Running is Like Writing

with guest Sally Shupe.

Traveling this road to publication, I’ve made some observations regarding the similarities between running and writing, both of which I love. Turns out, they are alike. 

My word for 2017 is expectation. What this means to me is working toward something even as I am waiting for something to happen. I am actively looking forward, anticipating, what will happen when I run and when I write.

Whether you’re expecting a baby, company to visit, winning a race, or becoming published, you don’t sit and wait. No. You work toward something, even as you expect it to happen. You plan and arrange the baby room, clean house, run, write, write, write! If you’re running a race, you don’t just one day decide I’ll go run a 5k. You could, but I wouldn’t recommend it. 

You to train, practice, regularly run to finish the race. If you don’t put in the time, you can’t compete with other runners. If you don’t put in the writing time, you can’t compete when you do get a contract. There are deadlines. You must finish manuscripts. You plan. You don’t wait until the baby gets here to put together the nursery. Before he or she comes, you read books, read reviews on baby things, prepare the baby room. When you know company’s coming for dinner, you clean house, hide the laundry (don’t you?), prepare what you think they’ll like to eat and drink.

 It’s the same with writing: you research agents and publishing houses, read submission guidelines, talk with other authors. If you submit your work without checking these things, it’s a sure way to get rejected. If you want to read 300 books in a year, you can’t do that in a day. You plan ahead. How many books do I need to read a week to reach this goal? How many words do I need to write a week to reach my goal? How far, or how long, do I need to run?

If you expect to win a race, you have to run. If you expect to be published, you have to write. Don't spend your time watching other people.  

When I started running, I had to get the right equipment. Shoes, clothes, a watch. You definitely don’t want to run for longer, or farther, than you intended . Starting out, I alternated walking and running until I could run for 20 minutes. Then I worked my way up to 3 miles. The most I’ve run so far is a 7.4 mile race. My goal next year is to run a half marathon. One of the perks of running is when the second wind hits, I feel like I can run forever. 

For writing, I start with an idea for a story. Writing down snippets of dialogue, a scene, characters. My equipment is my computer or pen and paper, research documents, craft books. As with running, when I first start to write, I may only go short distances. Then I start flagging, breathing hard, the sagging middle hits. Desperate thoughts enter. Can I finish the story? Why did I even start? Feelings of aloneness creep in. Then I see glimpses of the finish line. That’s where this story is going. The second wind hits. In running, that’s when the steps come faster. A breeze rushes through my hair. I see the finish line. Breathing evens out. My focus is on finishing. I cross the finish line. Supporters, cheerers, all wait with high-fives.

Where were the supports along the journey? Whether running or writing, they’re the ones you come across in your journey and talk to. They have advice on running or writing. They cheer you on, celebrate all those little wins, counting down with you to the big win. And once you’re published? It’s time to look toward the next book, and then the next one. 

What have I learned on this journey? 

-Prayer changes things. It changes your thoughts, gives you insight, orchestrates that meeting you never could have arranged on your own. 

-Don’t get distracted by others who write faster or slower; get published; write more, or less, words than you do. Only you write like you do. Only you run like you do. Only you can write your words. If you spend your time watching other people, you won’t write. You’ll be discouraged. 

-If you don’t put in the work, read craft books, get feedback, you won’t reach your goal of publication. If you just write words with no focus, they won’t go anywhere. Same with running. You might cross the line, but it won’t be pretty. 

-Watch your pace. Just as you can’t run 26 miles in an hour, you can’t write a book in an hour. Space it out. Break it down. And breathe. 

-Watch what you’re putting in. If you eat a lot of fast food, you can’t run. Read what you write to see what’s out there, what works, what doesn’t. Research what agents and publishers are looking for. 

-If you get tired of running, change your course. Run somewhere different. Same with writing. Write something different. Write something for fun, take a break. Brainstorm. 

-Surround yourself with people like you, whether runners, writers, authors, agents. You need people who know the business, who understand what you’re doing and why. Tell them about your journey. If you feel alone, you won’t continue. When it’s cold and rainy, you don’t feel like running. Having that support system in place, gets you running. Same with writing. If someone is expecting your word count for the day, it’s harder to say I didn’t take time to write today. But if you can’t run for a while, or can’t write for a period of time, don’t beat yourself up over it. Take it day by day. The words will still be there. And I’ve had things happen that’s helped my writing that wasn’t in place if I’d continued forcing myself to write. I’ve also found when I can’t run for a few weeks, once I can get back out there, I can still go 20 minutes. I can still run for 2 miles. I just pick it back up and continue on. 

-When you finish the race, the book, it’s time to re-evaluate. Take time to see what worked, what didn’t, and start training for the next race or book. Evaluate how well you did, what, if anything, you need to change or approach differently. Can’t live on pizza for two weeks? Prepare meals ahead of time to clear time for writing. 

-Give yourself grace. I had to learn this one recently. After excessive water damage to our home, I haven’t been able to run or write. We’re still in the process of getting the house back together. But, I am looking forward to getting back to it. I’m outlining what I’ll be working on, planning when I can go running again. During this time, I jotted down ideas and dialogue for the story I’m working on. I even jogged through the house a few times. 

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18 Do you have a vision? Work out a plan to make that come to pass. Remember, God is able to do exceeding, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.

 How about you? What do you do to energize your running, writing, or reading? When you hit a bump in the road, how do you get around it?

Seekerville is giving away this reader, writer or runner calendar to one commenter in honor of Sally's visit. Leave a comment letting us know you want to be entered for The Illustrated Bible Verses Wall Calendar 2018. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

Sally Shupe lives in southwest Virginia with her husband, two grown kids-a daughter still at home and a son nearby, and a whole bunch of pets: five dogs, three cats, a rabbit, and birds at the birdfeeder (and the mandatory snowman when the snow cooperates). She writes contemporary Christian romance, with two completed manuscripts and three more in progress. They are part of a series located in small town Virginia. 

When Sally’s not writing or working full-time, she is a freelance editor for several authors who write fiction and nonfiction; students working on dissertation papers; a copy editor for Desert Breeze; a content editor for Prism (just became part of Pelican); performs beta reading for various authors; publishes book reviews on her blog and with Valley Business FRONT’s monthly magazine; is a member of ACFW and just recently became a PRO member of RWA; loves genealogy, running, and crocheting.

Sally uses her love of words to write about God’s amazing love.

Connect with Sally:

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The Slow Writer's Guide to Speedbo

10 Tips for Those Who Write With the Speed of a Turtle Slogging Through Molasses. 

by S-l-o-w Writer Keli Gwyn.

Are you scratching your head after reading that title, wondering what a pokey writer like moi is doing talking about writing zippy fast? Well, turtle-writer me just spent the past month and a half producing 10,000 words per week so I could get my November Love Inspired Historical to my editor by the deadline.

Not to boast, but the tips below helped me turn Their Mistletoe Matchmakers in a week ahead of schedule! I spent the better part of each of the past 42 days with my nose to the screen, but I achieved my goal. I have a hunch you can produce more words than you think you can, too.

1. Clear your calendar.
If you want to crank out words for SpeedBo, you’ll need to carve out time to write. If you have appointments coming up, reschedule those you can. Don’t add any new ones until SpeedBo is over. Turn down invitations to go out with friends, or postpone the fun until you’ve reached your goal.

2. Ask for help.
If you’re married or have a family, let them know about your SpeedBo goals and how much they mean to you. Explain that you won’t have the time to do everything you normally do. Ask them to take over some of your chores. If you have small children, see if a trusted friend or relative would be willing to watch them on occasion. Perhaps a friend would be willing to prepare a meal. You won’t know if you don’t ask.

3. Enlist your cheerleaders.
Unless we tell others what we’re doing and why, they won’t know how much we’d appreciate their support. Take time to share your excitement, explain your goal and enlist your friends, family members and fellow writers as your encouragers along the way. Let them know that a quick email, text or IM with an uplifting message would be appreciated. Share your progress on social media and here in Seekerville so others can rejoice with you.


4. Lock up your internal editor.
My pesky internal editor sits on my shoulders shouting in my ear. She seems to think it’s her job to point out every repetition, missing comma, dangling preposition and… Well, you get the idea. I like to produce nice, shiny manuscripts. The trouble is that listening to my internal editor slows me down. It can also lead me to doubt myself. Her time will come once I’ve met my goal, but she’s not helpful when I’m drafting a story, so out she goes.

5. Dive into your story world.
Find ways to transport yourself from your current location to your fictional world. Since I write historicals, classical music takes me back in time. If listening to music would immerse you in your story world, create a playlist and go for it. Perhaps having a dedicated writing spot would do the trick—a corner of the couch or your corner coffee shop. Experiment with ways to whisk yourself into your story world. Feel free to share what works for you in the comments.

6. Give yourself permission to be a sloppy writer.
One of the things that slows me down is the desire to produce nice, clean manuscripts. However, my stories don’t start out that way. By telling ourselves that it’s OK to take note of needed changes or tweaks and move on, we can get those words down. At times, I’ll leave myself an ALL CAPS reminder right in the file. As Jodi Picoult and/or Nora Robert have said, “You can’t edit a blank page.”

7. Take breaks.
Sitting at the computer for hours on end isn’t good for us physically or mentally, and it can end up stifling our creativity as stiffness and weariness set in. Get away from the screen from time to time, and you’ll return refreshed. Taking a walk clears my head. So does a rousing game of Bananagrams with my husband. Choose what works for you and enjoy those much-needed breaks.

8. Steer clear of your procrastination pitfalls.

Be it social media, a sudden urge to scrub the tub or an errand you’re sure you need to run right then, we can all fall prey to procrastination. I tend to be most susceptible when I’m avoiding my story due to fears, doubts or a lack of direction. What gets me back on track is sitting down and writing something, even if I turn right around and delete it. What usually happens is that ideas and words start flowing again once the pump is primed.

9. Jump those hurdles.
Life happens: kids get sick, cars break down, story ideas elude us. How we choose to handle these inevitable interruptions or setbacks can make a difference. We can whine, worry or—even worse—give up, or we can deal with the situation as quickly as possible and get back to our writing. The choice is ours.

10. Let go of guilt.
Maybe you didn’t meet your daily word count, but look at how many words you did write. Perhaps you missed a day, but look at how many days you showed up in front of your screen. Rather than beating yourself up for missing the mark, give yourself a pat on the back for attempting something few others would.

Ten is such a nice round number. My Monk-like, semi-OC self loves it. However, because this final tip is so important, I’m going to s-t-r-e-t-c-h myself and give it to you, even though eleven is both an odd number and a prime. (How’s that for a non-math person?)

11. Celebrate your accomplishment.
You signed up for SpeedBo, you plunked yourself in front of your computer for days on end and you added lots of words to your story. Your dedication and determination deserve to be recognized. Dinner out works for me. What would a suitable celebration look like for you? 

Your Turn

I’m not an expert on how to write fast, by any means, so for those of you who are (Ruthy and Mary Connealy come to mind), I’d love to know how you do it. What tips can you share with those writers among us who are mere mortals?

If you’re a s-l-o-w writer like I am, what ways have you found to increase your productivity? Have there been times you’ve gotten on a roll and amazed yourself with the number of words you added to your stories? If so, how did that feel?

For those of you who aren’t novelists, I’m sure there have been times when you’ve stepped outside your comfort zones, done things you didn’t think were possible and amazed yourselves with your accomplishments. I’d love to hear about them.

Keli is generously giving away FIVE copies of her latest Love Inspired Historical release, Her Motherhood Wish. Let us know you want your name put in the purple hat! Winners announced in the Weekend Edition!

www.keligwyn.com

Her Motherhood Wish

Building a Family

En route to the Double T Orphanage to work on its expansion, carpenter Chip Evans and Caroline Hunt discover two orphaned children—and become their caregivers. But Chip’s determined not to let himself get too attached to the children who just lost their widowed father…or to the lovely woman helping him care for them. Especially since Callie and the little ones just don’t fit into his detailed plans for the future.

Callie can’t help but fall in love with the orphans, and despite her better judgment, she’s falling for Chip, too. Her dreams of being a wife and mother were not quite like this. But Callie believes a plan bigger than Chip’s brought them all together…and now she just has to help him see it, too.

Copyright © 2017 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

It's not too late to Speedbo. Rules & Giveaway information is here.

Why Choosing Good Stocks Is Like a Successful Writing Career: Diversification is Key

If I had stocks (which I don't, I have kids instead, and the intrinsic payback is so much better than the financial advantage of stocks, at least until they put me in a home, and then they're going to wish I saved more and baked less! But until then, it's all good! And they gave me a boatload of grandchildren, so they're G-O-L-D-E-N...)

Anyway, back on topic, if I had stocks, I would diversify.

What's that, you ask?

Well, it's like spreading the love. It's like picking some risky stocks, some stodgy stocks, some blue chips, some potato chips...(that will soothe me when the floor falls out from beneath my stock investments) Logic states that if you diversify and the market tanks or bonds nosedive or disaster strikes, your risk is spread out over multiple instruments, and therefore more stable.

The same is true of writing.

I love to write romance. We've talked about this before, we've discussed how to make your work sound and look different, while staying true to yourself and your readers...

But all romance doesn't have to sound alike.

All books/stories are not created via the same prototype.

Some are done with more family saga (Julie Lessman is an absolute artist at this), some are done with a stronger thread of adventure (Mary Connealy is a queen of historic adventures) and some are done with more literary license (Lisa Wingate is the master of this style.)

But many of these can be classified as romance. Right now one of the things I'm writing and loving is Western Romance... and speaking of this, why not have an over-the-moon moment right now??? Because this sweet story, Nick's story, is coming in October to a bookstore near you.... and of course, it is available for pre-order!!!! (sighs...smiles.... and allows us all a minute to love on this cover from Waterbrook Press!)

Trying to classify romance has always confused me. It confuses me still because not all editors see the lines of demarcation that we see in contests.... So that's a conundrum!

Basically if you're writing a romance, you have a hero and heroine. They're your main protagonists, the meat of your sandwich. (Now I'm hungry)

But think of all those toppings! Lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, hot chilis, mayo, mustard, oil dressing, green peppers, onions, olives... The list is endless. And each topping changes the direction of the meat in either subtle or bold ways.

And each time you layer something else into the story, you could be changing the genre/category of your story. This isn't a bad thing at all, but it's a subjective thing. When you enter contests, picking the best category for your work is clutch.

When you submit to editors and agents, submitting a story they'd like to represent is important. If you submit a family saga to an agent who has put out a call for romance, you might have nipped your chances. If you send (raising hand, guilty as charged!) a long, rambling saga to a category editor, she is likely to stomp on it in her hurry to send it back!!!

And this is where diversity comes in. The wide breadth of romance allows a lot of latitude. If you're aiming for a particular market, first, target THAT MARKET. "Her Unexpected Family"  is a beautiful story. It releases August 1, and I love it... but it is so much better for the work that I put in after Melissa Endlich offered suggestions on how to layer the story. She helped put a shine on the project that wouldn't have been there otherwise... and I can't wait for you to read it! But layering this story was very different from layering Nick's story above, and that's part of what we need to learn. It is also an important view of differentiation and diversity, to write cross-appeal books that the audience loves. We don't do this because we don't like one kind of book... we do it to build readership, every author's goal.

Read the market, study what's out there, do not assume you know everything, do your homework, and remember if money is an issue, the public library is free and longs for your patronage. I studied on the government's dime for years because there wasn't money to buy books except at the used book store, and then I was limited to whatever he happened to have on hand, and twenty-year-old books are not indicative of what editors are buying now. Today. This week. Next month... so read the current stuff for market trends, and read the old stuff for ideas, inspiration, etc.

Within that market, be yourself. Only a better version of yourself. The same goes for your characters.

Make them ache the way real people ache. Give them a real surrounding. Deepen with strong subcharacters, those secondaries who look, act and sound real. These are your condiments.

Think: FLAVOR. Those condiments flavor and might lengthen your book, which can then place it in another category or genre.... That's okay, but remember who and what you're targeting.

Don't be afraid to write lots of stuff. I had over a dozen books completed when I sold... and most of them have sold. The first few were awful, they would never sell, I was raw... but I used ideas from those in other books.

Keep writing. Gretzky didn't become an icon by playing video games. He practiced.

Pele didn't become a soccer sensation by joining pricey soccer clubs and pseudo-elite teams... he grew up in the slums and practiced with a sock ball... that's right, a ball made out of tied socks... and became one of the world's greats because he never stopped and did not quit.

Ben Franklin didn't discover electricity accidentally. He experimented, and read what other scientists were doing in Europe so that he could be on the cutting edge, a man who'd already done so much, he had NOTHING TO PROVE... And his wide ranging accomplishments included being a sage, a publisher, an author, he began the first public library system, he invented the Franklin Stove, a product that literally changed the world in northern latitudes, and the kitchen in every home... He began the first American college of liberal arts which is now the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia... The first fire department... The first public hospital and the first mutual funds insurance company... He was a philosopher and diplomat and a representative to Congress.

Now that's diversity. He changed himself, he changed  others, he changed the world FOR others.

Diversification is a wonderful thing in writing. It may not pay off instantly. Few things do. But in time, it can be utilized, or tweaked to fit what you're doing.

I have several different types of books releasing this year. Women's Fiction with Romantic Elements from Franciscan Media, including this beautiful story that just released in March: More Than a Promise...

And a Love Inspired, and another cowboy book, and a beautiful story from Franciscan Media in September.... and a contemporary Christmas novella with St. Martin's Press and a historical Christmas novella with Gilead Publishing... And this is where that push to diversify is paying off.

Believe in yourself, put forth the effort, have fun, and let God guide your path. So back to the first line... It's true, I have no stocks! No bonds! And not much in the way of cash reserves, more's the pity! :) But I have stock in myself, I believe in God's gifts, and I'm having the best time ever, using them!

I brought cheesecake today, turtle cheesecake made at Leo's Bakery in East Rochester, NY... Oh my stars, it is so good!!!!

So what can you do to spread your talents? What have you been dying to write... but couldn't quite bring yourself to do it?

For one lucky commenter today I have an audible version of "Refuge of the Heart", the beautiful story of a church sponsored refugee who comes to America for a chance at what so many take for granted here... faith and freedom!

OR!!!! a just-received audible copy of "More Than a Promise", an absolutely delightful story of a contemporary marriage of convenience that becomes most inconvenient when they manage to fall delightfully in love.... Oops!

Come on inside and let's talk how to spread the love of romance with a little Ruthy-enabled diversification!

Multi-published, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves to chat with folks... because she never stops talking! Visit her website ruthloganherne.com or friend her on facebook/RuthLoganHerne, visit her and a host of other delightful loves-to-cook authors at the Yankee Belle Cafe and @RuthLoganHerne on Twitter... With over 3/4 million books sold, Ruthy loves to talk faith, freedom, fiction, fun and family in any venue!

It's Just A Little Stress

Hi Everyone, Audra here.

Crazy doesn’t begin to describe my last several months. My day job has me running to Calgon bubble baths and stocking up on industrial-strength Lady Clairol, LOL! Life has been more than hectic since October, and quite frankly, I’m ready for it to stop and return to normal. No way am I saying this condition is specific to me, I know (well, maybe heard) how many of you are going nuts with new babies (!), moving issues, job changes, medical distress, weather hazards, contract deadlines…the list goes on and on. So let’s join hands — no, scratch that — we need to lock elbows together and help each other overcome the stresses that threaten our common joy of writing.

That said, please forgive me for resurrecting an older post, but all I could think of was how relevant the topic is to my life right now.

We all have family, work, church, volunteering, and/or many other demands that stretch us beyond possible. Personally, there have been many life-altering events in the lives of many of my friends at work which have affected me either through sharing grief, rejoicing in celebration or shouldering responsibilities for others as they require leave-of-absences. I thought I'd revisit some of the words of wisdom I've garnered as survival skills in my 8-5 day job (and often far beyond), and still pursue my true calling in life - writing romance with the essence of Jesus in the hearts of my characters.

Have a plan.

I hear you laughing. What? Don't you think Audra Harders has a plan? LOL! I wish I could organize my time as well as Pam, or twist 3 days of work into 1 like Tina, or churn out books with the same ease as baking cookies like Ruthy, but alas, that’s not how I’m wired. BUT, I do have a plan. I write from 7:00pm to 9:00pm weekdays. That’s it. That’s my plan. If I write for more time than this, BONUS!! This is the same concept our tax accountant gave us the year we had to arrange for payments on the income tax we owed for my husband’s business – commit to the least amount for repayment, and when available, pay off more. Right? 

Write!

And along with this…

Be Flexible.

I’ve set aside 2 hours a night to write. My family is good with this. That doesn’t mean that stuff doesn’t happen, though. I used to worry I wasn’t a dedicated writer if I allowed things to interrupt my schedule. I’d fret and angst over trying to make up the time. What a waste! The number one rule to keeping your sanity while working your writing career is BE FLEXIBLE. If something gets in your way, deal with it, and then pick up your plotting, editing, writing or whatever and continue on. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Weight Watchers’ meetings, it’s if you fall off the wagon, you have to forgive yourself and pick up where you left off.


Avoid distractions.

This is a toughie. Our world is all about email, text messaging, and social media. Communication is the key to building relationships and creating a structure for your writing support group. I understand the concept and truly enjoy the benefits and camaraderie, but you can’t let it get the better of you. As I mentioned earlier, I only have two hours a day to dedicate to writing, and if I let email and social media have its way with me, I’ll not only lose my precious writing time, but find my final LOL of the night has eaten into my sleep time, too.

This particular survival tip speaks to your priorities. I know some folks can fit it all in and be perfectly productive. I’m not one of those people. I had to go cold turkey on social media and impose restrictions on my email in order to meet my writing goals. Take a look at your particular stress points and be honest with yourself – is too much social interaction keeping you from achieving your goals??

Feeding the Masses.

Don't let mealtime stress you out!! Creative license is allowed in this portion of your writing journey. Since I have a day job, the thought of spending my two hours of free time prepping food for dinner just doesn't excite me. I prefer to cook on weekends, but not everyone has that luxury. So, explore your options. Talk to the hungry souls involved. Delegate. Last summer my son was responsible for creating dinner for the family one day a week. He chose to bring home Taco Bell. No one complained : )

Explore the possibilities of slow-cooker recipes, make-ahead and freeze meals, 3-ingredient meals, etc. Google has become my best friend. I look in my refrigerator and see a head of cabbage. Hmmm, what can be done with this?? Google “cabbage” and it will toss a variety of suggestions at you like cabbage recipes. AllRecipes.com is my favorite. Check it out. How about Cabbage Jambalaya? I like this one (since I tend to have these ingredients on hand).

Remember, we're talking sustenance, not gourmet. Reward your family with a great meal on the weekend.

Walk.

Actually, it can be any kind of exercise, but the point is to get out and move. I tend toward Secretarial Spread. Walking a mile or two empowers me to think I have some control over the affliction, LOL!

I love walking the dog down our neighbor’s lane. She’s a rather stubborn Corgi and thinks she’s walking me when I have her on a leash. BUT, once we turn down Bob’s lane, I unhook the leash and start getting lost in the fresh air (knowing the dog will follow). Once I get the blood flowing and clear my mind, ideas begin to form and sometimes I find a whole different perspective on a plot point or conflict I hadn’t considered before. And it gives me an opportunity to hum and sing where no one will hear me : )

Embrace (or rediscover) hobbies.

I grew up sewing. Not clothing, but draperies. I was practically born with a needle in my chubby little fist since my family ran a drapery company. I loved the feel of the fabric as I sewed, pressed and finished panels of window coverings. Since it was relatively mindless work, I had plenty of time to make up stories in my head as I sewed. I still sew, but now I concentrate on piecing together quilts rather than draperies. The feel of the fabric and creative exercise of coordinating colors and prints takes me away from plastic keyboards and illuminated computer screens and feeds my tactile creative side.

Let me suggest something. When you’re stuck on a scene point, try turning away from writing and spend some time on a hobby completely different than typing words. You’ll be amazed at how your mind kind of “resets” itself.

And Finally…

Make time to read.

Of all my tips, this one is the most difficult for me to embrace with a clear conscience. I love books. I love to read. Yet, sitting down in my comfy chair and losing myself in a sigh-dropping story makes me feel guilty. GET OVER IT. We are in the writing business. We must keep up on trends. We need to support our fellow authors by having a cocktail knowledge across our genre, and the newest releases of our friends and colleagues work. I must confess, my TBR pile is teetering, but with the popularity of digital books and readers, I’m overjoyed to carry around my Kindle and make the most of expected and unexpected waits. I give myself permission to read on weekends…entire books at a sitting.

And then, I remember why I became a writer : )

How about you?

What is your Achilles' heel when it comes to staying focused and producing?
What kind of short cuts have you come up with to support productivity?
What do you need help with?
What kind of help can you offer?
What keeps you from writing till your heart's content?
Any quick and easy recipes?
How do you juggle all your responsibilities and writing?

Share with us and there could be a $10 Amazon card in your future!!

But wait! There's more! Yes, these last months have been distracting and gruesome, but God is faithful. I kept writing even when I just wanted to slouch on the couch, eat buttered popcorn and watch re-runs of NCIS -- and look what happened...I finished a book. Rough Road Home is the final book in my Circle D series. 

A bull rider and a stock broker.

Both burned out on love and life.

Can a simple road trip to the next rodeo turn into a chance for happily ever after?

Check out the pre-order on Amazon!!! 

Pre-Order on Amazon!

Rachel Hill, a burned out stockbroker, realizes she’s sacrificed too much for her career and is searching for God’s direction in her life. Champion bull rider, Nick Davidson, reasons God abandoned him first, so what’s the point of seeking Christ’s will in his life? When Nick suffers a concussion, the road trip to the next rodeo becomes the ride of a lifetime for Rachel and Nick. Secrets revealed; lies exposed. Can the power of love heal even these deepest wounds?

Audra Harders writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring cowboys who haven't a clue about relationships rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has two adult children and is surrounded by everything conducive to writing about farming, ranching and cowboys at her day job in the county Extension office. She began writing right after her son was born and sold her first book to Steeple Hill Love Inspired mere months before that same son graduated from high school. Surviving those years in between remind her God does have her plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor. You can visit her at her website. Stop by and see what’s new, and sign up for her newsletter!

COINCIDENCE OR MIRACLE?

Good Morning.  Sandra here with a pot of chocolate velvet coffee, Teavana teas and hot chocolate. Grab a cup and lets talk miracles.  I picked oranges and tangelos off my tree this morning and they are juicy and sweet. So please help yourself to some Arizona sunshine.

Photo A

Have you ever pursued a project or a dream and all of a sudden the people you need appear or the information you need falls into your lap? Some would call this coincidence. There are even scientific studies where they have proven that your brain tunes into things when you have a goal.  Their example showed how you decide you want a certain type of car and suddenly you are seeing that car everywhere, ads for that car, information for that car. I'm sure these rationalizations can be proven, but personally, I believe they are miracles. I believe they are divine intervention and support for my work in progress.

Photo B

Let me give you some examples.  When I finished my first draft of DREAM SONG, one of my earlier novels for Warner, I got called to give some seminars on the Navajo Reservation. The setting for DREAM SONG is Northern Arizona. Debra, the heroine, is searching for her roots. Debra was adopted by Anglo parents but her mother was Navajo. Several ladies I met at the seminar gave me some valuable assistance in developing the characters in DREAM SONG. They even offered to be beta readers which was great, as they found things that would have been inconsistent with Navajo culture. Now I had never worked on the reservation before nor since. Was that coincidence? Did I go looking for that job? No. I was asked by ASU to go because of work I had done as a teacher. But did I need that information? And was it provided in a beautiful way?  You bet.

Photo C

By the way, I'm working on getting DREAM SONG back out there. Hopefully it will be on Amazon some time this spring.

Another example: Have any of you read LOVE'S MIRACLES?  I was spending the summer at Lake Tahoe when I was writing that novel. The hero in LOVE'S MIRACLES is a Vietnam Vet dealing with post traumatic stress syndrome.  I joined the closest RWA group which was in Reno, Nevada and met a woman looking for a critique partner. Guess what her day job was? She was a psychologist at the Reno VA hospital. Now was that coincidence? Did I go looking specifically for a psychologist? No. And was I there all summer to work with her?  Remember that was written in the 80's way before the Internet and online crit partners. So what a miracle that we were able to work together because she provided me with amazing information.

Photo D

CURRENT OF LOVE was written because hubby and I went on a cruise up the Mississippi on a riverboat cruise. And being a writer I interviewed the crew and the story brewed in my mind. It was a year later that I started writing this novel so I did not have contact with the crew members. The hero nearly drowned as a child so is not really happy on the water. This is why he is going with his father on a river boat cruise instead of a sea cruise. So of course, we had to have a huge storm, flooding and boat evacuation. I needed to know what they did in that situation. We were camping in our RV and guess who is camped near us? Yep. A retired river boat captain. Now is that coincidence? Did I go to an RV park to find one? Nope. But guess who provided one for me?  Yep. Our Father.

Photo E  (black and white)

My hero in my current work in progress is a retired Army Colonel.  One of the gals I play pickleball with is married to a retired Army Colonel. I have already been interviewing him and getting some great information that will ramp up my plot. Now is that coincidence? Did I go to an RV park looking for a retired colonel? And do I need to know one?  You bet.

Photo F  (sepia)

Not only do these miracles happen in my writing, but in all things related to writing. Many of you know that I signed books in November at the Scottsdale Library. Well book selling was a wash. Who goes to a library to buy books?  LOL   But God makes good out of all things. I met a publicist and since Amber was hired by a publishing house, I needed one. Nanci advised me that I need to update my photos. Well I am presently RVing in a resort on the outskirts of Tucson and its pretty isolated out there. But guess what? The RV resort features a photography club and I met Linda Needham. She took these photos and wow did we have fun. Not only did I get photos, but met a new friend. Oh yes, one of my pickleball friends is an actress and she had fun putting on the makeup and fixing my hair. (something about which I am completely hopeless)

So this brings me to the PHOTOS. Have you been thinking that I'm getting vain? Or losing it?
chuckle

Photo G

These are some of the headshots. What I need is help with picking out the best ones for my profile shots. I like the black and white. (shows less wrinkles) There is the sepia.  And color shots.  Also we tried some without the glasses which looks better, but hey, I do wear glasses so what is your opinion? Should I have them on or does it really matter?

I have numbered each photo. Please pick your favorite and you will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books or your choice of an available Seeker ebook.

Also, PLEASE SHARE any miracles you've witnessed along your writing path. I love miracles. I believe in miracles. And I love hearing about them.

If you don't have any to share,  start looking for them. Seeing the big and small miracles that happen every day are what build your faith.  And they bring you joy because they are reassurances that the Lord is with you.

Read like a writer . . . then write like a reader!

Myra Johnson

Believe me, I understand. If you’ve been at this writing gig for very long, reading for pleasure is no longer just about reading for pleasure. You see everything differently. Even in a novel that totally absorbs us, it can be hard to turn off the part of our brain that wants to critique every twist and turn of the plot and even mentally rewrite the author’s words.

Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Because, even when we’re doing this subconsciously, we’re still learning.

But if we really can’t help being critical readers, let’s occasionally get proactive about it.

Read like a writer.

Viewpoint. How is this author handling point of view? Is the story in first person or third? Does the choice work for you? Why or why not? Does the narrative viewpoint draw you in, or does it feel like the author holds you at a distance? How many viewpoints are used in the course of the story? Do the other viewpoints seem like tangents, or do they directly affect the main characters and plot?

Conflict. Does the author include conflict in every scene? Too much, or too little? Do the problems seem contrived, or do they evolve as a natural result of the character’s actions or decisions? Does the author effectively balance high-tension scenes with more relaxed passages? Does each plot twist lead inexorably toward the dramatic climax? Is the conclusion both believable and satisfying?

Characterization. Are the characters’ thoughts and actions consistent with their personalities? Did the author do a good job of blending backstory into the forward plot movement? Why do you like or dislike a particular character? Do you easily grasp the characters’ goals and motivation? Did the author make you care about these people?

Dialogue. Can you “hear” the characters’ individual voices in their speech or internalizations? Does each character’s expression sound natural for the era and setting? Does it suit their personalities and educational background? Is there a good balance between dialogue and narration? Do beats and tags enhance or detract?

Description. Does the author blend description naturally into the flow of the story, or is it dumped in large chunks that interrupt the action? How easy is it for you to picture the characters and setting? Based on the genre, is there too much or too little description? Is it relevant, drawing you deeper into the plot? Or does the description seem extraneous or overwritten?

Some writers go to great lengths to analyze novels, including using colored pens and highlighters to mark different types of passages. When you see the “rainbow” spread across the pages, you can easily see which colors dominate and which areas received the least attention.

Now that you’ve thoroughly analyzed a few novels, it’s time to . . .

Write like a reader.

You know what you like, and in each book you read, you’re learning to identify what works and what doesn’t. You should also be gaining a sense of publishing house tastes and preferences.

So as a writer, your job is to create the most enjoyable reading experience possible within the parameters set by your genre and target market.

Characters and POV. Do readers in your genre prefer third-person point of view, or is first person equally popular? Will they expect a single viewpoint, or alternating viewpoints between hero and heroine? Is there room in the book for relevant scenes in supporting characters’ viewpoints?

Action vs. Introspection. Is your genre typically character driven or plot driven? Suspense readers expect more faced-paced action scenes and fewer thinking/reacting scenes. Readers of pure romance and women’s fiction look for the opposite. Also think about what’s appropriate for your characters. For example, is your hero dwelling too much on his feelings?

Emotional impact. Readers of every genre seek some kind of emotional connection with the story, so make sure you give them the type and amount they expect. Romance, women’s fiction, and coming-of-age stories touch the heart. Action and suspense novels must deliver a steady flow of thrills and chills. Mysteries may also contain an element of danger, but even more important is challenging the reader’s sleuthing skills. Have you dropped enough clues without giving too much away?

Description and narrative. Too much descriptive detail in a suspense novel and your readers will start skimming. Fail to fully engage your reader’s five senses in a romance and you’ve cut the heart out of your story. If you’re writing a historical, what balance of fact-vs-fiction will satisfy discerning readers?

When your draft is finished, give it a week or two before you reread for edits and revisions. Then, once again, read like a writer!

Let’s talk! Have you ever intentionally analyzed a novel to understand why it does or doesn’t work? What did you learn that helped you in your own writing? Is there an author or particular novel that, for you, represents the “ideal” of your genre and the quality of writing you aspire to?

Today I’m giving away a copy of my novel When the Clouds Roll By (book 1, Till We Meet Again, Abingdon Press). To be entered in the drawing, join the conversation and mention your interest in the book!

About the book: Annemarie Kendall is overjoyed when the armistice is signed and the Great War comes to an end. Her fiancé, Lieutenant Gilbert Ballard, is coming home, and though he is wounded, she is excited to start their life together. But when he arrives, her dreams are dashed when she learns Gilbert is suffering from headaches, depression, and an addiction to pain killers. This is not the man she had planned to marry.

After serving in the trenches, Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary is barely holding onto his faith. Putting up a brave front as he ministers to the injured soldiers at the hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he befriends Gilbert and eventually falls for Annemarie.

While Annemarie tries to sort out her confused feelings about the two men in her life, she witnesses firsthand the bitterness and hurt they both hold within. Who will she choose? Will she have the courage to follow her heart and become the woman God intended her to be? As the world emerges from the shadow of war, Annemarie clings to her faith as she wonders if her future holds the hope, happiness, and love for which she so desperately longs.

Watch for book 2, Whisper Goodbye, coming this spring!

Story: Your Brain on Drugs

with guest Mary Curry

Confession time: I'm a craft book junkie. More accurately, I'm addicted to buying craft books. I can't claim to have read all (or even most) of them, but I have A LOT. Over the years I've developed favorites. Anne Lamott's bird by bird gets credit for keeping me sane as a writer. Robert McKee's Story intimidates me simply by its size. Elizabeth Sinclair's The Dreaded Synopsis and Deb Dixon's GMC have held places of honor on my writing shelf for over a decade. There's Vogler and Swain, Maass and Bell,  Gardner and Snyder, Cameron and Hauge. Rebecca McClanahan teaches me to paint with words and Noah Lukeman offers advice on staying out of the rejection pile in The First Five Pages. The list goes on and on. King, Stein, Goldberg, etc., etc.

So seriously, is there any way to justify purchasing another craft book?

Can you see me cocking my head and giving you the evil eye?

One can never have too many craft books, right?

We could debate that, but today I just want to share with you my newest favorite.

Wired for Story:  The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence. By Lisa Cron

How can a title like that not snag your interest?

The back cover blurb says:

Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed. Wired for Story reveals these cognitive secrets - and it's a game changer for anyone who has ever set pen to paper.

That was enough to convince me to purchase a copy!  (Clearly Barnes & Noble has reason to love me!)

I'm really, really glad I did. I've learned so much about storytelling from this book. My copy is full of Post its and underlining and notes written in the margins. I read and thought about my stories, realized where I was going wrong, and got excited about new ways to do it right.  And I've learned to look at story in a whole new light.

The book is chock full of so many interesting points that I'd need a month of posts to do it justice. Rather than doing a poor job summarizing, I'm hoping to whet your appetite with some of the more intriguing thoughts, and prompt some discussion on your thoughts about neuroscience and writing.

I also want to use this study of brain science and story as a lens to look at our roles as writers of inspirational fiction.

Calgon Take me Away


Any of you who are a certain age may recall the Calgon ads - usually a harried housewife pleading, "Calgon, take me away."





Stories have always been my Calgon. The one reliable escape from madness.

But according to Lisa Cron, I've had it all wrong. Stories aren't about escape, but rather about survival.

 "Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience reveal that our brain is hardwired to respond to story; the pleasure we derive from a tale well old is nature's way of seducing us into paying attention to it." (p. 1)

And why do we have to pay attention? 

To survive.

Lisa Cron discussed her book on Writer Unboxed saying,

 "By letting us vicariously experience difficult situations and problems we haven’t actually lived through, story bestows upon us, risk free, a treasure trove of useful intel, just in case. And so back in the Stone Age, even though those shiny red berries looked delicious, we remembered the story of the Neanderthal next door who gobbled ‘em down and promptly keeled over, and made do with a couple of stale old beetles instead."

So story is essential to our survival.

What does that have to do with us as writers?

Because of the way our brains are wired, we respond in certain ways. According to Cron, this explains why some stories captivate us while others leave us cold.

She claims writers often mistakenly believe that beautiful prose and fascinating plots make good stories.

Wrong!

Have you ever read a beautifully crafted writing sample that left you feeling nothing? Or one that was so perfectly structured you were conscious of the craft? By contrast, books that are universally acknowledged as horribly written often become mega best sellers.

Why?

Because they appeal to our cravings for story.

What makes a story work is that inescapable need for the brain to know what is going to happen next. That's what keeps us awake at night reading. Curiosity is roused. Your survival instincts kick in. It's a drug - literally. A dopamine* rush. 

Sounds easy, right?

Apparently that's another way we go wrong.

Because stories engage our attention effortlessly, they seem easy to write. And that's where our job can become difficult.

"Not only do we crave story, but we have very specific hardwired expectations for every story we read." (p. 10)

For the remainder of the book, Cron goes through these expectations step by step, explaining how we can create our stories in a manner that gives readers that dopamine high.  Each section begins with a Cognitive Secret and a related Story Secret.


There's so much more information about mirror neurons, plot expectations, the protagonist as her own worst enemy, meeting reader expectations, etc.  So much  good stuff that not only do I seriously recommend this book for your own reading, but I'm going to give away a copy to one lucky commenter. More about that in a bit.

Now I'd like to shift the focus slightly. Seeing that this is Seekerville and most of us write inspirational fiction, I couldn't help but think of discussing this book with our particular writing in mind.

We're following in the footsteps of the greatest storyteller ever known. Jesus taught with stories to make lessons accessible and meaningful to his people.

As I read Wired for Story, I couldn't help but wonder, can we use the discoveries of neuroscience to help build the Kingdom of God?

Early in the book, Cron writes;

"Writers can change the way people think simply by giving them a glimpse of life through their characters' eyes. They can transport readers to places they've never been, catapult them into situations they've never dreamed of, and reveal subtle universal truths that just might alter their entire perception of reality." (p. 2)

That can be a powerful burden or an awesome opportunity.

There's so much wonderful information in this book about how to carefully craft your story to meet reader expectations. I think we could easily learn to adapt those techniques to subtly craft a message that inspires.

So what do you think?

Are you interested in learning more about how neuroscience can help you craft engaging stories?

Do you think we should use this knowledge and these skills to evangelize?

Did I thoroughly confuse you?

I can't really begin to do neuroscience credit in one blog post, so I'm offering a copy of Lisa Cron's book, Wired for Story (ebook or paper), as a prize. Please let us know in the comments if you want to be in the drawing. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

If you're interested in more information, Lisa Cron has a website here. 
and can be found on Writer Unboxed  


*According to Psychology Today, Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses.



Mary Curry


Mary is a teacher, mother, wife and writer.  And a lifelong reader. That passion for reading transformed over time into a compulsion to create stories of her own. She’s been writing  and contesting for many years and along the way has garnered a few writing credits including being a three time Golden Heart finalist and the 2011 Genesis winner for Contemporary Romance. She has recently won Duel on the Delta, Touched by Love, and the Laurie.


Mary can be found on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/M.M.Curry

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/maryc2010

Her own blog can be found at My Place By the Sea