Commitments to Your Characters by Janet Sketchley

With my newest release, Hidden Secrets, I was strongly tempted to publish without using an editor. Sure, I’d needed one for each of my previous books, but the manuscript felt good to me. I’d self-edited it many times, and after three novels and a novella, I had a pretty good handle on this writing thing. Plus I’m blessed with naturally good spelling and grammar.

Are you laughing yet?

My editor is, if she’s reading this post.

Common sense said the professional thing to do was to find an editor. Find, because the editor of book one, Unknown Enemy, had moved on to other work. I’d heard good things about Brilliant Cut Editing, and when Deirdre agreed to squeeze me into her schedule, I sent off my manuscript.

She’d find a few things to tweak, I expected, and I should be on track for a fast revision and a late 2018 publication date.

You’ll notice it’s now summer 2019 and I’m writing about my “new release.”

The document came back with 926 comments. Nine hundred twenty-six. And a cover note about it being pretty raw in places.

As well as assigning a mountain of work, the comments identified strong points and those which could become even stronger. So many of them addressed punctuation errors that I’ve dubbed myself the queen of misplaced commas and run-on sentences.

Writing can be humbling. But I’d far rather be humbled by editors and beta readers—who are on my side—than by readers and reviewers after publication.

I remember working on my first novel, Heaven’s Prey, and rewriting for years. My commitment to my characters was that as long as I could learn to do better with their story, I’d keep revising. Working with a trusted editor, beta readers, cover artist, and any other necessary resources, is part of keeping that commitment. We writers owe it to our characters.

What promises have you made to your characters as you write?

I’d far rather be humbled by editors and beta readers—who are on my side—than by readers and reviewers after publication. via @JanetSketchley #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

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Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer who likes her fiction with a splash of mystery or adventure and a dash of Christianity. Why leave faith out of our stories if it’s part of our lives? You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca.

The secrets of Captain Hiltz may not have died with him.

When Landon Smith returns to the Green Dory Inn, she finds innkeeper Anna Young still shaken by the recent vandalism and unable to cope when the inn is targeted in an online vendetta. Prickly neighbour Bobby Hawke can help with Anna’s cyber woes, but when the attacks escalate to physical threats, Landon and Bobby must work together to unmask the culprit.

A cryptic message about a tunnel points to the property’s original owner, a notorious Prohibition-era sea captain rumoured to have left hidden wealth. Contraband, treasure, evidence of things better left buried…

How far will Anna’s enemy go to claim the tunnel and its contents? Protecting Anna will require courage and faith as Landon battles the locals’ attitudes and the scars of her past. Even then, she and Bobby are tracing the faintest of clues. With Anna on the brink of emotional collapse—and danger rising like the tide—time is running out.

Quitting Time? by Janet Sketchley

Ever feel like giving up? Me too. Often. I’ve even quit a few times, but my imagination always gets me started again. Through the long, unpublished years, I struggled with motivation, but mostly with “am I wasting my time?”

I knew God had given me a gift to write fiction, but there was a lot of second-guessing. Discouragement is insidious, and I wondered why I was spending such a huge amount of time writing fiction—for nothing. Eventually I decided to write anyway, even if it was just for me, and to enjoy the gift. I still hoped it would sell, so I could share my imaginary friends with the world.

Once I was published, and then decided to continue on as an indie author after my publisher closed, the temptations to quit changed. But they haven’t gone away.

Sometimes when the little voices ask, “Do you really want to keep doing this?” my only answer is “It’s better than cleaning toilets.” But then a character or plot point will surprise me, or a reader will tell me that something I wrote touched them, and I’m re-energized. Plus, God brought me this far. It would be ungrateful—and disobedient—to quit or to give less than my best. When it’s quitting time, He’ll tell me.

Looking back, I can see times where God positioned me in a spot to be encouraged to keep on. Perhaps most memorably, when I was at a very low, pre-published ebb, He nudged me into attending the 2012 Write Canada conference. I was feeling discouraged and directionless, but the conference challenged me to renew my sense of wonder and to carry on.

So I took that and ran, right?

No, I forgot and got discouraged again. Here’s the part I love: instead of letting me sulk, God got my attention while I was listening to Peter Furler’s song, “All in Your Head.” I’m sure that song was written for more important assignments than my writing, but God used it to challenge me. If you like rock music and need a bit of encouragement, here’s a YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VillmIj5SE

If you love writing, keep persevering. Even when it’s hard, and even when there’s no recognition. When God gives us a gift, He wants us to use it. And to leave the results up to Him. Some of us may become multi-published, best-selling authors. Others may publish a single book or article. Others’ words may only reach an editorial assistant deep in a publishing house. Or maybe the act of writing, listening, revising, will help others of us to work through issues we’re struggling with personally.

He will use our obedient words, in His way and in His time. May we persevere, so we’ll one day know the joy of hearing “well done” from the Master.

When have you been most tempted to quit? How does God encourage you to keep going?

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Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer who likes her fiction with a splash of mystery or adventure and a dash of Christianity. Why leave faith out of our stories if it’s part of our lives? You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca. This summer, she’s celebrating the release of her suspense novella, Unknown Enemy.

A Gift that Needs to be Used by Janet Sketchley

Janet Sketchley

Almost 20 years passed between my earliest dated notes and the publication of my first novel. I used to think that said something negative about me – it does say I didn't work at this full time or every day – but it's more about God's timing and the importance of perseverance.

I only quit a few times in those two decades, plus taking a year off with a new baby. Writing opportunities were often brief and scattered. Working on short fiction would have been easier, but the idea behind the novel wouldn't let me go. That meant huge batches of rewriting each time I received feedback and learned new things. I didn't know how much I didn't know!

At times it was overwhelming, but I felt a responsibility to my characters – something only other writers understand. I made a commitment that as long as I could learn how to apply what I'd learned or been shown, I would do it. If and when I hit something I couldn't grasp, I'd stop work on these stories – at least until I learned how to do what they needed.

My motto was "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Novel One deals with the redemption of a serial killer and spends time in his head. I felt a strong need to know God's leading about publication. What if it caused more harm than good? Self-publishing wasn't an option, because how could I tell if it was my will or His?

I finished a second manuscript and struggled for motivation with the third. Perhaps I should switch genres. I loved stories too much to quit by this point, even if none would be published.

Choosing to write because it's a gift that needs to be used felt liberating. No more wondering if God had called me, or if I was wasting my time.

Ironically, shortly after that I signed with Choose NOW Publishing for that first, long-suffering manuscript. Three rounds of intensive editing meant more revisions, and I'm so pleased I didn't release the book on my own without professional help. The "before" and "after" are quite different.

My novel had been out for six or seven months, and I was tidying the next manuscript to send to the editor when the company closed its fiction line. I was devastated. At first. But working with a small press meant I'd learned many of the behind-the-scenes details. And I have friends who were in or investigating the world of self-publishing.

I set up as an indie publisher, regained my rights to book one, and have been learning yet more things. Now Heaven's Prey and Secrets and Lies are both in print, and I need to get back into writing Redemption's Edge #3. This time I don't have the luxury of 20 years to let it steep!

About the Author

Janet Sketchley is the author of Heaven's Prey and Secrets and Lies, two novels of suspense and redemption. She also blogs about faith and books. Janet loves adventure stories, worship music, tea and Formula 1 racing. Like Carol in Secrets and Lies, she loves music and tea. Unlike Carol, Janet isn't related to a dangerous offender, has a happy home life, and has never been threatened by a drug lord. May those tidbits continue to hold true! You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join Janet's writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

Secrets & Lies Sample Chapter: http://janetsketchley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Secrets-and-Lies-Chapter-1.pdf

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanetSketchley

Twitter: twitter.com/JanetSketchley

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Secrets and Lies - Redemption’s Edge Series

Secrets & Lies
by Janet Sketchley

A single mother must protect her teenage son—from organized crime and from himself.

Carol Daniels thinks she out-ran her enemies, until a detective arrives at her door with a warning from her convict brother. Minor incidents take on a sinister meaning. An anonymous phone call warns her not to hide again.

Now she must cooperate with a drug lord while the police work to trap him. Carol has always handled crisis alone, but this one might break her. Late-night deejay Joey Hill offers friendship and moral support. Can she trust him? One thing’s certain: she can’t risk prayer.