You Want Me To Do What? by Dora Hiers

We’re outta here! With their bags packed and camels loaded, the Jewish remnant of Judah planned to flee to Egypt. They’d had enough.

Ishmael had just slaughtered Gedaliah, the king’s appointed governor, and filled an entire cistern with dead bodies. Not only did the remnant fear Ishmael’s return, but they also worried about the king’s reaction to Gedaliah’s murder. Not that they had killed him, but back then they didn’t have Twitter or Facebook to spread the word.

The survivors begged Jeremiah for a word from the Lord. What should they do? Where should they go? “Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God,” they said. (Jer 42:6 NIV)

Jeremiah relayed the Lord’s instructions: “Stay here in this land. If you do, I will bless you, and no one will harm you.” (Jer 42:10 TLB)

Say what? You want us to stay? They’d just witnessed horrific killings, and the Lord was telling them to stay, that no one would harm them? Outraged, they accused Jeremiah of siding with the Babylonians and departed for Egypt ~ against the Lord’s wishes.

Ouch. Hadn’t they just said they’d obey whether the news was favorable or unfavorable? At first, their flagrant disobedience blew my mind, but the longer I dwelled on it, I realized that whether it’s disobedience or ungratefulness, He views all sin the same. When God reveals His path and it doesn’t line up with my plans, isn’t my initial reaction usually disbelief or displeasure rather than gratitude? 

Case in point: my quest for an agent. My publisher doesn’t require an agent to submit, and since their contracts are fairly straightforward, I didn’t feel the need for one early on. Eleven books later, I would welcome career guidance and appreciate help navigating the ever-evolving publishing industry. So after prayer and research, last year I submitted my Harmon Heritage series to two well-known CBA agents, and both declined representation. OK. So God obviously didn’t want me partnering with them, but I didn’t perceive their rejections as a STOP sign, rather as a YIELD. I kept praying about my writing journey. Feeling a definite nudge to venture into unknown territory, I wrote Roping the Cowboy, my first book targeted for the mainstream market, and queried two more agents who represent both markets. Again, two more rejections. This time, I pouted. Yes, I admit. I sulked, and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

But if I'm praying for God to direct my path, shouldn't I be thrilled when He responds with either a RED or GREEN light? Was the nudge to write stories lacking a distinct faith element, but still sprinkled with grace and hope, truly from Him? Or had I mistaken His voice for my own?

I’m being completely transparent for a couple reasons. Let me just put it out there. First, I confess that I still struggle with discerning God’s will for my life and my writing. I can't be the only one, right?

Second, to encourage you that even published authors still receive rejections both from agents and publishers, and they still sting like a slap in the face. Not only that, but things start to wear a writer down. Lukewarm or negative reviews, no real down time because you're responding to emails and facebook posts or working on a galley when you're supposed to be on vacation, and the royalty statements that don't quite match the effort and time you've invested. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it, if I shouldn't just let it all go...

But it doesn't let go of me. Because when I hit that pothole of discouragement, God rains down blessings. It may be a sweet friend who listens to me rant over coffee, a glowing review, an invitation to present a workshop because of a referral, or just hearing about someone else's problems and realizing mine pale in comparison. Sometimes, He plants another idea in my head and characters who yearn for their story to be heard, their hurts to heal, who crave forgiveness or who long for a second chance at love. Other times, He grants me a stellar word count day with peace that overflows from my heart and spills onto the page.

So, I’m still tooling down the road until God plants a ROAD BLOCK in front of me. 

What about you? Has the Lord revealed a different path recently than the one you expected to take? How did you respond?

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. ~Prov 22:3 NIV

You reign, Lord, in every aspect of my life. Take my hand and lead me where You’d have me go. Obliterate my fears and doubts. Fill my spirit with peace as only You can do. Amen.

****

Dora Hiers

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA, and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers. Connect with her here on Seriously Write, her personal blog, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Purchase Link

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father?


Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

What's His Name?? by Dora Hiers

Last month we discussed the first step in birthing great characters~ Give Them A Face. If you missed that post, you can read it here.

So, what do I do after my characters reveal their faces?

Give them a name.

Let’s say you’re writing a romance and you’re casting your hero. He has muscles, courage, confidence…

Sylvester Stallone
Image Courtesy of Bing.com

What’s his name?

Elmer Smith 

Yikes! Listen, I don’t mean to offend anybody (especially Elmer Smith), but do you see how that might create a problem for your hero? There's a reason celebrities change their name.

A July 2012 post from Psychology Today “What’s In a Name?” states, “Names matter. Whenever we hear one, we draw a wide range of assumptions about the individual person or item in question.”

So, don’t just slap any name on your character.

The name should match the period. If you’re writing historicals, you should not saddle a character with a contemporary name. And, as a contemporary writer, unless I had a really good reason and included that reason as part of the story line, I wouldn't name one of my contemporary characters Evelyn or Elmer. Online sites like MomsWhoThink.com list popular boy/girl names by year. Check them out and choose an appropriate name for the period in which you're writing.

Keep a list and mix and match. During football games, movie credits, online research or whenever you hear a name you like, jot down first and last names. When you're ready to introduce a character, pull out your list and mix and match the names. Keep in mind that just because you recorded a name as a surname, it doesn't have to stay that way. I enjoy creating given names from surnames such as my hero in Journey's Edge: Renner Crossman. Don't limit yourself.

Sound out the name. Does it flow? Does your male name sound masculine and your female’s feminine? Any other Castle lovers out there? What if Richard Castle had been named Richard Mouse? Or Kate Beckett, Kate Bungle? That same “What’s In a Name?” post confirms this. “When a name rolls off the tongue, at an implicit level we associate more positive sentiment with it.”

Google the name to make sure it doesn’t have a negative history attached to it. Moms and dads agonize over picking out names for their children. If someone influenced their life in a negative way, they generally steer clear of those names. Shouldn't we do the same for our characters? How do you feel about this? 

OK. It’s your turn. What are some of your favorite character names? Least favorite? What's your process for naming characters?

Purchase Link

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father? Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

Me~Dora Hiers

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA, ACFW, and the Treasurer for ACFW-Charlotte Chapter. Connect with her on Seriously Write, her personal blog, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Tips for When Your Plot Derails by Dora Hiers

Dora Hiers

It was a long weekend, and I was armed with a plan. Hubby was scheduled to attend a public event on Monday, and our precious grandkids would be picked up from their overnight stay around noon. 

That left an entire afternoon to curl up in my recliner and lose myself in a sweet romance. Ahhh...

My plan derailed, starting a little after midnight, when our three-year-old grandson snuck into the kitchen and sprayed heavy-duty insecticide on the floor, a product our son used to douse his clothes for his trip to Myanmar. I heard the little guy and got up to investigate. Twenty minutes later, I slipped back into bed and relayed what happened to hubby.

“That label has some strong warnings.” Hubby, being the hero that he is, got up and, after verifying the label, rushed back into our bedroom. “You’re supposed to rinse the affected area under cold water for twenty minutes. Then call poison control.”

We inspected the now sleeping boy for any unusual symptoms. Satisfied that he wasn’t suffering any ill effects, we crawled under the covers again.

Two hours later, another unusual noise had me bolting out of bed. What trouble was Little Man getting into this time? I was relieved that the culprit was my teenage granddaughter, using the bathroom. She doesn’t spend the night much at our house, so I waited to make sure she wasn’t afraid.

The toilet flushed, once, twice. Then a plunger rooted around in the bowl. “Meme, help.”

After a couple failed attempts to loosen the clogged toilet, I gave up and headed back to bed, intent on salvaging a couple hours of sleep. Little Man’s an early riser.

Not!

Reluctant to leave for work with two kids and a stopped-up toilet, hubby insisted on dragging out the plumbing snake. At three a.m.

Hours and five trips to Lowe's later, hubby surrendered the battle and I relinquished the dream of losing myself in a book. I flopped onto my recliner, drained, exhausted.

Has your plot derailed?

The next day, with renewed vigor and only one trip to Lowes, we had a new, working toilet. --->

As writers, we may start with a germ of an idea. Maybe it’s just that, a seed, or perhaps we’ve fleshed out the entire story into a synopsis.

What happens when that plan goes awry? Or our plot derails?

Pray. Ask God for wisdom and direction. In the wee hours of the morning, I was praying more to go back to bed than fixing the toilet.

Step away from the problem. In his haste to get it fixed, hubby kept attacking the problem, even though he was exhausted and worn out. Sometimes, it helps to take a step back, away from the problem. It’s the same for your manuscript. If your story derails, leave it alone for a bit. Take a walk. Rest.

Reevaluate. Hubby checked problem areas and attempted different solutions until he finally identified the problem. Do the same with your plot. Apply different scenarios. Ask yourself “what if ‘this’ happens?” Make a flowchart and continue until you’ve covered all possible situations. Then, implement a new plan to wrangle your story back on track.

Forge ahead. Armed with a new plan (just like hubby with a new toilet), step back into your story with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Give thanks. Don’t fret. Yeah, I didn’t get to settle back with that book like I’d planned, but you know what? God’s plan for that day was different from mine, and it was so much better because He allowed me to be the helpmate my husband needed and I got to spend time with him. Give thanks for the change of events. Trust that God has a plan for you and your story, even in the midst of your turmoil and indecision.

 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. ~Proverbs 16:9 NIV

What about you? Has your plot ever derailed? 
What steps did you take to fix it?

Purchase Link

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father?

Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA, ACFW, and the Treasurer for ACFW-Charlotte Chapter. Connect with her here on Seriously Write, her personal blog, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Components of a Great Romance

Reading in bed

Immersed in your latest romance, you stayed up hours past your bedtime to make sure the hero and heroine arrived at their happily-ever-after. A sigh erupts from deep in your chest. Your lips curve. You put the book down and turn off the light, satisfied that all is well with your fictional world.

A sigh and a smile. What every romance writer hopes to achieve, right? What is it that makes a love story sigh-worthy? I’ll share my top five necessary components, but I want to hear from you, too.

Strong, genuine characters. Don’t you love heroes and heroines who struggle with decisions and don’t always make the best choices? Men and women who may have messed up in the past but want to make things right? If I’m going to invest my time, give me real-to-life characters with authentic emotions.

Natural romantic tension oozes from the pages. Yes, I believe the bedroom door should stay firmly closed, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy ramped up tension. Something like this:

          Did she want Hunter to kiss her? An ache, a need, started in her sock-covered toes and  zapped all the way to her lips. Yeah. She did. Her free palm cupped his whisker-roughened cheek and slid down to his jawline, ending with a caress around his lips. “But I’m not laughing, now.”

       His eyes darkened, his nostrils flared. His jaw tensed under her hand. “No. I see that. But are you sure this is what you want, Teal? I don’t play games where matters of the heart are concerned. Yours, or mine.”

That little goodie is from When Truth Whispers, my novella releasing with White Rose Publishing on 3/15. For me, romance isn’t about the bedroom. It’s all about the journey.

Appropriate conflict. Do you enjoy books where the hero and heroine constantly argue? Aren’t they supposed to be falling in love? Not to be confused with teasing, a somewhat electrified banter between the hero and heroine, which I adore and where the reader can tell they like each other. Arguing, not so much. Conflict should arise internally from the characters’ dreams, ambitions, insecurities, and beliefs; and externally, what stands in the way of reaching their happily-ever-after.

A message that wraps around your heart. Such as forgiveness, that it’s never too late. Or that with God all things are possible and you can overcome your fears. When you read a story with faith and romance seamlessly woven together, it’s like savoring a cup of hot chocolate, dark and sweet, and dolloped with just the right amount of whipped cream. So rich with flavor, so satisfying, so comforting on a cold winter day.

Closure. Wrap it up. Unless I know up front that it’s a continuation (and I probably won't buy it until the series concludes), don’t leave me hanging on whether the hero and heroine get together or not. Nothing makes me want to fling a book (or my kindle) across the room more than when the hero and heroine aren’t even together at the end. How can that even be considered a romance? 

Now it’s your turn. What elements make a great romance for you? 
Happy Valentine's Day!

Coming 3/15
with Pelican Book Group

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father?

Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?