When you critique the first draft of your manuscript, watch for the following pitfalls:

1. Watch for Impractical Vocabulary
2. Watch for Unnecessary Words
3. Watch for Unnatural Speech
4. Watch for Long, Run-on Sentences
5. Watch for Monotonous Sentences
6. Watch for Unclear Material
7. Watch for Incongruities
8. Watch for Loose Ends
9. Watch for Digression
10. Watch for Put-downs
11. Watch for Flashbacks
12. Watch for Abstract Words and Concepts
13. Watch for Christian Clichés
14. Watch for Any Clichés or Jargon
15. Watch for Hum-drum Verbs
16. Watch for Passive Voice
17. Watch for “To Be” Verbs
18. Watch for Negatives
19. Watch for Abstract Nouns
20. Watch for Adjectives
21. Watch for Adverbs
22. Watch for Tags
23. Watch for Noncommittal Language
24. Watch for Preachy Words
25. Watch for Missing Punctuation
26. Watch for Cumbersome Punctuation
27.  Watch for Poor Transitions
28. Watch for Telling Be concrete, specific, and definite. Use dialogue, anecdotes, and fictional techniques whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction. When we avoid these twenty-eight pitfalls, we make our writing come alive. This is how we can truly reach our readers and touch their lives.

I have had various assistants over the years. Some have worked out better than others. Several have come from the local Christian college, Hope International University. They have spent a semester with me and received three units of college credit. One of them is now working for Harvest House Publishers, we get together every year at ICRS.

If you have a college nearby with a communications department, you might see if they have students who need internships. You don’t pay them for the amount of time the internship requires. After they put in those hours, I paid them $10 an hour, which is what I normally pay assistants.

I currently have a part-time assistant, Melissa, who takes care of the mail when I travel. She also takes care of the phones if I go overseas. She recently married a website designer, so he has taken over all of my website and computer needs. He is wonderful. You can click on his name, Alex Bezuska at the bottom of my website, www.christiancommunicator.com to check out his work.

I only need Melissa for those few tasks because my husband has become my new assistant since he retired. He edits all my work, keeps all my records, and does a lot of the income tax stuff. He does all the things I hate to do! Plus he accompanies me to most my conferences and sells my books.

The title of your article or book is as important as its beginning. The title is what you use to hook the reader, so it must be eye-catching. Many readers buy a book on impulse by looking at the title. Many readers buy a magazine because an article title piqued their interest. Some readers thumb through a magazine, checking titles and reading only the articles for which the title grabbed their attention.

Titles need to be accurate. They should express specifically what will follow in the article. The reader doesn’t want to feel cheated because he thought he was getting something totally different than what your article or book delivered. If your subject matter is serious, make your title serious, also. Example: “A Cry for Acceptance.” If your material is humorous, you can make the title funny, too. Example: “Turning Frogs into Princes.”

Titles are usually concise. A good rule is to keep your titles five to seven words. Use active verbs, specific nouns, and descriptive adjectives to grab the reader. Also try to draw in the reader, so he feels actively involved in your article or book. He needs to feel there is something in it for him. All Cracked Up: Experiencing God in the Broken Places is a good example.

To create a good title, look for key phrases that seem to sum up the article or book. Watch for sentences that catch your eye as you read through—perhaps they will captivate your reader, too. I wrote an article about a man who escaped from Vietnam. He felt his escape was made possible by the providential hand of God, so I named the article, “The Providential Escape.”

Another way to catch the reader’s attention is by reversing words or by changing one word in a common saying to create your own saying. “Forget and Forgive” is a devotional I wrote on forgiveness. Using “Forgive and Forget” would be overuse of a tired cliché. “Take This Job and Love It” is another example of a good play on words.

If you are writing a mystery, use words that show intrigue. Anonymous Tip and Final Witness are book titles that do this well. The reader wonders, Who will be the final witness? Be careful, however, not to tell too much in the title. “John Overcomes Cancer to Win the Race” probably doesn’t leave much for the reader to learn from reading the story.

Titles should be easy to pronounce and yet have pizzazz. The more memorable your title, the more apt your article or book is to be read and remembered. The Purpose Driven Life is an excellent example that is simple, memorable, and meet’s the reader’s needs.

When Is Your Title Right?

How can you know when your title is right? The acronym “ACE” will help you create a memorable title.

“A” is for accurate. The title must truthfully reveal the focus of the article and also fit its tone. You wouldn’t put “Buffalo Bob Bites Bullet” on a serious crime story any more than the President would turn up for a televised press conference in a sweat suit.

“C” is for concise. Five to seven words are a typically good length. Active verbs, specific nouns, and bright adjectives help tighten the message.

“E” is for eye-catching. You have just a few words to convince the reader you can provide what he wants. So you appeal to his felt-need, whether that is for information, inspiration, consternation, or confirmation. One study showed that use of pronouns (“you,” “I,” “they”) and the “how-to” approach made for stronger titles.

Put a lot of thought in a title before sending your manuscript to an editor. The first person you need to impress is him, so he will publish your article or book.

There are many ways to begin a book chapter, article, or story. Here are eight suggestions, taken from two of my books, Rest Stops for Single Mothers (Broadman & Holman) and Eyes Beyond the Horizon (Thomas Nelson). The types of leads I suggest here can apply for devotionals and other short pieces, fiction and nonfiction stories, articles, and book chapters.

1. Narrative is used here to tell a mini-story from the narrator’s viewpoint. In the example below, you can picture the sail boat catching the wind.

As I scanned the horizon, my eyes focused on a sailboat gliding out of the bay. It cruised smoothly for a moment until the sailor lost the direction of the wind. The mainsail flapped in the breeze, and the boat slowed to a near halt. The man turned the rudder and leaned his craft back into the wind. The sails caught the breeze, and soon the vessel glided swiftly out of the harbor (“Lean into the Wind,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

2. Characterization is often used as a lead. This description of Bob Bowman gives the reader an insight into his looks and personality as a teen. The description of the scene transports the reader back to L.A. in the 1930’s.

Pushing the gas pedal against the floorboards, the proud eighteen year old owner of a beat up 1929 Ford sped along a dirt road that transversed dusty bean fields. His brown hair was slicked back with a wave, and his blue eyes stared straight ahead. The acres of weeds stretching before him would someday shudder beneath the ear splitting runway traffic of the vast complex known as Los Angeles International Airport (Chapter 2 – Eyes Beyond the Horizon).

3. A Thesis is presented by this lead that explains a venture of faith. Also, a metaphor is used comparing stepping out in faith to walking down an unknown path. Antithesis is another vehicle found here with confidence and excitement contrasted with fear, and falling over the edge of a cliff contrasted with being sure-footed.

Stepping out on a venture of faith is like being propelled swiftly down an unknown path in the dark. There is confidence and excitement instead of fear. If the way leads suddenly over the edge of a cliff, faith says the foot will find support if God underwrites the venture (Chapter 3 – Eyes Beyond the Horizon).

4. Presenting a Problem to be solved is an excellent way to begin a story. It reaches out and grabs the reader.

My manager at the telephone company, where I worked as a service representative, called me into his office. “I just received a call from White River, Arizona. Your father didn’t show up at work today, Susan. He is missing. His car was found parked on a mountain road—empty.”

I collapsed into a chair. A small voice inside told me my father was dead (“The Fatal Fall,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

5. Dialogue is an excellent vehicle for jumping into the action of a story. Here it is used in conjunction with the presentation of a problem to be solved.

“Mom, I had to abandon my car,” my son’s voice sounded breathless on the other end of the telephone line. “Flames were jumping across the highway. Burning branches fell into the back of my convertible.”

“Are you OK?” I asked (“The Fire,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

6. A Mood is set by using such phrases as: stared out the window, huge chunks of ice, shivered.

Staring out my hotel window on this winter’s day in Washington D.C., I watched huge chunks of ice lazily drift down the Potomac River. I rubbed my arms and shivered—partly from the cold, but mostly from the memory forming in my mind (“Loving Too Little, Loving Too Much,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

7. A Question may be asked at the beginning or near the beginning of the story or chapter.

The front door was slammed angrily with a thud. My son stomped down the stairs and out of earshot. Only silence remained.

Why do I fight with my son? My stomach churned as I pondered this question (“A Gentle Attitude,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

8. A Quotation may be used to begin a devotional, a story or article, or a book chapter.

He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.
–Author Unknown (“Forget and Forgive,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

Whatever vehicle you choose, make sure you grab the reader’s attention immediately. Don’t be afraid to jump into the action.

Next to your beginning, your ending is the most important part of your article, story or book chapter. Here are twelve suggested endings taken from “Twelve Ways to End Your Article Gracefully” by Robert Baker, The Handbook for Magazine Article Writing, published by Writers’ Digest. I have given examples of each type of ending from chapters in my own books.

1. The Lead Replay – This is a duplication or a rewrite of the lead sentence or paragraph or a restatement of the lead’s theme.

“With the Lord leading the way, FEBC expands its ministry to move to the future as it lifts its eyes beyond the horizon” (Eyes Beyond the Horizon, Thomas Nelson).

2. The Proximity Close – Tap the material immediately preceding your final paragraph for a closing.

“Next time you are in a church, look carefully at the stained glass windows. Picture yourself as part of His magnificent stained glass window. Watch the sun piercing through each unique piece of glass. Notice how many shapes and sizes are necessary to form the whole.

“Remember that the Master Craftsman started with one—one piece of fractured glass. What can we accomplish for His glory if we, too, start with one?” (You Start with One, Thomas Nelson).

3. The Restatement of Purpose – Occasionally, a vivid and colorful restatement of the article’s purpose makes an effective close.

“God teaches us to pray specifically. He knew that car was important to Rich’s education, so He spared it. With what took place, I learned an important lesson: When things look bleakest, God is there, showing His presence in the smallest details of our lives” (“The Fire,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers, Broadman & Holman).

4. The Play on Words – Sometimes alliteration, a slogan, or a catchy phrase sticks the longest with the reader.

“Pastor Ananda’s burden for his flock, however heavy, is carried with joy and compassion. It fits him well. Each of us has our own divinely designed yoke—our own job to do. Suddenly I felt a renewed strength to wear the yoke God has fashioned for me” (“Pastor Ananda” Potpourri of Praise , WinePress).

5. The Quote Close – Use a quote taken from a subject, history, or other source of quotations to add finality to the article.

“Angelic flames of light and heavenly choirs, accompanied by celestial harps and trumpets, turned a scene of earthly tragedy into a scene of heavenly triumph. From what they saw that day, and from ‘God’s Carvings’, the Aucas learned what the Psalmist wrote: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15, “Dawa’s Story,” Potpourri of Praise).

6. The Add-On – This close can make a point never made in the story—a shocker or something that seems natural for making your final point.

“As we walked toward the refreshment table together, I realized that my lack of forgiveness had cost us both a great price” (“Forget and Forgive,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

7. The Anecdotal Ending – You can either end with an anecdote or use the split-anecdote technique in which you start the anecdote in the lead (or the middle somewhere) and complete it in the closing.

“Looking back over the past ten years, I never dreamed my life would take the path it has. When all I had to hold onto was a thread linking me to God, I learned to step out in faith and to take risks. If I had not been forced to earn a living, I never would have developed my current programs and ministries. After six years of being a single parent, I am now blessed with a supportive husband and a thriving business (“A Thousand Ways,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

8. The Natural Close – Let your story end naturally. You’ve told your story. Stop.

“When Mobin visits foreign cities, as he was doing that day in the Maldive Islands, he still tells people, ‘I collect telephone directories. Do you have one I can take home with me?'” (“Telephone Directories,” Potpourri of Praise).

9. The Summary Close – This ending attempts to cover the highlights of the story or to tie up all the loose ends.

“How wrong my first impression had been. I was aware that God planned that therapeutic evening. He knew I would run out of wood, and although I hadn’t specifically asked Him for more, He provided anyhow” (“A Surprise Encounter,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

10. The Straight Statement Close – This editorial close consists of a few sentences or a final thought in the author’s own words.

“I needed to allow others to be themselves. When I dated someone, I tried to accept him for who he was—not for who I wanted him to be. Through this time, I always felt God had someone special planned for me. When I was ready, and my ‘Mr. Perfect’ was ready, God would allow us to meet” (“Turning Frogs into Princes,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

11. The Stinger – This unexpected conclusion provides an ending that startles, surprises, or shocks.

“Elbows jabbed their ribs; feet tangled with theirs; the unrelenting mob moved on until they came to the place where the old man lay. Bending down, they touched the old man’s arm, now grown cold. They were too late” (“Too Little, Too Late,” Potpourri of Praise).

12. The Word of Advice Close – This warning or word of advice points a verbal finger at the reader.

“Loving too much leaves us open to the danger of being hurt, but loving too little can cause us to forget how to love and forget how to live” (“Loving Too Little, Loving Too Much,” Rest Stops for Single Mothers).

Whatever ending you chose, give your article, story, or book chapter a solid conclusion. Don’t just let your story die. Provide the reader with food for thought that he can digest and use in his own life to help others and himself move closer to the Lord.

Here are 20 tips that will help you the next time you interview someone for an article or a book.

1. Find a subject and research it thoroughly.

2. Make an appointment with an expert in that field.

3. Try to allow 90 minutes or two hours for the interview.

4. Be on time and dress appropriately.

5. Smile. Chat informally to establish common ground.

6. Use a tape recorder to insure accuracy.

7. Assure the person that the tape is confidential.

8. Eye to eye contact is vital.

9. Prepare a set of questions in advance.

10. Be willing to deviate from the questions.

11. Avoid questions with yes or no answers.

12. Try to visit the setting of the article.

13. Keep the person in line with your focus.

14. Obtain detailed descriptions and scenes.

15. Diligently search for the hook.

16. Watch for favorite words and mannerisms.

17. Be sensitive, empathetic, and non-judgmental.

18. Keep your questions simple, asking one at a time.

19. Be an exceptional listener.

20. Ask for a follow-up phone call if needed.

Most publishing houses want to receive a book proposal rather than an entire manuscript. A few publishers prefer only a query letter. An editor spends an average of twenty minutes reviewing your book proposal, so it is imperative that you provide the correct material and that your manuscript looks professional. To determine the submission format for each publishing house, check Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide, look at the publisher’s Web site, or send to the publisher for the writers’ guidelines.

A book proposal is comprised of four parts:
1. A cover letter
2. A detailed chapter outline or synopsis
3. A competition analysis
4. Three sample chapters

1. The Cover Letter should basically answer four questions:
1. Why are you qualified to write this book?
2. What is it about (told in one paragraph)?
3. Who is your audience?
4. Why will this book be marketable?

Also, make sure the publisher realizes you are familiar with his house and that your book will fit into one of his book lines. This letter should be only one typewritten page.

2. The Chapter Outline should be brief. Write a short paragraph summarizing each chapter to give the editor an overview of your book. This can be a vital tool for understanding the entire manuscript if the book proposal reaches the stage where it is considered by a publishing house committee. For fiction books, most publishing houses prefer a running synopsis of the book rather than a chapter outline. This should be three to six pages and should be in present tense.

3. A Comparative Analysis should be researched. Check with your local Christian bookstore and see what other books on the market are similar to yours. Write an analysis, showing how your book compares to these other books and why your book will sell.

4. Three Sample Chapters are normally included in a book proposal. These should reflect the quality and substance of your book. Send the first three chapters to give the editor a sense of continuity. Some authors prefer to send the first, middle, and last chapters; others prefer to include a chapter with specific significance. You be the judge regarding which is best for your manuscript.

A question I am frequently asked by friends and customers of my critique service is: Should I get an agent? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. I placed 28 books on my own before I obtained an agent. Now I’m not suggesting that you have to do that, but you do want to get an agent who is competent.

 When is it time to get an agent? Many people think that getting an agent is the answer to all their problems. However if you don’t have a proven track record— have not published a few books or don’t have a dynamic speaking ministry—it may be hard for you to get a good agent. So it is important to build a good reputation before you seek an agent.

 How do I know that an agent is good? If an agent shows interest in you, ask him/her for three clients that will recommend him. Also ask for three books his agency has placed that year. If people won’t recommend him and he has not placed books, you don’t want him to represent you! A mediocre or incompetent agent can hurt you more than not having one.

 Where do I find a good agent? Agents as well as editors attend large writers’ conferences looking for new clients. Conferences such as Glorieta and Write-to-publish are excellent places to sit down and actually talk to an agent. It’s important to find an agent who is passionate about what you write. He won’t be able to sell your material to a publishing house if he doesn’t believe in your project.

 How do I know if an agent is doing his job? Once you have signed with an agent, he should keep you informed of any activity on your proposals. He should tell you what houses he has sent them to and the responses of those houses. Normally all correspondence between you and your agent as well as your agent and the publishing houses is done by e-mail. Therefore there should not be any upfront costs for you to pay.

 How is my agent paid? Your royalty checks will be sent directly to your agent. That way he can look over your statements and make sure they are accurate. He takes his 15%, and sends you a check for the balance. Also when an agent is negotiating a contract for you, he can usually get a better deal than you can. And of course he wants the best deal he can get, since he gets 15% of your advance and royalty checks.

Although I have an excellent agent, I still keep in contact with the publishing houses I am interested in publishing with. If I have a new idea, and I happen to be at a conference where I can talk to an editor or publisher, I take advantage of that situation. Keep in mind your agent is representing as many as a hundred clients, and you are only representing you!

Step One: Before you begin to write your story or article, decide what your primary purpose is. The first step in the writing process is to state your Theme in one word. Then state it in one sentence. Do this for short pieces and devotionals, for stories and articles, as well as for books. Each point must support the main theme. Do not deviate from your premise. This is the main problem with the majority of articles that are rejected. The writer tries to tell too many stories in one article.

Next, create a Preliminary Outline before you write one word of your story. After your outline is complete, finish the first stage of writing your article, which is to develop your idea into a full page. This is accomplished by using the analytical, or critical, side of your brain.

Step Two: Wait a few days before you begin the second step of the writing process which is to write the First Rough Draft. As you begin, let the theme and supporting ideas form in your mind.

Now, write your story or article. Turn off the critical side of your brain and turn on the creative side. Let the words flow onto the paper. Don’t get hung up in spelling, punctuation, or phraseology; just write whatever comes into your mind. Get everything down on paper you can think of regarding your subject. You may end up with enough material for several articles, but don’t worry about that when you are writing this first draft.

Step Three: Before you pick up your manuscript, wait a few days for it to cool. Then you are ready to begin the third step of the writing process—Editing Your Own Work. This is the most important step and where you will spend most of your time.

Read through your draft quickly for an overview. Make a mark in the margin where it doesn’t flow smoothly. Make sure your outline and theme sentence support what you have written. Ask yourself the twelve evaluation questions. Then do a line-by-line editing, checking grammar, punctuation, and word usage.

What makes a published writer is a willingness to go through this process step-by-step.

When you meet with an editor at a conference, such as the CLASS Christian Writers Conference, you will probably have only 15 minutes to sell him/her on your idea. You want to leave something in his hands so he will remember you after the conference is over. He will have talked to many, many people, and you will want to stand out. You can accomplish this with a “One Sheet.” Also, there may be some editors you cannot get an appointment with. You can find a moment when they are free and hand them your “One Sheet.”

A “One Sheet” is one sheet of paper to hand out to editors that shows a book proposal project— thus the name. I would suggest printing it on your letterhead stationery so it will look professional. It should be single-spaced and done in block format.

It basically includes the same things that a cover/query letter would include and should basically answer four questions:
1. Why are you qualified to write this book?
2. What is it about (told in one paragraph)?
3. Who is your audience?
4. Why will this book be marketable?

Also, make sure the publisher realizes you are familiar with his house and that your book will fit into one of his book lines. If you have accurate statistics, put those in. Here is a sample for one of my recent books:

Wounded by Words
Healing the Invisible Scars of Emotional Abuse

Susan Titus Osborn, M.A.
Karen Kosman
Jeenie Gordon, M.S.,M.A., M.F.T.

Wounded by Words: Healing the Invisible Scars of Emotional Abuse offers hope and healing through Christ from these unseen hurts. Women who have grown up with the harsh reality of verbal abuse understand the pain and suffering it causes. The results of this kind of mistreatment may not cause bruises and other visible injuries, but nevertheless, the scars are there. These scars remain in the heart and mind, causing fear, powerlessness, and dependency.

In Scripture, the stories of Leah, Joseph, Hannah, Job, Abigail, King David, Mary Magdalene, and Mary and Martha demonstrate examples of verbal abuse. How they overcame this invisible destroyer is encouraging to us all. These stories demonstrate how God dealt with emotional abuse in biblical times, and he expects us to deal with this issue today as well.

Accurate statistics are hard to find. But surveys show that emotional abuse exists in marriages and other family relationships, the workplace, nursing homes, college campuses, and many other situations. One out of four women admits to being verbally abused. In one study, 77 % of women reported emotional abuse in combination with physical abuse. In this same study, 43 % experienced emotional abuse as children or teenagers, and 39 % reported verbal abuse in a relationship within the last five years.

Growing up in an alcoholic home, Karen Kosman learned the pain of demeaning, caustic words. Susan Osborn also was verbally abused by her mother. Later both women married men who continued the cycle of emotional abuse. Once again angry, thoughtless words daily eroded their self-esteem. Gradually through Scripture, counseling, and God’s love, healing began. Today, both women are remarried to supportive, Christian husbands, and the cycle of abuse has been broken. Susan is a CLASS speaker and has published 30 books. Karen is an inspirational speaker for church groups. Jeenie Gordon, also verbally abused as a child, has dealt with numerous patients who have been verbally abused in her 20 years as a marriage and family therapist. She has published five books, one of which was a Gold Medallion finalist.

Wounded by Words contains twelve chapters filled with personal stories of people who have experienced verbal abuse. The issues these people have learned to deal with will provide hope and wholeness for those who are in the process of finding answers. We will transition from one story to the next with inspirational thoughts, biblical truths, and practical advice for the reader. We invite you to join our ultimate mission of bringing understanding, hope, and healing to women who are struggling with verbal abuse.

Although a “One Sheet” is basically the same thing as a cover or query letter, the advantage you have by using it is that you don’t have a date on it and you don’t direct it to a specific editor. Often at conferences, you aren’t sure who you will meet with. However if you are e-mailing a query letter to a publishing house, be sure to do it as a letter and address it to a specific editor.