A Quick Writing Tip

Because I'm so busy with marketing both MISSING and TRAPPED right now, I haven't had a lot of time to write about writing on this blog, which is it's main purpose. So, I thought I'd atleast give you this tidbit of "advice": As you move forward with your writing career, HOLD ONTO YOU. Very likely you have a reason you write and/or a message you want to move forward with your writing. If that is so, infuse your writing with it. I don't mean you should end every manuscript with "the moral of the story is . . ." I mean, let your message come through in your stories. For instance, one of my biggest writing goals is to encourage people to act on and increase with the goodness that is in them. As such, my novels contain main characters who not only fight for right but also rely on their inner goodness to overcome their challenges.

Another important part of "holding onto you" is to recognize and use the innate writing talents you already have while working on those you may be weak in. I believe every writer already has something they do well, so if you're good with plots, let that shine in your stories while you try to improve your characterizations, thematic developments, or settings.

Again, HOLD ONTO YOU. The world needs you.

A Fun Day!

Today I paid an author visit to our local middle school where I discussed the topic, "My Path to Publication" with five different English classes. It was a lot of fun, both because I had the chance to associate with old friends (I used to work at the school) and make new friends. I also discovered that many of the students were excited about my book. I don't know if I can express this adequately enough, but there is something truly amazing in knowing that many people are reading and enjoying Missing, my novel! Yes, I've written dozens of articles and stories for magazines, and I know they have influenced an untold number of readers, and I am grateful for that opportunity, but I must say that seeing readers with my book--the middle school library has ten of them!--and hearing they enjoyed it brings a unique kind of pleasure. And gratitude. Thank you, readers. You are awesome!

Just as a side perk--after the successful day, two other teachers asked me to visit their classes next month. Yay!

Now, because this is a how-to-write blog, let me list a few things I learned through my presentation (in no particular order):

1. I initially felt uncomfortable with the idea of talking about myself, but as I prepared, I realized I do have valuable experience to share. Better than that, as I spoke, most of the students really seemed interested. As I've written at the top of the blog, our value and strength is in our individuality.

2. What happens after your book is accepted is a great unknown to students and teachers alike. As authors, we can enlighten them.

3. Listeners like to hear the author read a bit of their book. I hadn't prepared to do this, but the good thing is, I quickly found a short, intriguing section to share, so it turned out well.

4. I brought tootsie rolls. When students asked me questions related to the subject, I gave them one. Some classes asked more questions than others, but they were all so respectful, I gave all a tootsie roll at the end. Note: Generally, this school frowns on teachers, etc., bringing candy to school, so I discussed this idea with the librarian who initially contacted me and she gave her permission to give out tootsie rolls.

5. Try to incorporate humor in your discussion, or at least be prepared to include it as needed.

That's all folks!

Missing Comes . . .

I just realized I haven't spread the word in a post that Missing is now scheduled to be published this fall. I can hardly wait! But at the same time, I'm trying to come up with the best ways to promote it. Any suggestions?

Developing Your Authorial Voice by Ronda Hinrichsen

While helping out at the Middle School today, I heard a teacher tell the students that the secret to writing is to talk on the page. To write your story the way you'd tell it to someone. This teacher didn't go into any more details than that, but what she was really talking about was Voice.
Voice is one of a successful writer's most important skills. It is what sets him or her apart from other authors. It's part of what keeps their readers coming back for more. It's the YOU in your writing. (Remember the theme of this blog? Your Value is in your individuality?)

But how do we develop a "voice?" I have two suggestions:

First, write A LOT. A LOT. Writing A LOT, such as on this and my other blogs, has forced me to put a bit of myself and my personality into my writing, because, as the aforementioned teacher said, I'm not just writing, I'm "talking" to you. Writing A LOT has brought another benefit, too: it's freed my sometimes debilitating, inner critic. How? Because when I write A LOT, I simply don't have time to sit and think about every word or sentence. Not during the first draft, anyway. Not when each day I have high writing goals to meet.

Second, tell a story to someone. Even to yourself, if you're too shy. And tell it like you really want to entertain them (or yourself). Doing this will bring out your natural pauses, the words you use, the techniques you implement to convey your meanings. One of the storytelling opportunities that helped me in a sense "see" my voice was when I looked back on my babysitting years and remembered how I used to tell the kids a bedtime story about "Jack and the Beanstalk." It's not an unfamiliar story, but they loved it because of the way I told it. That was key to me. Knowing and recognizing what they loved about my storytelling.

So those are my two cents, er, two suggestions. Hope they help. And if you have anything else to add, don't be shy. Leave a comment.

My Favorite Teacher

During a recent e-mail conversation with Candace Salima, I discovered we both have the same "favorite" writing teacher. Her name is Dorla Jenkins and she taught at Ricks College. Let me tell you, she was AMAZING! So inspiring, so wise, so encouraging. In fact, I'm still learning from some of the lessons she taught--lessons I didn't write on paper but which she carefully wrote in my heart. One of the phrase I use at the top of this blog: "Your value is in your individuality." Another was her belief in the value of what she was doing. She, herself, was a wonderful writer, loved horses as I remember, yet chose instead of a writing career to teach writing to others. From that decision she's influenced, for the better, thousands of lives. One day, as I remember it, she mentioned she went to the temple simply to prepare herself to teach our class because she knew of the power for good that was within us. How could we not have been influenced by such belief in our abilities?

Anyway, thinking back on my time in her classes has given me this idea: write a blog about her and invite my readers to share in a comment their stories about their favorite teachers. It doesn't necessarily have to be a writing teacher, just someone who's molded you into the person you are.

I can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Lists of Importance

So you've gone to the hardware store to pick up a few items for your house building project. You buy roofing nails (tons of them), tar, and several sheets of plywood; but when you get home, you realize you forgot the one thing you really needed for that days project: sewer drainpipe .

How could you have forgotten such an important item? I know, I know, we've all done it. You failed to use a list.

The same thing can happen when writing your story or novel.

Over the years, I've learned to keep several lists. For example, I complete a list of traits for each of my characters, I list plot points to help me stay focussed, and I constantly refer to my list of characteristics (such as brevity and clarity) I want to incorporate in my writing style. But one list stands above the others: my "Why I Write" list.

I wrote my "Why I Write" list when I began writing seriously--for money, anyway--about sixteen years ago. It includes statements most writers feel, such as "Not writing would feel like death" and "It's simply something I must do." But it also verbalizes beliefs that are personal to me--beliefs; i.e., messages--I want to infuse in my writing. For instance, I believe there is great power in the written word, and we writers have a divine responsibilty to use that power to further God's kingdom. Similarly, I believe it's vital for me to produce works of goodness and virtue to thwart the opposite influences. And I truly desire to strengthen what is great and noble within each reader.

Those things, among others, are why I write; but more than that, they are words--my own words--that can lift me from "rejection depression" and inspire me to improve and work harder. They are, somewhat but not entirely like sewer drainpipes, the necessary things I must not forget.

Perhaps such a list can work for you.

Your Power is in your Individuality

I recently wrote a blog on my other blog site about something that is so important to everyone, especially writers, that I decided to mention it here before continuing on with Block Number Two. To see this blog, either click here rondagibbhinrichsen.com or refer to my complete profile and click on the same link there.