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Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

Telling Stories Over and Over and Over Again!

June 12, 2021 By Jessica Ferguson Leave a Comment

How many times can you write the same story? The same story, but different. The same story, but different authors.

I know we often encourage each other by saying we can give the same idea or plot to ten others and we’ll come away with ten completely different stories. That’s true. I believe it.

I’ve said before that while writing The Groom Wore Blue Suede Shoes, three Elvis books were published before mine was even finished. That’s always discouraging and a little frightening. Are ideas just floating around in the air, waiting for someone to grab ’em. Well, as weird as it sounds, I do sort of believe that. I know all good things in our lives come from God, and that we can do nothing on our own. That includes getting good ideas. I certainly didn’t come up with those great ideas–the ones those bestselling writers grabbed and ran with.  

Recently I’ve seen two of my ideas come to pass, written by others. They were enough like my idea that if I write mine now, I’ll feel like a copy cat.

I know there aren’t any “new” ideas; everything’s been done/written already. I’m trying to break myself of the habit of “mulling things around in my head” forever and a day. I’m a slow thinker, but a pretty fast writer. Does that make sense. 🙂

I’ve written a little more than 100 pages of my inspirational romance. A couple weeks ago, I picked up one of the Love Inspired books in Walmart and guess what, the theme was almost exactly the same as mine. Except the author offered a cute twist. 🙂 So it was different, but the same.

After I fought away the doubt, despair, and agony I took a look through my realistic lens.  By the time I finish my book, query the editor, wait for a reply, actually sell it, go through revisions, all the necessary steps involved, more than a year will have passed. I’m sure even more stories like mine will have been published.

The point is, when this happens we can’t get discouraged. We need to just finish our books! We can try for a traditional publisher or we can indie publish. After all, we’re in the land of opportunity, aren’t we? (Unless books, reading, writing, and publishing are cancelled. Yikes!)

Have you seen some of your ideas come to fruition by other writers? Did you keep writing or did you get so discouraged you gave up? Hopefully, you kept writing!

 

Filed Under: Ideas, Plotting, Writing Tagged With: Copy Cat, Different but the same, ideas, Love Inspired Romance

Let’s Get to Writing!

May 14, 2021 By Jessica Ferguson 4 Comments

Hello, my writer friends! What are you guys doing out there in writing land? This past week I’ve roughly outlined a series of NF books. Oh, please, don’t be impressed. I’m always doing that … I just never sit down and write the books. (slapping forehead).

I received a very powerful email from author (mentor to Christian writers) Shelley Hitz talking about the power of a book series (NF book series.) I’ve read it several times and each read-thru I get a little more pumped with ideas. So what did I do?

I sat down and wrote a short story. (slapping my forehead again!) Maybe some day I’ll seriously hit the nonfiction trail but when your first love is fiction …

This short story has been my first writing endeavor in more than a year. (In all fairness to me, I did edit my novel. The pandemic and the state of our country really messes with my head!) After hubby read through my story, asked his questions, made his suggestions, I sent it off to Woman’s World Magazine. Ten fingers and ten toes are crossed, and prayers are going up. I’ve sold them two stories during the past couple of years, but it seems every attempt is like starting from scratch, relearning how to pull a short romance together, at least for me. 700 words is tricky!

I really need some publishing encouragement. How about you?

For those of you who write mysteries, take a look at these two markets. You might have a story that fits. Please note: these are secular publications.

#1. Mystery Weekly Magazine  

and

#2. Untreed Reads, a publishing house that was founded in 2008. Read the guidelines carefully.

(I Just) Died In Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired By One-Hit Wonders

Also, have you heard of the contest that Books and Such Literary Management is hosting in celebration of their 25 year anniversary?  The deadline is May 15th but if you hurry …. Here’s the link:

I sent them my hook, and if I happen to be one of the finalists, I have my proposal all finished and ready to send.

Let me know what you’re writing … see you next week!

Jess

Filed Under: Markets, Uncategorized, Writing Tagged With: encouragement, Mystery Writing, short fiction, WW Magazine

IWSG Day – It’s May!

May 5, 2021 By Jessica Ferguson 22 Comments

Hello IWSG readers and writers! It has been awhile since I’ve posted (not sure I remember how) so I need to remind any new readers out there (and myself) that Insecure Writer’s Support Group is for any and ALL insecure writers. Yes, that would be me! We’re here to support each other and that’s been desperately needed during the past year or so. Agree?

The awesome co-hosts for the May 5 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, PJ Colando, Tonja Drecker, Sadira Stone, and Cathrina Constantine!

This month’s optional question is one I had to think about: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?

I can answer with one word: No. And maybe that’s why I’m an insecure writer. I can’t recall anyone responding to my books–fiction or nonfiction–in a positive or negative way. Oh, wait! One lady I play bean bag baseball with has come to mind. She complimented one of my stories in Woman’s World Magazine and told me how much she loved it. She said it in such a dreamy voice, I believed her. 🙂 She even read it twice. Mmmm, I feel a little better now. Encouraged! Maybe I should try to write more short romances. It has been an entire year.

Just out of curiosity, how much have you written during this pandemic? I’ve been totally blank and blocked. I feel I’m just now getting back to normal, but not quite there yet.

I just wanted to pop in today to participate in IWSG day and promise you this new leaf I’m turning: to blog each week on something writing-related. Hope you’ll sign up or tune in so we can encourage each other. Good writing, and I’ll see you again next week!

Filed Under: IWSG, News, Writing

Let’s Camp NaNoWrMo Together!

June 29, 2016 By Jessica Ferguson 8 Comments

Hey gang! Just popping in to let you all know I’m still alive. So far, my summer has been busy. I’ve revised my novella that’ll be a part of The Bucket List Dare Collection. I have to go through two more critiques/revisions before it’s truly ready but release date is in October.

I’ve finished my short story in the Legacy Letters project with some of my Oklahoma friends. It will release in September.

For both of these I have to come up with short blurbs or one-liners. Always challenging for me.

mother dayIn July, I’m going to a quilt show with my daughter who has developed an interest in quilting. Here’s a pic of the lap quilt she’s making for me. The backing is script. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. 🙂

On July 1st I’m going to camp. Yep, going to the same camp I attended last year with a group of mystery writers-Camp NaNoWrMo. I decided to go alone thisCamp year but looking around this huge cabin in the woods today… I got spooked! It’s way too big for one person. I don’t think I can stay there by myself.

Anyone interested in joining me? All you have to do is go to the camp site and create a profile, then send me your user name so I can invite you in. We’ll write and encourage each other. Share some secrets and eat S’mores! (I wish!)

If you aren’t familiar with Camp NaNoWrMo. It’s like the November NaNoWrMo but during July you can write anything. Just set your goal for the month (a project or a daily word count or editing) and do your thing. Unless I change my mind before July 1st, I’ll be tackling a nonfiction project.

Anyone game? Let me hear from you! I’d love for you to join me. Hope you’re having a great summer.

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Camp NaNoWrMo, Deadlines, writing

Reality Faith.
Reality Fiction.

"As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:20

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