Writing in the midst of a busy life.

This week, the authors of the My Book Therapy Blog Tour have stopped by to introduce their new book and their thoughts on the writing life. Rachel Hauck offers some great tips for getting serious about writing.

A therapist thought: Writing in the midst of a busy life.
By Rachel Hauck

Early on in my writing life, I had to give up the notion that writing time would come easy, be ideal and full of inspiration.

When I signed my first book contract, I was working full time for a software company as a department manager. I’d recently become a worship leader at my church, adding that to my job as youth pastor’s wife. My husband and I also gathered with other area pastors to start a weekly multi-church prayer meeting and I’d become the Vice President of a national writers organization and was coordinating our second annual conference.

For Young Adult Writers

If you haven’t noticed yet, there has been a growth spurt in the young adult Christian fiction arena. Today, YA author Sarah Anne Sumpolec, stops by via the My Book Therapy Blog Tour to tell us why she loves writing in this genre.

Why I Love to Write YA
by Sarah Anne Sumpolec

My first book idea grew out of my work with our church’s youth group. I tried going to Women’s Bible Studies and do all the grown up things, but I always felt called to care for the youth. So writing for them simply became a natural extension of what I already loved to do.

Therapist Thoughts from Susan May Warren

Today, Susan May Warren stops by via the My Book Therapy Blog Tour to answer the question, “Do you feel if a person is a Christian that he or she should only write in a Christian Genre?”

NO, I do NOT think that Christians should only write in the CBA. I think there are many Christians out there following God’s leading, writing for ABA – case in point, John Grisham. I think the key is to do what God wants you to do. Some stories are meant for CBA. Some are meant for ABA. I think also, you need to decide what you are comfortable with in the industry…ie, I leaned toward CBA because those were the stories I was burdened to write, but also, I didn’t want the ABA asking me to put into my books anything I found objectionable. I look at singer Chris Daughtry, who is so clearly a Christian, and yet, he’s playing for a primarily secular audience. And Rascal Flatts, a country band who clearly love Jesus. Or even Deborah Macomber, who is a successful CBA romance novelist who is a professed Christian. I think the key is to keep writing for your audience of ONE, and let God determine where and what He wants you to write.

My Book Therapy Blog Tour

I usually don’t post many blog tours on my personal blog unless it’s a tour I coordinated or a book I really think is worthwhile for writers. This week, I’m participating in the My Book Therapy Blog Tour. I joined Susan May Warren’s Ning group sometime last year. I’ve enjoyed getting to know other writers in this almost 300 member online group. Susan along with Rachel Hauck and Sarah Anne Sumpolec are offering their services as book therapists. Read a description of the book below and stay tuned for guest blog posts each day from these three authors.

Story Structure: Pressing Through the Middle

Originally written for Urban Christian Fiction Today

Story Stucture: Pressing Through the Middle
>Plotting Your Novel Series – Part 3by Tyora Moody

If you are reading this article, you may have written the first chapters of your book and like many writers, you’ve reached an invisible wall. You’ve been wondering, “How can I stretch this story idea to 85,000 words?” When you think about it, there’s a bit of pressure to keep a reader’s attention from beginning to end. Read more

All the Buzz Online Reviewer Conference

My online buddy, Renee, is hosting a conference at her blog, All the Buzz, for book reviewers this week.

THE SCHEDULE
February 16-20, 2009

Monday – What it entails to be a book reviewer
Tuesday – Negative reviews – constructive criticism or outright brutality?
Wednesday – The benefits and disadvantages of being a reviewer
Thursday - Readers: Reviewing the reviewers
Friday Authors – When reviewers don’t like your book?

If you are a book reviewer, drop by and leave your thoughts at: http://allthebuzzreviews.com/

5 Things A Writer Must Know

The following question was asked on a mailing list loop this past week. What are the five most important things an author must know when considering writing and publishing a book? Since I have been blogging every place except on my personal blog, I thought I would post my response to this question here. Read more