My GPS Writing Life: Recalculating

by Elva Cobb Martin

Driving the other day with our GPS, I suddenly saw how my writing life resembles this navigational gadget. My husband looked on with raised brows as I burst into fits of uproarious laughter. If you read on, get ready to laugh and release some healthy endorphins into your system.

In writing I put in my goals and happily slam my foot on the gas doing what I love most these days—writing. But then I find the pavement running out from beneath me, and I must recalculate.

Goal: Write the Dream Novel

• Fall in love with an idea, a genre, a character, a setting, and a theme.
• Research, research, and read tons of novel-writing books.
• Join a writers’ group.
• Attend an expensive writers’ conference.
• Plan like crazy getting the main plot points, conflict, and MRUs in order.
• Gas up to the speed limit, and get the first draft down on paper.
• Receive email feedback. “Cozy mysteries are no longer selling well.”

...Recalculating…

Goal: Get an Agent

• Research sites, friends, writing groups, the kitchen sink, and the fence post.
• Research query letters.
• Research agents not on any predators’ list and their submission guidelines and blogs.
• Revise, critique, and polish the query. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
• Send it to The Agent.
• Receive email feedback: “Sorry, The Agent is no longer accepting fiction clients.”

...Recalculating… 

Goal: Submit to an Editor on My Own

• Research and study fiction editors and publishers. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
• Learn how to do a great One Sheet.
• Join or start another writers’ group heavy on critiquing.
• Attend some more expensive writers’ conferences.
• Get editor appointments.
• Get some nibbles.
• Memorize every word the editors say.
• Revise; get critiques; polish; check DPOV, pesky words, and tricky errors. Repeat until finished (or ‘til you hate the novel).
• Send full to first editor ASAP.
• First Editor Response, “I really like this, but we have just bought a novel with a similar theme and setting. Sorry.”
• Repeat most of the above.
• Second Editor Response, “I like this so far, but we are really looking for novels of 90,000 – 100,000 words. You’re about 20,000 words short.
• Repeat most of the above.
• Third Editor Response, “I like this, but it’s too wordy. You need to cut about 20,000 words.”

...RECALCULATING!  

It's the thing I now do best.

What about your writing life? Ever feel like you are on a GPS merry-go-round?

The good news is that my real GPS (most of the time and sometimes with several recalculations) manages to get me to my destination. I hope the same holds true for my writing life, especially since I have the best model on the market—GHS. God's Holy Spirit.

If this article made you smile and feel less alone as a writer on the uphill journey to publication, please leave a comment, tweet it, and share it on Facebook.

Elva Cobb Martin

Elva Cobb Martin is 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. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have published her articles. She has completed two inspirational romances. In a Pirate’s Debt is being considered by a literary agency for representation. Summer of Deception is being considered by a publisher. A mother finally promoted to grandmother, Elva lives with her husband Dwayne and a mini-dachshund writing helper (Lucy) in Anderson, South Carolina. She and her husband are retired ministers. Connect with her on her web site www.elvamartin.com, her blog, Carolina Romance with Elva Martin, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

What Is Historical Fiction?

by Susan F. Craft

This is my favorite historical ever!

Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a specific period or significant event in history. It often presents actual events from the point of view of fictional people living in that era, but with actual historical people making appearances. Works in this genre often portray the manners and social conditions of the persons or times presented in the story, with attention paid to period detail. In historical fiction, setting and events drive the story.

Historical Fiction by Year or Time Period

Ancient Times-- Up to 1000 B.C.
1000 B.C. - 1B.C.
1 A.D. - 300A.D.
301 A.D. -500 A.D.
Early MiddleAges (501 A.D. - 1000 A.D.)
High MiddleAges (1000 A.D. - 1300 A.D.)
Late MiddleAges (1301 A.D. - 1500 A.D.)
1501 A.D. -1600 A.D.
1601 A.D. -1700 A.D.
1701 A.D. -1800 A.D.
1801 A.D. -1900 A.D.
1901 A.D. -1970 A.D.

This is one of my favorite novels. It
won 3 Christy Awards this year (2014).

Historical Fiction by Period Name (list taken from Historical Novel Society)

American Revolution

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

Ancient World (Other)

Arthurian (ca 450-600)

Biblical

Colonial America

Early Medieval (to 1337)

Early United States

Edwardian

English Civil War

French Revolution

Georgian

Gilded Age

Great Depression

Jazz Age

Late Medieval (1338 to 1485)

Multi-Period

Napoleonic

Prehistoric

Regency (1811 to 1820)

Renaissance

Restoration

Tudor

US Civil War

Victorian (1837-1901)

Viking

WW1

WW2

Some of the Major Categories of Historical Fiction

• Alternate Historicals explore how history may have happened differently.

Another favorite novel!

• Biblical Novels can be set with actual people, places, or events from the Bible; can be set in a different time period but the characters or events are based on scripture; or can depict an era of history from the Bible, although the characters may not be biblical.

• Historical Fantasy Novels mix history with fantasy.

• Historical Mysteries are a cross between historical fiction and mystery.

• Historical Thrillers or Suspense put their heroes in danger.

• Literary Historical Novels examine contemporary themes in lyrical or dense language.

• Multi-Period Epics illustrate how specific places change over centuries.

• Traditional Historical Novels emphasize a straightforward and historically accurate plot.

• Romantic Historical Novels are love stories set in history; the relationship or romance drives the story. 

• Sagas follow families or groups of people over time, usually generations.

• Speculative fiction takes readers to the places between the realm of the seen and the unseen; contain angels, demons, visions, dreams, prophecies, vampires, monsters, and other supernatural phenomena.

• Time-Travel Novels take their characters between epochs/time periods.

• Western Historical Novels are set in the American West.

Word Count for Fiction

Microfiction—up to 100 words

Flash Fiction—100-1,000 (magazine article)

Short Story—1,000-7,500

Novellette—7,500-20,000 (difficult to sell to publishers)

Novella—20,000-50,000 (perfect for e-publishing)

Novel—50,000-110,000 (most publishers want a minimum of 70,000; over                                                    110,000 would give them pain)

Epics and Sequels—over 110,000 (trilogies) 

Susan F. Craft authored the SIBA Award-winning Revolutionary War novel, The Chamomile. The two sequels to The Chamomile, entitled Laurel and Cassia will be released January 12, 2015, and September 14, 2015, by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.  She is represented by Linda S. Glaz, Hartline Literary Agency.

Say Goodbye to the Exclamation Mark!!!!!!

by Andrea Merrell  @AndreaMerrell

With all the diverse forms of social media and texting, the exclamation point has become very popular in bringing emphasis to anything and everything someone is trying to say. I’ve been guilty of it myself, but the problem comes when we have the same tendency to overuse it in our writing. For all you serious writers, this is a definite no-no, so it’s time to execute the exclamation.

Execute—According to Merriam-Webster’s

• To carry out and produce what is required or expected to give validity to. To perform the fundamentals properly and skillfully.

Execute—According to Agents, Editors, and Publishers

• Kill it—wipe it out—put it to death.

Example from an Agent

To prove this point (no pun intended), let’s look at a portion of literary agent Chip McGregor’s blog post, What Drives an Editor Crazy? 

Someone wrote to ask a favorite question: “Are there certain editing errors that drive you crazy?”

Yes! Of course! Here’s one! Novelists who use exclamation points as though the period key didn’t work on their keyboard! I hate this! Really! What’s worse is the writer who needs to use several at once!!!!!

As an editor who battles with this constantly, I say a hearty “Amen!”

Are we saying you can never use exclamation points (EPs) in your writing? Absolutely not. The key is to know when and how to use them properly. They are appropriate when someone is shouting or showing extremely strong emotion.

Example: 

As three-year-old Susie was about to wander into the busy street, her mother shouted, “Susie, stop!”

In most cases, writers use unnecessary EPs when they are trying to make a point (pun intended), or they are very excited and passionate about what they are sharing. I once edited a book that contained anywhere from 200-300 Eps. All but a few were deleted from this otherwise excellent book. Some publishers only allow one or two exclamations in a 50,000-word manuscript.

This is an issue that could cause immediate rejection of your manuscript by an agent, editor, or publisher. Don’t take that chance. Limit your excessive use of EPs to personal e-mails, texts, tweets, and Facebook messages (notice I said personal and not professional).

To eliminate this problem, there is an easy fix. Use strong verbs and more showing. Trust your reader to get it. If you need to emphasize a word, it’s better to use italics—just don’t go overboard. Anything in your writing that is redundant (exclamation points, italics, quotation marks, ellipses, en and em dashes, words, or phrases) will wear on your reader.

Bottom Line

Too many exclamation points can be hazardous to your manuscript.

Andrea Merrell is Associate Editor for Christian Devotions Ministries and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (LPC). She is also a freelance editor and has led workshops at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, Writers Advance Boot Camp, and the CLASS Christian Writers Conference. Andrea’s first book, Murder of a Manuscript, is available on Amazon. Her next book, Praying for the Prodigal, will be released by LPC in 2015. As an editor, Andrea’s passion is to mentor and encourage writers, helping them to polish their manuscripts and make them as clean and professional as possible. To learn more, visit www.andreamerrell.com or www.TheWriteEditing.blogspot.com. 

So What is a ONE SHEET Anyway?

By Edie Melson
For those of you getting ready for a big writers conference, you may have heard about the need for a One Sheet. This tool is also known as a Pitch Sheet. It's a one page presentation of the project you're pitching to an editor or agent. Today I'll be explaining how to put one together.

Click here to see an example of my cozy mystery, DEAD RINGER one sheet. This sheet led to multiple requests for proposal and full manuscripts. To answer your question, no, it's not been published. I sent it out too soon and killed my chances -- but that's fodder for a future post!

There are three basic components of a one sheet -- the project blurb, specifics about the project and the author's bio -- including a picture and contact info. We'll take each component individually and explain what's included. 

An Image to Illustrate Your Concept

A lot of one sheets include an image to set the mood. This isn't a requirement, but we're seeing it more and more. You can buy an image, upload one of your own, or use one that's copyright free.

The Project Blurb

For this section, think back cover copy. This is NOT the place for a full synopsis. You want this section to read like the blurb on the back cover of a book. You should give more information than just a hook. Make sure you include enough for the editor or agent to get a good sense of the story. 

 

 

Project Specifics

This is where you give some of the details and they're slightly different for fiction and non-fiction. 

Fiction
Genre -- like Romance or Suspense.
Manuscript Length -- this doesn't have to be an exact word count, just an approximation.
Target Audience -- every book should be written with an audience in mind. I know, we all think our book will appeal to a wide range of readers -- and that may be true. But this tells the potential editor or agent how to market the book. It will help sell a publishing house on your manuscript by defining the reader you're writing for. 
*There isn't a section here for completion date because it's understood that a manuscript must be complete before it's submitted. It's okay to pitch an uncompleted manuscript with a one sheet, but it's rare for anyone to look at it as a submission until it's complete. 

Non-Fiction
Projected Completion Date -- the reason you don't have a non-fiction manuscript completed is because publishers like to have a say in the overall concept.
Manuscript Length -- since it's not completed, this is just an estimate.
Target Audience -- just like in fiction, you need to focus in on who specifically you're targeting with this manuscript.
Similar Titles, also known as Comparables -- you don't have to include this, but it's nice if you have room.

Author Info

This is where you need to include a recent picture, personal bio, contact information and social media information. 
Picture -- this should be a professional headshot. That doesn't mean it has to be stuffy, but it needs to be of professional caliber.
Bio -- keep this short and relevant. The person reviewing your one sheet is going to want to know your experience. That includes writing experience and experience with your subject matter. In other words, why are you the person to write this book?
Contact Info -- You need to include your email address, phone number, and website URL. This is no need to include your physical address. It just takes up valuable real estate without adding anything.

All of these individual components will give you an effective one sheet. Be sure to post any questions or comments you have. 

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 Christian Writers Conference and the social media mentor at My Book Therapy. She's also the military family blogger at Guideposts.com, social media director for Southern Writers Magazine and the senior editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. 

Researching Carolina Rice Plantations

By Elva Cobb Martin

In my research for a future novel, as well as for magazine articles, I recently took the annual two-day Rice Plantation Tour sponsored by an historic Episcopal Church in Georgetown, South Carolina. The church parish was founded in 1721.

Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church

Did you know that rice was once king in South Carolina? Some would even say more so than the King of England ever was.

From colonial times until the Civil War, rice growing made the Carolina Low Country one of the wealthiest areas in the United States. In fact, by the Revolutionary War, rice, nicknamed "Carolina Gold" made Charleston, South Carolina, the richest colonial town in America with twice the wealth of Philadelphia and New York, according to the ETV program, When Rice Was King.

Resources for Authors and Their Research

I write historical fiction, and researching for my novels brings me the same excitement Alan Quartermain must have felt hunting for King Solomon's Mines.

I've been known to spend an entire day in a library scribbling notes from someone‘s diary, spending a wallet of quarters making copies of maps and old newspapers, and trekking from one book or document to the next with a perseverance Lewis and Clark would have applauded. I enjoy the chase when one clue leads me to the next, to the next…

The South Caroliniana Library

When I venture into a library or archives and history department, wander among the shelves, and delve into boxes of documents, I'm transported into the past and into unknown territory. My efforts are often rewarded when tidbits of information surface and shine like specks of gold in the bottom of a miner‘s tin.

For example, one of the characters in my Civil War era novel, A Perfect Tempest, is based on Oqui Adair, a Chinese gardener, who was briefly mentioned in a SC State Hospital Board of Regents report found in the SC Archives and History Department. The name of the novel itself comes from a quote from General Sherman’s diary that was featured in an issue of the Daily Southern Guardian newspaper. I found it in the South Caroliniana library.

Discovering new resources is always great fun, too. Once, I put an ad in the Civil War Times asking for information about Union officers who were imprisoned in Camp Asylum, a prisoner-of-war camp situated on the SC State Hospital grounds in Columbia, SC, from December 1864 until February 1865, when Sherman‘s troops burned the city. Two gentlemen, one from Maine and one from California, answered my ad, and we wrote to each other over a period of several months. They both sent me materials about relatives imprisoned at Camp Asylum—a photograph, a letter, and an excerpt from a diary.

Sometimes people serve as living, breathing archives. When I was working on my novel, The Chamomile, that takes place in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War, my main characters, a couple who are traveling in the swamps with Francis Marion, decide to get married. I wanted the men to build a honeymoon hut and I needed to know the kind of flowers the campfollowers would decorate with. So, I called Rudy Mancke, a naturalist and a walking encyclopedia of flora and fauna, and asked him what would have been blooming in the South Carolina swamps in May 1781. He was so receptive to my questions and so excited about what I was trying to do, I could hardly write fast enough to keep up with him. What a wealth of knowledge he is! We had the most delightful conversation.

I’ve put together a list of resources when researching for your novels.

Researching – Where to Look
1. Internet (Google; blogs; websites)
2. Library/Archives and History Departments; Books, research rooms
3. Diaries/letters 
4. Newspapers/magazines 
5. Pamphlets
6. Advertisements/catalogs
7. Cookbooks
8. Annual reports
9. Graduation programs
10. Thesis/bibliography
11. Music books
12. Pattern books
13. Architects drawings 
14. Movies 
15. Other novels written during the time period
16.  Museums
17. Visits to actual sites (tours that let you "breathe the air")
18. Reenactments
19. Cemeteries (great resources for names)
20. Photographs
21. Movie productions
22. People—walking archives

Colonial American Cemetery

Susan F. Craft authored the SIBA Award-winning Revolutionary War novel, The Chamomile. The two sequels to The Chamomile, entitled Laurel and Cassia will be release in January 2015 and later that year, respectively. She is represented by Linda S. Glaz, Hartline Literary Agency.

Marketing 101

by Andrea Merrell

Marketing … promotion … social media—what’s a writer to do?

When I first started writing, I didn’t consider the complexities of getting published or establishing a platform. Fortunately, I was blessed with great advice: “Find a critique group, attend writers’ conferences, and network, network, network.” As an editor, I pass along this advice to my clients and stress the importance of promoting their books—whether traditionally published or self-published.

With the recent launch of my first book, Murder of a Manuscript, I have now moved into the marketing arena. Here are a few suggestions that have produced positive results: