Greetings, fellow writers. I’m tackling something deeply important today: three essential questions for writers. These are questions you must answer if you call yourself a writer.

Question One: Why Do You Write?

What is your reason for writing?

Is it for money? Is it for fame? Is it for (or against) someone or some cause? Can you even verbalize the reason why?

The answer keeps you writing when nobody likes what you write. The answer keeps you writing when you’re tired, blocked, and struggling to call yourself a writer at all. The answer keeps you writing when you can’t see a reason to continue.

Figure out that answer. It’s your life preserver.

Question Two: Who is Your Ideal Reader?

Whom are you writing for?

This is more specific than “finding your audience.” Your Ideal Reader is an individual who likes the kind of thing you’re writing.

And yes, the kind of thing you’re writing already exists. It could be fantasy or romance, kid’s lit or adult, tragedy or comedy—whatever it is, it’s out there in some form, and this is good for you. It means there’s a pre-made Ideal Reader on the lookout for more of what they like, and your joy as a writer is to provide it.

When Stephen King gets stuck, when he struggles, he puts himself in the shoes of his Ideal Reader and writes what that reader wants to read. You can do that too; but how do you figure out what your Ideal Reader wants? You read. There’s no shortcut. Read widely, read with your brain engaged, and you’ll figure it out.

Question Three: What’s Next?

What comes after the thing you’re writing now?

Stories are never one and done. A true writer keeps writing, and it’s never too soon to think about the next thing.

Just be sure to take notes. That way, you don’t have to work on remembering those details (and don’t have to freak out when you forget).

Three Questions Every Writer Must Answer

There will be plenty more questions that come your way as you write—whether to self-publish or not, whether to pursue a series or write a series of one-offs, whether to break into other media forms (audio books, graphic novels, etc.). Questions will come at you the rest of your life, but these three questions for writers are critical to your path as a writer.

Leave them unanswered, and you’ll have no defense when the hard times come. Find the answers, and you’ll build armor no inner critic can stab its way through.

Onward, fellow writers! It’s time to put your thinking caps on.

by Ruthanne Reid

Visit us at First Edition Design Publishing

~Christian Regency~

Susan Karsten, author of the recently-released Christian Regency novel, A Match for Melissa, answers some questions about the Christian Regency genre

What can you tell us about the Christian Regency genre?

Regency fiction books are predominantly romances, and since they take place in the early 1800s England, they are all historicals. Adding the descriptor Christian indicates the book includes a faith element in the character(s), and how their Christian faith affects the plot through their faith-based motivations, actions, or decisions.

The Regency historical romance genre became very popular starting in the mid-1900s, with the publishing success of Georgette Heyer. Heyer’s books were meticulously researched and she is highly esteemed as a founding author of the genre. Other authors came along and the genre grew in popularity. When explicitly Christian fiction began to be published, eventually, a few authors created the Christian Regency genre by adding faith to the Regency fun.

How does one do research for an accurate Christian Regency?

Although Regency fiction is always historical to some degree, there is wide variation in how much historical detail is included. Some authors structure their entire story around real historical events or characters, while others merely use the historical setting. Therefore, how much research is needed varies as well. If one wants to write a Regency romance, reading dozens of books in the genre is a great starting point. One becomes familiar with the culture, fashion, language, and conventions of the times. One can also easily find material on the aristocracy, politics, military, agriculture, and religious life of the times. For example, if an author needs to know what kind of horse-drawn conveyance would have been used for a certain purpose, that information can be located fairly easily with the use of the internet. Writers can research whether or not a certain word was even in use by a certain date. I, personally, have dug for these answers, as well as what books, periodicals, and music would have been present in the homes of Regency people.

Why did you choose this genre?

It was an easy choice for me, because I am a big fan of and voracious reader of traditional Regency romances. When I sat down to write my first Christian Regency novel, the words flowed well, and it was a pleasant task for me to create within a medium that has given me such enjoyment over the years.

How did you come up with the story?

When I decided to try my hand at writing a full-length novel, I did a fair amount of story daydreaming. I remember posing to myself the question, “If I write a book, what will my story be?” Soon, I needed to answer, “How will my hero and heroine meet?” And then, “How will I wrap things up?” Tying up all the plot lines was intellectually stimulating, and I hope it was done to my readers’ satisfaction.

~It was to mine J

Lisa

Source: authorculture.blogspot

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