Thankfulness

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."- Psalm 37:4

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."-Psalm 32:8

I just returned from the ACFW conference a few days ago, and as I look back on my experience there, one word sums it up: thankfulness.

I was happy to meet many of you who read my blog and who gave me feedback about the video blog. Thanks for introducing yourselves!

While at the conference, I had a God-moment. Well, quite a few, actually. But one stands out in particular, and that is meeting my heros. I won't go into specifics for propriety's sake, but let's just say that out of every single person at the entire conference, God put the person I most wanted to meet (and most respect) in my path and allowed me the privilege of talking with him about my book. Funny how God's plans outdo our own, even when we imagine ourselves dreamers.

This person spoke words of affirmation into my heart and my writing pursuits. I am still in complete awe over the conversations I had with this person, and his faith in my dream.

I'm also missing all of you guys, my new friends!

Questions for Comment:

So, how was your conference experience? Are you experiencing a conference high or a conference letdown? I, for one, managed to get a cold... I think I overestimated my socializing stamina!

Also, many of you commented to me at the conference that you enjoyed my video blog, so I'm planning to do more of them. Any particular subjects that you'd like to hear more about?

Pitching Tips Forthcoming

I'd hoped to post my pitching vlog today, but it's been one of those no makeup, wearing fuzzy socks kind of days because I'm fighting off a cold. That said, I'm hoping to get it up very soon! In the meantime, I wanted to give you a few things to think about as you prepare your pitches for next week's ACFW conference.

1) Who are your characters? Florists? Firefighters? Children's pastors? These kinds of details are important to give the flavor of your story.

2) What are the stakes? What does your character have to lose, and what is pushing your character forward? Rachel Hauck did a brilliant segment at last year's conference, alongside Susan May Warren, where she said that your characters should have a push and pull motivation. They should be pushing against some variable, and they should also be pulled toward some goal. It's important you know what those are in case editors ask.

3) What's the takeaway value, particularly spiritually? What do you hope readers will learn? You don't want to explicitly say, "Readers will learn to be more disciplined in their devotions," for instance (you only have 30 seconds, after all!), during your initial pitch. However, editors and agents might ask these kinds of questions after your pitch, and you should be prepared.

Also, keep the action at the forefront of your pitch. You want to hook them, after all, not give them seventeen random details about the clothing depicted in your historical novel.

What to Bring to the ACFW Conference

This is my very first vlog attempt. Hope you enjoy it!

Do you have anything to add to my list? What are you bringing to the conference this year?

Writing's Like Dating: Part 2-- Know Yourself

Have you seen Runaway Bride? Do you remember that part of the movie where Julia Roberts' character changes her egg preference based off what her fiance likes? Then the guy she ends up with realizes this problem and has her eat a bunch of different kinds of eggs to figure out what she likes?

This same thing happens all too often in real life dating relationships. Men and women both try to be something they're not to make themselves more appealing to the other person, more likable. After a while, these daters might even forget or lose touch with their own preferences, and before you know it, they're drinking plain vanilla milkshakes instead of chocolate (with extra chocolate drizzle).

I know what you're thinking. What does this have to do with writing, aside from the fact that I crave chocolate every time I sit down to reach my word count?

Well, I'm glad you asked.

1) You can't market what you don't know. If you're trying to market a novel you've already gotten into print, or if you're trying to get a novel published, either way you're probably hoping to impress people. How can you sell your writing (and yourself, for that matter) if you don't even know your strengths?

Let's take that to the dating scene... let's say you have a horrible, hormonally-induced pimple on your shoulder that makes its grand appearance the morning of your first date with someone. Do you choose the strapless sundress for that evening's apparel? Probably not. You cover it up with a nice little three quarter length cami or something equally Loft-ish.

On the other hand, let's say every guy you've been out with has commented on your green eyes. You're probably going to spend some extra time doing your makeup so you can accentuate your best features, right?

So why don't we do this with our writing? Each writer has strengths and weaknesses. Maybe your giant pimple is inexperience or poor grammar. Do the best you can to overcome that weakness by studying and practicing the craft. But whatever you do, don't call attention to your unattractive attributes.

Too many writers start off pitches by calling attention to the giant pimple of their writing. Bad idea.

2) Trying to imitate someone else's voice never works. Remember our example from Runaway Bride? Pretending to be someone else, to like what someone else does or to think like them, is both unfulfilling and unsatisfying, not to mention, people can tell. Have you ever met someone who acts differently with each boyfriend because she thinks she has to meld to their interests in order to impress them? Is she ever happy? Does she ever end up with someone who really respects her for who she is? Does anyone even know who she really is as a person, including herself? Probably not, because she hasn't done the work to go through life establishing and finding her own inner voice.

Same thing occurs with writing. When we try to imitate another writer's style because, for instance, he or she is a bestseller, or that genre is doing well, it simply does not work.

God called you to write the stories He has given you.

That job is already in-depth enough... why complicate it by trying to be something you're not? You're free to be yourself... so be yourself boldy!

Questions for Comment:

Have you ever found yourself trying to be someone or something you're not in your writing? What helps you find and develop your own writing voice?

ACFW Conference Appointments: Debunking the Bad Guy Myth

Remember that high school feeling of getting caught talking in class? Maybe it wasn't your fault. Maybe your friend in the seat beside you wanted to cheat, and you were actually saying, "No, I will not give you my answers," but all the teacher heard was your mumbling, and next thing you knew, you were rambling on and on in some kind of ill-formed explanation of your merit.

Now imagine a line of authors feeling that exact same way--fidgeting their hands, grasping their one sheets, and considering breaking out super-sized bags of dark chocolate, the Christian version of taking shots. Maybe that's not so hard for you to imagine. Maybe you've been one of those authors.

But is that the way it has to be?

Last year, I interviewed the now-retired Etta Wilson for my conference tour blog. Something she said about new authors struck me, and I still think about it often: "Believe in your work and be kind. We're all in this together, and the writing and publishing of wonderful reading is a high calling for all of us."

What if instead of panicking over our 30 second pitches as if we're being graded, we stepped outside ourselves and remembered that ultimately we're all in this together? How would the landscape of appointments change? Because really, editors and agents want to buy quality fiction just as much (or more) than you want to sell it.

One moment in particular at last year's conference changed the entire experience for me, and in some ways, it even changed the way I look at writing. That moment was when Colleen Coble introduced me to Ami McConnell, and Ami hugged me. Hugged me.

Now, you might not understand the dynamic implications of this. See, Ami has edited almost every one of my favorite books, and I had to restrain myself from gushing so I didn't sound like a suck-up. She probably thought nothing of hugging me, but to me it made all the difference. When I attended my appointment with her the next day, I wasn't so scared anymore. Did she say my book was the best she'd ever seen and that she wanted to buy it immediately? No. She said I wasn't ready yet. And you know what? I wasn't. I realize that now. But I still came away from the appointment excited because of her encouragement.

So if my personal anecdotes aren't enough, here are several myths I think we should debunk in striving toward professional relationships:

1) Editors and agents are monsters.

They are people too. Be nice, and don't treat them like a one-dimensional way to get your written words disseminated. As an instructor, I know all too well how it feels when people simply want something out of you.

2) Editors and agents want to see you fail.

Actually, they want to see you succeed. Why do you think they chose this profession? Most editors and agents love the idea of finding great new talent.

3) Editors and agents are going to be mean.

At conferences like ACFW, rarely are editors and agents ever going to be unkind. Be prepared that they might offer constructive feedback, but that's only to help you grow.

4) Editors and agents enjoy being stalked.

Okay, so most of you don't actually believe this one, but I thought it still worth mentioning. Do not follow your favorite editor back to his or her room in hopes you'll get to pitch. It's perfectly fine to approach that person in a normal setting, but don't creep them out. If you do this, don't be surprised to see other editors running away from you.

5) Editors and agents will forget you.

I've saved the biggest point for last. Editors and agents have very good memories. Just because someone doesn't request your manuscript during this conference--and most won't--does not mean he or she will forget about you. In fact, the opposite is usually true, so that street goes both ways. Throw a fit, and that's what you'll be remembered by. Be gracious, and when you have another project to pitch next year, you'll be remembered by your kindness and willingness to cooperate, which can get you far.

When all is said and done, though, just remember that you are passionate about your story and your characters. Let that passion shine through, and with some determination, you're sure to eventually find a good match for your work.

Restless

Recently I've discovered this new artist, Audrey Assad. She's a phenomenal song writer and musician, but it's her song "Restless" in particular that I've been singing for weeks now. The chorus comes from a St. Augustine quote, "I am restless until I rest in You."

I love the line, "Praise is filling up the spaces in between our frailty and everything You are" because we so often think of God in terms of polarizing forces, but in actuality, there is truth, and then there is the absence of truth. When our frailty puts us in the latter category, it is grace that reunites us with Christ again.

I hope you enjoy the video as much as I have.

And if you're interested in the full text from St. Augustine, you can find it here: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/621/Our_Heart_is_Restless_St_Augustine.html

Writing's Like Dating: Part 1-- The Meet

Hey, everyone! It's been too long since I've touched base with all of you. Since I've last written, I've graduated with my M.A. in English and have had my wisdom teeth removed... what a relief to have that behind me! Hope all of you are settling into your summer routines and enjoying all the sunshine. Today I'm starting a series about writing and dating. This blog will cover the introduction, or the first few chapters.

"So," you might be asking yourself, "what does writing have to do with dating?" Well, surprisingly, a lot, especially if you write romance! For starters, don't give away too much background information too soon. It will freak people out.

I think all authors fight the impulse to info-dump in the first few chapters. After all, we've worked hard crafting these characters, and our readers should enjoy hearing all we know about the main characters, right? Wrong. Giving too much information too soon is boooooooring. So boring, it's akin to sitting down across from a cute guy on a date, only to listen as he rambles on for an hour about how much he misses high school. Can you say red flag? Same thing is true for books. If you're so immersed in your characters' pasts, readers will wonder why you're not showing an equal amount of interest in your characters' futures.

So remember to start off right in the middle of the action, right at the beginning of the story, and integrate the backstory little bits at a time, sort of like glitter eyeshadow. A little goes a long way and takes away from the pop.

Have you ever struggled with info-dumping? Better yet, have you been on one of these kinds of dates? What do you do to avoid it?