My Journey to a Book Contract - Part 4 Master GMC and MRU's

by Elva Cobb Martin

We continue "My Journey to a Book Contract" and honing your craft. This is Part 4. You can access Parts 1-3 in our archives.

Master “Goals, Motivation, and Conflict” 

(check out a great book with same title by Debra Dixon)

Your hero, heroine and even other characters should have a:

        Goal – What they want

        Motivation – Why they want it

        Conflict – The why not (what stands in their way)

   

   Internal and External Needs evolve into Goals, Motivation, Conflict which drive the story.

           Carolyn Greene says inner conflict is what gives characters’ something to think about.

           External conflict propels the plot and gives characters something to do.

           Inner needs can be universal and intangible: respect, acceptance, security, safety, love

           External needs should be tangible and resolvable:  justice, revenge, the truth, job promotion   

Kirsten Arnold wrote on a Seekerville blog comment her idea at Internal and external GMC & logline. Here it goes.

Log Line/Pitch: A rugged Alaskan hunting guide must save the younger brother of the woman he loves while learning to accept the forgiveness that can set him free and open the door to love and life.

    

Who: Cooper Maitland: Alaskan outfitter/hunting guide

External GMC: Cooper wants to help the FBI catch drug traffickers operating as Alaskan fishermen, and save Bryce Wallace the kid brother of McAye Wallace the woman Cooper loves.
Internal GMC: Cooper wants to forgive himself and accept God’s forgiveness for the terrible mistake he made that cost McAye’s sister her life. His love for McAye stands in the way, because it serves as a constant reminder of his past and keeps him mired in guilt.


Master MRU’s - Motivation Reaction Units

(Should be in this order but don’t have to include all 4)

  1) Physical or gut level

  2) Thought

  3) dialog (can be combined with action)

  4) action

Incorrect Order (example from my draft of Summer of Deception)

Rachel looked at him for a long moment. First the housekeeper, now this man. Wasn’t anyone expecting her? A sting shot through her empty stomach. But she shook off her uneasiness. Everything could be cleared up in two seconds. She dug in her handbag. “Mr. Barrett offered me a summer position. I have his note here.”

Corrected Order: 

A sting shot through Rachel’s empty stomach. Wasn’t anyone expecting her? First the housekeeper, now this man. She looked at him a long moment and cast off her uneasiness. Everything could be cleared up in two seconds. “Mr. Barrett offered me a summer position. I have his note here.” She dug in her handbag.

What helped you master GMC or MRU's? Please leave a comment and share this blog on your social media by clicking on the icons below.

Be blessed today,
Elva

Elva Cobb Martin is vice-president of the South Carolina Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has two inspirational novels contracted with Lighthouse Publishers of the Carolinas. Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and an historical romance, In a Pirate’s Debt. Both have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. Jim Hart of Hartline Literary represents her. She and her husband Dwayne are semi-retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com,on her blog at
http://www.carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com ,
Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin

Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI

8 Tips to Rekindle the Romance of Writing

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Between deadlines, edits and rejections it’s easy to fall out of love with our writing. It can get so bad that we begin to dread sitting down at the keyboard.

When that happens to me my mind begins to reprioritize my life. I can suddenly find a million things more important than putting my rear end in the chair and pounding out words. 

When I begin arguing with myself, stating that clean baseboards are more important than word count goals, I know I’m in trouble.

Today, in honor of the upcoming holiday of love, I want to share some tips that help me fall back in love with writing.

8 Tips to Rekindle the Romance of Writing

1. Realize that love is a choice—not an emotion. I know that sounds more like marriage counseling than advice for writers, but truth is truth. I’ve made a commitment to what it means to be a writer, and the means not quitting when times get bad.

2. Stop the negative talk. The more you bad-mouth writing—even if it’s just in your mind—the more you’ll begin to believe what you’re hearing. This is an important step in returning to that bloom of first love. Don’t taper off the negativity, just stop . . .  immediately!

3. Make a list of all the things that made you fall in love in the first place. There was a reason you answered the siren call of words. It’s up to you to remember it and then—write it down.

4. Set the mood. Just like a marriage is better with an occasional candle-lit dinner, writers also need a little romancing. Choose someplace you love and write there. It could be a coffee shop, or a cozy chair by the fireplace at home. Then add a little mood music. Even if you don’t usually write to music, sometimes the change can be just the spark to rekindle the love.

5. Make Writing a priority again. When we take something for granted, we tend to push it further down on our priority list. It's time to remember why you started writing and re-establish it as a major priority.

6. Dress it up—your writing space that is. This may mean sprucing up your office, investing in a new writing program (Scrivener anyone?) or it might just be a new bit of wall art. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just make sure it’s writing related.

7. Add a little mystery. Start your writing time with a writing prompt. If you’ve never used one before, you’re in for a treat. It’s something that gets your creativity flowing. You can type writing prompts into a search engine on the Internet and get thousands of them.

8. Rekindle the romance. Revisit the things you love to write. If you’re working on book revisions, take time to write a poem, or short story, or devotion. Or maybe just spend some time with old-fashioned pen and paper, journaling.

These are the things I do when I need to fall back in love with the written word. What tips do you have. Be sure to share them in the comments section below.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains ChristianWriters Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for SouthernWriters Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Don't miss her new book from Worthy Inspired, WHILE MY SOLDIER SERVES.

Use What You've Got--Learning to Write in Bits & Pieces of Time

by Edie Melson

I had always believed that I needed at least an hour, and preferably three, to make any progress at all with my writing.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

In the past year, I’ve learned how to use the time I have, even if it’s just fifteen minutes. Today I want to share with you the things I do to increase my productivity when life intrudes.

1. Decide to use what you’ve got. This is the biggest part of the puzzle. If you wait for perfect circumstances, chances are you’ll never finish your book. Truthfully, things rarely line up. When they do—celebrate! When they don’t—just decide to work harder.

Do I Need A Critique Group?

by Andrea Merrell

Critique—a word that causes fear in the hearts of otherwise brave writers—produces tremendous results. It’s the best way to know you’re on the right track, and the easiest method to get face-to-face advice and direction from other professionals. When I meet with writers, especially those at the beginning of their journey, I hear a number of excuses for not connecting with a critique group. Here are the most common.

I'm Too Busy 

If you have time to write, you must take time to get feedback from others. The writer’s journey involves a huge commitment of time. Conferences, workshops, and online courses are important, but being part of a group is one of the best ways to learn and get inspired. Sometimes you can gain more in a few brainstorming sessions than by years of classes.

I'm Too Shy 

If you desire to be published--or even share your writing with friends and family--you will need to overcome the shyness and pray for boldness. Writing involves networking, marketing, and speaking. Take hold of your passion and let it drive you.

 I Don't Know How to Find One 

Check with your local Christian bookstore to see what they recommend. If a local group is not available, find one online. If all else fails, start a group yourself.

I Don't Handle Criticism Well 

Don't think of a critique as criticism. Think of it as a way to hone your skills and perfect your craft. Remember that the goal of the group is to help you, not tear you down. Develop a writer's rhino skin and always be open and teachable.

The Bottom Line 

Being part of a good critique group will help you overcome your fears, prepare you for conferences, and help get your manuscripts polished and ready for submission. We all have a lot to learn and the process will never end.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (TEV) tells us that, Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. Don’t take this journey alone. Find others to come alongside you to make the experience educational and fun.

For more writing and editing tips, check out Andrea’s new book, Murder of a Manuscript, (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas 2014) now available from Amazon.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1941103057/ 

Andrea Merrell is a freelance writer and editor living in the beautiful upstate of South Carolina. She is Associate Editor for Christian Devotions Ministries and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Andrea has led workshops at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference (KCWC), Writers Advance Boot Camp, and The CLASS Christian Writers Conference in New Mexico. Her work has been published online and in numerous anthologies. Andrea’s next book, Praying for the Prodigal, will be released by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in 2015. To learn more about her, visit her website: www.andreamerrell.com.

Persistence Trumps Talent

by Susan Craft

I’m hesitant when asked to talk about the process of writing, because each author has his or her own way of going about it. I’ve been writing professionally for over 40 years. Granted, some of it was, I told myself at the time, not what I really wanted to be writing—articles for agency publications, informational materials, speeches for the agency director.

It was the day job I couldn’t quit because I couldn’t get anyone interested in my novels.

Over the years, I have come to the realization that any writing hones your craft. It’s wrapped up in the thought processes required to come up with an idea and the utilization of resources to research thoroughly. It’s the time to learn correct grammar and spelling, as well as the willingness to learn from the masters. Mixed in is the discipline to sit in the chair and work, along with the development of thick skin in order to learn from, and not resent, criticism. It’s learning to develop the humility that comes with rejection, and the absolute joy that comes when someone really likes what you’ve written and says those magic words, “I couldn’t put it down.”

With that realization came the light-bulb moment when I understood that employees and their families were honored by my articles published in our agency newsletter. The mental health patients and their families deeply appreciated the information about their or their loved one’s illness written in such a way that they could understand what was happening to them. And the audiences hearing the speeches gained insight into what our agency was trying to accomplish and were inspired to partner with us to achieve those goals. My writing actually helped some people. How rewarding is that.

I still work full-time and continue to plug away at novel writing. The speaker at a writers’ workshop I attended last year made the statement, “Persistence trumps talent.”

Well, brothers and sisters, I’m here to tell you that I know a little bit about persistence. Over the past 30 years I’ve attended more writers workshops and conferences than I can remember. Sometimes the information would contradict something I had heard in a previous conference. This happened mostly in the area of marketing—what genres were selling, what publishing houses were looking for, what agents wanted to see, the acquisitions editor who threw manuscripts into her sludge pile because she had had a lousy breakfast. I listened and I learned to sift through the information and glean the good stuff to incorporate into my writing.

My persistence was rewarded when in November 2011, the Ingalls Publishing Group released my inspirational Revolutionary War romantic suspense, The Chamomile. When wonderful reviews started showing up on places like Amazon and Goodreads, I truly was amazed and excited. When The Chamomile won the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Okra Pick award, I was over the moon.

So, here’s my advice boiled down into the format I like best—a list:

• Write every day, preferably in the same place and at the same time. (I don’t follow my own advice about the same place, same time, but I write every day.)

• Get up early one morning and start writing without stopping; especially don’t stop to edit. Try switching off your monitor when you’re typing. You can’t edit what you can’t see.

• After editing on the screen or in print, read your work aloud. You’ll be amazed at how many awkward sentences you can fix this way.

• Join a critique group, preferably with people who write in your genre. (Or find a critique partner.)

• Attend as many writers’ conference and workshops as you can. These things can get very expensive, so thoroughly check them out for those that sound helpful to you and your level of writing. The networking is invaluable.

• Read—a lot, especially the great writers. You’ll soon come to recognize what excellent writing is.

• Keep notebooks describing the interesting people you meet and the places that give you “vibes” (sorry, I’m a 60s girl).

• Enter writing contests; sometimes you get tremendous feedback from judges and you get name recognition, awards, and rewards if you win.

• Volunteer to work at your local Book Festivals. They are the ones who will invite you to speak once you’ve been published. You’ll meet some fine people and network with published authors who usually have good advice.

• If you write historical fiction, PLEASE, make every effort to assure that your facts are correct and your history is good.

• Self-publishing is separate from writing. Not every writer has the time, the talent, or the interest. Both writing and publishing take work. Self-publishing demands the work of both. Even if you land a contract with a traditional publisher, you must still work at self-promotion.

• Get an agent. Some writers complain that this is unnecessary and ask why they should give another person a piece of the royalties.

• My agent, Linda S. Glaz, with Hartline Literary Agency, is fabulous. She is my best ally, she knows where my books should be, and she knows the people to send them to, and they respect her opinions. While she’s out there promoting my novels, I’m free to write. I’m the first to admit, though, that finding an agent is just as difficult as finding a publisher.

• This last one is for Christian writers. Pray about and for what you are writing. Ask yourself, will this glorify His name? Will it lift up your readers? Will he or she be a better person for having read what you’ve written? Have you done your absolute best to honor the absolute sacrifice that was made for you? Will you handle rejection with grace and accolades with humility?

Susan F. Craft’s Revolutionary War romantic suspense, The Chamomile, won the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Okra Pick.  Susan has a degree in Broadcast Journalism, and her 40-year career includes working for SC Educational Television, the SC Department of Mental Health, the SC College of Pharmacy, and currently for the SC Senate.

Susan wrote A Writer's Guide to Horses, available on the website of the Long Riders' Guild Academic Foundation, www.lrgaf.org.  The Guide provides authors comprehensive information about horses to assist them to accurately portray horses in their works.

An Army brat, she has lived in Columbia, SC, sixty years. She married her high school sweetheart, and they have two adult children, one granddaughter, and a granddog.

An admitted  history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, listening to music, and sitting on her front porch watching the rabbits eat all her daily lily bulbs.

     

Susan is represented by Linda S. Glaz, Hartline Literary Agency. Connect with Susan on her website.