Today I’m privileged to feature my friend, Dave Zimmerman. Dave is longtime editor for Intervarsity Press and a columnist at Burnside Writers Collective. His books include Deliver Us from Me-Ville and the devotional compilation My Heart–Christ’s Home Through the Year.
With the publication of my three books, I’ve had to quite a few radio interviews, mostly on Christian radio. I’ve also done some TV interviews as well, but mainly I do radio, because it enables me to do it from home or office and is a good way to promote the message of my books.
I’m not an expert and I still have a long ways to go as a communicator, but along the way I’ve picked up a few tips. I thought I’d share them with you:
This is the third post in a series of posts on writing and the creative life. The other two posts are: “Between Annoyance and Passivity“; “Between Authenticity and Plastic.”
Today I want to discuss another tension, the one that exists between your unique voice and the hot red pen of the editor. One of the things that is difficult for new writers to understand is that the editor is not your enemy but your friend. I had a good book editor tell me one time, “Dan, you are not Hemingway.” Tough, but great advice. What she was saying is that yes I had talent, but it needed to be polished, just like any other gift. Consider the basketball player who is uncoachable. Can he achieve maximum performance? Or the raw musician who refuses instruction from the maestro. Can he ever get all he wants out of his talent? The answer is always no.
Every writer has a unique voice and style. Bad editors (which are few and far between. I’ve never met one before), hack away and steal the author’s true intent. Good editors seek to carve the rock and bring out the sculpture underneath. I have found my writing sharpened and improved by simply having the willingness to let others into my work. Often my most creative impulses come through after seeing the honest critiques from someone else.
If you hang on to every word and turn of phrase, you will never maximize your God-given gift. I have come to love editors. I realize it’s a unique gift that I don’t have. In fact, for my current book project, I have three people who are going to review every chapter. I gave them one simple instruction: Be Brutal. In other words, I don’t want them giving me smiley stickers and back pats. I want honest critique that will tighten my writing.
Now, does that mean I apply each and every change someone suggests? No. As the author, I reserve the right to say, “thanks but no thanks” to a change. And I do that. If I feel that the word or phrase or section is vital to the overall theme of the project, I leave it in. But not before trying to find another way to say it that is clearer.
Summary: Come to see honest editing of your work as a way of polishing your talent and you will see your writing improve many-fold.
Not long ago I wrote a post on the importance of reading books, even in the 21st Century. I want to follow up on that by sharing why I still prefer paper books to e-books, even in the midst of the e-book revolution. Recently Amazon revealed that e-books for their Kindle reading device now outsell paperback and hardback sales of books. I also have quite a few friends who speak of enjoying their reading experience on their Kindles and iPads. And yet, I’m one person that has resisted the revolution. That’s not to say I’ll never buy a Kindle or some other device. I may. But as of right now, I prefer paper books. Here are a few reasons why:
Tricia Goyer is a multi-published author and speaker. I got to know Tricia when my first book, Teen People of the Bible was released. Her career has really taken off since.
Tricia is the author of 25 books, including historical and contemporary fiction as well as nonfiction. She has published over 300 articles for national publications such as Guideposts for Kids, Focus on the Family, Christian Parenting Today, Today’s Christian Woman and HomeLife Magazine. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from American Christian Fiction Writers, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion Book Award in 2005.
She also speaks and conducts workshops for teens around the nation, and offers programs to assist teens and teen moms. Tricia is a frequent workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Convention, and the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana.
Her latest project is a book with Kristin Andersen, whose compelling story of attempted suicided and God’s grace is told in the book, Life, In Spite of Me.
1) For those who aren’t aware of Tricia Goyer, tell us a bit about your writing journey and how you got started. I know some of it began with Dr. Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God:
I first thought about writing in 1993. A friend from church, Cindy Martinusen told me about her aspirations to become a novelist. My first thought was . . . Real people do that? She invited me to attend Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference with her. I was new as new can be. I was also 22-years-old and pregnant with my third child, but I learned enough at that conference to start off on the right track. For many years I wrote parenting articles, but I really wanted to get a book published. I tried and tried and although it became very close I didn’t get a contract. I was so disappointed. I questioned God … how come I couldn’t get published? After all, my books would glorify Him. It was during that time when I started attending the Experiencing God Bible Study. The key phrase that stuck with me was, “See what God is doing and join Him.” God was doing a lot … just not in the writing realm. So I started following God. I helped start a Crisis Pregnancy Center and mentoring teen moms, and I discovered I loved it. I did a little writing, and a lot of serving. Yet it was amazing what came out of that. I started speaking, and I got a contract for Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Teen Mom. Then, after the center was up and going I got a novel contract! I truly believe that since I was willing to follow God He gave me the desires of my heart.
2) Interestingly, you write across many genres, from books about parenting, to collaborative books with celebrities, to novels. Is there a running theme across your work?
There is a running theme … liberation. In my WWII novels the liberation is real. They are freed from the Nazis. For my parenting books, hopefully my readers will be liberated by what the “perfect” parent looks like. In each book I write I hope the reader puts it down with a new sense of freedom, hope and inspiration.
3) You recently finished a project with my good friend, Kristin Anderson, whose life story is so compelling. How did you and Kristin find each other?
God has his hand in that! I was at a publisher’s brunch when I sat down next to a woman named Margaret McSweeney. We were introducing ourselves and I was telling her about my writing, and she turned to me, eyes wide: “I feel the Holy Spirit tapping my shoulder. I think you’re supposed to write a book about a young woman named Kristen Anderson.” I’d never heard of Kristen at that time, but Margaret soon introduced us. As soon as I heard Kristen’s story I knew I wanted to write it.
4) You seem to have a special place in your heart for teens, especially young teen mothers. How did God birth this in your heart?
This was birthed in my heart because I was a teen mom. I had my oldest son Cory when I was 17. Women from my mom’s church gathered around me and showed me love. Because of their love I rededicated my life to Christ. I want to offer the same type of hope and love to teen moms.
5) If you could give one piece of advice to someone who feels the call to write for God, what would that be?
Attend a writer’s conference. God will connect you will the most amazing people and you’ll also get the tools to write well. After all, if we’re going to write for God we need to do it to the best of our ability!
In 2005-2006, I had the privilege of volunteering to help a congressional candidate, Dave McSweeney, run for Congress here in Illinois’ 8th district. What emerged from that race was more than a campaign. I became great friends with both Dave and his wife, Margaret. And today I have the privilege of interviewing Margaret McSweeney. Margaret has a heart of compassion and a gift for connecting people. In fact, she was the one who encouraged me to send my first manuscript to her friend, Andrea Mullins, from New Hope Publishers.
Margaret is an accomplished author and speaker. She has written A Mother’s Heart Knows , Go Back and Be Happy, and is the editor of The Pearl Girls Book She writes for a variety of newspapers and publications and has interviewed notables such as Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Kinkade.
Margaret is the founder and director of an organization called Pearl Girls. Pearl Girls is a remarkable effort that brings together well-known woman from across the country to share their stories and raise money for charities. Margaret serves with several charitable organizations and sits on the board of WINGS, which provides hope to victims of domestic violence.
Margaret is also the host of an Internet Radio Show called Kitchen Chat, where she interviews well-known authors, writers, and celebrities. Margaret and her husband Dave live in the Chicago area with their two daughters.
It is my privilege to interview one of the top literary agents in the country. Chip MacGregor is more than just a literary agent, he’s a consummate ”book guy” enjoying a successful career in all phases of publishing, from writing, editing, collaborating, publishing, and representing. Chip has discovered, collaborated with, and coached some of the most well-known authors, including Kay Arthur, Dr. David Jeremiah, Joe Stowell, Andy Andrews, and many others. Chip’s authors have spent numerous weeks on The New York Times best-seller lists, perhaps his most famous was Let’s Roll, the moving memoir by Todd Beamer’s widow, Lisa. Chip has also authored twelve books, including two bestsellers.
Chip is a favorite at writer’s conferences all over the country. He is a legend in the Christian publishing industry, known for his candor, knowledge of the industry, and passion for good writing. Personally, I have heard Chip speak on numerous occasions and have known him personally. He’s always a good and honest source of advice and is fiercely loyal to his clients. He’s also got one of the wicked senses of humor around. His blog, chipmacgregor.com is a rich source of information about the publishing industry, one that every serious writer should immediately bookmark.
1) Chip, a lot of people are talking about the future of books versus the digital technology (iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader). What is your perspective on where this is going?
History has taught us that as new technologies are developed, the culture adapts to them. We used to walk across the room to change TV channels. We used to stop and find a pay phone to call home. We used to re-type each page of a manuscript that had error. But we’ve adapted our lives to adjust to remote controls, cel phones, and PC’s. (And, of course, the advent of TV’s, telephones, and typewriters were cutting-edge technologies in their own days — each requiring adaptation from radios, telegraphs, and handwritten notes, respectively.) Right now we’re moving from printed materials to digital materials, and that’s creating a lot of change for people. My son will read a book on his cel phone — that’s about all anyone needs to know regarding the future of digital technology. All those extant great books and words? They’re all out there, ready to be interpreted through a new medium.
In 2005, I had this crazy idea for a devotional book for teens, based on the lives of teens in the Bible. I was an unknown writer, with only a very short list of published articles. At the time, I was volunteering to help my good friend Margaret McSweeney and her husband David, with their congressional campaign. Margaret is a writer herself. And while we were standing in line at a parade, she asked me if I had sent a proposal to Andrea Mullins of New Hope Publishers. I didn’t know Andrea and I didn’t know New Hope. Well, six months later, I had a voice message on my cell from Andrea. She was interested in my book. After I picked myself up off the floor, I called her and since that time, New Hope has been my publisher. I’ll be forever grateful for her taking a chance on me and helping to develop my writing talent.
I have found Andrea to be a wonderful friend, someone who is deeply passionate about sharing the gospel around the world. Andrea is the publisher/director of New Hope Publishers and the President of Worldcrafts. She is the author of several books herself and has a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Transformational Leadership from Bakke University. Andrea is a sought after speaker for women’s ministry events.
