Award-Winning Author and Editor
LEE WARREN
Returns for Wordsowers 2018!
Lee Warren writes contemplative essay and devotional books. His essays remind you to slow down and enjoy the present moment because we’re only here for a little while. Readers say his essays are vulnerable, open, honest, engaging, insightful and thought-provoking.
His devotional books provide practical, story-driven devotional material you can use every morning to get your private worship started right. Readers call his devotional books encouraging, inspiring and thoughtful.
When Lee isn’t writing essays or devotional material, he is a freelance journalist who has written hundreds of articles for various newspapers and magazines. He’s also a fan of NASCAR, baseball, tennis, books, movies and coffee shops.
With 20 years in the publishing world, Lee published traditionally before choosing to become an indie author. He has edited for book publishers, newspapers and websites/blogs. Check out his website at http://www.leewarren.info.
If you were at a book event and someone asked you, “Why do you write?” what would you say? I write for a number of reasons.
I write because others have written and their writing has meant so much to me. “The Chronicles of Narnia” helped me understand the faith in childlike ways. Elisabeth Elliot’s books cemented my understanding of sacrifice and giving myself away. Donald Miller’s books have challenged my theology. On and on it goes. I can only hope my writing spurs others on in a similar fashion.
Writing also helps me to process. I don’t always have clarity of thought about something until I’ve had time to write about it. And as I revise my manuscript, my thinking becomes clearer.
Share a tidbit that has helped you in writing and/or marketing. I would say understanding the importance of listening to experts with one ear. They are experts for a reason, but that doesn’t mean they necessarily know what’s right for me. Just because they view the publishing world one way doesn’t mean I need to hold a similar view. I don’t know how many times traditional publishers told me female readers aren’t likely to trust a male author who writes female protagonists. I’m glad that Nicolas Sparks, Charles Martin, Travis Thrasher, Dan Walsh, and so many others didn’t let that stop them from writing such fiction the way it did me.
Do you ever struggle with writer’s block and if so, how do you overcome? I started as a journalist, so writer’s block wasn’t allowed. You had a deadline and you met it. As I branched out and began writing both nonfiction and fiction books, I always had a deadline, regardless of whether a publisher assigned one to me or I assigned one to myself. I create an editorial calendar before a project begins and I stick to it.
Creatively, I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer (as far as fiction is concerned). I never have any idea where the story is headed or how I’ll resolve the conflict. I just dive into character and work through their issues with them. Sometimes, I write myself into a corner, or the story is just a mess, but that’s what the revision process is for. By the time I finish the second draft, I have a good grasp of my characters and am able to revise accordingly for subsequent drafts.