This blog post first appeared here, September 8, 2016.
Recently, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Association yearly conference in Nashville. Armed with my program booklet for the four-day conference, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the various sessions the conference offered.
In this post, I’ve included only a snippet of key elements and survival tips taught in the sessions–elements that caused me to sit up and take notice. Hope they are an encouragement to you as well.
Erin Healy, How To Think Like Your Editor
- Authors who edit place high values on their books. (And readers will thank you.)
- Don’t give up ownership.
- Read your story like a reader, for emotion. Read your story like an editor, for clarity.
- About Erin
Susan May Warren & Rachel Hauck, Supercharge Your Series
- Put all your good stuff into one book, and pitch that book.
- Create over-arching character.
- Put the secret in the middle of the book. Don’t wait until the end.
- Keep raising the stakes.
- About Susan
Steve Laube, Developing a Thick Skin
- Criticism is a form of rejection, but “No” means “I believe in you. You can do much better,” which essentially, is a huge encouragement.
- Don’t engage the critic publicly. Own the mistake.
- Emotion is essential to good writing.
- Persistence is Key.
- About Steve
What survival tips do you have? Please share!