Category: writing

Sparking Your Creativity

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

For the past year, maybe even two, my creativity has resembled a dried up well. Writers all around me would talk about the story ideas crowding inside their heads while I silently panicked. Because my head felt like an empty cavern.

Here’s the thing.

When creative people who thrive on creativity feel fresh out of ideas, it’s not a comfortable feeling. 

Thankfully, creativity–like everything else in life–comes in seasons. We all experience winters.

Mine just happened to come once I started writing under contract.

It’s a weird thing, when your hobby turns into work.

Granted, it’s amazing, awesome, wouldn’t-trade-for-the world work. But it’s still work. I discovered that writing is no different from any other great job out there. It comes with aspects that are necessary, but not exactly thrilling. Like revising and revising and revising a manuscript until your eyes cross.

It didn’t help that in between all the in-house revisions for my contracted novels, I was working on the same uncontracted manuscript for almost two years. Which meant I hadn’t created anything new in a long, long time.

Last week, I finally finished that manuscript.

And last week, buds appeared on the creative branches in my mind. Those lovely hints of spring that have since turned into a full-out thicket of green.

How did it happen?

Part of it, I’m sure, was outside of my control. I don’t think we can ever really tame the winds of creativity.

But there are some things we can do. Like giving ourselves the freedom to brainstorm something completely off the wall.

I embraced the weird. I let my mind go. And came up with a paranormal romance dystopian-esque trilogy for young adults. Nowhere even close to my brand. I’m not sure it’s close to anybody’s brand, now that I think about it. No matter. I’m calling the new genre parastopian, or maybe dystormal. I haven’t decided yet. All I know, is this story is wicked.

Right about now, some of you might be wondering….

Why in the world would I spend my time getting excited about a story so far outside my brand? One I’ll most likely have to write on the side for what could be years?

Because it has invigorated me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. And it’s having this amazing effect on my work. 

It brought my idea generator back to life.

Since that night I let my mind go, I came up with three more story ideas. All three fit inside my genre and all three would be super fun to write.  

So the next time you feel stuck or dried up or confused about your waning passion, let go of the rules and break through the boundaries and just have fun. It’ll get things moving and shaking again. And moving and shaking is good.

Let’s Talk: What do you do when you’re feeling creatively dry? What calls out to you more–parastopian or dystormal? 

Image Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

What Happens at an Author Retreat?

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

You’re greeted like this. Which, I must say, is pretty hard to beat as far as greetings go. Awesome sign, awesome lady. 

You eat a lot of this. Which, I must say, is pretty fabulous as far as food goes. Fancy food, fancy flan.

You meet the people who brought your baby to life. People who make you feel welcomed and supported and valued (and very well fed).

You make Shamy sandwiches (the one and only Shannon Marchese and Amy Haddock) which are the best kind.

You get to know (and laugh with) a wonderful group of authors (from left to right: Meg Moseley, Mona Hodgson, Lori Benton, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Joanne Bischoff, Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark, me)

You enjoy the scenery and spot Jack Nicholson at Garden of the Gods. I’m not even kidding.

You discover that the office really is a magical place, overflowing with books and energy and amazing people and walls decorated with awards and cover collages and physical representations of so many dreams come true.

On top of that, you….

  • participate in a workshop that energizes and focuses your outlook on social media. Thank you Rusty Shelton for a bucketful of gold nuggets.
  • listen to an inspiring morning devotional that reminds you why do this. Thank you Bruce Nygren.
  • answer fun questions for a video montage.
  • stock up on books, books, and more books!
  • learn that Joanne Bischoff has the cutest, happiest eight month old ever.
  • have a passion tea with your agent, because she lives nearby.

Maybe that’s not how every author retreat goes, but it is how the Waterbrook Multnomah author retreat went.

Thanks so much to everyone who made it happen. I left with a buzzing brain (so many ideas!) and a blessed heart.

Let’s Talk: If you had to choose between a chocolate molten lava cake and blueberry cheesecake, what would you choose? Let me tell you, it was not an easy decision. And have you read books by any of these authors? I heart all of them. 

Control Issues

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

There are things writers cannot control when it comes to getting published.  

Such as….

  • When an editor or an agent reads our stuff 
  • The mood of the agent or the editor when they read our stuff
  • The other books that are being pitched at the pub board meeting
  • What’s hot and what’s not in the industry
  • The background, personal preferences, and life experiences editors and agents bring with them to the story

This lack of control isn’t something that ends once we get a book deal. It carries over AFTER publication.

What can’t a published author control?

  • Sales. Yes, there are things we (and our publisher) can do to spread the word and pique interest. But ultimately, we can’t force anyone to buy our book. 
  • Which genre is hot at the time of our release
  • Where our books get placed in stores
  • What stores carry our books
  • Publicity. We can pitch stuff to various media outlets. Our publicist can do the same. But that doesn’t mean anyone will show interest.
  • The backgrounds, personal preferences, and life experiences each reader brings to our book, all of which influence their reaction to it. This is exactly why the very same book can elicit one star reviews and five star reviews. 

I think there’s this very tempting trap we can fall into as writers.

And that is this….

It’s up to us. The success of our book is in our hands. 

If it succeeds, we must have done something right.

If it fails…. 

We must not have done enough.

As if more blog posts or more Facebook friends or more Tweets or more clever pins on Pinterest or more book signings or more giveaways would have translated into more sales.

In a post titled, Does Social Media Really Help? historical romance author, Jody Hedlund, said this:

“What we do in our limited scope on twitter or blogging is merely a blip in the wide-world of publication—especially with so many other writers on social media all scrambling to be heard.”

It reminds me of something Dan Walsh said at the ACFW conference last year.

We can bring our five loaves and our two fish to the table. But at the end of the day, God decides what He’s going to multiply. 

So bring your fives loaves and your two fish.

Write the VERY best story you can write. Take advantage of the marketing opportunities that come your way. And then?

Find a way to let the rest go.

Don’t let rejections or sales figures or not finaling in a contest steal your passion and your joy.

Next time you find yourself stressing over things outside of your control, step away from the computer. Kiss your spouse. Hug somebody you love. Wrestle and laugh with your children. Smile. Be a blessing. Write from your gut. Praise God for all the good stuff. And don’t lose track of what matters.

God. Family. Friends. Writing stories that touch lives.

Whether it’s ten or ten thousand.

Let’s Talk: Do you let yourself get caught up in things outside of your control?

Jill Kemerer addressed things writers can and can’t control is a very lovely post titled, Stamina.