Writing Advice From Author Charles De Lint

Recently my best friend and I donned our faerie wings and drove to Seattle to take part in the first ever FaerieCon West. Wait. Did I say drove? No...we flew. You know, faerie wings and all.

The highlight of our Saturday was meeting author Charles De Lint. And I have to say, I just love him. Have I ever read any of his books? Nope. My best friend has and just raves about his work. But his presence, his personality, was amazingly genuine. He happily sat and chatted with my friend and I. Even showed us a picture of his dog!

When he signed the "few" books my friend brought of his, she told him that we were aspiring authors and asked him to add his top piece of advice to one of the books he signed. Good idea huh?

You want to know what it was?

To read a lot and write often.

Yes, the man who has been credited to pioneering the contemporary fantasy genre says if we want to be successful we need to read a lot and write often. And I believe him. My own writing has blossomed considerably since making time daily to read great novels.

So while erasing as many adverbs in your manuscript as possible is important. And cutting down on the was' and showing not telling and creating that hook, and everything else has their place...reading and writing (the basics) are what's most important. Love it. Don't you? Because at the heart of every writer is a deep yearning to read.

Here's him and I.

 

Here's my best friend Rayna, Charles, and myself.

And here's the panel of authors he sat with answering questions about writing and story building.

And I forgot to tell you: when he learned we were aspiring authors, he took down Rayna's email address and offered to send her the notes from the classes on writing he teaches at conferences! And the next day he actually sent them. 

Needless to say, I now own a book of his...with his signature. And I hope one day if I ever get to have a book published and do book signings, that I will be as genuine and friendly as Charles De Lint.

How about you? Ever meet an amazing author who just blew you away?

Secrets of Getting Published by Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz

As I write this, my mind is floating in my head, not exactly sure where or why or...

Basically, I've been editing.

And because I like doing things the hard way, I decided to pick Dark Waters up again and re-edit it after my critique partner gave me a copy of her full manuscript for me to critique. So I'm rearranging the chapters of my WIP, which seems the hardest phase of editing, while critiquing my friend's manuscript and thanking the snowflakes for school closures so that I can put my homework off just a little bit longer.

Yah, my brain's feeling a little mushy lately.

Okay, but that's not my point. (Here I go getting off track. See what I mean?)

On Saturday I got to attend a writing workshop taught by Jayne Ann Krentz, author of many New York Times bestsellers. The topic? Five Secrets to Selling Your Story.

Wanna know what they are?

#1) VOICE: Like every person has an accent, every writer has a voice. You don't hear it, but everyone else does. Discover your voice and hone it.

#2) CORE STORY: What sociological, theoretical themes do you find yourself using in each story you craft? That's your core story. Realize what it is and you can take it almost anywhere in the genres.

#3) KNOW THE MARKET: Read widely in the genres that compel you and find the sub-genre that fits your core story best.

#4) PROPOSAL: Keep the query short and to the point, making sure it's as tight and neat as possible. When writing the synopsis, it should only be one page and read like the back cover (or the flap) of a book, but with the ending.

#5) ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA: She highly recommends joining this group, saying that we will learn more in six months with them than six years on our own. They offer a newsletter, monthly chapter meetings, and annual conferences. I actually did look them up and my local chapter is meeting in February for an all day editing workshop, so yah, I think I'd learn a ton.

And while I enjoyed receiving this advice, Jayne's words weren't what I walked away remembering about her, but rather her confidence. When I asked her about critique groups, she said she's not a supporter of them because what one person may love, someone else will hate and you shouldn't change your story according to their preferences. When I asked her at what point in my editing will I know my manuscript is polished enough to submit, she answered when my gut tells me so. When I have polished enough to know that I like it, and I think it's ready. She also warned me not to over polish it and remove my voice from the pages.

See what I'm saying? Awesome.

Am I completely gung-ho again and absolutely hopeful that I'll one day be a published author? Nope. Did I leave the workshop on a writing high? Nah. But I did walk out with a signed copy of Jayne's newest book and a reverberating reality that's still unwinding in my mind: In the end, my story is about what I want it to be, what I like to write about, and no amount of advice and critiquing should take that away from me.

   

Karen Witemeyer's Book Signing

I recently blogged about the fantasy and fear of book signings so I figured I'd keep the dream alive with a success story.

Months ago I met Karen Witemeyer at a local writer's guild meeting. She had just returned from a trip where she toured Bethany House to see the many steps a book took before hitting the store shelves. She was absolutely excited to say the least and I enjoyed hearing all she wanted to share.

After our first meeting we began talking and it was then (months ago) that I marked on my calendar- May 22, 2010: Karen Witemeyer's book signing. Today is that day. It also happens to be the first time I have ever in my life attended a book signing.

What did I encounter? I can tell you it wasn't a sad and lonely Karen twiddling her thumbs with piles of unsold books surrounding her. Nope. Karen was happily chatting with readers. Not a line down the block mind you, but a steady stream of people. She sat at a beautifully decorated long table that not only was covered in a lovely table cloth and lace, but also bits and pieces of her character's life- sewing supplies.

At a smaller table were three gift baskets and various other decorations, staying perfectly in stride with the book and time period. On the third table were refreshments. Each of these tables had people around them mingling, a copy of A Tailor Made Bride in hand. I was impressed by her attention to detail and how well it seemed to all come together. Oh, and I did I mention this particular book signing was held at a museum specializing in the frontier days. Perfect.

Here's the question:
Which book signings have you been to? What about the event left an impression on you? If you have yet to attend a book signing, which author's would you love to experience?

Book Signings

Book Signings: Every aspiring author dreams of the day when they sit at a table full of their published books while readers line up in anticipation to buy their very own copy, have it signed with a personal message, and meet the person responsible for authoring such an amazing piece of work.

Is this merely a dream? No, not for well known authors like Francine Rivers and Stephanie Meyer. For the rest of us, yes this is only a dream. Sorry to burst bubbles. It's true though. Yes, we will sit at a table surrounded by our published work. And yes, we'll sign them for readers. However when we begin to envision lines out the door and around the building, that part is pure fantasy. Or so I'm told.

I've chatted with newly published authors who tell me many book stores are even hesitant to host a book signing because it doesn't generate much of a rise in book sales. I for one was shocked to learn such dream-dashing news. For some reason I envisioned myself sitting at a beautifully decorated table in a key area of a very large, very popular book store. I admit I hoped for a line, but knew it wasn't probable. Not on my first book at least. So, now that I know the truth, the reality of book signings do I still dream of one? You bet I do!

Call me crazy but there is just something about the idea of signing books that were once an idea trapped in my imagination. Something exciting about chatting with readers who enjoy either the time period of my book, or Christian fiction in general. Yes, I now have the fear of sitting alone at a tiny, undecorated table off in the corner of a small obscure bookstore twiddling my fingers while browsing customers sneak a glance my way wondering who the heck I am. Or worse yet, a customer thinking I am an employee on a break and asking me where to find the bathroom. But gosh darn it, it seems a right of passage to spend a few hours with pen in hand ready and eager to place my signature on the inside cover of a book with my name on it while bonding with fellow readers. So, when that time comes, you can count me in!

Here's the question:
Have you ever attended or hosted a book signing? What was your experience?

P.S. Someone showed me this video. It confirms it friends. :) Funny to watch.