The Craft of Storytelling

   

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

How does any writer learn the craft of telling a good story? Let me say right off the bat, there is not one path but it’s a journey with many different paths and possibilities. In this article I want to give some ideas and direction to you if you want to write and publish stories.

1. Read many stories. Writers are readers. Whatever it is you want to publish, you should be reading this material--to be aware of others who are writing in your area, to form relationships with these people and many other reasons. If you want to publish stories, you need to be reading short stories in magazines and online venues. 

2. Write short stories or magazine articles. It's the first place I recommend you write if you want to get published. Print publications have a much higher standard than online publications. It’s better to write a 1200 word magazine article than a 80,000 word nonfiction book or novel. It’s easier to learn and practice on the short format plus you learn how to write for a particular audience, how to have a great beginning, middle and end. How to hook the editor with your title and other critical skills. Follow some of my links if you don’t write for magazines. 

3. Learn from other writers about the craft. I encourage you to subscribe and read newsletters from other writers. Also read their books about the storytelling craft and take their online courses.

After interviewing more than 150 bestselling authors including many novelists, I learned that the majority never published their first novel or their second novel. In fact, most of these authors wrote several books before the story was worth publishing and having others read it. My experience of talking with authors was validated as I read the book, My First Novel and What Became of It. The Novelist of ChiLibris, a Christian group of novelists, have pulled together 47 authors—and a number of them bestselling authors like Colleen Coble, Jerry B. Jenkins, Angela Hunt and DiAnn Mills. In this slim volume, they tell their personal story about their first novel and entrance into the fiction marketplace. 

In order to contribute to this book, the novelist must be a member of ChiLibris Writers. An invitation must be extended to join and the author must have three traditionally published novels before receiving an invitation. 

As you read My First Novel, it becomes a terrific learning experience for every would-be novelist. I encourage you to study these stories and learn from these seasoned novelists.

For example, Colleen Coble, bestselling novelist of 75 books and leader of the American Christian Fiction Writers wrote, “I had no advice when I was writing my first so let me tell you what I suggest for any aspiring writer, if that first book doesn’t sell right away, put it aside. You learn to write by writing. You can circle back to that book later after you learn more. Don’t be obsessed getting that first novel published like I was. It will delay your progress.” (Page 29)

Many of these novelists include a tip or lesson learned for others. For example, award-winning novelist Tamera Alexander wrote, “Through all of this, the Lord taught me a lesson I’ll never forget ... Every “No” along the way is really part of God’s final “Yes!” when his perfect timing is reached.” (Page 9)

Whether you skip around and read a few chapters or each one as I did, this book is a goldmine of insight for every novelist. 

What is your method to learn the craft of storytelling? Let me know in the comments below. 

My Articles in Other Places:

In these entries, I encourage you to write in other locations. I’ve not included this section for a few months--but here’s the truth: I have continued publishing on other blogs and other places. Here’s some of my latest articles:

How to Hire the “Right” Publicist Once a month, I guest blog on the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference blog. In this article, I give some specifics including a cautionary tale of wasting a great deal of money. I include some specific steps when you want to hire a publicist to promote your book. 

What Is More Valuable Than Fame  I guest blog once a month at Writers on the Move. In this article, I explain connecting your readers to your book is more valuable than becoming well-known or famous. I encourage you to learn more reading this article.

How to Get High Profile Endorsements Each month I guest blog about book proposal creation for the Almost An Author website. Does it sound like a huge exaggeration for a beginning author to get high profile endorsements? It’s not if you take the steps explained in this article then incorporate it into your submission. 

I included these articles to help you to take action and improve the results of your writing life.

Tweetable:

How do you learn the craft of storytelling? This prolific author and editor gives some actions and a resource with detailed insights. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Seize Opportunity

   

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

I encourage every writer to be looking for opportunity. When it happens, seize it. It’s important to take immediate action and not delay and forget about what you intended to do. In this article, I want to give some specifics about how to seize opportunity and some actions that I took and also learn about others. In the past, I’ve mentioned I’m a fan of bestselling author Daniel Silva. He writes one novel a year then goes on book tour. His new book, A Death in Cornwall, released on Tuesday, July 9th and in his newsletter, he announced his national book tour. 

When I checked the dates, I learned he would be at the Norma Hertzog Community Center in Costa Mesa or a few miles from where I live in Orange County. I put the event on my calendar and made plans to attend. My last opportunity attend one of Daniel Silva’s events was in 2010 when I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona and saw him at the Poisoned Pen bookstore. From this event, I knew the Costa Mesa event would draw many people.

I arrived about two hours before the start of the event. When I arrived, there was already a short line and I learned the doors would not open for an hour and a half. As a fan, I had pre-ordered my copy and received it in the mail. I also brought the previous novel and I planned to purchase another copy of the book for a friend.  My two books were already signed--and I will tell about this detail later in this article.

While standing in the line, I met another author and his wife. From our conversation, we exchanged business cards. Almost always I have a business card to be prepared for any opportunity. Later that evening when I looked at his card, it had his phone number but was missing his email address. From his author website, I tracked down his email and reached out to him. The most difficult aspect to proofread and check on our material is something not there. I encourage every author to take a look at your business card and make sure your business card has complete information: name, email, phone and mailing address. It’s an important detail if you want to connect and have opportunity.

As I walked into the event, a librarian handed each person a copy of A Death in Cornwall which is a $32 hardcover. In my years of attending author events, I had never been to one where everyone received a complimentary copy of the book. I estimate about 1,000 people attended this event. When I asked the librarian about it, she said they raised the funds through a foundation to give away the books. Journalist Jamie Gangel, Daniel Silva’s wife, moderated the event and her voice is on this Facebook reel of everyone holding their book.

For about 45 minutes, Jamie Gangel interviewed her husband. She asked her questions but also drew submitted questions from the audience. I learned a number of things about his writing pattern and work. He’s produced 27 novels and A Death in Cornwall is his 24th Gabriel Allon novel. Each of these novels have been on the bestseller list. Routinely these books are at the top of those bestseller lists. A few days ago, Silva announced his book is the #1 hardcover on the New York Times fiction bestseller list. 

To write about a 400+ page riveting novel, Daniel begins his writing on Labor Day each year and writes seven days a week often 12-14 hours a day. If he has something going on that he has to do outside of his office, he will get up at 3 am or 4 am to make sure he writes his required pages during that day. Some in the audience gasped at the notion of working seven days a week. 

This week I heard Darren Hardy for Success magazine interview music hitman David Foster. During the interview Foster said, “If I’m not working on Saturday, someone else is.” Then he said, “People who don’t work on the weekends don't like their jobs.I’m not working. I’m living.” I identified with Foster and Silva because of my work pattern which is living and not working. 

Silva has some interesting writing habits. He writes using a particular pencil which is sharpened a particular way. He writes on a particular type of legal pad laying his stomach on the floor of his office. He also needs quiet in his home to concentrate. Every author has to find their particular optimum pattern is what I learned again from listening to Silva.

How did I already have a signed copy of his novels in my briefcase while I had not seen in person in over 14 years? I read his newsletter and each year I pre-order a signed copy of the forthcoming novel. For example, this year I pre-ordered my signed copy on April 3rd and the book didn’t release and ship until early July.

Daniel Silva told each year, he spends a full week of time signing thousands of tip-ins or a single page. He returns these pages to the publisher and they are bound into the book. While Daniel signed my books, I asked about the tip-ins. He doesn’t like them and how they make the book feel and appear. He would prefer to go to the warehouse and sign the actual books. His publisher wants Silva to sign these pages so he spends the time, signs and returns the pages. My conversation with him reminded me that there are many aspects of my work that I don’t love but in spite of that feeling, I do it regardless. It’s part of living and not working--and doing whatever task needs to be done for the work. 

What opportunities are coming across your desk or computer screen this week? What steps are you going to take to seize them and weave them into your writing life? Let me know in the comments below. 

Tweetable:

When you have an opportunity, do you seize it? This prolific author and editor tells about meeting bestselling author Daniel Silva. See what he learned and get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Do Book Gimmicks work?

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Throughout my week, I often receive packages from authors and publishers with books. I read these books outside of my work and write reviews to support other authors and publishers. Occasionally a package will stand out as different. Some people call this an attention-getting gimmick. Do they work? In this article, I want to give you some ideas and cautions.

Once I received a book to possibly review. This author added confetti into the package which caught my attention but also made a mess in my office. Confetti was on the floor, on my keyboard and anything sitting on my desk. It was a nuisance and took some extra energy to clean up. The confetti caught my attention but it wasn’t what the author was expecting because it was negative attention and not the right impression. Whatever you do in the book gimmick area, you want to think about the person who will receive the package and make sure you are making a positive impact.

Several weeks ago, I received a package with a book which was in a pink package. When I opened it and looked closely at the book, I was interested in reading it and writing a review about it. The pink package received positive attention and increased my interest. The book gimmick worked in a positive way to encourage my reading and writing about the book.

More recently, I received this package:

I opened it right away and it had a signed copy of a new book from Jacquelyn Lynn called Christian Business Almanac. She emailed recently and showed me a page in the book where she quoted something from these entries in my blog. I reviewed the book on Amazon and Goodreads plus promoted it to my various social media connections (an example). It’s a simple way we can help each other as writers and authors. Her package got my attention. You can use this same envelope (follow this link).

I recommend you be selective about where you use it. Ask yourself, who will help me tell others about my book and where can I get the biggest impact for using this tool? From my experience, just a little forethought about this question will help you use the envelope for the greatest impact on your book.

I want to show you another simple book tool that every author should create and use for their book: bookmarks. I love creating this tool and use it with my books and at conferences. People may not purchase my book but will take a bookmark and maybe buy the book at a later point in time.

As you create this tool, I encourage you to pour some thought and creativity into it. For example, I wrote a biography on Billy Graham. While the book has been out a few years, I continue actively telling others about it. I have bookmarks in my briefcase and use them often. I’m adding an image of this bookmark do you can see the thought I poured into the creation?

The front includes ten facts about Billy Graham and at the bottom, I have my book website. The reverse is also full color with the book cover, an endorsement from biographer and bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins and the words “Available at bookstores everywhere.” Finally I include the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to help the reader or bookseller easily locate this book.

If you are going to invest in printing a bookmark, spend the creative energy to make it effective. I collect these bookmarks from others and I'm always surprised at the missing information. One of the hardest things to proofread or see is something that not there.

 

Do you use any book gimmicks? How did they preform and what am I missing? Let me know in the comments below. I look forward to your comments.

Tweetable:

Do book gimmicks work to help you as an author? Read these stories and get ideas from this prolific author and editor. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

The Unpredictable Writing Life

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

For decades, I’ve been in the world of publishing and working with authors. Repeatedly I’ve seen the unpredictable nature of this work and life. For example, as I meet authors and acquire their books at Morgan James Publishing, I learn about authors who are eager to sell their books and reach their readers. I have one author who writes fiction and published two novels with us. She was actively selling these books at specialized trade shows which tied to her plot and characters. When she pitched her third novel, she told me that she had sold over 300 books during the last year which showed her activity as an author. 

As a part of the acquisitions process, I checked in with a colleague about her bookstore sales for her first two books. This number will give me an indicator of the enthusiasm (or lack of it) from my colleagues about the third novel. I was surprised to learn she had sold about a carton of books inside the bookstores. In general, a carton holds 25-35 books and depends on the size of the book. It was not an impressive sales record and showed me that my colleagues would not be inclined to publish a third novel from this author. I spoke with the author about these details and she decided to self-publish her third novel in this series. If the bookstore numbers improve, then it’s possible she could bring this third novel into her series, but not at the moment.

I could not have predicted these bookstore sales and believed the number would be much higher than a single carton. This example shows again one of the many unpredictable details and how a great deal of those details are outside of anything that I can know about or control.

Here’s another example: I wished a long-time publishing professional a happy birthday. It’s something I do on a regular basis and gives me a touch point with people. In her response, she told me she was no longer working at that publisher. I called this author to hear more detail. I learned the change happened because she didn’t hit the sales number for her authors books. This key number is outside of anything this editor could predict or control. She told me about one of her authors with a large Instagram platform has a daily gathering of thousands of participants. The book this group was using repeatedly wasn’t the author’s book but a book from another author. This simple choice gave huge exposure to a different book than the author’s book and contributed to the editor’s dismal sales numbers. 

These stories about publishing teach me lessons about the details of this business and how it works. Yet repeatedly I’ve discovered there are a myriad of details outside of anything that I can control or do anything about. There is one singular person who I can control: me. 

I’d love to have some predictions but the only prediction I can control is myself. I keep promoting my own work. I continue to pitch authors to my colleagues and writing different material. I work with various authors and various types of books. In addition, I listen to my colleagues, answering their questions and helping as many authors as I can. I can’t control others or much of anything--but I can control my own activities.

What about in your writing life? Is it predictable or what steps are you taking for your books and your writing? Let me know in the comments below. 

Tweetable:

The life of a writer is unpredictable and often outside of anything that can be controlled. This prolific author and editor gives some examples then his encouragement. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.