360 Writing Review

I’m very excited about my tenth novel, Beyond the Fight, being released in a few weeks. I’ll be planning a big celebration. But I feel it’s also time to have a 360 review of my writing. My desk is piled high with ideas and material for another series of novels, but I have mixed feelings which I’ve been wrestling with for a few months now. I’m wondering if others have gone through similar experiences and would value feedback and comments from other writers and from readers.

Being honest with myself about this has not been easy. Part of me responds to my love of writing and wants to dive into the next story. But there are other considerations. After ten novels I certainly can’t say I’ve hit the big time. I’ve never expected to make a fortune from writing or even to be a best-selling author, although that would be wonderful. However, I do believe my publisher has given me a fair chance to be a reasonably successful author, one worth continuing to publish. With only moderate success, can I expect a publisher to continue to support me?

Have my novels become too similar? Are readers tired of the forays into early Australian history, which has been the setting for all my stories? Has my writing style become too predictable? Am I not doing enough self-promotion and marketing? Do I need to work on improving my writing skills and style?  Should I take a break, perhaps a sabbatical, so I can come back to writing with a fresh approach? Do I need to accept that I’ve made my contribution to the world of historical novels and call it quits?  

And, central to my reflections, what is God saying to me about all of this? More recently I have eased back on the Christian content in my stories, in order to increase the likelihood of my novels being accepted into the cross over market. I’ve wanted to interest readers who are less likely to read overtly Christian material, and to introduce Christian beliefs in a way that draws readers’ attention to God in more subtle ways. Has this been a good idea? Has my writing not been bold enough in my acknowledgement of Christian beliefs? Is the lack of more overt Christian content been a watering down of my desire for my writing to be a witness of the love of God to readers? Is it worth trying to break into the general market or is it better to content oneself with Christian readers? 

Last week, after spending a lot of time reflecting and praying about all of this, I attended a View Club meeting where many of the members have read my books. It's not unusual for me to receive positive feedback from them, but this day I had three women come to me within a short time of arriving, to tell me how much they enjoyed my writing. The next day I spoke at an International Women’s Day luncheon and sold 45 books. I was greatly encouraged both days, but not sure if either experience suggests I ought to write more novels.

As I wrestle with these issues, I'm concerned that this blog may be too self indulgent for a public site, but I am genuinely wondering if other writers have this experience. When is it time for an author to sit back and honestly assess their progress/success? Surely this is something necessary in any career, or for any artist. And what criteria should one use? The number of sales? Breadth of readership? The kind of reviews novels are given? The author's passion for writing or sense of calling? 

Big questions. No clear answer yet. I’m sure I’m not the only writer who’s been through this struggle and I would be grateful to hear others’ reflections and comments. I’ve appreciated the support I’ve had from writers’ groups, readers, editors and my publisher, and thankful for those who have offered constructive criticism, rather than only unqualified positive feedback. I believe sharing our ups and downs, doubts and convictions, struggles and highlights can be really helpful. And I’d certainly appreciate your prayers.

Carol Preston

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her new novel, Next of Kin, was released last year by Rhiza Press and her latest novel, Beyond the Fight will be released in April. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website, her Amazon author page or FB author page .

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Book Signing and Ethical Praying.

Book selling and Ethical praying

                                On my book signing days
                                Is it ethical to pray?
                                  “God, please sway
                               That ‘book looker’ to pay
                               Without debate or delay
                               For that book I wrote
                               As, I’m nearly broke!”

                              With my book display I sit,
                              Waiting for someone to pick
                                                               Just one book and discover
                                                                   What’s behind the cover?
                                                                   I’ve done my best to write
                                                                  This genre with life’s insight
                                                                  For people's reading delight!

  Too late now for prayer.

                                                               Sitting here as people stare
                                                              And wonder if they’ll bother
                                                              To go, meet the author
                                                              Or be safe and stay away.
                                                              So, I get tempted to pray,
                                                              “Lord, drag them my way!”

As this silent prayer I utter,

                                                            I fear it’s a wrongful matter.
                                                            God won’t hear this chatter.
                                                             “Son”, I sense His reply
                                                               “I cannot let you try
                                                               And use me to coerce
                                                              People to fill your purse.”

Not all, I admit, tho’ stricken,

                                                          Will like the genre written.
                                                           I, not God, am the salesman
                                                           And He is not my talisman.
                                                          My attitude about how to pray

Must surround my book display,

"Lord, let me honour you today!"

©Ray Hawkins Dec 2015.

Stay in the pool

Photo courtesy of franky242/freedigitalphotos.net

Momentum is important to we writers. That’s why turning up each day, even if it’s to write a handful of words, is so beneficial. Being a pantser I’m continually amazed how once I sit down at the computer, my characters take over. They really don’t need a lot of encouragement to start creating havoc on the page.

“You’ve just got to stay in the pool longer than the others.”

Michael Phelps, the champion swimmer, spoke those words when asked one of the keys to his success. We see that with so many author friends or those we follow on social media. I struggle at times to keep the green monster of envy at bay when I see those authors who are churning through the words and publishing something new every nine or so months. Frankly, I’m in awe of their discipline and creativity in having so many stories pouring out of them.

This post isn’t so much about the significance of finishing but about staying the course. I know if I don’t pick up my WIP for days or weeks, my characters can tend to go walkabout. My lead character and I have ongoing banter about it. I’ll accuse him of disappearing and he’ll fire back with “well what do you expect when you don’t turn up? I’ve got things to do, places to be, people to see.”

It can take a little while to get back in the groove and the quality of the writing can suffer as a result.

The Christian walk is similar. We often lose the battle with the enemy simply because we’ve not got in the pool enough recently.

I was reminded of this when reading a novella that I started over the weekend. The main character is on a road trip when he picks up a hitchhiker who claims to be Jesus. Along the way at various points when Frank chooses to drop Jesus off and journey on his own, he tangles with a wily biker who Jesus informs him is Satan.

And Frank stumbles for a period of time.

Most of us have “stuff” that we grapple with and have done for a long time. Anxiety and fear are two of mine that will have a crack at me most days. These two mobsters can become big giants if I become lax in spending good time in prayer and reading the Word.

As Jesus says to Frank:

“Well, that’s the thing about the enemy. You never know where or when he’ll attack. He is relentless.”¹

We’re all familiar with Paul’s Armour of God in Ephesians 6. Increasingly I’ve come to realise how easy it is to stumble if I’m not putting that armour on each day. I continue to reap the benefit of meditating on the Word throughout a day. This regularly has a flow on effect of helping my momentum in my writing and other areas of my life.

It’s interesting that in both Joshua 1 and Psalm 1 the key to a fruitful life is on doing just that: meditating on the Word.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2 NKJV)

Has it been a while since you picked up your Bible? And what about that WIP of yours?

Notes: 1. “Son of Man,” Tom Pawlik. Mo Dog Media. 2015.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter