The Courage to Shout by Billy Coffey

Billy Coffey

I’m so pleased to have author Billy Coffey with us today. He expresses what so many writers feel, yet don’t often confess. Soak in his words and be inspired. 
~ Dawn

The Courage to Shout

by Billy Coffey

Every writer begins the same way. That’s my theory. We are all unique in where we’ve come from and what we do, how we live and what we believe. Our stories are as different as ourselves. And yet the reason I began writing my stories is very likely the reason you began writing yours—there is a mysterious Something in us that demands to be unloosed, and we have chosen to shout it.

That is where it begins. With that one pure desire.

That is what drives us to lay ourselves bare upon the page. To confess our deepest fears and hurts. Most of all, that Something is what allows us to endure an endless stream of rejections that crush us far more than our thickening skin lets on. And yet we keep writing and shouting and submitting. We must, because deep down we understand that an editor’s or agent’s No may wound us, but keeping our stories hidden in silence will kill us.

Then, finally, that breakthrough. We find an agent or that publisher. We sign a contract. And let me tell you this, friend, there is no finer moment. It is everything you’ve dreamed it would be and every wish you’ve always made, and it’s all due to this one undeniable fact—someone has found that Something in us worthy.

It’s a long road from the beginning to that place. A longer road waits after.

There is something about having that contract in hand that tempts us to want more. It’s human nature, really. Most of us couldn’t be accused of wanting much in life, we just long for a little more than what we have. Getting published is no different. Suddenly everything grows bright and clear and we understand that merely shouting our stories isn’t enough. What matters is that those stories are heard.

I can’t say how many writers have fallen into that trap. Most do. I did. It’s a nefarious little snare because it seems so right on the surface. Of course we want our stories heard. Who wouldn’t? But the problem is there are hundreds of thousands of other writers out there as well, and each of them want that very same thing. The clamor of all we did to get that book on the shelf or that e-book on the page pales to the clamor of guiding readers to it. That isn’t nice to hear. I know, because it isn’t nice to say. But it’s true.

Yes, that road is long. More often than not, we wonder if there is ever an end.

I can’t answer if there is. Many times, I think there isn’t. Most times, I hope I’m right.

But even if I can’t speak to an end, I can ask that you remember the beginning. Hold fast to that mysterious Something. Don’t let it go silent. There are a great many things that matter in this life. The accolades of being heard aren’t among them. The courage to shout is.

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An editor’s "no" may wound us, but keeping our stories hidden in silence will kill us. Click to tweet.

Merely shouting our stories isn’t enough. What matters is that those stories are heard. Click to tweet.

Author Billy Coffey encourages writers to hold on to that mysterious “something.” Click to tweet.

When Mockingbirds Sing

When Mockingbirds Sing

Leah is a child from away, isolated from her peers because of her stutter. But then she begins painting scenes that are epic in scope, brilliant in detail, and suffused with rich, prophetic imagery. When the event foreshadowed in the first painting dramatically comes true, the town of Mattingly takes notice.

Leah attributes her ability to foretell the future to an invisible friend she calls the Rainbow Man. Some of the townsfolk are enchanted with her. Others fear her. But there is one thing they all agree on—there is no such thing as the Rainbow Man.

Her father, the town psychologist, is falling apart over his inability to heal his daughter or fix his marriage. And the town minister is unraveled by the notion a mere child with no formal training may be hearing from God more clearly than he does.

While the town bickers over what to do with this strange child, the content of Leah’s paintings grows darker. Still, Leah insists that the Rainbow Man’s heart is pure. But then a dramatic and tragic turn of events leaves the town reeling and places everyone’s lives in danger. Now the people of Mattingly face a single choice:

Will they cling to what they know . . . or embrace the things Leah believes in that cannot be seen?

Billy Coffey’s novels tackle faith’s big questions against the backdrop of the rural South, where history is long and things are seldom as they seem. His latest, When Mockingbirds Sing, is in stores everywhere. He lives with his wife and two children in Virginia.

To learn more about Billy and his writing, please visit www.billycoffey.com

 

5 Keys to a Successful Editor/Agent Appointment by Elizabeth Ludwig ~ Part 1

Elizabeth Ludwig

Few things strike fear into the stout of heart more than speaking in public. In fact, according to a recent Gallup Poll, the only thing more petrifying is a fear of snakes. Is it any wonder, therefore, that writers are often reduced to stuttering, terror-stricken imbeciles when faced with the prospect of sitting down with an editor or agent? After all, any hope for a writing career rests in their powerful hands. Blowing a 15 minute appointment/opportunity could be the difference between having a manuscript published or seeing it forever banished to the realm of unused computer folders! Right?

Wrong—and if that’s what you’ve been telling yourself before every editor or agent appointment, you’ve been setting yourself up for failure. Your appointment is intended to create interest in you and your work. It very rarely (if ever) leads to a contract on a manuscript that is sight unseen.

So, what can you expect from a successful appointment with an editor or agent? Well, it can mean the beginning to a long and wonderful professional relationship if your appointment leads to a request for a manuscript. It can also provide valuable insight into what the industry is acquiring, and finally, it can present you with a powerful network of contacts. With those goals in mind, I have created five keys to conducting a successful editor/agent appointment:

1. Conduct your appointment…did you catch my use of that word? Very often, authors approach their appointments as they would a trip to the gallows—with a whole lot of fear and very little confidence. The truth is, you are an inventor with a product you believe in, and what you’re really doing is looking for the best manufacturer of your idea. Don’t sit back and expect the editor or agent to guide the appointment. Know your material well, and let the appointment be about introducing yourself first and your work second.

Key #1 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Take charge. You have a product you believe in, so conduct your appointment with confidence.

2. Think back to grade school. What were the two words that made you break out in a cold sweat faster than a teenager at their first dance? 1. Pop. 2. Quiz. Right? And do you remember why they made you want to cry like a little girl? Because you didn’t study! But if you took the time to actually research the material, hearing the teacher utter the dreaded words was no big deal. In fact, your score was usually so high, you ruined the curve. What a difference studying can make not only to test scores, but to a person’s overall attitude. The same can be said for researching publishing houses. When you know what an editor is looking for, and what kind of books their house is currently publishing, you can approach them with a lot more confidence because you know your manuscript fits within their guidelines.

Key #2 to a successful editor/agent appointment? Do like your momma told you and study!

Dora here. What frightens you the most about pitching your book to an editor/agent?

Make sure to join us next Thursday when Elizabeth offers three more keys to a successful editor/agent appointment. See you then!

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Ana Kavanagh's only memories of home are of fire and pain. As a girl she was the only survivor of a terrible blaze, and years later she still struggles with her anger at God for letting it happen. 

At a nearby parish she meets and finds a kindred spirit in Eoghan Hamilton, who is struggling with his own anger--his sister, Cara, betrayed him by falling in love with one of his enemies. Cast aside by everyone, Eoghan longs to rejoin the Fenians, a shadowy organization pushing for change back in Ireland. But gaining their trust requires doing some favors--all of which seem to lead back to Ana. Who is she and who is searching for her? As dark secrets from Ana's past begin to come to light, Eoghan must choose which road to follow--and where to finally place his trust.

Elizabeth Ludwig is the award-winning author of No Safe Harbor, Book One in the Edge of Freedom series. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoys a wide readership. Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.

Motivation--the Foundation of Compelling Characters

As writers we need to know our characters inside and out. We need to know what makes them tick. It's called goal, motivation, and conflict. Today Ane Mulligan talks about the importance of one aspect of that knowledge--motivations. -- Sandy

Ane: For those who have read Debra Dixon's book GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict, I have come to the conclusion that Motivation is the most important. Motivation engages us. We can relate to character motivations. They form the foundation of characters that live on in our minds after the story ends.

Motivation leads to character arc. It’s the WHY of GMC. The Goal is the WHAT the character wants. Motivation is the WHY he wants it. If we provide strong motivation, our readers will follow our characters anywhere, through anything.

A character can behave reprehensibly, in a way we would normally condemn, but if the motivation is strong enough, we'll forgive the character and cheer him on. Motivation is what makes us empathize with the character. If it's important enough, the character won't be able to back away from it when the conflict gets rough.

Finding the deep, core motivation is imperative for great characters. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised when you discover that core motivation. It isn't always nice.

Too often in Christian fiction, our characters are too nice. If the core motivation is selfishness, but the character isn’t really a selfish person, allow that side to be seen in small ways. It makes a good character great. It makes them complex. We want our characters to be complex—deep—real, because that creates the basis for the character arc.

When I have a new protagonist, I use a Character Interview (CI). Mine contains way more than physical characteristics. I want to discover the lie she believes about herself and her deepest, darkest secret. I want to know her back-story. I want to know her parents’ back-story.  Her grandparents’ back-story.

Why? Because the way people are raised affects their view of themselves and their worldview. If I don’t know my character’s ancestors, I can’t know my character.

After I get a clue or two into the character from the CI, I write a stream-of-consciousness back-story. I’m always amazed at the secrets that come out when writing these. For one manuscript I’m working on, I went back four generations. I discovered why my characters acted the way they did. In other words, I found their core motivation.

I just finished teaching the ACFW online course on this subject, and I know I got under the skin of a few students by continually asking, “Why?” Too often, we list a goal—a what—as the motivation. You have to keep asking yourself why they want it, until you get down to the core motivation. Most of the time, it’s a single word—a basic, human emotion, a desire, a need. 

Once you know that, your character comes alive. You understand why she makes the decisions she does and why she reacts the way she does. Now her goals make sense. And now she’s on her way to becoming unforgettable.

Have you spent time asking your characters why? What answer has surprised you the most in doing so? Did you find your character had a motive that reflected badly on themselves? Share your thoughts about character motivation.

~~~

Sr. Editor of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, she's worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), business manager, drama director and writer. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times fast). A three-time Genesis finalist, Ane is a published playwright and columnist. She resides in Suwanee, GA, with her artist husband and two very large dogs.

The Inspiration Behind Carolina Reckoning: Out of Life’s Adversity by Lisa Carter

Lisa Carter

God has often taken life’s adversity and used the trial as a refining fire in my walk with Him. This holy fire has in turn provided fuel for the stories with which He subsequently gifts me. My parents divorced when I was nine year’s old. In many ways, I am Claire and Justin in Carolina Reckoning. And like Claire, I was angry at everyone, most of all God, when my world fell apart.

I wrestled with feelings of anger, abandonment, forgiveness, and faith. Like Alison in Carolina Reckoning, I longed to find someone upon whom I could rely. And at the foot of the Cross, I discovered a Father God who is always faithful and true.

Like Alison’s ultimate choice, as a teenager I came to a crossroads—to carry an anger that in the end harmed me more than anyone else or to choose to forgive, to forgive someone who’d never asked for my forgiveness nor deserved it. But to forgive anyway, like God had forgiven me. Because unforgiveness brings its own reckoning. It isn't how God wants us to live. And God's way is always the best way.

Out of those hard times, God birthed this novel within me. Carolina Reckoning is a novel for those who’ve felt alone and faced an unknown future. For those who’ve felt abandoned and betrayed by a friend, spouse or family member.

But in the midst of pain and disillusionment, there is a Savior and Father God who is always faithful and true. Enough for every need—past, present or future.

This is the message I’m excited to proclaim to readers.

It is the story, in a small way, of my life. My own journey, like Alison, toward faith.

Carolina Reckoning is a novel about hope. And true hope, forgiveness and love will be found in Jesus Christ.

I hope you enjoy Carolina Reckoning—a little sweet tea and a whole lot of southern magnolia.

Have you ever wrestled with anger or abandonment? Were you able to use those feelings in your writing? Did it help you to write out those scenes? Please share your experiences with us.

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In the midst of pain, there's a Savior & Father who's always faithful and true. Click to Tweet

True hope, forgiveness and love will be found in Jesus Christ. Click to Tweet

God often takes life’s adversity and uses it as a refining fire. Click to Tweet

About the Author

Lisa Carter is a writer and teacher whose articles have appeared in FamilyFun, Thriving Family, MomSense and Christian Parenting Today. She has taught at the collegiate, high school and

Carolina Reckoning
by Lisa Carter

middle school levels. As frequent speaker and vocalist at women’s ministry events, Lisa shares her own journey of faith regarding God’s sufficiency for every need. Carolina Reckoning is her debut novel. She and her husband have two daughters and make their home in North Carolina. When she isn't writing, Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales, quilting and researching her next exotic adventure. www.lisacarterauthor.com
Learn more about Lisa and Carolina Reckoning at www.lisacarterauthor.com. For behind-the-scenes photos, check out the Carolina Reckoning board on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/carolina-reckoning/.

Carolina Reckoning

Alison Monaghan never gets to confront her husband with the proof of his infidelity when his body is found on a lonely back-country road near antebellum Weathersby Historic Park. Homicide detective Mike Barefoot immediately puts Alison at the top of the suspect list. He's learned to keep his emotional walls high and he knows better than to get involved with a murder suspect. But despite his best intentions, he finds himself drawn to her and to her two teenage children. Can he fight his feelings for her—and find the killer before Alison becomes the killer's next victim?