A.C.E. Writers

More and more, as I meet with local writers, I get the same story. It always goes something like this…

“Jan, I want to write a book. I’ve got these three chapters done, read them and tell me what you think.”

“Wow, these are great. I sense a lot of emotion here. You had me crying and laughing in the first three pages.” I look up and the person’s mouth is wide open, “You really should finish the book and tell me what happens.”

“You really think I’m good?”

“Yes, I do. I love the story so far. Go ahead and give me more. I want to see the story filter out and happen.” Then I ask the question that sets them on their ear, “Tell me what your story is about?”

Inevitably, the first line out of their mouths is, “It’s about my life.” I’m not making fun of them, and I’m definitely not stringing them along. In most cases, I see plenty of potential for a book that would make people stand up and take notice in those first three chapters. In fact, given most people’s first three chapters, I (or any other prolific fiction writer) could probably turn any book into a masterpiece. What comes after the statement “It’s about my life.” determines the value of the book in the eyes of a publisher.

• “I overcame incredible suffering to become a good person.”
• “I killed a man in Reno, paid my price, and learned from my mistake.”
• “I learned to lean on Jesus as my source and my fountain.”
• “I realized that life is more than survival, you must thrive in your deck of cards.”
• “I struck gold on the Nile and lived happily ever after.”

The point is, there MUST be something after “It’s about my life.” If there is something there, you have a book. If not, many blessings to you, get on with your life and cause something to happen.

It doesn’t have to be BIG, but it has to be more than wearing a different set of clothes the next day and eating a new menu. Nobody cares if you have fish or beef for dinner if it doesn’t effectively make a difference in your world, or theirs.

Did you change the course of the Mississippi River? By all means write a book. If you floated down the Mississippi River and didn’t bump a boat, you probably don’t have much of a story to tell, you’re just another piece of driftwood headed out to sea.

1. In a paragraph (3 sentences) tell me what your book is about.
2. Tell me who your audience is – who will read your book.
3. What is the purpose of your book? What should I take away from it?
4. Who are you writing for? Yourself? Your kids? Your pastor?
5. If I read your book, will it change my life?

As a writer, you have a specific message to reveal to the reader and you should know exactly what the message is, before you send it to a publisher. This isn’t the publisher’s message or my message, but rather your message – your purpose for writing the book.

Some answers to these questions:

1. My book is about how a young mother survives the trials of a marriage where her instinct tells her to run. Evil surrounds her, shrouds her from the light until she discovers the light lives inside of her. She’s got all the protection, all the strength she needs in the form of Jesus Christ, and her faith gives her the power to stop the evil from taking her children away.

2. My audience is young women in abusive relationships looking for an exit, a way out to salvage what’s left of their families, themselves.

3. The purpose of my book is to tell women they CAN achieve freedom, they deserve it and there are people available to help, they simply have to take the first step.

4. I wrote the book for myself, but I believe it’s a statement that other women need to hear, and need to read. (It’s okay to write for yourself, if others need to hear your message.)

5. Reading my book will give you personal definition, a sense of faith and understanding that we are not alone in this life.

Answer the questions and see if your book has a future in publication. You must be able to see a future, before you can present it with a future to the publisher.

Go for it!!! I know you can do it!