She fancied herself a writer...

Flash Fiction Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 01:49:00 +0000

Today I visited a fun writer's group. One of the exercises was to pull a title from an envelope and pull a picture of your main character from another envelope. We then had 5 minutes to write. I had so much fun with this. The title I drew was "Today I Got Fired" and the picture I drew was a 20 something young man with tousled hair, wearing a black T-shirt, hands on hips and a look that said, "What?"

Here's what I wrote...

Today I Was Fired

Who knew Mondays were mandatory or that t-shirts and holey blue jeans were not proper attire?

Who knew that flirting with the boss’s daughter was in poor taste or that her husband might object?

Who knew that sleeping on the job, leaving several hours early or playing solitaire online during work hours was frowned upon?

Who knew that borrowing money from petty cash, eating co-workers lunches from the fridge or putting a whoopee cushion on the dweeb in accounting’s chair was a no-no?

Who knew?

Charles Newton Hollingsworth, President of Newton Enterprises knew…and now I know, too.

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Writing by the Seat of my Pants - Paris Mystery Chapter 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 22:01:00 +0000

As you could probably tell from my sparse posts on the blog, my writing has been stalled for a while. Yesterday, however, I ran across a prompt that sparked my imagination, so I started writing a story from it. I finished just a short portion of chapter one and posted it on Facebook. The response was surprising and has encouraged me to keep going with the story. Here's the first part of the story that was posted on FB yesterday...

Tears filled her eyes. She kissed me softly on the cheek and with that, she walked into the rain and didn’t look back. That was the last time anyone ever saw her. Until now.

Even half a block away, I knew it was her. The walk, the way she carried herself. My heart beat faster. My mind resisting the hope welling up inside me. It was her and she was looking straight at me. Closer now, no smile on her face and a hardness in her eyes. No recognition on her part, but I knew. I had finally found Lizette.

I stopped. My feet refusing to take another step. She drew closer but averted her eyes, and when she reached me, she just walked on by without so much as a nod of acknowledgement. I turned to see her cross the street and take a seat at one of the sidewalk bistro tables outside of my hotel.

I stood staring, waiting for her to look up. She never did. Was it really her or did I just want for it to be her so badly that my mind wouldn’t let go of its surety? I crossed the street and took a table next to her. If I heard her speak I would know for sure. When the waiter came to take her order, she didn’t say a word, just pointed out what she wanted. I ordered a coffee and nursed it while she ate her meal. Never once did she look my way. I shoved hope back down inside me. It wasn’t her.

When she rose to leave after she finished her pastry and coffee, Her heel caught in the grate and she stumbled. I jumped to my feet and caught her around the waist. She turned in my arms, a feeling so familiar that it set my heart racing again. It had to be her. Her name slipped from my lips, “Lizette.”

A flicker of recognition sparked in her eyes, then disappeared just as quickly. She shook her head, pushed herself out of my arms and walked away.

I sat back down, ordered a sandwich and something a little stronger to drink, unable to shake the feeling that it was Lizette. Thirty minutes later, when I reached into my jacket pocket to pay for my meal, I found a key to room 221 at Hotel Miteux, a seedy little hotel on the shady side of town. She must have slipped the key into my pocket when she stumbled into my arms. “Lizette – finally, I had found her and finally I would get some answers!”

That's were I stopped yesterday, which did not make people happy. They wanted more. Today I finished chapter one. I'll post it below and post subsequent chapters as I write them. I have no title for this story and I have no idea about what will happen next. I'm letting the story and the characters reveal it to me as I go. We'll see what happens together. Now, here's the rest of chapter one...

As I made my way toward Hotel Miteux, it started to drizzle. I pulled the collar on my jacket up around my neck and picked up the pace. I hate rain. You can imagine why. My thoughts were on the day she left. There had been no indication that she was unhappy. No quarrels, not even any disagreements. We were just finishing up a two-week vacation in Paris where we had fallen in love all over again. Our engagement had been too long and had plateaued the relationship, but Paris sparked it again. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in the pouring rain, I proposed to her a second time. Cliché, I know, but the moment was right and my heart was so full of longing for her.

Waiting had been hard, but we both wanted God’s blessing on our marriage, so, we resisted intimacy. She threw her arms around my neck. “Yes, silly, I will marry you.” I kissed her. A kiss that left both of us breathless. In the emotion of the moment, Lizette said, “Charles, let’s not wait.” I swallowed hard. She continued, “Let’s get married here in Paris. Right away. Today!”

She didn’t have to ask twice. We returned to the hotel and I left her at the door of her room. “I’ll find out what we need to do and be back as soon as possible.”

A quick kiss and I was off.

I returned an hour later with disappointing news. To be married in Paris, at least one of the parties must reside there for a minimum of 40 days. I wasn’t sure how to break it to her. I didn’t want to break it to her. I wanted to be married now.

In the end, it didn’t matter. When I knocked on Lizette’s door, there was no answer. I knocked several times until I got worried that something had happened to her, so I went to the lobby and convinced the desk clerk to send someone with a key to check on her. When they opened the door, I was stunned. The room was empty. Not only was Lizette gone, so was everything she had brought with her. Clothes, jewelry, suitcases…everything.

I went back to the lobby and asked the desk clerk if she had checked out. “No, sir.” He hesitated, then added, “But when she left, she did ask for directions to Gare du Nord.”

The train station? Why would she have asked for directions to the train station? Was she going home to London? What had happened in the hour I had been gone?

I caught the next taxi I saw and spent the 40 minutes it took to get to the station going over every possible explanation for Lizette’s disappearance. When the cab came to a stop I paid the driver and sprinted toward the door of the station, but stopped short when I spotted Lizette walking down the sidewalk away from me. I called out her name and she stopped, but didn’t turn or look back. I ran to catch up to her, wondering where her luggage was, because she wasn’t carrying it, and why was she walking away from the station?

Once I reached her, I threw all those questions and more at her, but she didn’t answer any of them. She simply put a finger to my lips to stop the barrage of questions. “Charles, I can’t marry you and I can’t explain why.”

My brain felt like a tornado was whirling around in it. Nothing made sense. “What? Why? What’s happened?” I stammered.

She interrupted. “Charles, if you love me and if you want to keep me safe, you will let me go. My life depends on it. If and when I can explain I will. Until then, you must forget about me.”

Tears filled her eyes and it was then that she kissed me softly on the cheek and whispered, “Pray for me,” then walked away into the Paris rain. She didn’t even look back.

I was too stunned to go after her. Frozen in place by the possibility that if I did, it might bring her harm – injury – even death. That was the last anyone had seen of her. She had never returned to London and in the many trips I had made to Paris looking for her, I had never been able to find a trace. Until today.

I finally arrived at Hotel Miteux, drenched to the bone, but excited to see her again. Standing before the door of room 221 my heart pounding in my chest, I took a deep breath and knocked. No answer. I knocked again. Still no answer. The hair on the back of my neck began to prickle and a vivid sense of déjà vu swept over me. At least this time I had a key. I inserted it and let the door swing open on its own. What I saw there nearly knocked me to the floor.

More to come as Charles and Lizette let me in on what's happening.

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Adventure at the Library - no, really!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 May 2018 20:38:00 +0000

Today, I want to write for the fun of it! I won't worry about the writing rules. I'm just going to start writing and see where the words take me. An adventure awaits - new worlds, new characters, new discoveries. It will be a fantastical, rollicking good time - a journey of amazement. I'll be hanging out at the Glendale Library if anyone wants to join me. Wish Me Bon Voyage!

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I begin my journey at the library. I haven’t been here in a long time and I had forgotten how much I enjoy being surrounded by thousands of books – each one boasting of adventure within their covers. Places I have yet to visit, people I have yet to meet, stories I have yet to step into.

Around me, people quietly peruse the rows of books or sit silently hunched over their keyboards, while a cacophonous din of voices call to me from between the covers of surrounding books. Whether it is the voices of the authors or the characters they've created, I cannot tell. All are clamoring for my attention. And then, one rises above the rest. Not in volume, but in mysterious seduction. A whisper, really - enticing me toward row 37 of the fiction section. ERD-FOE says the label at the end of the aisle. I feel myself being pulled toward something. I know not what, but I cannot resist. I recall a quote by John Muir, “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” Yes, a forest of long-ago felled trees that have been transformed by imagination and story, yet they still retain the magic and mystery of the forest.

And into the forest I go. Past Fleming and Fitzgerald, Fielding and Fitch, past Bridget Jones and Fanny Flag, deep in conversation. I long to eavesdrop, but the voice calls me onward. A faint glow draws me deeper into the wood. The path grows dim and narrow. Underbrush snags at my legs. The canopy above weaves its branches together and blocks out all but sporadic flickers of light.

The greenish glow intensifies as does the voice, now raspy and crow-like. An apparition forms in the shadows – a tall form with sinister good looks. A black patch covers one eye and a rattlesnake tattoo curls around his right wrist and onto the back of his hand. “Welcome,” he breaths, and the stench of his fetid breath churns my stomach.

A novel near his shoulder slides half-way out of the shelf. “Take it,” he croaks.

The title jumps out at me; You Don’t Scare Me by John Farris. I feel a faint bit of courage well up within. “No. I will not.”

Slowly, his claw-like hand reaches up to take hold of the patch over his eye. He rips it off to reveal a smoldering eye with a lightning bolt where a pupil should be. An involuntary gasp escapes my lips.

Again the title calls to me, “Be brave.” It dares me to stand up to the evil force that’s sucking me into its darkness. I mustered all the courage I can. My sweaty palms clench into fists. The back of my neck stiffens and my face flushes hot. I will not let this entity ruin my adventurous day. You don’t scare me was on the tip of my tongue, but what came out was, “You scare the crap out of me!”

I take a step away from him. “This is not the adventure I had planned and I will not let you pull me into your vile world!”

At that moment a delicate, shimmering blue light illuminates the path as another novel slides from its place on a shelf near my feet. I pick it up. Kissed by Shadows, by Jane Feather, reads the cover. A calm sweeps over me, replacing the jitters Farris had caused. “Now, this is more like it.”

The darkness fades and takes the apparition with it. I flip open the cover of Kissed by Shadows and read the promise of sizzling seduction, dangerous intrigue and passionate adventure. Heat rises in my throat and quickly spreads the blush to my cheeks. “Oh, my.”

Miss Feather, while I’m sure this in an intriguing tale and while I am sorely tempted, I'll pass. Otherwise I will need to take a cold plunge into the waters of repentance in order to wash away guilt from my seared conscience. I re-shelve the novel and push on.

Sunlight breaks at the end of the tunnel where large picture windows open onto the desert landscaping. A peacock struts regally through the shade of ironwood trees. It stops, turns and looks directly into my eyes. It fans its tail into a brilliant display of shimmering emerald and cobalt.

The glass between us begins to waver and swirl into a pulsating circle, “Come,” beckons the peacock. With heart pounding, I step through the portal, feeling a bit like Alice stepping through the looking glass. I know not where this might lead, but if it was adventure I’d wanted, it was adventure I’m getting.

The scene before me morphs into color and warmth, light and melody. A breeze caresses me as my feet leave the ground. I am in flight, soaring over vast valleys and mammoth mountain ranges. Beyond them, a lush forest spreads before me and when I reach the edge of the forest a small village nestled beside the waters of a wide, but gently-flowing river appears. Thatched-roofed houses and green pastures come into view. Flower gardens dot the landscape, boasting a patchwork of various colors.

As I descend, a marketplace comes into view. People are bustling…no, rushing…no, fleeing from some unknown disturbance in the middle of the town square. As well as I can calculate, the trajectory of my decent will put me smack dab in the middle of the melee.

I don’t know what’s next and I momentarily question my desire for adventure, but whatever lies ahead, I’m sure it beats sitting at home wishing I had something fun to do, so bring it on!

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Woman's World Magazine - My New Goal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 20:10:00 +0000

Someday you'll see my stories
published in Woman's World magazine!

I love the short romance stories published in Woman's World magazine. I also love writing short fiction, so this is a marriage made in heaven, right?

My new goal is to get my stories published in this weekly magazine, so I've made up my mind to submit one story a week from now on. Last week I submitted my first story - a sweet vacation romance and this week I submitted my second story about a writer who learns first hand all about happy endings.

Can't wait until I make my first sale to Woman's World!

Happy Writing!
Jan

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What does God think of your writing?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 16:49:00 +0000

I feel so challenged right now by an article by Allen Arnold. that I just read on Novel Rocket.. The title of the article is "What Does God Think of Your Writing?"

What?

I mean, I don't write erotica or anything remotely like that, but still, I've never stopped to really think about that question. As I scanned the article, I quickly realized that this is one blog post that needs to be printed out and taken into my quiet time with the Lord.

The author challenges you to take 7 soul-searching questions to the Lord and seek his answers to them.

I know what I'll be doing in my next quiet time!

Here's a link to the article - http://www.novelrocket.com/2015/04/what-does-god-think-of-your-writing.html

I'll be posting what I learn from this exercise and I'd love to hear what your comments if you take this challenge.

Happy Writing!

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3 Acts 9 Blocks 27 Chapters - How to Outline Your Novel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:39:00 +0000

I just watched a fantastic video by Katytastic, explaining how to outline a novel, step-by-step. This is an easy to understand process for someone who writes by the seat of their pants (a pantser), like me.

I can't tell you how many books I've started, but somewhere between the 4-7th chapter, I get stuck. I don't know where to go next. I've finally realized that I need a road map that points me in the right direction, so when I found this video, I watched it, then watched it again, taking down notes almost verbatim and printed it out so that I can use it for all future novels.

Here's the video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Reading Leads to Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:15:00 +0000

The more I read really great Christian fiction, the more I want to write really great Christian fiction. Fiction that tells the story of characters who lose their faith, then find their way back to God. Characters who don't preach to their friends, but live out their faith in a way that speaks so loudly of God's love and faithfulness, that those around them can't help but yearn for a relationship with God. Characters who, no matter what they face, are strengthened and lead by a God who loves them without condemning them for their mistakes and doubts.

I love the settings, the conflicts, the romance, the adventure, but mostly I love how authors allow their own faith to color the character of their heroes and heroines so that their writing glorifies God and points readers to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thanks to all you Christian writers for allowing God to use the talent He's given you to bless others!

I pray that God will use me to bless others, too.

From a grateful reader and aspiring writer.

PS - the same goes for all those great Christian non-fiction writers who help me grow and grow in my spiritual walk with Christ!

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Are you Called to Write?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 18:11:00 +0000

I just read a great article by Mary DeMuth that listed 10 ways to know if you are called to write. Do you like to write? Do you wonder if God wants to use your writing for His greater purposes? Take a minute to read through this list and see if you might be called to write.
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Abscond with Joy - Excerpt from Running From a Crazy Man by Lori Roeleveld

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 15:39:00 +0000

Today I'm tickled pink to feature an excerpt from the new novel of one of my favorite bloggers, Lori Roeleveld. Lori's writing is like biting into the most delicious pure milk chocolate you've ever eaten, and then realizing that the center is filled with life-giving medicine that you didn't even know you needed!

Here's a sneak-peak into Lori's new book, Running From a Crazy Man

Abscond with Joy

Following Jesus into Refreshment

Imagine receiving a wonderful gift and leaving it unopened on a shelf day after day after day.

Christians do that.

Most of us don’t even realize we’ve done it because the world, like a cruel stepmother in a fairy tale, has lied about the gift our Father has bestowed on us. Have you ever had days when you felt like Cinderella? You know you have a place in this world. The father you lost was a nobleman. But right now, you’re stuck cleaning ashes off the hearth.

Life on this planet can be ugly, demanding, soul-crushing, disheartening, and cruel. It hurts to be human. We’re soft and breakable. We lose heart. We live without joy.

The world believes joy is a product of optimal circumstances.

The world believes we can be joyful only when we have everything we need and life is going right.

That’s a lie.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Every Jesus-follower has access to that fruit. It’s a gift from our Father. This gift can be a source of refreshment and restoration in the midst of tribulations.

Jesus-followers can be joyful amid destruction, devastation, dashed hopes, destroyed dreams, and even death. Joy is like a juicy pomegranate we can rip apart and feast upon when our souls are famished for beauty, hope, or encouragement.

But, like a hot item in an infomercial, joy is “even more”! Joy is also a tool at our fingertips. It can build bridges between lost souls. It can repair broken relationships. It can restore hope and heart.

Even more than a source of refreshment and a powerful tool, joy is also a weapon against the darkness. Satan seeks to destroy us—his revenge against a God who has left him out of the plan of redemption. When our laughter emerges from concentration camps, courtrooms, hospitals, shelters, or flood-ravaged towns, his plan is foiled, his power diminished, his imminent destruction re-proclaimed on the waves of our merriment.

Joy is a silver stake in Satan’s lifeless heart.

Joy is no frivolous add-on to our lives. Joy is a source of strength:

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our LORD. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:9-11)

So, this is my word to you, loved ones, you hearth-cleaning, ash-sweeping displaced children longing for your Father’s return. Remove the gift from the shelf. Tear off the wrapping and break the seal.

Appropriate joy.

Access joy.

Abscond with joy.

Let it be your refreshment, your restoration, your rebellion against the world. Dare to be joyful even for just a moment in the midst of adversity and pain. Let joy be your raised fist against the powers of darkness.

Dance. Laugh. Smile. Snatch the fruit of joy from the open hand of the Holy Spirit and let the juice of that fruit flow down your face and pool at your feet. Guzzle joy today and feel the strength of Jesus Christ ripple through the muscles of your faith.

Ponder the Perplexities:

This chapter isn’t something you ponder. It’s something to try and see for yourself.

Watch a funny or uplifting movie or video clip. Go fishing. Play with the grandkids. Sit by the lake with God. Turn on the kind of music you used to listen to when life was easier and dance for ten minutes. Don’t just seize joy, abscond with it.

Remember: Abscond with joy.

Lori Roeleveld

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a disturber of hobbits who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner. She’s authored a disturbing blog since 2009; a pursuit that eventually resulted in her first book, Running from a Crazy Man (and other adventures traveling with Jesus). Lori has published newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, and plays. Her novels, short stories, and Bible studies have won awards but are, as yet, unpublished. Besides degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori earned her Masters in Motherhood homeschooling her two children through graduation. Now, she draws amazing energy from helping writers find their voice and see God’s vision for their work. In her day job, Lori writes the stories of real families in crisis so others see their strengths and values, not just their problems. You’ll find Lori at her website www.loriroeleveld.com or on her front porch writing. If not, know she’s somewhere slaying dragons.

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Roadside Diner - Flash Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:15:00 +0000

I love to start with a writing prompt and let my imagination run wild.

Today’s writing prompt from Wake Up Your Muse: “Don’t order the Blue Plate Special,” whispered the waitress.

2:00 AM, somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma. I pulled into Henry's 24-hour Eatin' Hole, praying hard that Henry served high-octane coffee. Two days on the road had left me red-eyed and worn out. Still, I wasn’t ready to stop for the night. I wanted to put as many miles between me and that conniving snake, Luke Amari as I could.

How is it possible that two entirely different men could occupy one body? One was my sweet and considerate fiancee and the other…I shuddered to think of it…a member of the infamous New Jersey crime family. I can’t believe that Luke and I had sat together every week watching The Sopranos-me unaware that the series was based on his real life mafia relatives.

The diner was nearly deserted except for one guy, sitting on a stool at the counter, shoveling what looked like a pile of slop, smothered in gravy into his mouth.

I grabbed a seat several stools from him and ordered a cup of black coffee from the gum-chewing waitress wearing a stained, uniform. Her name tag read Mitzi. “Anything else, sweetie?” she asked, “We have a couple pieces of Boston cream pie left. It’ll go great with your coff…”

A strange gurgling sound interrupted her sales pitch. I looked over in time to see the guy to my left face down in his plate of slop.

“Henry, call 911,” the waitress yelled through window behind her that served as a pass through for orders.

“Now, what?” called a husky voice from the kitchen.

“Well, I don’t know, Henry. I’m not a doctor, but from the looks of this guy passed out in his plate, I'd say it's an emergency, so for pity’s sake, would you please dial 911 and tell them to get out here?”

She turned to me again, order pad poised in her hand and said, “Now, what would you like to go with your coffee, dearie?” Then she leaned over and whispered, “Don’t order the Blue Plate Special.”

Free on Kindle: The Wedding Caper

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:09:00 +0000

Welcome author Janice Thompson. Janice is the author of over 100 books for the Christian market, (mostly inspirational romantic comedies). She’s joining us today to share about her mother-of-the-bride cozy mysteries, “The Bridal Mayhem” series.

Janice, can you tell us a little about this series?

Sure! The Bridal Mayhem series was birthed (partly) out of my own experience! I have four daughters and they all got married within four years of each other. The first two weddings (in 2004) were only four and a half months apart! What a crazy period! Shortly after that one of my editors approached me and asked if I’d ever written cozy mysteries. I had not, but was perfectly willing to give it a try! In the writing biz they tell us to “write what you know” and I knew weddings! I’d been mother of the bride twice in a row, after all. So, I mapped out my story ideas with Annie Peterson, mother-of-the-bride, as the reluctant sleuth, solving crimes on her way to the wedding(s).

Sounds like fun! So, these books released a few years back? If so, why are you just now talking about them?

They released in print form between 2005 and 2007 and then released in eBook form with Spyglass Lane. Recently, the rights reverted back to me (the author) and I was given the opportunity to create new covers and upload them to kindle. I’m offering the first book free for a week to stir up interest in the whole series.

Can you tell us about the first book?

Of course! The first book is The Wedding Caper. It’s free on kindle this week (September 9^th – 13^th). In that story, both of Annie’s daughters get engaged, one right after the other. So, it’s weddings times two! At about that same time, $25,000 goes missing at the bank where Annie’s husband, Warren, works. She begins to suspect him of stealing the money to pay for their daughters’ weddings! Of course, she knows nothing about crime solving, but sets out to figure out whodunit before daughter #1’s big day. Did Warren take the money to pay for the weddings? Read The Wedding Caper to find out: http://amzn.to/1rUUI9T!

So, this is a series? What are the other books about?

Book two (Gone with the Groom) offers readers a rollicking good time! In this story, Annie’s future son-in-law goes missing two weeks before the big day. Does he have cold feet, or are there more sinister forces at work? In book three (Pushing up Daisies) a local florist passes away shortly before daughter Candy’s big day. Can Annie figure out who would want to murder a florist before her daughter’s wedding day? In book four (The Perfect Match) the local dating service goes up in flames. Annie’s in the thick of it, trying to figure out whodunit. In book five (Catering to Disaster) over 120 wedding guests end up with food poisoning after a wedding. Did the caterer slip up have they all been sabotaged?

There are five books in the series?

So far! Book six (Don’t Rock the Boat) is currently being written. In this story, Annie and her best friend Sheila are on a Caribbean cruise. An onboard bride goes missing just before her big day. Does she have cold feet? Has someone thrown her overboard? Did she re-board the ship after a recent excursion ashore? Annie has to figure this out so that the bride can have her big day!

You used your personal life experiences for this story?

In part! As I said, I was mother of the bride four times over, so I know what it is to be in that frenzied state of mind in the weeks leading up to your daughter’s wedding day. And though I’ve never solved a crime (to my knowledge) I enjoyed doing so through my characters. And speaking of characters: Annie’s best friend Sheila (wacky, crazy, colorful, fun) was based on my own BFF, Kay Malone. My sweet Kay passed away in May of 2013 from pancreatic cancer. The Wedding Caper is dedicated to her memory. As I mentioned above, The Wedding Caper was written in 2005, long before Kay’s cancer diagnosis. I was stunned—when reading back through the story—to see that one of the characters is battling pancreatic cancer. I’d forgotten all about that. Ironic and bittersweet, for sure.

Thanks for being with us, Janice. Any last thoughts?

Don’t forget to laugh. Life is hard, but laughter brings healing. I try to remember that when I’m having a tough day: there’s always something to laugh at, even if it’s through the tears.

www.janiceathompson.com

Facebook: Janice Hanna Thompson

Twitter: @booksbyjanice

Phoenix Rattler Writing Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 16:46:00 +0000

Does your story have bite?

Christian Writers of the West (the Phoenix chapter of ACFW that I belong to) is holding their annual Rattler writing contest. It's open to all unpublished fiction writers or those who have not published in the last five years.

Enter the FIRST FIFTEEN PAGES of your novel. (completed manuscript is not required for entry). We have lined up 90 preliminary judges and the following final judges, so you will be getting some really good feedback on your writing.

2014 RATTLER CONTEST JUDGES

CATEGORY	JUDGE	ORGANIZATION
Contemporary	Michelle Grawkowski	Agent, 3 Seas Literary Agency
Mystery/Thriller	Elizabeth Mazur	Editor, Harlequin Love Inspired
Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative	Steve Laube	President, The Steve Laube Literary Agency & Editor, Enclave Publishing
Young Adult	Rachel Kent	Agent, Books & Such Literary Management
Historical	Susan Brower	Natasha Kern Literary Agency

Contest is open for entries from

August 1, 2014 to August 29, 2014

(5:00pm Arizona Time)

For more information, pop over to the CWOW website @ http://www.christianwritersofthewest.com , where you can download Submission Guidelines, Contest Rules, Entry Forms and a Sample Score Sheet.

Knee Deep in Dirty Laundry - Writing Prompt

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 May 2014 17:13:00 +0000

My friend, Joy and I used to have fun speed writing from prompts, then sharing our stories with each other. We hadn't done that in a long time, so today, we picked a prompt from my book, Wake Up Your Muse - 1001 Story Starters for Fiction Writers (JUST .99 CENTS FOR THE KINDLE VERSION TODAY) and wrote for about 15 minutes.

The Prompt - "Knee deep in dirty laundry, she wondered why _______________."

Here's my story... (Joy's story follows mine.)

Dirty Laundry Mission Field

I was knee deep in dirty laundry, wondering why or when or how my life had been reduced to sorting, washing, drying, ironing and putting away twenty loads of laundry a week. This was not my dream life, but I’m sure I am Tide’s dream customer.

Once, so very long ago, I’d dreamed of being a missionary. Of going to far off lands to teach children about the love of Jesus. To tell them about the heroes of the Bible. To make a difference.

The ringing phone snapped me out of my daydreaming. I jumped over a pile of whites sorted on the floor, then hurdled a load of darks to reach the phone by the third ring so it wouldn’t go to voice mail.

“Hello?”

“Oh, good. I caught you at home. This is Sue.”

“Hi Sue, I was just doing laundry. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you can teach the 3^rd grade Sunday School class for the next 4 weeks. Wanda is on vacation.”

I rolled my eyes. Why would Sue call me? Doesn’t she realize I have 5 kids at home to take care of? “Sure, I’ll teach the class.”

We hung up and tears filled my eyes. I was tired, worn out. I dropped to my knees. “Lord, what happened to my life. You know the dreams I had to be a missionary. My life has turned out so much different than I’d imagined. I really thought that was your calling for me. Why would you call me and then not open the doors for me to be a missionary?

And then I heard that still small voice within me. “I did call you, I did open the door and you have been on the mission field since the birth of your first child. You’ve done such a good job, I’m expanding your mission field with a group of 3^rd graders. Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

I went back to my laundry with renewed vigor…still knee deep in dirty clothes, but seeing it as a ministry, not a drudgery.

And here's Joy's story...

She was knee deep in dirty laundry and she wondered “why” ….. Caroline looked around. It was grey outside, no sound of the birds singing. The dishes were piled high in BOTH sinks and there were dirty clothes strewn from the entryway to the bedroom. She was tired, just plain tired. Why … ? She wondered why?

Why had she thought that marriage consisted of a white knight carrying her off to his castle? Why had she imagined she would be the “Martha Stewart” of White Creek? Why was there more to do than there was day to do it in?

She sank onto the overstuffed sofa and dropped the bowl of leftover popcorn to the floor. Why … she mused as she settled back to a place of refuge, into her own thoughts. Why was she here? Why wasn’t she out with her girlfriends? Why not going shopping or out to lunch or over to Wonder Nails for a manicure well deserved? Why did her life seem so useless? Why did each dreary day dissolve into night and then repeat itself with utter abandon? Why … as she drifted off to sleep?

She must have been dreaming when the doorbell rang. She woke with a start to hear pounding on the front door. She jumped up and tried to “quick arrange” her disheveled hair and walked to the door with the best composure she could come up with. When she opened the door, the delivery driver had left, but on the front porch table she saw the biggest bouquet of roses she had ever seen in her life in a beautiful crystal vase.

She walked slowly over and plucked out the card. As she read it her eyes started to sparkle with thankful tears. The card read, “Sweet Caroline! I love you soooo……!!! Words can’t always convey what flowers can, so I hope these roses say to you what my heart knows to be true. I love you! I love the way you are so patient with me. I love the way you greet me with a smile every day when I come home from work. I love the way you take care of me, feeding me with delicious, healthy meals, washing my filthy work clothes, cleaning my dirty tub and making my life beautiful with your presence. I know it’s not always easy to love me, but I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate all you do in love, just like the Bible says to do “Do everything in love”. Thank you! Your soiled “Knight” Jeremy

Okay, then she started crying. Why had she lost sight of what she was there for? Why had the doubts and disappointments taken over her very life, dragging her down to the pits.

Up went her hands praising the Lord! Thank you Lord for dirty dishes. You provide so much for us! Thank you Lord for a husband who loves me and works hard to take such good care of us! Thank you Lord for loving me in the middle of the puddle of my self-pity. Thank you Lord for being God! Thank you Lord!!!

So, what do you think? What would you write from that prompt? Feel free to share your story or story idea in the comments.

If you like to write fiction, pick up a copy of my book - just .99 cents for the Kindle version TODAY!

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Jumping to Conclusions - Flash Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:48:00 +0000

A couple of my friends and I met at a local coffee shop today for a little writing. We picked a prompt from my book, Wake Up Your Muse and gave ourselves 15-20 minutes to come up with a story, inspired by the prompt. Here's what I came up with...

Jumping to Conclusions

Susan stared at the receipt in her hand. Blue Moon Motel $57.50. Why would David have a receipt from a motel in his jacket pocket? It was dated last night. They’d gone to dinner last night to celebrate her birthday a day early. Shrimp. It had made her sick and David had taken her home early, tucked her in bed, then said he was going home to get a little work done.

He’d called this morning to check on her. He’d been so loving, seemed so concerned.

She wadded the receipt and threw it across the room. Sneaking into his apartment to clean it for him had sounded like a good idea this morning. Her mind whirled, wondering what other clues she might find if she just poked around a bit.

She checked his other coat pockets. Nothing. Rummaged through his desk, but found no incriminating evidence. A quick check of his dresser drawers was more productive, agonizingly so. The top 2 drawers were filled with women’s clothing! She pulled open the closet door and found several dresses and other women’s garments.

Her mind was swirling! She felt like she’d just eaten a double portion of the shrimp that had made her so sick. David, trustworthy, honest-as-the-day-is-long, David. Seeing someone else? She didn’t want to believe it, but the slippers that peeked out from under his bed told a different story.

She heard a key turn in the door and turned to see a woman letting herself into the apartment. Well, not just any women – it was her mother.

They stood there, mouths agape staring at each other.

It took just a few minutes to sort things out. Mother had snuck into town to surprise Susan for her birthday. She’d called David to let him know she was staying at the Blue Moon Motel, but David being the sweetheart that he was had picked her up, paid for her night at the motel and insisted she stay at his apartment until her surprise party – which they had planned for tonight.

“Be sure to act surprised,” mother said.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m more surprised than you can possibly know.”

CWOW Annual Writer's Workshop with C.S. Lakin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 18:25:00 +0000

Have I told you about the great writer's group I belong to? It's Christian Writers of the West (CWOW), a local branch of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)

In just one year, I've made some life-long friends and received tons of encouragement as a writer. I've been privileged to hear published authors share their experience and writing tips at our meetings. I've been inspired by the tenacity and generosity of this group and their commitment to use their writing talents for God. If you're in the greater Phoenix area, like to write and are looking for a Christian writing group, I invite you to visit a CWOW meeting.

We have an upcoming event that would be the perfect time to check us out. We're holding our

Annual Writer's Workshop - an all day mini-conference with special speaker, author and editor, C.S. Lakin.

For detailed information on the workshop, you can visit our website and/or blog at...

http://www.christianwritersofthewest.com/

http://cwowarizona.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you at the Workshop!

2014 - The Year of Healthy Living

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 18:30:00 +0000

Okay, I've recovered from NaNoWriMo, enjoyed the Christmas holidays and hit into the New Year running. There's something about the beginning of a new year that gets me going. I love fresh starts and leaving the past behind.

Each year I spend the week between Christmas and New Years to spend extra time with the Lord, reviewing the previous year and seeking Him for direction for the New Year. This year, I didn't have to spend as much time discerning what He wanted me to focus on for 2014. That's because He started speaking to my heart back in mid-November about my health. I'm a diabetic and have a few other healthy issues that could be managed (or obliterated entirely) by eating right, exercising and getting adequate rest.

I started watching documentaries like...

Hungry For Change

Forks Over Knives

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

Food Matters

...on Netflix. The result was losing weight during the holidays instead gaining, and better still, my sugar levels dropped by 60-70 points! It's ~~amazing~~ embarrassing how many times I prayed for God to help me with my weight and sugar levels, when all the time, He was waiting for me to cooperate with Him in making that happen. Once I began to educate myself and apply what I was learning, God made it easy for me to make wise choices with my health.

So, for me, 2014 is The Year of Healthy Living - not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally, mentally, financially and relationally. My goal is to add things to my life that will make me healthy in all these areas and eliminate anything that hinders healthy living.

As for writing, I'm getting back to the joy of writing. I've been so focused on writing for publication that I've lost the pleasure that comes with weaving a story, writing a devotional or poem. So in the coming year, I'll be posting more fun writing, both here on She Fancied Herself a Writer and on my blogs...

Refreshed by the Word and A Song For Him

2014 is going to be fun!

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NaNoWriMo No Mo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:09:00 +0000

I first heard of NaNoWriMo way back in 2009. My daughter, Carol and I had been writing together via Skype and she encouraged me to give it a try. Up until then I had written mostly non-fiction, but we had been writing 5 minute flash fiction from writing prompts and it was fun, so I thought, why not give it a try.

I had no plot going into NaNo, but wrote furiously. Throwing my characters into one situation after another, loving the twists and turns that the story was taking. I squeaked across the finish line on November 30th with just a little over 50,000 words. I had done it! I'd written a rough draft of my first novel. I was a novelist!

I let it sit for about a month and then went back to start revisions. I started reading through the manuscript and cringed about every five minutes. The writing was bad...really bad. The characters were fun, but acted inconsistently. The plot...what there was of it...was badly in need of a plot doctor.

In short, I was so overwhelmed by what it would take to fix the novel, that I put it back in a drawer and gave up. Then I started reading book after book about writing fiction. By the next time NaNo rolled around I thought I was ready to write a real novel.

In 2010, I got to about the 10,000 word mark and fizzled out. Same with 2011 and 2012. This year thought I was ready. 2013 would be the year that I finished a NaNoWriMo novel. It didn't happen. This year I got to 11,587 words and fizzled. I didn't know where to go next with my story. I got uptight. I liked the story so far, but I didn't want to just push through for the sake of a winning word count only to have to go back and fix the whole thing. I gave up. Not on the book, but on NaNoWriMo.

I was feeling like an utter failure until I read a post on Chip MacGregor's blog by Amanda Luedeke titled "Why I Hate NaNoWriMo" and suddenly a huge weight was lifted from my writerly shoulders.

excerpt from Amanda's post...

This is why I hate NaNoWriMo. It sets writers up to fail.

As if writers need yet another reason to question their craft. To doubt whether they’re cut out for this author gig. As if they need another reminder that they can’t do it. They’re failures. They should quit while they’re ahead.

NaNo does this to tens of thousands if not HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of writers each and every year. There are over 300,000 signed up for the program this year. Let’s say a two-thirds achieve the 50k in one month goal. That’s 100,000 WRITERS WHO HAVE FAILED.

I hate this. I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.

(read the entire article HERE)

Thank you, Amanda, for setting helping me see that failure to finish NaNoWriMo is not failure as a writer!

I'll finish my book, but I'll take my time and do it at a pace that won't make me crazy. I'll spend more time on character development and plotting and when I'm finished, I'll have a revisable book, not a heap of hopelessly confused words.

How about you? Did you start NaNoWriMo, but not finish? Did it make you feel like a failure? Are you going to finish your novel or did you give up?

PS - for those of you who did NaNo and will finish - CONGRATULATIONS! I know it works for so many people and I'm glad. I'm just not one of them and that's OK.

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Book Review - A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:40:00 +0000

Just finished reading Anita Higman's newest release, A Marriage in Middlebury.

Imagine being deeply in love yet having to refuse the proposal of the man you love because accepting would mean shame and embarrassment for both of your families. To make matters worse, you can't tell him why you can't marry him.

Ten years later, that man walks back into your life with a fiancee in tow. Your feelings haven't changed, and from the look in his eyes, he's still carrying a torch of his own.

Author, Anita Higman

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Sam & Charlotte's second chance at love. Were it not for Sam's conniving father's unimaginable cruelty, this couple would have been married years ago. On the other hand, were it not for a slightly quirky, well-meaning friend, who took matters into her own hands, Sam & Charlotte may have missed their second chance at love.

Aside from a good story, I fell in love with the little town of Middlebury. I'd love to visit Charlotte's garden behind the Tea House. Would also love to tour the Wilder home and grounds. The author brought the setting to life, drawing me right into the story. Hoping there are Middlebury stories to come.

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Off to a great start on my NaNoWriMo novel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 22:52:00 +0000

Stayed up last night so I could start working on my novel at 12:01am and got in 1200 words. The best part, however was chatting with Shelby, my new NaNo friend from Texas until it was time for me to start writing. She's a real sweetheart. We wrote and cheered one another on until my eyes couldn't stay open anymore.

Then I hit it hard again this morning with a write-in at Crossroads Books and Coffee (my favorite writing spot) with my pal, Leola. Enjoyed some Salted Caramel Oatmeal and a Dark-Chocolate Caribou Latte while I wrote. YUM!

Current word count is 2706 words, so I'm a little ahead of the game right now. I'm really enjoying the story so far. In fact, the last chapter I wrote included a wonderful breakfast of huevos rancheros made by Maria, the ranch cook. Made myself so hungry, I had to come home and eat some lunch. Wish it had been what Maria made!

Found a blog with a yummy looking recipe for huevos rancheros over at ClosetCooking.com. Check it out.

Hope your NaNo novel is going well, too.

Happy Writing!

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It's a Double Whammy!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:20:00 +0000

I'm a writing Superhero!

Just learned that MBT (My Book Thereapy) is running a "write-novel-in-30-days" campaign simultaneously with NaNoWriMo. I signed up!

Now I have twice the support, twice the fun, twice the writing community and that gives me double incentive to finish my novel in the month of November.

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It's NaNoWriMo Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Here we go again, friends! November is creeping up on us like a vampire on a moonlit night and we're about to spill blood on to the page as we frantically pound the keyboard with the 50,000 word goal pushing us hard.

For those of you who don't know what NaNoWriMo is, let me explain...it's CRAZY, that's what it is! NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Each November, people around the globe gather at the NaNoWriMo website and sign up for the wildest, wackiest month of frenzied writing ever. You have 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel.

You're not competing against anyone but yourself and the calendar. 50,000 words sound overwhelming? It's not so difficult. If you type 1667 words a day for 30 days, you'll reach your goal and you'll be the proud owner of novel. Well, a rough (sometimes very rough) first draft of a novel. The months following NaNoWriMo are for editing, revising and polishing that novel until it's ready to send off to an agent or publisher.

So, that's what I'm doing this November...what are you doing? Ever thought of writing a novel? Pop over to the NaNoWriMo website and sign up (it's free) and we'll do it together!

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Driven by Raging Cravings

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:59:00 +0000

He grabbed the sticky black receiver and dropped a quarter in the slot. Sweat poured off him as he punched in the number.

“Hello?”

That was not the voice he was expecting.

“Hello?”

He tried to disguise his voice.

“Uh, yeah…is Daphne there?”

“Who wants to know?”

“I’m just a friend. Is she there?”

“Is that you, Jack?”

Jack slammed down the receiver and swore under his breath. He felt like he was going to crawl out of his skin. He needed to score a hit and fast. Daphne was the only person who might still trust him enough to loan him some money.

He decided to chance it and ran the 8 blocks to her house. If she was there he might be able to get her out of the house somehow without her old man seeing him.

He was in luck. He could see her through the window of her bedroom. He picked up a few pebbles and tossed them at it.

Daphne slid the window up.

“Jack, what are you doing here? You know my father will kill you if he sees you.”

“Baby, I’m in bad shape,” he said, “I need some money.”

She shook her head, “No, Jack. I’m not going to help you feed your addiction.”

He jammed his shaking hands in to his pockets, trying to think of something to say to make her change her mind. His head was pounding.

“Daphne, after all we’ve been through, I can’t believe you won’t help me out.”

“Jack, it was your fault I got addicted in the first place. It started with the first kiss you gave me. It was so sweet. I thought you loved me and I just wanted more and more. That just led to the bars and finally, I didn’t care. I took it any way I could get it. I starting doing the liquid stuff…drinking it straight. You were there when my parents finally found me huddled outside the convenience store with the stuff smeared all over my face and hands. It took months for them to clean me up. Go away, Jack – I’m not helping you.”

Jack was desperate. “Daphne, I know you must still have some stashed somewhere. Please…just help me this once and I won’t bother you again. I promise.”

Daphne understood his pain. She knew what it felt like to crave the stuff so badly that your mouth went dry and your mind conjured up the very smell of it. When you were that bad off, it didn’t matter if it was the brown stuff or the white stuff - you had to have it.

Reluctantly she crossed the room to her dresser drawer and grabbed the last of her stash. She didn’t know why she had hung on to it, but now she was ready to let the stuff go for good.

She dropped it out the window. “Jack, this is the last of it – now get out of here before my Dad hears you.”

Jack scrambled to pick up the package from the grass, waved and hurried to the shadow of a nearby tree.

He peeled back the foil covered and popped it into his mouth. He felt the thick rich lump begin to melt in his mouth. He swallowed and felt it begin to course through his veins.

Ah, chocolate!
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Interview with Multi-Published Author, Janice Hanna Thompson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:22:00 +0000

Janice Hanna Thompson

I just finished reading Janice Hanna Thompson's new book, Writing and Selling the Great American Novel and I have to say I was both surprised and inspired. You see, I know Janice as a crack-you-up fiction writer. I laughed all the way through her Weddings by Bella series. Janice's tag line is "Love, Laughter & Happily Ever Afters, so I was surprised that she wrote a book on writing novels...surprise, but tickled pink!

Who better to write a book on becoming a novelist than someone who has published over 100 books?

I'm thrilled to post this interview with Janice because it gives us a chance to get to know her better.

Janice, I understand you’re about to debut a brand new book for novelists. Why veer from your usual comedic writing to put together a book for writers?

Because I love writers! I’ve always had a heart for novelists and want to do every thing I can to help and encourage them, whether they’re penning that first story or fifty-first. This book has information that should be helpful to pros and novices, alike. I’ve noticed a trend in recent years. Incoming writers approach me, one after the other, asking the same questions and struggling with the same problems. I’ve worn myself out giving the same answers. There are only so many times and ways you can say, “You’re head-hopping, honey!” Because of that, I decided it would be easier to compile the information into a writing text, which I’ve titled Writing and Selling the Great American Novel. I can’t wait to see what novelists think of this exciting new book.

Can you tell us a little about your background as a novelist?

Every writer hopes to write “The Great American Novel.” I started writing novels as a child, so the desire to craft “story” has always been inside of me. In the mid ‘90s I started writing with the desire to be published. After years of trial and error, my first novel hit the shelves in 2000. Since then, I’ve published nearly 100 books (about 2/3 of which are novels in a variety of genres). I’ve had a blast and will continue penning novels as long as there’s breath in me.

You’ve titled the book Writing and Selling the Great American Novel. Can you share a little more about that?

I wrestled with the title for a couple of days, wanting to get it right. In the end, I came to this decision: Writers want TWO things. First, they want to know how to WRITE their novel. The first half of the book is completely dedicated to this process and includes every single thing a novelist (established or beginning) will need to write the best possible story. The second half of the book is dedicated to SELLING the novel and includes helpful information on pitching, marketing, working with an editor/agent, and even offers a comprehensive look at self-publishing to e-Book form. To check out the books full Table of Contents, go here.

You’ve started with a chapter on understanding the genres. Why is that?

I’ve published in multiple genres. My first book was a suspense-thriller. I’ve since written historicals, contemporaries, children’s, young adult, romances, mysteries and much, much more. Because I’ve been able to successfully cross genre lines, I feel qualified to teach on the subject. Before writers can establish themselves as novelists, they must develop an understanding of the fiction genres/categories. Choosing the best genre (or genres) is critical to your success. But with so many categories to choose from, how do you know which is your best fit? This chapter will give writers a thorough introduction to genre writing and will provide them with the necessary information to choose the one(s) best suited to their literary style and voice.

I see you’ve included a lesson on plotting. Is this based on your “Plot Shots” teaching, which you’ve offered at conferences?

Yes! I’m so tickled to finally be able to offer this teaching in a book format. I’ve become known as “that Plot Shots lady.” That’s okay. I can live with that. I’m a firm believer in laying out a great plotline. Why? Because every story needs a beginning, middle and end. Careful plotting will lead the reader on a satisfactory, realistic journey through each of those stages, creatively weaving in and out, up and down. The "Plot Shots" method gives writers the tools they need to plot their novel in twelve easy snapshots. It’s a fun and easy approach to plotting that won’t confuse or complicate the story.

Characterization is such an important component of fiction writing. Can you tell us more about your characterization chapter?

Years ago I developed a teaching that I call “Pandora’s Box.” It’s a layered approach to characterization, which uses the illustration of multiple boxes, one inside the other. In this lesson, I lay out the need for great characterization, then present the Pandora’s Box method. After presenting the method, I take the student through the process four times, using four fictional characters as a foundation. (Each character has a different personality, so the student learns how to apply the technique to the various personalities.)

So many writers struggle with P.O.V. (point of view). Is that why you included a chapter on that very tough subject?

Point of View (P.O.V.) is a critical fiction component. Employing to your best advantage is tough. Most of the young writers I know struggle in this area. The head-hop. Oh, they don’t mean to. . .but they do! My detailed teaching on Point of View offers novelists a thorough teaching on the various P.O.V.s (omniscient, third person, second person, first person), and gives specific examples and tips so that writers can become P.O.V. purists.

What is passive writing? Why have you included a chapter about it?

Many of the manuscripts I edit are written in passive voice. They’re loaded with passive verbs and include huge sections of “telling.” The author “information dumps,” which stops the flow of the story. Knowing the difference between active voice and passive voice is key to writing a great novel. Conquering the art of "showing" instead of "telling" will give writers an added advantage. This detailed lesson--filled with nuggets of wisdom from published authors--will give writers the tools they need to strengthen their stories and pull them into active voice.

Ack! Backstory! It’s so tough to add to our novels. Is that why you included a lesson on the subject?

Backstory. We all struggle with it, don’t we? In so many ways, it's critical to our story. After all, the reader needs to know where our primary character has come from--what she's been through--why she acts like she does. So, do you add the backstory or not? If so, can you do so without resorting to author intrusion? And where will you place it? At the beginning of the story? Elsewhere? Will it come out in lumps or snippets? This lesson offers students an intense look at backstory and includes tips for interjecting it without stopping the action.

Many writers struggle with finding their “voice.” Can you tell us more about that?

A writer’s “voice” is her/her “stamp.” It’s the author’s “personality on the page.” And many young writers haven’t “found their voice” yet. This lesson delves into the topic, in detail, giving perspective on this very personal issue. The lesson (titled “Themes, Style and Voice”) also covers the various themes found in popular books, as well as style components.

Can you tell us some of the top fiction mistakes?

Sure! After editing hundreds of manuscripts, I can point out some of the “top” fiction mistakes: Lack of a good hook. P.O.V. issues. Passive writing. Weak characterization. Poor plotting (no “belly of the whale” scene). Overuse of adverbs. On and on the list goes. Many writers simply don’t realize they’re making these mistakes until someone points them out. They wonder why the book keeps getting rejected. This lesson offers writers a thorough list, detailing the top twenty mistakes novelists make.

Why did you decide to add a lesson on humor writing?

I’ve been writing comedies for years and have learned so much along the way. Humor writing is tough stuff! Some writers are born with an overactive funny bone. Others have to work hard to be funny. (Ironic, isn't it?!) If you're interested in adding a little har-de-har-har-har to your novel, then you will enjoy this light-hearted lesson.

The second half of the book is devoted to pitching and promoting the book, as well as working with editors/agents, etc. Why include all of this information?

I included this information because the average novelist needs a wake-up call. We writers are solitary souls. We sit in front of our computers and lose ourselves in our stories. Then comes the time to pitch that story to an editor. We freeze. Courage eludes us. We need to proper tools to get the book through the publisher’s door and the second half of Writing and Selling the Great American Novel offers that. . .and more!

Speaking of getting a book through a publisher’s door: Putting together a book proposal is tough! What have you learned over the years?

Book deals are won or lost based on the proposal. If you've got a completed manuscript and you're ready to pitch it to an agent or editor, then this exciting lesson on query letters and book proposals will point you in the right direction, giving you all the confidence you need to submit, submit, submit! Novelists who use the information provided in this chapter can compose polished query letters and dazzling book proposals, sure to impress both editors and agents, alike.

You’ve included a section on marketing and promotion. Can you share a little about that process here?

Sure! I love marketing my books and enjoy teaching other novelists how to promote their books, as well. This section of the book is absolutely loaded with practical ideas for getting the word out about your book once it’s published. I’ve included tips related to social media, public speaking, and much more. Whether you’re working with the marketing team at your publishing house or promoting a self-published novel, you will get the tools you need to spread the word.

Where can people find Writing and Selling the Great American Novel?

They will find it on amazon for the next ninety days. From September 13^th – 16^th (the dates of the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference) the book will sell for $3.99. On the morning of the 17^th the price will jump to its “forever” price of $8.99, a real bargain for such a comprehensive text.

Where can people find you on the web?

My website: www.janiceathompson.com

My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jhannathompson

Twitter: booksbyjanice

Thanks so much for joining us, Janice. Can I ask you to leave more information about your writing courses?

They can learn more at www.freelancewritingcourses.com. On that site, they will also find my “Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer” course, which many students have already taken. Folks can learn more about that one by clicking on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-5IZSNaZFU. I offered a free webinar on the subject some time ago, and it can be found here: http://www.freelancewritingcourses.com/?s=webinar. We’ll be adding to the course list periodically, so stay tuned for more announcements!

Writing and Selling the Great American Novel by Janice Thompson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 04:21:00 +0000

Just finished reading Janice Thompson’s newest book, Writing and Selling the Great American Novel, and I have a confession to make.

I’ve been working on my first novel for…well…way too long. At first the words spilled onto the page as fast as my fingers could fly across the keyboard, but then I started reading a lot of books on how to write a novel and discovered I was doing things all wrong. Of course, which mistakes I was making depended on which book I was reading at the time. There was so much conflicting information that my head was spinning.

Plot – don’t plot, just write
Edit as you go – lock your inner editor in a closet
Old school dialogue – use beats with your dialogue
Read what you want to write – don’t copy others

You get the idea.

The more I read up on the craft of writing, the slower the words came, until I found myself sitting at the computer, fingers frozen over the keyboard…unable to write a single word.

I quit reading those books and I quit trying to write that novel…until today.

By the time I read the last page of Janice Thompson’s book, I was ready to open up that unfinished manuscript and start telling my story again. I feel inspired by the simple step-by-step process that Janice walked me through. I now feel equipped to…

Develop a story
Plan it out
Write the first draft without restraint
Edit, tweak, polish and spit-shine my manuscript
Write a query letter
Write a proposal
Find an agent & editor
Build my personal brand
Develop a team of supporters
Promote and Market both myself and my book
Pick up my dream of being a novelist again!

Multi-published author, Janice Thompson
Author of over 100 books
shares her easy-to-understand insights
into becoming a novelist.

Why was this book different than all the others I'd read? Because it's simplified, but informative. Janice not only helped me to understand the whole process of becoming a novelist in a way that didn't intimidate me in the slightest. On the contrary, I feel empowered and confident that I will not only finish my novel, but I'll see it in print!

If you've ever thought of writing a novel or ever felt confused about the process, then this is the book for you. It's due to launch this week and I’ll let you in on a little secret.

Right now it's listed on Amazon for $8.99 (a great price for all this info), but for just 3 days, you can pick up your copy of Writing and Selling the Great American Novel for just $3.99 (September 13th -15th), then it goes up to its regular price of $8.99.

(Shhhh – don’t tell Janice I let the cat out of the bag, but make sure you grab your copy while it's on sale!)

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Just Discovered my Writing Personality

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 05:31:00 +0000

Just read a great article by K.M. Weiland titled, What's Your Writing Personality? It's based on the “four temperaments” approach (popularized by Tim LaHaye).

After reading it, I not only recognized my writing personality (Sanguine); I've realized why I start books with a bang and then burn out around chapter 6 or 7.

Of course, knowing that it's just my personality won't get me over the hump. As K.M. Weiland says in her article...

"Once you’ve identified your primary personality traits and figured out your strengths and weaknesses, you can move forward with a plan of action to help you take advantage of your good points and overcome your weaknesses—in life as well as writing!"

So, armed with this knowledge, I'm going to lay out that plan of action she talked about and finish a novel...soon.

Thank you, K.M.Weiland!

Check out her article and discover your writing personality. As an added bonus, while you're there, you can sign up to receive K.M. Weiland's monthly e-letter and receive her free e-book Crafting Unforgettable Characters: A Hands-On Introduction to Bringing Your Characters to Life.

Cool, huh? I just snagged my copy!

Happy writing,
Jan

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