Perspective Matters!

 by Anusha Atukorala

Last year, my husband bought a new car. We’d spent a few months visiting numerous showrooms – sitting inside posh vehicles and whizzing around on numerous test drives, until Shan was sure what car would suit his needs best. One day we planned to pick up my niece after a conference she’d attended in Adelaide, to bring her home for a few days. 

We decided to visit one showroom, then drive down to another located past the city for a five minute peek, before picking up my niece at her city hotel. At first, all went according to plan. We spent a happy hour at the first showroom, with a competent and likeable car salesman who was very persuasive. However … my beloved was wise.

 
He thanked the salesman, said he’d get back to him and we drove off to the second one. That’s when the script changed. The five minutes we were to spend there expanded to 10 minutes, And then 20 … 30 … until, oh dear, it stretched to one full hour! I kept checking my watch – anxious we’d get late to get to my niece. But the salesman and his manager were lions about to pounce on their prey. 

Back and forth they went, bargaining with my beloved. Until … the manager gave us the perfect deal! Before I could say ‘Mazda 6’, my delighted man was signing on the dotted line. How did that happen? My sweet niece was very understanding about our delay when I informed her that we got a little later than planned because we had unexpectedly bought a brand new car!

 

It was actually a win win situation. Shan bought the car of his dreams at an excellent price while the car team got their sale. The former salesman had lost out because he did not strike while the iron was hot. Perhaps it was all about perspective? The manager who succeeded, viewed the sale from the customer’s perspective - not from his. He gave us exactly what we asked for! He was good at his job!

 

Perspective Matters! As writers who string words together, what should our perspective be? Is it simply to share the burning issues on our hearts or is to meet our readers where they are? I confess that I don’t always check out my readers’ perspective, since I’m often driven by my own experiences, through which I seek to encourage others. Maybe I need to consider the readers needs more than I do now.

 

The truth is that I am a picky reader, so other readers could be a lot like me. I return from a trip to the library, lugging 20 or 30 books home. Yes, books tempt me! And because I have so many waiting in my To Be Read pile, I don’t always persevere with a story I don’t enjoy in the first 20 or 30 pages. I know I can pick up a more pleasurable read in the blink of an eye. The books I get stuck into, usually have a rating of at least 7/10 (by me) in order for me to keep reading. Fussy? I’m afraid so! It tells me then that others readers too, might be like me, and so … their perspective matters.

 

Today I’d like to focus on another, more important perspective. God’s! Recently, as I studied 2 Corinthians chapter 4, I heard God’s whispers. The gems He showered me with, encouraged me no end, like a cold drink on a warm, summer’s day. I needed a fresh perspective about life in the kingdom and also needed to put on God’s wise discerning spectacles, in place of my clouded, earth-bound ones.

 

The  Seven R’s of the JESUS WAY through Trials:  

(2 Corinthians 4)

1.     Realise the truth about trials.

a.     They are Temporary – a miniscule blip in time compared to eternity

b.     They are also Tiny – compared to the joys that await us

2.     Refuse to give into Satan’s ploys

3.     Remember all God has done for me in the past

4.     Re-focus my eyes on God’s kingdom and His greatness

5.     Raise my eyes to the things unseen

6.     Rejoice in my riches in Christ

7.     Rest on God’s unfailing promises

So I fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:18

 

When you and I reach heaven, we just might realise that we spent too much time on stuff that did not matter and too little time on things that did. We might discover that the value system of heaven and its perspective is as different to ours here on earth as the wild, untamed ocean is to a grubby, small mud puddle!

 

So today, I pause and ask myself about my own viewpoint!

1 In my writing: Do I seek heaven’s perspective or one based just on the here and now? Will my writing count for eternity?

2 In my life as a believer: Is it based on what I see around me or on the things unseen in the heavenly realms? Am I living for eternity or living for the here and now?

 

Perspective matters! So in Perspective Matters, let’s have eyes that are able to see the things that count and will continue to count in eternity! Let’s have hearts that understand what God’s heart dwells on, what God requires of us and what God calls us to do. Dear beautiful friend, let’s hitch up our skirts and  roll up our trousers and dance through life, the Jesus way. Let our Lives, our Writing Lives, and our Relationships be viewed through God’s lenses. 

The one perspective that really matters is God’s, isn’t it? 

Oh may we see life through His eyes so we can love, write and live as God does!

 

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus.

Her first book Enjoying the Journey contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her 2^nd book Dancing in the Rain brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons. Her 3rd book, Sharing the Journey is a sequel to Enjoying the Journey. More books are on the pipeline as she researches them through life's challenges and blessings.

 

Do drop in on her two websites to say G’day! 

She’d love to connect with you.

Dancing in the Rain 

Light in the Darkness

  

Highlighting Book Reviews

 by Jeanette O'Hagan

As Jane Austen might have said, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an up-and-coming author in possession of a new release must be in want of book reviews.”

But what is a book review and why do authors crave them so much? 

A book review gives a reader's evaluation or reaction of their reading experience of a particular book. Most often written on a review site, it can also be blogged, podcasted, on you-tube, Instagram or Tik Tok. 

Finding and connecting with new readers can be one of hardest challenges of being an author. Anything that can help us do that adds value. In an era of online book stores, a substantial number of good reviews gives a book 'social proof' and can help readers decide whether or not to buy and read the book.

But getting book reviews is not easy. Just as acquiring a suitable spouse in Jane Austen's England entailed challenges, frustrations and pitfalls, acquiring book reviews can have pitfalls for the unwary as well as rewards. 

Review of Jewel of the Stars

Some tips.

1. Remember, book reviews are primarily for readers not authors. 

As authors, the temptation is to see book reviews as a tool to be utilised, to even think that readers somehow owe us a review. However, the main purpose of a review is for readers to express their opinions about the book for the benefit of other readers. This is especially true of reader review sites, like Goodreads or Bookbub. 

In particular, we as authors cannot expect that every single reader will enjoy our books. Even all-time classic books attract  a small collection of negative and even scathing reviews.

In practice, this means being gracious when someone doesn't like our book. Never castigate a reader for a negative review - or to attempt to show them why they are wrong - or lambast them on your social media. Other readers are watching. In fact, on sties such as Goodreads or Amazon, the best policy is not to comment on readers reviews (even if to say thank you). 

Either develop a thick skin or don't read the reviews if it upsets you so much. 

And remember, for many readers, a book with only five and four star reviews might be seen as fake or only supported by friends and family.  Having some low-star reviews adds to the creditability of your book. And sometimes, the very things that are mentioned as negatives by one reader may in fact be seen as positives by other readers.

Review of Scattered by Nola Lorraine

2. As authors, it's okay to ask for reviews.

If you sell or give away enough book, eventually some readers will review them.  I'm not sure of a precise ration - but maybe one in every one hundred readers might review the book (less if the book is free). However, if having more reviews makes your book more attractive to readers, having no reviews may deter them.  Of course, there are other ways of connecting with readers, but how do we get more book reviews?

Giving out free review copies either before or around the launch can help.  Also, asking readers to leave a fair and honest review - at the end of the book, in your newsletter, on your social media or website can also help. You can also make requests for reviews - maybe from friends and family, other authors, perhaps influencers in your field. 

Though, think about who your ask to review your books. With Amazon, relevance is key. It's better to have fewer reviews by people who normally read in your genre than a whole slew of reviews from people who would normally read in different genres to your book, as this may confuse the Amazon bots.

Review of Unnoticed 

3. Be careful not to overdo your requests, or be too demanding. 

Readers do you a favour by taking the time to review your book.  And the best reviews are honest reviews. Don't put people off by spamming requests or only making the requests about what you want (buy my book, review my book) which can quickly drive away your potential readers.

As a general rule, do not pay for reviews - especially with Amazon reviews. (Exceptions might be sites like NetGallery or perhaps Kirkus Reviews). If  you sell your books on Amazon, be aware of their strict rules about who can and cannot review & never give anything in exchange for a review (you can give a free book with a request to review, thought not in exchange for a review.)  For Amazon, review swaps between authors can also cause trouble. 

Also, be patient and don't stress too much about reviews. While popular memes suggest 50 or 100 reviews on Amazon might be a magical threshold, other book marketing gurus suggest that 10-15 reviews may be enough to give your book social proof especially when combined with other methods of promoting your book. 

Review of Midnight Sun to Southern Cross

4. Give as well as receive

Sometimes as authors, we can make it all about us - our book, our need to promote, our need to get reviews etc.  Yet one of the strengths of the author community is mutual support. If you want other authors to support you, then be prepared to support them too. 

I know this can be tricky. As I said, a straight out review swap on Amazon can get your banned from the site, especially if reviews are put up close to each other.  However, other sites - such as Goodreads and Bookbub are not so restrictive. Also, you can use your newsletter, website or blogs on other sites to post reviews of other authors, or maybe do a blog tour.

Reviews don't have to be long. They are usually a personal reflection of your reading of the book, so there is no right or wrong way to write one. Though remember to be kind, be honest and never, never summarise the whole plot or give away spoilers (without a spoiler warning).

Some authors prefer not to review other authors at all - or will only review positively - because they do not want to hurt their fellow-author's feelings and/or are afraid of retribution if they give a negative review.  

Personally, I review almost all the books I read on Goodreads - and I strive to give honest and fair reviews. This means that I will talk about the things I didn't like in a book, but I always strive to find some positives as well. I enjoy supporting other authors by reviewing their books and get a thrill when someone reviews my books. 

Review of Under the Mountain - Box Set book 1-3

What about you?

Do you find getting book reviews hard?

Do you support other authors through reviewing their books?

What sites do you use to write or look for reviews?

Do you have any tips about giving or receiving reviews?

 

Jeanette O'Hagan has spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

She has published over forty stories and poems, including the Under the Mountain Series (5 books), Ruhanna's Flight and Other Stories, Akrad's Children and Rasel's Song, the first two books in the Akrad's Legacy series.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life.

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How's Your Appetite?

by Mazzy Adams

My doctor recently prescribed a new painkiller for me; it’s a nerve blocker. She warned me one possible side effect is weight gain. Oh great, I thought. That’s all I need. The first couple of days I wasn’t hungry but I did have a constant urge to chomp and chew.

To make matters worse, the lettuce in the crisper was floppy and we were fresh out of celery. It was time for a distraction—something to occupy my mind and my hands, rather than my mouth.

Something like …

A book to read! Perfect!

Fortunately, my iBooks and Kindle App, bookshelves (the photo below is one of the smaller ones which happens to be filled with children's books for when the grandchildren visit), and my bedside to-be-read stash provide a literary smorgasbord from which to choose.

Lately, I’ve been adding the zesty appetiser of romantic humour from Meredith Resce’s Luella Linley novels to my plate, followed by a main meal of metaphysical poetry from A Poem a Day devotional by Philip Comfort and Daniel Partner (which takes some chewing and savouring).

Whether it's food for the body or food for the soul, some things just go together.

Fish and chips.

Bacon and eggs.

Readers and writers. 

Metaphysical poets might include thoughts and emotions, metaphors and similes, the physical and the spiritual in that list.

Now, when it comes to eating, I’m neither a foodie nor a culinary connoisseur. I don’t get hangry (angry when I’m hungry). I’m not a fussy or finicky eater (though in recent years I’ve had to avoid certain foods for health reasons). And I’m not terribly adventurous; the most ‘out there’ food I’ve ever consumed (discounting the incidental accidental Aussie fly) is a sausage made with minced Kudu meat (antelope) when I visited South Africa. I passed over the bowl of roasted Mopane Worms.

I am—as my daughter-in-law describes my delightful granddaughters—a fruit bat. I love fruit. All kinds of fruit. It’s my first choice, go-to food.

To put things in perspective, my house has one fridge, one freezer, one pantry …

And eight bookcases. Plus the to-be-read bedside stash (for midnight snacks). When it comes to selecting from a book menu, I'm much more adventurous.

Just as food sustains my body, books sustain … well, a lot of things; my brain, my heart, my spirit, my imagination, my connectedness to the world and to my tribe; you know, those crazy paper sniffers, stationery store stalkers, pen-pushers and keyboard crushers who love nothing more than a bubbling, creative mixing pot to cook their quixotic story ideas and/or piquant research into highly palatable text.

Yep, some things just go together. Like authors and bookworms. A casual exploration of Goodreads confirms this fact. It’s just one place where book foodies, literary connoisseurs, story gluttons, curious nibblers, and wild and wacky text eaters hang out, hoping to find their next new favourite bookish consumable and, hopefully, chat to its celebrity chef. (Got you there, didn’t I? You thought I was going to say celebrity author. Well, if the title fits…)

Yep. Readers and writers go together. We need each other to survive and thrive. 

And I love being both. Sometimes, reading or writing the right words is better than smelling the delectable aromas of culinary perfection. It’s as satisfying as banqueting at the grandest feast. Like the very act of breathing, it keeps me going, keeps me alive.

When I was seventeen, I read the following words for the first time:

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:1-3 NIV*

Those words filled me up with curious wonder and piqued my appetite to taste more of what Ezekiel was having. Both Jeremiah the prophet (15:16) and the Apostle John (Rev 10:19-10) knew what it was to eat a scroll from the Lord (and I’m not talking Sticky Buns or Cinnamon Scrolls). 

In John’s gospel, (Chapter 1:1-3) we learn who the Word is, and in John 6:35 we learn who the Bread of Life is. What joyous satisfaction that meal brings.

Psalm 19:10, Psalm 119:103, and Job 23:12 are Bible verses for connoisseurs and sweet-tooths. And let's not forget Galatians 5:22-23 which is all about the FRUIT of the Spirit. 

Within the Bible's pages there are stories and parables, history and eye-witness accounts, poems and visions and glorious descriptive pictures galore; a veritable feast fit for … everyone. God invites all to come and dine at his banqueting table.

As readers and writers, whatever literary dish we prefer to prepare or eat—and both the fiction genre smorgasbord and the non-fiction banquet offer vast, superlative choices—it’s good to know that the tastiest, healthiest, most nourishing and satisfying meals are served at the table of the Lord.

What kinds of literary nourishment have you been cooking up or consuming lately?

* Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures, and the positive potential in people. 

Website: www.mazzyadams.com

Email: maz@mazzyadams.com

Got Your Back

Author buddies, unite! Maybe that’s a bit melodramatic, but I can tell you now it’s great to not be doing the writing journey alone. Writing is often referred to as a solitary occupation, but over and again I’m reminded as a writer of the value of being in a writing community.  After some of the conversations with budding writers over this past weekend at Oz Comic-Con, I wonder if this is something we can sometimes take for granted. (For more about the Oz Comic-Con experience, drop on over to my blog.)

For those who are a little (or long!) way down the writing/publication road, can you remember being a newbie writer? That feeling of uncertainty, that sense of not knowing if you’d ever be published or if you were even good enough to be published. Ever. Add to that the steep learning curve of honing the craft. It can be a daunting mountain to climb. Once you’re published, there’s that rapid realisation (if you didn’t know beforehand) that the hardest work’s about to begin, with continuing the promotion and marketing you’ve been doing in the lead up to the release of your literary baby.

Let’s face it. Writing can be a tough gig, and unless you’re super famous, it’s not exactly the highest paying occupation … Now imagine doing that journey alone.

I love my writing group. You and I both know how much they feature in my blogs, and for good reason. They’re not only loyal and encouraging friends, but they’ve single-handedly (okay, multi-handedly) organised book launches, catered for workshops, offered financial counsel for events and got their hands dirty on many occasions to make writer gatherings a success. They’re also happy to act as critique partners and general champions of my writing, even when that book baby feels waaaay overdue. Yay for them! 😊

But the writing community reaches farther than that. Consider beta readers and editors, and let’s not kid ourselves. (Take it from someone who was a closet writer for over a decade.) If we’re not getting feedback on our work, firstly with critique partners, then with beta readers, our writing will never be challenged and it will never develop. Add to that the stroke (or 2000) of an editor’s pen, and you’re well on your way to improving your work. I don’t know any story that isn’t made better by a good edit by someone who isn’t being paid to stroke a writer’s ego. True, it can be painful, but it’s totally worth it in the long run.

What about publishers, or author services if you’re an Indie writer? Wow, that’s also a tough gig. How grateful I am to be guided by someone who knows about and takes care of ISBNs, distributors, bookstores etc. (Perhaps we should have ‘hug your publisher day’?) Hat off to those who do it themselves … although, if you’re in a community, you can also bounce ideas, problem solve etc. All the better when there's someone who can warn you about the pitfalls of vanity presses and such.

Where would we be without books stores and readers? There’s nothing quite like meeting new people in a bookstore or writing event generous enough to host you, and having the privilege of introducing potential readers to a story you’ve written. Even better is when those readers contact you or write a review to say how much they loved your work. (Oh, don’t forget reviewers!)

Long and short of it? Thank you for being part of my writing journey, and that of many other writers too. Whether we’re the equivalent of writing adolescents, grandparents, toddlers or newborns, we can each be a significant step in making someone else’s publication dream a reality. Pretty cool, right? Let’s never underestimate our part as writing community members. Now go forth and write!

Adele Jones is an award-winning Queensland author. She writes young adult and historical novels, poems, inspirational non-fiction and fictional short works, along with juggling family responsibilities and a ‘real job’ in the field of science. Her first YA novel Integrate was awarded the 2013 CALEB Prize for unpublished manuscript. Her writing explores issues of social justice, humanity, faith, natural beauty and meaning in life’s journey, and as a speaker she seeks to present a practical and encouraging message by drawing on these themes. For more visit www.adelejonesauthor.com or contact[@]adelejonesauthor.com

Get Real

In my writing workshops, I often discuss character weaknesses and how we writers can use these vulnerabilities to engage our readers. By ‘reader connection’ I don’t mean a collective whole, rather a ‘this could be me or my best friend’ type of significance. But how?

November 1, 2016, I celebrated the release of the final book in my young adult techno-crime thriller trilogy. Activate completed the set, easing tensions from Replicate’s rocket-ride action and loose-ended resolution, whilst bringing full circle the story of Integrate’s Blaine Colton, teenage GMO and survivor of mitochondrial disease (mito).

In creating Blaine, I was inspired by a real life mito hero. But this week I learned a friend had died from one of the types of mito I’d referenced to construct for Blaine a uniquely complex version of the disease. I’d known this friend for years, but our lives had taken different paths. Despite remaining in contact via social media, I’d never realised they had mito. When I heard of their death, I felt … numb. It couldn’t be true! Someone was playing a cruel joke and any moment, as I scoured my friend’s Facebook wall, I’d find it was a mistake and somehow, silly me, I’d misinterpreted the message. Instead, I found words of grief and sympathy. Suddenly Blaine was in my world, only it wasn’t Blaine. It was my friend. And they were dead.

This moment confronted me, forced me to revisit the power of writing authentic characters. It was like my advice was working in reverse, where suddenly I was being drawn into my character’s world through reality.

Mid last year I was privileged enough to be one of 180 poets included in the Veils, Halos & Shackles international poetry anthology, a collection of poems depicting the wounds and struggles of women worldwide, presented as raw, personally impacting experiences. The influence of works such as this makes me increasingly convinced a significant key to connecting deeply with our readers involves a willingness to give voice to our own vulnerabilities. Yet, our modern society doesn’t like the impracticalities of a candid response. ‘How are you?’ is often a rhetorical question, asked while keeping up a brave front.
Was this how I’d missed my friend’s illness?

By writing out of the honest, messy reality of our brokenness, we may not necessarily create characters that are all peaches and sparkles. But maybe, like Blaine turning up in my real world, we can allow readers a place to cry in the ashes with characters that will turn up in their world.

I know other authors have created such a place for me over the years. Perhaps our willingness to become vulnerable as writers will give our readers permission to agonise with our characters, experiencing their challenges, and give room to identify mutual pain. And knowing the hope we’ve found in even the darkest moments, maybe we can also use our vulnerabilities to share comfort and invite them to journey with us along the path to healing.

Queensland author Adele Jones writes young adult and historical novels, poetry and short inspirational, fiction and non-fiction works. Her first YA novel Integrate was awarded the 2013 CALEB Prize for unpublished manuscript. Her writing explores issues of social justice, humanity, faith, natural beauty and meaning in life’s journey, and as a speaker she seeks to present a practical and encouraging message by drawing on these themes. For more visit www.adelejonesauthor.com or contact@adelejonesauthor.com

Read Outside the Box by Nola Passmore

Author:      I’ve just written a groundbreaking novel that’s bound to be a bestseller.

Publisher:  What’s so innovative about it?

Author:      There’s this teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire.

Publisher:  Um … it’s been done before.  You’ve heard of the Twilight series?

Author:      Is that a TV show?

Publisher:  It’s a series of young-adult novels that’s sold millions.

Author:      I don’t read much fiction.  Most of it's not to my taste.  But my novel is different.

Publisher:  How do you know it’s different if you’re not reading in the area?

Author:      Just take a look and you’ll see what I mean.  

                  (Author shoves manuscript under publisher’s nose).

Publisher:  Oh it’s an historical novel?

Author:      No, contemporary.

Publisher:  Then why does the teenage girl sound like someone out of an Austen novel?

Author:      I like Pride and Prejudice and I thought I’d do something similar.

Publisher:  With vampires?

I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that if you’re a writer, you ARE reading in your genre.  If you’re not, you may face the pitfalls of our hapless wannabe-novelist. 

Now I’m going to go out on a bigger limb and suggest that you should also be reading OUTSIDE your genre.  If you have eclectic tastes in literature, that won’t be a problem for you.  However, a lot of us tend to stick within the confines of our preferred style.  We only read murder mysteries or romances or Christian biographies or Amish steampunk.  It’s comfortable in our little genre box.  We know what to expect.  We don’t have to do any unwelcome stretching.  We don’t get lumbered with a book we’re not going to enjoy.  Why try the baklava when you can eat the lamington?

But what if you peeked out of your genre box and sampled a different taste?  There are at least three benefits.

It exposes you to other possibilities.  You may find another genre or sub-genre that you enjoy reading.  You may even try writing in that genre and discover you’re good at it.  I spent eight years struggling with watercolours before stepping out and doing an acrylics workshop.  I had instant success and have even sold one of my paintings.  If I’d never looked beyond by watercolour palette, I wouldn’t have discovered that I’m better suited to acrylics and mixed media.  You could make a similar discovery with your writing.

It helps you to engage with a broader readership and learn what sells.  Do you have a Christian message that you want to get out to a mainstream audience?  How are you going to do that if you don’t know what themes and styles are popular in mainstream literature?  Do you want to write a fantasy novel with universal themes?  How are you going to do that if you’ve never read a novel set in a different kind of world than your own? A popular catchphrase at the moment is ‘join the conversation’.  If you read outside your genre, you’ll be able to participate in more of those conversations. 

It can help improve your writing in your preferred genre.  Here are some of the strengths of different genres that we can apply to our own manuscripts.

• Suspense/thriller – hooks the reader by getting straight into the action; has good pacing that keeps the story moving; ends each chapter with a page-turning sentence or phrase.
• Romance – develops characters we care about; delves into relationships and family issues; offers hope.
• Science fiction/fantasy – stretches the imagination and shows what’s possible; builds a world that supports and enhances the story.
• Literary fiction – uses beautiful language; adds layers to the plot through nuance; explores deeper themes; provokes thought.
• Historical fiction – uses background research to enhance a story; shows how to use setting to create the story world; explores the past through the eyes of the present; experiments with alternative interpretations of history.
• Memoir – shows how to take the main character on a journey; connects with the reader emotionally; explores universal themes.
• Creative non-fiction – shows how to make facts entertaining and accessible.
• Poetry – reduces ideas to their essence; expertly uses language and imagery for maximum impact; allows for expression and exploration of different forms.
• Humour – relieves stress and entertains; provides lighter moments for more serious works; can be used to critique and question systems or ideologies (e.g. through satire).
• Children’s literature – stretches the imagination; shows how visual and textual material work together; helps us to get in touch with our own inner child; explains key concepts simply; explores values.

This list is certainly not exhaustive and many of the strengths cross over into different genres.  Can you think of others?

Set a Goal

You’re more likely to read outside of your genre if you have a specific goal.  You might identity a couple of genres or sub-genres that you would like to try and then set yourself a goal to read a certain number of books in each.  Although you might want to start with something close to your literary home, I’d encourage you to aim a little broader than that – fiction, non-fiction and poetry; contemporary and historical; realist and speculative; Christian and mainstream; bestsellers and award winners; books for adults, young adults and children.

There are also many established reading lists you can use.  For the last two years, I’ve participated in the Popsugar Reading Challenge in which you read books from different categories.  Some are specific (e.g. an espionage thriller), but most of the categories are quite broad (e.g. a book with a red spine), so you have a lot of scope in your selections. I’m part of a Facebook group that discusses books we’re reading and it’s been a great way to learn about different genres and styles. I’ve come across a few duds, but I’ve also discovered many gems I wouldn’t have read otherwise.  If you’d like to try this year’s challenge, you can find the 2017 list here.

Set Boundaries

While it’s good to read widely, it’s also wise to determine the types of books that you’re not going to include.  I don’t read erotica, but I wouldn’t necessarily rule out a book with one or two sex scenes.  It depends how they’re done and their importance to the story.  I don’t read grisly horror or books with strong occult or paranormal themes because I know they affect me negatively.  However, I’m not averse to the odd ghost, werewolf or magical twist. The list will be different for everyone, but you should still be left with dozens of genres and sub-genres that you can happily explore.

Do you read outside your genre?  Has it helped in your writing?  What pearls have you discovered?  I’ll be back later to respond to your comments, but right now I have to check out steampunk titles on Goodreads.  Will I choose Beauty and the Clockwork Beast or stick with a classic like H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine?  Perhaps I’ll read them both.

Nola Passmore is a freelance writer who has had more than 140 short pieces published, including devotionals, true stories, magazine articles, academic papers, poetry and short fiction.  She loves sharing what God has done in her life and encouraging others to do the same.  She and her husband Tim have their own freelance writing and editing business called The Write Flourish.  You can find her writing tips blog at their website:  http://www.thewriteflourish.com.au  

Fish and Bread and the Writer's Life

I was looking at a flyer that had been shoved inside our letterbox—it was for “Angela’s Pizzas”, which I am told, taste scrumptious. My son looked at me.

“Did you see that?”
“See what?”
“They’re Christians.”
“Why do you say that?”
He smiled. ‘Look!” he said.

I looked. I saw. Their logo was the word 'Jesus', cleverly camouflaged. Wow! How had I missed it? It was thrilling to discover a Christian Pizza Business. Even better that they let their Christian presence be known. I thought it was subtle but bold. Refreshing. What has Jesus to do with pizzas? Can we put food and Jesus together? Why not? He often ate with people, didn't He? It brought to mind a well known story.

I've been studying John’s gospel this year with my church family, as we focus on the word GRACE. When I read the story of the feeding of the 5000, I pondered on the little boy who was willing to give up his lunch to feed the masses. Wasn’t he a generous little lad? But you know, no matter how altruistic, he could never have fed all those present. Five loaves and two fishes might have fed two or three people. There was no way they would feed 5000. Unless of course a miracle took place! I think that story is like a multi later cake (with gooey delicious icing) which must sliced and eaten slowly, in order to be appreciated.

It’s not what I can do that will bless others. It’s what God does with it.
It’s not just sharing the little I have. It’s offering it to Jesus every day.

Has God called me to write? I believe He has.
Can He use what I write? Of course.
But how was the bread and fish multiplied? Through prayer and thanksgiving.
Ah! Prayer and thanksgiving. The fuel of our Christian journey.

What are the 'fish' I can offer Him in my writing life, I wonder?
1. My walk with God?
2. My hopes and dreams?

And what are the 5 little barley loaves I can give Jesus?
1. My time
2. My experiences
3. My unique giftings
4. My mind, my hands, my feet, and indeed, all of me
5. My desire to share God’s love with His world

If they are all blessed by Jesus, who knows what will happen?
So here’s my challenge today:
1. Be like the little boy —share with others; my gifts are given for the greater good
2. Be like Andrew—discover what God’s providing me with today
3. Be like the disciples—do exactly as He asks.
4. Be like Jesus—Compassionate, thankful, surrendered, prayerful.

And don't forget ... expect a miracle!

Let nothing be wasted, said Jesus.12 baskets full of food were left over. A blessed reminder of the abundance of God’s kingdom. What did the disciples do with them, I wonder. Feed the hungry? Have it for their own dinner? Take it home to their families?

What do those 12 baskets signify in my writing life?
What could be the overflow of my writing?
1. My own life being transformed as I write
2. Readers discovering God’s love for themselves
3. Readers' lives changed by the Holy Spirit
4. Readers blessed and built up
5. God being glorified.

Father God. Thank you for calling us to be Christian writers. This morning, we offer our all to you. Our hearts, our minds, our giftings, our dreams, our desires. Thank you for blessing us richly through them. Please multiply our efforts and use our writing to reach, teach, bless, inspire, edify and build your kingdom. May all that we do, resound to your glory. In the mighty and precious name of our Creator God, Jesus, the Word. Amen.

What are the unique God moments in your own writing journey? Times when you remembered to follow His lead and when blessings followed? Or moments when you, like that little boy, offered all you had to Jesus only to be surprised and thrilled that God had multiplied it? Instances when like Andrew, you were humble enough to lift others up or bold enough to bring them to Jesus? Times when like the disciples, you didn’t comprehend what was about to happen, but obeyed implicitly and witnessed a miracle?

I’d love to hear your God stories.

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with God and does her mite to help the process along through her writing and her life. The goodness of God is her theme song each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus. Please stop by at her website to say G’day. She’d love to see you there. Dancing in the Rain