Posts Categorized: Freelance

Returning from a Writer’s Conference

Posted by Christi McGuire

You’ve just returned home from your first Writers’ Conference. What. A. Trip! It was everything you hoped and nothing like you planned. Perhaps it exceeded your expectations, perhaps you experienced some disappointments — either way, your mind has been going a million miles an hour, your face hurts from smiling, and no matter how much of an extrovert you usually are, you’re ready to crawl in bed and stay there for a week.

Like coming home after summer camp when you were a kid, the days following a conference are naturally going to feel pretty dreary. You are likely exhausted both emotionally and physically. You already miss your new writer friends who totally “get” you like no one else does! Here’s a few things to keep in mind as you ease back into your regular routine:

Allow for some down time. Plan for a down day or two to unpack and regroup. Sleep, eat well, and rejuvenate your body.

Take the time to say thank you. Go through your notes and the business cards you collected and follow up! If any agents or editors requested additional material, send it to them asap. Or simply write a short thank-you note letting them know you appreciate the time they spent with you.

Network, network, network! Log in to your social media accounts and follow all the people you connected with — build your platform and network! This will be invaluable to you later on.

Create an action plan. Go through your notes and conference materials, and create an action plan or to-do list of the things you want to do, complete, and accomplish. Then give yourself some deadlines to stay on track.

Pace yourself! Ease back into “real life,” and remember, you don’t have to catch up on everything you missed all at once.

But you can start planning for the next conference you’d like to attend, now that you are an experienced conferee!

 

My next conference will be PENCON, the only conference in the Christian industry for freelance editors. Register at https://penconeditors.com/register/. I hope to see you there!

Featured Editor

Posted by Christi McGuire

The thing I love best about working in the Christian publishing industry is the camaraderie among colleagues. Technically, we are all competitors, fighting for the same clients, the same jobs. But it is a cooperative competition—we all help one another out. Because, in the end, we all have the same boss—God. So when a colleague succeeds, we all cheer (even if that means we missed out on an editing gig). So because of this cooperative competition, we boost one another and encourage each other. Many thanks to Karin Berry of Write Now Editing for featuring me on her blog.

Enjoy some tips and inside scope of my interview here.

Through Whose Point of View Are You Seeing Life?

Posted by Christi McGuire

Perspective1

One of the most common issues I encounter in editing fiction is maintaining a consistent point of view. It is tempting for authors to want to include readers in every interesting thought and perspective that is happening with each character.

The author may want the reader to know the angst that is gripping Julie while at the same time feeling the fury of Julie’s boss. The problem is, although authors have an image in their head and carry the emotions that all the characters feel, authors cannot magically transmit every detail of the scene into their readers’ minds. Instead, the author must use words to communicate ideas, feelings, and actions. Readers then have to receive those words, interpret them, and form their own image.

This is a process. And unfortunately, processes take time. If authors try to take their readers inside the head of every character, they will never leave enough time for this process to mature. Readers will not form any deep connections with the characters, and this will ultimately lose any grip the story had on them.

It’s one thing for readers to know that Jane is grieving, that Bob is angry, or that Sally is confused, but a completely different thing for readers to be overcome with Jane’s grief, to burn with Bob’s rage, or to experience the anxiousness of Sally’s confusion. If you successfully connect with your reader’s emotions, when they put the book down, they will carry that emotion with them. This experience is what makes a reader say, “I couldn’t put it down!”

In much the same way, point of view affects the way we experience life. You may turn on the news in the morning and see the world as a sensational and tragic place to exist. At work, you may percieve the world as a task driven arena where success depends upon whether your lazy co-workers decide to “show-up” that day, and blame depends on who happens to be where at the wrong time. Evenings might consist of television shows where the norm is broken families, jokes at others’ expense, rebellion glorified, and scandal glamorized. Perhaps you will wrap up your day with a chapter from the Bible or a favorite devotional book to help keep your life on the track you know you should be taking. And you might even end your night with another desperate prayer for forgiveness and a begging cry for help.

Trying to see your life clearly while wading through so much chaos can leave a person drained, confused, and powerless. It is no wonder that so many people wonder if there even is a God. This kind of living is similar to the experience of reading a book full of head-hopping. Just like being told Sally is confused doesn’t make you feel confused, being told God loves you and has a plan for your life doesn’t make you feel God’s love or destiny.

So what is the solution? Choose one point of view. Through whose eyes will your story be told? The more time you spend with God, the more you get away from your traditions and into the truth of His Word, the more you will experience life through His point of view. Soon you will be seeing every moment of your life through His eyes.

What does that look like? What does God see when He sees you? Forgiven. Beloved. Holy. Possessing His inheritance. Full of power. Righteous. Accepted. Bold. Courageous. Fearless. This is your life through His eyes. Is it hard to believe? Is it hard to feel? Then let me suggest you let go of the head hopping. Eliminate those views that conflict with His, and spend your time in His head. Receive of His free gifts through grace, and then share what you see with the world.

Pleasant penning,

Rachel Newman

Rachel-Newman-headshotRachel E. Newman is a freelance editor and indexer, and a certified paralegal.

Join me May 1–2, 2015 in Austin, Texas at PENCON 2015, the only convention for Christian editors. Learn how to enter the editing field or enhance an already established business. Network with other editors, and meet with the speakers one-on-one. Visit: http://thechristianpen.com/convention-2/. For a 10% discount, use code MCGUIRE10.

Keys to Successful Freelance Editing Convention

Posted by Christi McGuire

Have you ever found something “accidentally” and later realized what a great impact it’s had?

That’s how I feel about The Christian PEN. I joined this network of Christian editors about two years ago. I’m not even sure how I found it—I wasn’t looking for it intentionally. I joined and even registered to take one of the many online classes offered by founder and director Kathy Ide. During that class I learned valuable lessons on establishing a freelance business, and I was able to connect with other Christian editors.

Last spring, when I attended Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Kathy was one of the faculty members. I wanted to introduce myself as one of the students who had taken her class. Maybe she would recognize my name from the homework assignments? I was nervous! It was like meeting a celebrity in the world of editing!

Kathy and I were able to chat several times during the conference. She is a delight! Not only is she my idol as an editor, but she also happens to be one of the most gracious, encouraging, professional, and wonderful people I’ve ever met!

This spring I get to see Kathy again and all the members of The Christian PEN, and I can’t wait! Ten years ago, God gave Kathy a vision of a network for Christian freelance editors. Now with over 600 members, The Christian PEN is celebrating its 10th anniversary and holding its first convention, “Keys to Successful Freelance Editing.”PEN

From April 23-25, 2014, freelance editors from throughout the United States will be gathering at Richfield Community Church in Yorba Linda, California, to listen to established editors share information about editing and learn how to improve their businesses. The speakers will include Kathy Ide, Cecil Murphey, Jeanne Leach, and Alycia Morales (and even yours truly).

For $100, editors can enjoy a Wednesday evening meet-and-greet, a full-day speaking event on Thursday, followed by dinner on Thursday night, and a final meeting Friday morning. Friday afternoon, Family Christian Bookstore in Santa Ana will host a book signing that will include Christian PEN authors as well as authors from the Orange County Christian Writers’ Conference.

Are you a writer who edits or an editor who writes? Stay for the OC Writers’ Conference immediately after The Christian PEN’s convention, April 25-26.

I will be attending both conferences. I hope to see you there!

Click to Tweet: The Christian PEN is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Join founder @KathyIde in CA this April for festivities: http://ctt.ec/eCHn2+

Visit the PEN website for more details and to register: The Christian PEN.

Visit the OC Christian Writers’ Conference for more
details and to register: OCCWC.

*  *  *  *  *

Like my Facebook page for more grammar tips, writing tips, trivia facts,
and current news in the publishing industry!

From Strangers to Friends to San Jose

Posted by Christi McGuire

friends forever

There are no strangers; only friends you haven’t yet met.
~ William Butler Yeats

 

Do you know the way to San Jose? I’m hopping on a plane this week to find my way there! I’ve never been to California before, but I’m going to visit a stranger.

A stranger turned into a friend!

William Butler Yeats was right! A year ago Adelle Gabrielson, fellow writer, boy-mom, and lover of shoes, was a total stranger. But in a few days we’re going to meet face-to-face for the first time and attend the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference together.

Two writers on the opposite sides of the country meet online, become friends, and are going to have a “Thelma and Louise” type of weekend. Well, with a better ending, of course!

Isn’t God crazy?

It amazes me, this social media stuff. Reluctantly, I entered into the blogging world almost two years ago. What’s the point? I thought. I just don’t get it.

Good thing God gets it.

God has allowed me to meet awesome people all over the world. Fellow believers and bloggers I’ve met and chatted with over coffee, worked with on publishing projects, met for play dates at the park, comforted over the phone, and rejoiced with them over good news. In return, they have taught me, inspired me, encouraged me, and supported me.

All because of blogging. That is crazy to me!

The Internet has allowed strangers to become friends with a click of the mouse.

And it has spurred on a friendship that includes a long plane flight and two nervous first-timers at a conference in the Santa Cruz mountains. Eeek! If you hear a “boom-bada-boom” don’t worry … it’s just my racing heartbeat as I step on the plane to San Jose. It’s just my breathing into a paper bag as I meet new friends and launch into a new phase of being a writer.

The Mount Hermon Writer’s Conference is one of the premier conferences for Christian writers. As writers we’ll be challenged, taught, inspired, encouraged by fellow writers, editors, agents, and professionals in the publishing biz. I’m excited, nervous, scared, and anxious!

But I get to experirence it all with a friend. Because months ago, God used blogs and Facebook to bring two strangers together as friends. Thank you, God! And thank you, Adelle!

I’ll update on Twitter and Facebook about the conference and our adventures in the  S anta Cruz mountains!

I hope the song is true: “I’ve got lots of friends in San Jose … Do you know the way to San Jose?
Can’t wait to get back to San Jose.”

 

Join me on Facebook and Twitter!

 

©2011- 2013 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Credit

A Sneaky Writing Tip to Trick Your Brain

Posted by Christi McGuire

If you’re a writer, most likely you’ve been working on a manuscript of some sort. Fiction, non-fiction, short story, or a magazine article—your ideas have been percolating in your brain and swirling around on paper for a while.

Sometimes a looong while.

You are sick of opening that document with the same title. The same unpublished title of the same unfinished, unpublished book.

The solution? Trick your brain! This tip sounds corny (well, it is!) but it helps to trick your brain and put a smile on your face each time you open that document to work on your manuscript … again.

One of my clients and good friends taught me this trick: rename your document with something goofy, silly, funny—anything but the real title of your manuscript.

For example, my above-mentioned client and friend has worked on a manuscript for many years. She got sick and tired (and tired and sick) of seeing the same title. So she changed it to “Scooby Doo.” Every time she saw the document in her folder, she smiled. Even giggled. It was enough to get her brain rejuvenated and inspire more creativity.

Seeing the title of your book in the document name yet again can be discouraging and set off your writing time with negative thoughts. Instead, bring humor to it. My client’s document soon became Scooby Doo 1, Scooby Doo 2, and so on.

Silly? Maybe. Easy? Definitely!

Bring a smile to your face each time you open that document!

I renamed my book manuscript “Tinkerbell” because it reminds me my youngest daughter flitting around with her wings, wand, and slippers. Always brings a smile to my face!

What are some crazy title names you can create for your manuscript?

Join me on Facebook and Twitter!

©2011- 2012 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

 You Might Need an Editor If …

Posted by Christi McGuire

Trying to get published without the help of experts in the publishing industry is like trying to sell your house without a realtor. Can it be done? Sure. But will you face more obstacles along the way without guidance of someone who knows the market? Yes. Are there tips and tricks and industry pointers that experts know that you don’t? You betcha. Is the paperwork more daunting? Yep. Would you be taken more seriously and find better success if you hired a professional?

Definitely.

The same is true in the world of publishing. Professional editors and consultants know what the “biz” is all about—and they can help you navigate your way to success.

If you are seeking publication, you might want to consult an editor if …

    • You don’t understand what the term “industry standard” is. You didn’t realize publishing was an industry, nor do you know what its standards are.
    • You believe having your mom proofread your manuscript is good enough.
    • You think Chicago Manual of Style refers to the local fashion talk show.
    • You write “This book is going to be the next Harry Potter!” in your query letter or try to convince the literary agent that you will be the next J.K. Rowling.
    • You do not research or request writer guidelines before submitting a query letter.
    • You don’t know what writer guidelines, query letter, or proposal mean.
    • You tell the literary agent that you were “born to write” or that you are positive that “God wants you to tell this story.”
    • You pitch your ideas (not a specific manuscript) to a literary agent.
    • You pitch many book manuscripts to a literary agent (not just one).
    • Your query is addressed to “Dear Agent” or “Dear Ma’am or Sir” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
    • You write the word “very” 587 times in the first 50 pages of your manuscript.
    • You blind copy your email query to several agents.
    • You have written a first draft and have not rewritten, edited, rewritten, edited, deleted, started over, written, rewritten, edited … you get the drift, right?
    • You query an agent with a genre he/she doesn’t represent.
    • You don’t know how to format your manuscript according to industry-standard format (there’s that term again!).
    • Your only publishing credit is having your poem in 5th grade published in Mrs. Smith’s monthly newsletter.
    • You are not sure about the difference between single spacing and double spacing.
    • You love to use italics, all caps, and bold font—ALL THE TIME!
    • You write in your query that Kate Hudson or Ryan Reynolds could star in your novel-based movie script.
    • You capitalize a, an, the in your book title (and they are not the first words).
    • You lowercase the word Internet.
    • You’ve never heard of an em dash or en dash but think they might be Olympic sports.
    • You don’t know what a word count is or how to do it—but you are hoping every word does indeed count.
    • Your proposal is in Comic Sans font because it’s your favorite font—it is cute, after all!

If you are passionate enough to put your heart and soul into a manuscript to submit for publication, then take the time to consult a professional to help you along the way. The publishing industry is competitive! The Christian publishing industry is rapidly growing and becoming just as competitive as the secular industry. Agents and publishers want to know why your manuscript is different from others, how you can assure success as an author, and how you can guarantee sales.

Bottom line: the publishing industry is a business. A business’ goal is to make money. If your manuscript looks unprofessional, is filled with grammar mistakes, and has not been submitted according to industry standard, you will not stand out among the thousands of others wanting to get published, too.

Seek professional expertise—an editor is worth the investment in your publishing career!

Photo Source (cc)

Join me on Facebook and Twitter!

©2011- 2012 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

Grammar and Your Reputation

Posted by Christi McGuire

Who cares about grammar?

If I don’t notice mistakes, no one else will either.

Grammar has nothing to do with my business.

I don’t have time or money to hire an editor.

I know what I’m doing.

Grammar? Who cares about that?

ANY CHARACTER HERE

These are all comments I’ve heard from people about grammar. Does grammar matter? Does it affect your business, sales, product, service, or platform?

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Absolutely.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Look at the example below. Do you see the glaring mistake?

ANY CHARACTER HERE

ANY CHARACTER HERE

(Please note that this is not a post about pro-life vs. pro-choice. This is merely the example I’m using. If you are interested in reading my personal opinion on this matter, please click here.)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

This photo has been passed around on Facebook. The originator of this photo obviously feels passionate. But how is he or she portrayed based on this one sentence? The use of “your” is incorrect. “Your” is possessive (example: your shoe). “You’re” should have been used, which means “you are.” This person’s conviction becomes discredited when a grammar mistake is present. Not many will listen to or be swayed to agree with his or her views. A simple grammar mistake can … pardon my frankness … make you look like an idiot!

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Grammar absolutely affects how people look at you and whether you are effective and successful at what you do. It affects your …

    • Business
    • Website
    • Sales
    • Products
    • Service
    • Platform
    • Debate
    • Argument
    • Case
ANY CHARACTER HERE

Do you get the idea? Whenever you speak or write, how you do so matters—a lot! I’ve worked with many businesses who have asked me to review their websites and business material. What did I find? Mistakes, mistakes, and many more mistakes. All of these companies did not think that their sales, whether products or services, were affected by grammar. However, their reputations are on the line with each customer interaction. Every time a customer views a business’ website, flyer, mailer, advertisement, pamphlet, booklet, contract, or brochure, the company can either look competent and professional, or it can look incompetent and ignorant—all based on grammar.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Take the time to learn proper grammar, punctuation, word choice, and style. However, if you know you’re not an expert on these matters, then hire someone who is. There are many things I know nothing about—cars, plumbing, electronics. So I either learn about them or hire an expert who knows to get the job done correctly.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

If you want to learn a little more about grammar, check out these previous posts:

ANY CHARACTER HERE

The next time you put out a post, newsletter, website, blog, advertisement—anything!—check for proper grammar. It can affect your reputation more than you think.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Share with us—what is the funniest grammar mistake
you’ve ever noticed?

Spiritual Style

Posted by Christi McGuire

*Style guides have been updated since this post was published. Be sure to read the updated post here.

I’ve been in Christian publishing for over 10 years, first as an editor at LifeWay Christian Resources, and now as a freelance contributor. In addition to stylebooks, such as the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, those who work in Christian publishing have additional style guides for religious terms. For example, how do you know whether to capitalize “godly” since it refers to God? Is “Bible” always capitalized? One of the best resources is “The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style” by Robert Hudson (Zondervan, 2004). However, each publishing house will have its own style guide, as well. LifeWay may style curriculum and resources differently than Zondervan or Thomas Nelson. But most of them agree on the following styles below.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Whether you are a writer, editor, or you merely refer to religious and spiritual terms as a Christian, these following tips can serve as a helpful guide.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Capitalize Words That Refer to God

Examples: Lord, Almighty, Baby Jesus, Christ, Comforter, Counselor, Creator, Father, Godhead, Judge, King, Providence, Redeemer, Savior, Servant, Son, Sovereign, Trinity

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Lowercase General References to Jesus

Examples: friend, person, baby, child, boy, and man (Jesus is my friend.)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Capitalize Adjectives That Are Part of God’s Name

Examples: Almighty God, Anointed One, Divine Savior, Good Shepherd, Great Physician, Heavenly Father, High Priest, Holy Father, Holy Spirit, Promised One, Sovereign Lord, Suffering Savior, Suffering Servant, Supreme Being, Wise Creator

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Refer to the Holy Spirit as “He,” not “It”

Examples: The Holy Spirit comforts me; He brings peace into my life.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Capitalize pronouns (except relative pronouns) that refer to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit

Examples:

God gave His Son for our sins.

God loves His children; He loves us with an everlasting love!

When Christ died on the cross, He gave Himself for our sins.

O Lord, You are holy!

Christ is the One in whom we find salvation

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Lowercase Relative Pronouns (who, whom, whoever, whomever) referring to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit

Examples:

The God whom we serve is faithful.

God, who is most faithful, loves us unconditionally.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Lowercase Most Derivatives Referring to God, (Whether Nouns or Adjectives)

Examples:

godly (He is a godly man.)

fatherhood messianic

lordship

saviorhood

sonship

Exceptions:

Capitalize these words: Christian, Christlike, God-fearing, Godlike, Godhead

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Always Capitalize “Bible” and “God’s Word”

Examples:

The Holy Bible is God’s Word.

God speaks through His Word, the Bible.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Always Capitalize “Scripture”

Examples:

The Scripture says, “Great is thy faithfulness!”

The Scriptures are God’s truth to His people.

Read the Scriptures daily to know God.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Gospel: Whether to Capitalize Depends on Meaning

    • “Gospel” meaning “good news” is not capitalized.
      Examples:
      Tell others the gospel message of Christ!
      I love good old gospel music!
    • “Gospel” meaning first four books of the New Testament is lowercased, except when it is included in the name of the book.
      Examples:
      The four gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
      The Gospel of John is my favorite book.
      John’s gospel is my favorite book.
ANY CHARACTER HERE

Lowercase Names of Places

Examples: heaven, hell, paradise, garden of Eden, kingdom (God’s kingdom; kingdom of God)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Which of these styles do you use most in your everyday life?
Do you blog about “God” or how the “Scriptures” impact your life?
Do you have a question about how to style a particular word or phrase?
Let me know by commenting below!

Capitalization Tips

Posted by Christi McGuire

As I was working on a manusript this weekend, I had look up a few words to see whether or not they should be capitalized. I discovered that “Founding Fathers” is always capitalized. Here are a few other capitalization tips.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Family Titles

Capitalize family titles when they can stand alone or are followed by a personal name. Do not capitalize family titles when they are preceded by a possessive.

Examples:
I’ll ask my mom if I can go.

I’ll ask Mom if I can go.

I’ll ask my aunt if I can go.

I’ll ask Aunt Anna if I can go.

But I really want to go, Mom!

ANY CHARACTER HERE

 Capitalization and Numbers

Capitalize a noun followed by a number or a letter that indicates sequence. However, there are exceptions. Do not capitalize: line, note, page, paragraph, size, step, or verse.

Examples:
Account 100
Act 2
Appendix B
Book IIV
Chapter VII
page 10
line 10
Room 100
verse 10

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Items in a Bulleted List

Capitalize each item in a list or an outline.

Example:
Here are the items I need:
• Paper.
• Pen.
• Books.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

States

Capitalize the word “state” only when it follows the name of the state or is part of the nickname.

Examples:

Florida State is also called the Sunshine State.

The state of Florida is a peninsula.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Compass Points

Capitalize compass points (and any derivative words) when they designate a definite region of the world or a proper noun. Do not capitalize compass points when they merely indicate direction or general location.

 Examples:

Many people have relocated from the East Coast to the Midwest. (regions)

Go west on Route 66 and turn south at the stoplight. (direction)

The west coast of the U.S. is on the Pacific. (not a region)

Amy lives on the West Coast. (region)

I have just visited the Far East. (region)

How far east do you go to get to the shore? (not a region)

Santa Claus lives at the North Pole (proper noun)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Poetry

Capitalize each line in a poem. However, if you’re quoting a poem, then follow its style.

Example:
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Common Nouns

Some expressions were created from proper nouns but are now common nouns and are not capitalized. (Note: Microsoft Word will most likely try to automatically correct these!)

Examples:
charley horse
plaster of paris
manila envelope
bone china
napoleon (the dessert)
boycott
diesel
macadam
ampere
watt
joule
kelvin
texas leaguer
arabic numbers
roman numbers

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Proper Names

Capitalize nicknames that designate specific persons, places, or things.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Examples:
the Founding Fathers
the First Lady
the White House
the Oval Office
the Stars and Stripes
the Gopher State (Minnesota)
Mother Nature
a Good Samaritan
Big Mac
Down Under
a Green Beret
the Little Dipper
the Top 40
Bloody Mary
the Third World

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Question Within a Sentence

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Capitalize an independent question within a sentence.

Example: The question is, How far are you willing to go?

ANY CHARACTER HERE

 These are only a few tips in capitalization. What words do you wonder whether or not they are capitalized?

ANY CHARACTER HERE