Loving Women's Fiction! Most of the Time!

I love writing romance. Check out this video my daughter Beth made for me... Twenty Love Inspired books so far. #21 comes out in February and #22 in August... and then a Christmas novella duo with my buddy Linda Goodnight... and then #23 in January of 2019.

I am blessed.

I love writing mysteries!!! Who knew? This was my first mystery for Guideposts, and I've just finished mystery #2 and I'll be plotting #3 in a couple of weeks!!!

I love writing big books and smaller books, too. 
Link to bestselling "Back in the Saddle" on Amazon...

And I've always loved writing women's fiction... with women empowerment plugged into the story because I believe women should all feel empowered. They should feel ready to handle whatever life sends their way, and when I wonder why women might not feel that way, I look around the world where oppression and lack of women's rights... and the fact that we only gained equal rights in the grand old U.S. of A. a hundred years ago. Historically, that's like YESTERDAY...

But while I love a splash of romance in Women's Fiction, I don't want the heroine rescued. There ain't no Disney princess on my watch, although their newer varieties are more my cup of tea.

Note to everyone reading this: PLEASE DO NOT TRY AND RESCUE ME. Rescue not needed, not appreciated and clearly unnecessary. And that's the spirit I like to see in my heroines... even the ones that might benefit by a little help and a ragingly cute, cool guy. 

BUT... I don't want her saved by a knight in shining armor.

I don't want her to be relegated to a life of raising kids in a worn kitchen while the hero earns a living.

Not because that's bad... It's not.

But if we don't learn to take care of ourselves and stand up for ourselves, neediness can become a major step backwards in the story plot... and I don't want to see women stepping back when God calls us forward. But if your heroine is strong, what makes the conflict relatable in your story? Why does she need a story at all?

Here's where Mandisa hits the nail on the head with "Overcomer" on Youtube. I love this song... and what it represents. 

Plotting the Wishing Bridge series came from multiple inspirations, but today we're sticking to heroines and Thanksgiving. I brought pumpkin pie and cranberry orange relish!!!! YUM!

Back to plotting.... In a women's fiction story, your women need to be the crux of the stories/series. The stories and plots should revolve around the woman's story. She's the ice cream in the sundae. The fruit in the pie. The cake... not the frosting. Because the solid base of the woman and her issues is what your story grows from.

In Wishing Bridge, all three women are from abusive pasts. All had troubled teen experiences. All were in group foster care at Hannah's Hope, a home for troubled girls near Philadelphia. And they'd made two promises at age 18: To never repeat the mistakes of their mothers... (mothers take a lot of heat in this series!!!!) AND...

If one ever runs into trouble, all she has to do is send the others an SOS and they will come running.

And of course, that's the beginning of the series.

Book One: Cinderella-looking Kelsey has always longed for the All American dream. To be a teacher, to be beloved, to fall in love with a wonderful man and raise a family.

OOPS. How about a con-man disguised as Prince Charming, an unexpected pregnancy and an $8000.00 line of credit taken out in your name... only it wasn't you who signed the application.

Book Two: Jane Eyre-styled Thea is the big city loner. Sold into human trafficking by her crack/cocaine addicted mother, she was eventually released from captivity by a kind man... Now a family practice nurse practitioner, Thea's determined to work in the big city and help the teens and tweens that remind her of herself... and here she is in a tucked-in-the-hills snow-belt town that rolls up the sidewalks at seven o'clock, every night. Yawn.... 

Book Three: And then there's long-legged, drop-dead gorgeous bi-racial Jazz, a supermodel living the high life, a runway favorite, destined for continued greatness... If she survives the eating disorder threatening her life.

And that's where it begins, with strong, flawed characters who might need help, who may seek redemption but who are inherently overcomers... the kind of women who don't blame others because they're too busy carving a life for themselves.

I try not to belabor my own slovenly upbringing when talking about stories... not because I don't like talking about it. I don't lean on it, I don't use it as a crutch. It's the past. Over. Done. Finis. I don't dwell in the past. Ever. But I'm not afraid to use my past, my experiences, or those of others to deepen a story.

I don't wallow, and I don't want my heroines to wallow, either. Wallowing is for piggies, down on the farm. Not for successful women, even if they still question their own strength.

We know they've got what it takes, and as authors build their stories, we can construct a path that helps readers reach for success. Just because it's fiction doesn't mean it ain't real.

Keep it real.
Keep it upbeat.
Keep it moving.
Stay on the upside of the crises, never miring down in the seamy side of life for too long. We know it exists... we don't have to drown ourselves in it.

Show your heroine emerging from her cocoon like a butterfly escapes the chrysalis... To spread her wings and take flight. And if that flight includes a wonderful man, well that's not a bad thing. But it shouldn't depend on the wonderful man outcome. That should be the frosting on the cake... the whipped cream on that sundae... And a drizzle of hot fudge is never in bad taste!

I am so excited about this release. I love the story, I love the series, and I've had a great time working with Amazon's Waterfall Press to launch this book.

FIVE MORE DAYS!!!! COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!! But you can pre-order "Welcome to Wishing Bridge" here.

What kind of women's fiction do you love? What speaks to you?

Come on inside and let me know and I'll put your name in the wishing basket for a chance to win the amazingly beautiful and so well done audible version of "Welcome to Wishing Bridge", narrated by Erin Bennett of Los Angeles.

They picked a great actress to do the voices... and she nailed it! 

Thank you, Erin!

Multi-published, award-winning inspirational author Ruth Logan Herne is currently holed up on her Western New York farm with family, friends, 3 miniature donkeys, two dogs, three cats and a partridge in a pear tree! Friend her on facebook... follow her on twitter... and she'd LOVE IT if you followed her on Amazon and Book Bub! 

The Mystery of Women’s Fiction

with guest Orly Konig.

Ask five people for their definition of “Women’s Fiction,” and you’ll get varying definitions from each one. As one of the founding members of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, I’ve been through countless attempts at nailing down a definition that’s broad enough to encompass all of the subtleties of the genre without being so broad that it loses its impact. Each exercise leads us a step closer until someone raises a “but what about …” question and then we’re right back where we started. 

To me, that very head-scratching aspect of the genre is what makes it so special. Women’s fiction can be literary or commercial; it can be historical or contemporary; it can be mainstream or inspirational; it can have elements of magical realism, mystery, romance, thriller; they can be light reads or heart-wrenching dramas; but at its core, all women’s fiction is about relationships – whether between a couple, family, friends, or co-workers – and the emotional journey of the main character.

Women’s fiction is issue driven. The books address topics people deal with in their everyday lives – family dysfunction, divorce, infidelity, parenting, mid-life crisis, identity crisis, career changes, illness, mental illness, suicide, death, abandonment, to name just a few. The stories touch readers, make them feel and think, hope and dream. They’ll see parts of themselves in the characters and, hopefully, walk away feeling transformed in some way.

Women’s Fiction as a Label

There’s been an ongoing debate within the writing and publishing community about using the term “women’s fiction.” Why label “women’s” fiction when there isn’t such a thing as “men’s” fiction? If you go to a brick-and-mortar bookstore, you won’t find a section for women’s fiction. Those books are shelved within the general fiction stacks. If you shop online, you will find a women’s fiction category, although I’m always slightly amused by the books categorized under that label as well as those that don’t show up.

So why do we even need the label? As writers, we need it to know who we’re writing for and how to market our books.

I know, I know … you want to write what the muse tells you to write. Absolutely. Except that you probably also want to sell what you write. Luckily these days, there are more options for publishing and finding readers. That means books that mix-and-match-and-morph multiple genres have a platform. But for those writers who are still looking to go down the traditional path, agents and publishers will generally look for a book that fits within set genre boundaries.

When you query an agent, they’re looking at where you see your story fitting in the crowded marketplace. Those genre labels then help the agents identify the right editor to submit your work to. And those editors who buy your manuscript will be able to more effectively market your book.

Even if you’re self-publishing, you need to know how to market your book. The genre will largely dictate your cover options, the language you choose for your back-cover copy, and the places you target to reach your desired audience.

That’s not to say that genre-straddling books don’t sell. I know many authors who’ve written brilliant novels that don’t cleanly fit under one label. But there’s almost always one label that they fit under a bit more than the others.

As a writer, I don’t hesitate to tell other writers or agents or anyone in the industry that I write women’s fiction. My books address the real-life challenges all of us deal with. They mostly appeal to women, and I’m good with that. It helps me focus my stories and narrows down my target market.

The kicker is when I talk to readers. Most give me a funny look and ask what I mean – “like romance?” is their usual follow up question. For that audience, I usually add that my books are “family and friendship dramas, books about issues we deal with in everyday life.” 

Women’s Fiction as a Writing Home

When I first started writing, I struggled finding the right resources to help expand my craft. I joined several writer’s groups and associations and while each one had something helpful, none addressed how to get to the core of the conflict that my characters were dealing with. 

It wasn’t until I met a group of women’s fiction writers that I finally realized what had been missing for me – a tribe of writers who understand what I’m writing and who are facing the same challenges. 

In 2013, a handful of women’s fiction writers came together with the belief that every writer needs a tribe and every genre needs a champion. That’s the foundation that we built the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) on. It’s what keeps us questioning whether we have the clearest definition for the genre and how we can best support the writers and the books that fall under that umbrella. 

I learned a lot about the structure of a story, about story arcs, author platforms, pitching and querying, in the other groups I belonged to. But it wasn’t until I started interacting with women’s fiction authors and taking workshops with presenters who understand the nuances of this genre, that I was able to fully grasp how to mine the emotional depth of the characters and tug at the emotional heartstrings of the reader.

Four years after it was launched, WFWA is 1,000 members strong and offers resources that are uniquely tailored to this genre. It’s a fabulous community of writers who understand and appreciate the crazy ups and downs that accompany writing, rewriting, rewriting again; the querying and submission phases; and the glory and heartbreak of reviews. It’s a safe place to discuss those writerly mood swings that baffle our families and friends.

I credit the WFWA community for getting me from fledgling writer to published author. Through the process of launching the association, I learned that I can push myself out of my comfort zone and survive. Not just survive, but thrive. And through daily interaction with members, I learned that with perseverance anything is possible.

Are we any closer to a solid definition for women’s fiction? Probably not. A few months ago, I was at a conference and participated on a panel about women’s fiction. The introduction defined it as books for women. The following discussion showed how much more complex the genre actually is.

But I think the one thing all of us on that panel and within WFWA and any other women’s fiction author can agree on, is that our books are written for people like us.

I enjoy books in many different genres, but I admit to mostly reading women’s fiction. As an ambassador for the genre, I appreciate being able to de-mystify what the label means and introduce readers to new (or new to them) women’s fiction authors. And I love hearing from readers that a novel helped them get through a difficult stage in their lives. That’s why we write women’s fiction. 

Do you write or read women’s fiction? What drew you to this genre?

About Orly

Orly Konig is an escapee from the corporate world where she spent roughly sixteen (cough) years working in the space industry. Now she spends her days chatting up imaginary friends, drinking entirely too much coffee, and negotiating writing space around two over-fed cats.

She is the founding president of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, an active member of the Tall Poppy Writers, and a quarterly contributor to Thinking Through our Fingers blog and Writers In The Storm blog.

Her debut women’s fiction, The Distance Home, released from Forge, May 2, 2017. Carousel Beach will be releasing May 2018.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Happy Birthday Seekerville!

Day 19 and our 10th Birthday Celebration Rages on. 

Leave a comment today and you can win an ecopy of Orly Konig's debut release The Distance Home or our second giveaway, your choice of writerly mugs. 

Two winners will be posted in the Weekend Edition.

What's So Important About Women's Fiction

with guest Carre Armstrong Gardner.

For the first three-and-a-half decades of my life, I was a people-pleaser. I thought—I really did think—that niceness was next to godliness. The most important thing, if you wanted to show the character of Christ, I thought, was to be agreeable. To not ruffle feathers. To say, “yes, dear” to your husband, and “yes, of course, I'd love to!” to anything the church asked you to do. I don't know if I was ever taught this overtly, but it's certainly what I saw the nice Christian women around me doing. It was what godly women in books did (Ma Ingalls, from the Little House on the Prairie series, anyone?) But this faulty brand of “godliness” made me miserable. It left me with no sense of who I really was. It very nearly ruined my marriage.

Inspirational fictional heroines have, historically, not done us many favors this way.  As a young adult, I read plenty of missionary biographies, and there, I found real heroines aplenty: women of true courage and fortitude, with a robust godliness that appealed to me. They stood up to corrupt governments, and went to prison for the sake of their ideals; crossed continents on foot, leading trains of little orphans behind them to safety. Women like these were one of the reasons I became a missionary myself, later on. But these were not the kinds of women who showed up in the novels of my church's library back then. In those earlier years, Christian heroines were often timid and helpless. They seemed to spend a lot of time standing about wringing their hands until someone with broad shoulders, a shock of unruly hair, and an impossible amount of money happened along to rescue them.

But it's 2016, and women's fiction can—and should—do better than that. We've evolved, it's true, there's still room for growth. I would like to see women's inspirational fiction be better at addressing real, complex issues. Not many of us will find ourselves orphaned and cast out into the world to earn our living with our secretarial skills, according to the 1980's Harlequin romance formula. 

Twenty-first century women are more likely to face issues like a husband who has an affair; crushing debt; infertility. And while there are plenty of faith-based books on those subjects, they are still mostly in the non-fiction section of the bookstore. Women read self-help books, of course we do. But there is something about fiction that resounds and stays with us in a way that non-fiction rarely does. In spite of all the hype against gender stereotyping, studies are still pretty conclusive: Men change their minds when faced with facts. Women are more likely to change when the facts are presented in the context of relationships. And the essence of fiction is that the reader develops a relationship with the character. In fact, writers know that during the hours someone spends reading a novel, that person becomes the main character, in a sense. Stories shape the way we think and behave: and as women's worlds and problems grow more complex, it's more important than ever that women's fiction speak to those worlds.

We're improving at this, especially in the last decade or two, but there's still a lot of room for growth. For example, twenty years ago, prescription drug abuse and alcoholism weren't really publicly-acknowledged problems among Christian women. But today we know they're enormously widespread, even in the church. I wrote about them in my Darling Family series because they're issues that should be addressed in the fiction we read. And what about food addiction, obesity, and all the health and social problems that go along with it? I've never seen that addressed in inspirational fiction, yet it's clearly an issue for a lot of women. So I wrote a book about it (Better All the Time, Tyndale, 2015.) Other issues I've written about over the series are bad marriages (All Right Here, Tyndale, 2014,) perfectionism, and grief (They Danced On, Tyndale, 2016.) Real issues that women face.

One of the pitfalls of writing inspirational fiction is the temptation to become didactic: that is, that the author will try too hard to teach a moral or a lesson. As a writer, I have felt this pressure from readers and at times from my publisher, who knows what readers expect. I'm afraid it's a snare I've fallen into more often than I like to admit. But good fiction should not be didactic, and one of the first rules of writing is to simply tell the story and trust your reader.  Fiction should not be a Sunday School lesson, with a moral to it, where the good girl always wins. Because life is not like that, so how is that helpful? Ideally—and again, I have not always done it perfectly—I prefer to show my characters with real struggles, let them battle their way through them, and trust the reader to take away what she needs. Can readers learn something from my characters' stories? I hope so, but it's not up to me to decide what that should be. I might even say that's God's job.

The Bible, I have learned over the years, has much to say about the answers to our problems, but is fairly silent when it comes to the process. And forgiveness, sobriety, grief, choosing to love...they're not one-time problems with a done-and-dusted solution. This is where fiction can fill in some of the gaps. It can show people like us grappling through the process. It can make us feel, for a couple of hours or weeks, that we are not alone in the fight. It offers hope that things can be different, and gives us examples to follow in our lifelong battle to become all that God made us to be.

What about you? If you're primarily a reader, what's a novel you've read—inspirational or not—that materially helped you through a problem you were facing? And for the writers among us, what's an issue you would like to write about: a theme you think could make a real, solid difference for women who might read your book someday?

Carre Armstrong Gardner is a former worker with children at risk in Russia. Now, she continues her work in Russian-speaking countries while making her home in Portland, Maine. She is a nurse and the mother of 3 grown children. Her latest novel is They Danced On, the final book of The Darling Family series. Follow her on Facebook or at her website: carregardner.com.







Today Carre is generously offering two books to commenters. One for each of two winners.  All Right Here and They Danced On. Leave a comment to get your name tossed in the family hat. Winners announced in the Weekend Edition.

All Right              Better All the Time          They Danced On

Talking Women's Fiction with Guest Carla Stewart

Happy Birthday, Seekerville! Five years??? I can hardly believe it. I remember you way back when . . . 

I’m so honored to be here for the celebration (and cake!) and talk about the genre that I love – Women’s Fiction. 

What is it? And why do I write it? Gosh, let me count the ways . . . Really, I’m going to duck and let some of today’s fabulous writers of Women’s Fiction share their thoughts. For starters, I’m calling on the pros: the recent Women’s Fiction finalists for the Carol Awards. Yes, these ladies are the best of the best. 



Meg Moseley, debut author of When Sparrows Fall (way to go, Meg!) on the reason she writes Women’s Fiction: “I write women’s fiction because it lets me explore big themes and important issues within the framework of relationships that might or might not include romance. In real life, ‘true love’ isn’t limited to romantic relationships, but can also include the bonds between parents and children, between siblings, and between friends. In women’s fiction, all these bonds—and the forces that would destroy them—provide endless possibilities for meaningful stories.” 




Susan Meissner, a former Carol winner and a finalist this year with A Sound Among the Trees, says she likes the RWA Women’s Fiction’s Chapter’s definition.  “…[it’s] a commercial novel about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others…” Susan added, “The RWA definition goes on to include a detail about a romantic thread that is of course the heart of RWA and that the broader definition of Women’s Fiction doesn’t necessarily have. But I really like the idea that Women’s Fiction is about a woman or women in the crucible of change. I am drawn to Women’s Fiction when I shop for books to read, so I guess it stands to reason I would also be drawn to them when I sit down to write.” 

Lisa Wingate, author of Dandelion Summer, had this to say: "I think the things we choose to write about come from our passions. I'm passionate about the lives of women and families--about the struggles we all face and the joys that are part of our lives. I want to create books that are entertaining, but also good for the soul-- that don't leave readers feeling sad or disappointed, or wishing they hadn't read the book at all. I think we are all called to add something good to the world, to inspire and uplift, to add our colors to the canvas. I have met so many people who have wonderful ways of doing that. I admire them. I want to be like them. I love to write about them." 

 


The judges of this year’s Carol were unanimous – Lisa received the first ever PERFECT score in the history of the Carols to bring home the trophy in Women’s Fiction! Congratulations, Lisa. 
Well done. 

I’m a little afraid after that to offer any wisdom or my measly thoughts about Women’s Fiction. I just know that it’s a story that’s heartfelt and emotional. Even so, I’m going to try and distill it down for you. 

What does a WF novel look like? It may include one or more of the following with possible scenarios. 

• Woman in marriage – marriage stale, infidelity issues, sandwich generation, chronic disease or end of life issues, crossroads, a child in crisis that alters family equilibrium, blended families, unequally yoked

• Single woman – career woman looking for a change, perhaps the biological clock is ticking, a single parent (from death, divorce, or never married)

• Identity – returns to roots to get back in touch with who she is. Flees to a new city/country/job to solve identity crisis. Career path is off track and there is a hunger to recapture joy. Often the theme of who she is in Christ.

• Crisis – dealing with an unexpected crisis – late-in-life pregnancy, death of a loved one, a devastating diagnosis, guilt and/or blame over crisis situation, change in employment status, faith lost or newly realized in face of adversity.

• Ethical dilemmas – gray areas in relation to same-sex marriage, right to life, quality of life, end of life issues. Often an inner struggle to sort out feelings and do that which is Biblically sound without damaging relationships. Often a bridge to healing and restoration rather than condemnation.

• Addiction issues – alcoholism, pornography, gambling, approval addiction – may be personal issues or within the family or circle of influence.

• Social causes – enlightenment over a social issue and becoming involved – often with resistance from family member or community or within the social issue itself. Can be anything from dog rescue to human trafficking. Generally done at the grass roots level and not through political channels keeping it personal and emotional. Event from the past may fire passion.

• Romance – second chances, late bloomers, finding love accidentally, lifelong love – all can be elements of women’s fiction. While not following a set protocol for romance, women’s fiction can be infused with passion, surprise, and even a trip to the altar, but it’s not the romance that’s the knot to be untangled, but some other issue. And there doesn’t have to be a romance at all to be women’s fiction.

• Secrets – becoming privy to a previously unknown secret, harboring a personal secret, having to reveal a secret that has rippling consequences. 

• Humorous situations – any story can be infused with humor, and in dealing with tough subjects, this is a welcome relief to the reader. Protagonists who take their situations seriously but not themselves are often endearing and evoke reader empathy.

Deb Raney, veteran Women’s Fiction writer with more than twenty titles, summed it up well. “Women's fiction is any story that centers around the relationships in women's lives. Sometimes that includes their romantic relationships, but also relationships with their siblings, parents, best friends, children. Often women's fiction explores social issues. I write what I like to read. I've always been fascinated by psychology and the interactions women have with the people in their lives. Fiction is such a wonderful vehicle for exploring the ways women work out problems and challenges in their lives.”

Me again. 

Willingness to change, ability to perform heroic deeds beyond their own strength, and embracing new ideas are often hallmarks of women’s fiction. These are women we admire and would like to emulate. Their problems are real-world problems that we can relate to, things that we have thought about and dreaded happening to us personally, or things that we are currently experiencing in our own lives. Spiritual themes may be subtle or the entire novel may revolve around a particular spiritual point – it all depends on the story. Women’s fiction can empower, comfort, challenge, and bring us new perspectives. 

Whether you have a literary style, a spunky, humorous bent, or just love to tell a good story, you might try your hand at Women’s Fiction. One thing they all have in common – a powerful emotional experience. 


Debut author of Mother of Pearl, Kellie Gilbert, nailed it with this observation: “…a story about a woman (or women) that tells more about her inner journey than her outer experiences, where relationships are key and the journey evokes a lot of emotion.”


And when all is said and done, that’s what every good story is, isn’t it?

Happy writing . . . and reading!

BIO: Carla Stewart’s writing reflects her passion for times gone by. She is the award-winning author of three novels and an alumna of the Guideposts Writers Workshop. As well as being an avid reader and coffee lover, Carla and her husband enjoy weekend getaways and the adventures of their six grandchildren. Stardust is her latest release. www.carlastewart.com 

Carla is generously giving away a copy of Stardust her latest release from FaithWords to one Seekerville commenter today. So let's start talking. Do you read Women's Fiction? Do you write it? What appeals to you about the genre?

 
ABOUT STARDUST 
 
Shortly after burying her unfaithful husband, Georgia Payton inherits the derelict Stardust Tourist Court from a distant relative. Faced with opposition from the aunt who raised her and others in the town, Georgia breathes new life into the cottages. 

The guests who arrive, though, aren’t what Georgia expects: her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband's mistress; an attractive drifter who's tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia's past. Dreams of a new life are crippled amid the havoc. 

Georgia's only hope is that she can find the courage to forgive those who've betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxie to face the future. One thing is certain: under the flickering neon of the Stardust, none of their lives will ever be the same.

WEEK THREE PRESENT LISTED HERE!

 

GUEST BLOGGER PATTI LACY: Brainstorming the Next Novel ... It’s All in a Day’s Thought (and Giveaway!)

Julie here, and let’s face it— “brainstorming” means different things to different people. To Ruthy, Mary, Audra and Pam, it’s sitting in a room at the Hyatt during the ACFW Conference, fleshing out each other’s plots. To me, it’s praying out on my lower deck, crying and pleading with God to give me an impossible plot twist like He did with A Heart Revealed. To my artist husband, it’s flipping through an Architectural Digest magazine to get his creative juices flowing. And to my dear friend Patti Lacy? It’s all in a Day’s Thought, and trust me—this woman is so cerebral and creative, tapping in to her brain leaves me gaping like Alice in Wonderland, in a constant state of shock and awe.

I had the privilege of endorsing Patti’s new book, Reclaiming Lily,which releases October 1^st through Bethany House, and I was so moved by this incredible story and the evolution of it, I asked her to write a guest blog. So the article below will show you how a seed of an idea took root in a very fertile brain and blossomed into one of the most beautiful pieces of fiction I have ever read. Please welcome one of my dearest friends and favorite people, author Patti Lacy.

Hey, Seekers! What a blessing to cozy into y’all’s couch!Today I’m sharing a secret. What else would you expect from the Spanning Seas & Secrets writer?

While my Seeker friends could disconnect half of their creative synapses and roll out novel after novel, I’m scratching my head and doodling all over that sheet of paper headed The Next Great American Novel.

Anyone relate?

Oh, I’ve got random thoughts all right: Did they really kill sparrows during the Chinese Revolution; Romans 8:28; it’s sunny, praise God; at age eleven, my mother’s cancer doctor nursed her parents back to health; speaking of health, Lord, heal my friend with cancer; tomorrow’s teaching day; why is my stomach bloated; remember when we walked Boston’s Freedom Trail; that new lady at church self-mutilates…and so do lots of teens, particularly girls. Please help, God; what’s for dinner, Texas ranks #1 for frequency of tornadoes, little Lucy’s adjusted to the U.S., praise Him; where’s all my pens, the dog needs to be fed, our pastor’s wife had a miscarriage—

Hey, brain cells!

How can ANYONE write with this going on?

On second “thought,” at least I’m noggin’ nogging, though the literary value’s sinking to the level of last year’s want ads. How can I tame my Twitters au natural and create a cohesive, have-’em-turning-that-next page book? The answer may be closer than you think.

When your imagination has packed its bags and gone to … Seekerville, grab a sheet of paper and corral those random thoughts! Yep, go ahead and label it The Next Great American Novel. They teach you to think big here at The Ville. Scribble out some headings, and let’s g---rrrr---ooooo----www!!!! Here's a stream-of-consciousness peek at what I did with Reclaiming Lily, pulling from my thoughts, my experiences, my own history to craft a story that was part fiction, part truth and all mined from those crazy thoughts that just might lead you to a story ...

CHARACTERS ... CONFLICT ... SETTING!!

CHARACTERS:

Brave Chinese doctor … Chang Kai? (I interviewed Dr. Chang, whose story broke my heart yet inspired me to think sacrificially. How I want to share it with YOU!

Wife of a pastor…Gloria? (I admire my pastor wife friends who must constantly guard their hearts…and their husbands…against all that’s said and done in the name of religion. Surely they’ll share…won’t they?)

A troubled teenaged girl…Lily/Joy? (Oh, dear God, what can we do to help self-mutilators? What research/treatment is available?I make phone calls. Read. Already I’m seeing a determined, almond-eyed beauty, a grieving wife, an alienated young girl … How can I lasso them and then pull the string taut with conflict????

CONFLICT:

Hmmm. Could the troubled teenager (Lily/Joy?) be a lost girl of China and the daughter of Kai?

Could childless Gloria span seas and secrets to adopt “Joy”?

Could Kai want to reclaim Lily/Joy? (*needs to be INTENSE)

Which family will bear the burden of the killer disease PKD?

*Check dates on Cultural Revolution, Western adoptions from China

*Research PKD by calling MD contacts, Barnes Hospital, where friend was treated. Call friend…

SETTINGS:

China? (*this’ll take research galore. Can I swing a trip? Find the resources I’ll need?)

Boston? (*ditto, though my memories and Google and friendly Yanks might make it happen.)

Fort Worth? (*Can I use the time period when we lived here? Big plus. Another big plus: plenty of Cowtowner connections to lasso bucking bronco plot issues

I order books. Visit the library. Turn pages. Take notes. Let my fingers do the Googling.

You want the good news first, don’t you? Kai, Gloria, their love interests, and Joy can entangle like fine Oriental silk thread when I knot them with a mother’s protectiveness, a sister’s longing, and a desperate killer, PKD. The end result? I love…Reclaiming Lily! My agent’s saying, “Maybe.”

Oh. You wanted that bad news. Yeah, so did my crit partners.

Kai CANNOT be Lily’s mother and make the dates fit for both the Cultural Revolution and Western adoption.Would my readers flex their credibility muscles enough so that Joy could be Kai’s sister?

Agent says rework synopsis and let’s think about it.

Crit partners say….

YES!!!!

Eventually, agent says…YES!

Stan Williams’ The Moral Premise flies off the shelf.

No, I didn’t tape cards on my study door like Stan does, but I did brainstorm on wants and needs and moments of grace and, of course…

THE MORAL PREMISE!

Energized fingers tap, tap, tap Chapter 1 into a Reclaiming Lily file.

After a signed contract, trip to China, first draft, and two revisions, here’s our hook:

When a deadly disease strikes the Wang family, Harvard graduate Dr. Kai
Chang alerts Lily, the sister Kai left on orphanage steps. Standing in her way is Gloria Powell, a Fort Worth pastor's wife who distrusts Kai. Surely their troubled teenager, who’s skipping school and youth group and layering on attitude as thick as her makeup, can’t handle more drama in her life. Andrew, Gloria’s husband, disagrees…and brings Kai to Cowtown.

A Texas-sized tornado whirls about the meeting place of Kai and Gloria. Tempers and cultures collide. Can Kai, Gloria, and Joy reconcile their differences, surrender their dreams, and allow God to implement a joyful, miraculous plan that will save them all?

So ... how 'bout you? Do you weave snippets from your own life into the rich tapestry of your writing? If so, tell me how you did it. If not, just leave a comment and we will include you in the drawing for a signed copy of Reclaiming Lily. And if you haven’t tried this technique, are you willing to scratch that noggin’, then get started?

Thanks, Seekers, for the visit! Y’all made the 2011 ACFW conference ROCK!!!!!!

PATTI'S BIO:

At the age of fifty, Patti traded in her grade books for a writer’s pen after the Still, Small Voice encouraged her to novelize the story of her best friend. Patti’s first three novels, An Irishwoman’s Tale, What the Bayou Saw, and The Rhythm of Secrets, explore the secrets women keep and why they keep them. Patti’s fourth book, Reclaiming Lily, a Bethany House title, transports readers to the steps of a Chinese orphanage, where two cultures and two women collide. Patti soothes her itch to teach by leading seminars, facilitating writing classes, and speaking at women’s events. Patti and her husband, Alan, a college administrator, live in Normal. They have two grown children and a dog named Laura. You can contact Patti through her website at Patti Lacy Website.

Seekerville Welcomes Marilyn Brant

-->I’m so excited to be visiting Seekerville today! Many thanks to Tina for inviting me and to all the Seekers for being such gracious hosts.
When Tina and I were first discussing what the topic of this post should be, she suggested I write about women’s fiction, also known in RWA circles as “mainstream novels with strong romantic elements.” It’s a genre I hold close to my heart since this was the Golden Heart category in which I entered my debut novel during the year Tina and I were GH finalists together. (Yay, ‘007s!) Also, it can be a bit tricky to define. So, I jumped at the chance to talk about it and share my perspective as a writer (and a former reviewer) of both women’s fiction and contemporary romance.

Something to know about me: I love romance on its own and romance mixed with other genres (romantic suspense, paranormal, inspirational, etc.), and I especially love happy endings. In a romance novel, readers can count on all the hero and heroine getting together in the end. They can be sure that lots of narrative time will be devoted to the development of the romantic relationship and, if other genres play a part in the story, how the relationship is impacted by secondary characters and additional storylines. Women’s fiction frequently taps into all of these, too, but, in my opinion, there’s a crucial difference: the focus of the story.

While a romance needs to chronicle the relationship and character development of the main couple, women’s fiction is all about the woman’s journey. It’s HER story—with or without a man. It may feature one woman or a small group of them, but the big important question is not whether she (or her friends) will end up with some love interest, it’s whether she’ll be able to transcend whatever issues she’s been battling in her life to get to a slightly (or significantly) better place at the end of the book. A place that, at the story’s beginning, seemed way out of reach.

Often a romantic partner plays a major role in helping the women’s fiction heroine along on her journey but, just because he’s involved and has been helpful, the heroine is not required by any genre conventions to end up with him. In fact, sometimes the heroine’s journey revolves around the end of her marriage or her struggle with a life-threatening medical diagnosis or the ever-changing (yet often ever-the-same) interpersonal dynamics of siblings or parents or children. The story’s tone can be delightful and upbeat, poignant and lyrical or thought-provoking and heartbreaking. Unlike the assurance readers get with romance that—no matter how painful the struggles of the characters may be, they’ll figure out a way for love to conquer all—women’s fiction offers no such guarantee.

BUT, it does offer an opportunity for the reader to jump aboard for a twisty ride. To see and explore the world through the lens of a typically complex female character. And, ideally, to grow with her as she ventures into an experience that will ultimately change her in a substantial way.

That’s certainly the case with my main character, Ellie, in my debut novel According to Jane. Even with the ghost of author Jane Austen giving Ellie the benefit of her wisdom regarding dating and relationships, it still takes my heroine many years and scores of mistakes before she’s able to acknowledge the need to listen to her own voice and be responsible for her own actions. Part of why I needed to write this book as a women’s fiction project rather than as a romance was because Ellie weaves in an out of a number of relationships (not just one) during her 20-year, Odyssey-like romantic journey. The original tagline for the book was “A novel about Pride, Prejudice and the Pursuit of the Perfect Guy,” a nod not only to Austen’s P&P, but to the impact of her own (and Jane’s) “pride” and “prejudice” as Ellie searches for her idealized relationship with frequently less-than-ideal results.

But readers and critique partners have asked, “Why isn’t this book a romance? There’s such a huge focus on relationships? And the ending is really optimistic…” Right. And, as I said, I love happy endings. The point of this story, however, is not who Ellie ends up with; it’s that she needed a journey, took it and made changes in her life that had nothing to do with any man. No matter how attractive. The narrative focus remained firmly on her voyage of self discovery.

For other writers wondering if their story’s premise might be women’s fiction, consider the path of your main character. Was the narrative directed at her growth and change? Do we see the world predominantly through her eyes? At the end of the book, whether she’s involved in a relationship or not, is she in a better place (mentally, socially, spiritual, etc.) than at the start or, at the very least, has she learned something significant that she’ll carry forward with her? If so, chances are, you’ve written a women’s fiction tale. And chances are even higher that it’s one I’d be thrilled to pick up at a bookstore and take home with me to enjoy!

Side Note: Here are 2009 GH entry stats:
Contemporary Series Romance: 103
Contemporary Series: Suspense/Adventure: 29
Contemporary Single Title Romance: 111
Historical Romance: 107
Inspirational Romance: 40
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements: 152
Paranormal Romance: 141
Regency Historical Romance: 62
Romantic Suspense: 110
Young Adult Romance: 46
TOTAL ENTRIES: 901
Perhaps because there is a lot of storytelling leeway within the Strong Romantic Elements category, it was (at least for the 2009 competition) the largest of the GH categories. Interesting to see all the data in one spot, eh?



Marilyn Brant has been a classroom teacher, a library staff member, a freelance writer and a national book reviewer for Romantic Times. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and son, surrounded by towers of books that often threaten to topple over and crush her. A proud member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Marilyn’s debut novel, According to Jane, won RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award. Readers can visit her at www.marilynbrant.com. This month you can also find Marilyn in the August PRO spects, the newsletter of the RWA PRO community. Look for her article, A Moment with Janet Evanovich. You can also find her in the October 2009 issue of Romantic Times, where she discusses the difference--emotionally and logically--between being the reviewer vs. the person whose book was being reviewed


Today Marilyn is giving away an arc of According To Jane, her October release from Kensington Publishing, to one of our Seekerville visitors. If you would like to be in the drawing you must put your email address in your post and/or tell us you want to be in the drawing. Drawing is tonight at 8pm MST.