To Sequel or not to Sequel ? That is the question.

How do you decide to whether to write a sequel or not? I'd be so interested to hear from others as to how they made their decision to continue on with the same characters in the same settings. Was it all planned before you ever put pen to paper for the first book or did you realize at the completion of writing that the story just had to continue?

For me I vowed and declared that there was NEVER going to be a sequel to "Broken Pottery the Life of an African Girl". Mainly because sequels can fall into the "ho hum" and "going nowhere fast category". Personally, I think writers need to think really carefully as to whether there is enough material for a sequel and take the time to write it properly.

After much thought and prayer I finally became convinced that a sequel was needed. What changed my mind?

1. Requests from readers: It was very kind of readers to want to know more about the characters and what happens next - which made me think, what does happen next?

2. Strong themes: For me books are theme driven first and I as the writer need to be invested in those ideas and believe that it is useful for all of us to think about these things together. You may be surprised but my sequel has two main themes woven into the storyline.
                                    a. Witchcraft and wrong belief in the supernatural and what does the bible say?
                                    b. Persecution of Christians, our response and the comfort that God gives.

What made you decide to write or even not to write a sequel?

Are sequels harder to write than other books? - definitely I have found the answer to be "yes". Just making sure that all the characters remain true and the scenery is exactly the same as the first book does pose its challenges especially if you haven't catalogued any of this. Cataloguing details of your first book is very time consuming.

I'd love to hear from any of you about helpful tips for sequel writing that you may have to offer. All advice is helpful.

By the way the working title of the sequel is "The Vulture and the Finch" - due out February 2015.
Jennifer Ann

JenniferAnn.info

Jenniferann/aroma of Life

Ideal Writing Conditions

Jennifer Ann at home, one of her ideal writing conditions

What are your ideal writing conditions?
Here are a few of mine.

EMOTIONS; Sometimes when I am a little on the melancholy side I feel as though my creative juices are really flowing. I will then write and write and in order to keep up with the ideas that are needing to be expressed. Because the writing has all come so quick and easily to me I naturally assume it must be good. Fortunately, I have learn't to never share that sort of writing until I have read it in the cold light of day. And guess what it tends to not be that great at all, lucky I don't show anyone but on the other hand it was cathartic for my emotions at the time.
I do write when I'm happy also but it just doesn't seem to have the same creativity attached to it, for for me anyway. Of course the best writing has been mulled over, again and again until the sentence and wording is exactly what you feel fits the essence of what you are trying to communicate. But how about you, which emotion when you write makes you feel at your most creative?

TIME; What time of day works best for you? I love the mornings, where my brain has not become tired and jaded with work and home activities. I am not an evening person but I know others who find that at 0:00p.m. till 2:00a.m. thay are doing their most creative work. Definitely NOT me but perhaps that is you?

PLACE; I have to write in a quiet place. Or at least be able to shut a door and only hear muffled noises. I know of others who cannot write if there is no noise at all and they need to have the radio switched on and loudly. I heard of a poet who sits down at the kitchen table and amidst all the hustle and bustle of children having breakfast and getting ready for school , he is able to write, no problems. What about you? Do like a quiet or noisy surround?

HOME; I have also discovered that I write best when at home, where all that surrounds me is familiar. I have taken writing work away on holidays with me and I become so distracted by the scenery or activities or the restaurants that I can't possibly think of putting pen to paper. Can you write when you are on holidays or away?

I do sometimes wonder that if I had no chance of writing under my ideal conditions, would I be able to write in the evening surrounded by noise, facing a heavy work schedule, if that was my only choice, could I write then? I think I would definitely attempt to but I'm not sure of how successful I would be.
So that brings me to my last point and that is how fortunate we are that we are able to at sometime during any given year have the ideal writing conditions that suit us because I am sure there are many aspiring writers in the world who write anyway knowing the ideal conditions will probably never present themselves. So as we are privileged by God to write at least sometimes under our ideal conditions let us keep writing the truths that God lays on our hearts.

Jennifer Ann  is the author of "Broken Pottery the Life of an African Girl available at;
Amazon kindle;   Amazon books
She has her own website at JenniferAnn.info
and her own blog, JenniferAnn/aroma of life

The Struggle to Express yourself

 

O Holy Night

The words “O Holy Night” were written by Placide Cappeaude De Roquemaure in 1847 according to my Google search. Now, the author is largely forgotten and unknown but his writing lives on and has impacted people as they worship Christ at Christmas.

I think as authors, we like Placide are quite happy to remain unknown and unapplauded, many of us have hermit like tendencies any way. But we would love our writing to be useful and worthwhile. As Christian authors we would dearly love to make a positive difference regarding our own generation as we share the beauty of Christ and His salvation plan for mankind.

But for a writer it is not that easy. In all honesty it is a hard slog, there are more downs than ups. Like any other creative art form we do put ourselves out there and allow our work to be critiqued. We have a hard task, for some of us it’s just finding the time to write (that’s me) let alone dealing with marketing obstacles, etc. But we continue largely because we believe that God wants us to continue.

 In my devotional I was reading  Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest”

 I was encouraged to read for December the 15^th,  the following,  “Try to state to yourself what you feel implicitly to be God’s truth, and you give God a chance to pass it on to someone else through you.” The task lies before each of us.

Let these words encourage and shape your writing for 2014 no matter your genre because who knows, one day although we are forgotten, by the grace of God our writing will live on and impact our generation and the ones to come for Christ.

So keep struggling to express Gods’ truth for perhaps it will be your words that are put to music in praise of God.

                                 REMAIN BLESSED THIS CHRISTMAS

Written by Jennifer Ann, author of Broken Pottery the life of an “African Girl” available on Amazon  Kindle at: Broken Pottery the Life of an African Girl, Kindle edition.
Jennifer also has her own blog site at: JenniferAnn/ aroma of Life
Visit her website: www.JenniferAnn.info

JenniferAnn/ aroma of Life

I have finally chosen to take the plunge and set up my own blog site. It will be a mixture of bible verses illustrated by stories from my experiences in Australia and Africa. I hope and pray it will be an encouragement to christians as we seek to serve God daily and also food for thought for those who are still spiritually searching. My latest blog is called;

The Chocolate Cake Chief

I hope you enjoy it!

Jennifer Ann is the author of "Broken Pottery the life of an African girl". A fictional account of a girl who suffers from obstetric fistula and her journey from illness to healing. For more information about Jennifer Ann or her book please go to her website;
www.JenniferAnn.info

ROYALTIES AND GIVING

                              

 Over the last few months I have been praying and wondering how I can increase my support of women who suffer from obstetric fistulas. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to write and have published “Broken Pottery the life of an African girl” a fictional book that highlights the plight of these women. But I felt led by God to do something more tangible.

So I am thrilled to announce that HALF of all royalties received by me from the 16/6/2012 from sales of my book in any format will be donated to one of the fistula projects listed on my website.

www.JenniferAnn.info

It’s really a WIN – WIN – WIN  scenario.

I WIN because I am priviledged to give to these projects.

The reader WINS because as they relax and enjoy the book they are at the same time helping to support these women.

The fistula women WIN because their health care and education can continue.

Gods’ blessings to you all,

Jennifer Ann

VICTORY AT LAST

Dozens of feet stamped the concrete floor, hands clapped a myriad of accompanying rhythms as joyful African voices sang;

“When we get to heaven

At the marriage supper

Where the saints are gathered

At the last assembly

No more sad parting

No more heart breaking

Farewell to sorrow

Victory at last,last,last.” christian song

Our hearts thrilled within us as we joined with our African brothers and sisters rejoicing in the victory that Christ has bought through His death and resurrection. Through the blood of Christ we do not fear death and sin does not have mastery over us.

“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?....But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”1 Cor 15: 55, 57

A message that was only realized by the greatest cost the world has ever witnessed.

A message for people in every country for it has no physical or cultural boundaries.

“….You [Jesus] were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Rev 5:9

A message that can be understood from the youngest child to the eldest of the human race for it is not an intellectual theory. It is the truth.

“….If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved………Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9, 11

As followers of Jesus we sometimes suffer heartache and sickness and even persecution here on earth but there will be a final realization of the victory that Jesus has won for us when we gather to celebrate and give praise and honour to our Lord in heaven.

If that is not worth writing, singing, dancing, sharing, persevering, suffering, speaking and living for then nothing is.

Rev21; 3 -4 “….God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…..”

THANK YOU JESUS

If you want to know more about Jennifer Ann or her book “Broken Pottery the life of an African girl” check her website at www.JenniferAnn.info.

PROMOTIONAL VIDEO AND AUTHORS

As I continue on this publishing and marketing ride, it has become apparent that one of the uphill battles that Australian authors face is publicity. Put simply “just getting your book out there” so people can at least make a choice to read your book rather than not even knowing that there is a book about ………[ whatever your subject matter is].

I think if Australians knew that there were Aussie Christian authors then they would make an effort to at least look at the material offered. But this is a common problem it would seem across the entertainment industry in Australia. How do we effectively get the message across that good Aussie Christian authors exist? Aussie authors write in most genres with styles as diverse as the tastes of the reader.

I wonder if the American and international community of Christian writers find it to be as difficult as we do with marketing???

This blog and the ICFW blog has encouraged me to take a closer look at the technology available to us and how we can use it. So thank you to those people who set up both blog sites, I’m learning so much.

Enter technology!!!!! Another medium we should consider are video trailers for our books. I have seen a few of the American authors do this. It is a great idea. The younger generation, watch video clips on YouTube constantly, believe me I know, as I hear peals of laughter emanating from behind closed bedroom doors only to find on investigation that it is the latest soccer clip blooper. This is a medium that engages the X & Y generation instantaneously.

The video programs are free on your computer and they are not too hard to work. But if you are not technologically inclined [like me], I’m sure there will be someone in your family or church who can show you the ropes.

I think these promos would be ideal for fiction and non fiction genres. If you don’t already have usable video material, you could get people you know to dress up and act out scenes, or do a documentary style, take on your non fiction book. It is only limited by your imagination and that is one characteristic that an author usually has plenty of. Then set the clip to music or a narration, this can be done on Movie Maker on your computer.

With the help of my techno husband we have put together a video trailer on YouTube for “Broken Pottery - the life of an African girl”. We faced some obstacles in that I had to trawl through the many VHS tapes of our time in Africa. Then we bought a 50 dollar device so we could install the videos onto our computer and made the movie. Hillsong Publishing were extremely helpful to deal with and we paid for a license to have the “Magnificent” backing track as the sound accompaniment to the video. The price they charged us was also very reasonable. Koorong have placed the video on their site under my book name for which I am grateful.

I hope you may consider doing a movie promo for your own books because it may just help to communicate to potential readers that Aussie Christian books are worthy of attention.

Above is our promo, I realize its weaknesses which I can’t change but I thought it was worth having a go because you just never know how God may wish to use it for His purposes.

Sincerely, Jennifer Ann

For more information about Jennifer Ann or her book “Broken Pottery – the life of an African girl” please go to her website; www.JenniferAnn.info