Lisa Hall-Wilson is a freelance journamlist who will be  moderating the “Faith and Fact: How Modern Technology Is Remaking Journalism” panel and taking appointments at Write! Canada.

Lisa, what are some of the advantages of belonging to a writers group or a critique group?

Historically, writing was a solitary pastime. You sat alone in a cave and typed until your fingers bled. Today, the most successful writers are those who connect with readers one to one, who are accessible and personable. We need to get together with other writers because they understand why we’re so passionate. Every piece of writing can be made better, and having that first reading with a group of sympathetic friends who want you to succeed is a great first step to getting your work out there.

Amidst a hectic writing and family schedule, you have continued to stress the importance of participating in social media, which you do regularly. What would you say to writers who don’t know where to start or if they even want to be involved?

I spend between one to two hours a day on social media, six days a week. And that doesn’t include writing my blog or managing social media accounts for non-profits. Readers today are very savvy. They know what they want, and they’re adept at searching online to find it, and they want it now.

I think if you’re just getting started with social media, pick one website and learn it well. You’ll overwhelm yourself trying to learn Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, G+, LinkedIn, and Goodreads all at the same time.

Cultivate relationships with people who already have an audience online and are using that platform. Study how they do things: how they engage, their tone, their accessibility.

You are a self-proclaimed introvert, as are many writers. How do you suggest introverts reconcile themselves to the need to have an active online presence?

The thing about social media is it’s not about self-promotion. You support other people and share other people’s work 90 percent of the time and promote yourself 10 percent of the time. If you do that, if you’re able to join an established community, they’re going to reciprocate. It’s not just me promoting my blog; it’s the community I’m a part of on Twitter, Facebook, and the bloggers whose blogs I comment on and share who promote me. Their recommendations of my writing carries a lot more weight with readers than mine does.

If you want more than just your neighbours, your church and family members to read your writing, and to buy your book, you have to build relationships. You’re going to have to put yourself out there. What I love about social media is that I share what I want, when I want. I’m on social media on my terms.

Members of our writers group share their work with each other and want honest feedback and suggestions on how to make their writing better. Too often, as writers, we fall in love with our own words. How can we overcome this?

I’ve never been one to base my value as a person on how other people receive my writing. I think you have to come to a point where you separate yourself from the work. You pour your heart and soul into a work, you hone every word, and challenge yourself to make it the best you can, but at the end of the day, if someone doesn’t like your work, it’s not a statement about you. This separation is what allows you to be ruthless with your writing, to cut the chapter that needs to go, to edit until everything shines. Every word is there because it’s doing a job beyond making you feel good.

The other aspect, for me, is being comfortable in my own skin. I don’t claim to “have arrived” and I strive to maintain a teachable spirit, but I’m done apologizing for who I am. I call it like I see it; I apologize when I’m wrong; and seek out the truth. Sometimes the truth isn’t pretty, and usually it makes people uncomfortable, but I don’t get a lot of criticism when I share personal things on my blog or in an article. I think I’ve grown enough in the craft that I can share thoughtfully in a way that makes people think. That said, there are places I won’t go, there are things I have enough wisdom not to share.

Your daughter also writes. How do you feel about having her follow in your footsteps? How would you suggest parents nurture their children’s gifts and abilities?

I loved writing as a teen and found it very cathartic. I found writing gave me a voice and a platform to say things that no one wanted to hear. I think that still resonates with teens. I’m encouraging her to learn as much as she can.

I think if writing is what she wants to do, then she should pursue that. But I’m honest with her too. I think my writing is better for having taken some time to live. I had to learn some things the hard way, get my heart broken, and fall in love. All those universal experiences have given me a great spectrum of knowledge and emotional experience to draw on.

I’m not the sole income earner in our house. My husband’s income pays all our bills; my income pays for the extras. It’s really hard to support yourself writing fiction, so I’m encouraging her to have a viable plan for that future.

Lisa was interviewed by Steph Nickel, co-lead of the Write Canada PR team.

Lisa, in what ways do you see modern technology impacting journalism in the 21st century? And why should we care?

There’s been a lot of talk about the rise of citizen journalists and how social media, Twitter in particular, has changed the spread of ideas.

Now you don’t have to wait for the morning paper to find out about the earthquake in Haiti or the tsunami in Japan; the spread of news is instant.

Christian media, in particular, has struggled to provide timely news. How does the instant nature of social media affect that?

The job of the journalist has always been, in my opinion, to interpret events and news. So, how do they continue to provide that value in this new digital reality?

I’m also interested to see what the panel has to say about how print journalism can remain viable, especially within the Christian context in Canada.

You’ve written for non-profit organizations, print magazines, and blogs. What are the differences?

I love writing for non-profits because I’m really passionate about social justice and giving a voice to those who typically aren’t heard. Non-profits are usually gifted with really compelling stories but sometimes lack capacity to get those stories out there, so I’m really privileged to get to do that, to keep telling their stories.

I enjoy writing articles and working with different editors—it’s always a new project. The downside is that you often have to generate your own leads, your own sources, and continually sell yourself and your ideas. Not everyone agrees with my point of view or how I cover a topic and the criticism can be harsh and overly personal at times.

Freelancing can be hard because you’re piecing together an income from a dozen different sources, and saying no now means no cheque in six months, so it can be a lot of pressure.

Blogging is something else entirely. You’re using a different voice, always putting yourself out there, and there’s often a slew of techie issues you have to learn and sort through. You set your own hours, but you must be self-disciplined to maintain a reliable and predictable schedule. And sometimes blogging gets in the way of other things, but I love meeting new people and helping people, and highlighting issues that sometimes get hidden or people don’t want to talk about.

Many times you draw on your own experience for your writing. How do you overcome the human inclination to shield yourself from judgement and criticism and allow yourself to be genuine and vulnerable?

I think, in part, I’m inspired by the people who have shared their stories with me. Many of the people I’ve interviewed over the last three or four years have overcome some truly horrendous and horrifying things, and they’ve shared openly and honestly with me and my readers in an effort to help even one other person.

Part of the hurt I’ve suffered myself has been the belief that I’m utterly alone, that I’m a freak. "There is nothing new under the sun," we’re told. If telling another’s story honestly, if sharing from my own story, can bring meaning to my own hurt, help someone else avoid a situation, overcome a trial, or find restoration in a relationship, then it’s worth it. There’s no point sharing if I’m not willing to be completely honest in my opinion. Sugar-coating past experiences won’t help those struggling with that issue now.

Is there anything else you would like readers to know?

I’m taking appointments and doing critiques at Write! Canada, but I’m only there for one day, so space is somewhat limited.

I got my start in writing at Write! Canada, and got my very first writing assignments at Write! Canada. I know what it feels like to be the newbie, not sure you can even call yourself a writer, not sure how things work or where to find stuff—at your very first conference, and too shy and intimidated to talk to anyone.

Come say hi, sit with me at lunch or supper; I’ll be your friend. I’ve met many of the American faculty already, so if you’re looking for someone to introduce you, I’m your girl. If we all work to support one another, then it’s easier.

Read Part 2 of our interview with Lisa.

Lisa was interviewed by Steph Nickel, co-leader of the PR team.

You co-ordinate a large book club in Canada (over 100 members). What is your favourite book club pick?

That’s a hard question because we’ve read so many wonderful books. Hmmmm…The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill is up there. And so is The Help by Katharine Stockett.  But I’d have to say my personal favorite is Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I have a heart for stories about miracles and stories with narrators who are brave children, and Leif’s book is that and more.

One of your favourite hobbies is cooking. How is writing an article or book similar to preparing a meal?

Hah!  I’m not the best person to ask that question to because I never follow a recipe–all I know is that I love food and I love sharing it! Over the years, I’ve read hundreds (maybe thousands) of recipes and yet I end up going by my instincts regarding what works.

I use all my senses. I want it to look good on the plate, so I make sure I don’t have mashed potatoes beside a piece of white fish. I want the tastes to complement each other, so I don’t sprinkle cayenne pepper on lemon squares. And there’s nothing better than filling the house with the scent of beef tips simmering in red wine.

Preparing food feeds a creative need, makes me happy and allows me to share something I love. I guess that’s the similarity with writing.

You have counselled parents of children struggling with drug addiction as well as individuals going through divorce. How has your faith in God played a role in helping these people?  

I think all of us play a part in God’s story. It’s a part we play by living our lives. My part included a divorce and a son who was addicted to crack. I couldn’t have survived the fear of losing my son or the pain of being left by my spouse without believing that God was there by my side–in the ER after an overdose, and in the long, lonely nights after the separation.

That’s how I help others who are in the middle of that pain and fear. I remember those days and I believe in healing for them. I tell them what they feel is normal and assure them they won’t feel that way forever. I can tell them that because another part God has given me in His story is to share my own healing.

What advice do you have for those writers trying to break into the publishing world? 

Attend writer’s conferences like Write! Canada and be bold! Talk to the speakers, ask questions, network with other writers, take notes and soak in the creativity that is all around you. Read everything you can about the best ways to get your work noticed.  Read what you love. Write what you love.

Margaret's website margaretterry.com will be up and running soon.

Margaret Terry was interviewed by Linda Jonasson of the Write! Canada PR team.

At Write! Canada 2012, Margaret will be part of a panel called  “Roadblocks, Detours, and Acts of God.”

How long have you been attending Write! Canada and what was your best experience there?

This will be my fourth conference. I’ve had many wonderful experiences at each one–mainly because the people who give their time to making it successful care so much about each person who attends.

The volunteers and organizers all want us to be successful. They work hard at matching us up with people in the industry who can help us reach our writing goals. And the faculty are stellar: literary agents, publishers, editors, and writing coaches.

The 2006 conference was life-altering for me. I had a 10-minute interview with an agent from California who offered representation and sold my manuscript to Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group eight months later. She also introduced me to the editor of Today’s Christian Magazine who bought an article from me while I was still at the conference!

At Write! Canada 2012 you are part of a panel called "Roadblocks, Detours and Acts of God.” What has been your biggest roadblock in your writing and how did you overcome it?

My biggest roadblock is me. Allowing life to get in the way of writing, feeling not good enough, being distracted by everything from dirty dishes to Facebook. And the way I overcome them is by staying in this chair and doing what I’m doing now. I write. The detours and acts of God are different. They are things out of my control; things God gives me to shake me up or wake me up that make me pay attention and be a better writer.

You have a background in journalism writing for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Hamilton Spectator and Today’s Christian Magazine.  What types of articles did you write and how has your journalism background helped you write a book?

I’m not a journalist at all; I write personal stories. I’m just lucky that the stories I’ve submitted were liked by the editors who read them. Or, they were timely. On Father’s Day, the Hamilton Spectator published a story I wrote about how playing cards every Monday with my 80-year-old dad helped me learn to love him again after a 20-year estrangement.

Your book Dear Deb: A Woman with Cancer, A Friend with Secrets, and the Letters that Become Their Miracle will be released by Thomas Nelson, October 9, 2012. Give us a short synopsis of the book. How did you come to write it?

Dear Deb is a collection of letters about living that were written to a dying friend. It’s a celebration of life even when the odds are stacked against it.

When my friend Deb announced she had inoperable lung cancer, I agreed to send her encouraging words. I began with hopeful sayings like those plaques in stores that say "Believe, Hope, and Love Never Fail," but when her health declined rapidly, those words felt hollow.

That’s when I started writing about the things we’d share with a best friend over time. I wrote Deb about my getting caught shoplifting, about being a single mom, and about how it felt to return to church after a 25-year absence.

Since we had never shared childhood stories, I told her about my mother’s mental illness and how it shaped my life. When Deb responded, “No matter how sick I feel, your letters give me something to look forward to,” I kept writing. She shared her letters with friends and family and in three months they were being read in seven countries.

Read Part 2 of our interview with Margaret.

Margaret Terry was interviewed by Linda Jonasson of the Write! Canada PR team.

Every conference registrant may request up to three, free, one-on-one, 15-minute appointments with representatives of various newspapers, magazines and book publishing houses, as well as with the agents, authors, freelance writers and editors who are leading workshops and sitting on panels.

You must be registered at the conference in order to book appointments. 

Sara, you won the Word Alive Press Self-Publishing Contest in 2010. There are varying opinions on self-publishing. How did you feel about it?

I have always had mixed feelings about self-publishing. For me it comes down to two things: the motivation of the author and the standards of the company.

Self-publishing has carried a stigma for a long time, largely because of authors who chose to go that route because they were turned down by every publisher and agent they approached and weren’t interested in investing the time and effort into honing their craft and making the necessary changes to create work that was publishable and marketable.

And at the same time, there are many self-publishing companies that are willing to take money from authors, but don’t have the interest—or the ability or the integrity—to set a standard high enough to produce a quality product. 

It is unfortunate that self-publishing has developed such a bad name over the years (something that is slowly changing, by the way) because under the right circumstances and with the right company, this can be a very feasible, viable option.

Self-publishing definitely has a place and, under the right circumstances, can be a rewarding way to go. As N.J. Lindquist, who has posted a great number of blogs on this topic, often says, it is crucial to be very aware of what you are getting into and carefully research all aspects of the process of self-publishing before you make the decision as to whether or not this is the right path for you.

Can you give us a glimpse of what lies before you on your writing journey?

Wow, I so wish I could! I’m not sure anyone in the business can honestly say they know what is ahead of any of us at this point. So many changes and so much upheaval are taking place. It is easy to panic at formerly inconceivable prospects such as the end of paper books actually becoming real possibilities.

It is critical to remember that it is not the medium that it is important, but the message, and getting that message out there by any means at your disposal. So, I am attempting to embrace, or at least carefully consider, new ideas and technology and to devote more time to social networking and building an online presence.

My second suspense novel, formerly titled The Child-Snatchers and now called Eight O’clock at Joe’s, was a finalist in the Word Alive Press contest the same year The Watcher won. I have overhauled and edited and polished that manuscript as well and believe it is as good as I can make it on my own. I am now looking for an agent willing to take that, and me, on.

I have the entire sequel to Joe’s written in my head so I’ll be starting work on that one after the Write! Canada Conference. I have another novel written as well that, at one point, was meant to be a sequel to The Watcher, but I’m now thinking would make a better kick-off to a YA series. I am going to be giving that some consideration in the next few months too. So, lots of ideas. All I need to do now is find the time to get them down in print, find someone who wants to publish them, and find lots of people who might want to read them – and I’m good to go.

What would be your #1 piece of advice for someone thinking about writing a novel?

The biggest piece of advice I could give someone (if “don’t do it!” isn’t considered an appropriate answer) is to settle in for the long haul. Writing takes time. Excellent writing takes a lot of time: time to learn; to get the story down; to add in all the technical aspects; to get feedback and plenty of it from people in the business who know what they’re talking about; to revise, edit, rewrite, revise again, cut out, add in, and polish your manuscript.

Then the hard work of finding an agent or publisher willing to offer you a contract begins. Even after that, it will likely be a couple of years before your book comes out, and at that point, the even harder work—marketing, sales, and promotion—will start. Don’t make the mistake of working out what that means in terms of hourly wage or I promise you will sit down and cry.

My other big piece of advice though, if you have made it through the above paragraph without tossing your computer into the nearest dumpster and going out to get a “real job,” is to press on. N.J. Lindquist once said, “If you believe in your story, never give up.” Those sage words have kept me going through a lot of dark, difficult days.

Achieving your goals and your dreams in this crazy business will only happen through gritted teeth and white-knuckled perseverance, but the difficulty of the journey only makes reaching your destination—seeing your words in print and hearing from others that what you wrote influenced or impacted them in some way—so very, very sweet.

Sara was interviewed by Steph Nickel, PR team co-lead.

Send a bookmark, postcard, brochure, sample item, pen, chocolate, etc. to go to all participants at Write! Canada.

All items for the gift bag given to Write! Canada registrants must be received no later than Friday, June 1.

This special offer is only available to members of The Word Guild and Write! Canada registrants.

See full details in the gift bags section.

Sara will be a panelist on the "My First Novel Has Been Published!" panel.

Sara, when did you first know you wanted to write novels?

We moved around a lot when I was a kid, but the first place I would head to in every new town was the public library and I would immediately feel at home. I have a clear memory of being eight or nine years old and walking up and down the aisles of the library, running my hand along the spines of the books, and thinking that if all those people had written a book, I could do it too. I could have a book published. So it’s been at least that long that I have dreamed of seeing my stories in print one day. 

Do you consider yourself a plotter, outlining your story in detail before beginning to write, or a pantser, letting your characters or the situation carry you along? What would you consider the advantages and drawbacks of each?

I’ve never been able to fit myself comfortably into one category or the other. I usually have a rough idea of what each chapter will be about and often will write out a basic outline for each. So far I have always known how the book will end—except for the novel I just completed where I had three different endings in mind, which can be just as bad as having no idea how to end the book. I agonized for months over which ending to use.

However, once I start writing the chapters, the characters really do sometimes head down paths I don’t expect them to or develop personality traits I didn’t know they had. The storyline can change dramatically in one sitting. Sometimes I am blown away by what has just transpired because I didn’t see it coming. When I am in the thick of writing a novel, I usually sit down at the computer with a great deal of anticipation, anxious to see what is going to happen next.

The big disadvantage of being a serious plotter for me personally would be that it sounds like an awful lot of work. I have close friends, really great writers, who cover their walls in plot outlines and plans and charts and magazine cut-outs of their characters and blueprints of every building in their story and maps of every town. I admire them tremendously, but being a relatively lazy writer who doesn’t like to get bogged down in preparation and research but just wants to go ahead and make stuff up, that doesn’t particularly appeal to me.

I wouldn’t like to be a die-hard pantser either though–that is someone who just dives into the writing with no clear direction or destination in mind. For me, it would be way too easy to keep going down pathways that lead nowhere and have to back up and start again down another path. That seems like a lot of extra work in the long run. Both extremes stress me out. While I know and respect both types of authors, I’m much more comfortable with clear but flexible plot outlines combined with a great deal of freedom to let the story and the characters take me where they will.

What would you say are the #1 joy and the #1 challenge you faced when writing The Watcher?

The number one joy has definitely been the feedback I have received from readers and reviewers. I have had many people tell me that they found the novel to be a powerful story of grace, forgiveness, and redemption, and that, after reading it, they were compelled to acknowledge and deal with unforgiveness in their own lives, which has led to relationships being healed and restored. Knowing that my words have in some way brought glory to God and furthered His kingdom by touching people’s lives is the greatest joy I can possibly imagine.

By far, the greatest challenge has been getting people to even hear about, let alone buy and read, the novel. There is so much competition out there, so many great books and so little time to read them—as the ceiling-high pile on my bedside table can attest—that it is next to impossible to make a readership base of any significant size aware that The Watcher exists. I always say that writing the book is the easiest part; getting it published is significantly harder; and getting anyone to hear about it is the hardest thing of all.

This is particularly challenging as a new Canadian author publishing with a (relatively) small Canadian publishing company. It is extremely difficult to compete with American authors with big American publishing houses behind them, although, as William P. Young proved with the success of The Shack, it’s not impossible. It is essential if we hope to make any inroads into American and international markets, for Canadian Christian writers to persevere, to aim always for excellence, and to support and promote each other and our work at every opportunity. Thankfully, this is something The Word Guild does consistently and extremely well.

Read Part 2 of our interview with Sara on Monday.

Sara was interviewed by Steph Nickel, PR team co-lead.

What is the difference between romance and romantic suspense?

This is a great question because many people assume any romance that includes a mystery or suspense subplot is a romantic suspense, when really it’s a romance with suspense elements. A true romantic suspense combines the romance and suspense genres equally. From the story’s outset, the reader knows that your protagonists will both fall in love and solve or overcome whatever mystery or suspense the author has set up.

The other distinction that confuses aspiring writers is the difference between a mystery and suspense. A mystery is about figuring out who done it. A suspense (while it may keep the villain a mystery—as I like to do, and my editor likes to see) is more about how much trouble will be caused before the villain is stopped.

In a romantic mystery, the protagonists may never be in any real danger. In a romantic suspense, they most certainly will be…ideally from page one.

How has God shaped you as a writer?

From the beginning, my goal as a fiction writer was to write stories that God could use to minister to others. He showed me that they didn’t have to be published to do that.Writing for publication is an extremely humbling experience. Negative critiques and rejections can be tough on the ego. I was homeschooling my children at the time and knew that my perseverance through rejection was an important life lesson to model.

Along the journey, the Lord gave me bits of encouragement to keep me going: Bible verses and positive critiques, contest wins and editor requests, and a “misdirected” writing magazine that brought another local romance writer to my doorstep to invite me to her writing group.

That invitation proved to be God’s most precious gift, for the group of aspiring secular writers taught me a lot and have become dear friends; in turn God opened the door for me to minister to them long before my manuscripts were ever published.

Your blog (www.sandraorchard.blogspot.com) is titled “Conversations about Characters” and discusses the characters in your books and in our lives. How are the two similar?

At the end of each Love Inspired book are questions for the reader. These relate the trials or questions faced by the characters in the story to our own lives. I fell in love with Christian fiction because “watching” how characters coped with similar questions, circumstances, or emotions to those I was dealing with helped me see them from another perspective, equipped me to work through them biblically, and inspired me to be a better person, mother, wife, and friend.

In the same way, as I create my characters and bring them through their spiritual and emotional struggles, I find myself digging deeper into Scripture to better understand the truth that will set my characters free. On the blog, we discuss these kinds of questions.

What are best habits of a good writer?

1. Read, read, read…especially your Bible. Read books in the genre you wish to write. Read books from the publisher for which you wish to write, especially those written by new authors. Authors with established fan bases are often given far more latitude than unproven authors. Read widely of best-selling fiction. Read books on writing craft.

2. Write, revise, write some more. Write every day even if it’s just a few sentences or an idea.

3. Limit your time on the Internet. Since becoming published, I have had to delve into social media and blogging and all sorts of marketing activities. These can be huge time vacuums, and finding the balance is a constant juggling act. I’ve observed that a lot of aspiring writers, in an effort to build a “platform,” spend more time on these kinds of “marketing” activities than they spend actually writing their manuscript. I think this is a mistake.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/SandraOrchard for more information.

Sandra was interviewed by Linda Jonasson of the Write! Canada PR team.

At Write! Canada 2012, Sandra will be on the First-time Novelist's Panel as well as offering critiques.  

Sandra, on your website (www.sandraorchard.com) you posted the quote: “Writing is not easy. It’s plain old hard work. And breaking into publishing is a job like no other. But with God, all things are possible.” What is your best piece of advice for novelists looking for that big break?

Enjoy the journey. God can use your writing in many ways you hadn’t imagined. Don’t be in a hurry to publish the first manuscript you write. Take time to learn the craft and hone your writing skills.

In 2010, you broke into the publishing world with your book Undercover Cops: Fighting for Justice Puts Their Lives—and Hearts—on the Line. Give us a one-paragraph synopsis of its plot.

Maintaining his cover cost undercover cop Rick Gray the woman he loved. Ginny Bryson never really knew Rick. He never gave her the chance. Not then, and not now when he's back with a new alias to gather evidence against Ginny's uncle. The man's crimes led to Rick's partner's death, and Rick wants justice to be served. But his investigation is stirring up trouble, and Ginny is in the middle of it. How can Rick protect her without blowing his cover, jeopardizing his assignment…and risking both their lives?

How did you first become involved with Write! Canada? What was your best experience there?

After I received my first rejection form Love Inspired (then called Steeplehill), I visited my local bookstore in search of other Christian publishers I might query. I discovered Castle Quay Books, an Ontario publisher and looked it up online. That was in May 2004, and they had information on their website about a contest they were sponsoring for Write! Canada.

I was so excited to discover that the next month there was a Christian Writers’ Conference only hours away from where I lived that I immediately registered and paid for three critiques on two or three manuscripts I’d written. I also convinced my teenage daughter to join me so I wouldn’t be alone. <grin>

The conference, my first, was an amazing experience. All three critiques were extremely positive, and affirmed that I was on the right track with my writing. One of the authors referred me to an agent who signed me on.
   
You live in a 100-year-old farmhouse in Southern Ontario. It seems like the perfect setting for a romantic suspense novel. How do you choose a setting for a novel?

It is the perfect setting for a romantic suspense novel, and is the setting for a proposal I’m currently working on! <grin>

I usually come up with a suspense plot first and then choose a setting to suit. To date, all of my published and contracted novels are set in small fictional Niagara towns. Love Inspired prefers small town settings, which suits me well since I’ve lived most of my life in rural settings.

Revell Publishing, as with most American Christian publishers, prefers US settings, so I was especially thrilled when they agreed to let my Port Aster Secrets series (debuting summer 2013) remain in Canada.

Read Part 2 of our interview with Sandra.

Interview conducted by PR Team member Linda Jonasson.