Hope Within A Volatile Industry- A Guest Post by Allen Arnold

Today, I'm honored to welcome to the Alley an industry superhero who's also a dear friend and mentor, Allen Arnold. He is now offering freelance services to help writers shape the stories God has placed on their hearts. To read more about that, check out his bio. I hope this post encourages you today, whatever wilderness you're facing. - Ashley Clark 

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The publishing industry is not for the faint of heart. Not for those working in it – or the writers desiring to be part of it.

Bookstores are closing. Christian Fiction – as a category – has been in a dramatic decline in recent years. Numerous Christian Fiction imprints have shut their doors, while the publishing houses that remain in business continue to reduce staff and marketing budgets.

If signing with a publisher seemed daunting in the past, the odds are exponentially smaller today.

That’s what is happening in the world around you.

Yet, you are called to write. The story burns deep within – consuming your thoughts and imagination. It isn’t something you can simply ignore.  The story demands to be told.

It’s hard enough just finding time to create between caring for your children, paying the bills, and keeping the chaos of your home at a manageable level. It feels like a losing battle.

But when the industry appears to be have lost its way too, it can seem too much.

It’s understandable that you’re weary and disheartened. You’ve put so much time into this story. Sacrificed so much to pursue your calling. But success hasn’t come.

If the world really needed your story, why hasn’t anyone else (starting with an agent and publisher) caught the vision? Or maybe you have an agent and have been published...but the results have been modest at best.

Maybe the current closed door is your answer. Maybe it’s time to accept reality and let go of your dream. Get busy doing something more productive.

That’s why I’m writing this post. God wants me to be a voice that reminds you of this fact. He loves your stories. He understands the cost is high, but it is worth it. Especially when you shift your definition of success to the time you spend getting to know Him as you create with the Creator.

The invitation is both passionate and intimate.

“Stay with me, __________  (put your name here). Take heart. We can do this together. Please don’t quit. Remember, you are not alone. I have given you this talent and longing – and I will see it through. Just stay with me as you create.”

Do those words sound too good to be true?

I didn’t make them up. That’s the invitation we’re given in Psalm 27:14. I just personalized it to the specific call He’s given you. Let the words sink in deep.

“Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit.

I’ll say it again: Stay with God.”

                       (The Message Translation)

Here’s the deal. None of us will ever control the publishing industry. It is filled with good people who love story and who are doing the best they can – but their world has forever changed and continues to change daily.

Publishing houses – once acclaimed for being influencers of popular culture by finding new voices to introduce to readers – now look to popular culture to tell them whom to publish. That’s why the first question asked in acquisition meetings is almost always: “How many followers does this writer have on social media? What is the size of their tribe?”

The ideas and content and storytelling used to come first. Those were the filters upon which publishing decisions were made. Now it is weighted far too heavily on social media. The problem is – a person can have a significant following online and sell very few books because the very followers willing to read the occasional tweet for free have little interest in paying $25 for a 100,000 word book.  And many talented writers find themselves without a contract largely because they have immersed themselves in the art and craft of story more than courting “likes” on social media.

I cast no blame on the publishing industry. I invested much of my career in that realm, and they are my colleagues. In any industry, less risk is taken in tough times. And unpublished writers with a huge following seem like a smarter bet than an unpublished writer with few followers. The problem is – this tact takes the publishing team’s eye off fresh ideas and their own instinct for good stories. The industry, in short, has shifted from being proactive to reactive.

This post isn’t about whether to pursue traditional or indie publishing. Either could work, and both options have costs and benefits. Ask God which path he is encouraging you to pursue. He’d enjoy having that conversation with you.

Photo by arztsamui from freedigitalphotos.net

I simply want to remind you that God loves writing with you. That is the primary reason he gave you the gift of story – so the two of you could create together. Spend time on the playground of ideas together. So you could get to know Him as Creator.

So remember, if God has given you this story, then He will see it through. What happens with it may be far different than you can imagine today. But if you stay with him, he will see your Story (the one you are living) and the story you are writing through.

I’m not a prophet, but I will go out on a limb and say the world of publishing will continue its volatile swings. New technology will emerge, and fresh ideas will continue to shift the balance of power. Those who know the reader best will do the best over time.

But no matter what happens within the industry, the world needs more stories crafted from those who are spending time in creative fellowship with God. It needs stories written for the restless from writers who have learned how to rest in the midst of the storm.

God is not worried one bit over the seismic shifts in the publishing industry. He isn’t confused about His purpose or timing for your story.

He’s inviting us to put on His armor and continue the stories we’ve been given. The ones we were born to tell.

And He’s told us how to do it.

Stay with Him, protect your heart, and don’t ever quit.

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Allen Arnold's mission is to help artists pursue God and their gifting from an awakened heart in intimacy and freedom. He cut his teeth in the advertising world (think the HBO series Mad Men on steroids) and then spent more than twenty years in Christian publishing. As the founding Fiction Publisher for one of the world's largest Christian publishing houses, Allen oversaw the development of more than five hundred novels. In his current role at Ransomed Heart, he oversees content from the mountains of Colorado for the transformative ministry. Before becoming a Board Member for ACFW, he was awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his substantial contributions to the world of Christian Fiction.

He knows first-hand how common it is for creators to become disheartened, overwhelmed or burnt-out–as well as what it takes to help the dreams of writers become reality.  He enjoys helping writers shape their stories and discover how to create with God. If you're interested in learning more, e-mail him at Allen@RansomedHeart.com.

Before You Hit Send...

You've been working on your manuscript for weeks... months... maybe years. You've gone through bags of Godiva chocolate and endless Frappuccinos. You've dreamed about these characters, argued with these characters, and maybe even talked with these characters (while no one else was around, that is).

Photo by  Ambro, from freedigitalphotos.net

And so, it's only natural to say you're desperately ready to send these characters off into the world. Whether that world be your agent, or a potential agent, or your editor, or a potential editor-- you're dying to know what other people think of these world you've been hanging out in. And, let's be honest, you're also ready to sell this story!

So, you hit "Send" while you still have the courage, right?

Wrong.

Bad idea. Trust me. Bad idea.

Sit back down, do some laundry or watch a rom com movie, and give your brain a little break from thinking about this book. I promise you, within a few hours, new ideas for revisions will flood in. And if you're already sent your book off into the world... well, that's the best it'll ever be.

This week, I sent my new manuscript to my agent after taking a loooooonnng stinkin' time to work on it. With every book, I've always spent time editing at least several drafts. But this one is my heart book. This one really matters to me. So I wanted it to be as strong as possible, even before sending it to Karen. I want to know that every fiber of what I'm capable of is coming out in this manuscript.

You'll hear people say that you want to get a submission in to an agent or editor as soon as possible if they request it. And yes, in part, that's true, because you don't want them to forget you. But quality always trumps quickness.

Consider this. You've (usually) only got one chance to capture your reader with this story, whether your reader is an agent, editor, or actual regular reader. One chance! And once that chance is gone... well... it's gone for good, unfortunately.

So with that in mind, here are a few things to ask yourself before hitting "Send."

1) Have other people read this story and given me feedback? Don't send your story to fifteen people and ask for their thoughts. Trust me. Too many irons in the kettle. But do find one, two, maybe three people whom you really trust, and ask for their feedback. A good critique partner can spot plot weaknesses you never would've noticed.

2) Have I let my book just sit for at least a few days? See what thoughts come to you after the initial adrenaline of I-just-finished-my-book-and-ate-a-pint-of-gelato-to-celebrate wears off. You'll be surprised by how much you come up with!

3) Have I done my research about this agent/editor? Have you met this person at a conference, or do you frequent his/her blog? How can you best prepare yourself to pitch this story? Do you know what particular genres this agent/editor is looking for?

4) Have I read other books in this genre? All too often, we get caught up so much in our own story that we forget the value of reading others'. Reading not only broadens your creativity and sharpens your mind, but it also works as market research. You need to be conversant about other books in your genre. It's okay if you don't have time to read twenty books a year, but you should at least know about a few books that are similar in style so that if you're asked by an agent/editor, or just another writer, what you write, you have something to compare your story to.

5) Do any of the scenes in this book give me pause? You know, this happens to all of us. At least, I like to pretend it happens to all of us, because it certainly happens to me. I'll be going along my merry-editing way, when I stumble across a scene that is just... well, not good. It's like a tofu scene. Nothing is really happening. Or maybe something is happening, and it's just not working with the surrounding scenes. These scenes are PAINFUL to delete/edit, because doing so sometimes means huge revisions. But just imagine how much more painful they will be if your book DOES get published, and you have to look at that scene every time you open your book. Don't leave anything in there that you aren't proud of.

6) Have I done a spell check, as well as searched for key pet phrases? I can't tell you how many times my characters cross their arms, run their hands through their hair, and smile. While editing, I always try to be aware of phrases I use repetitively, and then do a phrase search (which is so easy to do in Word!) for those particular words. It's oh-so-easy to replace them with more vivid descriptors, and it makes a huge difference for your writing.

7) Have I let the writing "gel" enough to see similarities through the book? After spending enough time with your characters, they would have personal habits, traits, and quirks. Maybe your character loves popcorn or hates country music. Be consistent in these behaviors/preferences, and develop them so that characters seem life-like to readers.

Your turn! What questions would you add to this list? What do you always check for before hitting "Send"?

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Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.

Interview with Patti Hill and book-launch giveaway!

Today we welcome Patti Hill, one of my all-time favorite voices in Christian fiction. When you pick up one of her books, you’ll see why. She has a fresh, beautiful voice – lyrical without being ostentatious, heartfelt and whimsical and easy to read and emotionally complex all in one. Oh, and did I mention funny? It’s no wonder she’s multi-published and a Christy award finalist. Not only that, she’s just the sweetest person you’ll ever meet. I’m so thrilled to have her with us at the Alley on this extremely exciting day!

What’s that? Why is today exciting? You mean you didn’t know? Today – drumroll, please – is the official launch of Patti Hill’s newest release, Goodness & Mercy! To kick off with a bang, Patti’s novel will be FREE on Amazon in e-book form for three days only, starting today! If that’s not enough, Patti will also be giving away a paperback copy to one lucky commenter – all details at the end. Without further ado, here’s Patti:

Bio: Patti Hill is an unlikely novelist. Books played only a small part in her life until her high-school years. And she only remembers her mother reading to her once. Her mother’s voice flowed like water.

Always resistant to sleep, young Hill created stories to entertain herself until stories of galloping Arabian stallions and pirate ships segued into dreams.  That was the beginning. Then she discovered people enjoyed hearing her stories—real or imagined. She loved having an audience. Still does.

She didn’t think to write a story until she read a novel so beautiful that when it ended, she was bereft.  A passion to orchestrate words, characters, and stories consumed her. Fortunately, she’d married a man who thought leaving a good-paying career to write novels was a splendid idea. In other words, she is a kept woman.  Happily so. In Colorado. She is the author of six novels. Writing is one way she worships Papa God.

Welcome, Patti! We’re going to pick your brain a little today. Goodness & Mercy is your first historical fiction. What challenges did you face in this new genre?

I had a terrible time stopping the research phase. I interviewed people, picked peaches, spent hours in the oral history department of the local museum, anything to get into the skin of the people who lived during WW II and insert myself into their lives of the people of Palisade, Colorado. I met the most amazing people, like a 95-year-old man who ascended Mt. Belvedere with the 10^th Mountain Division.  Everyone was generous. The bonus was learning so much about my own valley.

I can just about smell those sun-warmed peaches. You actually make research sound like fun. (Can you tell I’ll never be an historical fiction author? Love reading it, but phew – hard work for the author!) Why did you decide to try historical fiction?

Over the years, my mom had asked me repeatedly to write her story. Writing my family’s story, including six siblings and all of their children, scared me to death. There were too many perspectives on what had happened. So, I borrowed the premise of my mom’s story.

In 1946, my grandmother was declared an unfit mother, and my grandfather was institutionalized for a mental breakdown. At sixteen, my mom quit school and set about being breadwinner and caregiver to her six siblings, ranging in age from 2 to 14. The state eventually stepped in and took her siblings to orphanages.

Although dispersed, Mom managed to keep her siblings a family. I have relationships with all of my aunts and uncles. Thanks to Mom, we are a family.

I love the tenacity Mom demonstrated, and I put that quality in my main character, Lucy. She has twin siblings, Goody and Mercy, a boy and girl, when her parents are killed. Lucy tries to be all the twins need, but the state steps in and the 8-year-old twins head off for an orphanage. When a farmer and his wife decide to adopt Goody, the question becomes: How far will Lucy go to keep her shrinking family together?

I love your premise. The fact that it’s based on a real-life story is goosebump-worthy. What a rich vein of family lore you have to mine. Okay: let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What is your writing day like?

Since I work in my home, I like to have my ducks in a row before going to my desk. For me, that means time with Papa God. I talk back to Him daily in my journal. It’s a great time. Then I take my Australian shepherd, Tillie, for a long walk. We both need to work out the kinks. Once I’ve cleaned up, I do a household job, and then it’s off to work. I unplug the phone, look at the pages I wrote the day before, and write three more. It’s amazing how quickly the pages add up. When I reach my writing goal, I’m out the door to meet a friend for a cold drink or spend time with my dad. This is how I regenerate.

Sounds like you’ve achieved a great work/ life balance. Did you always want to be a writer?

Heavens, no! I told my 8^th grade math teacher I didn’t need to solve for X because I was going to be an entertainer. I left my ingénue stage in time to marry and have two sons, so I stayed home with the boys for most of their growing-up years before I returned to college for my literature degree. I was born a teacher, so I taught elementary school for a while.

But I’d read that beautiful story. And I couldn’t think of anything else I wanted to do. I quit teaching—the original plan was for a year—but I hadn’t even written the first page after one year. I was discovering that writing was hard work. I buckled down, got the first chapter written. Within months, I had a book contract for Like a Watered Garden.

You realize we all hate you right now. Or at least, we would if you weren’t so completely loveable. Seriously, it’s a credit to the caliber of your writing that you snagged the attention of a publisher so quickly. I’m impressed. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Don’t make publication your goal. Make writing God-honoring stories your goal. Be willing to put the time and sweat it takes to be a good writer. Take classes at your local college or attend writers conferences to hone your skills. Keep learning. Never be satisfied, but never go safe either. Above all, persist. Persistence is the secret ingredient to being a good writer. And one more thing I wish someone had told me: Start small. Write short stories or novellas. They’re a great way to experiment with ideas, and if your experiment tanks, you haven’t lost all the time and effort a novel requires.

Great tips, Patti. There’s a lot to chew on there. I’m so pleased you could come and hang out with us today.

The best to you!

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Isn’t she lovely? So here’s the lowdown. To win a SIGNED paperback copy of Patti’s novel, please comment below with why you would like to read Goodness & Mercy. One winner will be announced in the weekend edition.

Then after you’ve commented, skip right on over to Amazon and click yourself a FREE copy of the e-book. (Don’t forget – it’s FREE for three days only! Help spread the word!) 

If you win, you can keep one and give the other as a gift to a book-loving friend. Or keep it just to sniff the pages (I know you still love the smell of paper and ink, even if you ARE a Cool Kid with a Kindle). Or leave it casually lying around on your coffee table, open to the autographed flyleaf, so everyone can be suitably impressed by your authorial connections.

Whatever the case, we are determined to get Patti’s newest novel into as many hands as possible, so get commenting and get clicking! And if you read it and enjoy it, please help spread the word by writing a review or recommending the book to a friend!

TWEETABLES

The heart-wrenching true story that inspired Patti Hill's newest novel, GOODNESS AND MERCY:  Click to Tweet 

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Debunking some CBA/ABA Myths

I hear writers ask this familiar question quite often lately. "Should I write for the general market,or the Christian market? WHERE DO I FIT IN!!!???"

Usually, their manuscripts fit into one or two categories.

1.) Clean fiction with little spiritual theme.

or

2.) Edgy fiction dealing with gritty topics (and perchance has not-usually-Christian-accepted language) yet has a strong spiritual element.

The answer to this question isn't a pat one. If you write in the above two areas, it indeed makes it a little difficult since it doesn't fit "nicely" into the preexisting mold.

I think, though, that it'd help to debunk a few myths I've seen bantered around.

A friend of mine, Patrick Carr,
wrote this fabulous "epic fantasy" (2/1/13).
The main character is the town drunk.
It is published by Bethany House, a CBA publisher.
He debunks 3 of the 4 myths I mentioned!

Myth #1: Christian fiction has to be filled with tame conflict that doesn't affect the potential readers sensibilities. i.e.... No sex. No violence. Almost perfect characters.

Krista's Thoughts: That is as far from the truth as could be these days. Christian fiction has morphed into covering pretty much every topic out there. There are books that touch on homosexuality, sex, alcoholism, prostitution, and a range of different levels of violence portrayed.

Now. Some say that Christian fiction has loosened its boundaries TOO much, and others feel there is a long way still to go, but that's a topic for another day.

And it is still important that we don't "condone" sin in our books either. Although there have been a few that I've read that are borderline... but again, separate topic!

Truth: No topic is off limits in Christian fiction (although select publishing houses may still have more stringent guidelines.)

Myth #2: For a book to be "Christian" you need to either a.) beat someone over the head with the Bible or b.) have a fantastic conversion scene.

Krista's Thoughts: Bologna. In fact, I've heard many publishers/professionals say that overt preaching and unrealistic conversion scenes are the death of a manuscripts these days.

Jesus used stories (parables) to tell his message and as writers, He's called us to do the same. It isn't our job to stand on a fictional pulpit and preach, but to pen the words God impresses on our heart and tell the story He's given us, and let the story be the message.

Tacked on religion will only turn people away. Realistic, authentic Christ-loving is much better.

Truth: As a novelist, tell a story. Don't preach.

Myth #3: If you write for the general market, you obviously aren't a Christian.

Krista's thoughts: Go read Matthew 7. That is all.

Truth: They shall know you by your fruits, not your literary association.

Myth #4: If you write for the Christian market, you won't be able to do the great commission and "reach" people for Christ.

Krista's thoughts: I have so many points I could make here. First, yes. Writing for the CBA market gives you an audience of mostly Christians. And I, for one, have a heart for encouraging people in their current walk with Jesus, to challenge them to take that next step in being sold out for Jesus, to not buy into the idea that once you know God, you're good and need nothing else.

I also think there is value in making people smile. Even Christians.

We as Jesus-followers need watered too. Christian fiction has helped ME in numerous way, and I hope that my novels will do the same for others.

Second... I've had a LOT of people who do not profess to know Jesus read my books and either 1.) hate them or 2.) really like them and compliment me on not preaching to them. Our books, CBA or ABA, are seeds. Someone, maybe even just one person, will pick up your book and be like, "UGH! Another Jesus book." But my prayer has always been that God will use that little seed of the words that they read, regardless of how few or how many, to plant a seed of desire or curiosity in their hearts. Or maybe to water a seed that was already planted there before.

Truth: Don't underestimate what God can do, regardless of what association you chose.

So there you have it. No divine answers to that perplexing question. But I pray that as you mull around the answer, that you go into it prayerful and armed with TRUTH, not over-generalizations.

Discussion: Are you targeting the CBA or ABA with your writing? Or are you on the fence? What influenced your decision?

So You've Got an Agent... Now What?

When I signed with the brilliant Karen Solem after meeting her at the 2012 ACFW Conference, a million things went through my mind. Elation, thankfulness, and shock, to name a few. I was so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet her and that we'd clicked so easily.

Then at some point, I realized I had no idea whatsoever what I needed to do next.

We spend a lot of time on blogs and at conferences talking about how to nab an agent or an editor, and I think that's great. That's where it all begins. But today I want to talk about a subject I think often gets neglected amidst the glitz and glamour of that initial contract. What in the world do we do once we sign one.

I do want to mention that all agents are different and expect different things from their authors. That's why it's important that you talk to your agent about expectations. Karen, for instance, is more of a big-picture agent. I love talking to her on the phone about book concepts as I'm working to start a new story. Other agents like to get more into the nitty-gritty details of your book and proposal, and may even do some line edits with you. It all depends on their preference, experience, personality, and your particular needs. So be aware whenever you're chatting with different folks that they are all going to have different ways of doing business. One is not necessarily better than the other, but you need to find what works for you.

Let's start by talking about what not to expect from your agent.

Don't expect...

• Your agent to update you with every detail. It only makes sense that we want details. We've worked tirelessly to craft the best story we can. We've edited. We've gotten feedback. We've edited again. We're on pins and needles about sending our books out into the world. It's natural that we feel very closely tied to the submission process. But expecting real-time updates from your agent about the tone in each editor's voice as she/he pitched your project is just not realistic. Your agent should be very interested and invested in your work, yes. And she/he should keep you updated when there's an update to make. However, your agent has a whole slew of other authors to keep up with, and expecting her/him to single you out all the time is like expecting an instructor to only teach one student in the class. We just have to trust our agents will tell us the important stuff!

• Your agent to do detailed edits on your book. Some agents will do line edits, but most prefer to work with higher level concepts. If you feel like you're going to need some line edits before pitching a story to a publishing house, look into paying someone to do freelance edits, or as a cheaper alternative, look for a critique partner with strong grammar skills. :)

• Your agent to love every idea you come up with. Your agent is going to have your long-term career in mind. Some stories simply might not fit into that. She/he might encourage you to let go of a book you've worked on for a while if it just isn't selling, or to focus on one particular genre. That's why it's so important you find an agent whose advice you can trust.

• Your agent to always initiate contact. Like any other relationship, your relationship with your agent is a two-way street. Many times, your agent will be the one to initiate contact in the event she/he has news to share, but if you have questions, you should feel comfortable calling your agent or sending an e-mail on your own. Don't expect your agent to be a mindreader, and don't worry about being a pest. If you have questions, even about the little things, it's okay to ask.

DO expect...

• Your agent to keep you up to date. While your agent isn't likely to e-mail you every few hours with updates, she should give you news as soon as she receives it. If you feel out of the loop, you need to either talk to your agent or get a new one. You have a right to know what's going on with your book.

• Your agent to offer helpful feedback. While your agent may not go through your entire project with a fine-tooth comb, she should offer constructive criticism. If an agent offers you representation, it's a good idea to ask what areas of your writing they think could use strengthening before you sign with them. An agent who simply tells you you're brilliant all the time is not going to help you grow. Likewise, though, your agent does need to believe in you and your book, and should be equally clear about your writing strengths so you can further bring those to light in future work.

• Your agent to have a long-term vision for your writing. Good agents are career-focused, not book-focused. It's not just about getting a sell. It's about finding the right fit at the right time.

• Your agent to believe in you and to garner respect from other industry professionals. This person is going to be offering advice that could potentially shape the future of your writing career. It's important you find someone whose advice is good and trustworthy.

When you first sign with an agent, it's a good idea to ask your agent expectations for timeline and how many/what kind of edits your book and proposal might require before submission. You may also want to ask about your agent's long-term vision and goals for your writing so that you are on the same page and nothing important remains unsaid.

I hope this list helps you feel like you have a better idea what to do on the other side of that contract. I want to hear from you! Do you already have an agent? If so, did you feel a bit flustered about expectations when you first signed that contract? Or are you still waiting to find the right fit with an agent? If so, what kinds of things are you looking for?

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Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.

Perseverance with Melanie Dickerson

Thanks to Pepper Basham for inviting me today, that amazing writer/mom of 5/pastor’s wife/full-time teacher/soon-to-be Professor Dr. Pepper. (Sorry Pepper, I couldn’t resist!) Pepper is a fun person to be around, and I believe she must be really energetic to keep up with so many different things. She has talent in abundance, but aside from boundless energy and talent, I submit to you that the most valuable characteristic she has is perseverance.



Perseverance is perhaps the most necessary thing for a writer trying to get published, simply because one never knows how long it’s going to take. You can be the most talented writer in the world, but if you’re not willing to learn a few basic rules and principles about writing fiction, how to submit to publishers, and to keep submitting when the rejections come, you will never get published.


The publishing world is hard to break into. There are so many reasons a publisher might reject your work. Some reasons may seem obscure, and other may seem reasonable and understandable, but the reasons are legion, I’m afraid. More than I even have to go into in this blog post. This is something we as writers must accept and not get too caught up in. I’ve seen authors spend their time railing against the injustices of publishers and their seemingly random reasons for rejecting manuscripts, but let’s face it. That isn’t doing them any good.


A writer’s best friend is perseverance.


If at first you don’t succeed … I wrote a few short stories and articles for children when I first started writing, and the first short story never got published, but a couple of the others did. I kept sending them out until they sold. I learned so much from that experience. I learned that there are many, many reasons that a story may get rejected. A rejection doesn’t necessarily mean “Your writing stinks.”


When I started my first novel about six years ago, I was confident it would get published. But when I went to my first ACFW conference and found out that nobody wanted my missionary story, that publishers just weren’t publishing missionary stories, I realized I was probably going to have to write something else if I wanted to get published.

Did I try to find out what the publishers were looking for, the popular genres of the day? No, I wasn’t that smart. I started writing a book that had been haunting me for months. A Medieval fairy tale retelling romance for Young Adults. Well, at my next conference, I found out CBA publishers weren’t publishing a lot of YA’s, they didn’t publish romance for YA at all, they believed Medievals didn’t sell well, and there were absolutely no fairy tale retellings in all of CBA, as far as anyone knew. My book had absolutely nothing going for it.



Long story short, I didn’t give up on that book. I kept revising it, learning all I could about writing and editing. I sent query letters and proposals, per the guidelines on agents’ and publishers’ websites, and after two years, I finally found an agent brave enough to take on my Medieval YA fairy-tale-retelling romance. Meantime, I had written a second Medieval YA fairy-tale-retelling romance. My agent sent the first one out to nearly every CBA publisher in the business but one by one they all rejected it. Finally, when it seemed all hope was lost, I saw that the YA editor at Zondervan was open to historicals, so I asked my agent to send The Healer’s Apprentice to her. And the rest, as they say, is history. But it took three years and a lot of perseverance.



What causes a person to persevere against seemingly impossible odds? How can you get this thing called perseverance? I remember Dr. James Dobson talking about how he had been picked on a lot as a kid, and he believed his drive to succeed in life had a lot to do with his desire to show those other kids, the ones who’d picked on him, that he could be successful.



I did want to prove that I could be a successful writer. I may not have admitted it, even to myself, but I wanted validation. I wanted to show that all those people who had rejected me were wrong. I wanted to show my husband and family that all the sacrifices were not in vain. I felt a drive inside me to succeed.



But I have seen that kind of drive get people, me included, into trouble, cause them to fall into sin, like pride and jealousy and envy. It’s not wrong to want to succeed, but we must always let God guide us. We must humbly submit our drive to God and let Him tell us which direction to go, how to have balance in our lives, when to write and when to spend time with our family or friends. And we must always confess our pride, jealousy or envy to God and let Him take it from our hearts, because those emotions are so destructive. And yet they are almost inevitable in this business. We must constantly remind ourselves to “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” And we must ask God to help us not compare ourselves to other people, which always leads to either pride or jealousy.



Were there ever times that I wanted to quit? Oh yes. I asked God to let me quit and do something else, to give me a job that would bring in actual money and would make me feel productive and give me some validation. But always, and in different ways, God told me to keep writing. And He still tells me that.



Because let me tell you, the need for perseverance doesn’t go away when you get published. There have been many times when I asked God, Why am I doing this? A few months after The Healer’s Apprentice was released, my publisher did a week-long promotion giving away my book as a free download. Already my book was getting some really negative reviews from people who didn’t realize it was a Christian book. Being a fairy tale retelling, the title and the cover, all appealed to people in the mainstream. Amazon was flooded with negative reviews, people speculating about me, insinuating things about me that weren’t true, attacking not only my story and my writing but also me as a person.


I was devastated. But eventually, perseverance kicked in. I realized so many things, not the least of which is that it’s not about me. It’s about God and what he wants to do. And I know God won’t let me quit.


So perseverance is vitally important. If you don’t have any, get some! Prayer is the key to that. The three P’s I like to stress are Perseverance, Priority, and Prayer. But that is fodder for another blog post.

May God bless your writing!

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Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of The National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. She earned her bachelor's degree in special education from The University of Alabama. She has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama. Visit her on the web at www.melaniedickerson.com.

Your Words Right Now...

One of my favorite blogs is Novel Rocket. Dina Sleiman recently published a wonderful post entitled "How to Write the Unmarketable Novel."

I love this thought. Being so in love with our story that we will not give up on it.

If the story is from God, he doesn't allow us to let it go. Now maybe that doesn't mean that this story is for publication. What if the story of your heart is instead what God wants to use to mold You into His image?

What's the purpose for your novel right now? Not if or when it gets picked up by a publisher?

How can God use your story to show His glory right now? To your friend, your critique partner, your mate? You?

Your story has had a purpose ever since you first picked it up.

For me recently this has meant sharing my words with a critique group where the members do not share my faith. God has opened up opportunities to share in some unique ways.

What if His Word as quoted in your novel, His Word as lived out by your characters is the only written example of the Word your reader is coming across?

I want my life and my words to be an example. Let's get bold with our words.