Write for a Reason

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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. Thanks for coming over, now let’s jump straight in to today’s writing tip – the title is:

Do you Believe in Evolution?

I know, that’s a really silly title, but at the end of the day, I’m talking about change.

Between the beginning and end of your novel, if your main character hasn't evolved ('moved on/changed' if you prefer!), your story probably lacks dynamism.

It may not be true to life, either, because as human beings every event we go through changes us in some way. You might have a great plot for your story, but if it doesn't affect your main character in some way it will lack depth. Perhaps your protagonist might have learnt something about themselves along the way, come to a particular decision, found a new and needed skill, or in some way improved themselves or decided to improve the lives of others.

If, during the process of your story, your character becomes a Christian, you will have needed to move them on from perhaps being diffident or antagonistic to realising their need for a saviour, to recognising that Jesus is the way. You don't, of course, have to do that, just because you are writing 'Christian fiction' – that's just by way of example. Equally, your protagonist may have gone through a process from being fearful of a particular situation to finding peace. They may have gone from being excluded from school due to their destructive anger to channelling their anger into working for a positive change in attitudes at their community . . . the possibilities are, of course, endless.

If you have a manuscript already written, have a read through and see how your main character if different at the beginning of your story than at the end. Is the change obvious, realistic, inspirational? Will it encourage your readers?

I hope you found this helpful! If you did, please subscribe to make sure you don’t miss future episodes, then share with your writer friends and 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.

Visit the Write for a Reason website, or follow Janet on instagram: @janetfromwriteforareason

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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This is more of an encouragement than a series of creative writing tips... although I do offer some tips at the end...

This morning I read Jesus' parable of the seeds and the sower, and as I reflected on being good soil and bearing fruit, my mind wandered to the parable of the talents. However many we have been given, we need to use them!

As writers, though, it's easy to get disheartened when we don't seem to be getting anywhere fast. It's tempting to begin to wonder if what we are doing is worthwhile, or if we are wasting our time, particularly if we have faced 'rejection' from a publisher (or more than one).

But let me encourage you today, don't give up! Our children need good stories that speak of the love of God, of his forgiveness, of the joy of living in his presence. They need to know that God answers prayer, that he will never leave them or forsake them, that his grace is sufficient to help them in times of struggle. And the best way to pass on this wonderful good news is through story. How do I know? It's what Jesus did. Even today, I was touched by the story of the sower and the parable of the talents, stories Jesus told.

So if you're feeling overwhelmed at the enormity of the task of finishing your novel, confused as to how to proceed with your manuscript, or discouraged in any way, why not make a list of all of the steps you need to take to complete your writing project, then start on that list, one item at a time?

You might need to get back to writing something you started so enthusiastically some while ago. If so, today's a good day! Set yourself a realistic goal of so many words/pages a day, a week or a month, and determine to stick to that schedule. If you need to get back to editing your story, you can follow the same principle – maybe a chapter a week, or even a chapter a day if you can set the time aside.

If your problem is a blank sheet of paper (Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying that his worst fear was a blank page!) then just start writing. Excuse the expression, but put your seat in a seat and don't get up until you have done your requisite number of words. Worried that it will be rubbish? The first draft often is, but you can go back and edit it fifty times if you want to, and maybe within that first scribble there will be some wonderful gems.

Afraid of failure? The only failure you need fear is burying your talent in the ground.

Four more tips to stay inspired:

• Pray before you begin
• Stick up a photo up of children you want to reach above your desk. Remind yourself that you are writing for them, and how will they hear if nobody tells them?
• Write something every day
• Get yourself a writing buddy to help keep you on track, or join a writers group.

So you may never be a best-selling author. But is that the point, is that your goal? If your story inspires one or two children to walk with God, would that not be worth all your effort? What about 100, or even 1,000? It would be amazing.

So be strong and very courageous!

Janet

P.S. If you think anyone else might find this post helpful, please share - we all need encouragement on our journey :-) Lots more encouragement and creative writing tips on  www.write-for-a-reason.com, where you can also sign up for my free Gripping Beginnings course.

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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This latest podcast episode is an interview with Writer for a Reason and first time author Fiona Murphy.

Like many of you, Fiona began writing a while ago, and it was all going quite slowly. After investing in the Write for a Reason Academy and getting a writing mentor, she finally finished her first book, Daisy's Journey, which was published by Fisher King publishing earlier this month!

You will be encouraged to hear about the highs and lows in Fiona's journey... and know that, if she can do it, you can do it too...

Plus Fiona has three excellent writing tips to share with you, to help you on your own writing journey.

Here's a little bit about Fiona's book, which is for 12-14s:

Daisy’s Journey Author: Fiona Murphy ISBN 978-1-914560-27-9

Socially anxious teenager, Daisy Davidson braves another new start when her family moves on again.

She begins the next college, terrified about struggling to fit in, but also keen to pursue her love of music.

An awkward encounter with gorgeous fellow harpist Giorgio followed by a put down by Lucy, leader of the college clique leaves Daisy feeling like her worst fears have materialised.

Her best friend, Jonno, is travelling the world and staying in touch is a challenge so Daisy feels very alone, until plain-speaking Grace befriends her.

After a freak accident and more challenges Daisy worries her tentative steps towards making new friends will be thwarted. However, her friendship with Grace deepens and her interest in Giorgio develops after a rowing competition and an invitation to Church.

Harp practice with Giorgio leads to her riding a rollercoaster of emotions, perplexed by his frequent elusiveness and confused about her priorities. After a chat with Jonno, who finally has a signal, Daisy has choices to make.

Fighting to face her fears, embrace opportunities and manage her emotions Daisy wonders if she’ll ever find the courage to let go and trust God’s promise of plans for hope and a good future.

Be inspired! You can listen to the podcast on the Write for a Reason website, or on your usual podcast platform - iTunes, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and many others. Don't forget to subscribe, for lots more writing tips and encouragement!

And I'll be in touch again soon.

Every blessing,

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! :-)

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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. Thanks for coming over, now let’s jump straight in to today’s writing tip, which is all about Showing, not telling.

Some unsolicited manuscripts I receive have one major flaw; the lack of "showing" and lots of "telling".

It's a shame, because stories where readers are simply told what is happening can make for slow and dull reading, even when there's an interesting plot and some great characters.

So what is this showing and telling?

“Showing” is more than a simple “telling” of the facts. It's more illustrative and dramatic, and builds a picture in your readers' minds, drawing them into the story and taking them closer to the action. As Anton Chekov famously wrote, “Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

Here are a few more simple examples of show not tell:

Tell: It got dark.
Show: What was left of the coloured clouds sailed away with the last blush of the sun and the cold sky filled with stars. (From London's Gone.)

Tell: It was an incredible view.

Show: The beauty of it delighted me, as the hugeness and loneliness of it terrified me. (From Deepest Darkness by Denise Hayward.)

Tell: He sounded cross, though they couldn't hear what he said.

Show: He growled something they couldn't hear, then snapped his phone shut with a harsh click. (Extract from The Treasure Hunt.)

In the first instances we are told the facts; in the second we are given a dramatic picture. In the last instance, the word "angry" isn't mentioned at all; we have been shown that the man is cross instead.

See what a powerful tool this is in fiction writing; to show, not tell!

Now it's over to you - why not look through your own story and see where you can change some telling into showing? If you're still not sure, I'd be delighted to welcome you on the Write for a Reason course (lots more info on the write for a reason website), where we go into how to show not tell in much more detail.

I hope you found this helpful! If you did, please share with your writer friends and 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 – because if you don’t, they might not keep reading!

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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Any time is a great time to people watch, and get some tips for when you are creating characters for your novel. If you are meeting with family and friends, or out and about, take a few moments to observe tell-tale signs that show how people are feeling.

Observe the look on the grandmother's face when a grandchild is placed in her lap, and her movements as she rocks him. Watch how a small child jumps up and down with excitement. How does someone behave who is trying to shrink into the background . . . what about the person who wants to be the centre of attention?

Look at people's faces, their expressions, the way they lean forward or back, their dress, their make-up (or lack of) . . . all the things that show their personality and how they are feeling.

If you get the chance, jot your observations down in a file or notebook, including as many details as you can remember. These will help you bring your characters to life when you get back to writing.

The best people to watch are the same age as the characters in your novel, so if you’re writing for 8-11s, see if you can find some children this age to watch – perhaps at church, or in your family.

Thanks for listening! If you found this helpful, hop on over to www.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

Hello and welcome!

If you write novels for 8-14s, do you need to include quotes from Shakespeare plays, make a passing reference to the Spanish Inquisition, and have your protagonist quote Scripture?

We all use passing references to people, places and events we are familiar with in our writing, but we do need to consider the age of our target readers before mentioning things that are obvious to us, but might not be to them. Here are 3 things to watch out for when writing novels for children:

1. Before making references to historical events, check that your target readers will know what you are talking about. If you refer to the Spanish Inquisition, the Russian Revolution, the space race, or any other historical event even in passing, check that your readers will know to what this refers. This is particularly true if you are writing for an international market.

2. The same applies to historical people and their writings. Is your main character really likely to be able to quote Shakespeare? Will your readers know who Julian of Norwich is, or Charles Wesley? Will they know that Charles Darwin wrote the Origin of Species? Even 'famous' people from the last century may be totally unknown to your readers. A twelve-year-old may not know what The Beatles sang – if this makes you raise your eyebrows, how many Justin Bieber songs can you name? :-)

3. Eight-year-olds may or may not be familiar with Bible stories, but either way they are unlikely to have read a lot of Scripture themselves. A small minority may have memorised a few verses . . . but make sure if one of your characters is quoting scripture in your novel, that it rings true. If you are writing for a reason, with a Christian message in your story, the temptation is to want to bring in God's precious word – and quite rightly so! But be careful that you do it in a way that fits in with your story and will reach your readers.

If, after reading this writing tip, you look over your manuscript and decide you may have assumed too much knowledge in your readers, you have two choices. You can either:
 1. explain what you have written, or
 2. find a more relevant way to say what you want to say.

And if you're not sure what your target readers will and won't know, find some and ask them!

If you found this writing tip helpful, the Write for a Reason course could be for you. We go into reaching your target readers in much more depth in Module One, which students have found very helpful.

May the Lord bless your writing! Do subscribe to the blog, to make sure you don't miss out on further writing tips.

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

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. Thanks for coming over, now let’s jump straight in to today’s writing tip, which is called:

Action!

I think I may have mentioned something like this before in a writing tip, but it's worth mentioning again as it's a common problem I see in unsolicited manuscripts: when writing for this age group (8-14s) you need to start with some action.

If you begin your story with a character who is struggling with an emotional problem because of family, school or church, you risk losing your readers in the first few pages.

This is because:

• Readers haven't had a chance to build up a rapport with your protagonist, so don't care about his/her emotional problem yet. They may do later in the book, if you allow us to get to know him/her first.
• Children want exciting things to be going on a lot of the time. They love reading about danger, fun, excitement, mystery . . . as opposed to emotional problems, which can be depressing to read about, whether it's bullying, parents' divorcing, a house move, illness (the list of life's struggles is, let's face it, endless!)

Of course, you need to have an issue, a problem, something awful going on to make a story. Then your protagonist can, by the grace of God, win through in the end. But instead of starting your story with your emotional problem, consider how you could draw readers in differently. Could you begin with something fun and amazing, which will then throw the emotional problem into sharp relief? Could you start with something dangerous, exciting or mysterious, which will pull us into the story? While you are writing your exciting beginning, help us to get to know your engaging and captivating character. Then when the awful thing happens, we will care about them and want to read on.

Give it a go!

Thanks for listening! If you found this helpful, 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. 

I’d also like to tell you about something really exciting, if you are currently in the process of writing your novel and would appreciate regular support and encouragement – an oppoirtunity to be part of an online for a reason community. I haven’t worked out all the details yet, but it will be called write for a reason unite. It will definitely include online support groups, probably fortnightly, plus regular teaching and Q and A – all to do with helping you get your novel written to the very best of your ability. All you need to do, to make sure you get all the information you need, is to sign up for the I’m interested list on www.write-for-a-reason.com.

Any questions about it, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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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Who eats shoots and leaves?

We all know the one about the panda who eats shoots and leaves. Or is it that he eats, shoots and leaves?

Correct punctuation can at times be essential to the meaning of a sentence; but more than that, it can make your story so much easier and more pleasurable to read. If your story is confusing, or stilted; if readers have to go back to make sense of what they have read, they may give up, particularly children who struggle to read in the first place.

So when you are writing, make thoughtful use of all the punctuation marks available to you. Look at all these beauties: ! ? . , : ; - “ ( ) ” – . . . all there to help you in the crafting of your story!

If you are writing to share a message, you have even more reason to make sure your story reads well. Every so often, read what you have written out loud, to ensure each sentence and paragraph flow beautifully and that your readers will pause in all the right places. (Tip: vary the length of your sentences. This enhances the rhythm of your story.)

Sloppy punctuation is... sloppy. Your readers deserve the best – make sure you give it to them. :-)

Talking about the best, if you really want to do your very best, and if you have found these creative writing tips helpful so far, why not consider doing the Write for a Reason Academy? Instead of a little random tip here and there, we systematically go through everything you need to write a successful story. We start by thinking about your gift and your aim, then go on to creating great characters. We also look at theme, narrative voice, settings, beginnings, endings and much more… then by the time you get to the end of the ten weeks (or however long you wish to take over the course – there’s no time limit), you will have all the skills and confidence you need to write a successful story. Students absolutely love it! It’s great fun and instructive at the same time. You can take a look here. One student said, You have taught me so much and been always a great encourager, thank you. You’ve never made me feel like it’s too late or that I’m to old or not good enough. Instead, I have felt hopeful and excited. I want to keep writing and honour the Lord with what I believe he’s put in my heart.”

Do check it out. Your gift and your readers are worth the investment.

Hope to see you there!

Love in Christ,

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! Today's podcast is all about getting the pace of your story right - and it's for Christians who write fiction for kids and teens.
Pace is one of those invisible things that helps your novel to shine above the rest.
I hope you find all the ideas and tips helpful! If you do, please share with a friend.
I mention the Write for a Reason Academy in today's podcast - you can sign up here.
The free course is called Gripping Beginnings and you can find that here.
Thanks for listening!
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

Thanks for coming over!

Here's an interview with Joy Vee, author of several Christian children's books. Her story is a real inspiration. If you are writing for children and are unsure of the way, Joy's story of doing the Write for a Reason Academy, writing stories then getting them published will give you all the encouragement you need to keep going.

So, listen, and be inspired!

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! :-)