Learning from Book Reviews by Ronda HInrichsen

Betrayed, my recently released novel, has been receiving some awesome, reader reviews, and I am so happy and grateful so many people have enjoyed it. I also love learning from those statements what I did right in my book and what I want to continue to include in my future stories. Praise and learning--the perfect combination. :)

However, sometimes we get reviews that mention elements about our book the reviewer didn't like, or worse, their comments are simply unkind; i.e., the reviewer hates everything about the book and is not opposed to sharing that opinion with the world. It's a given. No matter who the author is, they will receive such reviews. But I've found that if I look beyond the criticism and consider the review as a response to my work, just as I do when I'm reading it aloud to others, I can learn a great deal that will help me with my writing, and sometimes with my career as an author.

For instance, if a reviewer states she enjoyed elements of the book, like the lovely descriptions and the relationship I developed between the characters, but the story was slow and it took her a long time to get through the book (By the way, this is not one of my reviews.), I first try to understand what the reviewer is really saying, In this case, I'd see that while I met some of my goals, because I want my readers to enjoy the setting and the characters, I'd also notice I didn't meet another of my goals, which is I do not want readers to want to put my book down. So it might be that I need to increase my pacing and suspenseful elements. I then keep that information in mind as I read others' reviews and decide if the reviewer was right. If so, I have some writing work and learning to do.

As far as the hate-everything-reviewer goes, most of the time that reader is NOT YOUR READER anyway, and there's no point in spending a lot of time worrying about how to fix something to that reader's tastes.But, if the reviewer mentions an element in my book that mine didn't have or didn't do well but that he really want to be there, I consider whether or not his points are valid and whether or not I should work on what he said. After that, I move on.  Part of marketing work includes trying to find those readers who like what we write, so I try to hang on to the praisers I find and not worry about the rest.

Finally, most of the time it's not recommended that an author respond to a reader's review, but this "rule", like so many others, is one that needs to be followed or not followed according to the situation. In the following case, I thought I should respond to a question a reviewer had because my answer could also help those who read this blog. She mentioned this about my character, Tom:

"I thought his profession was interesting as well and I'm kind of curious to know how that was decided on for the story and the research the author did for it."  htp://www.wishfulendings.com/2015/01/blog-tour-review-giveaway-betrayed-by.html#more

Answer: I came up with the initial idea for Tom's profession while I was watching a historical documentary about one of the World Wars. I don't remember which, probably WWII, but in either case, it talked about how a battle situation was won because they had a magician figure out how to deceive the enemy through an illusion. I loved that idea and ran with it. As far as the research goes, there are always small bits of information I have to look up as I write the story, but most of Tom's character and especially his tricks came from the book, Hiding the Elephant, by Jim Steinmeyer.

Electronic Ensign Submission

I was wondering if you attach some kind of letter or query when you submit electronically to the ensign for their little "Call for articles" Or "questions" sections. I'm never sure of what to do because I usually research and find out who to address my queries to, but I don't think it's possible in this case. Thanks for your help.


The electronic submission process is fairly new--at least to me; however, I would send a cover letter with my submission, and I would send it to "Editorial Dept" or whoever else their submission guidelines suggest you should send it to. That's all I ever did, in the beginning, even when all submissions were snail mail. As you indicated, knowing and addressing it to the "right" person is helpful, but my experience with the church mags has been that they are first and foremost looking for the "right" article. So, write your submission the best you can and introduce it with a professional cover letter in the body of your e-mail.

Hope this helps.

Maturation Plot

I was just checking out your really informative blog and I noticed your "how to write" offer of help so I thought I'd ask. I'm about to write my first screenplay. its a maturation, coming of age, rites of passage plot about two teenage brothers trying to survive after the apocalypse. their father returns to take them on a journey that they don't wish to travel. what advice can you give me on tackling such a plot?

your help is most appreciated

When I am constructing my plots, I do two things first, but not necessarily in this order: 1) study and outline the plot points in a few movies, books, and plays that have similar structures, and 2) study relative reference books. When I've completed that process, I review my notes and pick out the plot points which are common to all references.

Next, using the above information, I create a rough outline of those common elements, as well as the ones I want to be in my book, and then I begin to "flesh out" the outline and fill in the gaps with my own characters and situations.

Two books that might be helpful to you with your story are "Blueprint for Writing" by Rachel Friedman Ballon (she covers screenwriting) and "20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them)." I've referred to these two books in past blogs because they have been tremendously helpful to me.

As I read your plot description, it appears to be a combination of two plot lines: Maturation and Adventure? Quest? Discovery? I don't know your story well enough to tell, but if I were you, I would study the requirements for the two you believe they are and weave them together as you construct your plot. That's what I had to do on the romantic suspense book I recently finished (it includes elements of both maturation and quest/rescue) and on the romantic suspense novel I'm currently working on.

As I stated in my previous blogs on "Wretched Excess," I can not entirely cover all that Tobias has to say about each plot, but as a bit of information to get you started, here are a few key elements of the Maturation plot:

1. The maturation plot focuses on children progressing toward adulthood.
2. "Start your story where the protagonist has reached the point in her life at which she can be tested as an adult" and then hit her with a"belief shaking" test like death, parent divorce, abandonment, or something else "apocalyptic."
3. Show your character resisting then undergoing gradual, psychological and moral "change."
4. Decide what price your character pays for this lesson and show how he copes with it.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your screenplay.

"Friend"ly Questions

It seems to me that I read someplace (maybe at your blog?) that you've written for the Friend for many years. Is that correct? If so, I'm wondering ... were you employed by them as staff, or are you talking as a freelance writer?

I've submitted several times to them and never seem to get anywhere. Have you got any suggestions? There must be some trick I'm missing!:-)

Yes, I've written for "The Friend" for many years, and no, I was not on the staff. I worked purely as a freelance writer. As far as tips go, I think subject matter--as long as you write it decently enough--is one of the most important things to consider. For instance, I always think about what message I am giving the readers, who are, by the way, children, parents, and church (especially Primary) leaders/teachers. I also make sure that what I am "teaching," without being didactic, is exactly consistent with church policy.

Similarly, I not only narrow the focus of my message, but I also make it unique. That means, rather than simply relating a story that teaches "God answers prayers," I look for another, less covered topic that is also part of the same story. An example of this is my story, "The Walking Bible." In it, a missionary receives an answer to his prayers, but he also faces and overcomes the disabling effects of illiteracy.

Another thing I've done (more in the early years than now) is "study" the magazine--everything from what kinds of stories, articles, activities they are publishing to "how" they are written. One way to do this is to take apart, i.e., outline, them to get a feel for their structure. THAT really helped me get into other mags, too.

Finally, keep an eye, an ear, and your creative teaching mind open for good stories and good ideas for puzzles, etc. (if that's what you're interested in). Kids love them and teachers need them.

BTW, I believe they are only accepting non-fiction right now. It might also help you to know that their publishing schedule is at least one year in advance. For more information, see their guidelines at LDS.org.

Hope this helps.