Slaying the Excuse Monster

                                              

By Susan A J Lyttek

Life’s busy. I get that. But a writer without time to write is not a writer.

I say that as much to myself as to anyone who might read this post. If we let ourselves, we can get pulled six ways to Sunday and never get a word on paper. There are so many good, necessary, fun and worthwhile things to do in life. Most of them don’t involve writing.

Unless we pull out the hermit card and isolate ourselves from the world, we will be subject to other demands on our time and energy. If we don’t feel like writing, these other demands give us handy excuses not to write.

Excuse #1 I don’t have time to write. 

OK, this does actually happen. The big events in life: birth, death, marriage, divorce and so on can use up all our time for a season. But more often than not, we let time get filled up and stolen away from us. If we say ‘yes’ too often to good things to help others or allow ourselves to become vital and essential to some non-writing activity, it will use up our time. Our culture, too, gives us myriad ways to entertain ourselves and waste time that way. I’ve recently started setting a timer when I play a game on my Kindle. They can become addictive!

Excuse #2 I don’t have the energy to write.

Again, this can occur. Illness or a season of high demands at your ‘real’ job can leave you zapped and unable to put words on paper. However, we tend to say this on a routine basis and the more often it gets said, the more the attitude and the tiredness confirm the feeling. To reignite your enthusiasm, read something you wrote that you’re proud of. Then remember to pay your writing muse first. If at all possible, start the day by writing something, anything. Ten minutes of writing regularly works better than two hours of cramming once a year.

Excuse #3 I don’t have anything to write.

Really? Did you open your eyes this morning? What did you see? Did you have a dream last night? What was it about? When I say this, what I mean is that I’m overwhelmed by fear. If I undertake a new idea, if I work on a project I love, there’s always the chance that it will fail. As we live and breathe in the human world, writers will naturally get ideas. If fear stymies you, take a deep breath. Then take up your pen or your laptop and write something. Most of what we write exercises our writer muscles and either will never see print or will take massive editing to get there. So don’t take yourself so seriously. Relax and follow the muse that speaks to you now.

Today, I wrote this among other things. 

Tomorrow, I will need to fight the excuses and challenge myself again. 

What have you written today?

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Susan A. J. Lyttek, author of newly released kids’ comedy, Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space and the cozy mysteryHomeschooling Can Be Murder by Harbourlight Books, wife and homeschool mother of two teenage sons, writes early mornings in the shadow of our nation’s capital. She also enjoys training up the next generation of writers online through Write At Home, and by teaching middle and high school co-op classes. The mystery sequel Killer Field Trip  released August 2014. You can find out more about her at sajlyttek.com.

  

Author Book Signing Southern Style

By Claire Fullerton

Being raised in Memphis and instilled with Southern manners as if from a rulebook, when it came to my author book signing at my local bookstore, I did what any Southerner would do: I conducted the affair as if it were a party. None of this sending out a general circular e-mail-- oh no, I went through my contact list and e-mailed each person individually saying how thrilled I’d be to see them at the event.

I had glossy 5x7” postcards made with my book cover on front and a blub on the back with the time, date, and place of my event.  For three weeks prior, I carried the cards with me wherever I went.  Now then, there’s a fine line between being enthusiastic and being pushy, and since I’m the chatty sort who talks to both acquaintances and strangers easily, I wanted to be ready but not obnoxious. The thing about being Southern is we just assume the world is a friendly place, and it’s miraculous what transpires because of this attitude: the world tends to step up. Be it in the grocery store, the post office, or in line at the bank, I had a surprising number of opportunities to reach into my purse and produce my post card as if it were a gift.

Timing is everything in life, so when I heard my town’s local newspaper was under new ownership, I wrote the new editor saying I’m a local author who’d love to meet her in person. The result was a full-page interview the week of my book signing.

What I learned growing up in the South is no gathering is complete without sugar, so it is my good fortune to have a friend that loves to bake. When she asked if there was anything she could do to help for my book signing, rather than humbly demurring, I said “Yes!”  An assortment of cookies was set out buffet style, and I brought one of each for the bookstore employees, who would still be standing there long after the event.

On the day of the event, a full-sized poster of my book cover was placed in the window, and forty chairs were arranged before the desk I sat behind, along with a friend I’d commissioned to compile a list of attendees for my next book signing. I’d been asked to read from a chapter of my book, yet I’d written a suspenseful page-turner whose chapters fit together like pieces of a puzzle and I didn’t want to give any part of it away. Being Southern, I felt the inherent need to give the attendees a large dose of gratitude, and decided to do so by telling the peculiar story behind my book’s inspiration, which made the atmosphere feel like a fireside chat.  

All of this led to a sold-out event that exceeded my expectation, and because of the success, my local bookstore continues to keep my book on its shelf.

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Claire Fullerton is the author of A Portal in Time (Vinspire Publishing.)  Her second novel, "Dancing to an Irish Reel" will be published in early 2015. She is a three-time, award winning essayist, a contributor to numerous magazines, and a multiple contributor to the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series. She had her own weekly column in the ”Malibu Surfside News," and is currently writing a Southern family saga based on her award winning narrative in the San Francisco Writers Conferences' 2013 contest. www.clairefullerton.com

Authors: Find Inspiration for Writing

By James D. Bell

American novelist, John Gardner, once wrote in his On Becoming a Novelist, "Theoretically there's no reason one should get writer's block, if one understands that writing, after all, is only writing, neither something one ought to feel deeply guilty about nor something one ought to be inordinately proud of.” Gardner wrote that your emotions can alter your ability to write, and write well. Negative emotions, like lack of confidence, fear and doubt can create writer’s block.  Gardner also said that using our emotions coupled with a hypersensitivity to our surroundings and a curiosity about people can make us good writers. How, then, can we use our emotions to keep the good writing flowing?

To keep my writing fresh and compelling when I was writing Vampire Defense, I needed inspiration. You can find inspiration for writing and blast writer's block at the same time, too. When inspiration wanes and writer's block creeps into the picture, inspire yourself and regain your footing by trying these strategies:

Take a walk - Change your surroundings. Don't sit and stare at a blank computer screen or a pristine page of paper. It could make the writer's-block agony worse. Slip on some comfortable shoes and head outside. Examine the beauty of what you're seeing. A little exercise and nature can spark creativity in more ways than you can imagine.  A hike down a nature trail and an evening by a campfire inspired several of my best chapters.

Experience Art - Unique and complex art can be great inspiration. Seeing local art in person is encouraged; if that’s not possible, flip through art books or even browse online.

Write in a journal - This is recommended for any author. It doesn’t have to be fancy, or something you write in every day. A plain notebook will do, although a nice journal can be motivating. Write down thoughts you have, plot and new character ideas, quotes you find, and pieces of dialog you hear. Go back to this journal when you need inspiration.  I carry a Mole Skin journal in my pocket and jot down ideas whenever they strike me.

Listen to Music - It can be inspiring to download and play great music, from Mozart to Beethoven to the Beatles to Radiohead. Play it in the background as you write, and allow it to lift you up and move you.

Instead of letting negative emotions like lack of confidence, fear or doubt, hinder your writing, you can actually transfer those emotions to a character and use them to help you write your next bestseller. Try these tips and see if they help you discover what inspires you and kick-start your creative juices again. Inspiration to conquer writer's block is all around you--you simply need to take note, then... get back to writing.

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James D. Bell is an award-winning author. James D. Bell is a retired County, Circuit and Chancery Judge who practices law in Mississippi. He was the youngest trial judge in state history and received the highest bar association approval ratings ever given to a Mississippi Circuit or County Judge. He is listed in Preeminent Lawyers, Outstanding Lawyers of America, and other lists of leading lawyers. Judge Bell authored the Circuit Judges Bench Book, published by the Mississippi Judicial College, a book that is used by all Circuit Judges in Mississippi, a Law Journal article on Habeas Corpus, published by the University of Mississippi School of Law, as well as a number of guest editorials in the Clarion Ledger, the Jackson newspaper. He also helped write rules of procedure and evidence used in the courts of Mississippi.Judge Bell is a speaker at legal seminars on evidence and trial tactics and at various churches and civic groups on the evidence that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Judge Bell has been involved in some of the most significant cases in Mississippi, and drew on actual experiences when he wrote the Vampire Defense. He is the son of an American Indian mother and a prominent local businessman. He is devoted to his wife, Joanne. They live in Ridgeland, Mississippi and have four children. His book is Vampire Defense. Connect with him via his social media links:Website:http://vampiredefense.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VampireDefense 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/james_d_bell

How to Debut Your Blog

By Holly Parker

Words are everywhere. Our generation spreads news through social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and personal blogs. The allure of seeing your thoughts in print shimmers with possibilities, but many questions still remain in the minds of true writers; those who want to add to the depth of society by sharing their hearts and talents with the world. They simply ask how to write something that stands out and how to get it out there for the world to see?

One extremely popular form of writing is to have a blog. Almost everyone has stumbled across a blog at some point, but the concept is still widely vague. I recently started a blog of my own and have adventured down the road of trial and error. For me, writing is something I have to do, and for anyone else looking for a way to test their material out, I would recommend trying this method. It is simple, relatively easy and you can control what you write, when you post and how the blog appears. I have provided several steps and tips below that have helped me discover blog success along the way. Good luck and happy blogging!

One: My blog started with preparation. For me, that meant praying over it, selecting a start date, brainstorming ideas, and launching a letter to friends and family about my decision. No matter your personal steps, preparation is essential before you become a blogger.

Two: I chose the site I wanted to use my blog through. There are many choices out there. Some are free and some you pay for. Research the difference between the two options and find out what is best for you. If you like other blogs, you can check what site they are using.

Three: I watched a tutorial about how to set up my blog and then chose the themes and appearances. This is where you can get creative and choose colors, backgrounds, fonts, etc. I also created the pages I wanted and what features I would include. This means things like subscriptions, comments, archives and so on.

Four: After setting my blog up, I wrote my first post. Often this is your introduction post telling about yourself and your blog. You pretty much control what happens at this point. You write and then you post! It's as simple as that!

And remember you can edit your blog on most sites whenever you like. I have changed and added to my blog, even after launching it and I am still learning! It is helpful to reply to comments people post so they feel like they are being heard. And lastly, spread the word. People won't likely stumble upon your blog. You've got to tell them about it!

As with anything, having a blog is all about trying new things and sharing yourself with others. Don't hesitate or be nervous...go for it! As character Cory Brand says in the movie, Home Run, "Nothing great happens when you hold back."

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Holly Parker is a southern writer from Birmingham, Alabama. She has invested in a number of different children at childcare programs and is currently employed by the library. She has an English degree from the University of Montevallo with a minor in Writing and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0. Holly is also very involved with her church and helping out with young people in her community. She loves to travel, read, watch Alabama football, take pictures and of course write! She enjoys writing all kinds of genres, but has a passion for blogging and writing Christian fiction. You can follow her blog at onlyhopeblog.com. Holly can be found on her blog: onlyhopeblog.com and on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holly.parker

Write the Vision

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

“Write the vision and make it plain upon tables…” Habakkuk 2:2. This is a verse from the Old Testament I often think about. The prophet Habakkuk was given a vision from God and was told to write it down. “Write it down that he may run that readeth it.” How specific, how clear are the instructions. How fortunate for a writer to be given such a vision and told what to do with it. Fortunate indeed but many times that is how things come to writers.

Unlike Habakkuk our vision may not be of a prophetic nature but it can be a vision just the same. Our vision may be a story that comes to us imagined or not. It could have been an actual occurrence that we have yet to recognize as a worthy story to write. It is times like this we may need the command similar to Habakkuk’s, “write the vision”.

One way to determine if the vision is one worthy of writing down is to write them all down. If not as a complete work, write it down as a thought, a paragraph or a short story. That way the clarity of the moment is saved and can be revisited or shared. Shared with someone you can trust to give you an honest evaluation and question your direction and purpose. What you are looking for is the command to “write it down”.

We may not be a Habakkuk but I believe our talents are God given. Whether or not our visions are I can’t always say. I do know that once the vision comes, action must be taken. Don’t hesitate. Write it down. Our creativity will not be available unless we obey the command. Creativity will be determined by taking action, obeying the command and writing it down. It can be as simple as “write the vision.”       

   

             

  

Developing A Mystery

By Cyndi Lord 

After the release of They Call Me Murdered, book one in the Sandra Derringer Chronicles, I’ve been asked how I develop the mystery aspect in a novel. The straightforward approach used is solving the mystery.

The oldest investigation techniques start with the crime, and in this novel, it is murder. Initially, we start with the victim. A dead body is presented, now the author’s job is to unravel the basics of crime or another mystery; when, where, how, who, and why.

Create character lists for all players in your book, main to bit parts. I strongly encourage you to use a free character list you can obtain online. This saves you time when you forget what a character looks like or some personality attribute you used previously. I print them out and keep them close while I am writing. Of course, with your creative mind, strangers will come strolling into a scene. They have a reason to be there, dress them, and give them attributes observed by your POV character.

If you write as I do, knowing only the basics, such as, she was killed (when) in the early morning, (where) in the park play area, (how) with a blunt object, the outline of your story should be short. Knowing the first three questions is easy, and developing the discovery scene, a piece of cake. The work starts with creating bits and pieces of evidence, ultimately leading to the conclusion.

Dialog is an ideal place to fill in important backstory and hints to move readers onward. It is also a perfect avenue to have the characters who are solving the case keep the clues in order for readers and yourself.

In the end, always satisfy your readers with a solved case. This is known as ‘playing fair with the readers.’ If you intend to write a sequel or series, after the mystery is resolved, briefly begin another one, but do not tangle the emotions of your readers into the new story. Prick their curiosity, and leave them to eagerly await your next book.

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Cyndi Lord moved to NE Texas in 2005 where she lives on a ranch with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.  An award winning author, she recently decided to go into semi-retirement from her career as a private investigator and research paralegal in order to write full time. Her novels incorporate her professional experience into the plots readers love to unravel along with the investigator. She is a Christian who is active in ministry to the homeless and enjoys many aspects of philosophy. As an animal lover, she is a vegan, and strong voice against cruelty to animals. Cyndi and her husband have nine adult children, sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. For tranquility she loves to work in the garden, and bake. Painting nature scenes is her favorite joy after writing. Her first book in the Sandra Derringer Chronicles is They Call Me Murdered. Nick The Owlet's Adventure, is her children's picture book. Her most recent book is A Plain Wish, book one of The Plain Series.

Her blog is  http://cyndilord.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/cyndi-lord-author/

And on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/cyndi.lord.9?fref=browse_search

Self-Publishing DIY

By Ruth Axtell

Six months ago I dipped my toe in the self-publishing waters. I was well into a sequel to a book published through the traditional channels, when I found out the publisher wasn’t interested in it. BUT I WAS!

I had been reading a lot about self-publishing from other authors and had been collecting the information for when I would need. The time had arrived.

There were those who would have assisted me--at a price--from my agent, who was developing a branch of his agency to help authors self-publish their works; to any number of online services that will edit, copy-edit, proofread, design a book cover, or do the whole package including formatting for uploading a digital book to the various e-pubbing sites.

A few months earlier I had attended a self-publishing workshop all about doing it yourself. The leader provided a wonderful handout with step-by-step instructions for formatting and uploading one’s e-book.

After editing my book, I did pay a professional proofreader locally to proofread it. I knew she was good (she copy-edits for New York houses and even copy-edited one of the Harry Potter books). I looked up different book cover designers online and made my first mistake, by going with a graphic artist, who didn’t specialize in book covers. I thought, well, I have the idea and she can do it up for me. Except I ended up hating her rendition (all 3). This taught me that I needed a graphic artist specializing in book design, whose WORK I LIKED. I did find one on my second attempt.  She was willing to take my design idea and work it up into a cover, for a very reasonable price (under $50).

With the step-by-step instructions from the self-publishing workshop, I formatted my book and uploaded it to Amazon. Within 24 hours my book was available for purchase!

There are a lot of platforms where one can offer one’s books, from Barnes and Noble to Apple iTunes. I chose to go exclusively with Amazon, because it entitles me to earn the highest royalty rates on my cover price (70%). Amazon is also the largest outlet for books, and most e-readers or tablets can handle an Amazon app, so a reader can purchase e-books from them.

I’m still learning with every book I self-publish. I have now done three and am working on editing number 4. Two of these are original works and one is a new edition of a book that was published traditionally and for which I received the rights back.

I love the control I have over my work and the freedom to write any story line that grabs my fancy. My second self-published book, In Your Eyes, finaled in the national Romance Writers of America contest, but it never found a publisher because of its “exotic” setting—1640s Amsterdam.  Now, I didn’t have to let it collect dust on my closet shelf. I could DIY!

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Ruth Axtell knew she wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote her first story—a spy thriller—at the age of twelve. She studied comparative literature at Smith College, spending her junior year at the Sorbonne in Paris. After college, she taught English in the Canary Islands, then worked in international development in Miami, Florida, before moving to the Netherlands, where for the next several years she juggled both writing and raising three children. In 1994, her second manuscript was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart competition. In 2002, her sixth manuscript took second place in the Laurie Contest of RWA’s Smoky Mountain chapter. The final judge requested her full manuscript and this became her first published book, Winter Is Past. Since then, Ruth Axtell has gone on to publish sixteen historical romances and one novella. Her books have been translated into Dutch, Italian, German, Polish, and Afrikaans. Her second historical, Wild Rose, was chosen by Booklist as a “Top Ten Christian Fiction” selection in 2005. Ruth lives on the coast of Maine where she enjoys gardening, walking, swimming, reading romances, and gazing at the ocean plotting her next romance. With her latest book, A Heart’s Rebellion, Ruth returns to Regency London. 

Accidental Author

By Linda Robinson

In jest, I say I’m an accidental author because I didn’t intentionally sit down to write my first novel at sixty-seven years of age. It simply happened. Don’t laugh. God works in mysterious ways ... but that’s another blog, another day!

I’ve often written long, detailed journal accounts of special events, have written those silly annual Christmas letters for many years, and I still write descriptive emails to friends. But writing a novel never once crossed my mind. Reading them had been my favorite hobby all my life—and still is, with writing now ranking right up there, too.

The day I sat down to write, I was amazed at how easily the words came to me. I typed nonstop until at some point I began to call it “my book.” Basically, it was my personal story, and I completed it in ten weeks. After I read it through, I decided I didn’t like all the I’s, me’s, and my’s. I ordered six books on how to write fiction and crash-coursed through them. Six months later, I’d written a fictional account of the same story, in third person, and had taken great liberties in a whole new world. I loved it.

When a publisher accepted it for publication, I was astounded—and scared to death. A perfectionist-wannabe by nature, I had trouble letting go of “my baby,” thinking I could make it better with just one more read and edit. After all, English teachers and writing experts would be perusing it.

Recently, I read a comment by an editor in which he said most first manuscripts should still be sitting on the authors’ bookshelves, unpublished. I agreed, but it was too late. Mine was already on the market. I’ve learned so much more about writing since then, but we all have to start somewhere. 

Doesn’t every author have a first book? 

Now three years, two published books, and a recently completed and critiqued third manuscript later, I encourage anyone who has the slightest desire to write and hasn’t started, or their story is unfinished, to go for it! Don’t say, “Never!” I said I’d never write a novel, speak before a crowd, or enjoy book signings. I’ve done all and enjoyed most, but writing is far more fun and rewarding.  

I highly recommend joining a writer’s critique group, which I did nine months ago. Out of it, four of us also formed a smaller, closely-knit, but geographically diverse group. From “across the pond,” the northeast, and the Midwest, my cherished critters supply this Southern writer with cherished friendship, coveted prayers, helpful suggestions, and oodles of encouragement. All are priceless blessings.

I thank the Lord for giving me a talent and the desire to use it writing inspirational stories for His glory.

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Linda Robinson is the author of two novels: Rails of Freedom, released December, 2012, and When Love Abounds,released in December, 2010. Her Christian/Fiction/Family novels depict the people, lifestyles, and music of the 1940's, 50's and 60's in the deep south, with an underlying message of "that little word that makes the world go 'round—love." Linda, whose hobbies include reading, writing, and flower gardening, resides in south Alabama with her husband and spoiled Maltese dog, Joy. She is a member of her local Writers' Forum, ACFW, Scribes, Linkedin, GoodReads, FaithWriters, and others. She has recently completed her third manuscript, in addition to guest-blogging and writing fiction and non-fiction humorous short stories for magazines and contests. Find out more about Linda by visiting her web site and reading her blogs at: http://lindarobinson.tateauthor.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.robinson.5095 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaRobinsonLR

Deadline vs Timeline

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

Deadline vs Timeline, what is the difference? No one knows deadlines better than the staff at Southern Writers Magazine. We have deadlines for the articles in the issue, the blog we post, advertising and many other things. 
Deadlines are not new to us. We all learned about deadlines at an early age. We had a book report or homework due on Tuesday and Monday night we begin reading the assigned book or delving into the textbook to deal with the homework. We were under the gun, the pressure was on and we were ill prepared to meet our deadline. Why do we do that to ourselves, and how do we fix this?

The reason we do this to ourselves is simple. Many times the task at hand is a commitment on our part but even though we did commit to it, a priority it isn’t. It may be important but not as important as something else. If you want to see what is important to yourself or others note what it is you choose to do or spend time doing. It is a dead giveaway. Doing what is important to us will occasionally lead to a missed deadline which we explain away with, “I didn’t have the time.”

Is the excuse of not having the time true? We all have 24/7/365 which is all the time in the world. But why are some of us getting more done with our time while others can’t seem to get anything done. Again it is a matter of what is important and what isn’t. But there is also another factor involved and that is urgency versus what is important.

Many of us react to what is urgent. If we are convinced that a matter at hand needs immediate attention it suddenly becomes a priority. There again a priority is not necessarily important but can be urgent. And once urgent, it is an immediate deadline. Once we find ourselves working under a deadline we may feel pressured and may not produce the quality of work we are capable of. We can do better avoiding deadlines by using timelines and here is how.

Let’s say you know you need to finish writing 10 chapters this month. If you like you can set the last day of the month as a deadline but let’s look at it as the end of a timeline. The last day of the month will be the end of the timeline that you set to successfully complete your 10 chapters. Think of it as the day your goal is completed and vision it as such.

The next step is to be honest with you about your work habits. I know I work best in 2 hour burst of energy and concentration. Much longer and I tire of computer screens and need a break. I know I do my best work in the morning and in two hour increments. I also know I will need about 3 to 4 hours to write a chapter. So I will need about 40 hours this month to complete the 10 chapters. I will also need those 40 hours in the morning when I am fresh and do my best work.

What is the next step?

Make appointments with yourself for 20 morning appointments for 2 hours each. With 30 or 31 days in the month you have an additional 10 days to adjust your timeline should you need to do so. Set your calendar dates for these appointments, set the alerts as reminders. The important thing is to keep your appointments with yourself just as you would with an associate, your doctor, or your family member. Make these appointments a commitment Make them important. Most importantly, make them.

You have now turned your deadline into a timeline. A timeline is actually when you do your work. A timeline takes away the stress of the deadline. A deadline is something self-imposed. A timeline can be your answer to a more productive result with the best you have to offer.

Share with us how you may have overcome the stress of deadlines and work schedules.   

  

      

Write Your Characters to Life

By Sheri Wren Haymore

Don’t you love to get so involved in a book that you can’t put it down and don’t want it to end? Would you like for that to happen for your readers?

It really doesn’t matter whether you’re writing fiction, a memoir or a biography.  Readers invest time in your story, and they want to see the people you’re writing about come to life, whether fictional or historical. Readers want to feel that they know your character so well that they would recognize him if they met him on the street.

Let’s work on making that happen for your reader.

·        Test #1:  Pick a random scene in your story. Does the scene tell you five things about your character’s essential nature?  If not, then ask yourself: what is my character seeing, smelling, and hearing in this scene? And more importantly, what does he think about that?  Plunge deeper into his psyche, view the scene through his eyes, and then write those details.

·        Test #2:  Read through the first two scenes in your story and make note of your protagonist’s idiosyncrasies. Are your character’s habits integral to his personality? Or do you not find any habits?

Go to a park or mall and notice the little things people do. Does a young woman flip her blonde hair over her shoulder repeatedly as she talks? Annoying. Do you see a man stick his hands in his pockets and tilt his head when he listens? Endearing. Those little details can make your character come to life.

·        Test #3: Take your character out of the story and stick her in a ridiculous situation. This is a test to see how well you know her. Maybe a stray dog runs through the open door with coyotes on its tail. Maybe a space alien shows up for dinner. Write this bizarre scene and you will see her with more focus. Now put her back into her story and tell it better.

·        Test #4: Have a friend record the darkest scene in your story so that you can hear it afresh. This should be the scene in which your character has been pushed so far into a corner that the situation is unbearable; no apparent way out. As you listen to the recording, can you feel the emotion? Do you know what the character is thinking? Do you understand why he takes the action he does?  

If the answer is “no” to any of these questions, the problem may not be in this scene alone. It is likely that there are aspects of your character’s personality that you have not explored in previous scenes. Go back; go deeper; write him to life.

·        Test #5: Finally, read the last scene as if you don’t know the story at all. After all the smoke has cleared, do you like this character? It doesn’t matter how many flaws the story has revealed in your character; in the end, your readers have to be able to say, “I really enjoyed getting to know that guy,” or they will close your book and forget it.

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Sheri Wren Haymore grew up in Mt. Airy, NC, and still lives thereabouts with her husband and a pup named Cercie. Together, they’ve made a living running a couple of small businesses, and made a life doing the things they enjoy—traveling, hiking, camping, kayaking. Sheri loves music and yoga, inventing gourmet meals from random ingredients, laughing with friends, and most especially spending time with her daughter. Through Wisdom House Books, she published a romantic suspense, A Higher Voice, and recently released a suspense/thriller, A Deeper Cut. A graduate of High Point University, she has burned more pages than most people will ever write, and is currently scribbling a third novel, which may or may not survive the flames. She can be found at her website is: http://www.sheriwrenhaymore.com

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/SheriWrenHaymore Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheriWrenAuthor  

Blog: http://sheriwrenhaymore.blogspot.com/

Actively Work to Show your Presence on the Web

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

One of the avenues some authors overlook is a website.  If you are wondering why authors need a website think of it in these terms.

People live in houses, and in those houses are rooms. Each of these rooms has a function. We need each of these rooms. You wouldn’t build a house and leave out a kitchen any more than you would build a house and leave out the bathroom or a bedroom. However, the house is the base where these rooms are placed. Right? In other words, you don’t build separate rooms apart from the house on the lot.

Hence, your house is your website. On that website are rooms, one of the rooms is a blog. One room is your event room; one room is your book room, and so on. You can add as many rooms to your house as you want. 

Let me tell you a secret–the more rooms you have the longer someone stays in your house because they want to see what is in each room.

As with building any house, you can have an inexpensive house, average house or a mansion. That is up to you. You can build it or you can hire someone to build it or take advantage of sites that offer you a house. The nice thing about houses is you can add-on anytime; you can redecorate, whatever you choose whenever you choose.

You want your website (house) to deliver results. It can’t if people have no house to visit and linger in. You know, to get to know you–your style.

You sure want your website (house) to look professional but when your visitors come inside you can decorate a room or two kind of cute and whimsical. However, you need other rooms decorated with professional looking and with good functionality. You want to acquire new fans/readers of your books so make sure each room has the ability to inspire them to become a fan of you and your books.

Check out other websites and see what they have built. What seems to be working for them? Do their sites make you want to stay around awhile and check it out?

If you have your Web-house, email the site address so others can visit.

Have fun building and decorating your Web-house.