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The idea of talking about this came from one of our Write for a Reason students. She asked me this excellent question: "My question concerns what target I should set myself in my writing. I know I've made some progress over the last few years, and hopefully a bit more as a result of your course [The Write for a Reason Academy]. Now I need to decide to be motivated to focus on a new story, or new draft of a previous one, so any guidance you can give me on this would be helpful."

Are you familiar with this dilemma? I certainly am! When we have come to the end of a particular writing project, or want to go back to writing after a break, there is a decision to be made. Should I re-write a manuscript that never get published, write the ending to a partly-written story we neglected to finish, or start something completely new?

It's an issue that can grind us to complete inactivity if we're not sure of the way forward!

We spend so long hopping from one to the other without any clarity, that we end up feeling disillusioned and out of focus… so much so that we can stop writing altogether if we’re not careful.

 And that’s a disaster we definitely want to avoid!

I can't, of course, make this decision for you, but personally I think (feel free to disagree!) that re-writing old stories has limited value - their main value was in the practice.

If we are continuing to learn our craft, each story we write will be better than the one before, so my advice would be to start something you are really enthusiastic about, (putting into practice all the tips you have gleaned since your last story; better dialogue, a tighter plot, more engaging characters, for example) and set yourself a target so that you finish it.

What do you think?

So… Are you happy writing your current story? Are you tempted to give up? Let me know!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, to make sure you don’t miss out and leave the link on your online writing groups – it will help Write for a Reason to get found by more writers. It’s great to share the wealth!

If you’d like lots more free writing tips, hop on over to write-for-a-reason.com, where you will find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers’ hands.

If you haven’t yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start immediately. This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.

Here's the link to go to the Write for a Reason website.

Don't put it off – today is a gift to use wisely! Only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

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Thanks for coming over! I think you will enjoy this episode - it's more than a creative writing tip - there's an exercise for you to do... and I get real about some of my own childhood memories!
So, a  generally excellent piece of advice for writers is to write about what you know. It makes sense. How can you describe the atmosphere of the crowd at a football match during the taking of a crucial penalty unless you have experienced it for yourself?

If you were bullied, bereaved, lonely or abused as a child, you can write about these things with a depth that can touch hearts.

All sorts of memories from your childhood can add depth to your writing, too, such as the feeling of freedom when playing with friends, the joy of a birthday surprise, the disappointment at being left out, the pride at winning a competition after working hard for it . . . nothing in life is wasted for a writer!

Bearing in mind that we are writing Christian stories for children and young people to encourage and inspire, here's an exercise for you: Find yourself an evening on your own (or at least one uninterrupted hour), a pad of paper or laptop, and write a list of a few of your own childhood memories - they can be good, bad or ugly!

Here is my list in no particular order:

• Sewing patchwork alone on the stairs in the sunshine
• An adult embarrassing me in front of cousins I had only just met
• The dread of a new school term
• Walking miles to the sweet shop to buy a quarter of sweets (showing my age!)
• Many contented hours playing dolls with my sister (we used to pretend to talk to each other through our watches . . . we were way ahead of our time :-))
• Reading under the bedclothes with a torch. Bedtime? Not if I hadn't finished my book!
• Stealing biscuits from the tin (me and my partner in crime/sister!)
• Going to church for the first time aged thirteen - it blew me away. God was in that place, reflected in the people. I felt like I had come home.

Once you have a list a bit like mine, pick one memory and write about it - not just what happened, but how you felt. Nothing really terrible happened to me in my childhood, but if you find it hard to write in the first person because of the nature of your memories, you might find it helpful to write in the third person, looking at what happened from a narrator's point of view. Write as it comes to you, raw and without editing - just write and write and write until you are done. Write about the event, how you felt, what you sensed, how you feel about it now, the effects it still has on you, and what the Lord has done in your life through it.

Then, who knows - maybe you can use something of your past in your stories - it will bring you closer to your readers when they see that you understand their pain and their joy, and that there is hope for healing. Isn't that what write for a reason is all about?

Trust that helps! If it does, please comment below and share with your friends - together we can make a difference. :-)

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

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Welcome to the Write for a Reason podcast. My name is Janet Wilson; I'm a publisher of Christian fiction for young people with Dernier Publishing. If you are a Christian, and new to writing stories for kids and teens, stay tuned for encouragement, creative writing tips and actionable strategies you can implement immediately to become a better writer – and in this episode we’re looking at using all the senses on your novel.

To fully engage readers in your story, you need to help them not just to 'see' your world, but to be so wrapped up in it that all their other senses are involved too. So, for example, if your characters are playing hide-and-seek in a wood, you could mention the earthy smell of the path, the rough feel of the bark on a stick, the drone of an aeroplane passing over, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the taste of freshly picked blackberries . . . well, that might be overdoing it! Still, think about how you could include at least one or two of these sensory perceptions (without sacrificing pace) in every scene, all the way through your novel.

Here's an exercise for you this week - wherever you find yourself, whether it's in the park walking your dog, in the playground waiting for your child to finish school, in your office, at an airport, café or hospital waiting room, stop for a minute, close your eyes and put your senses to work. Does the air have a certain scent? Touch something near you and consider what it feels like, then listen - what can you hear? Take a minute or two to go through all your non-sight senses one by one, then when you get home, get writing!

When it comes to your manuscript, consider where you can add textures, odours, sounds and tastes, to help take your readers deeper into your world. :-)

By the way, kids love food, so do add it and describe the tastes and textures!

So… What is your biggest takeaway from this episode? What are you going to implement immediately? Let me know!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, to make sure you don’t miss out and leave the link on your online writing groups – it will help Write for a Reason to get found by more writers. It’s great to share the wealth!

If you’d like lots more free writing tips, hop on over to write-for-a-reason.com, where you will find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers’ hands.

If you haven’t yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start immediately. This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.

Don't put it off – today is a gift to use wisely! Only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

After fracturing my elbow, everything has become more of a challenge, including one-handed typing! So this week I asked you for your own best writing tips and here they are...

Shout out to all of you who sent in tips to encourage and inspire your fellow writers. They are brilliant!

Enjoy. :-)

If you'd like to look at doing the Write for a Reason Academy, check it out here.

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

Today I have  five simple tips that can improve your writing immediately. You might be thinking yeah, yeah… but keep listening and you’ll see!

So, taking a few minutes to prepare yourself before you sit down to write can improve your creativity and your output hugely.

I wonder what you’re thinking – what will these simple ways be? Reading, a practice exercise, turning off the internet? Well, those are all great things, but the five things I have for you today are much more basic!

1. Exercise. Yup, exercise! Even just a few minutes of aerobic activity before you start writing can make your brain sharper, helping you to concentrate and come up with creative ideas. Fifteen to twenty minutes of exercise is ideal. You don't have to go to the gym – a brisk walk around the block is fine! Anything to get your blood flowing is good.
2. Have a healthy meal or snack. Sharpen your mental focus with some good brain foods: wholegrain cereals, fruit, salad, nuts and seeds, fish, lean meat, beans and pulses. Avoid fatty and sugary foods when you want to write, as these can make you sluggish. A square of dark chocolate can do wonders if you are craving something sweet – I always keep some in the kitchen cupboard!
3. Have a glass or two of water. It is a well known fact that dehydration can cause fatigue. Drinking plenty of water can help you think faster and clearer. If you really don't like the taste of water, try it with a squeeze of lemon juice, or try fruit/herbal teas. My favourite is peppermint! (I grow mint in the garden, so it’s free. :-))
4. Take a few minutes to pray. Let's be honest, how often do we forget to pray until we're stuck? But if we are writing to encourage and inspire children and teens in their faith, prayer is essential. After all, the God to whom we pray is the one who may use our stories to touch hearts and lives. That's an awesome responsibility. Dare we write and not pray?
5. Remember your purpose. Look at a photo of the children you are writing for. Having these precious faces imprinted on your mind as you site down to write will help you with clarity and determination. You will also be thinking of them as you write your dialogue and your scenes – which will no doubt improve your story!

So there you go, five simple things you can do straight away to improve your writing!

If you’ve enjoyed this, please leave a review, and if you have any tips for healthy snacks, please share them with us! It's wonderful to be able to encourage each other. :-)

Oh, and if you are feeling sluggish during your writing and need a break, do a mini version of all these four things again. Move around, jog on the spot, have a glass of water and a piece of fruit, take a quick look at that photo, then stop to pray. You'll be amazed what a difference it makes.

Right! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, to make sure you don’t miss out on future episodes…

If you’d like further help with your novel, our Writers for a Reason Unite group is open for new members until Thursday 19th May. Check it out on write-for-a-reason.com/unite.

It’s an absolutely brilliant way to get your novel written – we have great fun, fellowship, teaching and you can ask me anything you like about your novel! There’s a special price for this week only – and we will be closing the doors again for a while, while new members settle in. So if you want to get your novel finished and the best it can be, now’s the time. The link is: write-for-a-reason.com/unite.

Don’t put it off - today is a gift to use wisely! Only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.

Until next time,

Janet

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

Hello and welcome! Lovely to have you here.

One of the brilliant ways you can increase visibility for your novel is with a book blog tour.

Katherine Blessan, author of Lydia's Song and Home Truths with Lady Grey, strips away the overwhelm and gives us 6 simple steps we can follow to do our own DIY book blog tour!

If you are starting to think about how you will sell your book once it's published (whether you are self-publishing or hoping for a contract with a traditional book publisher), this episode is for you.

During the interview, Katherine mentions the Reedsy website - here's the link.

And here's the link to Katherine's website, where you can find out lots more about her writing journey, and buy her books, of course!

Thanks for listening. Let me know if you find it useful! And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite app, or come on over to Write for a Reason and have a binge listen! :-)

Until next time,

Janet

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

Hello and welcome!
I'm delighted to introduce you today to Ruth Leigh. Ruth has been writing for a long time, but has only recently starting writing fiction... and she hasn't just dipped her toes, she's jumped right in with both feet! When her catering business crashed at the beginning of the first lockdown... well, I'll let you listen for yourself. :-)
Ruth gives us some excellent writing tips, as well as inspiring us with her story - and gives us some excellent information about getting your work critiqued.
You can buy her books on her website - www.ruthleighwrites.co.uk (if you'd like a signed copy, with extra treats!) or from your favourite bookstore.
You can also get in contact with her through the contact form, if you're interested in manuscript criticism.
If you'd like to listen to more episodes, hop on over to the Write for a Reason website and click the podcast tab... or ask Alexa to play the Write for a Reason podcast!
Until next time, be blessed and keep writing, because only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.
Janet

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

It's never too early to start to think about your book launch!

Joy Vee is about to launch books 5 and 6... so is getting good at launches. :-) She is kind enough to come on the podcast and give some tips as to what worked for her.

So get out your writing journal or the notepad app on your phone, and get ready to make some notes...

If you'd like to get in touch with Joy, or buy any of her books, you can get in touch with her through her website.

Her books are:
The Treasure Man
Love from Siena
Kai: Born to Be Super
Kai: Making it Count,

and her two new books:
They Whisper About Us 
The Letters She Never Sent.

Thanks Joy, for this inspiring episode!

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for lots more writing tips - and marketing tips, too!

See you next time,

Janet

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

Once the goal has been reached and the purpose of your story fulfilled, you need to tie off loose ends fairly quickly.

You know the story of Cinderella? Have you ever wondered what happens to her nasty step-family? Me neither! We don't care, because the story is about Cinderella – the only thing that matters is that good has triumphed over evil and she has her prince!

Allow your readers to sigh in satisfaction as your hero revels in their success at the end of your story – then leave them on that high note as they close the book.

You don’t need a chapter on what happened to the evil step family after the wedding. Imagine if you finished with that – how would you feel, going away from the story, with that your mind?

Riding into the sunset after the wedding is so much more appealing for readers!

Equally, we don’t need a chapter with the honeymoon and the happy couple going back to the castle… unless you are planning on a sequel about Cinderella’s life as royalty!

Here’s an example of a good ending for a children’s novel - A Pennyworth of Peppermints, published by Dernier, by Mary Weeks Millard.

This book is set  in WW1. The penultimate chapter is the one in which the  final battle occurs - finally, Ben, Vera and Sid catch the spy! 

In effect, the story has ended.

But we still need to tie off a few things.

The final chapter of P of P included these three things:

1. Ben, Vera and Sid have their photos taken for the local newspaper. Nice!

2. They get the good news that Ben’s dad, who had been missing, presumed dead, in the trenches in France, had been found. He was a POW and would be home soon.

3. Lastly, there is a fire at the munitions factory where Ben’s mum had been working, and Ben is relieved, because it had been affecting her health. But Ben gets to help at the local shop, so will have wages of his own to help his mum, which will be a help.

The last page finishes with Ben running to the shop with a penny to buy peppermints, humming his favourite blessing song that his dad taught him. This closes off the theme of the book, too, which is trusting in God, whatever the circumstances.

It’s actually a very relevant book for right now. You might like to get copies to give your church children – with the war in Ukraine raging as I speak, it will give your children the opportunity to talk about their fears and learn to trust God, as Ben did through the pages of the story.

Of course, you will need to consider the age of your readers, when you write your ending – but whatever age your are writing for, you do need to make sure you close off the loose ends.

We go into endings of stories in a lot more detail in the Write for a Reason Academy – do take a look at the course details if you think you could use a bit of extra help with the ending of your story. I'd love to be able to help you further in your writing. :-)

But that’s at least a little bit about endings, which I hope you have found helpful. 

If you’d like  more free writing tips, hop on over to write-for-a-reason.com, where you will find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers’ hands.

If you haven’t yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start immediately. This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.

Don't put it off – today is a gift to use wisely! Only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)

Send us Fan Mail

If you know your protagonist's key goal or final outcome in advance, you can work towards strengthening everything that takes them towards it (one conflict after another). Again, if you know what that key goal or outcome is (if you already have it in mind), you can avoid/remove anything that doesn't serve to move the plot forward!

Simple, eh? Well, OK, it can take some thought, and some practice!

First, you need to decide what the key goal is. It could be that your very normal character becomes a detective or world-saver, and by the end of the story the crime is uncovered, spies apprehended, aliens despatched back from whence they came . . . or it could be a more subtle outcome. Perhaps your protagonist is fearful of everything and feels hopeless and trapped, but by the end of the story he finds courage and hope to face the future. It may very well be both! Often in novels there is both an action-related and a spiritual/moral goal. In the last podcast we discussed your character’s evolution (if you haven’t listened, do check it out). This is part of the goal!

Your protagonist might not know what his goal or outcome is, of course. It may be a big surprise to him! It may be that at the beginning of the story he lives in an abandoned building, but by the end he has a safe home. It may be that he has no idea that God exists, but by the end of the story she has discovered that he has a Father in heaven who cares for him. Perhaps at the beginning of the story he thought his goal was to be a millionaire, but by the end he realises that's not all there is to life. There are endless possibilities, as endless as human imagination!

If you already have a manuscript, take a long, hard look at it. Does your protagonist have a key goal? Or what is your final outcome for him? If there is no clear goal, do you think he or she needs one? Once you've thought that through, go back through your story and see if there’s anything that needs strengthening – or cutting!

If you're not really sure what I'm talking about, here's a tip to help you: read a selection of children's novels and decide what the protagonists' key goals are. (You can buy Christian books from the Dernier Publishing website.) Have the authors managed to keep your interest while their protagonists are reaching their goals? Jot down your thoughts in a journal, so you can learn from them!

We go into plotting and planning your story in much more detail in the Write for a Reason Academy so if you feel you could do with some help, why not take a look?

In the meantime, enjoy a bit of goal setting, see where it takes you. :-)

Children need books that will tell them of God's love. Could you write a story where children find peace?

Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me.' Christian writers, let's keep writing stories that will show children that there is another way – that the light of Jesus shines, even in the deepest darkness. 

If you’d like lots more free writing tips, hop on over to write-for-a-reason.com, where you will find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers’ hands.

If you haven’t yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start immediately. This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.

Don't put it off – today is a gift to use wisely! Only you can write your book, and if you have been called to write, someone's waiting for it.

Support the show

Like to do my free writing course, Gripping Beginnings?

Or perhaps you would like to join our membership group, for support while you write your novel?
Click on this link to find out more.

Oh, and do leave a review on your podcast app - it really does help a lot. Thank you! :-)