Category Archives: Writing

September 14, 2011 · 5:00 am

Writing 101 — The Map

I recently finished reading How to Write and Sell a Christian Novel by one of my favorite novelists, Gilbert Morris.

The book was fantastic–chock full of tips, strategies, lessons, and encouragements all wrapped around the idea that writing is a gift from God that should be used for His glory.

I love that. It’s really the basis of what sets a mass market writer apart from an inspirational market writer. Who’s getting the glory?

“…it’s our privilege and our duty as Christian writers of fiction to write powerful stories which set forth a more excellent way.”–Gilbert Morris

One of the tools that Morris employs in plotting involves dividing your plot into sections, each section into episodes (each episode basically becomes a chapter heading) and then writing a summary for each episode, dividing it into scenes, etc.

Wow–that seems like a TON of work and yet nothing has been written in the actual manuscript.

I’ve never been any good at making myself outline. I did it in high school when it was required of me, but when I was in college and the professors wanted my thesis sans outline, the paper somehow laid itself out in my brain without my need to outline in detail. I might’ve jotted a couple of notes, but nothing like a detailed outline with headings and sub-headings and what-not.

I just didn’t need it.

And so far, I haven’t been very good at making any sort of overly-detailed plan for any of my manuscripts before I actually start writing. I jot notes, but I’ve never mapped out a highly detailed story–it’s always just sort of flowed and somehow come together.

But I’m a big fan of maps. The social studies teacher in me could stare at a map for hours, noting the distance between locations, topography, geography, the names and details–and I’m good at judging distance, location, and reading a map to get me where I need to go.

So why not map out my story in detail before I begin?

For some of you this might be a real “duh” moment, but for me, it’s the opportunity to try something new–to make me better.

The one thing I’ve really learned about writing is that a good writer is in a constant state of learning–always changing and evolving and adapting to become a better writer.

So I will go back to my days of being a good student and try Dr. Morris’ method of mapping. After all, like I said, I love maps.

And I’m excited to try something new. I have a hunch that I’m going to find all of this pre-writing as inspiring as the writing itself, if not more so.

Share with me: Are you an outliner? Do you know every detail of your story before you begin, or does a plot or a character sometimes surprise you as you write? Have you ever tried a new method that has become a staple in your process? What was it and how has it changed you as a writer?

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Filed under Writing

Tagged as maps, Writing 101, writing process

September 7, 2011 · 5:00 am

Vacation from Reality

I love a good book.

What a ridiculous statement, right? Of course I love a good book.

But I mean it. There is nothing I love more than getting sucked into a great story; one that I can’t put down. One that I must finish or die trying. One that I wish would go on and on beyond the final page…

We went to the beach this past weekend, which was a wonderful treat for our family. We had about a 7 hour drive (one way) in the car, so I took advantage of it, loaded my Kindle with tons of choices, and ran by the bookstore before we left to get an actual paperback that had just released.

I am very thankful that God blessed me with the super power of lightning-fast reading. I read one novel on our way to Florida, another on our way home, and started a third.

My husband thinks I’m a freak.

But when I have uninterrupted reading time, I take advantage of it.

And because I had this uninterrupted time, I was able to dive right into the stories, uninhibited, focused, ready to be completely drawn into the story and swept away.

And I was. And THAT was my vacation.

And for all the time that I sit around thinking about my own stories, or plotting, writing, editing, fretting, proof reading, etc…

I remember that I love writing because I love reading.

Nothing inspires me as a writer more than a well-written novel.

I can remember the first novel that ever really drew me in–the one I read and re-read over and over because the story sucked me in like no other.

Call me crazy, but it was a Sweet Valley Twins novel that I read when I was about 9 years old. I loved it. Although I can’t remember the title (I could probably go dig it out of a box in my parent’s attic), I remember that the story was one where the twins, Jessica and Elizabeth, were pulled into some sort of fairy-tale dream world that they had to battle their way out of. It turned out that it was all a figment of one of the twins’ imagination (cliched ending, I know, but to a 9 year old, it was awesome).

I have been an avid reader since I was really young. Sweet Valley Twins, The Babysitters Club, the Christy Miller Series…

Detached from reality, I would lay on my bed and read and chew Bubble Tape until I went through an entire roll, sometimes before I finished the book. I did that with all the books I read.

And my passion for reading continues. But my snack choices have changed. I’m now into anything chocolate. M&Ms are a great choice.

When I read something good–something great, I want to create a story of my own that is equally as captivating, equally as challenging, romantic, historic, contemporary, equally as epic, funny, relateable, instructive, dynamic, nuanced, obvious, whatever…

The next time you need some inspiration or just an escape, pick up a good book. For suggestions, check out the “Reading” page above, where I’ve posted short reviews of the books I’ve read recently.

Share with Me: Do you remember the first book you ever read that really sucked you in; a book that you didn’t want to end? What’s your favorite snack to eat while reading?

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Tagged as books, Jennifer K. Hale

August 31, 2011 · 5:00 am

Mood Music

Music is a daily part of my life. I kinda can’t live without it.

I’m one of these weirdos that likes all kinds of music. Turn my iPod on shuffle, and you’re likely to hear Coldplay, Adele, Taylor Swift, Sting, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Journey, soundtracks from Wicked, Glee, and The Sound of Music, or maybe a little Justin Beiber, Kris Allen, Lifehouse, OneRepublic, Parachute, Kari Jobe, Florence + the Machine, Celine Dion, and The Wiggles. Yes, I can rock out to The Wiggles if need be.

I have quite the large and eclectic collection. I like all types of music except heavy metal and hard-core rap.

As a rule, I don’t usually buy an album unless I’ve heard at least two or three songs off of it that I like.

And because of iTunes and other means of music purchasing, we connoisseurs of music no longer have to purchase an entire album– just the songs we like.

I’m one of these writers that cannot write without music. Cannot.

Music puts me into the “mood” of my story.

For example, I’ve been editing a manuscript that’s rather deep and dark, so my tunes have been Plumb, Evanesence, Within Temptation, and We Are the Fallen. Deep, heavy, “emo” music.

And when I was working on a historical recently, I listened to the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack quite a bit.

When I need happy, I pull out Abba. When I need romantic heartbreak or “moody blues,” I’m into SnowPatrol, Verdera, Sarah McLachlan and Coldplay.

Music inspires me. It helps me to “feel” happy, sad, depressed, scared, angry or romantic; whatever the need may be. It creates a mood, especially when I happen to be feeling something else entirely on a particular day.

I often hear a song and get a story idea, or sometimes I hear one and think, “that will go perfectly with this scene I’m writing.” I did that recently with a song from JJ Heller. A great, happy, upbeat romantic song perfect for a budding relationship.

So, from all of that, each of my manuscripts has its own soundtrack.

Sometimes I think my life has a soundtrack. Hopefully it doesn’t have as much “emo” music as does the soundtrack for the manuscript I’ve been editing. Ha.

This is an example of a great song that helped inspire the plot in a novel I’m currently working on. The song is called Until You Came Along by JJ Heller.

Share with Me: Do you listen to music daily? Does music affect your mood? Writers–do you write to music? Do you prefer music with or without lyrics? Is there a particular song that has inspired you?