The Writing Conference Blog Hop (Bonnie Way)

For a decade, the last weekend in September was reserved on my calendar for the Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship's annual Fall Conference. When I went to my first conference in 2000, I knew I'd found a family of writers, and I went back again every year for the encouragement and inspiration I found there. Every year, I found myself returning home ready to keep writing.

Since then, I've had the chance to attend a few other conferences, including The Word Guild's first two Write! Vancouver conferences. This weekend, I'm actually at BlogHer14 in San Jose, California, networking with bloggers and brands and learning more about that genre of writing.

I thought this would be a fun space to share our blog posts about what conferences we've attended (or would like to attend) or about any tips for going to writing conferences. Feel free to link up your posts (old or new) below.


And don't forget that ICWF's Fall Conference is still happening the last weekend of September - that's exactly two months away! This year, Phil Callaway is coming back as the keynote speaker and I can assure you, from hearing him speak in 2000, that he's a lot of fun! Check out the conference trailer and find out more details on the ICWF website.

Reading and Writing Controversy - Bonnie Way

I am a peacemaker.  I avoid conflict, keep my mouth shut in tense situations, change the topic rather than deal with something that could explode.  Whether or not that is helpful in real life is debatable, but as a writer, this tendency is a downfall.  Writing needs conflict.  We read to see how people deal with problems—if they don't have problems, then we'll read something else.

As a reader, I appreciate books which tackle tough topics or show protagonists in difficult situations.  This includes controversial topics.  I think fiction is great medium in which to explore controversial or taboo topics.  A novel is a safe arena in which to explore something that makes us uncomfortable.  After all, it's fiction, right?  So it's not really "real."  It's a way to face something without it becoming personal.  It's like reading a newspaper; we can keep it at arm's length if we wish.

Even though fiction lets us look at controversy in an arms-length, curious sort of way, it also draws us in.  This, I think, is the power of fiction.  In reading, we tend to identify with the protagonist.  We see what they see, feel what they feel, hear what they hear.  So when we have a protagonist who is dealing with something bad—bullying or illegal drugs or an affair or whatever—we also have the chance to get inside their head and understand why.  Why are they drawn to that?  What makes them do it?  And in that understanding, we are less prone to judgement.

There's an old saying about not judging someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.  I grew up in a very conservative Christian home.  We looked down upon anyone who was divorced, because divorce clearly wasn't God's plan for marriage.  It shouldn't happen.  The couple should have tried harder, shouldn't have been so selfish, should have done something better.  Then my parents divorced.  Suddenly, I had a completely different perspective on divorce.  As writers, we have the power to give that new perspective to readers through our writing.

Some of my favourite books deal with controversy.  Angela Hunt is one of my all-time favourite authors, but I passed on several opportunities to review her book The Offering because of the topic.  It deals with surrogacy and IVF, which the Catholic Church forbids.  Somehow, the book still ended up in my mailbox and I read it.  While I still agree with the Catholic Church's position on the topics, I have more sympathy for someone considering either because of the way the characters in the story drew me into their struggles.

Similarly, Nancy Rue and Rebecca St. James tackle the topic of cutting or self-injury in The Merciful Scar.  Before I read that, I had no idea why on earth someone would think that cutting themselves would fix anything.  I wasn't very far into this book before I was crying for Kristen, understanding completely why she wanted to cut.  The Merciful Scar made me think really hard about my own life and about people who face addictions and gave me a lot more sympathy.

As writers, then, I think we should tackle controversial topics.  I think we should write prayerfully and humbly, asking that God can bring truth into our words and help our words bring understanding to our readers.  I think we should read books that deal with controversial topics, as writers to learn how to handle those topics, and as readers to gain sympathy and understanding for the people dealing with those issues. 

InScribers Review: One Smooth Stone (Marcia Lee Laycock)

 

 

Book Review by Bonnie Way

One Smooth Stone
by Marcia Lee Laycock


One Smooth Stone (Castle Quay Books, 2007) is the story of Alex Donnelly, a young man who has spent the last five years hiding out the Yukon Territory in northern Canada, trying to escape his past, the police, and God. But with the passing of his twenty-first birthday comes an inheritance from his parents… money they left in trust for him before they died when he was a child… money that came from the lawyer’s settlement in a court case against a doctor for failing to abort Alex.

When the lawyer shows up at Alex's cabin in the Yukon, he isn't happy at being found. But his questions about his past cause him to return to Seattle to find out more. He isn't prepared to meet the lawyer's daughter, Kenni, who both intrigues and confuses him. Just as they start getting to know each other, Alex discovers that his mother wanted to abort him and runs back to the Yukon.

Marcia Laycock writes a grimly realistic tale of one man’s struggle with his past and with God. Alex was raised in foster homes, abused and mistreated, and the memories of those days still haunt him. He is angry at God for letting those things happen, angry at those who abused him, and just wants to forget about them. But God is after him, and uses even a blizzard and a grizzly bear to get Alex’s attention.

About the Author

Marcia Lee Laycock grew up on an island in Lake Huron. She attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, before "running away" to Alaska and the Yukon. She became a Christian in 1982 and with her husband went to Briercrest Bible College in Saskatchewan in 1985. Since 1988, she has lived in central Alberta. She and her husband have three daughters.

Marcia began writing as a child. Her devotional column was published for over a decade in various Alberta newspapers. She is the author of three devotional books, The Spur of the Moment, Focused Reflections (devotions for specific occasions), and Abundant Rain (a writer's devotional book). Her short stories have appeared in various anthologies, including A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider, and several are available for free at Smashwords. She is a member of Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship, The Word Guild, and American Christian Fiction Writers.

About the Novel

One Smooth Stone (ISBN 978-1-894860-34-5) won the 2006 Best New Canadian Christian Author Award from Castle Quay Books. It was also nominated by the Ontario Association of Christian Librarians for their "One Read" Award in 2009 (the award went to the Hot Apple Cider anthology, which included two pieces by Marcia Laycock).

Best-selling Alberta author Sigmund Brouwer says of One Smooth Stone, "Laycock delivers an engaging and imaginative story so effectively that it's difficult to believe the novel is her debut. I'm looking forward to more!" Most of Laycock's readers are also looking for the sequel; A Tumbled Stone tells the story of Alex's hunt for his sister and was published in 2012.

To read the first chapter of One Smooth Stone and more reviews, and to view the book trailer and discussion questions on the novel, visit Marcia's website at http://marcialeelaycock.com/.

InScribers Review: Heaven's Prey (Janet Sketchley)

 

 Book Review by Bonnie Way

 

Heaven's Prey
Author: Janet Sketchley
Publisher: Choose Now Publishing, 2013

One of the topics of my recent fiction class was the "occasion" or "destination" of a novel and how to keep the reader reading if they know what's going to happen. As I read Janet Sketchley’s novel Heaven’s Prey, I thought she illustrated this perfectly. We know the novel is about redemptions—presumably Ruth’s physical redemption and Harry’s spiritual redemption—but we read to find out how that happens. How does Ruth survive being kidnapped by a serial rapist? How does a guy as dark as Harry move toward redemption?

Ruth is an ordinary middle-aged woman living in Nova Scotia who has been praying for Harry Silver since he kidnapped, raped and murdered her niece. Prayer has helped her find healing, but it has also caused a rift with those around her—including her husband—who don’t understand how she can pray for a murderer. She’s on her way home from her weekly prayer meeting when she runs into Silver himself. Now, all her faith is put to the test as Harry kidnaps her and plans to make her his last victim…

I appreciated the fact that, even when Janet was writing about Harry’s crimes, she never made it graphic. We are given enough detail to know what happened but not so much that the crime is sensationalized. Yet these scenes never felt like the author was intruding by withholding information. Ruth talks about reading crime reports, about the horror she experienced in learning about Harry’s crimes, and her fear and disgust towards him gives the reader a bigger picture of Harry. At the same time, Ruth’s faith allows her to see Harry in another light.

Janet’s novel reminds us that even those we hate and despise are still human—and still loved by God. Harry is truly dark and despicable at the beginning of the novel, but Janet slowly takes us into his past, into the pain of his childhood, his pornography addiction, and his racing career, and we see the path that led him into darkness. It doesn’t excuse his crimes, but it helps us to understand him. I think it takes a truly skilled writer to make Harry neither so evil that he’s past redemption, nor so redeemable that we don’t believe he could have raped and murdered nine women.

To get a taste of the story, you can check out the Heaven’s Prey Blog Chase. At each stop in the chase, you’ll get a short “prequel” of the novel, some insight into what happened before Ruth encounters Harry. You can also drop by Janet’s website to read interviews with the characters and with Janet.

Janet Sketchley is a long-time member of Inscribe Christian Writer’s Fellowship; she served as acquisitions editor of FellowScript and wrote the fiction column for many years. She is passionate about fiction, but also has a nonfiction story in the award-winning anthology A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. She calls herself “a Christian growing in faith, trying to balance relationships and responsibilities.” She is currently working on the second book in her Redemption’s Edge series.

A Time and Space to Write - Bonnie Way

A soft, irregular clicking sounds fills the den.  A square, white computer screen casts its glow over me.  My eyes dart to the clock display in the bottom right of the screen, calculating the time since the baby went down for her nap and how much longer I might have to write.  My ears are tuned to the sound of the baby monitor sitting behind me.  Silence still and so the clacking continues.

Writing time can be hard to find as a mom.  I've often used naptimes, typing feverishly while the baby sleeps, thankful for each moment I have to write without a small writer sitting on my lap trying to help hit buttons on the keyboard.  As my daughters have gotten older, I've also stolen moments to write when they are playing with each other (again, typing hastily while listening to the sound of their play, ready to intervene should the sounds cease to be happy) or watching a movie together (if I'm under deadline and need that writing time) or having time with Daddy.

I often find myself envying my fellow writing students who aren't moms and can write whenever they want.  Then I have to remind myself that I started my blog before I was a mom—when I was a single young woman who still found it hard to find time to write.  There will always be something more pressing upon our time, some chore or task that demands to be done and pushes aside the writing.  The key as writers who also wear other hats (such as mom) is to keep making time to write.

Canadian author Cassie Stocks says, "Don’t tell yourself that once the children are grown, or the renovations complete, that then you’ll start writing. Start now, write around the dirty dishes, write about the dirty dishes.  The right time to write is when you sit in the chair."

Many of my creative writing instructors have talked about finding a schedule to write.  Knowing that you'll be sitting in the computer chair from 8 am to 10 am to write often makes the ideas flow.  For me, that's more of a rough routine than a schedule, but I do know that I can think about and plan articles, stories and blog posts while driving or doing dishes or walking them to the park and then, when I have that time at the computer, type like crazy.

Sometimes, finding that time to actually write requires being creative.  I asked fellow Inscriber Dayna Mazzuca how she manages to write while homeschooling two kids.  She answered, "I don’t find the time; I make the time or my husband gives me the time.  If I have to take the time, then I do our schooling in the morning and send my kids upstairs to do extra computer time (they have very limited computer time) or watch a movie.  Normally I have a writing day while they have a community class on Tuesday mornings.  In the afternoon, I have something low-key for them to do so I can keep writing."

So whether your writing routine is daily or weekly, whether you have kids distracting you from writing or something else, make sure you find that time to sit in the chair with your computer (or notebook) and write.  We are writers and writers write.

Where do you write and how do you make the time to fit it into your other tasks and jobs?

Christian or Secular? by Susan Barclay

Rebecca Miller's blog post, 'Christian Fiction - For What Purpose?', expresses dismay that "Christian writers would have no higher purpose" than to give readers another thrilling story. She argues that "stories can be about Christ, about faith in Christ, even about Christians and Christianity, and still be interesting and universal and timeless" and that Christian readers "would have no hesitation giving [these] books to their non-Christian friends."

I understand her argument, but I also wrestle with it. In reading over some of the other Inscribe posts from this month, I find myself nodding when Bonnie Way says, "So I believe that fiction's first (mandatory) purpose is to entertain; it's second (optional) purpose is to educate." I concur with Bruce Atchison's insight that the best Christian fiction doesn't tell the reader what to think, but encourages her to do her own thinking through a well-developed plot with realistic characters.I applaud Ruth Snyder's statement that "God is just as delighted with me expressing His image through a creative, fun story (fiction) as He is with a thought-provoking devotional (non-fiction)." I'm only sorry I don't have enough space in my own blog post to provide a quote from each of this month's thoughtful writers.

I've recently pulled out my unfinished novel and begun to write the pivotal, climactic scene. The book began as a secular read, with themes pertaining to family and forgiveness. At some point I considered whether to rework it for Christian readers, bringing in God and Christ and prayer. There wasn't enough conflict in the husband-wife relationship, so perhaps that could be increased by making one of the spouses a Christian and this could be a source of tension between them.

But then I wondered if making that change would seem forced. Isn't it okay to be a Christian writer whose story might gain a wider readership if not restricted by the "Christian" label and content? As Miller points out, even Christian publishing houses have moved away from producing books that are - pardon the phrase - overly Christian. While books can have strong Christian content and still be excellent (think Francine Rivers, for example), perhaps the important thing isn't so much to create an overtly Christian plot line, as to write a story that encourages a discussion of faith issues and leaves the reader thinking long after s/he has turned the last page.

Isn't it okay to deal with situations that can face anyone, Christian or not, and to discuss forgiveness in a broader context? After all, even non-Christians benefit from forgiving one another. And isn't it okay for non-believing characters to think about prayer, or to pray, even though they're not sure that anyone is listening?

As I push toward completion of my novel's first draft, I've decided to leave it as it is for now. I've found another conflict that can work for my married couple and, to be honest, at this point I just want to finish the thing.

Anyway, perhaps the real question to be asked concerns our motivation for writing. This, I think, is a little different from the "purpose" discussed in Miller's article, which strikes me more as "entertainment" vs. "lesson" or "moral". Is your motivation fame and fortune? Are you writing for yourself or for others?  Do you wish to display personal skill or honour God? Are you giving away any of your writing?

The writer who is Christian should want to please God in all that s/he does. This means involving Him. Maybe He has given you an idea or a fully developed piece. Maybe He is your first reader. Whatever the case, ask Him to guide you and to guide your writing. If God is at the centre of your work, you can trust Him to prepare those who will read it, and to ensure the maximum impact on their lives whether your story is branded as Christian or not.

Let's face it, once the story has been published, in whatever format, it's out of your hands anyway.
___________________

For more of Susan Barclay's writing, please visit her website at www.susan-barclay.ca

Fiction's First Purpose - Bonnie Way

In my creative nonfiction class this semester, one of our assignments is to prepare a book proposal.  We are supposed to research and pick a publisher, write a sample chapter, and outline our theoretical book—table of contents, back cover copy, who we are writing for, and why they'd want to read this.  As a writer, I find this a very useful exercise.  I also find it very daunting.  Over and over again, I find myself wondering, "Who would want to read about me?"

That question doesn't bother me when I'm writing fiction.  I have written a series of young adult fantasy novels (unpublished so far) and am currently working on a historical novel.  I've never stopped to ask why I'm writing any of these stories.  As a teenager, I simply wrote what I wanted to read.  As a voracious reader and a more experienced writer, I've continued to write what I would want to read.

When I sit down to read, I grab a novel.  I want a story to pull me in, to make me forget my everyday life, and even to teach me a little bit.  I like novels such as Kim Edwards' The Memory Keeper's Daughter, which tells a page-turning story while also challenging me as a reader to think about how I view children with Down's Syndrome.  Or books like The Offering by Angela Hunt, which explores a current issue while drawing me into a character's life so I sympathize with her dilemma.

Stories are powerful.  They have the ability to slip under a reader's defenses, to reach a person in ways that a sermon or article or nonfiction book never can.  That is not to say that story must have a purpose or an ulterior goal.  While I enjoy novels that challenge me, I also read them first and foremost for the story.  If the story is too preachy, then I as a reader will tune out the message.  So I believe that fiction's first (mandatory) purpose is to entertain; it's second (optional) purpose is to educate.

6 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction - Bonnie Way

I've always enjoyed reading historical fiction.  As my mom says, that's the best way to get history—as a story.  I've learned about life in Biblical times and both World Wars and even early Canadian fiction through novels that take me into the places and people of those times.  During university, I pursued that interest further by completing a minor in history.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Canadian history courses and told myself one day, I'd turn some of the lesser-known stories into a novel.

Today is that day, as I'm attempting to write a historical Canadian novel.  I'm developing a huge appreciation for all my favourite historical writers as I begin to realize just how hard it is to write historical fiction.  Perhaps that is, in part, because I seem to have a knack for choosing topics that are hard to write about (e.g., in university I decided to write a paper on a Scottish king about whom nobody else had written, and ended up researching him by reading about his wife—a Catholic saint—and the English kings of the day).

If you are also attempting to write historical fiction, here are some tips I've learned as I start this process...

1.  Create a timeline.  On one line, write the significant dates and events in your main character's life.  This will help you with the plot, as you'll want to "connect the dots" of these events as you are writing.  On a paralell line, write significant dates and events of that time—things your main character would have been aware of and might have talked about, or things that would have influenced his or her life.

2.  Keep a bibliography.  Write down every book you read with complete bibliographical details, including a small note about what information the book contained.  You never know what facts you might need to double-check.

3.  Ask yourself, "Why does this story matter today?"  What makes this moment in history or this historical person still relevant to readers today?  This will give you your "elevator pitch" or theme and may also help you develop your plot (as you include events in your character's life that will show why this story matters today).

4.  Read children's books.   Jane Kirkpatrick says the authors of grade-level novels and biographies often capture the issues of the time.  Then you can go to adult histories to get more in-depth information.

5.  Be creative in your research.  Are there movies about the topic?  Places you can visit?  Traveling exhibits?  Descendants you can interview?  Check the bibliographies of the books you read for ideas for your own research.  Make notes as you research about questions you have and other things you want to find more information about.  And don't be afraid to ask experts or others for help as you work—many people are happy to talk about something they are interested in.  You may be able to get a guest pass at your local university library to access scholarly databases or more resource.

6.  Start writing.  There will always be questions, more research you can do—just start writing.  Jane told me, " I have to start writing before I think I should because otherwise I never will! I'd be too intimidated by all that I don't know."  Make notes as you write about questions you have or facts you need to check, but don't fall into the trap of dealing with writer's block by doing more research.

Some of my favourite historical novels include The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer (medieval England), The Order of Good Cheer by Bill Gaston (early Canadian history), Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth (set in 19th century Texas).  For more suggestions, check out my other book reviews. 

Have you tried to write historical fiction?  What tips or advice would you share?

InScribers Review: The Art of the Personal Essay - Bonnie Way

My first published works were personal essays or creative nonfiction, although I didn't know either of those terms at the time.  I simply wrote short stories about my sheep, but many other writers have used personal experiences as a jumping off point for sharing their message with the world.

One of the best books I've encountered as a student of writing is Philip Lopate's anthology The Art of the Personal Essay.  This was a textbook for my creative nonfiction course in university, but I've since returned to it to review Philip's advice as I write.  In this neat collection, personal essayist Phillip Lopate explores the history of the genre and presents work by great writers from Seneca to the modern day.

The Personal Essays

The essays appear in the anthology in chronological order, from the “forerunners” such as Seneca and Plutarch to modern writers such as Annie Dillard and Richard Selzer.  There is a second table of contents that organizes the essays by theme (e.g., city life, country living, food, death) and by form (e.g., humour, lecture, memoir).

Lopate provides a brief introduction for each author whose work is included in the anthology.  These introductions provide some biographical information about the author as well as a brief analysis of their writing style.  For example, Lopate mentions that the two essays included by Virginia Woolf “show her characteristic movement toward reverie as well as her penchant for shifting angles of vision.”

What is the Personal Essay?

Lopate’s lengthy introduction to the anthology is a thorough examination of the form of the personal essay.  He says that the personal essay is “one of the most approachable and diverting types of literature we possess.”  He then lists several qualities of the personal essay, using examples from the essays chosen.

“Personal essay” is a relatively new term in the writing world.  Many of the earliest writers in this anthology certainly wouldn’t have referred to their works as “personal essays.”  Lopate provides an explanation for why certain essays met the criteria of his anthology while others (often by the same writers) didn’t.  For example, Seneca’s essays were originally written as letters, but Lopate includes them because they were intended for a wider audience and have a very personal tone.

Writing Personal Essays

The writer interested in how to write a personal essay could use this anthology as a textbook for the genre.  Lopate’s introduction is a thorough lesson in the form.  The selected essays offer an excellent picture of the genre and an idea of what other personal essayists have done.

A writer should study both the introduction and the essays.  Consider how each of the selected essays apply the principles Lopate discusses in the introduction.  Examine each essayists’ style—what makes Natalia Ginzburg’s writing vastly different from Edward Hoagland’s?  Try to imitate an essayist’s style.  Consider the subject matter tackled by each essayist.  Look at the form and structure of the essays.

About Phillip Lopate

Phillip Lopate has written three personal essay collections himself, as well as novels, poetry, and a memoir.  He has edited several anthologies and his essays have appeared in numerous magazines.  He is also the recipient of many writing awards.  For twelve years, he taught writing to children in schools.  He is now a creative writing instructor at the university level.

If you are a writer of personal essays or creative nonfiction, I highly recommend The Art of the Personal Essay.  Philip's advice will help writers of any experience to hone their words and share their message with their audience.  As a bonus, most of the essays are extremely enjoyable to read, so have fun while you are learning!

~ © Bonnie Way

Content Is King: Tips for Better Blogging - Bonnie Way

I started my blog seven years ago as a way to encourage myself to write.  My blog gave me a place to put my writing and an audience (I hoped) to read my writing.  Since then, my blog has changed and grown as I've learned more about blogging and as blogging and social media have themselves changes.  Amid all the changes of the blogging world, however, one thing has stayed the same: Content is king.

As writers who are bloggers, we have the ability to offer quality, well-written content to our readers.  As writers who are Christians, we have a further call to excellence in our writing, whether that writing is a poem or a novel or a short blog post.  With that in mind, here are a few resources I've found that have helped me to be a better blogger.

10 Must-Have Blog Elements
Kelli Miller and Crystal van Tassel have created an excellent series of videos called #LearnToBlog.  You can find their videos on YouTube or on Crystal's blog.  I highly recommend taking the hour to watch "10 Must-Have Blog Elements," which are applicable for any blogger.



Use Keywords Effectively
Another video by Crystal and Kelli explains how to use keywords well on your blog.  This is important for any blogger who wants to drive more traffic to their blog, but especially for authors who are attempting to write in a certain niche.  Use these tips to research the keywords related to your book and then work at crafting blog posts around those keywords to improve your search engine ranking with Google for those keywords. 



Great Photos Help Great Content
Today's social media is increasingly becoming photo-driven, especially with the rise of Pinterest.  Great photos can help any blog post stand out more.  Check out my post on using photos with your blog for more tips.

Share Your Great Content
Writing great content is a great start, of course, but people also have to find your content.  One way to do this is by linking up with other bloggers.  Many bloggers host linkies where you can leave a link to your blog post and visit the other bloggers who've also linked up to leave comments on their posts.  A few linkies that I recommend include:

• Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger
• Cozy Book Hop and Cozy Reading Spot at Reading List
• Sunday Stillness hosted at Inscriber Janis Cox's blog
• Top 10 Tuesday at Many Little Blessings

What is the best tip you've received about blogging?  Where you do you go to learn more about blogging?

~ © Bonnie Way 

Excellence in the Message - Bonnie Way

I spent Friday night at a literary soiree at the second annual Write! Vancouver conference. To kick off the soiree, Marc Cote, publisher of Cormorant Books, and John Stackhouse, professor at Regent College, discussed what excellence means for a Christian writer.  Most of us can point to excellent Christian writers of past centuries (Tyndall and Shakespeare were mentioned), but what does excellence mean to each of us in the message God has called us to tell?

John and Marc began by discussing excellence versus humility.  As Christian writers, we are called to both--excellence does not mean arrogance and humility does not mean that we don't strive to be our best.  Humility is an understanding of where you are in the scheme of things; even if God has blessed you with the gift of words, you need to work hard to honour that gift and to write as best you can.

Of course, excellence does not mean success.  Dan Brown's name came up frequently during the evening as a writer who is successful but not excellent.  Our pursuit of excellence may mean that we achieve excellence but not success.  Yet as Christians, we answer to God and not to man; God's definition of "success" is not the same as man's.

Nor does excellence mean that we will get noticed.  We must be true to our calling, single-minded in our pursuit of art.  Marc pointed out that if you chase the market, you will never catch up--at best, you will write what is popular today and by the time it gets published, it will be two years old.  If you follow your vision, you'll always be on time with what's inside your heart and mind--or with the message God is calling you to write.  In fact, often what gets noticed in not excellence, as in the Dan Brown case.

What is excellence?  It needs to be a function of your calling, your vocation, your message.  Marc asked how you will feel about your work once it is past revision--when your book has been published and you can't change it anymore, will you still like it?  Or will you regret not working harder on it?  However, the pursuit of excellence can also be paralyzing--a writer may never publish their book because they can always revise it.  Thus John challenged writers to be able to stand before God and say, "At this season of my life, about that message, that was the best way I could say it."

Writers are often admired for the belief in the Divine speaking through chosen people.  All creative people recognize that creativity is a gift, that moments of inspiration happen when we least expect.  At the same time, we have an obligation to carve out the time to write and to put our best effort into those moments of inspiration.  Inspiration does not equal excellence.

John challenged us to perform as we practice.  Whatever we write--long or short--should be excellent.  Don't use the excuse "it's just a tweet" or "it's just a blog post" to write something that is not excellent.  He has a small, target audience in mind as he's writing and, after writing each chapter, asks himself, "Did I reach my audience?  Did I speak excellence for them?"  For the writer, it's also important to read well; great writers learn from other great writers.

The panel was an inspiring and encouraging way to kick off the Write! Vancouver conference.  I felt challenged by John's and Marc's words to push myself further in my writing and to make sure I write what is excellent, not what is "good enough."  Their discussion remained in the minds of many writers on Saturday, as we frequently came back to the question of excellent in writing during other workshops.  And so I challenge you too, as a Christian writer, whatever the message God has given you to tell, tell it with excellence.

Take an Online Writing Class - Bonnie Way

Writer's conferences and writing courses are both great ways to improve your skills as a writer—if you are able to make it to the venue offering them.  Online creative writing courses are opening up new opportunities for writers who live in smaller towns or aren't able to travel to big writer's conferences.  When I lived in northern Alberta, I took two online courses (from two different universities) as a way to learn, encourage myself to write, and connect with other writers.  Here's what I learned from that experience.

Choosing an Online Creative Writing Course
Look for a course that is relevant to what you need to learn.  If you are just starting out, choose one or two topics to focus on and take a course or two in that area.  When that concept is mastered, look for more courses.

Look for a course that seems manageable to you.  Consider how much time you can commit to this course at this time and whether you will be able to meet the deadlines (if there are any).  Some courses are offered as work-at-your-own pace; there is no instructor, no deadline, no peer feedback.  Consider working through it with another writer so you can set deadlines for each other; or, if you are self-disciplined enough to work through the course and do all the suggested exercises on your own, go for it.

Peer Feedback is Valuable in Online Writing Courses
Writing is a lonely business and writers are often looking for others who understand the business.  An online writing course can be a great way to find writing buddies and to get critiques.  Pam Mytroen, a freelance writer and concert reviewer, says that “constructive criticism by other writers taking the same course was the very best component of the course. ... It's one thing to show your assignment to your family or friends to read but it's another thing to show it to an unbiased student who you're only dealing with over the internet. You get really honest criticism and encouragement.”

Having a fresh, unbiased eye look at a writer’s work is always valuable.  Other writers in an online course can do this without fear of hurting your feelings.  For Pam, that was “worth every single penny right there.”  She adds, “I discovered exactly what needed work. Their insights were surprising. I would have never gotten this help from people close to me.”

More Pros of Online Writing Classes
Online offers an atmosphere of immediacy.  Rather than waiting weeks for mail to travel in a traditional correspondence course, writers can receive feedback from their peers and instructors within hours or days.  Those enrolled in online courses guided by an instructor benefit from the wealth of the instructor’s experience.  Pam found her instructor “practical and discerning and encouraging.”  The instructor can also set deadlines which can help motivate the writer; as Pam says, “It was like a kick-start to writing. After that course I wrote for an entire year.”

Disadvantages of Online Creative Writing Courses
Many of the disadvantages are similar to the advantages.  Courses that offer instructors cost more than courses that do not; weigh your need for feedback and deadlines with the funds that you have to spend on your learning.

Peer feedback also depends upon the other writers in the group.  As Pam explains, what you gain from an online writing class “depends upon who your fellow students are and how much they're willing to give you.”  Pam had several good experiences with fellow writers in online courses, but then, “in one course I took, one of the students dropped out early and that only left two others to critique me. Of those two, one was defensive about everything I tried to help her with and I discovered in return that when she critiqued my work, it was poorly done.”  I had a similar experience in one of my courses; two students never offered critiques, so instead of getting feedback from four people, I only got two.

Writers who pay for an online writing course, expecting to get great critiques from their fellow students, may be greatly disappointed.  Pam felt that “when you pay several hundred bucks, there should be a more fail-safe system of getting the critiques you need.”  Before starting an online writing class, consider asking the instructor or the institution about critiquing guidelines for participants, what will happen if a participant drops out, and what the policy is if one student fails to participate in the critique process.

~ © Bonnie Way

Love Like a Blanket - Bonnie Way

I sat in the middle of the lumpy futon that was my bed, a rough wool blanket drawn up around my shoulders.  It was early in the evening yet—the sun still shone outside the unadorned window—but already the Australian outback was cooling off and with it, the house.  Against the wall, my blue duffel bag spilled out my clothes.  In the corner, an empty wardrobe sat, left behind by the woman who had moved back to Adelaide, leaving her two roommates looking for someone to rent this room.

I had two weeks left to my job in Alice Springs, two weeks before I headed south to Adelaide myself, and I was counting down the days.  I barely saw my roommates; one was a tour guide who was often out of town, and the other was a teacher who kept to herself.  I worked at a local tourist attraction, but I was just filling in there until they found more permanent staff, and so I hadn't really made friends with any of the other staff.  I wanted to go home, but everyone at home thought I was having the adventure of my life, so I couldn't even tell them about my loneliness and homesickness.

Across my knees was spread my journal, my little pink Bible, and a copy of The Purpose-Driven Life.  I had purchased the last item in Sidney, when I began questioning exactly why I was halfway around the world from home.  Now, I was digging into the first chapters again, looking up the Scripture verses that Rick Warren referred to.  And as I did so, a new warmth crept into that cold, empty room.  Over and over again, with each verse that I flipped to, God whispered to me, "I love you.  You are My daughter.  You are precious to Me.  I created you.  I love you."

Tears began to flow down my cheeks.  Warren's words seemed to speak right to me: "You were created as a special object of God's love!  God made you so he could love you."  That was exactly what I needed to hear right then, when I was so far from family and friends.  In fact, it even made sense that I was so far from home right then.  Maybe I needed to come to place a complete loneliness before I turned to God.  Maybe He had taken me away from all the people I normally turned to so that He could draw me to Himself.

That evening still stands out in my memory; if I close my eyes, I can feel God's love wrapping around me like the rough wool blanket I huddled under.  He was there when I needed Him most.

~ © Bonnie Way

Follow Publishing Trends - Bonnie Way

One of the biggest jobs as a writer is staying on top of trends in the writing and publishing industry.  A writer cannot afford to write stories in a style that was popular twenty years ago or to write about topics that have already been covered ad nausea.  Lee Masterson, editor of Fiction Factor, says, “No matter how much advice becomes available, there's always more to learn about the craft of writing, about correct submission procedures and about the publishing industry” (“How to Guarantee Failure as a Writer,” Fiction Factor Volume 9 Issue 7).

Here are a few ways that a writer can learn more and follow the trends.

Read Authors’, Editors’, and Agents’ Blogs

Blogs are a good way to see what authors, editors and agents are talking about.  Many now blog regularly about their latest projects or offer tips and information on industry trends.  Google “literary agents blog” to find several excellent agent’s blogs, including those written by Janet Reid, Rachelle Gardner, and Chip MacGregor. 

Look up favourite authors; chances are they have a blog and are sharing information.  For example, Susan May Warren, a best-selling Christian fiction author, publishes tips and advice on her blog My Book Therapy.  Bonnie Grove, author of Your Best You, blogs about writing along with six other writers at Novel Matters.

Budget time reading blogs wisely.  Determine how much time is appropriate to spend researching and which blogs provide the best information.  A writer just starting a novel may spend more time reading blogs that give tips on plotting and characterization, while a writer finishing a novel will be more interested in blogs on how to find an agent and write a book proposal.  Follow a blog for a week or two to see if the information helps; if it does, bookmark it and if not, find another blog to follow.

Subscribe to Writing E-Newsletters

Many writers’ websites offer e-newsletters for free or for a small price.  For example, writers may subscribe Hope Clark’s e-newsletter FundsForWriters for free.  Writing for Dollars, Worldwide Freelance, and Coffee House for Writers also provide free e-newsletters, as do many other writer’s websites.

These newsletters usually include an informative article, market listings, information on writing contests and grants, and advertisements for writers.  Some newsletters come out weekly while others come out once or twice a month. 

As with following blogs, don’t overdue reading e-newsletters.  If a newsletter isn’t providing the information expected, unsubscribe (there’s usually a link to do so at the end of the newsletter).  Remember that a writer is supposed to be writing; research should be aiding writing, not getting in the way of writing.

Read Books and eBooks about Writing

Books and eBooks about nearly every aspect of writing are also available. Look for recent titles of published books and remember that information changes quickly, especially market information. A five-year-old print book with market information is probably out of date. Ebooks can be updated by their writers or publishers and usually have more current information.

Take a bit of time every week to do some research, because as Masterson explains, “Refusal to learn about current trends, ignorance of changing requirements and a lack of regard for the advice from already-successful authors will mark you as an amateur.  Refreshing information you already know is not learning—but it is almost as important. It serves to strengthen the knowledge you already have.  A true writer never stops seeking new knowledge.”

~ © Bonnie Way

Comparative Literature - Bonnie Way

Classes started for me last week and I had my first short story due yesterday.  As I sat at my computer trying to work on it, I found myself struggling.  Not because I didn't have any ideas; I did have an idea that I'd been mulling over for most of our Christmas holidays.  Rather, I found myself struggling because I had seen all the work submitted by my classmates last semester.  I'd read the first stories three of them had submitted this year.  And I found myself comparing my work to theirs.

My plot isn't as good as hers.  My characters aren't as interesting as his.  My descriptions don't leap off the page like his.  These little whispers crept around inside my head, telling me I was just a mediocre writer.  I didn't belong in this class, with these students who were clearly far more gifted than I was.  Why did I think I could write literary fiction?  They would all laugh at this story when I handed it in!

Finally, I stopped those whispers, telling myself that I am not in a comparative literature class but rather a creative writing class.  I know these students and they know me.  I can't write like Mallory or Vincent, but they can't write like I can either.  Each of us has stories to tell that only we can tell.  Each of us has unique life experiences, unique ways of looking at the world, unique relationships with other people, that affect our writing.  I need to tell the stories that God has given me to tell and not compare my stories to those He's given to other writers.

One of the first stories in the Bible is the story of a man comparing his work to that of his brother.  You probably know the story: "Some time later, Cain presented an offering to the LORD from the land’s crops while Abel presented his flock’s oldest offspring with their fat. The LORD looked favorably on Abel and his sacrifice but didn’t look favorably on Cain and his sacrifice. Cain became very angry and looked resentful" (Genesis 4:3-5 CEB).  Instead of looking at his own offering, Cain compared it to Abel's and grew angry.  Both had given to God from their talents; Cain worked the land, Abel worked with sheep.  For whatever reason, Abel's was more favourable to God than Cain's, but instead of seeking God's will about his work, Cain choose to get rid of the competition.

One of the things I love about Inscribe is the way we support each other.  Among us, there are published writers and others just starting out; there are novelists, playwrights, devotional writers, short story writers, journalists, poets, children's story writers.  We all have a place in God's plan, a story that He wants us to tell.  As a writer, I can learn from other writers, absorbing from them tips and techniques that will make my writing better, but I cannot compare myself to them.  And so I silence the voices in my head that tell me to stop writing, and I keep on because I know God has given me this desire to write and I must write the stories He's given me to write.

"If anyone thinks they are important when they aren’t, they’re fooling themselves.  Each person should test their own work and be happy with doing a good job and not compare themselves with others.  Each person will have to carry their own load." Galatians 6:3-5 CEB

 ~ Bonnie Way (http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com)

Ponder Your Stories - Bonnie Way

A few weeks ago, I wrote a short story about the weekend I spent in Canberra during my summer in Australia.  It was an interesting weekend involving a new traveling companion, meeting a guy who promptly fell head over heels in love with me, and almost getting stranded downtown at midnight before a bus driver offered to give us a ride back to the hostel at the end of his regular route.  Canberra stands out among my memories of Australia, but when my workshop group read my submission, they asked, "What's the story?"

All the events that I mentioned are interesting and even amusing, but they aren't enough for a story in themselves.  I realized that just relating those events aren't enough.  I also had to think deeply about what those events meant to me—why exactly those memories stand out in my mind, even six years after the event.  And then, when I could put into words those abstract feelings about the weekend, I had to somehow convey them to my reader and show exactly how that weekend changed me.

As I thought about that experience, a verse from Luke's version of the Christmas story popped into my head.  After everything that happens to Mary and Joseph—the trip to Bethlehem, the birth in a stable, the shepherd's arrival, the wise men's gifts—Luke tells us, "Mary committed these to memory and considered them carefully" (Luke 2:19 CEB).  At the time they happened, they were probably exciting and interesting events.  But she'd have to wait until Jesus grew up and had completed his ministry and work here on earth to really understand all the significance.

Some stories need time to grow before we can really see their effects.  As writers, we need to not only remember and retell stories from our lives, but to also consider them carefully to ensure that we're really capturing the meaning of the story for our readers.  That might mean waiting to tell a story until the right time—until we can truly understand it ourselves.  That might mean multiple rewrites as we dig deeper into our memories and what they mean.  As Christian writers, we can ask God for guidance as we write, that he will help us to resurrect these memories and to share them with those who need to hear them.

"I pray that God will allow me to speak knowledgeably and to ponder well what God has taught me. God himself is the guide even of Wisdom, and God keeps those who already possess wisdom on the right course." (Wisdom 7:15 CEB)

~ © Bonnie Way (http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com)

Communication is Key - Bonnie Way

In university, I took a biology course to fulfill the science requirements for my Arts degree. It was not a course I looked forward to. Biology was my best science in high school, but my marks were just good enough to get me into university. Fortunately, I had an excellent professor and a friend to study with, but what got me through the course was my writing skills.

The exams had two parts: a multiple choice section and a written part. The multiple choice questions were specific. More specific than I knew. I couldn’t keep the Krebs’ cycle in my head long enough to get to the exam. What I could do was write. As an Arts major, most of my exams were written. I could write a whole essay on something I had only the foggiest idea about. And because I could write, I passed the course.

Communication is key in our world today. If we cannot communicate the information we know, it doesn’t matter what we know. Miscommunication or unclear communication can result in huge blunders or great confusion. As an editor, my job is to make sure that concepts and information are clearly communicated to the intended audience. As a writer, communication is my job.

So how can we make sure we are communicating clearly—as mothers, as writers, as employees? Written communication gives us the opportunity to check for clarity. Even a quick email should be double-checked before the SEND button is hit. Here are a few hints for checking your writing (whether email, articles, or other documents) before it goes to its audience. 

1. Read it aloud to yourself. You may want to make sure the room is empty before you do this (though your two-year-old may not care), but it allows you to hear awkward constructions, errors, run-on sentences, and other problems you may miss by just reading the document. Read carefully. Pause at commas and periods. Run out of breath? Your sentence is too long. Does a pause feel awkward? Maybe it is incorrectly punctuated.

2. Give it some time. If the document isn’t urgent, put it aside for an hour or a day or two and look at it later. This will let you “forget it” and see it with fresh eyes. You may catch mistakes that you did see as you were writing.

3. Have another person read it (critique groups are great for this!). If they are confused or uncertain, fix it. Perhaps in explaining it to them, you’ll discover a better way to express it. They may also be able to catch spelling or punctuation errors that you missed. 

Communication requires constant work but improves with practice. Pay attention to how those around you communicate (especially if you write fiction and need dialogue ideas!). Just remember that even if you don’t know everything, you can communicate clearly what you do know.

~ © Bonnie Way, http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com

Stop and Smell the Flowers – Bonnie Way

“Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful.” 

–John and Stasi Eldredge

High on the mountain slopes of the Canadian Rockies bloom some of the most beautiful flowers in the world.  Part of their beauty comes from the amazing fact that they grow where they do.  Surrounded by jagged rocks and towering mountain peaks, a tiny, delicate flower, struggling to grow in the handful of soil that it has found to put its roots into, seems rather out of place.  This is a world of extremes, of ruggedness and harshness, until you see the gentle, beautiful flower blooming there.

Some of these flowers find shelter in the forests, growing deep in the shade, their delicate stems springing from deep, soft moss.  Their bell-shaped flowers hang from slender stalks, a burst of yellow or red among the deep greens, browns, and blacks of the forest.  They seem vulnerable to every passing footstep, yet they flourish here, sheltered among the pines and spruces that tower above them.  Among the giants of the forest they grow, daring and almost audacious.

Others grow in the alpine meadows, where not even the giants can take root.  Stand in a meadow, and survey the rocks and the spriggy green heather, and you will think that no flower could possibly survive there.  Every passing wind would sweep them away, and the late and early snows of every season would freeze any plant so delicate.  Then look again, and you will see the sparks of colour among the green.  Tiny flowers grow here, red and white, dotting every inch of the alpine meadow.  They cling close to the ground, hiding among the sturdier plants for shelter, and yet they brave the snows and the winds and flourish there.

Some hide themselves next to other shelters, growing close to the boulders that are scattered over the meadows.  Beside a jagged rock that has jolted down from some peak far ahead, these flowers spring up, pushing their roots down into the cracks next to the rock.  Here they wave their buttercups, sheltered from the winds, and so smile at the sun that smiles back at them.

I think sometimes of all the flowers that will bloom here unseen.  Some come for only a day or a few days’ time, and then are gone again.  I walked into one valley and came out again two days later, by the same trail, to find that the lilies had sprung up along the trail.  There were only a handful, in a stretch of trail perhaps twenty steps long, which had not been there the two days before.  How long they lasted I do not know, but I do know that I was there to see them when they bloomed.

There is something about these flowers, tenaciously clinging to the little bit of soil that they have found, fighting against the climate and the mountains for their very existence, that draws me.  I have to smile when I see them, springing up in a place that seems to support no life.  Their very existence appears impossible, and yet they are there, inspiring every passing hiker, who has to be as daring and hardy as they are just to get to the places where they grow.

Delicate beauty in a place of rugged harshness.  A brief flowering among rocks that have stood for centuries.  Life in places where life seems impossible.  Take time to stop and admire the flowers and contemplate the message they speak to you.

~ © Bonnie Way

Generating Ideas - Bonnie Way

Recently, I started editing and rewriting the fantasy novel I wrote over a decade ago.  I've talked for years about doing this, but the project has always seemed daunting.  Novels are big projects that take a lot of time.  Yet I realized I would never have lots of time to focus on the novel; I would simply have to make time.

The first day I sat down at my computer and opened the file (is there an electronic equivalent for "dusty"?), I made it only a few pages in before becoming overwhelmed.  There was so much to do, yet I didn't know where to start.  I thought the space of a few years would give me fresh perspective on the characters and events; instead, it discouraged me.

I persisted a few days later, getting a few pages further.  And then, after I turned off the computer, something wonderful happened.  The characters and their problems continued to churn through my head.  Snippets of dialogue formed.  Character insights occurred.  Ideas popped up, swirled around, formed into new scenes and new chapters.  The next time I sat down at the computer, I typed.

I remembered then the joy of writing—a joy I had forgotten.  In that time of leisure I knew as junior high and high school, I could sit at my computer and write when ideas came to me and then return to my math problems or science assignments when I ran out of ideas.  Lately, as work and motherhood and other duties have demanded my time, I had forgotten about how ideas generate.  Yes, I need time to sit at a computer to actually work on the novel.  But I can keep working on it mentally as I'm doing laundry, washing dishes, or pushing my daughters on their tricycles.

As I thought about this, the theme for this year's Fall Conference popped into my head: "words descending like dew" (Deut. 32:2).  In this verse, the prophet or poet asks for words to proclaim God's greatness. He uses images of dew or showers of rain to describe all the things he has to say on this topic.  It reminds me that God is the giver of our inspiration; as I take time to nourish my creativity and to use the gifts He has given me, He will reward that.  As I work on this novel, I pray that He will give me words like dew and that my novel may somehow bring glory to Him.

Good Writers Can Write Anything - Bonnie Way

Recently, I started tutoring two boys (grades 6 and 9) in writing.  While both have expressed an interest in creative writing, they are focused more upon academic writing—learning the skills they need to write good essays for school in the fall.  At our last meeting, I showed them an essay with a personal anecdote and encouraged them to include such little stories in their own essays.  One boy turned to me and said, "But we can't do that for school."

It is easy for us as writers to become focused upon one genre or one type of writing.  When I started as a writer, I wrote fiction.  YA fantasy, to be precise.  I occasionally wrote other, shorter stories for school assignments (still fiction), but the bulk of my writing energy was focused upon the imaginary world that I had created.  Up until I started university, I would have said I was a fiction writer.  And even in university, when I wanted to take writing courses, I eagerly signed up for the fiction class—and took the nonfiction class only because it was the only other writing class offered.

Now, when someone asks me that age-old question, "What do you write?" I say that I write a little bit of everything.  Fiction is still my first love, but lately the bulk of what I write is short, nonfiction articles for magazines and websites.  I've dabbled in poetry and essays, short stories and long stories, and even written a screenplay (under duress for a writing class, but hey, I wrote it).  I no longer try to fit myself into a category as a writer, but to challenge myself and to simply write.

Two of my favourite writers are Sigmund Brouwer and Angela Hunt.  Both of them have taught at Inscribe conferences and both of them have written a lot of books in a variety of genres.  They've written futuristic fiction, contemporary fiction, YA fiction, board books, and nonfiction, among other things.  It's likely greatly increased their incomes, but it's also kept them from becoming boring writers (I won't mention the names of other authors I've read who seem to be writing the same books over and over and over again).

So let me challenge you, in what's left of summer, to write something that you didn't think you could write—or to read something that you wouldn't normally read.  Stretch yourself.  Write outside your comfort zone.  And see what you can learn from it.