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Ready, Set – FAIL

August 7, 2014 by Lisa Hall-Wilson 5 Comments

What if God’s plan for your new ministry, new job, new relationship is for it to fail? What do we do with that?

Sorry I haven’t blogged for a while.

I’m reading through the book of Isaiah with my mentor. We’ve never been to seminary. We’re not biblical scholars, but we’re reading through and gleaning what we can, consulting commentaries and other translations. It’s actually been pretty awesome. We get to Isaiah 6:8-13 and I stumble over what I’m reading. (read it here)

Isaiah is given a new ministry to go and preach to God’s people, but God tells him – you’re going to fail. You will preach and your words will fall on deaf ears. You will share your heart and beg people to repent, but their hearts will be hardened against your message. You know – heads up. That’s the plan.

Found this tree while hiking – looks like something out of Middle Earth.

Somebody lost their ride down the rapids.

Back that train up. Am I the only one who’s been told that if I seek out God’s Will for my life that I’m guaranteed (OK – no one’s used the word guaranteed) to succeed? If God is in this new thing – if whatever you’ve been called to is God’s Will for you in this season, He will raise up people to partner with you, He will raise up the funds, He will go before you and make the crooked paths straight. I know people who agonize over discovering God’s Will. They live in fear of inching one itty-bitty tip-toe outside of God’s Will, because that would open them up to failure and disappointment.

By implication, what they’re really saying is that staying inside God’s Will for your life (whatever that means) is a sort of insurance. It means you’ll always succeed, you’ll avoid all the hard, tears-down-your-cheeks, gut-twisting uncertainty and heartache.

Not so, Mable.

But God is love.

Who says this isn’t loving? I allow my children to fail at things (non-life threatening things) because sometimes you just gotta learn the hard way. Because you can’t learn from a book how to be a humble winner AND a gracious loser.

What if, as in the case with Isaiah, it’s not about you? What if it’s not your lesson? Maybe whatever it is you’ve been called to has to fail to teach someone else something.

Well – that’s not fair.

Have a seat at the feet of Jesus, let the gentle stroke of His nail-scarred hand soothe your hurt feelings.

What does God have for me in this season?

Whether you are weathering an easy or a hard season, look for the lessons God would have you take away from it. God’s plan is always to make us more like Him. What is it about your attitude that could use some adjusting? What motives aren’t as pure as they could be? How can you use this experience to help someone else along the way? Maybe the lesson for you is to learn to give thanks in every situation?

Maybe He wants your attention.

Sometimes His ways don’t make sense, sometimes there are really hard lessons to learn. Sometimes we’re a little slow in the learning. But He is patient.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis

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5 Substantive Editing Tips For Pantsers

February 19, 2014 by Lisa Hall-Wilson Leave a Comment

What is substantive editing? There are different levels of editing and most writers only concern themselves with the last level of editing – copy editing. This is the nitty-gritty one word at a time editing where you’re checking spelling and grammar. Substantive editing is the big picture editing. Does your story have an arc? Do your main characters arc? Are there plot holes or sagging middles? Do you have point of view issues?

These are big picture edits.

When I beta-read for people this is my strength. I could do copy editing, but I loathe grammar and punctuation. Better left to people who find that process enjoyable. I don’t. I can usually look at a sentence and tell you if it has a problem, but don’t ask me to identify the parts of speech or label the error.

I’m a pantser. There are two schools of methodology in fiction writing – planning and pantsing (or writing by the seat of your pants). Some famous pantsers include Stephen King.

Pantsers don’t know where the story is going to take us. We just sit down and write a first draft. The first draft is just blurting the story out and trying to capture the high points. We edit for the rest. Planners spend more time planning all those things pantsers have to edit for, in the hopes of only having to write it once. There’s no right or wrong, and you may find you incorporate aspects of both styles. Planners still need a substantive editor.

I’m deep into edits on an epic fantasy story I started ten years ago. I’ve rewritten the crazy thing three times. Each revision incorporated more of what I’d learned, but this is the last time I’m rewriting this story *slams fist on table* darn it!!! Smile.

Pantsing is ALWAYS more fun, in my opinion, but you have to really like revisions.

And I’m tired of revising this story.

So, I’ve spent a good deal of time working on substantive edits – a big picture edit. Here’s 5 things I’m concentrating on in this revision stage:

Characterization (motives, desires, flaws, ticks) I had to write the whole story three times before I think I really got to know my characters well enough to flesh this out the way it needed to be. The pantser’s bane. A small change in motivation at the beginning of a story can have huge ripple effects later on. Don’t be intimidated by the work from making these necessary changes.

Format. When I first wrote this story, I wrote it as a traditional full-length novel. My editing process has revealed to me that this isn’t the best fit for this story. So I’ve been researching serials and other options that the new publishing paradigm has made popular and viable again – which weren’t an option when I first wrote the story. Again, this will require extensive rewriting, but it will make the work a lot stronger.

Synopsis. Writing a synopsis is not fun. Not gonna lie. But this functions like a big-picture blueprint of sorts for your story. This maps out your story – who does what when with whom. I’m a visual person, so I’ve created several mind maps of this process in addition to a linear point by point outline.

Chapter Overview. This takes the synopsis a step further and examines the story chapter by chapter. For each chapter you’re going to record who does what when with whom — and answer the why question too. What does the POV character want in this chapter? I want to make sure either they don’t get what they want, they change what they want, or they get what they want but it leaves them with a new challenge.

Point of View. Who is the best one to tell this story? I’ve had to really examine whether the characters telling the story are the best ones to do that. This has required extensive rewriting in places. I’m also focusing on writing in a deep POV style instead of a 3rd person POV, something I’ve learned a lot about and have crafted my writer’s voice around.

Do you have a team of beta readers or a substantive editor?

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What Does Your Writing Cost You?

February 1, 2014 by Lisa Hall-Wilson Leave a Comment

The very best writing we’ll ever do is the kind that forces you to rally your courage, expose yourself emotionally, by putting your thoughts and opinions out for critique whether it’s pitching an agent, in a blog post, an article or book. But that’s only part of the cost though, and in my opinion, not even the greatest cost.

“I learned that the best work is the kind that costs you something.” ~Jeff Goins

(Read Jeff’s full post here)

The greatest cost is how we live out our personal growth on paper, through a character or story. We wrestle with life questions, morality, faith, injustice, and love with only words. He (or she) who comes away with the most scars wins! Fiction has to dig for the truth. You don’t have to write a gritty crime novel, or a thriller, to scare your pants off. How vulnerable are you being? How much of you is in that work? What were you wrestling with when you wrote it? Where did the story take you that you didn’t want to go?

Non-fiction is no different. I’ve worked for a number of different non-profits as a freelance writer. The best thing about working for non-profits is they always have really impactful, compelling, heartbreaking stories. Whether I’m writing an e newsletter featuring work they’re doing in the Horn of Africa (that research is going to haunt me – forever), or I’m editing true-life stories from a former drug addict or a celebrity — it costs me something.

Every story I tell (fiction or non-fiction) has to capture my heart. I have to get to a point where I can’t not tell that story. Really? Really. How else can I capture the emotion, the drama, the joy of the story if I’m not invested, if I haven’t partially lived it already?

Storytelling is important. It’s stressful. It forces me to step outside myself and see the world through someone else’s eyes. Writers are culture creators. We do more than observe culture, we don’t just nudge it with a timid toe — we walk right up to the sleeping bear and give a good kick in the ribs.

That’s our job!
Doesn’t matter if you’re writing to inspire, to entertain, or inform, everything you write should cost you something. Every piece you put out there carries a piece of your heart. Period. It’s the only way to do it, and really get good at your craft. Don’t settle for the easy to tell story — what’s got your gut twisted in knots? Find out why! Then tell people what you’ve learned. Tweet This.

Sometimes that means you wait until you’re on the other side of that dry emotional desert so you can write with the wisdom of hindsight, but when in the midst of whatever you’re wrestling with capture those thoughts and emotions — for future reference. So you can ‘go there’ again when you need to, for the sake of your readers.

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What is Character Voice?

December 15, 2013 by Lisa Hall-Wilson Leave a Comment

We all know our main characters well – at least in our own heads. The trouble is making them seem as real and 3D on the page as they are in our mind’s eye. Because a great well-rounded character doesn’t have to be well liked, attractive, or do heroic things. A great character is one we can identify with on some level, and want to root for.

Your main characters deserve to be as unique as you are as a writer. They shouldn’t all sound the same, or sound like you. Each character should have a unique voice, because they’ll see the world a little differently than everyone else. What lenses do they view the world through? What do they notice, what do they work hard not to see, what makes them stop and stare? How is their worldview expressed through their thoughts and feelings?

Katniss_hugs_Prim

“Sitting at Prim’s knees, guarding her, is the world’s ugliest cat. Mashed-in nose, half of one ear missing, eyes the color of rotting squash. Prim named him Buttercup, insisting that his muddy yellow coat matched the bright flower.” Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games

This description does a lot more than show us what the cat looks like. It shows us how Katniss feels about the cat – eyes the color of rotting squash is hardly a term of endearment. In Katniss’ eyes, this cat has no redeeming features – what does that tell us about Katniss and how she sees the world? What does it say about how Katniss views Prim?

“I always order the banned books from a black market dealer in California, figuring if the State of Mississippi banned them, they must be good.”
~Katherine Stockett, The Help
Skeeter has such a unique perspective on the world. Who doesn’t love Skeeter – and Abileen? What a fantastic book to study for characterization. Each of the main characters is absolutely distinct and unique with a clear voice.

“I stroke her lightly, memorizing her body. I want her to melt into me, like butter on toast. I want to absorb her and walk around for the rest of my days with her encased in my skin. I lie motionless, savoring the feeling of her body against mine. I’m afraid to breathe in case I break the spell.” ~Sara Gruen, Water For Elephants
I love the way Jacob describes things. It’s like seeing the world through his eyes, the injustices, the unfairness – all of it. I root for him to win even though I don’t always agree with his perspective.

“I glanced down the road, heart thudding. Where is the stupid bus? And why did my dad have to be so big on mass transit, anyhow? Why couldn’t I own a car, like practically every other senior? But no, I had to ‘share the ride’ to save the environment. When I’m abducted by the menacing guy under the tree, Dad will probably insist my face only appear on recycled milk cartons…” ~Beth Fantaskey, Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side
Jessica is an absolutely hilarious character. She’s funny, and a little quirky, but I want her to wiShe reminds me very much of Anne Hathaway’s character from the Princess Diaries movies. She’s this pessimistic outcast who sees things just a bit differently, with a good dose of sarcasm.

Do you struggle with creating unique character voice? Which character’s voice from a novel has stuck with you?

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Writers Need Discipline, Devotion and Dedication

December 14, 2013 by Lisa Hall-Wilson Leave a Comment

Writers are supposed to be this erratic, emotional, slightly-unhinged, unpredictable mess. I mean, that’s what popular culture says. But to be successful at writing requires equal parts devotion, dedication, and discipline, and there’s not chaos involved at all!

So, I’m hanging out on Twitter and see a tweet come through from Porter Anderson. If you don’t know who he is, definitely check him out. @Porter_Anderson He’s one of my most trusted sources about publishing. He breaks things down, interprets things – he pulls together a hundred strings and weaves it all together to give readers a big picture look at the issue. Love that. He wrote a post on the Writer Unboxed blog (find it here). This thought really struck me:

“But when you hear talk about the “joyous chaos” in which creative types are supposed to revel, you’re hearing from people who aren’t creative. The discipline reflected in a few “inflexible routines” can anchor dedication and devotion. I’ve seen a lot of chaos. Little of it has been joyous.

I say step over the lines if you need to.

Go through your obsessive litany of preparation. That silliness may turn sacred any time now.”

Porter quotes another piece on that blog titled On Discipline, Dedication, and Devotion. When writing you need all those things – not simply a good dose of one. You need discipline, dedication, and devotion to work together otherwise it’s too easy to walk away, get busy with other things, get discouraged. When one is missing or slacking off, the other two pick you back up.

I don’t know much about this “joyous chaos” people like to attribute to artists (despite what a quick glance at my desk might imply). Writing is just plain hard WORK most of the time. Discipline forces you to show up and devotion keeps you there because you can’t not write — it’s who you are, and dedication pushes you (not just because you have deadlines – though that’s a big motivator) because the idea of only putting half your heart into your work should be offensive.

I know lots of writers have ticks or traditions they must go through before they can write. They have to have their favorite mug, or a pen, or music playing before they can start. They might need a clean desk, no distractions — or be in a busy place for white noise – before they can hunker into that head space and start writing. For me – I get my kids to school and I put butt in chair. That’s the first thing I do every morning. Morning’s aren’t my best thinking time so I tend to do my social media first thing. I must have a window. I can’t think when I feel like I’m sitting in a box or cave. And music – not just any music but music that fosters the tone of whatever I’m writing. Those are my ticks and rituals, and they have a priority and specific order to them. Doesn’t sound like chaos to me.

What about you? Do you have any ticks, traditions or routines you must go through before you can sit down to write? Do you feel like you’ve got equal portions of discipline, dedication and devotion?

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Don’t Let Doubt Stop You From Writing

December 13, 2013 by Lisa Hall-Wilson Leave a Comment

I spent the weekend at WANACon – well, I spent the weekend in my jammies, with no makeup, and listened to and chatted in real time with some best selling authors at WANACon. This is the beauty of a digital writer’s conference. I had been sick all week. If this had been a traditional in-person conference I’d have had to skip. But, I could attend all the sessions, even teach one, without infecting everyone with my yucky cold germs. Win win.

Best-selling author David Corbett gave two key-note talks. He’s a great speaker if you ever have the chance to hear him talk. He said something that surprised me a little: “I personally often revise as I go, and wish I didn’t. It’s a bad habit I wish I could break, and I do it because it gives me confidence that the writing is strong enough to merit continuing…Sadly, this reveals more about my self-doubt than it does about the worth of what I’ve written.”

BAM!

This guy has written four award winning and nominated best-selling novels and he struggles with insecurity and self-doubt? There’s no hope for me! lol I’m poking a little fun at myself, but he brings up a valid point that probably every writer on the planet – ever, has faced. Is what I’m writing any good? Will anyone want to read this? And so on. Those doubts are perfectly rational and normal, but when we get bogged down in that rut we never get anything finished.

“The world doesn’t reward perfectionists; it rewards finishers.” ~Kristen Lamb

If you never finish that novel, that essay, that blog post, no one’s ever going to read it. It won’t help anyone, won’t change anything, won’t entertain anyone. How sad. 🙁 While it’s important to always put out your best work possible, sometimes you just have to get to a point where you say this is the best I can do right now and hit publish. Some of those are going to do well, and some are going to fail. That’s how we learn, friends. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and keep writing!

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