published doesn’t make you a writer; writing makes you a writer.”

This meant that I could let go of the expectations that I placed on myself to “succeed” and just write. There was so much creative freedom in that, and I gained confidence in my writing by simply acknowledging that I was already a writer. 

Maybe you’re wondering, Well, if I don’t ever get published, then what is the point? And honestly, that isn’t a question anyone can answer for you. That is all part of the journey, my friends. It comes back to the basics of why you write. 

Personally, I write to discover truth. To learn with my characters, to dream bigger than I can on my own, and to stretch my mind to see the world and people differently. I write to face my fears, to overcome my demons, to walk on water. Maybe that’s too esoteric for you, and that’s okay, because why I write is specific only to me. The real question is why do you write?

So there you have it. Some words of wisdom passed from others to me, and maybe to you. Now let’s keep the sharing going. What advice would you give to other writers around you?
 

Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair. Rachelle’s latest novel, The Calling, is available today.

The Calling  

 Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels―he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp―and the CityWatch soldiers closing in―Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.


Rachel is generously offering a copy of The Calling to one commenter. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.


 

Details on this week's incentives here.