tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post3495395964112870263..comments2024-03-27T03:14:07.652-04:00Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: To Heed or Not to Heed: Tips on When to Listen to EditorsMissy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-33392025402620641702018-04-14T00:54:03.567-04:002018-04-14T00:54:03.567-04:00YOU are the best Ruthy!YOU are the best Ruthy!Kelly Blackwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14114157685843686254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-9873884965968025882018-04-13T16:06:25.376-04:002018-04-13T16:06:25.376-04:00Hi Ruth:
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I ...Hi Ruth:<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I would have thought that you would not like Michener or Wouk. <br /><br />So maybe it's not too much or too little history but rather the appropriate use of history relative to the story needs that makes the difference. I'm good with that. <br /><br />Yet I think a lack of history, in something marketed as historical fiction, is not a matter of taste so much as it is a desire by the author not to have to do the research or face the likelihood of making factual mistakes. If there is no history, there is no chance of making historical mistakes. <br /><br />I'm just asking for some history in historical fiction.<br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-28748933567213137172018-04-13T10:40:35.918-04:002018-04-13T10:40:35.918-04:00Hey Ruthy, I'm just catching up on all my blog...Hey Ruthy, I'm just catching up on all my blogs and such after returning home Tues night. I love your common sense approach to writing, and everyday life. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart and stick to your guns when you KNOW what you have written will touch readers. I'm so glad you know when to do that, your writing has always touch me deeply and if someone's opinion of what readers want can change that too much, you readers would be missing a very important, intrinsic part of who you are. May it never be! Please include me for Swept Away, thanks! I love that you are delving into mystery, yay!Tracey Hagwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10791174193265941345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-13668030015673173622018-04-13T09:31:39.139-04:002018-04-13T09:31:39.139-04:00We all can be affected by our moods and our mind-s...We all can be affected by our moods and our mind-set, too, and I've been guilty of that in the editing process. I self-edited a manuscript that had already been through a (paid) freelance editor but I had to cut material and in the process I ended up "viciously" self-editing what was in there. So if the publisher's in-house editor had done to my MS what I had done to it, I'd have been extremely upset (mark-up all over every single page). BTW THANKS for all you do in 1K1HR! You're a blessing!<br /> Carrie Fancett Pagelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096954464239963966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-84061491857111392282018-04-13T06:48:14.041-04:002018-04-13T06:48:14.041-04:00Let's save the salutes for the military. They ...Let's save the salutes for the military. They actually earn them! But when I come out west, I want to come to your ice cream shop and buy ice cream!!!! I'm hoping for next spring, Megan... Late April, early May, before we start planting...Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-48022530900654794962018-04-13T06:46:38.994-04:002018-04-13T06:46:38.994-04:00Wilani, I sent you an e-mail about the Guideposts ...Wilani, I sent you an e-mail about the Guideposts books! They're happy to help you start at book 2. I love those guys!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-42217334648992312572018-04-13T06:46:05.503-04:002018-04-13T06:46:05.503-04:00Oops, did I out you, Drexler???? Sorry!!!! Now the...Oops, did I out you, Drexler???? Sorry!!!! Now the world knows, but gosh, there are still too many silly bugs going around the northern states... And Xanto. Mustn't forget the oncoming BLIZZARD. Ay yi yi.Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-33637399342163667232018-04-13T06:43:26.153-04:002018-04-13T06:43:26.153-04:00Lee-Ann, it's so nice to meet you! Welcome abo...Lee-Ann, it's so nice to meet you! Welcome aboard! And I'm so glad you found us... It's a great place to work toward and then meet that goal... and we're living proof. I've got over twenty Love Inspireds now, so does Debby Giusti, and we've loved working with them.... You're among friends here! :) And they gave me a start when other doors clicked firmly shut, so that's a huge thing for an author. And my Love Inspired readers are such delightfully normal people... Walmart shoppers! Grocery shoppers! Just like me! And in its own way, writing "short" can be even trickier than writing long because we have to make every word count... but it's a great skill to have in the arsenal.<br /><br />So Martin Brodeur is a common name! Who knew???? <br /><br />Well, you're never common here, and I'm so glad you're among us.<br /><br />Welcome to Seekerville, Lee-Ann!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-72064642961167334412018-04-13T06:34:46.390-04:002018-04-13T06:34:46.390-04:00I love Michener and Wouk... their historical descr...I love Michener and Wouk... their historical descriptions pulled me right into the story, like wandering into another sphere... no, if this book had done that, it would have been fine. It didn't. The information was kind of pushed in, the way an author does when they're kind of showing off their vast knowledge of a subject...<br /><br />But not in a storyteller fashion. <br /><br />Michener was an artist with words. Wouk pulled history out of the backstory and made it relevant to everything.<br /><br />In defense of your historical author, if it wasn't an indie book, sometimes things get edited out if not referring to the romance because of word count, but I agree. Adding in political or factual references helps to set the reader more firmly in the place and time, exactly what we want to do. I loved adding in women's suffrage parts to some of my Western historicals and I can't wait to get back to that series in 2019... those books are calling me to finish them!<br /><br />I generally find that if I'm floundering about how much history to put in, I've probably put enough if it's a romance... now a saga would be different. <br /><br />But back to this traditionally published book... I've read indies that were better. Much better. Not preferentially, just better written. <br /><br />And I've read some that were worse.<br /><br />But I think that's always been the way with publishing, hasn't it? That not all books appeal to all readers, which makes a broad range of diversity especially appealing. <br /><br />I do miss bookstores. I loved prowling in bookstores. J.B. Dalton, Walden, Barnes&Noble.... but when B&N kind of shoved the other two out of business... and then got shouldered aside by Amazon... <br /><br />We are living the evolutionary phase of publishing, my friend. And it's a wild roller coaster of a ride!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-69611053457293565752018-04-12T21:28:44.972-04:002018-04-12T21:28:44.972-04:00I would covet, covet a copy of your latest... Not ...I would covet, covet a copy of your latest... Not cover. Blast that auto correct...DebHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685506948995225770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-57872385012591117312018-04-12T21:17:47.720-04:002018-04-12T21:17:47.720-04:00Deb, hey!!!! When the time is right, you'll kn...Deb, hey!!!! When the time is right, you'll know it. I waited until the youngest was 16... because a mom can only do so much. God gave me time and I'm happily using it now. You know you've got the talent... now you're just waiting on the opportunity.<br /><br />So glad to see you!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-30492689239108618332018-04-12T21:16:21.593-04:002018-04-12T21:16:21.593-04:00Kelly, so nice to see you! Don't be nervous. A...Kelly, so nice to see you! Don't be nervous. And by that I mean we all get a little nervous (or a lot) and that's normal... but it's never the end of the world... and there's always options now, so if the fit isn't right we've got open doors.... Putting you in the cowboy hat for Swept Away!!!!<br />Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-20844823075542779622018-04-12T20:59:57.216-04:002018-04-12T20:59:57.216-04:00I love how you tell it like it is, Ruthy. Since I ...I love how you tell it like it is, Ruthy. Since I have nothing of note for critiquing, I would cover a copy of your newest Guidepost release. Thanks for all the save advice and telling it like it is. One day I hope to make use of your hard learned wisdom.DebHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685506948995225770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-40216694391656784742018-04-12T20:02:32.161-04:002018-04-12T20:02:32.161-04:00Ruthy thank you for the facts. I have to say it al...Ruthy thank you for the facts. I have to say it all makes me nervous! I am so far away from the road, but so grateful to your guidance. I'm glad you stood your ground and knew when you should do so. Thanks also for the reminder of the experience that gave you that confidence! I don't have a chapter yet so please toss me in the hat for Swept Away. Some day I will definitely be eagerly entering for that critique. Thanks lovely Ruthy!Kelly Blackwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14114157685843686254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-87502562287389318952018-04-12T17:51:34.569-04:002018-04-12T17:51:34.569-04:00Erin, hi! I think this is the first time we've...Erin, hi! I think this is the first time we've met, and I'm so happy that you stopped by. Thanks for that! Okay, I'm putting your name in for both... if you've got a minute, tell us what you write.... or anything you'd like to say about yourself. And if you're shy...<br /><br />Well, that's fine, too! <br /><br />Welcome!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-2755007806661490942018-04-12T14:26:35.996-04:002018-04-12T14:26:35.996-04:00Thanks for replying Ruth! Martin is my husband - I...Thanks for replying Ruth! Martin is my husband - I just haven`t figured out how to get my info to input instead of his (my name is Lee-Ann Brodeur :) ). Martin Brodeur is a common name in Quebec (kind of like John Smith) so we`ve had lots of fun making reservations south of the Canadian border through the years. My husband does play ice hockey but he`s centre, not goal.<br />Thanks for the encouragement. I`ve been reading Seekerville for just about a year now and have been surprised to find out how many Christian Romance authors have gotten their start through Harlequin Love Inspired. I didn`t know that Harlequin had a faith based line UNTIL I discovered Seekerville (through Writer`s Digest Magazine`s 101 best websites list last year). So, my goal for 2018 has been to complete a manuscript for submission to Harlequin, hoping to get my foot in the door that way. I can`t remember a time when I didn`t want to write. As a kid, I`d write a `novel` each summer and as a teen I worked for our school paper (and was accepted into college for journalism but chose music instead). My career saw me writing for non-profits, and as a Stay At Home Mom of four, I`ve submitted articles to our local Multiple Births chapter on issues facing parents of multiples (am the happy Mom of twins!), for one of which I received an honorable mention in WD`s Competition last year which was the kick in the pants to say, you can do it! (And God`s timing kind of affirming that this is the direction I should pursue in this season of life). So, that`s me in a nutshell. <br />When I saw Harlequin`s Romance Line Blitz, I jumped on the bandwagon `just to test the waters` to see if I had what it takes to write romance. The feedback in round one was encouraging, as well as the feedback in round two. The response was a major rewrite is needed but submit again in the future.... It was a bit tough to swallow but considering I`d thrown four chapters together in a little over three weeks with four little ones to look after I was pleased with the critique. So, now I`m taking to heart what they suggested and just taking my time re-writing (and also trying to apply GMC!). <br />Thanks again for your posts. I can honestly say I`ve gleaned a lot about the craft of writing from all the Seekers.Lee-Ann Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16757223217376371793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-33823446554887158242018-04-12T13:04:42.216-04:002018-04-12T13:04:42.216-04:00This is fantastic information for us writers break...This is fantastic information for us writers breaking into the writing field. Thanks so much for your honesty! I'd love to be entered totwin either prize.Erin Ungerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13574129940760459129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-84550248583418757032018-04-12T12:55:12.850-04:002018-04-12T12:55:12.850-04:00Hi Ruth:
You wrote: "But I also just read a ...Hi Ruth:<br /><br />You wrote: "But I also just read a traditionally pubbed Christian book, a "suspense" of sorts that was so heavy on the writer's vast knowledge of history, the Bible, the Holy Land, and the city of origin that the author left no room for the story."<br /><br />This sounds like James Michener! It seems I had to read 100 pages of how Hawaii was formed before the story starts! And how about the "Source"?<br /><br />Some people read historical fiction for the history. I even had a librarian, when I was a kid, tell me to read all the historical fiction I could because that was a way to study history that was fun. "Just get good writers!" <br /><br />I've done that ever since. So if your writer above always does that with her books, then her readers are getting what they expect and love. My big complaint is a lack of history in historical romances! I just read a 'historical' where one of the heroes is a newspaper editor in a year that President Johnson was being impeached, President Grant was being elected, and a major city in that state was being founded, and not a word about these events and no other history that I could discerned either. Also some of the characters were speaking 2018 PC language! An editor was needed! But that's just me. :)<br /><br />You're right in that readers will differ with the amount of facts in a historical. Some want more history and some want less. This is why it is important for an author to know her readers. Really know them in a marketing sense. <br /><br />BTW: I like facts in a historical that will astound the reader like having Oscar Wilde come up to a couple in a café in a small western town where he actually was when he was on tour in America. Perhaps a couple after a lecture are talking about how funny Mark Twain was…even quoting some of his funny lines. Make the reader feel smarter for having read your historical! <br /><br />Vince<br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-61240174129668971092018-04-12T12:35:48.983-04:002018-04-12T12:35:48.983-04:00Connie, hi!
You know it's hard to know what ...Connie, hi! <br /><br />You know it's hard to know what the inside of any business is really all about until you experience it.... and part of our mission in Seekerville is to make it less scary... and to offer greater insight. So many authors (new authors, mostly) break under the pressure... maybe they don't realize the "dream come true" comes with expectations and timelines and deadlines and change... and gosh, I could name several aspiring authors right now who hate to make deep changes.... And they're often required, right? <br /><br />But every once in a while there's a change worth standing for... <br /><br />That's the rare thing, but in a few cases I've been glad that I used my insight and common sense to make the choices. So glad you found us today, Ms. Connie!<br />Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-89198346552196668642018-04-12T12:09:26.117-04:002018-04-12T12:09:26.117-04:00Hi, Dorcas! We met years ago, I think through FHL....Hi, Dorcas! We met years ago, I think through FHL. It's so good to see you again!!Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-58400776147627572092018-04-12T12:01:45.616-04:002018-04-12T12:01:45.616-04:00I'm shaking in my boots, Ruthy! Haha :)
Also,...I'm shaking in my boots, Ruthy! Haha :)<br /><br />Also, I feel like I need to salute you or something...Meg Brummerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283942009322222663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-64623420590048288282018-04-12T10:49:59.696-04:002018-04-12T10:49:59.696-04:00LOL! I have plenty of chicken soup. All I need rig...LOL! I have plenty of chicken soup. All I need right now is time, rest, and many words on the page every day. That isn't much, is it?Jan Drexlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-84505171400605118232018-04-12T10:41:00.288-04:002018-04-12T10:41:00.288-04:00How did I miss this post yesterday?
Ruthy, I'...How did I miss this post yesterday?<br /><br />Ruthy, I'm glad you stood up for not changing your story when you believed it in. And you're right, as a newbie it's real hard to stand up because I'm still trying to figure this thing out and they're the professional.Connie Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202260212058085506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-51198115083485757262018-04-12T10:35:04.146-04:002018-04-12T10:35:04.146-04:00Jeanne, I love the grace of time with these two-da...Jeanne, I love the grace of time with these two-day posts... even though we slip guests in on Tuesdays and Thursdays from time to time and that takes us back to one-day... but it's fun to give folks time to stop by, isn't it?<br /><br />Tucking your name into the queue. I always want to say "kway" with that, like "Chevrolet" or "Monet", and yet it's "kyoo" which just seems short-sighted, doesn't it? :)<br /><br />I am not an arguer... I'm very okay with switching things up (although those three editors would probably roll in the dirt, laughing at that assertion, Jeanne!)....<br /><br />But if you talk with the other ones, they'd agree because their changes made perfect sense. And helped deepen the book's message and my storytelling abilities.<br /><br />The other side of that is that I love getting paid, so arguing with the hand that feeds me would be (whispers....) stupid. Right??? :)Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-38348626834144797662018-04-12T10:30:57.026-04:002018-04-12T10:30:57.026-04:00Hey, mountain girl! Of course I can put your name ...Hey, mountain girl! Of course I can put your name in, Dorcas! I'm so glad you found us! Happy dancing! And I'm so glad you loved the book.... That makes my day! What do you write? And I've seen those gorgeous TN mountains, stretching up from your neck of the woods to where I've set a bunch of books, the Northern tier of Appalachia.... We're connected by a mountain range and so much more!<br /><br />Welcome to Seekerville!Ruth Logan Hernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com