The Author's Most Important Job

What is an author's most important job? To sit down every day and put words on the page? To pen beautiful prose that makes the heart sing? Or how about to edit and rewrite until your story bursts with life?

Those are all great jobs of a writer, true, but there is one job that surpasses in its importance.

I attended the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of ACFW this past weekend and we were asked a couple of questions that really made me think.

Who is your reader? - and - Do you love your reader?

This gave me pause. Do I even know who my reader is? I write historical romance so I assume my reader is middle age to older women. Okay, so then what?

How do you love your reader? If my readers are mid-to-older women, then many of them will be married or have been married. Many will have children or grand-children. They probably value you family. Since they are older, they may long for romance or and the spark of first love that they have experienced in the past.

Do I love these women? Does my heart ache to give them stories that can bring hope and joy in the midst of daily life? Do I want to share the truths of God's kingdom with these women who might need to be encouraged in their faith? Does my heart yearn to give them a story that was co-written by God?

This is something I haven't thought about before...loving the reader.

I've read The Story of With by Allen Arnold and it is a book that encourages the reader to come to a place where you co-write with God. This is a place where you have become so intimate with Him that He speaks into your creativity and emboldens you to write the story He has for you to write. It's the journey with Him that matters, not the final outcome  -  though if you are co-writing with Him, then it is sure to be a great story!

I understand this idea of partnering with God, but loving the reader and pouring your heart out for them? It's a new concept for me and one that is rather hard for me to grasp. But what a beautiful thing it would be to love God enough to co-write a story with Him, and then love the reader enough to write what they need.

Love God and love others...the greatest job of a writer.

You can see how tapestry woven by threads of love - for God and for your readers - would create a masterpiece of beauty, goodness, and love.

What about you? Have you ever thought about loving the reader being something of importance to your writing? 

*Photo credit: StockSnap at Pixabay

A Reader Shares: The Impact of Fiction

In every season of my life, God places a person who makes a difference in my perspective, or challenges me to search my heart deeper than most. After living in this town for over a year now, I can confidently say that my friend, Alice, is one of those people. She is my church's Women's minister, a spunky pastor's wife, and a faithful, loving friend. We've discussed many things, but when Fiction became a topic of conversation, I was blessed by her words.

When Alice told me that she recently finished reading her first Christian fiction book ...EVER... and that it was LIFE CHANGING...I had to bring her to the Alley. If any of you are like me at all, the question **does fiction really has impacts on lives?** has crossed your mind at least once on this journey. Alice's perspective as a new reader of fiction, secured my confidence that, without a doubt, the impact of fiction is HUGE. Notice the underlined parts below...these are wonderful nuggets from my friend!
 
ME: What types of books do you usually read? 

 Alice:  Christian self-help/psychology

ME:  How did a fiction account impress on your heart unlike a non-fiction book? 

Alice: I was able to enter into the character's role. At times, I was able to step into not just one character's role, but other characters roles as well. Through fiction life stories I experience a life situational experience that I may have also experienced to some degree. In that, I may be able to walk through the situation with the healing that the character had the courage to take which I may not have been able to do in my own life. Fiction gave me the chance to do that. This happened to me while reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, in the same way it happens while watching inspiring movies. Just as the character shows ability to tap into certain emotions, the reader gets the chance to take on the same courage, strength or the forgiveness, grace, love and acceptance.

ME: What spurred you on to consider the story as application in your life?

 Alice: My mentor suggested the book to me. I was hesitant as I felt fiction was not as effective as Christian psychology, but now I believe, it actually can be more effective, because your heart and mind are engaged in it to a greater degree then Christian self-help.

Psychologists claim that a person cannot change with mind or intellect alone, but that there has to be a heart or an emotional experience as well, to create that heart change. Psychologists say there has to be an emotional experience and intellectual knowledge to truly be able to change a person's way of thinking or behavior. That is why the book is always better then the movie, because the reader has to put their creative mind to use while reading, (which comes from the heart), to imagine the situation. Thus the reader feels the book more so then the viewer feels the movie. The book takes the reader to a deeper level, to their creative and/or personal heart level, not just the intellectual level. Therefore, I believe fictional writing can be a powerful tool or may I say, more powerful tool.

ME: What overall truths resonated with you as you read?

Alice: Forgiveness. The character was able to go to a level of unforgiveness that I have not been able to do for a decade. While reading Redeeming Love, a scene that I entered into as a reader, opened my heart and mind to my own hard- heartedness. It was so ugly, it made me want to change. I cried my eyes out and wept aloud and released it up to Christ.

ME: Can you share another personal change this made on your life? 

Alice: It has healed a very huge part of my life. It has healed my anger issue, and changed me as a wife and mother. More grace abounds in me now as a person and to others, my family, and mostly to myself. I am acting differently, my expectations are no longer too high, and I am living more from my heart. 

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Wow. This is every author's dream review...right? Alice's words have confirmed my calling one more time, and now I will choose to remember her words whenever I wonder...whenever I forget to look up and give God the reigns on why in the world I am writing "this one"!

Whether you write Romantic Comedy, Historical Fiction, or Young Adult sci-fi, your stories are gateways to a reader's heart. God is creative in His avenues to change hearts, and never forget that this calling to write will not be wasted by His Almighty!


I hope this encouraged you as much as it encouraged me. Alice's first fiction read was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers...a very popular read, indeed!

Do you have any books that have resonated truth in your life? I would love to see how much variety in genre we can get!
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

Are You an Avid Reader? Then You're a Critiquer.

It seems we have a theme on the Alley around here...taking in Mary's post from yesterday and Pepper's post from Monday and you've got a tutorial on writing those all-important first lines and finding the right help to make them stronger.

Recently I attended a chat at the My Book Therapy ning center (fabulous place if you haven't looked it up) about critiquing and critique partners. One of the gals attending the chat asked: when do I know I'm ready to critique someone else's work? 


My fingers were just itching to post a response to her question, but I held back in respect for the speaker. ;-)

My response (had I given it?): "Are you a reader?"

Seriously. Are you a reader?

If you're a reader, thus you can critique.

Let me explain, because I have an addendum to that statement: are you an avid reader? If you pretty much dream, eat and sleep and forget-to-make-dinner reading, then most likely you'll make a pretty good critique partner.

That is point #1. If you can do this top one, you can critique.  Yes, it's really as simple as that.

My awesome CP Andrea Nell, 2011 Frasier winner
& 2012 Genesis Semi-Finalist

Point #2. Can you articulate your thoughts? Can you spot a mistake in a manuscript and give the author a bit of advice on how to fix it? The comment "I don't like this..." or "this doesn't work for me..." gives your CP (critique partner) nothing to go on. When something doesn't work for you, take a moment and think about why it doesn't work. Compare it to another book that you possibly didn't like and then give your CP a constructive comment on what does/doesn't work. You don't always have to understand, or completely pinpoint WHY something doesn't work for you...don't worry, this will come with time and experience.

Want to be an even better critique partner?

Read on the industry. You should be doing this for your own personal benefit as well, but it will spill over into your CP's needs. Study craft books, read professional websites and learn.

Point #3. Okay, be a reader, be a study-er. If you are both of these, you're getting better and better all the time!

So you read. You're writing a novel (doesn't always need to be a prerequisite. My grandmother is an awesome critter and she doesn't write. ;-). You're able to share your thoughts coherently. And you are reading up on the industry.

Point #4....are you currently editing your own work? Most likely if you're searching for a CP, you're already writing. If you are editing your own work, this gives you an editor's eye. You're already in the mindset of making things better.

We've got a road map, we know where to go from here and you just might very well be great CP material.

Roadmap overview:
Read and read lots. Be critical of your read and why you like it. Or don't.
Keep writing and editing.
Study the industry.
Don't let fear of not being "good enough" stop you.

One word of advice to new CP's: Don't be intimidated. You have something to offer. Follow the roadmap and you'll help someone.


Be humble.

Don't critique as though you know it all. (no one really does)

Be kind.

Be courteous and realize you are learning on another author. They get it. They understand and guess what...you might have advice they need to hear.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Don't let your "lack of experience" stop you from critiquing. It's not a matter of who is better than so-and-so. Or whether your skill set matches the other. You might have an eye that picks up on something your CP had never thought of. And if you continue to stand on the sidelines "until your ready", you'll never get up and dance.

Joining a critique relationship should not be as complicated as we make it. It seems that way, it takes time to build trust, but it's not a if-I-don't-breathe-right-my-CP-will-dump-me formula.

Remember: we can all learn from each other. No matter what level we are at.

What's your best CP advice?

Know Your Reader, Know Your Setting

In the first post of this series, Know Your Reader, Know Your Genre, we discussed the specifics of who our reader is. Age, occupation, interests, etc-and how knowing these details will help us nail down our genre.

For example, my reader is in her late twenties to early forties, SAHM, loves an escape, loves romance, wants a happy ending, enjoys humor. She's a romantic comedy reader.

If you visited the post, there were other questions you could ask yourself about your reader, all of which are going to help you with today's post.

Knowing who my reader is gives me a great formula for where I should set my novel, and even set specific scenes. Romance novels are very commonly set in small towns, and for very good reason. Readers want a cozy, romantic setting. Readers of this genre love community and family and places that are conducive to falling love. If you don't believe me, ask a romance writer (or reader). Ask an agent. Check out Love Inspired stories and single-title romances. You've got seaside communities, small mountain towns, inns, heroines returning to their childhood homes, and the list goes on and on.

So if you're a romance writer, you don't HAVE to write about a small Colorado town that borders the mountains and has a county fair every year, but know that many readers expect and enjoy something similar. And if her job is veterinarian to horses at the heroes barn, or she's redecorating a small B&B, or she serves coffee at the cute bookstore and coffee shop on the corner, it's probably because readers respond to these small-town, community atmospheres and occupations.

Let's look at another genre. How about YA? Your reader is young, your reader wants to read about people his or her age, your readers wants to see a setting, or an environment they're either familiar with (a school for example) or they can picture clearly and relate to. Take the Twilight books. Whether you've read them or not, most of you know they were set in a small, beautiful town where it rains or is cloudy most of the year. It appeals to the reader (specifically a YA audience) because A) it's necessary to the plot, so the setting almost becomes another character in itself and B) it's sort of magical and eerie and unique. Young adults, particularly those into the supernatural, are going to love magical and eerie and unique.

Crime/Drama/Suspense thrillers? Bigger cities, places where there is statistically more crime. Not always, but this is often the case. Instead of a cozy B&B, the heroine visits, lives in, or discovers the crime in a big city loft, a bigger business, maybe even a city alleyway.

There are exceptions to all these rules of course, but really study up on your genre and who your reader is. Our job is to appeal to and reach the reader and sometimes the best way to do that is giving them EXACTLY what they want and expect.

So, do you know what kind of setting your reader wants? Do you typically write about these types of settings or do you go outside of the box and wow readers with new, unique settings?


***photos by DMF Photography and Don Briggs
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Cindy is a Colorado native, living near the mountains with her husband and three beautiful daughters. She writes contemporary Christian romance, seeking to enrich lives with her stories of faith, love, and a touch of humor.

To learn more about Cindy, visit her at her personal blog, www.cindyrwilson.blogspot.com

Know Your Reader, Know Your Genre

A few years ago I had the awesome opportunity to go to a one day conference where the amazing Erin Healy spoke about knowing who your reader is. I wish I could share with you everything she shared with us that day, but it's her lesson, not mine, so you'll just have to hear her speak if you have the chance.

I am, however, going to tell you more or less what I gleaned from what she (and others) have advised over the years and how that information has helped me tremendously to figure out what genre to write, what kind of characters and settings I should be writing, and so on.

Today we're going to be talking about genre and how knowing who your reader is will help you nail down not only your genre but every sub-genre or writing style you want to include with it.

First, you need to start by asking yourself these questions, and try to be as honest as possible.

When you imagine someone reading your book, who is it?

Male or female?
Approximate age?
Hobbies?
What kind of job? (Lots of hours, lots of stress, stay-at-home, etc.)
Do they read a lot or not?

And if you've filled in those blanks, try this:

When I write, this is what I intend to accomplish:

Do I want to entertain the reader?
Do I want them to laugh or cry?
Do I want them to feel moved with a deep message?
Do I want them to savor each page because of amazing prose or do I want them moving through to get to the next piece of action or snippet of dialogue?

And lastly, what specific genre do you gravitate toward when looking for a book? And if it's more than one, pick the one you most love to read. And be specific. Don't just say romance, but say Amish romance with comedy, or literary romantic science fiction (if there is such a thing).

These questions are so important because truly knowing your reader is going to help you in every aspect of your writing. The first and foremost biggest thing it helped me with was discovering which genre I wanted to write.

I thought I knew. Seriously. My stories usually had a deeper feel, with a strong theme, always a romance, and a few snippets of humor. So where did that fit? Literary romantic and comedic women's fiction? I needed to narrow it down, and I needed to discover who I was writing for. And once I did, I knew exactly what I should be writing.

I discovered my reader was female, late twenties to early forties. She probably has kids. She probably has a fairly routine or mundane job or she's a SAHM. She needs an escape, and loves to do it through reading. She loves to be crafty, likes to laugh, and likes to be entertained. Sure, a message or theme is fine, but she'd rather leave the story with a smile on her face and an HEA. She wants to flip through the pages and finish the book in two days because she can't put it down. (I could go on and on).

Anyway, my reader wants romantic comedy, without a doubt. And that's what I want to write.

Do you see how my picture of my reader didn't fit the women's/literary fiction style I was previously writing?

So see if you can answer the questions above, even make a list to keep to reference. You'll see as this series progresses, the more you know your reader, the more you'll know exactly what to write for them.

Do you know who your reader is? Is it a specific person or can you give specifics about who they are? I'd love to see you share in the comments.

***photo by cheylyne

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Cindy is a Colorado native, living near the mountains with her husband and three beautiful daughters. She writes contemporary Christian romance, seeking to enrich lives with her stories of faith, love, and a touch of humor.

To learn more about Cindy, visit her at her personal blog, www.cindyrwilson.blogspot.com

The Face of A Reader

“When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
-- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
-- Act iii, Sc. 2

A picture with Romeo and the Friar, from my yearbook!

...Ah, one of my favorite lines I had the privilege of speaking in the role of Juliet, my senior year of high school. Back then, I lived and breathed the theatre, and channeled my creative juices to portray believable characters.

As I look back on those performances, I realize that the nights when I actually knew people in the audience- family, friends, family friends – gave me such an adrenaline rush to perform my absolute best. Although the theatrical lighting glared in my eyes and I couldn't necessarily see their faces, knowing they were there gave me a heightened awareness of how they might process what my character was saying, doing...because I knew the audience those nights, I saw their faces in the back of my mind as I took the stage.
I would love to have a video of my performance with family in the audience, and without family there...I am sure I shined just a little more on nights when I knew who I was performing for.

Sixteen years later (wow, can't believe how long it's been!), I have chosen the art of writing to portray characters and plots, and intrigue a future audience. But two weeks ago, my future audience gained a face to heighten my attempt for believability and integrity. God graciously made me the mother of a daughter, after spending eight years as the “mom of boys”. While I sit and soak in every feature of my new baby, I praise God for her beauty, and I feel the standard of my writing being challenged.

One day, my daughter, the child I will do my best to raise in a Godly way... to teach how to be a strong woman in a tough society...one day, she  might pick up a manuscript of mine (hopefully in published book form ;) ) and stare into a bit of my soul. It challenges me to do my best, just like knowing my audience from upon the stage years ago. I am pushed to display truth and integrity in my characters to the best of my ability.
The face of my reader is my beloved daughter, and I know my writing will thank her some day. :)

Do you ever think of specific readers as you write? Does it push you to write your best when you think of the impact your writing will have on these people?