Have Passion for What You Write: Author T.K. Chapin

My interview today is with a prolific author who writes Christian Romance stories designed to inspire and tug on your heart strings. He believes that telling stories of faith, love and family help build the faith of Christians and help non-believers see how God can work in the life of believers. Read on to learn how his writing career began and prospers.

Most guys gravitate to writing action adventure or fantasy writing. What drew you to writing romance?

When I started writing fiction, I tried a little bit of a few different genres -- fantasy, science fiction and then ultimately Christian romance.  Out of the three genres I tried, I saw the most success in romance and so I went for it. Initially the draw was romance sold books. Ultimately though I realized it was the infusion of faith and God into the stories that drives the sales and is the real draw to why I write what I write today.

 

What made you decide to write that first novel?

I am an entrepreneur at heart, and I saw an opportunity to cut the ties from my 9-5 if I were able to write and sell stories for a living. What started as just a way to make money and not had a job eventually led me to writing stories that put Jesus Christ at the center and showing how people can overcome anything when they’re in relationship with their Creator.

 

Are you active with any writing critique groups?

No. What I did for critiques was use beta readers and read the bad reviews on early titles to get ideas on how to improve. I also have a developmental editor that helps critique my stories.

 

What made you decide to indie-publish?

I was seeking a way to replace my income from a job more than anything else. As the years go on, I do think from time to time about possibly seeking a traditional publisher for a story, but I haven’t decided to launch into that.

 

Did you first seek out a traditional publisher?

Nope. I do have one title that is technically traditionally published. It’s entitled, “If Only” and it’s published by an Amazon imprint.

 

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part of writing is probably just sitting down to write. I have two boys who are 7 and 8 and a 12-year-old girl. They take a lot of time to parent efficiently and to invest in. I also have an amazing wife who I love to spend time with. All four draw on that time to write.

 

As for difficulties when it comes to the actual mechanics of writing I would say it varies from book to book. If the story isn’t what God wants me to write, I struggle with everything and inevitably have to ditch it entirely. I just did that this past July. I had rewritten it multiple times and it just was not working. Ultimately, it wasn’t going to be a good story and wasn’t going to be one that honored God.

 

What does your editor remind you to do most often?

I have two editors. A developmental and a line editor. My developmental editor reminds me that I’m writing romance. Working in more romance is something that comes up more frequently than anything else. As for my line editor, she doesn’t tell me much of anything. She just does the line edit.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

The emails from readers. They seem to hit the inbox at just the right time. Writing is a lonely job at times and when someone drops a line from across the globe just to share with me the fact a story touched their life it means a lot. God’s using these stories and that’s the best feeling in the world to know.

 

We have all experienced rejection. How you learned to write past it?

Early on, and even still today, I’ll get those fun one-star reviews that can sting a little. These rejections are minor, but they are the only rejections I have dealt with for the most part. I think it’s because I don’t get out much! Haha.

 

Anyways, some of the one-star reviews are constructive criticism that helps me as a writer. Others, like a recent one I got, are just a reminder I’m doing things right. The recent one-star I read mentioned how forgiveness in the real world doesn’t happen immediately. While this is true in the real world, in a Biblical sense, it’s exactly how it happens. Forgiveness isn’t about being okay with what the person did, it’s not even about trusting or allowing that person in your life. It’s about releasing that individual from payment of that debt. Not because they deserve it, but because God has forgiven us of so much. I won’t go on about forgiveness, but the point is, keeping things in perspective is important in my ability to keep writing.

 

The reality is it doesn’t matter if someone doesn’t like a book I wrote. They could have a heart problem, or they could not like the style of my writing, or something else! Whatever it is, it doesn’t really matter. I write for God and I desire to please Him with the work I do while spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. One-star reviews happen, and I keep writing.

 

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing?

What surprised me the most was with enough practice, it gets easier. When I was first starting out writing novels it was a complicated mess! I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster that both excited me and terrified me at the same time. Trying to remember all of these writing rules about tension, pace, beats, early in and early exit, and the list goes on! Now that I’ve written over 50 titles, I don’t feel as overwhelmed in the writing.

 

What frustrates you the most?

Consistency when it comes to income is a little frustrating.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?

I would’ve appreciated knowing early about how important it is to just write the first draft. I spent way too much time rewriting entire chapters without finishing stories. It was a dumb cycle that could’ve been avoided.

 

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

Exact same answer as previous.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?

I would recommend to anyone wanting to write to be sure you’re writing what you’re passionate about and nothing less. If you care about what you’re doing, you’ll go far. Your passion is what gets you through the back-to-back 14-hour edit days and keeps you pushing through on weekends and holidays.

 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

The next book set to come out is One Trusting Heart. It’s a story that starts out with Ashley, a divorcee, who is relocating from Los Angeles to Lincoln City, Oregon. She’s tired of the fast-paced city life and wants to take it easy for a while. A storm moves into the area and the beach house she is staying in is damaged. This sets Ashley on a path to rediscovering her faith in God and ultimately falling in love unexpectedly.

 

That’s all for today’s interview. Hope this interview encourages you to reach out and try a new author. And to make it easier for you, he’s offering you a free book. rthe link to get it. https://offer.tkchapin.com/

 

Website: www.tkchapin.com

Believing in your Writing: Author Interview with Anne Lovett

What made you decide to write your first novel? Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?
I've always wanted to write a novel. In fifth grade, I wrote plays for my Girl Scout troop and scribbled stories on notebook paper. I wrote a humor column for my high school paper. I competed in essay contests and did well. But coming from a small town, I had no idea how to become a novelist.I had no role models, and there weren't any creative writing programs. English classes seemed tedious. 

To make a long story short, I wound up doing something else until my kids were in school and I had learned a little about how the writing world worked. I signed up for evening classes, bought a computer, and never looked back.

How long did it take you to write your first book? Tell me about your writing process.
I never finished my first book. It was part of my learning process. I wrote a second and got a lukewarm response from friends. I put it aside and wrote a third, which turned out to be Rubies from Burma. I felt it was pretty good and others did, too. I began to send it out and it got rejected. I decided I needed some credentials and wrote some short stories, essays, and book reviews, which were published. I rewrote my novel and sent it out again. It got rejected. 

I kept learning how to write and kept revising. I hired an editor to go through the book, took her advice, and still got rejected. I wrote more novels. One of the funny ones came close to being accepted. I went to conferences and joined writer's associations. 

I kept rewriting Rubies until I was sure there was nothing left to be done, because I believed in it. Along the way I was encouraged by my writing friends and by teachers in my classes. I ended up in a critique group with two of my teachers who liked my work. 

How did you decide on working with Words of Passion to publish your two books?
I met Nanette Littlestone when I was a member of Georgia Writers, and knew she did good work. She edits two writers I know. Words of Passion can streamline the whole process of self-publishing, including editing, layout, finding a cover designer, and arranging for printing, as well as e-book conversion. She can also help those who have a story to tell and don't know where to start.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog?

Tension, etc?
As a slightly right-brained person, the hardest part of writing for me is story structure. I like to write by the seat of my pants, but you have to revise a lot that way. Some outlining is necessary so you don't write yourself into corners. I can listen to my characters talk and write dialog all day. You have to remind me to put in some action!

What does your editor remind you to do most often?
She tells me where I need more emotions and thoughts, and occasionally that I need to add a scene. I'm a pretty spare writer--I try not to put in any more words than are necessary. This leads to not telling enough to understand characters' motivations sometimes. That being said, I like to make sure my sentences sound good to the ear, lyrical. If that means going against the Chicago Manual of Style, so be it. She lets me get away with it most of the time.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Lately, it was the great Kirkus review I had! Before that, the remarks from a judge in the Pacific Northwest Writers Competition, in which Rubies finaled. She (or he) was sure it would be published. I have to mention Rosemary Daniell and her Zona Rosa group. Rosemary teaches you to believe in yourself and your writing.

We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
I've learned to let it roll off my back and not take it personally. Here's one example. An agent showed interest in the book I'm working on now, but she felt it was too long. She offered to take a look at the whole manuscript if I'd cut it down. I did, and it was a huge job. When I queried again with the revised manuscript and a reminder that the agent had asked to see it, a junior agent politely replied that Ms. Agent was too busy. 

In the meantime, a couple of beta readers asked questions that would have been answered by parts I cut. and nobody liked the shortened ending. I decided to restore the whole book, and if I can't interest an agent, I'll publish it myself, in volumes.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? What frustrated you the most?
Surprising and frustrating--the things that supposedly make you "marketable" as an author. When I first began to go to writers' meetings, a Regency romance writer told me, "They won't ever admit this, but to publishers, looks count. That's why I don't give them my picture." A wonderful writer and multi-published, she was overweight and no longer young. I learned that if you're older, the best field is mystery, because Agatha Christie has paved the road. Literary fiction? The younger you start, the better. And get that MFA.

Indie publishing tends to level the playing field--if your book is good, you can be any age or have any education, ethnicity or looks. That being said, it's the day of Facebook. Get the glamour shot, but if that's not your thing, then invent a "persona" for yourself, whether it involves cowboy boots, a cape, a hat, pink hair, or a tartan. Oh, yes, make connections. Connections help you get in the door, but beware of the casting couch.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?
I was trying to write literary fiction before I knew the first thing about structure. I wish I'd taken that screenwriting class first! You can deviate all you like if you know the bones.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
1. Don't let other people discourage you. 
2. Have faith in your talent. 
3. Sometimes life says "no" to writing. Roll with the punches and come back.
Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?
When you get stuck, read a new writing book. Never stop learning. I've recently discovered Steven Pressfield. 

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short

synopsis?
My next book will be my long one. Set in 1920s middle Georgia, it's the story of two young women--one rich, one poor--whose lives collide because of one man's pursuit of wealth and revenge. The girls pursue their own dreams despite the odds stacked against them in a changing society which is trying to keep women "in their place."

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Anne's writing and buy her books, here are some links to get you started.

Website: www.annelovett.com
Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/annelovettwrites