I’m asked occasionally about the writing life and editors. Today I’m interviewing a friend from both worlds: Becky Miller.
Becky Miller and I met ten years ago at Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference when we were in the same critique group (facilitated by the wonderful Gayle Roper).
Our eight-member critique group spent four days together discussing each others’ manuscripts–an exhilarating and horrifying experience.
I’d written a women’s fiction story about an editorial assistant for a literary agent (write what you know, right?).
A junior high teacher, Becky had written a fantasy novel.
I was more out of my element reading her prose than she was in reading mine!
Why fantasy? Becky felt God called her to write after attending her first writer‘s conference, long ago.
“At the time I was uncertain what kind of writing I should pursue, but I came away from that conference with a commitment to fiction, particularly fantasy. In my heart I’m a fantasy writer, but because I blog daily, I am currently writing more nonfiction.”
She blogs mostly on current events within the church, along with discussions of fantasy and speculative fiction, which are close to her heart. You can read her posts about A Christian Worldview of Fiction here. The subtitle is: “a look at fiction and other bits of the culture through the lens of the Bible.”
Her editing website is reserved for craft issues and suitably titled: Rewrite, Reword and Rework.
After retiring from teaching junior high school English, Becky branched out into editing and within the last year has released two ebooks (out of a planned four) on the writing craft, entitled Power Elements of Fiction. The books are designed as “practical tools for a writer wanting to know more about the broad subjects I’m covering—story structure in the first book and character development in the second.”
Her thirty-year teaching career was a good introduction to the editing craft, and she was encouraged by the responses from writers she critiqued:
“I had great training in my first critique group which carried over into a critique exchange I did for Bryan Davis before he published. He was so happy with the editing help, he asked his publisher to hire me for the next several books.”
Many readers recognize the days of a detailed editor like Maxwell Perkins are long gone, and problems can crop up in professionally published books.
“Unfortunately I don’t think books are edited with the same care they once were. In recent published books (some I’ve judged for various contests), I’ve seen structural issues, two-dimensional characters, and any number of problems with grammar or basic writing mechanics.
I don’t know that readers can do more than mention the problems in their reviews or write to the publishers (or in the case of a self-published book, to the author) about the problems. Perhaps if “the powers that be” realize readers don’t like the errors, there will be a greater concern to eliminate those.”
Fortunately, her Power Elements ebooks can help writers overcome some of those issues!
“I hope writers of all experience levels will find both books helpful. The books introduce beginners to a variety of concepts. At the same time, they give intermediate authors ways to raise the level of their storytelling, and they remind advanced writers what makes their books successful.”
Becky also provides exercises to help writers recognize how to practice the principles introduced in the books.
Has writing books about craft effected her own writing?
“I think editing has been a huge help in my own writing. I noticed this when I first joined a critique group—as I spotted things in the stories I was critiquing, I realized I did the same things.”
While Becky edits across genres, from devotional books to young adult fantasy to college master’s theses, she prefers to write fantasy.
“Initially I started writing fantasy because I wasn’t finding the kind of story I liked to read. That’s still a part of my motivation. But beyond that, I write because I believe our culture can be reached for Christ through story.”
Writing fantasy turned out to be more complicated than she anticipated.
“When I started writing fantasy, I thought I’d escaped research. I can just make things up, right? Except, I’ve learned there are still places I need to do research—generally for worldbuilding.
I included a swamp in one scene, for example, and I have no first hand experience in a swamp. I needed to learn some basics about what wandering in a swamp would look like.
The bulk of my “research,” is to keep track of things in my world, from language to the history of various groups, the timeline of events, and cultural peculiarities.”
Among Becky’s favorite fantasy writers within the Christian community are two in particular:
“I love Jill Williamson’s writing. She makes her fantasy places come alive and her characters seem so real. Anne Elisabeth Stengl is another favorite. She writes fantasy also, though it’s very different from Jill’s. Her stories are artful, almost poetic, and so full of imagination.”
If you’re looking for help in your own writing, or are interested in fantasy fiction written from a Christian Worldview, Becky Miller and her websites are excellent places to begin.
Tweetables
Becky Miller: editing and writing fantasy. A coincidence? Click to Tweet
Fantasy and the importance of writing from a Christian worldview. Click to Tweet
An editor writes on character and structure in Power Elements ebooks. Click to Tweet
Always wondered what people who wrote fantasy were like. Now I know.
They’re COOL!
Thanks for having me, Michelle. (BTW, I can always tell who really knows me because they call me Becky instead of using my “stage name.” 😉
Becky