“Never pray for patience.”
This was advice often given to me when my children were small, often spouted by an equally saddled mother who’d become frustrated at the antics of one of her offspring. Those words were supposed to give me a good chuckle; but they sent shivers of dread down my spine.
[Read more…] about Episode 143: The Writer’s Life: Patience is a VirtueDear Indie,
We know what you’re thinking – “I don’t want to have my picture taken.”
It’s not just you, it’s me…and Tina, and Jen, and Rhonda.
[Read more…] about Episode 142: Book Marketing Tips: How to Take a Better HeadshotDear Indies,
It’s summertime in Florida, which means lots of rain and green things growing! The other hosts report beautiful weather in Michigan, and I know they’re right, as we were blessed to gather for a time of fun and fellowship there last month!
[Read more…] about Episode 141: The Writers’ Life: Tips for Writing All Summer LongDear Christian Indies,
Of late, we’ve been focusing quite a bit on the “after” bit of the writing process – a natural fit for us as three of the four of us have quite recently published. Now that we are all in the crafting phase of writing, the ladies and I are eager to get back to basics and begin delivering some essential writing tips to you, our awesome audience!
First up is plotting – we know it takes its various forms, but for our purposes, we’re talking “beats.” That’s right, I said, “beats” – just like you would hear in music. Folks who write to beats understand that, as with music, storytelling follows certain patterns that are universally considered pleasant to the human ear. Learning about plotting is a key component to understanding what makes a story “tick,” and by hitting all the “beats,” you can be sure your plot will be a true masterpiece.
As we have an expert on the subject as a co-host, we are going to explore the notion of plotting using “beats” and “beat sheets” on this week’s episode! That’s right, Rhonda Hagerman is one half of the awesome team that is the writer DD Bouman, who brought us the amazing, “Plot Your Novel: With This Workbook.”
So, whether you’re a plotter already, or a pantser challenging us to “just try and convince me to plot my novel,” you are sure to love this episode, full of the information and shenanigans you’ve come to expect from the Christian Indie Writers!
See you there,
Jamie
Hey Christian Indies,
When Christina Cattane set forth to choose a narrator for her number 1 bestselling book Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun, she was determined to get a voice as authentic to her narrator voice as possible. She didn’t think her odds were great – there were many dialects represented in the audiobook world, but not too many who claimed to read with an authentic Alaskan dialect.
[Read more…] about Episode 138: Self-Publishing Tips: How to Choose a Narrator for Your AudiobookHey, Christian Indies!
This week our essential writing tips are all aural, Indie; We’re discussing audiobooks and how to get them to market!
We know It is quite an effort to learn all the “ins and outs” of getting your physical and eBook formats up for sale on Amazon, and the idea of making an audiobook version of your work may seem a bit overwhelming, at first. However, this is an exciting opportunity to reach a whole new audience – people who may prefer audio, or those who have disabilities requiring them to listen rather than read.
[Read more…] about Episode 137: Self Publishing Tips: Is Audible the only choice for your Audiobook?Dear Indie,
We’ve talked in the past about the challenges of writing about your faith, but there is more to pleasing a Christian reading audience than writing specifically within the Christian genre. In fact, there are a whole host of genres wherein a Christian can find readership. Thus, the dilemma – how much is “too” much of the “world” to sprinkle into your writing?
We’re going to take on this meaty subject. You won’t want to miss it.
See you there,
-Jamie
Dear Christian Indie,
This week, we have a tip for new authors; “spend some time self-editing.”
Why? You might ask.
Well, dear Indie, there is an old saying that goes, “great books are not written, they are edited.” Even more recently, best selling author Neil Gaiman has advised, “write down everything that happens in the story, and then in your second draft make it look like you knew what you were doing all along.”
[Read more…] about Episode 135: Essential Writing Tips: Our Top 10 Tips for Self-EditingHi there, Indie!
“Write what you know.”
What more frustrating advice could anyone give young Jamie? After all, I was only a kid, and painfully aware that I didn’t really know much of anything!
Of course, with years and wisdom I was able to better process and utilize the sentiments of this communication and, in general, I feel the advice is wise. However, let’s say you want to write what you know, and you imagine an engaging tale about someone born in a region of the country (or world!) you have never visited? Or, imagine trying to write fanfic about Tina’s character, having never been to Alaska!
[Read more…] about Episode 134: Essential Writing Tips: Research Trips to Enhance Your WritingHey Christian Indies,
We’re kicking off a new series this week entitled, “Essential Writing Tips.” With this series, we hope to really dig into the “first things first” elements of writing. This week, we’re starting with getting to know your characters.
You might wonder, “how am I supposed to get to know an imaginary person?” or, “why would you bother to do so?”
In response, I offer this challenge; think about your favorite character from a book. Now, imagine you learn the author is planning to kill that person off in the next novel.
[Read more…] about Episode 133: Essential Writing Tips: Get to Know Your Characters
