What college would you recommend for the career of an author?

None. Check out colleges that give you a good grasp of English mechanics so you can put your commas and quote marks in the right places. Studying literature can strengthen your storytelling gift. However, few colleges really have a program for creative writing. Those that offer one or two creative writing classes usually have teachers who have limited experience in publishing. These can be more frustrating than helpful. My best advise is to get a good education which is the background for being a good writer. There are a few colleges that offer a creative writing program, but I have no personal knowledge of the value of their course of study. back to top

Now here I have some definite recommendations. First, read how-to books. There are plenty of writing craft books in the library. Second, join an professional writing group. I belong to American Christian Fiction Writers and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Both groups can be found online and they are the best sources of mentoring available. Third, go to writers conferences. Again search the web for conferences that are within your budget and offer workshops that meet your needs. back to top

A sure sign that you should pass by a publishing house is if they “contract” you too quickly and ask for money to publish your book. Sadly there are many scam operations out there that will take your money, give you several thousand books of poor quality, and leave you to sell your own product. These books usually end up stacked in the garage after you’ve given one to every friend and relative you possess. These books are not eligible to be carried in bookstores.

A publishing house should offer open communication between author and editor, be capable of attaining book reviews for you, and distribute books in appropriate bookstores and libraries,, and back you with some publicity to get the ball rolling. Unfortunately, it costs a great deal to put a book in print. It is not unusual for a publishing house to spend 80,000 dollars on a book and when it comes time to put ads in magazines, there is little money left for publicizing.

All day is devoted to writing. Everything I do feeds my imagination, releases tension so I can work, and/or prepares me to write. I spend a lot of time at the computer, but actual writing is about 2-3 hours a day.

The skills that are most vital to an author might not be what you expect. Diligence: because writing even when you don’t feel like it, or when you have writer’s block, is the key to finishing any story. Patience: waiting for just the right words or just the right time to publish. Perseverance: chances are, your first, second, maybe even a third story, will not be publishable. Keeping-at-it is a character trait that must be honed.

It is not so much about “skill” as it is about simply sitting down and writing. Writing what you want to say is sometimes more important then how you are going to say it. Then fortify this with great presentation. Dot your eyes, cross your Ts, and put your commas in the right places. Please, learn all the rules before you break them. It’s the story of your heart, and it is unique and beautiful. Give it a chance to reach others’ hearts.

I, of course, handle rejection with extreme maturity and equanimity of mind AFTER I scream and cry, kick the rolling hassock (this is the most satisfying piece of furniture in the house to kick, because it scoots across the floor and crashes into the wall) and tear my hair out.

Seriously, you just have to live with rejection. It is part of the process. More so than in any other profession I can think of, we artsy people put our hand in the fire and get burned. We don’t have to get burned. You’ve heard the expression “Let go, and let God.” DO IT!

Keep writing on the next project and remember that one editor’s poison is another editor’s cup of tea.

1. Keep submitting,
2. Keep writing,
3. Keep improving your craft, and
4. Keep praying.

In the opposite order. ;o)

Prioritize. At different stages of my career, I have gone to conferences for different reasons. There are three major areas to consider. Advancement in Skill, Advancement in Career, Renewal.

You cannot deal with advancement in career until you have concentrated on advancement in skill. Make refining your craft your first priority when you first attend conferences. When your product (your writing) is up to industry standards, then move advancement of career up to the top. This will include networking with editors and agents, but also those classes that teach you how to market.

So this is what your priorities might look like:

The interesting thing about renewal is that it will move around as if it had a will of its own. You go to a conference expecting to advance your career, and God shows up to renew your spirit in magnificent ways. Sometimes you find you learned a great deal to increase your effectiveness as a writer, but God also poured over your heart a blessing through new and old friendships.

Renewal is the main reason I go to conferences now. I am always working on my craft, but to see old friends, mentor new writers, worship together with other Christian authors strengthens me.

Even when you “make it,” (i.e. publish a book) you will not necessarily be able to live on what you earn as a writer. Most freelance writers make less than $5,000 a year. I heard that statistic the year I first published, and I have no current figure.

What challenges and trends do you find in writing for the inspirational market?

I want to write quality fiction that would hold a reader's attention whether it was published in the secular or Christian field. I also want stories that reflect reality and reality to me cannot exclude the spiritual realm.

I see a trend towards more humor in the light reading (like Linda Windsor and the various chick lits)and more gritty subjects in the heavier books (like Francine Rivers work).

Romance is about relationships. It is about those things that build up another, encourage, nurture, motivate. During the courtship stage of a relationship, each partner is most aware of the way he/she affects the other.

For the most part in our lives, we tune out the subtle exchange of signals we give each other. I believe God intends us to be super-aware of how our actions and words affect those around us. Not just how we complete our life time partner, but how we relate to our other loved ones and those we encounter on a daily basis and those we briefly touch. All fiction models behavior, clarifies motives, and questions decisions made by the characters. Fiction can be a powerful teaching tool as Jesus demonstrated through the use of parables.

I find a romance to be relaxing reading, yet I love it when the author uses a story element to make me think through my beliefs.

I'm a jump in and go for it author. Very often I "see" a scene in my mind and wonder why these characters are acting the way they do and what their actions will lead to.

I have to be cautious because I find even the most minor characters in my story fascinating. Subplots can take on a life of their own and authors don’t have the luxury of chasing rabbit trails. But yes, my stories have subplots. Our lives are filled with subplots, not just the major issue of the moment.

No, but the theme becomes apparent fairly soon as the characters develop and the plot progresses.

1. Read. Read. Read.

• Read the genre that you intend to write.
• Read the books on how-to.
• Read books you like and try to figure out why.
• Read books you hate and try to figure out why.

2. Get in a productive critique group.

• Don’t pick one where everyone says "Oh that was just wonderful!"
• Don't pick one where there is one person who "knows it all" and has the kind of forceful personality that dominates the group.

Find one with writers who honestly seek to better themselves and want to help each other. If you can't figure out that passive verb thing, everybody look it up and everybody tries to tackle it. But don't get so hung up on rules that everyone's writing sounds the same. It isn't necessary to have a published author, just people who are willing to dig in and research and learn and share.

Use events that you have personal experience with. I don't mean do an expose on your family and friends. But the things that come into your life to complicate your walk with Jesus have also entered into others' lives. If you ran over your neighbor's cat and gleaned valuable insight into relating with a grieving old lady, translate that into a plot element. If your child's teacher is Attila the Hun, take note of what worked to ease the situation and what didn't. If you overhear a mother tell a child she can not have a skirt that does not cover her decently and she delivers her dictum with aplomb, take note! Her style of dealing with her rebellious daughter may be the model you need for your next book.

Talent and creativity are a gift from God. Like the talents that are hidden or invested, they must be used in order to prosper. There are so many ways to hone our skills in this day and age. Unfortunately that means you are competing with others who have also taken advantage of these opportunities. SO . . . talk to God about your priorities. Listen to His leading. Trust Him to open the doors and give you encouragement at the right times. Sometimes being a mom or a wife or a daughter or a friend is more important that writing that wonderful story. Sometimes writing that wonderful story is the way He wants you to be a minister.