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~ Where Writing and Faith Got Married

Michelle Stimpson.com

Tag Archives: gifts

Two Ideas to Help You Write Your Book

29 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by michellestimpson1 in Books by Michelle Stimpson, For Writers, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

african american christian fiction, authors, christian fiction, gifts, talents, writing, writing blog, writing books, writing fiction

If you’re thinking about writing a book but you’re really not sure how to push through the often-frustrating process, you might consider hiring a writing coach or surrounding yourself with a group of writers to help you to “The End.”

stressed african woman with computer

Writing Coaches

In a nutshell, a writing coach is like a physical trainer. They don’t do the work for you, but they can help you through the process.

A writing coach offers guidance through the developmental process. He or she will help you outline your book and plan the chapters. After defining the scope of your book, you and your coach will decide upon a calendar. Every week or so (depending on what you two decide), you’ll send a chapter to your coach via email. The coach will give feedback on each chapter. You’ll move forward through each chapter of the book with your coach’s input and a sense of accountability along the way.

Some coaches provide other services, but this is the basic gist of what writing coaches do and how one can help you reach your writing goals.

For the record, I am NOT a writing coach. I don’t use a writing coach, but I know authors who have used writing coaches, particularly for their first book or two.

The writing coaches I know well are all booked up for now, but you can send me an email if you’d like their contact info. If you’re a writing coach or if you know if a good writing coach, please feel free to post your contact info. in the comments!

Writing Critique Group

Study group

My first experience with a critique group came at the home of award-winning, seasoned author Lena Nelson Dooley (thanks, Lena!).

Here’s how it worked: One evening each week, we met and circled up in her living room on chairs and couches—sometimes as few as 5, as many as 12 or so. Whoever had something to read (up to 10 pages double-spaced) read their work aloud. Everyone listened and followed along (if that person brought copies for everyone to read). Lena commented first, then everyone else went around the circle adding their two cents. Some of the comments were praise, most were suggestions for improvement, all were helpful. Even if I didn’t bring a chapter, I learned so much by listening to the other writers’ work as well as the following critique.

We all wrote Christian fiction or non-fiction. Most were members of the local ACFW chapter, but some were personally invited.

Several of us who used to go to Lena’s formed a smaller group, closer in proximity. It’s been absolutely amazing to celebrate the achievements of the group. Since we’ve been meeting, 3 have signed multi-contract deals with major publishers and several have self-published with amazing success.

If you don’t know any authors who might invite you to a critique group, consider forming a critique group of your own! Quick tips:

1) For safety’s sake, I’d host it in a public place (library or café) unless you know everyone

2) My groups have been all-women. When I hosted a group in my home, we did move it to a library when men wanted to start coming. I don’t think my husband would have taken kindly to some dudes sitting up in his living room with me when he came home from work

3) My groups have also been comprised of people who read and write in the same genre, for the most part. When people understand the genre’s expectations, they are able to provide critique that lines your work up with the standards

4) In my current group, we don’t bring physical copies of our work. We send it via email ahead of time. Everyone makes their comments through Microsoft’s reviewing options. We send the comments back to the author via email after having our conversations.

If you’re not the one for meeting face-to-face or one-on-one coaching, you might consider virtual support groups (Google hangouts, FB groups, etc.). Any more ideas for how to collaborate with others to finish your work? Please post in the comments!

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Born to Write???

23 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by michellestimpson1 in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

authors, gifts, talents, writing

Jordan Weiber’s father described seeing his then 1-year old daughter displaying an incredible sense of balance by standing on one leg “like a pelican” as she dressed herself. Gabby Douglas’s mother remembers installing a camera in the toddler’s bedroom to study how she was getting out of the crib. As it turns out, Gabby had perfected a push-up and front-flip move to dismount. These two young ladies, now US Olympic athletes discussed in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, showed exceptional athletic abilities early on.

Image

Reading the athletes’ stories and thinking about my own childhood experiences reminded me that many of us have always known, deep down inside, what we were destined to do (Ephesians 2:10). In my case, we’re talking writing, of course. I remember drawing long squiggles on sheets of paper, taking them to my mom, asking her, “Mom, what does it say?”

She’d reply, “I don’t know. What do you think it says?” And I’d make up a story. This happened countless times before I ever actually learned what a letter was.

I don’t have any scientific data for what I’m about to share here. But I think these quirky little characteristics might be clues that you, too, were born with a natural affinity for words.

1. Are you a pen-freak? Do you horde pens, “accidentally” take pens, get excited when you see several different colors of pens, or have a favorite type of pen you love to write with? Even though many of us “write” on computers, many of us still love to see ink flow on paper. It’s a beautiful thing.

2. Do you have several ‘Chapter One’ files on your computer? Starting books over and over again is a sign that you must write a book. Write one already. You don’t have to get it published, you don’t even have to like it. Just write it to prove to yourself that you can actually complete a manuscript. Next time, you might have something you’d like to share with the world.

3. Are you secretly semi-jealous of other writers? Perhaps this is the biggest clue of all. Nothing stabs you in the gut like seeing someone else do what you, too, are supposed to be doing. My only advice, get in place! The world needs you! More specifically, the body of Christ needs you to help us all mature (Ephesians 4:12-16).

I’d love to hear your thoughts – how did you know you were meant to do a certain thing? And if you’re a writer, what can you add to this list of signs that you were born to write?

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