2020 and the fight for NaNoWriMo by Lisa Phillips

Sounds like a pretty good story premise. Our intrepid dark, unpredictable hero who is prone to bouts of moodiness and a tendency to put people in timeout for 14 days ventures out to conquer the city of NaNo, a friendly neighboring locale he hasn’t seen in a while but would quite like to see again.

The only problem is, this NaNoWriMo hasn’t remained that familiar spot from previous ventures—the place of victory it once was. Though it might be the same mountain with its steady and relentless climb to the top, victory doesn’t look quite so sure this time. That hill looks a little steeper. The path looks a little more treacherous. Occasionally a boulder labeled, “lockdown” or another labeled, “online school” rolls across the path. Snow clouds gather, and the air seems to hold a little more chill the weather man calls, “you’ll have to wear your mask inside Starbucks even though you didn’t finish your drink yet.”

So what is this weary traveler known as 2020 going to do?

He’s going to prepare.

Yeah, yeah. He does that every October to get ready for his journey. He’ll scribble in a notebook, and have inspired plot ideas in the shower. He’ll dig out those long (but mostly useless) character questionnaires, and then remember to read the craft books and actually dig into the character’s real, inner journey—the one that encompasses real change.

Same old October NaNo prep.

Or is it?

This year looks a lot different for our intrepid traveler. He’ll have to find new ways of working. New places that are distraction free. Life probably looks a whole lot differently this year, and assuming things will fall into place may not work. 2020 has to see a few boulders start to roll before they even get close, and make a side-step out of the way.

Can he still achieve victory?

Sure.

Will he?

Maybe. Maybe not. And isn’t that the real story of 2020? Kind of like this:

A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (Prov 16v9)

Right now it feels like he’s directing 2020 through a minefield. The word, “unprecedented” comes to mind. “Never before” has x,y, or z happened in our lifetime. Who knows what will happen next? I’ve found myself homeschooling for the first time. Writing a chapter a day – at seven in the morning – and taking longer to write a book. Everything was canceled for a while, and yet it felt like I was busier than ever. Now that things seem to be coming back online, I’m wondering what will happen next.

So if you’re looking forward to NaNoWriMo out of a sense of nostalgia for years past…I’d caution you. Be VERY careful to measure what you’re able to commit to. This year is so wildly different from any other that it could blindside you, and all your plans get tossed up in the air like confetti.

If you do sign up, whether things go well or poorly, give yourself GRACE. Celebrate your accomplishments, and for the rest of it—toast your favorite beverage to, “doing a little better next time.”

Last year I thought I would do double NaNo. I ended at 75,000 words. Not bad at all—maybe even fantastic—but that would never happen this year. Not only am I homeschooling, I’m also attending a week long intensive conference mid-Nov.

But I’ll be on the sidelines, cheering everyone on…and then about the 13th, I’ll realize I need to write that 55k word book before I go on vacation Nov 27th. *shrug* 2020. Am I right?!

So if you’re looking forward to NaNoWriMo out of a sense of nostalgia for years past…I’d caution you. Be VERY careful to measure what you’re able to commit to. This year is so wildly different from any other...

Need some more info about National Novel Writing Month? Click here. Lisa Phillips has a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

She’s a contributing author in the DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS boxed set that released this week. The set is aiming to be a USA Today Bestseller, so if you’ve got a dollar and you adore Christian Romantic suspense then head on over to Amazon and snap up your copy now!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086WP9LX9

Back to school…like never before By Lisa Phillips

Back to school…like never before. 

Wow, this has been a crazy year, hasn’t it? I mean, it’s pretty much done at this point. Right? Right?? 

Had you told me six months ago that I would be watching a llama do math I’d probably have laughed at you. But here we are.

Early on in quarantine, my dad (in the UK) mentioned the news broadcasts there kept using the word, “unprecedented” to describe what was happening. And that word might’ve been seriously overused, but it wasn’t untrue.

After the endless summer to end all endless summers, the one that started before spring break and ended when public school started (kind of) a few weeks ago, the fight was on for “back to normal.” I have a 4th grade boy who is a steady blur of chatter and motion who wants to stay home forever and never go anywhere, and an eighth grade girl desperate for social interaction. But why settle for normal? I’ve never liked, “normal” anyway.

As soon as public school got out, we pretty quickly took the “optional” busywork and tossed it out. We rolled straight into summer skills books, and those grade level review books you get at the grocery store. Daily bike rides to walk the dog, and as much family fun as we could muster. My daughter managed to go to a youth girls retreat, and even got baptized. Our family headed to the coast for a vacation with restrictions that was still a peaceful time away. It was great…until it felt like it would never end. (The white planet at the bottom of the solar system is Pluto, because we didn’t want him to feel left out.)

Then came the call: the public school start date will be delayed another month so they can be ready. I had one child, my son, already determined to homeschool for the first time this year. I was researching and figuring out that, as I tend to do every summer just to consider all my options. Then my eighth grader jumped on the bandwagon also, to avoid online learning and all the back and forth that was bound to happen as the school district figured things out. I found her a group Spanish class with youth group friends so she can be social. All that to say…I’m now a first time homeschooler and full time writer.

So how do I do both?

Everyone’s schedule is different. Everyone’s career is different. Everyone’s life situation is different. But here are three tips to help you out if you’re finding yourself doing double-duty in this new season of back to school. Or maybe you’ve been a writer and homeschooler for a while, or a writer and a full time career person, for years and you just need a reminder.

1. Breathe.

In researching homeschooling, I’ve come across several consistent themes. Especially with the start of school. You can’t do everything at once. Don’t try to pack all your subjects into the first day. Start slowly. Let there be a transition period between the old way (in our case, school) and this new season. Something wonderful is on the horizon, but if you’re stressed you won’t enjoy it when it comes. You may even dismiss it as a distraction. Hit the essentials (math and English – and for my son, Science) and add other subjects layer by layer.

In my writing business, I crammed to finish a book at the end of August just so that I would have September open as a brainstorming, new pitch, and revision month. I have done what I could, picked up what I wanted, and maybe not achieved as much as I thought I would (or should have) but I’m constantly moving toward my goals. Baby step by baby step.

In the next couple of weeks I will start a new book, but only when I’m actually ready to start writing it. For the first time in a long time, I’m purposing not to rush myself.

2. Plan

Even if all you do is a simple list on lined paper, figure out what the kids need to achieve. Figure out what you want to work on, if you get some time. Every year I make a schedule for the next calendar year. There’s a list of things I’d like to do, and usually it’s impossible. Then there’s a “slow” schedule of things that’s the bare minimum of what I need to achieve to keep my writer business going.

Life falls somewhere between those things, in a way I’m content with what I got done and always looking for fun ways I can improve productivity. Years ago, when my kids were little, I worked during naptime. It might last fifteen minutes, or it might last three hours. I never knew. But I worked during that time, and I was grateful for it. I never did laundry, or tidied the house during my writing time. I could do those things with little kids at my feet. But writing, in the quiet time that I had, was a precious thing.

Now I write early in the morning, or during dance classes. I take the kids to Ancient Egypt exhibits and try not to have more story ideas. I write in the car at the park, or outside someone’s house waiting for the activity to end. I write early on Saturday morning, or on Sunday afternoon. Thursdays during youth group. On a walk. Watching a movie.

Whether I’m thinking about my book, making notes, or typing, it’s all moving me closer to my goal of a finished book. I can check my ads, or update my website. Format a book for the print version, or chat with readers.

(And honestly, it’s easier to have this continual stream as much as I can. Coming back to my notes or my draft cold – not remembering where I left off – is so much harder to get back into the flow.)

3. Give yourself grace

I have to remind myself this often. If I don’t, then I miss the enjoyable moments because I’m too stressed out to stop and just be present where I’m at. My life isn’t one where I can get away for hours at a time, let alone a whole day, to work on writing.

Sometimes it’s forty minutes. Sometimes it’s a two and a half hour dance class. I have grace from God to get work done, and grace from Him to rest. But what I don’t have is condemnation or guilt. Those aren’t welcome. I have far too much to do to waste time feeling sorry for myself, or getting dragged down by the enemy.

My other penname (JL Terra) isn’t going to get a lot of love this school year. I just don’t have time. Facebook drama isn’t going to get a lot of airtime. I’m going to have to be particular about what I take the time to read. What I’m writing. What series I focus on. How long my books are going to be. Because I can’t afford to spend time doing all the things, so I have to be very laser focused.

Homeschooling is hard. It’s also beautiful.

Writing books and getting paid a living wage for it is hard. It’s also beautiful in its own way, and I’m so blessed that readers enjoy what I write.

I get to spend time watching my kids be inspired by history and science. I’ve been a guest on a podcast, and I’m back here. In November I’ll be participating in a conference with Donald Maass, where I’ll get personal feedback. How crazy is that??! I’m blessed to have a group of author friends who drag me out in the evening to chat – one of whom I’m collaborating on a miniseries with.

And I’ve been so fortunate to work with fantastic authors in the Dangerous Deceptions boxed set. This set releases in just 3 weeks, and for 99c it’s a STEAL. Eight full novels you won’t want to miss.

You can find out more at www.dangerous-deceptions.com

Or click on the image below to preorder this set on Amazon now. 

A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He's from California, but nobody's perfect. It wasn't until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she's discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after. Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two kids and an all black Airedale known as The Dark Lord Elevator.

Marketability: The Author’s Secret Weapon by Lisa Phillips

I had my plot all figured out.

Famous singer placed in witness protection finds herself in danger. Protected by a handsome US Marshal, she winds up falling for him as they race for safety. My editor’s response: “characters with artistic careers don’t sell.” Say what?!

First of all, the fact she knew that was great. My editor knew what the reader wanted down to a degree so specific she could tell me my character needed career advice. So I revised.

What does the reader want? Because once we figure that out, we can give it to them. (More or less.) I write Christian romantic suspense. It’s a pretty narrow genre, with a lot of fantastic authors—some who put out longer books less frequently, and some who put out shorter books every few weeks. Subscription services like KU, and platforms like Kobo serve readers in different countries and all walks of life. Across the world—and right in my neighborhood. We can thank pioneers like Terri Blackstock, and Dee Henderson for helping to grow the popularity of Christian suspense books over the past decades. And we’re gaining new readers every day, people who weren’t even aware that there are Christian fiction novels out there. We’ve been around for years, and there’s no sign that I can see that Christian romantic suspense is going anywhere. (Except to my Kindle app.)

So how do we find out what the reader wants? By being a reader. Sure, you could call it “market research” and claim all your purchases as business expenses, but all this means is looking at the titles in your genre on all the sales platforms, and reading them. Ones you think you’d like. Ones you think you won’t like. Ones that sell baffling amounts of copies. Traditional. Indie. Short. Long.

Figure out what you like best about your genre, and then write a book that encompasses all those things. But what if I don’t read the genre I write in? Um…why would you write something you wouldn’t want to read? That’s my first question. And I’ll probably leave it there. If you’re just in this to sell books, we readers can tell if you’ve got no love for what you’re writing. I’m a pretty eclectic reader, but there’s something about Christian romantic suspense that checks the most boxes for me. So that’s what I write—with a unique voice only I can bring.

Hone your craft Do authors in your genre use short, punchy sentences? Fragments. Lyrical prose. Third person. Past tense. Do they split the POV between two characters, or more? Do they use scene breaks, or is each chapter one POV? Do they start with an exciting, hooky scene? Does the romance develop quickly or slowly? How much time do the characters spend on the page together? Are writers in my genre writing a lot about one topic, or another – which books are ranked higher on Amazon? Is it a fad, a trend, or a way of life? If a book in your genre grabs you – analyze why. Use that knowledge in your own books. Put your own spin on it.

Read the reviews… …of the top books in your genre. What are the biggest complaints? I did that yesterday, and one struck me. The author had two timelines, and goes back and forth through the story—the past was written in third person past tense, and the present in third person present tense. Makes sense to me. Except for most people, present tense is hard to read. And switching between can be jarring. If I was going to write a book like that? I would seriously consider what to do about it.

Maybe a book has too many characters to keep track of—how many did the author use? Or it started slowly—how did the author write the beginning? Maybe the story just wasn’t believable—can you figure out what lost the reader? Some things are simply reader preference—of the individual reader—but if you find several reviews on a book that say essentially the same thing, then it’s worth looking at what the author did.

And then editing your book with this in mind. Leaving your novel for a few weeks (or so) and coming back with fresh eyes is a great way to see it as a reader might. I’ll often put it on my Kindle, and read it like any other book. Sometimes I like what I find. Sometimes I see holes, or contrivances. Dialogue that’s out of character. Things that come out of nowhere with no transition.

Which brings me to my next point: Develop a business mindset. If you’ve journeyed with me this far, you’re a long way to viewing the market in terms of what might sell—and what might have a harder time holding onto your readers. But there’s another step.

The moment your book is written, it’s no longer a book. Yes, you heard me. Once you’ve got all those words down. Edited, or just a first draft: that book is now a product. It’s not your baby, or your sweet story, or your life’s work (even if you took 20 years to finish it). It’s a product looking for a customer.

Especially if you’re an indie author, but also if you’re looking to get traditionally published and hook that editor or agent. You have to let go of what your story “is” and be willing to revise—sometimes huge chunks of it—to get it to a place where it’s salable. The market, and readers, know what they like. If you don’t write what sells, guess what? It won’t sell.

And how do I know this, you ask? The difference in sales rankings between my latest, Last Chance County series, and my supernatural books that I write under a penname…apparently for fun, and not for any actual money.

Maybe it’s the story that doesn’t drive readers to your next book. Maybe it’s a description that doesn’t grab in the first few words. Maybe it’s a cheap or self-created cover. I’ve done some of those myself. Occasionally they work, but more occasionally they’re terrible (and I get my cover designer to make me something new).

Your product is a whole package, with multiple entry points. Some readers only look at the cover. Some look at the description. Or reviews. Or editorial comments. Your Facebook page. A blog or newsletter. Bookbub. Goodreads. Who knows how readers will find you?

Make what they discover the best it can be. And exactly what they’re looking for.

And speaking of books that are exactly what you’re looking for *wink* check out this upcoming box set. What, you say? Another bundle of short stories? NO WAY!! These are all full length novels from Christian suspense/romance’s biggest authors. Bestsellers. Award winners. Amazing women it’s been a pleasure to work on this with.

Figure out what you like best about your genre, and then write a book that encompasses all those things.

Order your copy of DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS now!

A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He's from California, but nobody's perfect. It wasn't until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she's discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after. Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two kids and an all black Airedale known as The Dark Lord Elevator.