The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

How to Split and Merge Documents in Scrivener

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Scenes are the building blocks of your story. So let’s take a quick look at the definition of a scene.

Jack M. Bickham, in his book Scene & Structure, defines scene this way:

It’s a segment of story action, written moment-by-moment, without summary, presented onstage in the story “now.”

James Scott Bells says in Plot & Structure:

Much of the time a scene takes place in a single location, and almost always is played out in real time.

A scene has a goal, conflict, and a climax in miniature, [Read more…] about How to Split and Merge Documents in Scrivener

4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 4

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blog title imageToday, I finish this series, and maybe you’re drawing a breath of relief about that. That’s okay. I understand.

I know you’re looking for specific advice on improving your story and getting published, but there are times when my spirit is so burdened that I must write about what I believe God has for me to share that day. This series has been one of those times.

The Bible tells us in 3 John 1:2, NKJV:

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

That tells me there is a direct link between my physical and spiritual life. This leads me to… [Read more…] about 4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 4

Help! How do you stay organized?

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messy officeDo you consider yourself as being organized?

I am. At least, I think I am.

After all, the spices in my kitchen cabinet are alphabetized, and so are the DVDs in my entertainment center. Look in my closet and you’ll find all my short sleeve shirts in one spot and then long sleeve and all sorted by color. My books are shelved by topic.

I suppose many would call that being OCD, but I call it [Read more…] about Help! How do you stay organized?

A Talk with Author Donna Goodrich

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Author Donna GoodrichI’m speaking today with Donna Goodrich. Donna is no novice to the publishing world. She is a freelance proofreader, editor and speaker, and the author of 25 books and over 700 published manuscripts. Her latest books are A Step in the Write Direction; The Freedom of Letting Go; The Little Book of Big Laughs; and My Rhyme-Time Bible for little ones, 15 Bible stories in poetry.

Donna, you’ve had two books release this year, and one slated for next year. You’re a busy writer! What prompted the recent revision of three of your books?  [Read more…] about A Talk with Author Donna Goodrich

4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 3

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blog title imageWe all know life comes with problems, as much as we wish it didn’t.

In light of all the recent shootings and violence, today’s subject is a difficult topic. This post was written and planned long before the recent events in Paris and those in the US in Colorado Springs and San Bernadino. My heart and prayers go out to those families who have been impacted by these events.

The answer to our problems is not a rifle. The answer is Jesus (if you want to know more about that, email me). That said, let’s move forward with today’s post. [Read more…] about 4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 3

What do you have to offer?

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“Holy cow!” I hear you saying. “Am I on the right page?”

Yup, you are. I made some major changes last week. (Thank you Tamara Clymer for your design work.) I hope you like the new look as much as I do.

It was kind of scary making such big changes, but fun and exciting, too. I’ve been wanting to do this for quite a while now, but had to work up the nerve and find the right message.

“So what’s this change have to do with marketing?” you ask. [Read more…] about What do you have to offer?

4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 2

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blog title imageToday continues my 4-part series on principles I learned as a Marine that can be applied to our lives and to our work as writers. Click Teamwork to read part 1.

Marines have the well-earned the reputation of being the toughest fighting force of the US. Hard work, not laziness, laid the foundation.

Boot camp was grueling. Day after day we drilled, ran, and marched for hours under the unforgiving summer heat of Parris Island, South Carolina. Would my muscles ever stop aching?

I realized the full extent of the physical change I had undergone at boot camp only after I came home on leave (that’s military speak for vacation) after boot camp graduation. The daily physical demands of training had [Read more…] about 4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 2

Charlee Harris on Publishing

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Author Charlee Harris
Author Charlee Harris

Today I’m pleased to interview Charlene Harris, though she prefers to be called Charlee. She’s both an artist and writer, and previously wrote for a local newspaper, reading and critiquing books by established and new authors.

Many moons ago, Charlee was the first female basketball official for her section of the Eastern conference in Alabama. But her dream has always been to be an author.

Her favorite quote is by Cyril Connolly who said, “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”

Charlee, at what point in writing your book did you begin to look for publishers? [Read more…] about Charlee Harris on Publishing