The heart of the story

By Jenny Glazebrook

Have you ever taught something you thought you understood, and then found that really, you had no idea?

Take this quote for example.

I remember someone saying it at an Omega Writers’ Conference several years back and it stuck with me. It made so much sense. I taught it to others and was passionate about its truth.

I thought I knew how to do it – how to ‘kill my darlings’ and allow my work to be edited without clinging to my raw, heartfelt, flowing, first words.

I knew I must cling to the heart of my story and let everything else go.

But now I have a new publisher. I am excited that she believes in my ability enough to invest in me. What a privilege. I owe it to her to listen to her expertise. So what is the 'but'? 

She has asked me to sculpt my novel to under half the size of the original. 

That's 130,000 words which I thought formed a beautiful masterpiece, but which I now need to see as a clumpy, raw piece of wood with which to work. 130,000 words which came from my heart. 130,000 words which were finalist in a competition, which have touched hearts, which come from my life, my very soul.

I need to cut the word count back to 60,000. I need to modernise the 20 year old language and characters. I need to change the title. I need to change from third person to first person. In short, I need to hold the heart of the story in my hands and re-write almost every single word.

The doubts creep in. If it’s not good enough as it is, can I even write at all? I can’t believe all the mistakes the publisher picked up when I thought I’d fixed them, all the ideas she suggested I need to change and hone. I was humbled when she pointed out the techniques I’ve taught others but failed to carry out myself. 

What do I think I’m doing? Who do I think I am?

It feels too hard, too big a project. I’ve had 4 children since I wrote that first version and I’m sure I’ve lost brain cells since then. I can’t even remember where I put my pen a few moments ago. I’ve tried to re-write the story but it’s so close to me I can’t let go of the old. I worry: will readers still connect with my characters if I take out all the details, back-up characters, plot ideas? I love all the characters. I love the witty banter. It's part of me.

I’ve tried changing font type and font size to give me a fresh perspective. Why can’t I let it go?

I'm not proud enough to think I know more than my experienced publisher. There is obviously a lot I can do to improve; to reach excellence. And I know God can use anybody. He doesn't even need me. I know it in my head, so why won't my heart listen?

And what is the heart of my story? Really?

That’s my greatest fear: what if I lose the heart of the story? What if it slips through my fingers with the words? What if God isn’t in it this time? What if I’m just trying to fit in with a market, an ideal, a publisher’s ideas of what is popular and will sell?

And that is when God’s quiet voice breaks through all the noise and says, ‘Trust.’

Trust whom? The publisher? My ability? My experience? My story?

No. 

God.

If there truly was something valuable in that first version of the novel, then it came from Him. And He never changes. He can choose to use me again. Or not.

And so I bury my head in my hands as I place it before Him and let go. My fingers itch to snatch it back up, but no, I have to put my muddy clump of clay into the master potter’s hands and let Him guide my fingers, my words, my heart. I need to let my publisher guide me as the Lord guides her.

I never thought it would be so scary to let go. Or so exhilarating, freeing, and amazing. I feel like I’ve jumped off a cliff and I am free-falling, waiting for the hand of God to catch me and carry me safely to the other side.

And even if He doesn’t, I will still trust Him. I will still love Him. I will still honour and glorify Him. Because He can choose what to do with this pot He has made.

But first, I have to write that first new word. So help me, God … please guard and guide my heart for without You I am nothing.

Jenny Glazebrook lives in the country town of Gundagai with her husband, Rob and 4 children along with many pets. She is the published author of 7 novels, 1 traditionally published, and 6 self published. She writes because words burn within her. She is an experienced inspirational speaker and loves to encourage others to walk closer with God and hear His voice each day. She has a Diploma of Theology and is a 3 times CALEB finalist. Jenny’s website is: www.jennyglazebrook.com

Book Review: Amish Cooking Class - The Seekers by Wanda E. Brunstetter

By Jenny Blake

Amish Cooking Class - The Seekers

By 

Wanda E. Brunstetter

Shiloh Run Press (February 1, 2017)

Description

Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower make up the mismatched lot of students. But Heidi’s cooking lessons soon turn to life lessons as they each share the challenges they are facing. Is this what God had in mind when Heidi got the idea for cooking classes?

My Review:

Firstly thanks to netgalley for my review copy.

I have read several books by Wanda and have enjoyed them all. This one is different (although I have since found out she did a series with Heidi's Aunt teaching Quilting) but to me this was different. In this book we have Heidi who after 8 years of marriage still doesn't have any children so often has time on her hands. She loves to cook and knows how much joy her Aunt gets from teaching quilting so decides to run 6 cooking lessons. The participants are varied, Charlene who is newly engaged, Kendra who is an expectant mother estranged from her family, Lorretta who wants to learn some Amish cooking, Eli an Amish widower who struggles to boil an egg and Ron who has turned up at the Troyer's farm asking if he can camp there for a short while. 

The book introduces us to each of the participants as well as Heidi and her husband Lyle and we get to know them and more about there situations. Lorretta has 2 adorable children who I must say are scene stealers at times. A couple of the participants have no idea how to cook but Heidi is patient. What starts out as just lessons becomes more as they get to know one another. I enjoyed the way the book unfolded and was sad to see it end. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. What I loved most was the interaction between the various people and also the individual stories within the main story. 

If you like Amish stories I am sure you will enjoy this one and if you are not a big fan of Amish books you will find this book doesn't focus mainly on their lifestyle because of having both English and Amish involved. A good read. 

Writing ~ A Lifelong Learning Process

By Narelle Atkins

I started writing my first book last century. Fourteen years later I sold that book to a traditional publisher in a six book deal. My writing apprenticeship of fourteen years is long by today's standards.

A debut author has options in 2017 that didn't exist when I started writing. They can pursue traditional publishing opportunities or independently publish their first book. Both options are legitimate. The wisdom lies in an author discerning which publishing path (traditional, indie, or hybrid) is best for their writing career and whether or not their book is ready to be published.

Writing quality matters. In many ways it matters more in 2017 than it did last century. The book market is saturated with books that aren't going out of print. The supply of new print, digital, and audio books available for readers to purchase or borrow increases every day. Millions of books are available online. Readers are no longer limited to reading what's available on the shelf in their local book store or library. The best quality books will stand out in a crowded market where word of mouth marketing sells books.

My fourteen year writing apprenticeship was largely spent on two key things. Firstly, I invested time and money in learning the craft of writing. I took writing classes, read craft books, attended writing conferences, worked with critique partners, and entered unpublished writing contests.

Secondly, I learned how to write a marketable contemporary Christian romance that attracted the interest of an editor at a publishing house. Both of these endeavours required skills that aren't born from natural talent. A writing career requires persistence, hard work, and a willingness to learn.

The hard work doesn't end when your debut book is published. Marketing and book promotion activities become part of an author's life. Readers who enjoyed your first book eagerly await your second book. And your third book. They want to be wowed again and again by the stories you create.

Writing professional development is a lifelong pursuit for authors. Traditionally published authors have to wow their editor to obtain their next contract. All authors have to wow their readers to inspire them to buy their next book.

In early March I was blessed to have an opportunity to attend a Margie Lawson Immersion Master Class over a holiday weekend. In Canberra. Only a fifteen minute drive from my home. I've wanted to work with Margie for years and I was thrilled that I could fit the Writing Intensive Master Class into my 2017 schedule. The timing was perfect for a bunch of reasons.

Margie Lawson is our international keynote speaker at our upcoming 2017 Omega Writers Conference, October 27-29 in Sydney, Australia.

Have you made plans in 2017 to pursue writing professional development opportunities? Do you have the 2017 Omega Writers Conference dates marked on your calendar? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor

Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Get Your Armadillo On!

by Andrea Grigg

Photo credit: Jim Mullhaupt via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

One thing I know for sure: being a writer is not for the faint-hearted or the thin-skinned. We’re faced with so many challenges, not the least of which is, ‘What if someone doesn’t like my book and gives it a negative review?’

I mean, I pour my heart and soul into my books, right? How could someone reject my baby?!?

In answer to that, here’s a quote from Joanna Penn, whose workshop I attended last month: “Your book isn’t your baby, it’s your employee. Make it work for you!”

Isn’t that a refreshing way to look at it? (Check out Joanna's website The Creative Penn - it's fabulous!)

But how do we prepare ourselves for negative reviews? And how can we deal with them when they happen?

Some writers never read reviews of their books, but I do. I’m way too curious. According to The Five Love Languages, I’m also a ‘words of affirmation’ girl, so it can be tricky for me. But I’ve learned a couple of things along the way which I’d like to share with you in the hope it will be of help to some.

I’ve had two negative reviews quite recently. One of them was for my novella, ‘All is Bright’, which I indie published last year in a box set called ‘An Aussie Summer Christmas’ along with five other authors, including our own Narelle Atkins and Rose Dee. Unfortunately, I can’t directly quote the review for you, as the boxset no longer exists on Amazon, but I can certainly remember the gist of it!

In ‘All is Bright’, my heroine, Amy, has been secretly in love with her brother-in-law for years, and continues to feel horribly guilty, even though her sister passed away five years ago. The reviewer hated the premise, citing it as being disgusting and immoral, along with a few other choice adjectives. ‘All is Bright’ was responsible the boxset receiving three stars, not four.

The second negative review was given to ‘Too Pretty’ only last week. I was at the Hillsong Colour Conference, where I’d been mightily inspired and encouraged. Just as well! A review for ‘Too Pretty’ came up in my Twitter feed one night, so I checked it out. It was really well done, with all these funny gifs which really made me chuckle. Until I came to the words: “What did I think of the book? I didn’t like it.”

Believe me, she didn’t. For two reasons, neither of which I agree with, funnily enough J You can read the review here if you like. Seriously, the gifs are awesome!

For an affirmation chick like me, by rights these two reviews should’ve flattened me. My roomie at the conference, who also happens to be my bestie, said, “How do you cope with something like that? I’d be devastated if that was said about something I’d created.”

But I’m not devastated. Here are some reasons why:  

1.    As mentioned before, not everyone will like my stories, or ‘get’ my work. After all, each of the seven billion personalities on the planet are unique and will never totally agree on anything, especially when it comes to taste in music, art or books. It’s just the way it is, so I choose not to stress over it. There’s no point.

2.    Having a negative review makes the rest of them genuine. Clearly, I haven’t bribed my friends and rellies to write lovely things about my books.

3.    There can be elements of truth in negative reviews. If you end up with a number of them all saying the same thing, then perhaps it’s a good idea to take notice!

4.    Negative reviews of my books DO NOT define who I am, because my identity is not defined by my writing. It’s defined by who I am in God.

To my mind, that last one is the most important. Last year I went through a bit of an identity crisis. You can read about that here.

In a nutshell, if you know who you are, or more importantly, whose you are, then negative reviews are a thousand times easier to handle. God loves me. He adores me. And while that may sound incredibly simplistic, at the end of the day, to me, that’s what matters the most.

Andrea Grigg lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and is the author of two contemporary Christian romance novels, and a novella. She would love to connect with you via: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg?ref=hl

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/andreagrigg

Email:    andreagrigg@live.com