More than Writers

I  am currently in the process of moving house (again) for what will hopefully be the last time in my life. This makes me wonder, ‘How often does someone read one of your books and declare that they will never read another one of your books again?’ Ouch! What a horrible thought. Where did that come from? How many books have you read? How many main characters' names can you remember? Can you remember how they behaved? Did you fall in love with them? Were you upset when they were hurt? How many have you forgotten? Stant Litore (Daniel Fusch), in his book, ‘Write Characters Your Readers Won’t Forget’, says, “Once you know what your character’s strength is, you need to understand how it drives nearly everything in your story – including plot, conflict, what choices the character needs to make and how they make them, everything.” My wife used to read Danielle Steel books, so someone gave her a couple for Christmas. As they were a gift, she did read them and in doing so, she conclu

 Last month I wrote about anniversaries as I celebrated 3 years of being an author, and almost three years of being a grandparent. This month I am celebrating another anniversary – my husband and I have been married for 32 years today. I am deeply appreciative of my husband, for many things. Which is a good thing seeing as I am still married to him! But one of the things that I appreciate the most is the way that he has embraced my writing life and celebrated me becoming a published author. He knows nothing about writing or publishing. Or he didn’t. I daresay he does now, three years or more later. More than he probably ever thought he would need to know and enough to know what I am talking about - most of the time. He is also good about it when I disappear for hours on end. Not that I leave the house – or become invisible   - but that I am just ‘not there.’ My mind, my concentration, my imagination is all elsewhere – usually in 13 th century Wales. Sometimes I can even be doing f

     ‘What does that mean for me tomorrow?’ That’s what a very pragmatic friend of mine used to ask at the end of every church service. He wanted a ‘take-away’, something that would inspire, encourage or challenge him to behave differently in his everyday life. I always remember that when I’m preaching.    Not that it’s all up to me: rooted in prayer, a sermon is hopefully a way for God to speak to his people. But in the same way as the Bible is not just a list of rules we need to know, a sermon needs to be more than head knowledge. It should touch our hearts and prompt us to make a practical difference to the way we live our lives.    Does the same apply to fiction? First and foremost fiction needs to be entertaining. It needs to engage us in the story and the characters so that we feel invested in their lives. But I think a lot of us, if we write fiction, have more than the story. We have things we want to say; a deeper message that will hopefully provoke our readers to reflec

  Writing with Others by Rebecca Seaton Although writing can seem a solitary occupation, we should remember Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” There are many times I’ve benefited from the insight of others and I hope I have given positive input too.   Writing groups are one of the best ways of honing our craft. This month I shared some work with my group and even as I read it aloud I spotted things that didn’t sound right. I can do this at home but there is something about a critical and supportive audience that is quite different. Magazines are also a chance to write collaboratively. I’ve had the chance to be part of a local writing magazine, Write On! and this has led to me writing different sorts of articles and being part of editorial meetings at various times. This wouldn’t be the case when submitting to all magazines but I strongly recommend getting involved with a magazine related to your interests or local area as there can be the

  “Will you come again?”   Today, perhaps even as you read this, I will be visiting a nursery school.   I’ve visited once before, to read them my book, Also Made .   And they invited me back.   Trouble is, I don’t have any other picture books.   I replied saying that I’d be happy to come and read to the children again, but that I’d have to read someone else's work.   That was fine with them, which is why – perhaps even now – I am reading to the children.     They were happy for me to read someone else’s work.   Are we happy to write someone else’s work?     I’m currently working on a devotional book.   ( Probably not literally currently , see above.)   The other morning, God said to me;   “ I’m excited to show you what we’re going to write today.”   Just like that.   As I cleaned my teeth.   I’m glad I have a God who speaks into normal.   Who magnifies the mundane.     Later, I sat down to write, and I caught His excitement.     Are we happy to write Someone Else’s wor