Plotting the Write Way: Simple as PB & J

The plot is the journey you create for both your characters and the readers. Although most stories are character-driven, the plot is just as important. It’s like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They have to work together to get the right taste of the sandwich. Not too much peanut butter, not too much jelly. But how can you do this… especially if you aren’t much of a planner?

Every story has a general structure: the plot mountain. If you’re a seat-of-the-pants writer, you should at least create a simple sketch first. When you write, it should be like hiking up the mountain. You already know the basic direction it’s going, but there are a couple of surprises along the way. It’s all about the journey—for yourself, your characters, and your reader. And what you discover on this journey is what will make your story unique.

So when you write—whether an outliner or not—keep this plot mountain in mind:

The exposition is when you introduce the setting and your characters. This is also when you introduce your protagonist's basic need, hidden need, and goal. Near the end of the rising action, include small conflicts which will lead to the huge event at the climax, when the character has to make big decisions. The falling action is when your protagonist should change the most. By the end of the mountain—the resolution—try not to make everything happy, perfect, and as if the protagonist is a totally different person now all because of the climax. That’s not realistic.

Once you reach the climax, remember that this is when you should avoid being nice to your characters. When I came home from the conference last week, I went straight to my manuscript and added more conflict. Don’t be scared of doing that. God allows suffering, so you shouldn’t be too afraid of allowing that to happen to your characters. There should always be a storm before the rainbow appears—and that storm should occur at the peak of the mountain. The “rainbow” should appear near the end of the mountain. Suffering is a time when people learn the most.

Don’t try to cover too much in your plot’s “message”, but don’t let it be too subtle, either. Let something on the outside happen that causes the reader to deal with something on the inside—spiritual, personal questions. Allow the “change” to happen gradually and naturally. Try not to wrap up your plot in a happy ending, where your main character is now perfect and has no more problems to face. Be realistic. Those are the stories that can really relate to readers.

Before you begin to write, ask yourself this question: what’s the purpose of this story? Or, what is it’s theme? Sometimes the answers to these questions will unfold as you hike up the mountain. Also, don’t try to “change” your reader and lead them to Christ immediately. Just write. God will do the rest.

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“You can get the horses ready for battle, but it is the Lord who gives the victory.”
~Proverbs 21:31

What I Learned at My First Conference

Obviously, we go to writing conferences to learn about the industry. But what are some others things we can learn while we’re there?

If you’re planning on attending your first writing conference sometime soon, read this list. It’s everything that I learned last week besides honing my writing skills.

• Know which editors and agents will be at the conference before you go. Memorize their names, what they look like, who they’ve worked with, what genre they’re interested in, the classes they are teaching, etc.
• Check and see if the conference is holding contests. If so, enter them. I signed up late, so I wasn’t able to do this.
• Go there to learn and to network. If this is your main goal at the conference, and if you trust that God is directing you, then I am sure he will surprise you. Seek Him first and all these things will be added unto you (Luke 12:31).
• Sign up for as many appointments as you can. Make sure that you have written down the right times for these appointments. I missed one of my appointments because I had written the time down wrong. These appointments are very important, so double check just to make sure that you’ve gotten the times right.
• If your conference allows you to sit with a faculty member during mealtime, make use of this time. Talk with them. At first, I felt like I should be respectful and leave them alone while they eat. However, I learned that it’s important to make the most out of these mealtimes. Ask them questions, give them your pitch and get to know them. You paid money for the conference, and the reason they are there is to talk with people like you. So talk.
• Be aggressive, but respectful. What I’m saying is, talk with as many authors, agents, and editors as you can, but don’t follow them into the bathroom just to give them your proposal. Respect their time, but use yours wisely.
• Network, network, network. I found many people that live near my small town who invited me to be part of their writing critique group. I had no idea there were critique groups near my area. Also, make sure to have business cards and give them out to as many people as you can.
• Don’t allow exhaustion to cause you not to attend a meeting or meal. The one thing you miss may have led to the opportunity you have been waiting for. Take advantage of every opportunity you can.
• Don’t let others intimidate you, and don’t be nervous. I was surprised to see how much more comfortable it was to be around agents and editors than I thought it would be. They aren’t there to trash your ideas; they’re there to find authors and good story-lines. They’re human too, so don’t let them make you nervous. I forced myself to not feel intimidated, no matter how many times someone would come up to my mom and say, “Aw, you brought your daughter?” Don’t let others hold you back. Just go for it and trust God.
• Ask questions, then listen. This is the same for everyone you meet, not just the faculty. I learned so much from other seasoned writers by doing this.
• Wear comfortable shoes and take a sweater, no matter how hot you think it might be. The conference rooms were freezing at times. Much walking is involved, so make sure the shoes you bring are comfortable. You’ll be going up and down plenty of stairs.
• Tour the campus before classes. You may find shortcuts that you wouldn’t have realized if you didn’t tour.
• Take plenty of pictures. It helps to remember the people you meet if you take their picture while names are still fresh in your head. Don’t wait until the last couple of days to get the camera out like I did… :)
• Last but not least, pray. Seek God first. Ask that he will show you who to speak with, and that you will be at the right place at the right time. Divine connections.

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We were given a verse at the beginning of the conference. Memorize this and repeat it during appointments, mealtimes, etc:

Joshua 1:9—

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

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What did you learn at your first conference experience?

Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference

This week I attended my first ever Christian writer's conference. Now I understand why so many people recommend newbies to attend one. It was amazing! Unfortunately, there weren't any teen classes, so I was basically the only teenager there - but it was worth it. I met great people, learned much about the industry... and became one step closer to following my dream.

Since there weren't many agents or editors at the conference that were looking for young adult fiction, I went there mainly with a goal to learn more about writing. But God had bigger plans, which I'll mention later... ;)

The location was perfect. Mountains, cool breezes, and only an hour and a half from home. Not to mention it was about thirty minutes from Lake Lure, the setting of the novel I'm writing! After the conference I was able to visit Lake Lure. It's the most perfect place for my story to take place in.

Sometimes God does such awesome things, it's creepy. I'm so excited for what He has in store for me and everyone I met at the conference!

You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor.

Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it.

But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.

~Ecclesiastes 11:9

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Have you ever attended a writer's conference? How did God work things out for you while you were there? Comment below!

How to Lose an Agent in a Day

Do you know how it feels to be rejected by a literary agent? A lot of authors have experienced this. We all try to follow the same guidelines for submitting the perfect query, but sometimes, no matter how hard you try, there's still a couple things in your submission that cause the agent to immediately click the delete button. So instead of posting another article on how to grab the agent's attention, I've decided to follow the example from the movie "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and write an article on how to lose the agent's attention.

Here are some tips I've gathered from all who contributed to my previous post on how to be rejected by an agent:

• Ignore an agent's submission guidelines. For example, send fiction to an agent who only represents nonfiction, and so on.
• Announce that you're the best thing that's ever happened to Christian fiction!!!!!!!
• Avoid using a professional, formal tone.
• Announce "This is the first draft of the first novel I've ever written!"
• Send in the first draft of the first novel you've ever written.
• Tell them how much you LOVE to write and give them the background story on when the dream was sparked.
• If the agent doesn't respond within five days, send the query again. If another five days go by, send it a couple more times, until finally he/she replies.
• Tell them that you deserve this, and give them specific reasons why they should represent you.
• Have your mom look over your first draft and send it in the query right away without allowing someone else to edit it.
• Don't research the agency you're submitting to or their criteria/genre they represent. Just send it in and risk it.
• BEG the agent for representation. Don't let them say no! This is a once in a lifetime chance, and the sooner, the better!
• Use poor English in your query.
• Be arrogant in your presentation. Humility won't get you anywhere. Remember, your doing a favor by making your manuscript available to them!

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Thanks to all of those who shared and contributed their advice! Let's just pray no one follows it ;)

Below are a few more tips I've collected from literary agent Rachelle Gardner's Twitter on what NOT to do when submitting a query - except, of course, I had to reverse them so they can go along with our theme.

So if you want to be rejected by an agent, follow these tips from literary agent Rachelle Gardner's Twitter:

• Before you submit your query, make sure to first ask permission from the agent to do so.
• You don't need to know what a query is or have any idea on how publishing works.
• Avoid putting the word "query" in your subject line when submitting.
• You don't have to send your query just by email. If you send it through social media, your most likely to be noticed more quickly.
• In your query submission, make sure to mention the praise that you've received from your amazing writing.
• You don't have to include anything in your message of your query, except "Please read my attachment."
• Give the agent an adjective on how amazing your book is. Example: Earthshattering
• If you'd like your query email to stand out from all the rest, include: "I NEED A LITERARY AGENT" in your subject line. Make sure it's in all caps.
• In your query, tell the agent about the genre you are trying to pursue. Example: "Paranormal romance is a growing trend."
• You don't need to double or triple check your query for errors before submitting. Just trust your first instincts.
• In your submission, include: "Dear [another agent who is not the agent you are querying].
• Spread your query over a series of four emails in attempt for your submission to get noticed before others.

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If you remember this advice when submitting your query, I'm sure you'll lose an agent in no time. :)

Any more tips you'd like to contribute? Comment below!

Devotion: The Body of Christ

You have legs to walk. Eyes to see. Ears to hear, and a nose to smell. If it weren't for these body parts that each contain a specific assignment, we wouldn't be able to accomplish certain jobs. If I didn't have a mouth, I wouldn't be able to verbally communicate.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 says:

A person's body is one thing, but it has many parts. Though there are many parts to a body, all those parts make only one body. Christ is like that also. Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we were all baptized into one body through one Spirit. And we were all made to share in the one Spirit.

The human body has many parts. The foot might say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body." But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. The ear might say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body." But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them. So then there are many parts, but only one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the foot, "I don't need you!" No! Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are really necessary. And the parts of the body we think are less deserving are the parts to which we give the most honor. We give special respect to the parts we want to hide.The more respectable parts of our body need no special care. But God put the body together and gave more honor to the parts that need it so our body would not be divided. God wanted the different parts to care the same for each other. If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor.

Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body.

Wait, did you read that? All of us are the body of Christ. Each one of us has a specific talent that God has given us to further build his kingdom. It's what we do with that talent that counts. If you were given eyes to see, you wouldn't try to make them hear, would you? Just because God has given you a specific gift doesn't mean that you can do anything you want with it.

You may have talented hands to write, but those same hands may not be skilled to paint. You may have a talented voice to sing, but only the songs that will help God's kingdom are the ones worth singing about. The talents we have were designed and chosen by our Creator to be specific for us! Don't try to go outside of your calling, and don't abuse the gifts by using it for evil instead of good. We are called to glorify God and help others by using the talents he has given us. Our job on earth is to glorify him! Why would you want to use a body part for something other than the function it was given?

I love the song "If We are the Body" by Casting Crowns. I used to not realize what these lyrics mean, but now I understand. "If we are the body, why aren't the arms reaching? Why aren't his hands healing, why aren't his word teaching?" Think of how much stronger the Body of Christ would be if each of us on earth did the specific assignment that God has given us.

We need to stop making excuses such as "I don't have a talent" or "I'm just a teenager, I'll live for the Lord and pursue whatever God has given me after my high school years." You don't know when your life on earth will be over. Why would you want to waste your time doing things that don't support God's kingdom anyway? Eccl 11:9 says: "You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it."

Don't let Satan make you feel worthless or allow your mind to be filled with excuses. If you read 1 Corinthians 12, you'll see that God has given you a talent. It is our job as the Body of Christ to use these talents to love, to lead people to Christ and give glory to God. So let's all work together by letting our words teach, our hands heal, our arms reach. One step at a time.

Submit Your Writing Tips or Your Rejection Experience!

Do you know how it feels to be rejected by a literary agent? Most authors have experienced this. We all try to follow the same guidelines for submitting the perfect query, but sometimes, no matter how hard you try, there's still a couple things in your submission that cause the agent to immediately click the delete button. So instead of posting another article on how to grab the agent's attention, why don't we follow the example from the movie "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and write an article on how to lose the agent's attention?

If you have a story you'd like to share on how you've lost an agent's interest, or if you'd like to contribute a few of your own writing tips on how to have your query/manuscript rejected, please fill out a short form by clicking here (form closed).

On May 15th, the day before I go to my first writer's conference, I will post the completed article with your writing and follow your blog if I'm not already following.

Also, I'm 20 away from reaching 100 followers! Thanks to everyone who is one of my 80 followers. If you'd like for me to add your button to the sidebar, just grab my button and let me know that you put it on your site. :) If you'd like to receive updates from my blog, simply type in your e-mail address on the sidebar and click subscribe!

Remember:

“You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.”
~Isaac Asimov

Have You Lost Your Writing Voice?

If you've ever lost your voice, I'm sure you know how frustrating it is to not be able to talk. The only thing that comes out is a hoarse whisper. It's not a very pleasing sound. It's difficult to communicate and people can hardly understand what you're trying to say.

Losing your writing voice is just as frustrating as loosing your speaking voice. People don't understand you - your words come out sounding scratchy, or your voice varies each time you speak. How are you supposed to relate to people without a voice to communicate?

On the television show "American Idol", judges constantly ask the singers if they know who they are as a singer. Their voice, along with the genre of the music they want to pursue, their style, and their age all contribute to who they are as an artist. I'm 16, so my voice will read as a teenager, not an adult. The teenagers on American Idol are often told by the judges to sing songs that suit their age. In other words, don't try to sound like something you're not. Does your writing voice suit who you are? How do you know if you've completely lost your writing voice, or maybe you just can't seem to find it?

Without your voice, you can't communicate. Your voice is important. It has to be consistent. Do you know of anyone who has a different voice each time they speak? People recongize you not only by the words you say, but also by the voice you use to say your words.

Symptoms of Loss-of-Writing-Voice-Syndrome:

• Your words don't have rhythm. If. Your. Sentences. Sound. As. Choppy. As. These. Words. Do - then most likely you are suffering from the loss of your writing voice. Don't be too upset though, there's a few cures that you could try.
• Your words don't match your personallity. No offense to rebellious teenagers, but I don't think the poems that emo people write are all about sunshine and the beauty of nature.
• Your words don't suit your age or your audience. Singers on children's shows will have a much different voice and style of singing than the singers on a gospel music show.

Your words don't suit your genre. A lead singer for a screamo band wouldn't sound the same as an opera singer, nor would they have the same audience. Authors who write for young adults will not write on the same level as those who write for business men.


So what are the cures? When singers lose their voice, they try everything they can to immediently get it back. They can't sing without it. It's impossible to create a new voice, so they have to find it instead. How do you find your voice? Is your voice being heard as just a slight whisper? Does it need to be stronger? Here are a few cures that I've learned. Feel free to comment with your own “remedies”.


Loss-of-Writing-Voice-Syndrome Cures:

Read it out loud. Your writing should reflect who you are. If what you wrote doesn't sound right when you say it aloud, then it won't sound right on paper. Do people often say that you're funny? Include more humor. Are you someone who is always cheering up people and encouraging them on? Then what you write should be uplifting. You recongize a writer by their voice and their style of writing just like you would recongize a singer by their voice and the style of their music.
*Think of the reasons you write. Do you write to inform or educate people? Do you write to encourage people, or make them laugh? Make sure to stay true to your writing purpose.
*Write constantly, read constantly. Eventually you'll hear your voice. This would be the opposite for a singer. When they loose their voice, they have to give it a rest for a few days. But writers have to keep writing words until we finally find our voice.
*Make sure your sentences aren't all the same length. Have them flow, like the beat to a melody.
*Let someone else read your writing. If someone you know personally reads your writing and doesn't think it sounds like you, try rewording it until it does.
*Don't force words. Let them come out on their own. Keep it natural. Ocassionally you may hit a road block, but for the most part the words should flow with ease.
*Take writing breaks. Don't try to complete a chapter if you've been writing nonstop for the past five hours. Just like resting helps you recover more quickly when you are sick, taking a writing rest will also help when you have been writing so much that the words are starting to bump into each other. Close the laptop and go out for a little while so that when you come back you'll have all the energy you need to keep on writing!
*Do writing excercises. Doing a few writing prompts/excersises can help waken your mind and help to find your voice. Every workout should include a warm-up and a cool down. Simarly, warming up your words will help your writing not to turn out so strained.
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So open your laptop, make yourself some hot honey and lemon tea, take a few cough drops, and start typing away! Your writer's voice should be cured in no time.


"A writer's voice is not character alone, it is not style alone; it is far more. A writer's voice line the stroke of an artist's brush - is the thumbprint of her whole person - her idea, wit, humor, passions, rhythms."~Patricia Lee Gauch