Category Archives: Writer Troubles

Who Chooses Illustrator?

When working toward a children’s picture book, who chooses the illustrator? Many traditional publishing houses prefer to pick one from previous projects. That way they can pair a better known name with a lesser known name and try to maximize visibility and lend experience to both. On the other hand, you may know people the publishing houses do not.  If you do, then “who chooses the illustrator” can become a factor in where or how to publish.

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Filed under Publishing, Question Asked, Writer Troubles

Rejections aren’t Inspired.

Rejections aren’t inspired. Seriously. If a guy at a publishing house is having a rough day: rejection. If a market may not quite be ready for it: rejection. If a person can’t quite figure out how to sell for a big enough profit: rejection. None of that is inspired.

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Filed under Publishing, Writer Troubles

Wanting My Magnus Opus

I’ve been craving more writer community lately. I daresay I’m not alone in that! Do any of you hang onto an idea for years and years, hoping a certain project or two could become your magnus opus? But, um, not put any work into it? I’m just wanting my magnus opus and prayerfully stewing a while. Sigh.

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Filed under My projects, Writer Troubles, Writer's Life

Too Many Goals

Some quick encouragement to help us focus from the talented author/hymnist/editor Lisa Clark:

If you love to write, write. Don’t worry about all the details that can bring about an abrupt halt to your creativity. But as you write, continue to ask yourself your motivation behind your work. If for personal enjoyment, great. Write things you personally enjoy. If for your family, great. Keep that audience in mind. One of the biggest mistakes writers make is confusing their writing by adding too many different goals each time they sit down to create.

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Filed under Writer Troubles, Writer's Life, Writing Tips

Goals and Expectations

I have a good assortment of posts for this week already! Woo hoo! Today’s post is about the distinction between goals and expectations. It really hit the spot for me when I read it.

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Unexpected genre

I like dreaming big. And, whenever I’ve thought about getting into fiction, I’ve known what genre I wanted to write. Precisely. I mean, I have a narrow vision that captures me pretty spookily. Except. It seems like the cosmos have conspired against that for the time being. Now I’m thinking about trying a genre I’d always respected but personally sworn off. Am I crazy? I think I may go for it. I mean, 🙂 I’d sure tell you to go for it, if something grabbed your attention for a spell, planned or otherwise!

Still, what do you think? Should I start my first attempt at a novel in a new-to-me genre? Should I type up previous notes instead? Should I outline or just write away?

I’m excited thinking about writing regularly again. Making a good, old-fashioned go of it! Sure, I’ll have days of despair and knocking my head against my desk, but, well, I’d have those days anyway! 😉

I’ve been editing for a spell. Imagine a great big whoosh as I sigh in relief that I’m thinking elsewhere now.

Happy writing!

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Filed under Inspiration, My projects, Writer Troubles, Writer's Life

The Gap in Creative Work

I’ll admit it. This week I’ll be posting several articles recommended on the Writing (LCMS) Lutherans Facebook group by Lisa Stapp. (You don’t need to be LCMS to join. It’s just a place for writers with that type of general perspective/persuasion/worldview/theology.) Check out the group, if you’d like. Today’s article is titled, The Gap: What Stops Most People from Doing Creative Work.” It encouraged me so I hope it will encourage you, too. 🙂

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Pictures and Analogies

Let’s talk about pictures and analogies a little today. If I haven’t said it before, I’ll say it now. Analogies only go so far. To me, analogies seem to work best for adults who don’t press limits. Analogies are a loose way of finding examples. Pictures are funny though, because they have a close relationship to analogies, depending on what you’re writing about. Hence, I’m a little stuck in my current writing project. I want my piece to be biblical rather than analogous, but, well, Jesus used parables for very good reasons.

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Filed under As Christian Writers, As Theological Writers, My projects, Theological reflection, Writer Troubles, Writer's Life

Editing down theology

Editing down words and editing down theology are two totally different things. Both can stink. In fact, both can be excruciating.

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Filed under As Christian Writers, As Theological Writers, Audiences, Inspiration, Writer Troubles

The Child Conundrum

I have another two drafts I’m working on. I don’t want to talk too much about it publicly, but let me know if you’d like to give me any behind-the-scene advice on it. It’s another children’s book, theological in nature, but right now I’m facing what I call the Child Conundrum.

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Filed under Audiences, Question Asked, Writer Troubles