Anticipation by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

On Monday, Terri Weldon shared some interesting tidbits about her debut Christmas release, Mistletoe Magic. If you missed Monday's post, you can read it here. 

Please join me in welcoming Terri back as she shares about Christmas and miracles, and as writers, how that holiday spirit of "anticipation" can carry through in our writing. Welcome back, Terri!   ~Dora

While trying to decide what to talk about the word anticipation zinged into my mind. And for me, it seemed perfect. What two better things to anticipate than Christmas and writing?

During the Christmas season it is so easy to become consumed with cooking, shopping, and decorating that we forget to anticipate the birth of our Savior. I know His birth took place over 2000 years ago and we all know the Christmas story. Maybe we know it too well and maybe we need to be reminded it isn’t just a story. The birth of Jesus is a miracle and Christmas is a time for us to experience that miracle anew. To celebrate the fact God loves us so much He sent His Son into the world. A tiny miracle that became that world’s greatest blessing.

In a different manner I believe we should feel a sense of anticipation about our writing. I don’t know about you, but when that first gem of a story idea niggles at my brain I’m full of anticipation. Midway through my first draft I may wonder what ever made me think I could write. By the time I’ve finished revising the book for the last time I may never want to think of those characters again.

Do you know what happens then? I send that story out and I begin to anticipate what will happen. I hope and I pray an editor will love it. And in the case of Mistletoe Magic, when I finally saw my first book accepted I felt a whole new wave of anticipation. For once I looked forward to editing and I felt a strong sense of anticipation hoping my editor, the wonderful Annette Irby, would like the changes.

Then I anticipated the cover. Next the release date. And then, I’ll admit, I anticipated and feared friends, family, and strangers reading my book. But the entire process was one of joy. God allowed my dream of being published to come true.

Now I’m filled with anticipation at the thought of writing that next book and I hope I never become complacent about it. But more importantly, I never want to become complacent about the miracle of Jesus’s birth.

What about you? What has you filled with anticipation this Christmas season? What lies ahead in your writing journey?

Mistletoe Magic
Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince charming. She meets the man of her dreams through an internet dating service. Or is he? Because the new dentist in town sets her heart a flutter. It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99. Tyler begins to get jealous of Wes99, his online persona! Soon he's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty. As Christmas approaches Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri Denise Weldon claims her regular life is really pretty mundane. She refrains from saying dull! Terri shares a home with her sister, Cynthia, in Oklahoma. They’re the best of friends and enjoy many of the same things. She has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.  Terri enjoys gardening, shopping for shoes (a habit she needs to break), and working in her church library.

Mistletoe Magic is her debut novella and she is currently writing a suspense series.

Taking Advantage of Waiting Periods

How much waiting is there in a writer’s life?

There are plenty of active phases in a writer’s life. We study craft. We sit down to write. We gather with fellow writers for critique. We attend conferences and pitch our stories. 

And then we send out queries, proposals, or manuscripts. 

Enter, the waiting period. 

I’m in a waiting period. I sent off my manuscript and am awaiting feedback. By the time this posts, I may have it, but I know there will always come another waiting period. 

What do you do with your waiting seasons? 

I’ve had a hard time concentrating on any other projects in the last couple of weeks. I’m preoccupied in the waiting. Wondering what the feedback will be and praying about what to work on next. But I’m not feeling especially creative. And for this SOTP (seat-of-the-pants) writer, creativity is a necessity. (Not to say that if I’m under deadline I can’t coerce some creative spark; deadlines bring out the best in us, don’t they?) 

So, while I await word, how should I use my time? Consider these ideas next time you’re between creative writing frenzies (high output seasons):

* Pray. Do you know where you’re going from here? Have you heard from the Lord about what’s next? Downtimes (waiting periods) are perfect opportunities to pray about the future.

* Rest. Racing headlong toward deadlines is exhausting, both physically and mentally (and even emotionally). You’ve been forcing yourself past feelings of exhaustion just so you could meet your deadline. Now, you don’t have to drive yourself so hard. Rest. Refuel. Another creative frenzy is likely just around the corner, and you’ll need rest to ward off burnout.

* Study writing craft. This never goes out of season. In fact, deadlines can motivate us to study as we realize there are holes in our story. (Note: Sometimes I don’t even know what’s missing, I just know the story is missing something. At those times I prayerfully dig into craft study, and God faithfully gives me what I need.) 

* Read. Read more books in your genre. Study up on what’s current. Watch movies. This is part of refueling your creativity as well, and now’s the time. (Since you probably haven’t had time while aiming for that deadline.)

* If you can write, write. If the words, the story ideas, are coming, take advantage of them. Writing gives us experience nothing less provides. And there may soon be a larger demand on your work. (i.e. your publisher wants to discuss Book Two, or your agent wants to see your next project)

And know this about waiting seasons, we writers are right there with you. Chances are most of the writers in your circle are also waiting on something or other. Let's cheer each other on!

Discovering What's Missing

 
Hey everyone, Annette here. Sometimes I read through a chapter (even my own) and know there is something wrong but I can’t always pinpoint it. Have you experienced this? You’re sitting in a critique group or trying to evaluate your own manuscript and you know it’s missing something, that elusive something, but you can’t name it. What do you do? There are too many elements that go into a great story to just run down a mental list. That list reads like the criteria for a writing contest. But it’s laborious and scientific. Sometimes what’s missing is quite a bit less tangible than that.

Here’s how I attempt to answer the question of “what’s missing?”:

First, I hit on the big things. (I’d really like to avoid that long list if I can.) So, did I feel the emotions of the character? Readers want a satisfying emotional experience. Did I sympathize with the main characters? Are they unique and do they sound different? What about tension? Am I hooked? Is the story engaging? Does the story fit its genre. Readers come with expectations to your story. If they pick up a romantic suspense, don’t give them a prairie romance (unless you’ve tied the two genres together somehow *wink*).

Second, give myself time to think. Give yourself permission to not know what the missing element is. If you’re critiquing, you can just point out: I’m not feeling the emotion here (if you can get that far), even if you don’t have a specific suggestion for how to fix it. If the missing element is too elusive, just leave it alone until you have something constructive to share. No use confusing the crit partner. However, talking it out might help you both hit on something. Sort of like brainstorming. So don’t be afraid to bring it up.

Third, give myself some space. Work on something else for a while. Give yourself a true break from that project. This is especially helpful if the project is your own. Then, when come back to it, read it aloud. Chances are the missing element will come out of hiding now.

If all else fails, you can go through the list of necessary elements, but be prepared to spend some time. Besides a contest list, I’ve never seen the criteria itemized in an exhaustive list. But we both know there are a million elements that go into making a strong novel. The key is to focus on strengthening our weaknesses. And if you do that in the off times, you’ll become more adept at identifying missing elements, both in your work and in the work of others.

Here’s to naming what’s missing and having the wisdom and strategy to fix those holes in the manuscript. I’m sure this gets easier with time. You can even practice on published novels. While you’re reading, ask yourself: is there anything missing? What would I do differently? Is there anything I would change? All of those strategies help us become stronger writers.

Either way, dear writer, write on!

Busy Season

How do you find balance in your life? Hey everyone, Annette here. Most people I know are writers second. As in, I’m a mother who writes. Or I have a day job, and I try to write whenever I can. Or I work in publishing, so I edit or promote authors and write when I can. Does that apply to you? It applies to me.

And lately my schedule hasn’t allowed me to write as often as I’d like. What do you do when that happens?

I’ve considered pushing off writing. “Oh, this is just a busy season. I’ll have time again someday.” But the word “someday” echoes in the writing corridors of my soul, and part of me languishes until I can write again.

So, maybe it’s time for a shift in my schedule. Last March, I left my writing office and wrote “off-campus” for a few days a week. Made a big difference. Might be time to try that again.

I know this: we were called to write. And when we write, we feel fulfilled. Right? I do. I always relate with Olympian Eric Liddel’s line in Chariots of Fire: “I believe God made me for a purpose. For China, yes. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Do you feel that way about writing?

I’m going to work on making time to write. It’s not a secondary calling or activity. It’s key. Busy or not, there has to be a way. Plus, with a huge conference right around the corner, there is plenty to do.

So, if you’re like me and writing often takes a backseat, consider strategizing to find time. Pray about it. I believe God can help us find that fulfilling chunk of time when our minds aren’t too tired to formulate words. He’ll make a way.

Now, where is that printed outline for the story I’m working on? It’s time to get to work.

Write on!

All About our Readers Series, One

Hi everyone. Annette here to begin our Tuesday "Net's Notations" posts.
Please join me for a new series for writers which focuses on . . . readers. Read on:

Dear Christian writer, why do you write?

“God has called me.”

“I love to write!”

“I can’t do anything else. I’ve tried stopping and I can’t.” (grin)

“I have a message I want to get out there.”

“I love words and stories.”

“Jesus told stories.”

We have to ask ourselves, for whom we write—like when starting this blog, Dawn and I had to consider whom we’re doing this for.

Answer: YOU.

If you asked Jesus who He lived for, He’d answer YOU. If you asked Him who He died for, He’d answer YOU.

Dear Christian, when you write, whether fiction or non, you’re writing for the YOUs out there—your audience.

How often do we think that way? “I’m writing for my reader. Not myself, not my name’s sake."

“I’m writing because I believe in being a vessel for God—someone He can pour into and I can overflow onto others.” We need to have a shepherd’s heart to be effective writers. We’re helping point the way. We’re illustrating biblical truths, like Jesus, the ultimate Good Shepherd.

So, let’s ask ourselves to whom we’re writing and make sure that as we put the letters on the page (or screen) that we're keeping our audience in mind, in heart. Praying for them. Praying we can touch them and bless them, changing lives.

I read this reader testimony once in a popular author's novel: “Your book helped me find God.”

Wow.

That’s what I want. To point to God. To reach up toward God’s hand, grab on tight, then reach out to the reader’s hand and link the two. I want that to be my motive while I'm putting words on the page.

How about you?

Write on!

Annette M. Irby’s first book, Love Letters released in 2007. You can learn more by visiting her website. “Chicken Soup Celebrates Mothers and Daughters” featured one of her stories, also in 2007. She and her husband serve on their church’s worship team as well as in leadership. Visit her other blogs at: Net’s Notes and Net’s Book Notes.