Hello, sweet friends. What a joy to be back with you! I've just returned from the North Texas Christian Writers Conference. What a wonderful time of connecting with and encouraging other writers! And I was encouraged, too.
In my Friday night keynote, I shared some experiences from my Idiot File. But don't worry, the stories I shared don't involve any of you and your mistakes. Nope, this Idiot File is a memoir, comprised solely of my own new writer ETIQUETTE bloopers! And the good news for you is: If I can get published after pulling off all those atrocities, anybody can!
But in order to move from wannbe to published writer, I had to learn to overcome the many mistakes new writers–and even long-time writers–make in the CRAFT of writing. So today I've gathered a collection of rejectable offenses. Search your writings for these mistakes and you'll greatly increase your chances of publication.
1. Wimpy verbs and overuse of adverbs
a. Did your character "go" across the street? If so, how did she go? Did she dash, skip, stroll, or stagger? Each choice of verb would tell a different story. She may dash if she was afraid or eager. She might skip if she was lighthearted and happy. If she was nostalgic, we might see her stroll. And a stagger could mean she was either sick or drunk.
b. Search your piece for any form of "is." Was, were, are, and is can indicate that we're writing in a passive voice. Instead of "He was wearing torn blue overalls…" write "His worn overalls…."
c. And remember, overuse of adverbs usually indicates we're using wimpy verbs.
d. For more information about wimpy verbs, check out this previous blog post, Don't Wimp Out on Good Writing.
2. Confusing POV
a. To stay in correct POV, imagine your character is looking through a camera. That character can only reveal what she can see, feel, hear, and know. So if she sees a man and woman across a crowded room, she can describe their clothing, their expressions, their closeness. She may even hear their laughter. But she most likely can't relate what they're actually saying…because she can't hear their conversation from across the room.
b. Each scene should only be in one person's point of view and each book will generally have no more than four POVs.
c. POV should not be confused with "Person," as in First Person or Third Person narrative. And remember, a piece written in first person would always have to be in the first person narrator's POV.
d. For more information on point of view, check out this previous blog post, It's All in Your Point of View.
3. Telling instead of showing
a. Don't tell us that the character was mad, show him being mad. Did he jump up from the chair, slam his first on the table, get in her face, and yell, "I did not"? If so, you don't have to tell us that he's mad, we can see it. Lazy writing tells the reader what's happening. Good writing lets us see it in our minds.
b. Don't say he was dressed like a cowboy. Just describe his clothing and we'll be able to see the cowboy coming out in him.
c. Don't label an emotion or a feeling. In other words, don't say he was sad or hurt or scared. Instead, describe him being sad or hurt or scared. Don't say he "felt" lonely. What does lonely look like? Let us see it.
d. For more information about Show, Don't Tell, check out this previous blog post, Show, Don't Tell.
4. Lack of conflict
a. Many times authors try to set up the story, creating page after page of no conflict. Jump into the midst of conflict and you'll be more likely to grab the editor's attention. You can always add in backstory as the story progresses.
b. Put your character at risk, and then ratchet up the pressure.
c. The protagonist must want something and the antagonist tries to prevent it.
5. Unrealistic dialogue
a. To be honest, most of our first drafts will be full of unrealistic dialogue, and that's okay. The question is, what do we do with it in the second and third and fourth rewrites?
b. Read your work aloud and you'll hear the clunkiness in it.
c. We speak in contractions. Our characters should, too.
d. We speak in fragments. Our characters should, too.
e. Our conversations are usually interactive, with at least two people bouncing comments and actions back and forth. Our characters should, too. Look for long passages with only one person speaking. Most likely that's unrealistic dialogue.
f. Be sure the dialogue is age-appropriate, using speech patterns and word choices that fit the age and setting of the character.
6. Inappropriate attributions/speaker tags
a. Believe it or not, the word, said, is the word we should use most often to denote the speaker.
b. Be sure the attribution is a synonym for said.
- Correct: "But you can't stay here alone," Jessica said.
- Incorrect: "But you can't stay here alone," Jessica smiled. Jessica might have smiled after she said those words, but she can't "smile" the words themselves.
c. Use speaker beats to avoid too many attributions.
- Jessica plopped into the flowered sofa. "I'm not leaving." In this case, you haven't used said or any synonym of it. You've simply given Jessica an action and then added her line. The readers know it's Jessica speaking because they can see the picture you've painted with your words. (Remember to start a new paragraph with each speaker. That will also denote that the speaker has changed.)
- "You watch me." Mark picked up his luggage and headed for the door.
d. Avoid a repeated pattern of speaker beat/dialogue. This is equally aggravating!
Jessica stood. "You can't go."
Mar
k crossed his arms. "I'd like to see you stop me."
Jessica took a step. "I will if I have to."
Mark put his hands in his pockets. "You and who else?"
e. For more information about speaker beats and tags, check out this previous blog post, Said is NOT a Four-Letter Word!
7. Incorrect formatting
a. This is critical. Incorrect formatting shouts "Lazy writer!" Through a simple internet search, writers can find hundred of samples of correct manuscript format.
b. The standard is now ONE space between sentences. Two spaces won't likely trigger a rejection if the writing is good, but it does say that you're not up on the latest guidelines. You can either retrain yourself (as I did), or you can use the "Find" tool in you Word document to find and replace two spaces with one.
c. For more information about formatting, check out my previous blog post, Formatting Basics.
Avoid these common mistakes and you'll increase your chances of getting the editor's attention, instead of his rejection!
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And Now It's Time for This Month's Writing Opportunities!
Thank you to our own Marilyn Shipe for collecting these exciting writing opportunities. She's done an amazing job, don't you think? Be sure to check out Marilyn's blog, where she's currently writing on 100 Ways to Cope with Stress–not that any of us have stress!!!
1. Our own Edie Melson has a callout for submissions to her contracted book, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle. Check out the guidelines here.
2. New Chicken Soup Book callout!! Devotional Stories for Times of Trouble. Deadline: February 28, 2011. Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for true stories that show God's presence during a time of trouble in your life. Their hope is that your personal story will inspire, comfort and encourage others who are also going through difficult times, regardless of their circumstance. Click here for Chicken Soup guidelines.
3. Dayspring Cards, owned by Hallmark Cards, is always on the lookout for new writers for their greeting card line. Here are Dayspring Card editorial guidelines. They pay $60 for each greeting card submission and you can submit up to ten at a time.
4. Our own Linda Greer has partnered with Edna Ellison to submit an anthology of stories and poetry from parents of murdered children. You can read guidelines here. Deadline December 1, 2010.
5. Home Times Family Newspaper – Very open to new writers. Check out their website to have them send you their guidelines by mail. They are seeking "stringers" in multiple markets to write local people features with photos. Looking for positive articles and stories. Special needs: Good, short stories (creative nonfiction or fiction). Faith, miracles, personal experiences, and people stories.
6. Image Journal Publishes the best literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction that engages the Judeo-Christian tradition. 50% unsolicited freelance. They are always thrilled to see high quality literary work in the unsolicited freelance pile. Here are Image Journal guidelines.
7. Mature Living magazine for senior adults (55+). "Almost all areas are open to freelancers except medical and financial matters." Fiction needs to underscore a biblical truth. Ninety percent unsolicited freelance. Genres: Poetry, fillers (ex. grandchildren stories), crafts, recipes, games, several columns. Guidelines by e-mail – .
8. Writer's Digest sponsors several writing competitions annually. You can find out about Writer's Digest competitions here.
9. (I'm sorry, but I can't get this link to work. I'll try to get it up today!) God Allows U-Turns series by Allison Bottke. There are 13 anthologies already published in this series, but it has been several years since one came out. Upcoming titles are: Parents Setting Healthy Boundaries (geared toward parents and their adult children) and Out of Bondage and Living Free. The deadline for both is June 30, 2011. Pay is minimal, but you do get a free book (they will also purchase reprints if you have something that fits). Read the guidelines carefully. God Allows U-Turns guidelines here.
10. Red Deer Press — Red Deer Press is looking for quality writing for children across the ages, from picture books to young adult fiction and non-fiction. Currently we have less interest in picture book manuscripts, and are focusing more on middle grade and young adult fiction. Red Deer Press guidelines here.
11. eHow.com is looking for Home & Garden Writers. Sample assignment topics: Gardening Basics, Home Design, Restoration, Landscaping, Holiday Crafts, and many more. Assignments are typically 300-500 words and pay $15 per article.
12. Focus on the Family Thriving Family Magazine Parenting Tips. If you could give one piece of advice to a parent of a tween, what would it be? What was your best parenting moment? Each short article (true-life narrative) should be written to parents of pre-teen/tween children (8- to -12-year-olds). Articles should be written in first person, and they must have practical ideas that our readers can implement in their own parenting. This is an ongoing need, so submit often!
Summary: Best Tween Parenting Tips
Department: Family Stages
Payment: $50 on acceptance
Rights: First non-exclusive
Word count: 50-150 words
13. THEMA Literary Journal-Guidelines Pays on publication. Seeks fiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: Short stories, poetry.
14. Devozine for Teens guidelines — Pays on publication. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers, photos/art
work. Subjects: Designed to help teen readers grow in their faith and explore the relevancy of the Christian faith.
15. Back to College –a website for adults. Pays on publication. Seeks nonfiction. Subjects: Adult education, distant learning. Back to College writers guidelines here.
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Any writers in the Akron/Cleveland area of Ohio?
Sue Palmer is a follower of The Christian Writer's Den and she's looking for like-minded writers in her area. You can reach her at Sue Palmer .
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Ladies, Would You Join Me in September or October?
- Alpharetta, GA, September 21 OR 22 (Two seminars of same program), Mt. Pisgah UMC Ladies Seminar. It's FREE!
- Hendersonville, NC, September 24-25, Fruitland Bapt Bible Institute. Watch the Women of Carolina Got Joy? video here.
- Pleasant Garden, NC, October 8 or 9 (Two presentations of same program), Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Festival of Tables. Taking reservations now.
- Punxsutawney, PA, October 16, Southern Christian Women's Conference Goes North for a Punxsutawney Christian School fundraiser! Punxsutawney First Church of God. Taking reservations now.
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And now, as we head into a new week of writing, rewriting, submitting, and getting rejections and acceptances, let's remember these wise words from the book of Proverbs:
Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. Proverbs 20:15
Go, and write with wisdom and knowledge.
I pray God's blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
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From the time I was a little girl, I'd heard the story of how Jesus knelt before the disciples at the Last Supper and washed their feet. I knew it was a sacrifice–after all, I certainly wouldn't want to wash the mud-encrusted, stinking feet of twelve men! But it wasn't until I prepared to give a talk on servanthood that I began to see the reality of what Jesus taught through His actions that monumental night.
