Writing Is Not a Solo Trip by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

Angie, here: Last week, I had the real pleasure to room with my friend, Marie Wells Coutu, while at the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. So today, when we had a bit of a schedule mix-up with today's post, she agreed to write this wonderful piece for you. I know you'll like it.

The writing journey is not a solo trip.

That’s one of the key takeaways that I got from the past week at the annual ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference.

Even more than in past years, it seemed, the winners of the Genesis and Carol Awards thanked their families, mentors, and critique partners as well as their agents, editors, and—of course—God.

And, one after another, they encouraged unpublished and non-winning authors to persevere in our writing. As Ted Dekker said, Christian fiction is “story in which you ultimately bring the light of Christ into the darkness.”

The awards program reinforced the feeling of the entire conference that we (meaning all Christian writers) are family. Rather than competing with each other, we support one another and lift each other up. As each of us studies to learn the craft of writing and as we help others to grow in their craft, we raise the overall level of excellence in Christian fiction. And that makes our books more attractive to those who need light in their dark world.

But not only are we on this journey with other writers, but we are traveling with Jesus.

In one of the conference breakout sessions, Allen Arnold (former fiction publisher at Thomas Nelson who is now with Ransomed Heart Ministries) taught that we not only write for God, but we should be writing with God. When we have the Creator of the universe as our writing partner, we can find freedom in our writing. We relinquish “the illusion of control” and find peace, hope and joy that will permeate our stories.
In accepting the Carol Award for Historical Romance, Karen Witemeyer quoted Psalm 115:1: 

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 

She reminded us that “all you do is for God’s glory.”

While we often need solitude to write our stories, we should not—indeed, cannot—succeed independently. By joining with God and with others in the industry who are passionate about Christian fiction, we can shine His light into dark hearts.
We can encourage others who travel with us on this path, as well as those who will come behind us. And God will get all the glory.

About the Author

The Secret Heart
by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu’s newest novel, The Secret Heart, will be released in late August from Write Integrity Press. Follow Marie on Amazon.com to be notified when it becomes available. The Secret Heart is the third book in the Mended Vessels series. Books in the series are contemporary re-imaginings of the stories of biblical women, including Esther and the woman at the well.

Her debut novel, For Such a Moment, won the Books of Hope Contest. Thirsting for More, the second book in the series was a finalist in the 2016 Selah Awards Contest. You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook page (Author Marie Wells Coutu), at her website (MarieWellsCoutu.com), or follow her on Twitter (@mwcoutu).

Marie retired after 15 years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and she and her husband now divide their time between Florida and Iowa.

The Secret Heart

Beautiful Shawna Moore married Hunter Wilson, the governor of Tennessee, after a whirlwind romance, only six weeks following her first husband’s death in Iraq. Now, she wonders if the governor loved her at all or only hoped to avoid a scandal.

An investigative reporter—and friend of Shawna’s—is asking questions. If he discovers the truth about Shawna’s baby, Hunter’s chances for reelection could be ruined. But keeping the secret is destroying their marriage. Will Shawna convince Hunter to choose his family and drop out of politics, or will he continue to put his career first?

The Secret Heart will be released in late August from Write Integrity Press.

It’s All On Me, Right?

Writers’ conferences can be expensive. Hey everyone, Annette here. This week many of our dear SW reader-writers are attending American Christian Fiction Writers’ annual conference. (www.acfw.com) You’ve got appointments set up, opportunities all around you. You’ve prayed and planned, brainstormed and penned, organized and traveled, sacrificed and invested. Now, you’re here! You want to “get your money’s worth” and take advantage of every possibility before you—make the right connections, exude the right impression, say the right words. Seize the day. 

After all, it’s all on you.

Right?

For years, you’ve had books burning inside you, waiting to come out. You’ve got a thriving imagination full of characters, plot gems, twists, ideas swirling in creative juices. You love words and the rhythm of good prose. You love reading. 

Question: who gave you talent? 

Remember that stirring in your heart at some point, that urge to write? What was the catalyst? There was a time you knew you were supposed to somehow begin to put words down. You studied the craft of writing, connected with others on a similar journey. You paired strong characters with intriguing plots and offered your chapters for critique. 

Question: who called you to write? 

Somewhere during your life, you’ve had to find time to write. Late hours, early hours, leftover hours after a busy day. You prioritized and sacrificed and carved out productive minutes. 

Question: who created and manages time and seasons?

While you’re there at the writers’ conference, remember God gave you the talent, God called you to write for His glory, and God is sovereign. We can’t “make something happen” just by sheer will. If we try to sidestep what God is doing, we may find ourselves unprepared and failing. But if we wait for the correct time—God’s timing—and rest in Him, consider the benefits:

Peace—we no longer have to manufacture something. We have God’s assurance. He who called you will also make a way. 

Rest—the burden to open doors is not on us. God is our Father who opens doors for us. We don’t have to strive. When it’s time, the right door will open. And by then, God will have prepared us.

Joy—we’ve demanded a lot of ourselves, even the impossible. But when we hand our burden to the Lord, He gives us joy in its place. 

Freedom—sure, we continue the writerly disciplines of learning and growing in the craft. We remain good stewards of the gift and calling. But once we release the burden, we’re free to create and grow, because we no longer have to strive. We’re free to do our part—seek God first and let Him take care of the rest. 

When you sit down with editors and agents, know they’re people just like you. They’re professionals, just like you. But keep this truth in mind: they do not dictate your future in writing. They may become a tool in God’s hand, but God is the one who determines where your writing goes from here. Leave that with Him.

Aren't you glad it's not all on you?



Photo credits:

"Stairs" image by Adam Hickmott / freedigitalphotos.net 
"Door handle" image courtesy of Nattavut / freedigitalphotos.net
"Job interview" (meeting) photo courtesy of Ambro / freedigitalphotos.net

Take Courage and Forge Ahead

I’ve noticed a tendency in myself and in other writers: fear. But fear is detrimental (not to mention tormenting). Here's what lack of courage does:

** Induces procrastination
** Blocks breakthroughs
** Stops our momentum
** Hinders our dreams

Sometimes we’re afraid of failure. Sometimes we’re terrified of succeeding. So, here’s a question: what do you do when you’re afraid? Do you hold back? Try to reassess the situation?

Is God asking you to take new steps in your writing? Is He asking you to approach your number one choice for an agent or editor? Is He directing you to write about the one thing you promised yourself you’d never write about? How is He challenging you? And what are you doing with that challenge?

Maybe it’s time to let that manuscript or proposal go. You’ve made it as strong as you can make it. You’ve had requests for it. Hand it in.

Maybe it’s time to attend that huge writers’ conference. Look in the mirror, remind yourself you are a serious writer, and go!

Maybe it’s time to join a critique group and have others evaluate your work. Oh, joining a crit group takes courage, but it’ll make your writing better than it’s ever been. Do it!

For me, it’s time to send in a manuscript. Deadline: 3/15. Let’s pray for each other, shall we? It’s going to take courage to do what God is asking us to do, and as writers, we’ll need courage from here on out.
Embrace courage. Take God’s proffered hand. And move boldly in the direction of your dreams*, dear writer!

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand,

Saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”

(Isaiah 41:13 NKJV)

*Love that Thoreau quote: Advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Why Does Making Submissions Take So Long by Terry Burns

I'm so blessed to be client of Hartline Literary Agency who sends out a newsletter written by their agents. Last week, Terry Burns wrote a great article on the submission process and I thought I'd share it with you (with his permission). ~ Angie

--------------------------------------------------

Sometimes I get a question from a client and instead of just answering it I realize it is an answer I need to share with others. I mentioned the other day that I had spent the whole day trying to get a couple of submissions out on a client and was asked why it took that long.

The client in question had given me the name of several publishing houses they thought would be appropriate and all I had to do was shoot them a proposal, right? Not that easy.

You see, there is generally more than one editor acquiring at a publishing house, the larger ones there may be a dozen or more. So if a client tells me that Random House has published a book that is a great comparable for their manuscript that is a good tip, but it is a long way from being the correct intel for a proper submission.

First, Random House has multiple imprints and chances are only one of them is right for it. Send it to another one and it will be promptly rejected. Second, in the proper imprint there are multiple editors, and if I send it to the wrong one it will probably be rejected. I need something that tells me a particular editor is the right person for what I am trying to pitch. This research is what takes time. Finding that right person can be very difficult.

On occasion one of my clients talks to an editor at a conference and finds out such a lead for me, the right editor for a project. A number of the sales that we have made started with just such a lead.

Third, the timing has to be right. A similar book can show us an editor has interest in a certain area, or it can be an indication that they just published one and is not interested in doing another one. Hard to tell which one of those two possibilities it might be.

Fourth, I am often in possession of more information. A client may see something that looks like a great possibility but in my database I have info that says they are only doing published authors, or maybe are no longer taking a certain thing even though the market guide lists that they are. Or maybe I know they are not actively looking at submissions until a certain date. There are lots of factors like this that all of us at Hartline share with each other to help us stay on top of the rapidly changing industry. And the things clients pick up in their writing groups and at the conferences they attend often contribute to the picture to help us stay on top of things.

No, it isn't as easy as just looking in the market guide, pulling out everybody that lists a certain genre and shooting off submissions. If we did that our agented submission would stand no better chance than one just coming in blind, except it would probably get looked at a little quicker.

Doing something well means doing it right. I tell people who follow up on submissions they sent to me within a fairly short time that I can give them an answer right now if they want, but the only fast answer I can give is no. A yes takes more time. It's that way with the editors I make submissions to as well.

Courtesy

Hey readers, Annette here. We’re mixing things up this month on Seriously Write. You probably noticed (if you’ve peeked at Monday’s post this week) that Mondays are now Mixing-It-Up Mondays. Tuesdays will change in two weeks. Ocieanna’s officially back as of tomorrow! Yay! Thursdays are going to be a whole lot of fun! And Dawn is taking over Fridays.

So, for today, I thought I’d offer a quick post on courtesy.

You’ve probably heard the advice to send a thank-you note to agents or editors you meet at conferences. Good advice. This gets your name in front of them again. And if they recall your interaction, you’ve reinforced that “good feeling” from your meeting (providing you had a good experience). *wink*

So, what about editors or agents when you’ve interacted with them through a proposal via mail (email/snail mail, etc.)?

Depends on who you speak with, but as an acquisitions editor, I appreciate when I hear back from writers, even if I had to reject their project. I read recently of an editor not hearing back from an author after he went to bat for her with the committee. What she may not realize is that though she’s reeling from rejection, the editor has just labored with her for her project’s success. He’s just the messenger in this situation. He deserves gratitude for all the time he spent on “pushing” her project forward.

I know it’s one more email, and some editors and agents would probably prefer not to have one more inbox filler, but a thank-you helps build relationships. A kind, grateful word of appreciation encourages editors who don’t usually have the last say, and who work hard for authors, behind the scenes.

My recommendation: offer editors and agents the courtesy of a reply when you hear back from them. If the rejection is too painful at first, wait a day or two. Put yourself in their shoes. Be kind. They’re people with feelings and dreams and requirements on them too.

Honestly, we’re all in this together.

Write on!