Giving Back

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

So, you’ve published something or at least headed in the right direction. Your career is taking off. It’s the perfect time to write more to build your portfolio. You’ve heard people say things like:

·         be a guest blogger to get you name out;

·         start your own blog;

·         stay active on social media;

·         find freelance opportunities to build your portfolio.

As we build our careers, all of this advice is helpful. But there’s also something else we can do to build our portfolio and help build up our communities. We can give back as a writer. Many small nonprofits can’t afford to hire a writer, but they need to get their stories out there. They need staff interviews done for newsletters or clients stories written so donors know who they are helping. Nonprofits need stories to help reach donors and survive.

This is where we as writers come in. We can give back (and, yes, we benefit, too, because we are building our portfolio). It’s a win-win situation. But, you say, people are always asking me to donate my time without paying me. True, so you have to develop some guidelines and stick to them or you will never be paid for your work. Here are some of the boundaries I have set up for myself:

·         Only donate one article a month or one every three months as you are able. I stick to this policy and I limit the article to 750 words.

·         All interviews must be done by phone or email. If you don’t set this policy, you will be driving quite a bit to track down someone for an interview.

·         Set an extended deadline. You need time to get your own work done, and you may find that you have to focus on your projects longer than planned. Give yourself a little extra time before promising someone something quickly that you aren’t getting paid for.

·         Make sure you receive a copy for your portfolio. A digital copy usually works best. You can load that into an email for a job requesting samples of your work. Get permission to use the piece as a sample of your work if you are going to load it onto your website or onto a site such as LinkedIn.

·         Don’t feel guilty saying no to someone. If it’s a group you want to work with later, get contact information and promise to let them know when you have time. Otherwise, just politely say you wish you could help.

We can all find ways to give back to our communities. If we each use our gifts and talents to help build up others, we will all profit. 

Don’t neglect your own work, but find ways to share your time and your words with others. 

Writer’s Retreat

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

There are times when we need a change of pace in order to tackle our next writing challenge. Maybe we are starting a new book or a new chapter of one we are working on. Maybe we need to edit the book we just wrote or work on some new marketing approaches. The conference we went to was helpful and gave us some great ideas to go forward, but we just don’t seem to be able to focus and come up with some fresh thoughts.

If this seems familiar to you, maybe what you need is a retreat instead of a conference. What’s the difference? A conference is designed to teach and share writing tips, to help you collaborate with others, to allow you to network, and to bring you together with the writing community. A retreat is a time to allow you to take all that you know and use it.

A retreat can last as long as you need it (or can afford for it to). You can take a weekend away from your normal writing place and get away to start the next phase of your work. When you return, hopefully, you can keep the new work going. If you can stay away longer, take a week or two retreat and try to finish or get a good start on the next phase of your project. Get several chapters written or edited…finish building or updating your website…sketch out a full outline for your next book…come up with a marketing list and an email list for the news of your book launch. Brainstorm on the retreat.

Tips for a successful writer’s retreat:

¨      Keep it within your budget. You can’t work well if you are worried about finances. If finances are tight, ask a friend if you can use their cabin. Find an inexpensive state park room overlooking a lake.

¨      Don’t bring anyone along. You need this time to think and set your own pace. If you are taking your retreat in area with friends nearby, you can make a last-minute plan with them if you need a break, but don’t promise anything.

¨      Don’t set a schedule. Work at night if you need to or wake up with the sunrise and nap when you need a break. This time is for you to brainstorm, research, or write. Work when you feel most prepared.

¨      Visit a place where you can have alone time outside if you need inspiration. Take hikes or walk by a lake. Sit on a quiet beach. Part of this retreat is for you to be refreshed so the ideas flow again.

¨      Check to see where Wi-Fi is available. You may not need it often, but it’s frustrating to not have it at all if you are planning to research something. However, be sure you keep you phone and other devices off as much as possible. Distractions won’t help you get work done.

I hope you can find time for a retreat to help you keep moving forward with your writing.

Never Let Go

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

Have you ever had a great idea for a character or a plot, but you just couldn’t figure out how to move forward? When you tried to flesh out the details for a book, did you get stuck on some of the details or reach a dead end that you couldn’t move past? Did the dialogue fall flat? Did the plot weaken beyond repair? Did this frustrate you because you still like the original idea?

Sometimes just the opposite happens—we have a great thought and it keeps growing in our mind. Dialogue pops into our head when we’re showering or having coffee. Plot twists race through our minds at 3 a.m. when we can’t get up and do anything about it. We’re frustrated because we have other deadlines we have already committed to and can’t stop to work on a new project.

So, when do we just toss out these ideas? Never. Don’t let go of these gems that you’ve uncovered. Take a few notes and file them away in notebooks in your desk or in your closet (or in the many places writers stuff papers). No idea has to be tossed out too quickly.

“But I tried writing it,” you say. “I couldn’t finish it.” Then maybe the timing wasn’t right for where you are in life. You might need to take care of some unfinished business or research more before you can pick the project back up. You might need to turn the thought into a poem or a short story instead of a novel. Sometimes, our failure just means we need to learn a little bit more about the writing process through a class or seminar. Just because we aren’t ready to finish a project doesn’t mean the idea was bad. Revisit it later in life and see what happens.

The same holds true for a packed schedule. Just because you don’t have time to tackle a new writing project now doesn’t mean you won’t ever have time. Hang on to the thoughts and let them wait for you to unpack them when you have more time.

Never let go of a good idea just because the timing isn’t right. The characters will be waiting for you around the next bend.

Comfort Zones

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

Well, you can tell me if this is true for you or not, but I write my best scenes and dialogue when I am writing in my comfort zones. No, I’m not talking about writing in my office or out on my patio. I’m talking about writing about the settings I’m placing my characters in.

I’m an outdoors person. I love to hike and camp. I’m comfortable in the mountains or on the beach, as long as I am outside. Where am I the most uncomfortable? Any meetings. I don’t like being confined to a room and having to listen to reports or spontaneously come up with ideas while everyone is watching. As far as the time of day, I prefer being outside in the mornings or right at dusk. I try to be in by dark (guess that comes from my upbringing when I could play with friends in the neighborhood as long as I was home by dark).

So, what does this have to do with my writing? After all, I’m creating fictional characters that often have very different personalities from my own. They have their own tastes. However, I have learned that when I am placing my characters in situations or settings that I am uncomfortable in, I tend to write as if the characters are uncomfortable there. I have to check myself or I will have a character running for home just because the sun is setting. I’ve had powerful CEOs squirm in a meeting just because I would.

That’s when I have to edit the most. I have to go back and make dialogue flow much more smoothly or have the character do something to appear relaxed like take off her shoes and relax on the patio as she watches the moon at midnight. When my characters are out of my comfort zones, I tend to want to get them back to my happy places quickly.

I’ve learned to edit my way out of those situations and improve the scenes, but I always have to admit that it’s a weakness for me. Decide what makes you uncomfortable and go back through your writings. See if this is true for you. You may have an entirely different weakness in your manuscripts. What’s important, though, is to know where your weak spots are and acknowledge them. Then you can edit your way to a stronger scene.

Be a Reviewer

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

What is it that we all need? Well, honestly, there’s not just one thing. The list is long for some of us. We need more time, more money, more rest, etc. But most newly published authors will agree that along with everything else on the list, we need more reviews of our work. Reviews drive new readers to our books.

I know what you are already asking: how do I get more reviews for a new book? There’s no easy answer to that. Some authors give away free copies and ask the readers to write an honest review. Other authors ask friends and family members to write reviews. Those are great ideas, but we can only give away so many books free. Begging on social media isn’t very effective, so what’s left?

I’ve decided that being a reviewer myself helps our writing community be stronger even if it doesn’t always mean that I will quickly get reviews of my own. It’s a gift we can give other authors trying to reach new audiences. No, this isn’t a guarantee that anyone will review your book in return. However, if each of us gets into the habit of reviewing new books, we are setting the example for others as we encourage new authors. Look at authors’ Amazon pages and Goodreads book pages and see who could use a review. If the book isn’t in your budget, see if you can find a cheaper version—an e-book maybe or a library copy. If you can’t find a copy in your budget, don’t be shy about asking the author if you can borrow a copy in exchange for an honest review. Never hurts to ask.

After you write the review, let the author know. Tag them on social media if you don’t know them personally. Send them a link to your review via e-mail if you have their address. Also, tag other readers and remind them how easy it can be to review a book. Don’t be shy about ending with a request for someone to review yours.

If we start the trend, hopefully other readers will follow. Reviewing a book (or a podcast or an art showing or a restaurant) can be quick and painless. We don’t have to write paragraphs about anything. Filling in the rating (usually choosing a star rating) and writing two sentences about why we liked or disliked it can really make a difference. Try to write one review a month to stay in the habit and to hopefully spark an interest in other readers.

The Winning Book Launch

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

I was recently invited to a book launch in Nashville, Tenn. I was excited to go because I know people who work at the nonprofit that was benefiting from the event and because I still have friends in Nashville that I could visit. I didn’t do much research beforehand, assuming this event would be much like other book launches I have attended. I was wrong. This event ranks as one of the best book launches I have been to or even read about.

The author, Jennifer Clinger, was releasing her first book, a memoir titled Delivered:The Fragmented Memories of a Former Streetwalker. A first book is so hard to launch successfully. Sure, you have people who you know that will buy a copy. To be successful, however, you have to market your book to people who have no idea who you are.

So, here’s what made the launch amazing:

• A team of people helped the author plan the event. Volunteers who know the author used their talents to bring new ideas to the evening. A team approach is also useful because each team member can invite a unique set of guests to the event. Invitations can go out to several communities just through the planners.
• A logo was designed for the event that was eye-catching and could be used on social media posts. The logo helps brand the event and make all posts consistent.
• David Hutchens, a storytelling consultant, helped the author select the passages to read. A consultant can help the author know which passages will give insight into the book without revealing too much. The audience needs to be left with the desire to buy the book so they can finish the story.
• A wonderful group, The Bittersweets, played their music between each reading. They chose songs with lyrics that related to the experiences of the author. The music engaged the diverse age group at the event.
• A nonprofit group received the proceeds from the event. This association with Thistle Farms drew in an even larger audience than an author could do alone. The organization’s CEO even introduced the author.
• A press release was sent to many different media groups, and bloggers like me were invited to join in the festivities.

The event was a winning evening for everyone. I met a new author and was entertained by a great band. The author got her story out to a very diverse group of people. We all left with something to talk about, which will allow the book to keep getting publicity.

Take note, authors! A book launch for a first book can be hugely successful with the right approach.

A Grammar Resolution

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

I’m a proofreader and have been for many years. While working in Georgia as a new proofreader right out of school, I was asked to be part of a team proofing the laws passed by the Georgia legislature. I quickly realized that not all people appreciated being told there was an error in their work. My team had to tell an older state lawmaker that his law trying to protect fish actually did the opposite because of an error in where the comma was placed. He quickly told us he had been in politics for more than thirty years and knew what he was doing. He refused to listen to our advice on punctuation. When the law passed, fishermen off the coast of Georgia could catch as many fish of any size as they wanted because of the placement of the comma. The law was quickly repealed and corrected. 

Here’s what I know for sure: it’s almost impossible to catch all of your own errors. I can’t proofread my own work well. There’s probably plenty of mistakes here. I have others read through my work to catch things I miss. I also know this to be true: just because you see it in print doesn’t make it right. You have to review grammar rules frequently to make sure your writing reflects good grammar. Don’t rely on seeing something in print and taking that as a rule. Make a resolution to get to know the grammar rules well in 2019.

Here are a few tips taken from common errors I find when proofing:

1. The comma splice error is incredibly common and often difficult for writers to spot because it “sounds” fine. EX: Tim wanted to go to the mall, he wanted to see a movie. This is not correct. Independent clauses cannot be separated by using a comma. The corrections:

Tim wanted to go to the mall, and he wanted to see a movie

or

Tim wanted to go to the mall; he wanted to see a movie.

Independent clauses must be joined by a semicolon or a comma with a conjunction.

2. Last names don’t have apostrophes unless they are possessive: The Smiths are coming to the party. The Smiths are wishing everyone happy holidays. The Smith’s car was decorated for Christmas.

3. Decades don’t have apostrophes unless they are possessive: The 1990s brought a lot of changes in the technology industry. The 1960s empowered many people to find their voices and speak against social injustices.

Happy New Year! Hope it’s a good one!

When Vagueness Works

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine     

Don’t worry…I haven’t gone crazy. Yes, I know that I spend a lot of time reminding writers to give plenty of details about their characters. We do this, so your readers can feel immersed in your story and connected to the people in it. Details bring characters to life.

Here’s the twist for now, though. Sometimes being vague can be powerful. You can write an entire story and leave the details up to the imagination of the reader. It’s true. Your vagueness can open the minds of the readers and allow them to give the characters traits that they most prefer or can relate to.

Honestly, I don’t recommend this often. It’s hard to pull off successfully. Let me give you can example to help you see when vagueness can be a powerful tool in writing. I wrote a short story about 20 years ago and created a woman named Maggie as the main character. In the short story, Maggie faces challenges in her community while trying to protect children in her community. (Spoiler alert: Maggie dies at the end.)

I gave no specific race or age for Maggie, though I do call her an older woman. I don’t give any clues as to where the setting is…no hometown or nationality given for her at all. She prays in the story, but I don’t tell you anything more about her specific faith or denomination. I do build in conversations, so readers know that Maggie is kind, loving, and well-respected in her community. The readers need enough information to see her as good. But that’s all I give them. The readers have to imagine who Maggie is.

Twenty years later, I still get comments about this story. Readers tell me that they are sure Maggie lived during the time of the conflicts in Northern Ireland. Others are sure that Maggie lived through the Civil Rights Movement. Some readers don’t know the original publication date and place Maggie in various cities around the world today. The readers are connecting to Maggie based on their own life experiences or areas of interest. The truth is that Maggie is all of these women. I didn’t create her to be tied to a particular time, race or region. I was vague, so Maggie could transform into someone new with each reader.

Give vagueness a try. It’s definitely not a writing approach that will work for every book or short story, though, so be sure to seek feedback to see if you have been successful.

You Have a Pet What?

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine     

Make your characters have depth. Yes, that’s what I tell people when I’m speaking to a writers’ group. I encourage them to reveal enough aspects of characters’ lives so readers can connect to them on a personal level. Give us a glimpse of what your characters may eat or wear. What’s on their favorite hats? Do they have books or magazines on their coffee table?

I recently ran into an interesting situation with an author, however, regarding details about her character’s private life. She was having her manuscript read by some friends in order to get some feedback before publication. Everyone liked the character and the plot up until the third chapter, but then her friends had trouble relating. They didn’t feel the same about the character. What happened? The main character got a pet. That’s sweet, isn’t it? Who doesn’t like a sweet puppy or a cuddly kitten?

The problem wasn’t the puppy or the kitten—the problem was the large snake and the tarantula. The author wanted to portray the character as daring and bold, a little edgy. Nothing wrong with that. But her audience was made up of primarily older women readers. They didn’t want to think about snakes and spiders being in a home. It made them uncomfortable. The pets made them think differently about the character they were supposed to care about.

When you are sharing personal details about a character, you have to ask yourself how your readers will feel about that information. Do you think your readers could relate more to a character who buys a pure-bred dog or a character who stops by a shelter on the way home one day? Do your readers relate to exotic animals well? Would they tremble in fear over a tarantula being in a home?

I’m not making any judgments on any of these choices. I have friends who have pure-bred dogs and rescued ones. I have family members who own a pet snake. But remember that readers often associate a pet with a character trait. You don’t need to alienate your readers with a pet in the book that they can’t relate to.

You also have to be careful how you have your characters treat their pets. If you have a pet in the book, you need to make sure your readers are clear that the pet is taken care of and loved. You also need to research appropriate pet care. Just because you feed your dog fast-food hamburgers every day doesn’t mean that your readers will appreciate that choice in a book.

It’s great to show the personal side of a character, but remember to think through how readers are going to think and feel about the glimpse you give them.

To Tackle or Not to Tackle?

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine        

We’ve all probably read fictional books that tackle very challenging life issues. I have to admit that I’m a huge Pat Conroy fan and truly mourned his passing knowing I would never have a new novel of his to read. I know that not everyone loves his books—and I admit that some chapters are very hard to read. He does, however, bring to light abuse within families and the effects the abuse has on multiple generations. Conroy was never afraid to write about the harsh realities of the only lives some people know.

What do we do if we have an issue we would like to write about that has touched our lives or the lives of close friends or family? Do we tackle these tough issues in a novel to help bring light to the issues? Do we leave the issues alone because they are so personal to so many people and may bring up emotions that others are still wrestling with?

Tackling issues that are painful to some people isn’t the best idea for every author. You know your audience and your writing ability better than anyone. Jodi Picoult’s readers, for instance, know to expect novels about school shootings (with parts from the perspective of the shooter’s parents), adoption issues, child abduction cases, and racial issues. if you are considering tackling a topic that others may see as painful or divisive, ask yourself if you are up to the challenge and if your audience is ready to read a novel that may contain disturbing topics for some.

If you decide to tackle an emotional topic, here are some suggestions:

1.      Make sure you research the emotional angles of the topic as closely as you would research the historical aspects or factual aspects of other topics.

2.     Let readers know in the book description any themes that may be painful for some people to read about. A grieving mother may not be ready to read a novel about a shooting or a child abduction. A survivor may experience flashbacks if they read descriptive scenes containing family violence. Don’t surprise your readers.

3.      Blog about the topic so you provide information for readers to start healing discussions with book club members or friends. Link to professional websites to offer resources to readers who may want to explore the topic further.

4.      Let a counselor and a community member read your manuscript along with your regular readers. They may spot words that will be interpreted differently by someone who has experienced the topic you are weaving into your novel.

I chose to tackle a tough subject when I wrote about a main character leaving domestic violence, but I chose each word carefully and used the novel to start conversations in my community. Don’t fear tackling a tough subject, but just add a lot of care knowing that some readers may still be healing from the hurts.

Writer’s Block and Art

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

A couple of years ago, I interviewed a local artist for a newspaper article. When I sat at my computer to finish the assignment, I had writer’s block and couldn’t put words together to produce a readable piece. While looking at her paintings shown on the artist’s website, I remembered how many times I broke through my writer’s block with the help of art. It started with an art appreciation class that I took at the University of Memphis. I had never studied much classical art—or modern art either, for that matter. A graduate student taught the class which was geared towards non-art majors picking up optional credits.

One week, I had two writing assignments due in other classes. I also had to tour a local gallery and answer a few questions about certain pieces of art selected by the professor. I tried to finish my writing assignments first, not wanting to get behind in any classes in my major. I took paper and pen to my quiet work space and to the backyard. I tried writing in the library and in the student center. No words flowed at all.

I gave up and headed to the art gallery. I answered the required questions in front of a colorful painting full of waterfalls and birds and foliage and wildlife. My mind started dreaming up scenarios in which photographers explored the area or conservationists preserved the scene. I wondered what sat just out of view of the canvas.

I took out my paper and jotted down notes about adventurers and writers and photographers. The ideas from this one painting seemed endless. While in the gallery, I decided to write a few notes for my upcoming papers. Ideas for those topics began to flow easily.

Later, when I attended Emory University to work on my M. Div., I rode the MARTA rails to the High Museum of Art, especially on afternoons when I could get in free. I worked on my hardest papers in front of paintings, sculptures, or photography. The art opened my mind. It released the words again. 

Creativity inspired creativity. It still works for me.

Be inspired by the works of others…

For You or For Me?

By Chris Pepple, Writer-At-Large, Southern Writers Magazine

Who are you writing for? That’s a question I ask people when I am speaking to groups about writing careers. Are you writing for you, or are you just writing for someone else? Of course, everyone needs to make money if we are seeking a career as an author. Ideally, we could all sit at our computers and type every day knowing that enough money to live on would follow as soon as we submitted the work. Realistically, though, not all authors can just quit their day jobs to follow their publishing dreams. That doesn’t mean you should quit writing, however.

When you first start writing, you are probably going to have to write some articles or blog posts that benefit others financially more than they benefit you. While researching potential places to have your work published, you will find that the pay may not seem to match the effort. Remember, though, that you need to build your portfolio and get your name before readers. To launch your career, consider entering contests and finding freelance work even if that financial gain isn’t what you dreamed of. Sometimes, in the beginning, the income may seem small, but remember that building a portfolio that will eventually benefit you.

So, do you only write for others in the beginning? No, definitely not. Even when you are writing blog posts and website articles to boost the circulation for others, you still need to set aside some time each day (or at least each week) to work on your own projects. Create your own blog. Write 1,500 words a week minimum on your own novel. Write a poem a week so you can publish your own poetry book. Continue to submit articles to higher paying sources if you want to specialize in magazine writing. Never stop writing for yourself.

I remember many days spent interviewing restaurant owners in one neighborhood so their small city magazine could print their stories. Those articles never brought in much money, but they built my portfolio and fed my children while I worked on my book of short stories. I wrote to keep the magazine’s readers happy and buying ads for the owner, but I also finished my first book while doing that. It’s great to find jobs that build your portfolio and that keep you going in the beginning, but you have to keep your own writing goals in front of you and always take time to write for yourself.