writing

What Makes a Good Book?

Published on by Kristi Holl

We  writers all want to know what editors REALLY think about our submissions. Especially with rejections, we wish we could know what is wrong with the story.

If you want some terrific insights into this question, I’d recommend Second Sight by Cheryl B. Klein. (The full title tells it all: Second Sight: an Editor’s Talks on Writing, Revising & Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults.) It’s a collection of speeches given to writers, plus a few blog posts from her website.

Defining Good Writing

One chapter that might give you a clue about your rejections was on defining good writing. Klein wrote about five qualities she thinks about a lot when considering whether she wants to acquire a manuscript:

  1. Good prose: the quality of the writing. Smooth? Clean? Lyrical? Good pacing?
  2. Character richness: interesting people with dimension. Do they grow and change? Do I care about them?
  3. Plot construction: things must happen. Logical? Unpredictable? What’s at stake?
  4. Thematic depth: the story says something about the world.
  5. Emotion: being caught up in the emotions felt by the main character (and those emotions may vary widely)

What About You?

Cheryl Klein says to be “a literary success, a finished book has to be really strong in at least four of those categories,” most importantly (to her) #2 and #5.

How about you? When you read a good book, what is most important to you? What is the one (or maybe two) qualities it must have for you to pass the book along to your best friend as a “must-read”? [For me, it’s character richness. I don’t care how great the writing or the plot is until the author has made me care about the character.]

Authors with Learning Disabilities

Published on by Kristi Holl

Did you know that many famous authors–including such popular children’s writers as Avi–have learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD?

Many of these authors had trouble in school–including failing or dropping out. Many of them were distracted and often in trouble for it. Lots of them couldn’t spell.

Inspirational Overcomers

If you’ve ever struggled with a learning disability of some kind–yet your deepest desire is to write and be published–you’ll take heart at this list of 25 famous authors with learning disabilities. Their brief stories will inspire you (for yourself or someone you love.)

I can’t personally write about the struggles of having a learning disability while trying to write, but if any of you can, please leave a comment for other “overcomers.”

What have been your challenges? Any solutions yet?

For the Love of Words

Published on by Kristi Holl

I’m always shocked when people tell me, “I don’t like to read.” And I used to be stunned when wannabe writers told me that.

What poverty! I can’t imagine what life would be like if I didn’t love words.

For So Many Reasons

How do I love words? Let me count the ways:

  • When I’m happy or want a reward for a job well done, I pick up a good book and read for pleasure.
  • If I want to know something—from how to be a better grandma to planning a trip to England—I read to learn.
  • If I have a personal problem, I look to books where people have shared their struggles and ideas for overcoming.
  • If I’m hurt or afraid, I turn to my journal to sort myself out and talk to God about things. By the time I’m all written out, I feel much better and often I’ve arrived at a solution to my problem.
  • And I get to make a living by staying home and making up stories.

What wonderful gifts, to love to read and to love to write. Today, instead of focusing on the frustrations of revision or marketing my work, I’m just grateful for the God-given desire I have for words.

What does reading (or writing) mean to YOU?