Why We Write

By Theresa Oliver

As we hustle and bustle about looking for just the right gift for any occasion, let’s not forget why we writers do what we do. Why do we write? Some write for fame and riches. But let’s not forget for whom we are writing.

Several months ago, I was in a dollar store when I overheard a young girl talking to her mother in front of the book section. She told her that she was disappointed that there weren’t any young adult books there. Unable to help myself, l told them that I was a published author and that I write young adult and children’s picture books. Knowing that I had a few of my books in the car, I offered to give her a few. When I brought the books in, her eyes lit up and she and her mother thanked me profusely. We exchanged e-mail addresses and we were on their way.

I thought nothing of the incident until a few months later when I received this e-mail:

“I just want to say thank you for the amazing books! These are truly the best books I have ever read! You have a great gift. I am so glad I met you. You really made my Florida experience unforgettable! You and your books have inspired me to read more, always believe in myself, to never give up, and to be brave. So, thank you again. I hope you keep writing and making everyone’s opinion of reading and writing better, as you have for me.”

She signed it “the girl from the dollar store”.

Not long ago, I was at a book signing in Toledo, Ohio, and I had a similar experience. A mother was there and wanted a book to bring back for her eleven-year-old daughter. She bought my book A Horse Named Dog, my first middle grades children’s chapter book.

Shortly after, I received this message: “When I went to the book signing, I picked Jyllian up a kid’s book, wanting her to know that she was on my mind. She told me today on the way to school that it was the best book she has ever read. Hearing her excitement over a book, melts my heart.”

Her mother also told me that her daughter wrote a book report about it and sent me a picture that she drew of A Horse named Dog.

Hearing the excitement of these two girls reminded me of why I write … to bring joy to the lives of our readers and, hopefully, make their lives a little bit better. So in this season of hustle and bustle in the search for just the right gift, let’s not forget that sometimes the best gifts in life are free. The gifts of joy and inspiration are priceless.

So, why do you write? Let’s get back to the reason why and not lose sight of it during our busy lives.

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Theresa Oliver grew up in southern Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky, in Clarksville, Indiana. In her childhood, she fell in love with the power of the written word, a love affair that has continued her whole life. She moved to Florida, where she has lived much of her adult life. She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree, News Editorial sequence. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, Early Childhood Education sequence, from Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Georgia. She is currently a writer, a full-time teacher. However, her greatest adventure is as the mother of three beautiful boys. Oliver currently resides in Kissimmee, Florida, with her husband and children.

Are you a Puzzler?

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine  As writers, we are told to read, read and then read some more. Have you ever wondered if being a "puzzler" would help when the words escape you? I watched last Friday's Harry Smith interview editor, Will Shortz in celebration of 75 years of the somewhat elusive, NYTimes Crossword Puzzle. Shortz is the world's only enigmatologist, a specialty degree he created at Indiana University. As editor, Shortz goes through each and every puzzle submission to the Times. If you missed the interview, here is the video link to the story. Did you know there are puzzler contests? Did you know there are professional crossword authors? I did a Wikipedia search and discovered Shortz "has been the puzzle master on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday since the program was started in 1987. He is the founder of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (1978), and has served as its director since that time. He founded the World Puzzle Championship in 1992 and is a director of the U.S. Puzzle Team." Shortz is the author or editor of more than 100 books and owns over 20,000 puzzle books and magazines dating back to 1545, reportedly the world's largest private library on the subject. Shortz is a member of the National Puzzlers' League. He is currently the league historian. I was mesmerized by the piece on puzzling. Personally, I sporadically work the crossword puzzle in our local paper, but it's not on the level of the NY Times. The Shortz piece gave me an aha moment. What if as writers, when the words won't flow, we take a break and work a crossword puzzle for 5 minutes.  I tried it yesterday, when I hit a snag while plotting a short story. It was amazing how working a crossword puzzle for 5 minutes helped jump start my writing. If you would like, you can download a number of free crossword puzzle apps including The New York Times. You can find them by searching the App Store. Another upside to working crossword puzzles is science says it helps keep your brain engaged and healthy. Meg Seling, wrote this fascinating article for Psychology  Today, titled "How is Doing a Crossword Puzzle Like Changing a Habit?" Join me, make a new habit of working a crossword puzzle and give it a whirl. Be sure to let us know your experience.  So, I ask y'all, are you a puzzler?

                                                            

WHEN THE WORDS WON’T COME

By Dr. Richard Mabry

Some writers recognize writers’ block as an occupational hazard. Others say there’s no such thing. I don’t know whether there is or not. What I do know from my own experience is there are some times when the words just won’t come. And every writer, whether “plotter” or “pantser,” novice or experienced, has to find a way to work through that. In my case, as I write medical mysteries, I’ve discovered a few things that help me get past those hang-ups. I’ll share three of them, hoping they’ll help the writers among us who read this blog.

Turn the boys in the basement loose. If I don’t know which way a story is going, what a character is going to say or do, or in general find that I’ve written myself into a corner, I stop worrying the problem like a kitten with a ball of yarn. Instead, I go for a walk, read for a bit, or do something that takes my mind away from writing. I might even put the problem aside and sleep on it. Stephen King calls this putting “the boys in the basement” to work. And I’ve found that it helps. Matter of fact, I went to sleep one evening, having stopped writing because I didn’t know what came next. I awoke the next morning with the story fully fleshed out in my mind.

Turn to another writing project. A friend of mine says it doesn’t matter what you write—a non-fiction book, another novel, or a grocery list—just so long as you write. Turn away from whatever has caused you to stumble, but don’t turn away from writing. Close down that project, devote your time and energy to something else, but don’t let your writing muscles atrophy. When you do go back to the place where you’ve been stumped, you’ll often find that you can get right back into the flow of the story.

Consider starting over. Perhaps the reason you feel your work isn’t going anywhere is because it doesn’t have the right direction, the proper characters, or the correct underlying message. Read through what you have. Then consider rewriting the work. Don’t cut and paste—that’s cheating. Start fresh. Maybe there’s a spot where your story seems to go off the rails. Perhaps you need to start over at the beginning, despite what you’ve already invested in time and energy. I currently have four other versions of my next novel on my hard drive. It took me that many to figure out what I really wanted to say and the best way to say it. Now it seems to be moving on with no problem.

Those are some of the tricks that help me. If you’ve discovered things that help you, please pass them on. And whatever you do, don’t stop writing.

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Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, now writing “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have garnered critical acclaim and been finalists for ACFW’s Carol Award, both the Romantic Times’ Inspirational Book of the Year and Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Inspirational Readers Choice, and the Selah Award. He is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the International Thriller Writers, the Faith-Hope-Love chapter of the Romance Writers of America, the Christian Authors Network, and Novelists Inc. Richard’s latest work is his novella, Doctor’s Dilemma. You can learn more about him on his home page, his blog, and via Twitter and Facebook.

THE FIRST INGREDIENT IN WRITING

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine 

“Read, read, read. Read everything - trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.”  William Faulkner

I ran across the above quote not long ago and it struck me how many times I have heard, “I don’t like to read.”

Yet that person is trying to write a short story/book. I am not sure why or how they think this business is done, but if they don’t like to read, chances are they may tire and give up on writing. The two basically go hand in hand.

To me, only a reader can understand the depths a writer goes to create a new world with different characters walking around, living day to day lives in this imaginary creation.

Jeff Goins, https://goinswriter.com/good-writers-read/ who is an author, blogger and speaker said, “Writers need to read. A lot. Magazines. Books. Periodicals. And so on. They need to grasp the art of language, to appreciate the finer points of words. As they read, they should jot down ideas and capture thoughts as they come.”

When we read a book, it is like being in a one-on-one relationship with the author who is showing you how they write, their style, character development, scenes, plots, and dialogue.

You will see things pop up that make an impression on you. Ask yourself, why did that make an impression? Jot it down. I agree with Jeff, write down the ideas and thoughts as they come to you and think about it when you have completed the book. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like?

Seeing how other authors write is like getting a free class in writing. Pay attention. Nothing is more motivating to me. There are even some books I read I think to myself, I could have written that.

One thing I notice as a reader, my vocabulary jumps higher, words fall out of my mouth and onto the pages faster.

When was the last time you read a book and found yourself intrigued? Learning? Story ideas popping?

As writers, we can enlarge our worlds by reading so we can aspire to greater written works.

ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL …

By Lea Wait

My nineteenth book was just published. And, yes. I’ve sweated through proposals like everyone else.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

First: look up the editor or agent you’re submitting to. See what they want. (Yes: you should personalize each submittal.) Do they want a letter? A proposal? Email or snail mail? One chapter? Fifty pages?

A cover letter is not a proposal, and a proposal is not a long cover letter.

A cover letter is one page that includes 1) one or two sentences about your writing credits, 2) the genre and “elevator pitch” of the book you’re proposing, 3) other books similar to yours, and 4) how much of the book you’ve written.  

Your proposal expands on that. The first page should have your name and address (including email and telephone number) single spaced in the upper left hand corner. The number of words in your completed manuscript is in the upper right hand corner.

The word proposal should be centered about a third of the way down the page, with your book’s title beneath it. Everything should be double spaced, with 5 space indented paragraphs, two spaces between paragraphs, and one space between sentences. Most editors prefer Times New Roman 12. Don’t forget headers that list your name, the page number, and the name of your book. 

Next you write a synopsis of your book’s plot, or attach as many chapters or pages as he or she wants. (Note: Like the proposal, they should not contain any typos or spelling or grammatical errors.)

But (and here’s where many people miss the boat), your proposal should also include:

A Competitive Analysis. What other books are like yours? Who publishes them? How are they selling? If they are a series, how many books are in it? (Amazon.com can help with this.) When I proposed a traditional mystery series with a background of needlepoint I analyzed the eight best-selling craft mystery series for popularity, location, and style.   

Selling Points. How is your book different (better) than those books you just mentioned?  What readers will it appeal to? I pointed out that the Maine coast is a popular location for mysteries, my characters would be men and women from their 20s to their eighties, the background would be a custom needlepoint business, and the mystery would be edgy, not cute or cozy, and would include details about historical needlework.   

Marketing Your Book. I listed magazines for needlepointers, conferences, and the two major organizations of needlepointers in the United States, with membership numbers. I also included organizations I was a member of. (Nothing to do with needlepoint, but contacts.)

Why are you the best person to write this book? What can you add that no one else can? I am branded as a Maine author. I’m a fourth-generation antique dealer and have degrees in American Civilization, so have the expertise to include historical elements in my plots.

If you’re proposing a genre book, is it (or could it be) the first of a series? If so, list the first three books in the series, with titles and brief (1-4 paragraphs) plotlines. (I did this, in addition to sending the first fifty pages of the first book in the series.)

Within a month I was offered a three-book contract, and subsequently have been offered two additional contracts for the Mainely Needlepoint series.  

The bottom line: Write the best book you can, but while you’re writing, think of how it can be marketed and sold. It will pay off in the end, when you compose a professional, convincing, proposal.  

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USA Today best-selling Maine author Lea Wait’s nineteenth book (TIGHTENING THE THREADS) was just published. She writes three mystery series: The Shadows Antique Print series, the Mainely Needlepoint series, and (beginning in 2018) the Maine Café series, under the name Cornelia Kidd, as well as historical novels for middle readers. As a single woman, Lea adopted four older children from Asia. Now she writes mysteries about people trying to find love, acceptance, and a place in the world to call home. She is married to artist Bob Thomas, and loves to row, walk, and sit on the porch of her 1774 house, reading or writing. She invites you to like her “Lea Wait/Cornelia Kidd” Facebook page, and friend her on Goodreads.   website: http://www.leawait.com Blog: http://www.mainecrimewriters.com (with other Maine mystery writers)

Hurry Up and Wait

By Peggy Wirgau

It might as well be my motto for 2017. Perhaps embroidered and framed, hanging over my desk. Or tattooed on my arm. And if I wait much longer, maybe chiseled into my tombstone.

For the past two years, my husband and I have been looking forward to closing on a Florida vacation home—a modest townhouse—close to the beach, but certainly not a mansion. The reason for the wait? It’s new construction, and many delays have increased the original estimated building time. One year turned into 15 months, then 18 months, then 22 months and counting. We’ve made plans and rearranged them again and again, only to be told to wait.

I’m also playing the waiting game with my first novel, written in 2012. Five years and six revisions later, I now have an agent who has partnered with me on this seemingly endless voyage to publication. She’s submitting it to prospective editors, and some say they’re considering it. And now we wait. The months sail on by, and we keep waiting, scanning the hazy horizon, anxious to land this ship somewhere.

So, what am I doing while I wait for the house to be finished and wait for someone to say YES to my book?

Keep busy. After the last novel revision, I was sure I would never again write more than a grocery list. But I’ve managed to begin research and preliminary plotting on a new novel. There must be life after that book, and having a new project underway gives me something else to contemplate in the middle of the night.

Expand. I’ve read many books during this long wait, a few in genres I don’t love. And I’m pushing myself with some difficult writing exercises. I’m learning new things and growing as a writer.

Stay in touch. Plenty of published writers once thought their wait would never end. I do my best to congratulate them, read their books, leave reviews, and ask questions. There are plenty more who are still waiting. We bond over our writing journeys. It’s good to remember I’m not the only one, and waiting, painful as it is, is part of the process.

Pray. God knows what’s happening in my life, and wants me to trust Him and his timing. Worrying is useless, and I must remind myself of this constantly. I may never know the reasons for the wait, but I pray to know how best to use this time.

Be content. A completed novel being considered by publishers is nothing to sneeze at, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I need to count my blessings. And the day will come when the house is done, something will happen with that book, and life will go on.

Are you in waiting mode regarding your writing or another big project? Or have you come through on the other side? I’d love to hear your best waiting tips!

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Peggy Wirgau lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and loves bringing history to life for middle grade and young adult readers. Her articles have appeared in Appleseeds, Insight, Learning Through History, and most recently, Peggy contributed to the book, Why? Titanic Moments. Her yet-to-be-published novel is based on the true story of a young Titanic survivor. Her Titanic blog features in-depth stories and her followers include descendants of the ship’s victims and survivors. A graduate of Michigan State University and George Mason University, Peggy is an active member of ACFW and SCBWI, and she’s also a registered nurse. She and her husband have two adult children. Learn more about Peggy and the Titanic at www.peggywirgau.com. 

Bad Actor/Good Actor?

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

Sitting in a recent business meeting I was struck by one of our very professional millennials using the term good actor. Even a baby boomer has noticed the recent terminology used to describe the players as good actor bad actor. I first noticed it used as a description of Russia involved in the Libyan turmoil as a “Bad Actor”. That wasn’t hard to put together that it was a negative term. My millennial business counterpart had presented someone as a good actor and again I could easily understand that was a positive thing.

More often than not I find myself second guessing the meaning of words and phrases hitting the airwaves and wondering who is making up this stuff. I recently had to think about the term “undocumented immigrants”? I thought and thought before it came to be this is a politically correct term. These are the same people that were at one time referred to as “illegal aliens”. Same people, different terms and even I have to admit it does sound better. “Undocumented” versus “illegal” is less harsh and more tolerable. I don’t have a problem with it as long as we all know what or who we are talking about.

I am not sure this rapid change of terminology would have worked in past years or if it would have even possible. There were times a term had to be used for years prior to being accepted by society and even longer before being placed in the dictionary. There were over 1,000 words added this year alone. As they say everything from “binge watching” which I am guilty of to “Seussian” which is suggestive of or relating to the works of Dr. Seuss. And if you think these are strange in some sort of way just try getting them past spellcheck.

As writers we may want to use these new found friends or go back to the original terms or descriptions. I say descriptions because a great number of these words are shortcuts to describing an act. No matter we all seem to have Google now so nothing can slip past us. I’m not one to “throw shade” but I do recommend we stay on top of these new arrivals.  

Otherwise we could end up expressing ourselves with a “face-palm”.

     

Pitch to Publication: 3 Things Learned

By Leigh Ann Thomas

Heart pounding double-time and palms slightly moist, I sat across the desk from an acquisitions editor and pitched my book idea. Under her scrutiny, I feared my one-sheet and sample chapter lacked the power to grab her professional attention. My internal dialogue was off the charts: She’s going to love it. Wait, who am I kidding? She’ll hate it. Why didn’t I prepare more chapters? I’m so out of practice. Maybe I should’ve…

And then…laughter. The editor was smiling. And laughing. As she perused my sample chapter, I felt like the big brother in the old cereal commercial, “He likes it! Hey, Mikey!”

This spring, almost two years after pitching that idea, the completed manuscript will be released as a book of inspiration for mothers of the bride.

Worth the stress and hard work? Absolutely.

This has been a time of intense growth as a writer. I’ve learned to push through seasons of dryness and doubt, fear and uncertainty. I’m more appreciative of the creative teamwork required to bring a book to market.

Through it all, three things stand out as vital for an author in the publishing process:

Passion

After snagging interest for my idea, I returned home and got to work. Difficult work—without the guarantee of acceptance. Even after a contract, it was crucial to maintain excitement and vision for the project through lulls in activity—weeks and months of waiting, editing, and more waiting.

Involvement

Author involvement is critical to the success of a book. Upon release of my first books (over a decade ago), I could sit back and be a spectator to the publishing process. Now, an author must be hands-on in every step from editing to marketing. There’s no room for timidity, especially in the marketing and promotion of our work. I’ve devoured crash-courses and on-the-job training in social media, virtual book launches, Thunderclap campaigns, and more. An ongoing job!

Humility

I must remain teachable—especially in the editing of my “baby.” There is a thrill in learning from mistakes and using newfound knowledge in the next project. Also, publishing houses have their own preferences and styles and we may have to let go of beloved writing habits (mine was the overuse of italics). There is always room for growth. My work strengthens as I listen and learn from the best in the business.

Passion, involvement, humility—what would you add as integral for an author in the publishing experience?

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Leigh Ann Thomas is the author of three books, including Ribbons, Lace, and Moments ofGrace—Inspiration for the Mother of the Bride (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). A columnist for AlmostAnAuthor.com, she has also written for Just18Summers.com, ChristianDevotions.us, and Power for Living. She is a contributing author in ten books and her work is included in two editions of Southern Writers Magazine's Best Short Stories. You can find Leigh Ann on her front porch daydreaming story plots or blogging at leighathomas.com. https://www.facebook.com/leigh.nallthomas   https://twitter.com/lthomaswrites https://leighathomas.com    Amazon.com/author/leighannthomas

Readers are Rubberneckers

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

While driving along highways, I take particular interest in the overhead LED signs with their traffic safety messages. When they're imaginative they can conjure a smile, plus their pointillistic letters remind me of the Lite Brite I used to play with as a kid.

Some messages are strictly business, warning of a lane closing or a road crew ahead. But sometimes they make an effort to be memorable.  Here are a few slogans you may have seen:

ALERT TODAY - ALIVE TOMORROW

FAST DRIVE COULD BE LAST DRIVE

BOOZE IT AND LOSE IT

DRIVING FASTER CAN CAUSE DISASTER

BETTER TO BE MISTER LATE THAN LATE MISTER

I try to picture the person who's writing these.  If they work for the Department of Transportation, it's probably their most creative moment of the day.

Here's a message that I actually saw yesterday while driving along I-40 in Memphis:

AVOID A WRECK - DON'T RUBBERNECK

I kept an eye out for the accident it might be referring to, but saw none and wrote it off as a generic admonishment.  Ironically, driving past that same stretch of highway three hours later, there was indeed an accident in that very spot.  Apparently, Confucious was doing the signs yesterday.  Then again, on I-40 it was bound to come true sooner or later.

But it got me thinking about the sign again and the fact that people do have a tendency to rubberneck. As drivers inched their way past the tow trucks, they seemed to pay less attention to the policemen directing traffic than they did the state of the cars involved and whether any victims could be seen. (Don't worry, it wasn't that bad of an accident.)

People inherently want to know who, what, when, where, how, and why, even when it's really none of our business.  We turn on the news at night to see what happened to people we don't know in places we've never been to.

Don Henley's 80s hit "Dirty Laundry" included a line that has always stuck with me: "It's interesting when people die." Dark as that sentiment seems, it's very true, and maybe it has something to do with our own underlying sense of mortality, visiting it second-hand and coming out alive. That would be a question for our psychologist author friends, and you know who you are.

All of this is terrific news for writers. Since people are curious by nature, they are always in search of a good story, making them willing to invest the time it takes to read about the imaginary characters you've cooked up for them. As we write, it's a good practice to think about these rubbernecking readers and what kind of details they are hoping to get out of the experience.

Meanwhile, drive safely, and let's flash our lights in honor of the writer who came up with this one:

DONATE BLOOD, BUT NOT ON ROADS

Writer’s Block…Nope

By Claire Fullerton

I don’t believe in writer’s block because I think everyone has their own writing process; the task is to honor it. When I begin a novel, I have a story to tell. My aim is not so much to entertain as to say something about the complexities of living through the art of story. I am fascinated in the deep-seated emotional life within all of us. 

I firmly believe most people hide a significant part of who they are. In my mind, there are many possibilities on why this is so: fear of not fitting in, or of being misunderstood; unreasonable expectations dictated by someone close and domineering; the weight of psychic and emotional baggage accrued from any number of avenues, or perhaps wanting to toe the line of status quo in the interest of cultural society. It’s our emotional life that shapes much of our fate, and I never underestimate its motivational significance. Because this is a subject that intrigues me, I weave it into all of my books, for I aim to tell more than a story; I like to give the reader suggestions on how the story came to be because I think we are all subject to cause and effect.

When I have a novel in mind, I know its beginning, middle, and end, which gives me a story line, yet I am more concerned with the book’s message. I go into writing a book with both considerations in play, and allow the book to breathe and grow. Because I realize that most of us play out our lives in contrast and comparison to other people, and that our lives are somehow reflective of the people, places and things around us, I use characters as triggers for cause and effect within the story. It is the interplay, the exchange between characters that gives a story meaning, and I’ll go one further to say it’s the characters in a book that show us who we are.

All this said I take my time in writing a novel because I believe it has its own life force.  I have yet to write anything wherein I did not pause and reflect in the process, which is exactly why I am not a believer in writer’s block. I believe the story is within me, flying around on the wings of inspiration, and my job is to let it make itself known in its own terms then put it into words in my own timeframe.

I’ve heard it said by some writers that even when they are not writing, they are writing in their head. This makes perfect sense to me, and it takes mineral patience and iron trust to finagle the weight. If a writer can do this, then it allows for a living, breathing work in progress to create itself, along with anything else attendant to their personal process. 

As for writer’s block, I never claim it; when in downtime, I only think I’m taking a breath.

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Claire Fullerton hails from Memphis, Tennessee and now lives in Malibu, California. She is the author of paranormal mystery, A Portal in Time, set in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and contemporary fiction, Dancing to an Irish Reel, set on the west coast of Ireland; both books published by Vinspire Publishing. Claire's third novel, Mourning Dove, is a Southern family saga set in Memphis. It will be published in June, 2018, by Firefly Southern Fiction. Her Social Media Links are: http://www.clairefullerton.com  Http://twitter.com/@cfullerton3  https://cffullerton.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/clairefullertonauthor/

Stock Photography – Bringing Stories to Life

By MJ Harper

They say never judge a book by its cover. While that certainly applies to people, we all know it doesn’t work for books. Of course a reader judges by the cover—as well they should. And just like any first impression, and author wants the cover to speak to the reader. A cover should catch the eye, tell the reader the genre, and state something about what the story is about—all in a matter of a one second glance. The object is to get the reader to stop and look closer.

A good cover artist is the first step to securing that knockout cover. Second, you should find the right model. You’ll want the model to fit your description of your character(s) because readers really hate it when the person on the cover isn’t as they are described in the book. Stock photography is a great option to find the character you need in the appropriate outfit. To really go that extra mile, you can set up a custom shoot with a photography company so that you can get exactly the look you envision.

At Period Stock, we specialize in historical fiction photography. 

We take great care in coming up with 19^th century custom-designed outfits. We offer authors not only ready-to-go stock photography with a variety of models (we strive for new models every couple of shoots so that you always have fresh faces to choose from) but we also offer the option for authors to request a custom or exclusive photo shoot.

With a custom shoot, authors can choose the model’s look and outfit, as well as just the right pose for what they envision for their covers. Authors can opt for a shoot that allows us to use the shots they didn’t choose on our site for a very affordable price, or for a completely unique look, authors can participate in an exclusive shoot with us and guarantee that the chosen cover model and outfit will be completely exclusive to your cover. If you are interested in what we offer, you can find out more here: https://periodstock.com/custom-shoots/

Remember that the cover is the first thing your reader sees. Be sure that it is so compelling that they can’t help but pick it to see the amazing story inside.

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MJ Harper is the president of PeriodStock.com, a stock photography site that specializes in 19th century stock photography for historical book covers. MJ loves historical fiction and the classic styles of the 1800s and enjoys working with authors, cover artists, and models to make stories come to life! 

Hook a Reader

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director at Southern Writers Magazine

My friend and author, Steve Bradshaw was stirring up social media the other day by posting a picture on Facebook. He gave a writing prompt with the posting of an intriguing picture saying, "there's a story here. Write the first sentence..."

My sentence was "'Murder in the family mausoleum' was the lead story for a week; then, another victim was found."

Author Michael Hicks Thompson responded, "Randolph Horn had always lived in a mansion. His last would be his forever."

Author Claire Fullerton's sentence was, "It takes the permanence of a graveyard to remind me of my impermanence."

Author Nick Nixon's sentence, "As I knelt beside the gravestone to lay some flowers down, the ground beneath me started to tremble. Suddenly a pasty, gray hand burst out of the grave and grabbed my ankle! Ahhhhhh!!!!"

Author Loryn Kramer Staley's sentence was, "Hidden in the shadow the old elm provided, she was relieved to find she was on this side of the daisies.

Author Devin Greaney wrote, "June 8, 1874, Rosa laid down to bed in her home on North Main, yet she awoke, of all places, in this cemetery which she realized was odd though not nearly as much as her discovery that it was now 2017."

Reader, Janie wrote, “Two sisters looking for relatives that were gone before them! Gone but not forgotten!"

Reader, Laurie's sentence, "I know I only have an hour or so before the darkness will be here... right here, once more."

Reader, Mike wrote, "The only ability Tripp had over making a grand entrance was the pomp and circumstance surrounding his grand exit and it's awe inspiring finality. He had commissioned his majestic mausoleum eighteen years ago and no detail was left unfinished. It has been said that, "You can't take it with you" but, apparently, they didn't know Harold Robinson, III."

Reader Julie's sentence was, "The moment he saw the old stone church in the middle of the beauty of its green surroundings he felt the sinister uneasiness he had felt before. He felt it beckoning yet a fear so pervasive overcame him he couldn't move. Suddenly he realized........"

Steve's post provided fabulous responses from authors and readers, alike. Authors' sentences had a different but clearly connected perspective. Authors want to hook the reader with the all-important first sentence. Readers wrote what they wanted to first read, which essentially is the same thing. 

Lessons for authors can be learned through an exercise like this, and it gets everyone's creative juices flowing. 

Thanks to Steve, it fueled me to write this blog post. How about you? 

If you didn't see Steve's picture, here it is, and now it's your turn to write the first sentence of the story behind this picture. 

Ready, get set...go.