tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post4879543278359746976..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: On being a published authorUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-6354630603407617602016-03-15T17:07:29.862+11:002016-03-15T17:07:29.862+11:00Jo-Anne wrote: "Is it the best book I could c...Jo-Anne wrote: "Is it the best book I could create at this point? Do I believe my book honours God? Do I stand by all I have written in it?"<br /><br />Hi Jo-Anne, excellent post! I also ask these questions when it's time to publish a new book. We strive to write the best possible book that honours God and contains truth that reflects our worldview.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-72934800783888011592016-03-12T16:33:59.185+11:002016-03-12T16:33:59.185+11:00Yes indeed we do. Thanks for your post, Jo-AnneYes indeed we do. Thanks for your post, Jo-AnneSusan Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07673626395112361592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-7299583960301485772016-03-12T12:06:48.854+11:002016-03-12T12:06:48.854+11:00That's so good, Susan. I remember trying to pu...That's so good, Susan. I remember trying to put this into practice when I was a high school teacher and a class would misbehave. Back then, I took it all so personally! But it wasn't about me as a person--it was about my wanting some discipline and cooperation in my classes. We all keep on learning these things, don't we?Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-73963089482268731242016-03-12T10:34:46.408+11:002016-03-12T10:34:46.408+11:00Yes, I remind myself if they don't like what I...Yes, I remind myself if they don't like what I've written they are only disagreeing with my opinion. They aren't disagreeing with me as a person.Susan Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07673626395112361592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-48450116072464857612016-03-11T21:53:31.463+11:002016-03-11T21:53:31.463+11:00I agree it isn't easy to be vulnerable, Susan,...I agree it isn't easy to be vulnerable, Susan, but, at the risk of using a cliché, anything that is worthwhile is rarely easy. Also, whenever I feel vulnerable about what I have written in my books, I ask myself whether it really matters what people think of me, when all is said and done! Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-19913079155712776272016-03-11T19:17:20.502+11:002016-03-11T19:17:20.502+11:00I get nervous just thinking about being published....I get nervous just thinking about being published. I'm going to be a real mess if it actually happens!<br /><br />What I'm writing isn't a memoir rather non-fiction with some personal accounts of events. It isn't easy being vulnerable.Susan Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07673626395112361592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-63511064750331723582016-03-11T14:17:44.040+11:002016-03-11T14:17:44.040+11:00Hmmm--now that's a powerful and apt analogy yo...Hmmm--now that's a powerful and apt analogy you've used to begin your comment, Christine! And that's a nice, down-to-earth approach re seeing the vast range of reviews online for other books out there and realising you're in good company if you score a few negative ones! As I said, we sure can't please everyone.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-14983796984263393882016-03-11T11:22:44.545+11:002016-03-11T11:22:44.545+11:00Yes, I identify. It's like standing naked in a...Yes, I identify. It's like standing naked in a spotlight. When I cam depressed about a negative review (have had some 3 star ones lately), I check some really wonderful books like "Narnia" "Screwtape Letters" ...and the comments about those from 'worst book I've ever read" to 'best' and it makes me laugh. Christine Dillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00138954979163077058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-34177150255072611682016-03-11T10:39:52.843+11:002016-03-11T10:39:52.843+11:00Such a good question, Iola! I guess I would say th...Such a good question, Iola! I guess I would say that in some ways memoir is harder because readers could well judge not only my writing style but also my own thoughts, the choices I made in my life, my beliefs etc. I do remember feeling I had put myself out there on a plate, so to speak, with 'Soul Friend'. But it was also a great privilege to be able to share from my heart, to be transparent and to encourage others in this way. <br /><br />With my novels, many of my friends felt there was part of me in most of my characters, particularly the heroines (!), so in that sense I was open to being judged on a personal level as well. But mostly with novels, I think it is the thought of whether others will like my characters, whether they feel they are believable, whether the storyline causes them to keep turning those pages, whether the plot holds together etc that is a bit daunting. So I think my answer to your question would be that the challenges involved in publishing novels and memoir are pretty much equal. Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-21851985649542492902016-03-11T10:02:38.414+11:002016-03-11T10:02:38.414+11:00Excellent post, Jo-Anne. I have a question: you...Excellent post, Jo-Anne. I have a question: you've published fiction and memoir. Memoir is sharing a piece of yourself - does that make it harder than with fiction? Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-46899821468624930632016-03-11T08:11:57.231+11:002016-03-11T08:11:57.231+11:00I feel your pain, Ian, with that first negative re...I feel your pain, Ian, with that first negative review--ouch! Not long after my first novel was published, I can remember a lady announcing loudly to me, in front of a whole lot of people at a church, how she 'was sorry, but she couldn't get past Chapter 2' of my novel! But while I was still picking myself up from the floor and trying to mumble something like 'That's okay', her own daughter responded, 'Oh I absolutely LOVED it! When's your next book coming out?' I really believe God allowed that to happen early on in my writing journey--it stood me in good stead for people's varying responses later on and taught me for sure (in a dramatic way!) that you sure can't please everyone! I love the way God spoke to you though, Ian, and how you responded--so good.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-55952682014027896482016-03-11T08:06:27.181+11:002016-03-11T08:06:27.181+11:00Carolyn, I can well imagine how you would easily i...Carolyn, I can well imagine how you would easily identify with some of the thoughts I wrote, in the light of your recent exciting news about your own manuscript being accepted by a US publishing house. What a wonderful--but slightly heart in mouth--journey lies ahead for you, including receiving that cover art email! Congratulations again. Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-2143693420103063352016-03-11T08:00:00.076+11:002016-03-11T08:00:00.076+11:00Hi Jo-Anne, great post. I remember one of my first...Hi Jo-Anne, great post. I remember one of my first reviewers saying Angelguard was terrible. They only read 40 pages but golly gosh it hurt. I moped about for the day until the Lord challenged me on it as I put my head on the pillow. "Is it really that important to you? Let it go." So I did. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing your heart with us, today.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-86649339356285263662016-03-11T07:55:09.767+11:002016-03-11T07:55:09.767+11:00Oh Kara, I am picturing you sitting there in your ...Oh Kara, I am picturing you sitting there in your car, with those tears welling up! But I am also trying to imagine you trawling through 32 ideas for that cover--all a bit overwhelming on your way to work, for sure. Hmm--I wonder if you got much work done that day??!!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-35515169984072095082016-03-11T07:32:41.258+11:002016-03-11T07:32:41.258+11:00Thanks for sharing so honestly, Jo-Anne. I can ide...Thanks for sharing so honestly, Jo-Anne. I can identify in so many ways, from wondering whether I've got anything worthwhile to say, to what people might think, to wanting to shine God's light, hope and love in what I write. I even work in a high school! I'm looking forward to the cover art email from the publisher :) God bless you.Carolyn Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180744278101977974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-50829169490494026952016-03-11T07:15:47.199+11:002016-03-11T07:15:47.199+11:00I definitely relate. I remember sitting in the car...I definitely relate. I remember sitting in the car, opening my emails on the commute to work (I wasn't the driver!) and seeing the email from my editor that contained 32 ideas for book covers. I froze at the first one and got all teary at seeing my name on the cover!Kara Isaachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482245933455012714noreply@blogger.com