We’re approaching that time of year again when the Virginia Writers Club holds its annual Golden Nib writing contest and we invite our AAG members to submit something for the contest. Specifics about the contest and submission guidelines can be found at https://www.virginiawritersclub.org/golden-nib/.
 
Victoria Fletcher (President of AAG) recently emailed members about the contest and submissions are due to her by July 13th. We hope to see a lot of entries this year! Since there is still time to write something for the contest we encourage you to come out to our regular meetings where we gather to help each other hone our skills. The next meeting will be on June 11th (see the AAG home page) and we will be having a writer’s workshop from 1-3 pm. These are always a lot of fun and really get the creative juices going. The more people that participate in these events the better they seem to turn out. 

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One of the greatest obstacles most of us face in life is self doubt. Not believing in ourselves and our talent is the biggest hindrance to success. That’s just as true with writing as it is with any career. You may work a traditional nine to five job and be of great importance to your company. You may feel that you have earned and deserve better pay in that job but if you don’t have the self confidence to ask your boss for a raise, you probably won’t get one.
 
As a writer, you have made a personal commitment. You have committed to spending thousands of hours learning the craft. You have taken the necessary time to explore the different ways of publishing and chosen a method that works for you. You have spent hundreds of hours writing your book considering the amount of time it took you to create the story and characters, develop those characters, proofread, edit, revise, and rewrite. You may have even gone through some expense (even if you couldn’t really afford it) to have copies printed to give away for reviews, to set up a website or blog, or even pay for some limited advertising.
 
A writer’s commitment is serious business. But one thing that holds many of us back (me included at times) is that hint of self-doubt; wondering if the book will be well received by readers. One thing that remains a challenge for most of us is promoting ourselves. There are two main reasons for that.

​One reason is that something inside of us is hesitant to be open to the criticism, even the constructive kind. That self-doubt holds us back. We silently hope that once we put our book out there that the world will come and find it. The sad truth is that the world isn’t going to go looking for your book (or mine). We have to take that book to the world and that kind of effort is daunting and difficult. And if we are successful, we have to deal with the fact that the people that love our work will seldom tell us so but the ones that don’t like it will take every chance to tell us. Yes, the dreaded bad review! It will happen.
 
The second reason that promoting ourselves is so difficult is that most of us writers aren’t wired that way. It requires us to push our work in ways that make us afraid that we are coming across as arrogant and pushy. There is a fine line there! But we have to be committed to finding that balance if we want our work to be read and appreciated. We have to have thick skin and be a bit more creative in ways that we are not used to. I’ve spent many hours and more than a few dollars on books that deal with marketing and branding in this age of social media. I have a few thoughts on those books that I’ll share in a blog at a later time. But in order to succeed at selling our work, we have to have this commitment. It’s a tall order, even for the most driven writer.
 
Despite these daunting challenges, every writer should realize something very important about themselves. You are unique. You are special. You bring your own twist to a craft that is vital for every culture. You are a writer. Whatever you write (novels, poems, memoirs) you take your stories and you paint a picture in the minds of your readers. You plant a message in their hearts. You are special.
 
Are you committed enough to your work and overcoming any self doubt to do something that might not be comfortable to you? Are you willing to tell one new person a day about your work? In a year, 365 new people will know about your book(s). Some of them might actually buy one of them. Some of them may tell a friend about you. You may not sell any books at all, but that commitment to yourself may be the difference between where you are right now and being successful in the long term.
 
Now, I will leave you with two important questions as you ponder the topic of this blog. The first one you have to answer for yourself. The second one you have to answer for your targeted readers.
 
What does being a successful writer mean to you?
 
Why should someone buy your book? (Think of a catchphrase or slogan that catches your reader’s attention.)
 
 
 

​How well do you know your main character? It’s something I often fail to ask myself when I sit down to write. I assume I know my character well enough to write a short story or an entire novel about them. However, today I began to question just how well I know my main characters. Maybe you should, too!
 
I’m not going to speak for any other writer, and certainly not for any of the writers in this amazing guild. But I want to plant that question as food for thought before you begin your next project. I recently published another comedy and as I was watching television today, a strange question popped into my head. If my main character suddenly called and told me to leave the door unlocked that they were coming over for dinner, what would I serve them?  If they had an afternoon to kill and looking for something to do, where would I take my main character?
 
Sometimes solid character development requires that we go beyond the usual and obvious, that we reach beyond just what we let the reader know about our character. To fully understand the range of emotions and what pushes their buttons, we should consider writing a short biography of them before we begin. Are they married or divorced? Was it a bitter divorce or breakup? Are there still lingering emotional wounds from past events that impact how our character sees the world and reacts to others in our novel?
 
Culturally most people tend to be outcome oriented. That makes sense for most folks. However, as writers, we tend to be more process oriented. That is why we take on the challenge of writing exercises such as this. It helps us fully understand our character. By writing short pieces, even only a paragraph in many circumstances, about our main character in situations that have nothing at all to do with your book, you understand the nuances of the character. This will come across in your book in the most subtle ways. It is those subtle points in your story that moves your reader in the direction that you want them to go.
 
Every book is a process and we all have our own unique processes as we write. Process matters, and the main character deserves the extra attention. So do our readers. 

,One of the most important things a writer can do after publishing a book is to get their work out in the public, to put their face and voice out there. It’s great to finally see your work available on Amazon but that doesn’t mean your audience is going to be waiting eagerly to accept your work. In fact, after all of the time and effort you put into writing and publishing a book, your audience has no idea you are there. That’s why some form of marketing is important.
 
Being a member of the Appalachian Authors Guild comes with a great perk! Book signings are one of the most effective ways that a writer can share their work with the public. As a Guild member, we work to set up book signing events for our members. We are always working to add businesses to the list of places willing to host our members for book signings, and even the occasional public reading. We strongly suggest all members to take advantage of this perk. The more you put your work out there in the public, the more books you are going to sell. It’s time to grow your fan base. If you’ve never done a book signing before, let us help you and set a modest goal for at least two book signings in 2019. You’ve put a lot of work and effort into your book. Let’s get it out there!
 
However, there are many reasons to join the Guild. Having the opportunity to listen to guest speakers, learning new things at the regular educational and informational seminars, learning to challenge yourself in your writing and writing goals, and making a lot of new friends to name a few. Not a bad way to spend $20. Make 2019 a great year for you and for your work!
 

A new year always brings a new beginning and 2019 is just around the corner. Most people look forward to the opportunity to begin things anew, to set new goals or reaffirm old ones. The age old favorite is losing weight and getting healthier. The self promise to go to the gym more often and eat better usually falls off the list of New Year Resolutions by the end of January. So do most resolutions, for that matter.
 
Are writers just as bad about sticking to resolutions? Maybe most of us are. I’m guilty of that for sure. I spent some time reading a few articles online to see what resolutions are most popular among writers. Many of them would go a long way to making our writing lives better if we could only stick to them. I thought I’d go over a few of them and likely pen down a few on my list as a challenge for 2019.
 
The two most popular resolutions are to be more realistic in setting your writing and reading goals. For example, instead of having a goal of writing a lengthy novel or setting a word limit such as writing 3,000 words a day, it might be more realistic and helpful to set a time limit for your writing. Instead of focusing on that huge project or a word count, start out by resolving to write for 30 minutes or an hour each day. Let the words come to you instead of trying to force the words.  Another option is to reach out to some of your fellow writers and have a joint goal-setting session. It might be helpful in keeping yourself and others motivated during the year, kind of like joining the gym with a friend instead of trying to lose weight or get in shape alone.
 
As far as reading goals, most of us are well read and enjoy reading more than the average person. We’re sort of wired that way. However, maybe this year we read more things outside of our genre and look for more reading recommendations from our peers and on other sites such as Goodreads. Reading things outside of our genre is a great way to learn and grow as a writer, to pick up on new tips and ideas to help us with our own work.
 
Another popular resolution I found was to spend more time in the company of other writers. This is another great way to pick up on new tips and ideas, to grow in our craft. A good way to meet fellow writers is by joining online communities, but the best way is to seek out a local guild or other organization. Take advantage of those meetings and friendships. Those of us that already have done that will attest to just how valuable they are!
 
Also on the list of most popular resolutions was to try something new. For example, if you are a writer that relies on a schedule such as writing first thing in the morning, maybe try writing in the evening a few times. Changing things up in your routine might be a great way to discover new motivations or inspirations.
 
Spending more time revising work and spending more time on social media made the list. For many of us, those are the two least favorite things we like to do even if they are necessary. However, adding another round of revision to our work is never a bad idea. Letting something you’ve written simmer for a few more days before one last review or revision could provide the needed break you need to see your work with fresh eyes and discover ways to make your story even better.
Think about making a list of your own resolutions, either for yourself or together with a couple of other writers. What makes your list for 2019? As always, we’d love to see you share those with us in the comments below. 

Some of the best stories are the ones that are true. Claudia Randolph of Jonesborough, TN had a touching story to share but had never written a book before. With the help of Madelyn Rohrer, Johnny Come Back: Eighty-four Days of Miracles is now availble on Amazon. 

Here is the description from the back cover:

Miracles are defined as extraordinary events, manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. They happen every day. Sometimes we call them blessings, marvels, unusual happenings, or strange phenomena. They can be large and easily recognizable or small enough that they could just as easily be missed, but a single “miracle” can alter one’s life in an instant. That unexpected change can be brought about by an event, a person, or something we often refer to as “perfect timing.”  Believing in miracles is to acknowledge divine intervention.

Walk with Johnny Randolph in this true story of his struggle to survive eighty-four days of life-threatening situations and recuperation. Join Claudia, his wife, seasoned Emergency Department Registered Nurse, caregiver, and advocate as she remains steadfastly by his side while dealing with her own struggle between medical knowledge and a deeper faith in spiritual healing. It is their story – what they saw, what they heard, what they felt.

Experience their eighty-four days of trials and miracles.

You can find the book at the link below.
​https://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Come-Back-Eighty-four-Miracles/dp/0578408104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543608282&sr=8-1&keywords=johnny+come+back

​Most of us in the guild have written a countless number of pages over the years that include novels, short stories, and poetry. Most of us admit to being addicted to reading everything we can get our hands on and still complain that there isn’t enough time in the day to read everything we want to. Among those books we’ve combed through a thousand times are books that help us in our craft, books that inspire us to creativity, and books that touch our souls.
 
A writer’s life is more like a journey than most people could possibly understand. We’re wired differently. If you’ve spent an afternoon among a group of writers, you might. At fairs, conventions, and book signings, we’re always asked, “What do you write?” That question sets our minds and souls in motion, no matter how awkwardly (or perfectly) we may answer it.
 
Author Simon Sinek (Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action) said, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”
 
Writer’s need to ask themselves this question and give some time to seriously reflect on it beyond the usual answers like “I have to.” It’s a passion and a need. That much is true. However, it’s important to have a deeper understanding as to why we write because we all have those days when you are frustrated and don’t feel like a writer. There will be days when you doubt yourself or have writers block or simply just don’t feel like writing. There will be days when you write and absolutely hate what you just put down on paper. There will be days when you not only doubt yourself but the people closest to you will doubt you, too.
 
I have to. It’s like breathing. To a writer that is completely understandable. But the reasons behind that are sometimes not so obvious at times. Some of us write for ourselves. It is a way to deal with stress or deal with past hardships and trying to come to grips with events in our lives. Some write to share our wisdom or experiences with others to help them through similar situations.
 
In 1946, George Orwell wrote a famous essay called "Why I Write" to describe his journey to becoming a writer. He had four specific reasons for writing, one of which was to “push the world in a certain direction.”
 
As you continue on with your journey as a writer, it’s a good idea to visit that question for yourself from time to time. Write a short essay on the reasons why you write (writing prompt homework to share with the guild!!!). I think we could surprise ourselves with some of the reasons why.

,November is quickly approaching. The leaves begin to change colors, daylight ends a little sooner than we hope, and an autumn chill falls on us here in the mountains. Most people think that it’s a great time of year to cozy up with a good book and some hot chocolate. Not us writers. Most of us look forward to cozying up with a notepad or a computer and creating a good book. November gives us the perfect excuse to dive into our imaginations and exercise our artistic craft to the best of our abilities. After all, November is NaNoWriMo, also known as National Novel Writing Month.
 
If you are a member of the Appalachia Authors Guild and reading this right now, take this as our challenge to you to participate in NaNoWriMo. The goal isn’t an easy one. The challenge is to write a novel during the month, or at least get a start with the goal of writing 50,000 words or more. For some of our more seasoned authors, this challenge is just another day at the keyboard. However, for many of us it is an opportunity to jump head first into the challenge and encourage each other along the way. Even if you don’t finish an entire novel in a month, you will have likely had one of the most creative and accomplished periods in your writing career.
 
So, let’s take a count. How many of you are accepting the challenge? If you aren’t a member of the guild, we hope you’ll consider joining right away, reaching out to us, and finding encouragement and friendship along the journey in this art form that we are all so passionate about.
 
If you accept the challenge make sure to mention by commenting below. Don’t forget to update us on how many words you completed by the end of November. Make plans to be creative! Make a commitment to succeed. 

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​Our guild held its second writer’s workshop on August 14th at the Small Business Incubator in Abingdon. This was only the second of many to come and I think that many of our members (and future members) will be pleasantly surprised at the value these gatherings provide. Workshops are a great way for writers to come together and share their best experiences and practices, to encourage one another, and walk away with new tools in your arsenal that can help with current and future writing projects.
 
If you’ve never been to a workshop you should consider coming to the next one just to get a feel of what they can offer you as you embark or continue on your journey as a writer. In our first workshop Vicki Fletcher led the discussion and presentation all about formatting your document and self publishing. Even the most experienced writers walked away with good information, and the group discussions provide an opportunity for round table question and answer sessions that were helpful to the entire audience. The second workshop was called Kick Starting Your Book. Once again, those attending were able to engage in discussion about best practices. This session included working on writing prompts to better understand character development and the steps in the creative process.
 
Here are four of the reference books we discussed during the workshop. They are all available on Amazon and other online book retailers. Do you have a book suggestion? Let us know!
 
Write Characters Your Reader Won’t Forget: A Toolkit For Emerging Writers, Stant Litore
Master Lists For Writers, Bryn Donovan
The Emotional Craft of Fiction, Donald Maass
On Writing, Stephen King

There is nothing that compares to the satisfaction of finishing the rough draft of your manuscript, short story, or article. Writing isn’t an easy art form! It’s incredibly difficult and tedious work, at best. No matter what you are writing, you are trying to tell a story and get your point across. You are trying to appeal to your reader on a personal level, whether you are writing a suspense novel, a movie script that is a real tear-jerker, or an article about the need for community support to save the local animal shelter.
 
No matter how great it feels to complete the first draft, remember that it is only the first draft. If you want your reader to enjoy and fully experience what you intend for them to, your work is only beginning. The hardest part is yet come.
 
Most self-published writers struggle with the process of editing and proofreading. You know that old phrase, if you want to hide something, put it out in plain sight? Well, that holds true for writers when we edit and proofread our work. You can read a sentence ten times and still not realize that you wrote they’re when you meant their. It happens to the best of us. This blog entry will focus on tips for editing and proofreading. If you have some tips you’d like to share then please comment at the bottom.
 
Editing and proofreading are two different things. Editing means that you are making structural changes and rewriting entire sections of your work. Editing is correcting grammar and spelling as well as your writing style. It is going back and tackling your draft for content. All of these are pretty important. Proofreading, on the other hand, is going back over your work to correct the small stuff such as format and spacing.
 
I spent some time digging around online for a few nuggets of advice to help with the editing process. I found a ton of things! I’ll obviously not include everything here, but encourage you to research this topic for yourself. You’ll find more advice than any reasonable person can handle.
 
READ YOUR DRAFT LIKE A NEWS REPORTER WOULD READ IT.
Ask who, what, when, where, and why! Oh, and don’t forget how. These are all the questions that your reader will want answered from your book. They will ask these questions about plot, characters, and meaning. Make sure you cover these major topics if you want your reader to be emotionally invested in your story.
 
TAKE A BREAK!
When you finish your first draft give it some time before you start the editing process. Wait a day or a week. The more distance you put between you and your rough draft, the more likely you will spot awkward phrases and mistakes.
 
READ IT OUT LOUD.
This might help you understand a rhythm to your writing that you had not noticed before. Also, when you stumble upon something poorly written or not as smooth as the best parts of your draft, you will notice it right away. The parts that need editing will likely stick out like a sore thumb.
 
KILL ALL OF YOUR WEAK ADJECTIVES.
I’ve learned the hard way that weak adjectives can absolutely ruin a good story. Keep your thesaurus handy and make sure to avoid weak adjectives. Why use afraid when you can use terrified, aghast, or spooked?
 
BLOCK TIME FOR EDITING.
Don’t burn yourself out during the editing process. If you stay at it for too long it becomes more likely that you’ll miss some of your mistakes. Block out a time frame that works best for you. I find that editing for thirty minutes at a time with fifteen minute breaks in between works best for me. I block off that time for a total of no more than three hours a day.