The Author's Character Series - Jesus' Character

Net's Notation Tuesdays
The Author's Character Series
Jesus' Character

It’s Christmas week. What a great time to focus on Jesus and His character.

As we work our way through this new series on the author’s character, let’s zero in our example: Jesus, the ultimate Author. As God works on our character, He invites us to study His.

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

Jesus is the author of your life. He knows the length of your days. Your life is a book He’s penning. (see Psalm 139:16)

And He is perfect. He does all things well, even the writing of Your life. He knows the best timing for everything to take place. He calls us to aim for perfection in our character, in our lives.

He is humble. He inspired the entirety of Scripture (He is the Word, spoken of God), yet do you ever see a prideful boast come from His mouth?

He is patient. He is waiting what feels like forever for His bride, but can you make out even a whispered complaint?

He trusts God. He went to the cross in full trust of God’s perfect plan.

He is a servant. He washed His disciples feet, the act of a slave, setting an example of His people serving others with their lives. He didn’t come to be served, though He is the King of kings, He came to serve others.

He is self-sacrificing. He left glory to come to earth and suffer on our behalf so we could have life more abundantly and an eternity with Him in glory.

He ministers to others. He put others above Himself while He lived on earth and even now He lives to make intercession for us.

He is joyful. God has anointed Him with joy above His fellows because He loves righteousness. (see Psalm 45 and Hebrews 1)

As you read that short list of some of the attributes of Christ’s character, do you see any areas where you could stand to grow? I do.

God is at work conforming us to the image of Christ. Our responsibility as God crafts our character is to cooperate. Respond whenever He shows you things about yourself that need work. Don’t recoil or immediately feel ashamed. He’s not showing us areas where we need work in order to shame us. He’s showing us because seeing the area that needs work is the first step to getting free.

Rest in Him. He’s working on the author’s character.

Merry Christmas, dear readers. May this Christmas season draw you nearer to His heart.

Annette

The Author's Character Series

The Author's Character Series: Part One

Net's Notation Tuesdays

We fiction writers spend a lot of time on characterization, filling in our character charts. I love this creative process. Doesn’t it seem like you’re getting a taste of God’s role as Creator while you invent someone’s personality and history for your story?

But, while we’re working away on our character’s characterization, God is working on the author’s character—yours and mine.

Here’s what I mean—the process of writing, of living a writer’s life, is not uncomplicated. Inspiration, rejection, creation, disappointment, elation, and patience all fill our days. You meet an agent or editor at a conference. Though you have butterflies, you pitch your story successfully, and the editor or agent responds with excitement. They want to see your proposal. Some may even ask to see the full manuscript. Chill bumps chase you home from the conference as you prepare the perfect proposal and submit it to the agency or house. Then you wait.

And wait. And wait longer.

The excitement you felt at the conference wanes with the waiting. Hope dissipates with the delay. You try to focus on other projects, assuring yourself the wait is normal (because it is). But every day you check email multiples times. You might even go back and review your proposal and cover letter to ensure everything was included correctly. (I don’t always have the courage for this because if I find blaring mistakes I can’t change them. Then I have a new concern to obsess about. ;-) )

I’m going to leave you hanging here in the waiting process because I have good news: while you wait, God is working. He's wooing you to Himself, beckoning you to pray about your writing career, sure, but He also simply wants to spend time alone with you. He is refining your character.

Maybe, instead of waiting, you’re in the midst of a mad dash to the finish line—a deadline for a contracted manuscript. Same thing applies. I have a friend who was thrust into a writing deadline which tipped her world upside down. Raising a young family, homeschooling, and writing two full chapters a day will do that to you. (i.e. 5,000 words) She said the process really refined her because she had to totally depend on the Lord while battling migraines and typing her first draft.

God’s working on your character, on my character. From anxiety to quiet trust. From worry to assurance. No matter what happens, God has the situation in His capable hands.

For the next few weeks, I’ll be running a series on the author’s character—yours and mine. In the meantime, know that God wants time alone with you.

Watch for next Tuesday’s post when I focus on the character of Jesus, the ultimate Author.

Bettering Your Craft

Bettering Your Craft
Net's Notations -- All About the Reader Series

About 545 writers converged on Denver, CO in mid-September at the American Christian Fiction Writers’ conference. We had a great time attending workshops, fellowshiping, meeting other writers for the first time and reconnecting with old friends.

Conference planners offered an early bird workshop for folks coming in a day before official festivities kicked in, which I attended. Donald Maass, well-known for his “Writing the Break Novel” book and workbook, taught for seven hours on digging deep into characterization to better your plot (my own summation of his teaching).

While he asked his questions, I had great ideas coming to me, some so stupendous, I gasped as I recognized these ideas for the gems I knew them to be.

There were several workshops offered throughout conference on varied writing levels and a myriad of topics: plotting, characterization, screenwriting, hero’s journey, marketing, etc. Any topic you may want to work on as a writer was likely covered by at least one presenter. I love attending these classes—pen in hand, notebook filling up. I feel like a student.

Whether you’ve written 1 book or 100, here’s a suggestion – when it comes to writing, it’s okay to remain a student.

In previous conferences, I remember witnessing some well-respected, well-established authors taking the same classes as those of us who are not in their same position. My respect for them grew.

One of the best ways to serve your reader is to remain teachable when it comes to writing craft. Never stop learning. This will ensure your novels stay fresh as you write them one after another, and that your readers won’t outgrow your writing. Also, you’ll feel more confident as you move forward. And confidence with humility is good as a Christian writer.

Keep learning craft to best bless those who will hold your books in their hands. It’s all about the reader!

Annette

Be True to Yourself

Be True to Yourself
Net's Notations -- All About the Reader Series

“Write what you would want to read.” Good advice. You’ve probably heard it before. The idea is you'll inject passion naturally into the work because you care about your theme(s).

If you write non-fiction, you’re addressing a topic you haven’t seen addressed with the slant you’re putting on it. If fiction, you’ve recognized a gap in what’s out there and desired to fill it. Great idea!

God created each of us individually, with specific strengths, weaknesses, passions. If we try to fit into a box, (Which is arbitrary by definition—who knows what the box actually requests of us? We’re guessing from the get-go.) we are not being true to ourselves, to whom God created us to be.

I think this is why writers oftentimes buck against formulas. Artists tend to want to stand out. We want to bring something different. We’re agents of creativity, carrying our own flavor to the ice cream social.

Here’s the best part—someone out in Readerland needs to see what you need to write. That’s God’s plan. Perfect, isn’t it?

To rework a phrase from Field of Dreams: if you write it, they will read it. And if you write it in a God-honoring way, you will find a readership. Being true to yourself is another way you 1) honor God and 2) respect your reader.

So, follow the rules, sure—for the most part. But don’t tuck yourself into a box. Be true to yourself, and readers will find your work.

Who knew that being true to yourself is actually all about the reader?

Praying for Our Readers

Net's Notations -- All About the Reader Series
Praying For Our Readers

When my novella “Love Letters” came out, I was surprised by the feedback. The story centers on a married couple who have poor communication in their marriage. The wife feels unloved. The husband hides his emotions. They’re missing each other until God intervenes. One of my friends from church read the story and got back to me with this feedback—“I could so relate with your characters in my own marriage.” Since this dear woman is from Fiji, I didn’t know if my story would connect with her in a culturally specific way. But, it did. Human situations are common—and miscommunication in marriage isn’t unusual no matter what culture you’re from.

Honestly, as I wrote the story, I wasn’t considering the reader the entire time. Too caught up in the story itself and the work of creating, I didn’t think ahead to the readers one day. Had I thought about them, I hope I would have stopped writing for a moment and prayed for them.

~ Prayed God would meet them in the story, helping them find hope in their own situation.

~ Prayed they’d be inspired by some of the ideas. Though it’s fiction, story changes lives.

~ Prayed they’d feel His presence in the journey the characters take.

~ Prayed they’d see they are not alone. Even if they’re from a different culture than me.

So often I pray for the right words in a given story, or for a breakthrough during writer’s block. Why do you think God answers those requests (often) with a rush of words? Because He wants us to experience His pleasure in our writing*, but also because He knows it’s all about the reader.

Olympic champion Eric Liddell said, “I know God made me for a purpose—for China, yes, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Giving It All to God

Net's Notations -- All About the Reader Series
Giving It All To God

Ten years of studying writing craft, penning novels, attending workshops, networking with editors and agents, and submitting proposals wasn’t panning out for Brynne. No publishing house wanted her work. She didn’t get bitter, though. She applied herself all the more fervently to “how-to” manuals, availing herself to general writing craft books as well as those specific to her genre.

She didn’t slack on praying, either, though she wondered why the Lord seemed to have a very different time line than she did.

As years passed, desperation grew. She would carefully analyze any feedback she received from editors (though specific advice was rare). She entered contests and opted for paid critiques. She faithfully attended her local critique group and tried to take their advice to heart.

Still, nothing.

But, she kept dreaming. She thought about the glory of that first contract. She thought about joining the ranks of newly published writers and of one day being a well-published, sought after author. She thought of all the kudos coming her way and of making a name for herself, all while praying God would bless this calling He’d given her.

She wondered why He wasn’t opening doors.

Desperation forced her to pray more fervently. Daily, she prayed over her current projects—her WIPs—and believed since God had given her the stories, He’d bring them to publication. She considered the advice of other writers—wait on God. His timing is best. He knows what He’s doing. Or, from another perspective, maybe you’re just writing for your own sake, or for those who will read the work in manuscript form—parents, cousins, children, whoever. Maybe those WIPs won’t be published.

Will you serve Me in the small, less noticed things? God asked.

“Okay . . .” Then, she rejoiced to see one of her parenting articles published. It’s a start, she thought, but it’s only an article.

Will you despise the day of small beginnings?

“No . . . Well,” she prayed, “I’ll try not to.”

Will you trust Me with your calling? With the timing and My plans?

“Well, I know they’re good plans. Jeremiah 29:11, right? Okay.”

Will you write solely for My glory, not yours? For My name, not yours?

Brynne thought on that a long time. The waiting, praying, working, striving and remaining teachable had worked her over. Finally, she bowed her head and said, “Yes. For Your glory, Lord. For Your kingdom. Not mine. For Your name, not mine, I’ll write.”

While you wait to be published (or published again), God is working on your character. While you create characters’ GMCs, God is working on your motivations, through conflict as you strive toward your goals.

The best way to minister to our readers is to be sure our writing lives, our calling to write, is submitting wholly to the Lord. That our goal is His glory, not our own. This way we facilitate connecting our readers with God, which is good, because it’s all about the reader.

Keep it Real

Net's Notations: All About the Reader Series
Keeping It Real

The sunshine poured over my reading nook, making even the pile of laundry awaiting me seem peaceful as I listened to the earlier load tumbling in the dryer. As long as I had sunshine, I’d be fine. Sunshine is all I needed.

Okay—it’s a little corny, isn’t it? Yes. And that’s the point. To be relatable (our theme from last week’s Net’s Notations post), we have to keep it real.

Laundry isn't sunny and sweet! And stay-at-home authors get to do their share. So, why gloss over it? Why paint it pretty? It’s a task. It’s work. Face it without refacing it!

That’s what we have to do with our writing.

Over at Net’s Book Notes today, I’m hosting Peter Lundell for his book “Prayer Power.” As I was introducing him on the blog, my words were kind of glossy. Then, immediately, in his first answer to the interview questions, he talks about being real with his readers in the approach he took with his non-fiction book. Ouch! So, I retraced my steps and fixed my mess.

We have a choice:

Fiction or non-fiction can be glossy, unrealistic, canned. But how does that honor our reader? It’s rather insulting, actually, achieving the opposite effect. Readers will throw your book against the wall—not the response you’re hoping for as you build trust with your readers.

So, how do we keep it real? Well, it doesn’t mean glorifying darkness or even complaining (like with the laundry—honestly, I’m thankful for working equipment. I don’t have to dig out a washboard and have a go in the blazing sun for a few hours of back-breaking labor). We don’t want to glorify sin, violence, etc. But, like in life, we can’t pretend they don’t exist.

For your genre, you’ll have to figure out where the lines are. You can write a whole lot more graphically in suspense than in sweet romance, for example. What you don’t want to do is insult your reader by being too sweet—too unrealistic around the truth of things.

Has there been a time in your writing when you’ve found yourself glossing over the situation or not digging deep into your own experience for the emotion and then had to go back and fix it? Tell us about it. Maybe someone can learn from your mistakes.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, keep it real. That’s one way we respect those who pick up our books. It’s all about the reader.

Relatable Writing

Net's Notations--All About the Reader Series
Relatable Writing

Relatable. Blogger’s spellchecker doesn’t like it, but readers love it! I type the word “relatable” and immediately a dotted red line sends out an alert. Try again. Bad word. Ah, but it isn’t.

We will better minister to our readers when our writing is relatable.

So, here’s the challenge—we writers are oftentimes somewhat like hermits—perched behind our computers in corners of rooms, writing to an audience, but doing it alone. We’re hidden and sometimes we prefer to keep our hearts and minds, our pasts, our weaknesses hidden, too. We can hide behind our characters and their problems, their failures. We beat them up and give them heroic qualities to match their dilemmas. We distance ourselves from them because it’s safe.

But, for readers to commit to reading our books, to feel a connection with our characters, to root for them, we have to be open. Vulnerable. Personal (at some level). Relatable.

There is a specific Christian author who can make me cry in the opening pages of her books, if she wishes. There at the beginning of the story—a scenario so rich, so relatable, so painful, and I’m right there with the characters—weeping, sometimes. And that’s just the beginning of the story. I know when I pick up her books I will be crying at some point.

Now, I’m not talking a couple of “surface tears,” I’m talking a deep down mourning. That’s what she elicits by being relatable. She taps into emotions at the core of my experience—and likely her greater audience’s experience—and bam! I’m relating. I’m hooked. I’m emotionally invested. And I’m committed. All because she was relatable.

But as a writer, you can’t be relatable if you don’t let some of yourself out onto the screen—some of your own past, some of your own pain, some of your own emotions. Thing is, we’re all human and the human experience is relatable. You may think you’re the only one who has struggled with _____, but you aren’t. And there’s no shame in being human, right? God created us humans, and He’s not ashamed to call us His own.

The best emotions in print started with emotions at the keyboard.

It’s fearful for most of us. But it’s necessary. And it’s another way we can serve our readers.

Be brave. Be real. Be relatable. Because it’s all about the reader.

Serving your Reader

Serving Your Reader
Net's Notations: All About the Reader Series, Part 8

Writing is only one part of being an author. Ask any author who’s participated in a book signing and they’ll tell you. I stood across a signing table from Liz Curtis Higgs, gushing about her openness as she speaks. I mentioned seeing her in Seattle. (We were both in Dallas at the time.) She said, “Well, I hope I shared enough new material that you got something out of it this time, too.” See that? Thinking about her readers.

Ask yourself: How can I minister to my readers?

We’ve been exploring how to minister to your reader while you’re writing. What about after the book is released? Here are some tips for ministering to your reader:

~Pray for your reader (while writing and after the book is released).

~Pray how you can meet the reader’s needs in your writing.

~Pray your book will minister to the reader as s/he reads.

Any time you have a chance to visit with a reader, remember they have real needs in their lives. Be a listener. Sure maintain healthy boundaries. Sometimes a smile, a kind word, a positive outlook will bless them. Forgive me if this sounds like vanity, but how much weight would you give the words of someone you admired (like a favorite author) if they spoke directly into your situation, as an agent of the Lord? See what I mean? Jerry B. Jenkins encourages you in your writing life, you’re encouraged! ;-)

Published authors: do you ever include a Scripture reference when you sign books? I like to. So, what about praying before you put your usual verse down? Perhaps you usually sign with Jeremiah 29:11, but this person needs the encouragement of Psalm 91. God knows.

There are plenty of ways to minister to our readers:

~blog giveaways
~free books to prisons or libraries
~freebies to shut-ins
~a personal emailed response
~a note tucked into a book cover
~taking the time to listen
~ministering to readers via your Web site--an inspirational page

What ideas can you think of?

God wants to help you be strategic. Ask Him how best to minister to your readers, from start to finish. It’s all about the reader.

Gaining Reader Trust

Gaining Reader Trust
Net's Notations: All About the Reader Series, Part 7

It's imperative readers trust you, if you want them to continue to follow you.

They need to trust:

Your name.

Your themes.

Your words.

Your takeaway.

Your values.

What you stand for as an author.

In many ways you have to give the reader what they want.

I picked up what I thought was a romance and didn’t find anything except a truckload of what seemed like extra characters. Immediately my “reader trust” factor was broken.

It’s difficult to keep reading a book like that.

That is not the response you want readers to have when they pick up your work.

You also want to consistently write good books. Take time for studying the craft because you don’t want readers to outgrow your writing one day and look over your work and decide you aren’t what you used to be. They keep growing (hopefully); you should, too.

Be original as much as you can, even when it comes to your own work. Don’t recast characters you’ve used before. Don’t insult your readers this way. They’ll know.

Give you readers the kind of prose they expect from you—your voice, your values, your Christian worldview.

Earn readers’ trust by remembering it’s all about the reader.

Annette

Takeaway--the Gift You Give Your Reader

Takeaway-The Gift You Give Your Readers
Net's Notations: All About the Reader Series, Part 6

Ever read a novel and find yourself connecting so readily with the character’s dilemma that you close the book to ponder your own life?

Ever finished a novel and felt visited by the characters after their story was told, simply because the author communicated their problems’ solutions so clearly you took them with you?

Takeaway. Value you can take with you after reading.

Evidence of takeaway in fiction: "Oh, that was such a great story!” and changed lives.

Evidence of takeaway in non-fiction: All those highlighted pages and dog-eared corners.

Takeaway is easier to pin down in non-fiction pieces, like ten keys to success or how to shave your dog in three easy steps. (grin with a disclaimer—I’m a non pet owner)

But fiction novels have it too. I don’t often give examples, but this one just zoomed up to me from the past and I knew it wouldn’t be denied: Surrender Bay by Denise Hunter is a beautiful allegory (which is in itself a rare find). If you haven’t read it—read it! No Christian should miss this anointed story of Jesus’ love for each of us.

In the context of a romance, Denise Hunter paints the picture of Jesus loving His bride (a believer) despite her own doubts about 1) herself, 2) her stuff, 3) his love for her barring all doubts.

Surrender Bay stays with me still, though I read it soon after it released two or so years ago.

Good books will warm your heart. Great books will do that and give you irresistible takeaway.

And the best takeaway for a Christian book is something in regards to your relationship with God Himself, and/or your relationships with people.

Prayerfully consider your book’s takeaway so you can better bless your readers, because it’s all about the reader!

Injecting Value

Net's Notations: All About the Reader Series, Part 5

Here’s a fun exercise: write down all of your values as a Christian. Go ahead, this blog post’ll still be here when you finish. ;-)

Got your list? Did you learn anything about yourself? I tried this exercise a few weeks ago for a project I wanted to inject more takeaway into and wow, it was eye opening.

If you’re writing fiction, run through your list again. This time, pinpoint which values specifically address the needs of the characters in your wip (work in progress). Now, consider this:

The value you’ve highlighted will also minister to readers.

The trick is in how you handle it. You never want to beat your readers over the head with your convictions. More gently, through story, you want to weave your value into the plot and into the character’s thoughts and actions. Prove your chosen value (we’re assuming it’s biblical :-) through your story, in a gentle and thought-provoking way.

Give your reader something to chew on after the last page is turned and the book rests on the bookshelf.

Give your reader a reason to come back and read the book again.

Give your reader a reason to pick up your next book, just because your name is on the cover.

Give your stories value and your reader will value your stories.

Try it. And the next time you’re reading someone else’s work, look for his or her values. I imagine they’ll be easier to spot than ever. But hang in there with the story, because, some characters should come with disclaimers: “The views of Harry Snodgrass do not represent the views of Stacy Q. Author or Christian House Publishing.” Sometimes, you have to read the entire story to see the intent of the author and discern the values espoused by him or her.

Dwight Swain, in his book “Techniques of a Selling Writer” gives this a whole different twist: Never negate our values in story. Because when you do, your creative well dries up and soon, you’re silent. And writers aren’t writers without words. (My paraphrase!)

Injecting values into your inspirational writing is a great way to edify your readers. Remember, it’s all about your reader!

Who Is My Reader?

Imagine your reader sitting here. What does she look like? How much time does he devote to reading every week? What is this person looking for in your book? And why do they keep coming back to your writing? Why do they like your voice? What do you offer them that is different than what others might bring?

How can you best minister to your reader?

We writers have to nail down our audience for every book proposal we write. But as writers, we need to consider our overall body of work—not just one novel or non-fiction tome, but our focus in writing.

Here’s how you know what your reader looks like: look inside.

What are you passionate about? I love studying the truth that Christians are members of the bride of Christ. We will one day wed the King of kings. Amazing. So, when I write, I like to include snippets of “bridal” understanding in my work.

So, for me—my reader is someone who joins me in that fascination, or someone who might. And of course, that's only one facet. There are many more.

Ask yourself what your passions are in life. There are likely several on your list. (Yes, you should list them out.) One of my other all-time favorite passions is music. I’ve been creating songs since before I could read. Whenever I can write and include musical characters, my soul cheers.

Take your passions list, match it up with ministerial value, and minister to your reader.

Keep him or her in mind as you write because it’s all about your reader.

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.