Eddie Jones's Blog, page 4

Resist the Enemy and He Will Flee—James 4:7

Hit Him Where He Least Expects

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you work, your efforts seem blocked at every turn? The harder you try, the more frustration and failure you face, leaving you wondering if there’s something deeper at play.

When our work, finances, or progress feel hindered in ways that defy logic, it’s often a sign of spiritual opposition. Sniper fire—or perhaps machine gun fire—keeps us pinned down so we cannot see the larger landscape. Often, the solution is not to charge out of our foxhole and directly into enemy gunfire but to disrupt the enemy’s flanks. By acting in ways he doesn’t expect, we shift the battle to a different sector and draw his forces away from our front.

Look, the devil is not omnipresent. Neither are his fallen angels. There are a limited number of demons. How many, no one can say, but we know that only a third fell from heaven. That means the devil’s forces are outgunned two-to-one. Best of all, Jesus has already defeated the devil. The victory is already ours. So let’s be smart about how we engage. Start with attacks that hit the enemy where it hurts.

Radical Generosity

If your work or finances are under attack, bless others with what you have. This could mean giving away resources, helping someone in need, or supporting a ministry. Generosity counters the devil’s attempts to keep you focused on lack and discouragement. It shifts your expectation of provision to God’s abundance and faithfulness.

Worship and Praise

Worship disrupts the enemy’s propaganda machine. Declaring God’s sovereignty and power silences the enemy’s lies, which are fueled by doubt and darkness. There’s a reason teams cheer, armies advancing shout, and crowds scream for victory. Spoken words project the outcome we expect. Our words carry life and death, so praise the Lord with boldness. Thank Him for small blessings and for disasters that didn’t happen. There’s always another reason to thank God. Find it and declare it aloud. This takes your focus off present struggles and refocuses it on the reality of God’s victory.

Invest in Someone Else’s Success

If your efforts seem fruitless, sow time, energy, or encouragement into someone else. Helping others succeed frustrates the enemy’s attempts to isolate you or keep you self-focused. When you help a brother or sister advance, you move the line forward, and that’s the point of an advance.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

If you’re facing resistance, examine relationships for unresolved conflicts. Conflict within the ranks hinders progress. Extend forgiveness, even if you didn’t cause the problem. Be the first to “make it right.” Repairing relationships thwarts the enemy’s attempts to divide and conquer.

Intercessory Prayer

Rather than focusing only on your struggles, pray fervently for others. Everyone is facing battles, whether seen or unseen. Keep a list, pray their names, and learn about their circumstances so you can pray with purpose. Standing in the gap for others brings joy, peace, and rest into their lives, which the enemy despises. Want to frustrate the enemy? Make him complain about your prayers.

Spiritual Acts of Service

Volunteer in areas unrelated to your struggles. The enemy won’t expect you to show up in another place. Sometimes, your greatest success will come from stepping just a few feet down the line.

Declare God’s Promises Over Your Situation

Speak Scripture over your challenges. If the enemy brought the problem, respond with God’s Word and send him running. Focusing on God’s unchanging promises enlarges your view of His power and diminishes your fear. Speak victory over your situation because the enemy cannot withstand the truth of God’s Word.

Celebrate Small Wins

If the enemy targets your progress, praise God for even the smallest victories. The enemy’s goal is destruction, so staying alive is a win. Celebrating undermines his attempts to discourage you.

Outreach and Evangelism

Share your testimony or the reason for your hope in Christ. Spiritual warfare intensifies when you bring others closer to God. Evangelism shifts the battle into enemy territory.

Take a Sabbath Rest

Resting in God’s presence is a powerful act of trust. If the enemy is attacking your work, stepping back in faith signals your confidence in God’s ability to fight for you. God has all the time in the world to solve your problems, so use some of His and rest.

How This Defeats the Enemy

These actions shift the focus from your struggles to God’s kingdom priorities. The enemy expects a head-on fight in your area of difficulty. Instead, by attacking his plans through worship, generosity, or helping others, you disrupt his strategy. This aligns with Matthew 6:33: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

By engaging in actions that reflect God’s heart, you shift the spiritual battle to a place where the enemy is unprepared, operating in the fullness of God’s power.

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How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor

From Passive to Active Voice—Reality Coaching for Writers

Main Theme: The podcast episode “How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor” focuses on the importance of using active voice instead of passive voice in writing, both in fiction and non-fiction. It explains why passive voice is detrimental to engagement and offers practical advice on identifying and correcting it.

Key Ideas & Facts for How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor:

The “Green Smiley” Metaphor: The podcast uses a visual metaphor of “green smileys” to represent good writing, specifically writing that avoids passive voice. Websites and search engines often flag passive writing with “red,” “orange,” or “neutral” (not green) indicators, highlighting the importance of this issue for writers who care about online reach.Defining Passive Voice: The hosts explain that passive voice occurs when the subject of a sentence receives the action, rather than performing it. Examples include:“The room was cleaned.” (Who cleaned it?)“The flowers were cut.” (Who cut them?)“The lights were turned on.” (Who turned them on?)Quote: “when you don’t have a attached person to the action where there’s anonymity where there’s well who cleaned the room… you don’t want to just slap on a Band-Aid you want to you want the sentences to uh bring something to the story.”The Problem with Passive Voice: Passive voice creates a sense of distance and anonymity, and ultimately reduces engagement. It leads to:Lack of Character Agency: When actions are passive, characters feel like they’re being acted upon instead of driving the plot.Loss of Reader Interest: Passive voice can bore the reader, slowing down pacing and failing to create emotional connection with characters and/or situationsLack of Emotional Depth: The writer fails to convey the character’s thoughts or feelings, which can also fail to move the story forwardLack of Confidence: In non-fiction, passive voice undermines the writer’s authority by making them appear unsure of their statements.Quote: “when you’re writing in a passive voice you are allowing someone else to drive the action that’s kind of the bottom line of what this is”Quote: “if you don’t care the reader’s not going to care about Maria either she’s just a prop prop in the story”Moving to Active Voice: To fix passive sentences, the writer needs to clearly identify the person or thing performing the action and make that the subject of the sentence.Passive Example: “The room was cleaned by Maria.”Active Example: “Maria bustled around the room, huffing as she cleaned.”Quote: “Maria bustled around the room huffing as she cleaned it you know well we’re getting some emotion something about Maria we’re it’s it’s oh she’s she’s bustling around huffing she’s upset about something you know it gives us a clue and it’s like you said Eddie it moves the story forward”Pacing and Story Movement: Active voice contributes to better pacing and moves the story forward. Avoiding unnecessary details, like long descriptions of travel, keeps the reader engaged. The source points out that readers want to get to the main, exciting parts of the story and may give up on a piece of writing if it lags unnecessarily.Quote: “you never tell anybody how to get from point A to point B unless there’s a a unique way to get from point A to point B that nobody’s ever done before and they need to know it”Passive Voice in First Drafts: Passive voice often appears in first drafts, as writers are exploring the story. Recognizing this, they must edit these sentences out in subsequent drafts. The need to ‘kill your darlings’ is emphasized.Quote: “in the second draft you’ve got to cut it and I think beginning writers they they’re afraid to cut things and and they fall in love with their words”Identifying Passive Sentences: The hosts provide practical tips for identifying passive voice:Look for sentences where there is no clear subject performing the action.Identify and replace words like “was,” “were,” “would,” “could,” “have,” and “has.”Use technology, such as chatGPT, to help identify and rewrite passive sentences (though they clarify the technology tends to default to passive, requiring the writer to still ask for it in active).Quote: “look for sentences that belong to no one no person… look for words like would was was W first thing I I just search for was and look for was and figure out a way to just Flip Flip it into an active into an active sentence”Active Voice = Authority In non-fiction particularly, writing in the active voice signals to readers that you are an authority on the subject, not merely ‘thinking about’ it.

Takeaways for How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor:

Active voice is crucial for engaging writing in all genres.Passive voice creates distance, slows pacing, and reduces reader interest.Writers should be proactive in identifying and correcting passive voice in their work.Editing and rewriting, including ‘killing your darlings,’ is necessary to achieve clear, active writing.Writers can use tools like ChatGPT to help rewrite passive sentences.

Conclusion:

This podcast emphasizes the importance of active voice in writing and provides writers with strategies for improving their craft. The use of metaphor and accessible language makes a complex topic easy to understand and apply.

The post How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor appeared first on Eddie Jones - Author.

From Passive to Active Voice—How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor

Reality Coaching for Writers

The post From Passive to Active Voice—How to Win Over the Acquiring Editor appeared first on Eddie Jones - Author.

One Writer’s Battle Plan for Success

Operation Overlord—D Day, 2024

This phase of the campaign “Writer’s Battle Plan for Success” is a bold, faith-driven mission. At the initial launch, the 2nd Airborne Company—composed of the parachute infantry regiments Jehovah Jireh and My Father’s Business—will land behind enemy lines

Influence Increase—Behind Enemy Lines—Writer’s Battle Plan for Success:

Promise of Increase:  Psalm 115:14 – “The Lord will give you increase more and more.”

. By infiltrating untapped markets, allied audiences, and enemy-held territory, my books will act as spiritual liberators, capturing strategic positions that establish pathways and crossings to connect with new readers and open fresh distribution channels.

As the campaign unfolds, the efforts of the 2nd Airborne will soften resistance from opposing forces, turning doubters about Jesus into believers. Every reader impacted, every connection made, and every door opened will lead to desertions among the enemy’s ranks.

The works of Jehovah Jireh and My Father’s Business are trained to fight fiercely. By engaging readers directly and expanding influence, the 2nd Airborne will keep the enemy occupied while the main portion of Operation Overlord advances.

Strategic Airstrike—Writer’s Battle Plan for Success:

Promise of Success: Genesis 17:1-9 – “The Lord has established your prosperity.”

This phase of the campaign launches airstrikes guided by prayer, ensuring that every effort—my books, blog posts, Amazon ads, social media entries, and press releases—reaches its target with divine precision. Just as airstrikes begin from land or sea, travel through the air, and land on their intended targets, our prayers ascend to heaven (Psalm 18:10), and God ensures they accomplish His purpose when their answer is manifested (Isaiah 55:11).

Your sentence is clear but could be slightly refined for smoother readability. Here’s an updated version:

In the same way Isaiah 55:11 declares that when God’s word goes forth, it will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it, we trust in faith that through His Word and prayer, every payload will reach its target and fulfill its purpose in readers’ lives.

Border Expansion Expedition—Writer’s Battle Plan for Success:

Promise of Success: Exodus 34:24 – “The Lord will enlarge your borders.”

This phase of the campaign mobilizes a full-scale invasion force to drive the enemy back and establish strategic strongholds within Amazon and other online book shopping sites.

6th Army – Right Flank Assault

The 6th Army, commanded by General Nick Caden, will execute a flanking maneuver on the enemy’s right side.

First Battalion, Dead Man’s Hand: Spearheads the assault, engaging enemy forces directly.Second Battalion, Skull Creek Stakeout, and Third Battalion, Dead Low Tide: Follow in the second and third waves, retrieving wounded (returns), and securing ground.Fourth Battalion, Phantom Gunslinger, Fifth Battalion, Mystery of the Eyewitness Ghost, and Sixth Battalion, Rumor of a Werewolf: Held in reserve, ready to deploy to critical areas as needed.5th Army – Left Flank Assault

The 5th Army, commanded by General Ricky Bradshaw, will simultaneously execute a flanking maneuver on the enemy’s left side. This action, coordinated with the 6th Army’s advance, creates a decisive “pincher” movement, trapping opposition forces in a vice and disrupting their ability to mount an effective defense.

1st Battalion, Curse of the Black Avenger: Leads the charge, launching initial strikes to break through enemy defenses on the left flank.2nd Battalion, Dead Calm, Bone Dry: Reinforces the assault, solidifying gains and expanding territory.3rd Battalion, The End of Calico Jack: Advances in the third wave, securing key positions and supporting further penetration into enemy lines.4th Battalion, Blackbeard the Pirate and Stede Bonnet’s Fateful Clash, and 5th Battalion, Down to Davy Jones: Serve as reserve forces, ready to deploy where resistance is heaviest or to exploit breakthroughs made by the lead battalions.

The 5th Army will execute its campaign in a manner similar to the 6th Army, employing targeted Amazon campaigns, social media outreach, and keyword optimization as its primary tactics. These divisions will infiltrate and disrupt enemy strongholds—books void of God’s Good News and His love, grace, mercy, hope, and faith—creating openings for future advances.

Marine Corps – Frontal Assault

“The Roaring Tides,” 1st Marine Book Division, with support from two additional divisions, will execute a frontal assault.

Objective: Keep the enemy preoccupied while the 5th and 6th Armies secure the flanks and disrupt rear operations.Tactics: Launch high-visibility initiatives, such as press releases, blog posts, and short-form video campaigns, to maintain pressure on enemy defenses and draw attention away from the flanking movements.Outcome: Weakening the enemy’s center, allowing flanking forces to execute their mission with greater efficiency.Campaign Objective—Writer’s Battle Plan for Success:

Drive the enemy (books that stand in opposition to the hope of Jesus) back across the Maginot Line and secure 9 sales per day per book (9 enemy positions eliminated daily). Utilize Amazon ads, keywords, categories, blog posts, press releases, and social media drops to establish strongholds (sales channels) and capture strategic positions (new readers, market share). Click for a detailed look at the 6th army campaign’s tactical strategy.

Campaign ExecutionFocus: Declare God’s promises over the campaign, trusting His Word to break barriers and lead to victory. Faith, prayer, and obedience to His leading will give us this territory and increase our influence.Goal: Achieve victory in this campaign by claiming God’s promised increase and victory.

The Lord says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid (Hebrews 13:5-6). If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? We will not be dismayed, for our Lord God is with us. He will strengthen us. He will help us. He will fight for us. He will uphold us with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Declarations of God’s Word for Victory“I will give you every place where you step foot.” (Joshua 1:3) I declare that as my Lord God was with Joshua, so is He with me.“I am about to give the enemy to you.” (Joshua 1:3) I declare that the spiritual strongholds opposing this campaign will fall, and victory is already assured by the Lord.“No one will be able to stand against you.” (Joshua 1:5) I declare that no opposition, resistance, or obstacle will prevail against God’s Word and purpose in this campaign.“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to follow all the law so that you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8) I declare strength, courage, and faithfulness to God’s commands, trusting that prosperity and success are in His hands.“The Lord your God gives you rest from this battle. He has granted you this land.” (Joshua 1:13) I declare that the Lord has already secured victory and granted this territory for His glory. I only need to wait and watch Him fight for us.“Since you have never been this way before, as I, the Lord your God leads, so you will know which way to go.” (Joshua 3:4) I declare that God is leading every step of this campaign, showing the way to pray, write, and manage funds and resources for His purpose.“The Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5) I declare that God is working in this campaign to do amazing things that will glorify His name and introduce thousands to Jesus.“Today I will exalt you in the eyes of your enemies and all.” (Joshua 3:7) I declare that God’s favor is upon this campaign.“I am with you.” (Joshua 3:7) I declare with confidence that God leads this army.“The Lord of all the earth will go before you.” (Joshua 3:11) I declare that God gave us the plans for this campaign and is moving ahead, breaking barriers and preparing hearts to receive His message.

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Operation Overlord

D Day, 2024

“Influence Increase—Behind Enemy Lines ”

Promise of Success:  Psalm 115:14 – “The Lord will give you increase more and more.”

This phase of the campaign is a bold, faith-driven mission. I see the 2nd Airborne Company—made up of parachute infantry regiments Jehovah Jireh and My Father’s Business—deploying behind enemy lines, infiltrating untapped markets, allied audiences, and enemy-held territory. My books act as spiritual paratroopers, capturing strategic positions that create pathways and crossings to connect with new readers and open fresh distribution channels.
As the campaign unfolds, my efforts soften resistance from opposing forces, turning doubt about Jesus into faith and hope. Every reader impacted, every connection made, and every door opened leads to desertions among the enemy’s ranks, disrupting plans to block my growth.

The words of Jehovah Jireh and My Father’s Business fight fiercely, engaging readers directly and increasing influence, keeping enemy forces occupied while the main portion of Operation Overlord advances.

“Strategic Airstrike”

Promise of Success: Genesis 17:1-9 – “The Lord has established your prosperity.”

This phase of the campaign launches airstrikes guided by prayer, ensuring that every effort—my books, blog posts, Amazon ads, social media entries, and press releases—reaches its target with divine precision. Just as airstrikes begin from land or sea, travel through the air, and land on their intended targets, my prayers ascend to heaven (Psalm 18:10), and God ensures they accomplish His purpose when they return (Isaiah 55:11).

In the same way Isaiah 55:11 declares that when God’s word goes forth, it will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it, I trust by faith in His Word and through my prayers that every payload will reach its target and fulfill its purpose in readers’ lives.

“Border Expansion Expedition”

Promise of Success: Exodus 34:24 – “The Lord will enlarge your borders.”

This phase of the campaign mobilizes a full-scale invasion force to drive the enemy back across the Maginot Line and establish strategic strongholds on Amazon and other online book shopping sites.

6th Army – Right Flank Assault

The 6th Army, commanded by General Nick Caden, will execute a flanking maneuver on the enemy’s right side.

First Battalion, Dead Man’s Hand: Spearheads the assault, engaging enemy forces directly.Second Battalion, Skull Creek Stakeout, and Third Battalion, Dead Low Tide: Follow in the second and third waves, retrieving wounded (returns), and securing ground.Fourth Battalion, Phantom Gunslinger, Fifth Battalion, Mystery of the Eyewitness Ghost, and Sixth Battalion, Rumor of a Werewolf: Held in reserve, ready to deploy to critical areas as needed.5th Army – Left Flank Assault

The 5th Army, commanded by General Ricky Bradshaw, will simultaneously execute a flanking maneuver on the enemy’s left side. This action, coordinated with the 6th Army’s advance, creates a decisive “pincher” movement, trapping opposition forces in a vice and disrupting their ability to mount an effective defense.

1st Battalion, Curse of the Black Avenger: Leads the charge, launching initial strikes to break through enemy defenses on the left flank.2nd Battalion, Dead Calm, Bone Dry: Reinforces the assault, solidifying gains and expanding territory.3rd Battalion, The End of Calico Jack: Advances in the third wave, securing key positions and supporting further penetration into enemy lines.4th Battalion, Blackbeard the Pirate and Stede Bonnet’s Fateful Clash, and 5th Battalion, Down to Davy Jones: Serve as reserve forces, ready to deploy where resistance is heaviest or to exploit breakthroughs made by the lead battalions.

The 5th Army will execute its campaign in a manner similar to the 6th Army, employing targeted Amazon campaigns, social media outreach, and keyword optimization as its primary tactics. These divisions will infiltrate and disrupt competitor strongholds, creating openings for future advances.

Focus: Leverage precision strategies, including niche categories, engaging promotional materials, and enhanced reader targeting, to dominate the left flank.Goal: Achieve 9 sales per day per book, mirroring the efforts of the 6th Army, while weakening the enemy’s position in vulnerable categories  and clearing pathways for sustained progress.

Together, the coordinated actions of the 5th and 6th Armies ensure a comprehensive victory, securing new strongholds and expanding the borders of the campaign.

Marine Corps – Frontal Assault

“The Roaring Tides,” 1st Marine Book Division, with support from two additional divisions, will execute a frontal assault.

Objective: Keep the enemy preoccupied while the 5th and 6th Armies secure the flanks and disrupt rear operations.Tactics: Launch high-visibility initiatives, such as press releases, blog posts, and short-form video campaigns, to maintain pressure on enemy defenses and draw attention away from the flanking movements.Outcome: Weakening the enemy’s center, allowing flanking forces to execute their mission with greater efficiency.Campaign Objective

Drive the enemy (books that stand in opposition to the hope of Jesus) back across the Maginot Line and secure 9 sales per day per book (9 enemy positions eliminated daily). Utilize Amazon ads, keywords, categories, blog posts, press releases, and social media drops to establish strongholds (sales channels) and capture strategic positions (new readers, market share).

Click for a detailed look at the 6th army campaign’s strategy.

The post Operation Overlord appeared first on Eddie Jones - Author.

Strategic Guide to Achieving Writing Success

Operation Overlord—6th Army Campaign Strategy

Strategic Targets (Action Plan) for Strategic Guide to Achieving Writing Success:

“Strategic Guide to Achieving Writing Success” sets the course for authors to navigate the competitive publishing world with precision and focus. By breaking down actionable steps, this guide equips writers with tools and strategies to optimize their efforts and reach their target audience effectively. Central to this plan is leveraging the power of keywords as bridges, connecting books to the readers actively searching for them.

Bridges (Keywords):
Keywords are the bridges that connect readers searching for books on Amazon.Fixed Goal: Optimize and test 10 high-performing keywords per book campaign weekly.Action Plan:Use tools like Publisher Rocket or Amazon’s auto-suggest to identify niche, long-tail keywords.Example: For Dead Man’s Hand, use keywords like “Christian mystery for teens,” “ghost story YA,” or “middle-grade detective book.”Rotate out underperforming keywords every two weeks to keep campaigns efficient. Click for a tactical report for how to execute this assignment.Crossroads (Amazon Ads):
Crossroads represent decision points where potential buyers see your ads and click through.Fixed Goal: Achieve a CTR (Click-Through Rate) of at least 0.5% and a cost-per-click (CPC) under $0.29.Action Plan:Run Sponsored Product ads targeting specific genres: “Christian fiction,” “teen mystery,” and “middle-grade adventure.”Group campaigns into small, focused segments (e.g., mystery-themed, ghost-themed keywords for Dead Man’s Hand).Use broad match ads to capture wider visibility but allocate a small budget ($10/month) to these.Towns (Categories):
Categories are towns in enemy territory where your books can establish dominance.Fixed Goal: Rank in the top 20 of 2-3 niche categories for each book.Action Plan:Research competitor rankings for categories on Amazon. Use “+” subcategories like “Teen’s Christian Mysteries” or “Teen Paranormal Fiction.”Ensure your books are listed in both popular, primary and secondary niche categories to increase visibility.Use promotional pushes (discounts or Amazon “gift codes” for giveaways) to spike sales and improve ranking.Railways (Blog Posts & Press Releases):
Railways are the lines of communication that carry your message to new regions (audiences).Fixed Goal: Publish 2 blog posts per month and release 1 press release per week.Action Plan:Blog about relevant topics such as “How Christian Fiction Inspires Faith in Teens” or “The Role of Mystery in Teaching Life Lessons.”Write press releases highlighting milestones (e.g., awards, new releases) and submit to PRlog.com, Christian and middle-grade reading outlets.Share these posts and releases widely on your social media platforms.Strongholds (Social Media Drops):
Strongholds represent reader engagement on social media, where loyalty is built.Fixed Goal: Increase engagement (likes, shares, comments) by 10% monthly.Action Plan:Schedule weekly posts featuring intriguing snippets from your books, themed graphics, or reader polls.Engage directly with followers by asking questions like, “Which Caden Chronicles mystery should Nick tackle next?”Use short-form videos (30 seconds) highlighting key themes or fun facts about the books to appeal to platforms like YouTube, Instagram or TikTok.Command Centers (Email List & Newsletter):
Command centers are your direct lines to your most loyal readers.Fixed Goal: Increase email subscribers by 50 per month.Action Plan:Offer a free downloadable short story from the Caden Chronicles as a lead magnet.Send biweekly emails sharing updates, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive discounts to your subscribers.Daily Assault Goals (9 Positions Per Day Per Book) for for Strategic Guide to Achieving Writing Success:Dead Man’s Hand:
3 units through Amazon ads, 2 units through organic searches (keywords/categories), 2 units via blog/social media traffic, and 2 units through email/newsletter subscribers.Skull Creek Stakeout:
3 units through social media drops, 2 units through Amazon ads, 2 units through word-of-mouth reviews, and 2 units via blog/press outreach.Dead Low Tide:
3 units through targeted keywords, 2 units via niche categories, 2 units through influencer/book club outreach, and 2 units via your website/email list.Overarching Strategy—:Budget Allocation:
Divide your Amazon ads budget among your top-performing campaigns, focusing on books with the highest potential to meet sales goals.Weekly Monitoring:
Evaluate ad performance, keyword effectiveness, and category rankings weekly. Shift resources to campaigns showing the strongest ROI.Milestones:
Set quarterly goals:Q1: Double daily sales to 4.5 units per book (4-5 positions taken daily).Q2: Hit the target of 9 sales per book per day (9 positions taken daily).

By focusing on these strategic targets and using prayer to guide decisions and dislodge enemy positions, this campaign can break through enemy resistance, capture market share, and secure daily victories on the battlefield of book sales.

“Supply Drop”

Psalm 115:11-16 – “Trusting in the Lord brings blessing and increase.”

Trust in the Lord is my direct line to God’s blessings and the key to success. He has promised to give success to those who fear Him, believe His word, and obey His commands. Through Jesus we have all the promises of Abraham and the strong arm of the Lord that Joshua enjoyed. God ensures every need of ours is met—tools, connections, and creativity—to sustain your mission. Each book I write and release points readers to God’s son, Jesus, offering encouragement and hope, healing and provision.

The post Strategic Guide to Achieving Writing Success appeared first on Eddie Jones - Author.

6th Army Campaign Strategy

Operation Overlord

Strategic Targets (Action Plan):Bridges (Keywords):
Keywords are the bridges that connect readers searching for books on Amazon.Fixed Goal: Optimize and test 10 high-performing keywords per book campaign weekly.Action Plan:Use tools like Publisher Rocket or Amazon’s auto-suggest to identify niche, long-tail keywords.Example: For Dead Man’s Hand, use keywords like “Christian mystery for teens,” “ghost story YA,” or “middle-grade detective book.”Rotate out underperforming keywords every two weeks to keep campaigns efficient. Click for a tactical report for how to execute this assignment.Crossroads (Amazon Ads):
Crossroads represent decision points where potential buyers see your ads and click through.Fixed Goal: Achieve a CTR (Click-Through Rate) of at least 0.5% and a cost-per-click (CPC) under $0.29.Action Plan:Run Sponsored Product ads targeting specific genres: “Christian fiction,” “teen mystery,” and “middle-grade adventure.”Group campaigns into small, focused segments (e.g., mystery-themed, ghost-themed keywords for Dead Man’s Hand).Use broad match ads to capture wider visibility but allocate a small budget ($10/month) to these.Towns (Categories):
Categories are towns in enemy territory where your books can establish dominance.Fixed Goal: Rank in the top 20 of 2-3 niche categories for each book.Action Plan:Research competitor rankings for categories on Amazon. Use “+” subcategories like “Teen’s Christian Mysteries” or “Teen Paranormal Fiction.”Ensure your books are listed in both popular, primary and secondary niche categories to increase visibility.Use promotional pushes (discounts or Amazon “gift codes” for giveaways) to spike sales and improve ranking.Railways (Blog Posts & Press Releases):
Railways are the lines of communication that carry your message to new regions (audiences).Fixed Goal: Publish 2 blog posts per month and release 1 press release per week.Action Plan:Blog about relevant topics such as “How Christian Fiction Inspires Faith in Teens” or “The Role of Mystery in Teaching Life Lessons.”Write press releases highlighting milestones (e.g., awards, new releases) and submit to PRlog.com, Christian and middle-grade reading outlets.Share these posts and releases widely on your social media platforms.Strongholds (Social Media Drops):
Strongholds represent reader engagement on social media, where loyalty is built.Fixed Goal: Increase engagement (likes, shares, comments) by 10% monthly.Action Plan:Schedule weekly posts featuring intriguing snippets from your books, themed graphics, or reader polls.Engage directly with followers by asking questions like, “Which Caden Chronicles mystery should Nick tackle next?”Use short-form videos (30 seconds) highlighting key themes or fun facts about the books to appeal to platforms like YouTube, Instagram or TikTok.Command Centers (Email List & Newsletter):
Command centers are your direct lines to your most loyal readers.Fixed Goal: Increase email subscribers by 50 per month.Action Plan:Offer a free downloadable short story from the Caden Chronicles as a lead magnet.Send biweekly emails sharing updates, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive discounts to your subscribers.Daily Assault Goals (9 Positions Per Day Per Book):Dead Man’s Hand:
3 units through Amazon ads, 2 units through organic searches (keywords/categories), 2 units via blog/social media traffic, and 2 units through email/newsletter subscribers.Skull Creek Stakeout:
3 units through social media drops, 2 units through Amazon ads, 2 units through word-of-mouth reviews, and 2 units via blog/press outreach.Dead Low Tide:
3 units through targeted keywords, 2 units via niche categories, 2 units through influencer/book club outreach, and 2 units via your website/email list.Overarching Strategy:Budget Allocation:
Divide your Amazon ads budget among your top-performing campaigns, focusing on books with the highest potential to meet sales goals.Weekly Monitoring:
Evaluate ad performance, keyword effectiveness, and category rankings weekly. Shift resources to campaigns showing the strongest ROI.Milestones:
Set quarterly goals:Q1: Double daily sales to 4.5 units per book (4-5 positions taken daily).Q2: Hit the target of 9 sales per book per day (9 positions taken daily).

By focusing on these strategic targets and using prayer to guide decisions and dislodge enemy positions, this campaign can break through enemy resistance, capture market share, and secure daily victories on the battlefield of book sales.

“Supply Drop”

Psalm 115:11-16 – “Trusting in the Lord brings blessing and increase.”

Trust in the Lord is my direct line to God’s blessings and the key to success. He has promised to give success to those who fear Him, believe His word, and obey His commands. Through Jesus we have all the promises of Abraham and the strong arm of the Lord that Joshua enjoyed. God ensures every need of ours is met—tools, connections, and creativity—to sustain your mission. Each book I write and release points readers to God’s son, Jesus, offering encouragement and hope, healing and provision.

The post 6th Army Campaign Strategy appeared first on Eddie Jones - Author.

6th Army Tactical Assignments

Operation Overlord

To verify underperforming keywords every two weeks and keep your campaigns efficient, you’ll need to track specific metrics within Amazon Ads and use those data points to identify which keywords are not delivering results. Here’s how:

Steps to Verify Underperforming KeywordsMonitor Key Performance Metrics: Regularly review the following data points in your Amazon Ads dashboard:Impressions: How often your ads appear. Low impressions may indicate keywords are too narrow or not competitive enough.Click-Through Rate (CTR): The ratio of clicks to impressions. A good CTR for Amazon ads is usually 0.5% or higher. Keywords with CTR below this threshold may not be resonating with your audience.Cost Per Click (CPC): The cost of each click. Keywords with a high CPC but low conversion rates are draining your budget.Conversion Rate: The percentage of clicks that lead to sales. Keywords with zero or low conversions despite high clicks are underperforming.ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sales): ACoS is the ratio of ad spend to sales. A higher-than-target ACoS means the keyword is not profitable.Set Benchmarks for Success: Define what success looks like for your campaigns:Impressions: At least 1,000 per keyword in two weeks.CTR: 0.5% or higher.Conversion Rate: At least 2% of clicks leading to sales.ACoS: Should align with your profitability margin (e.g., under 30%).Analyze Keyword Performance: Use Amazon Ads’ reporting tools to download performance data and filter keywords based on these metrics:Identify keywords with low impressions.Spot keywords with high clicks but no conversions.Remove or adjust bids on keywords with an ACoS that exceeds your target profitability.Test Adjustments:Reduce bids for underperforming keywords to minimize waste, but don’t remove them outright if they are getting impressions or clicks.Shift more budget to high-performing keywords to maximize results.Introduce new keywords based on customer search terms in your reports.Run A/B Testing: Test keyword variations and long-tail keywords:Swap out poorly performing keywords for new ones every two weeks based on customer search data.Experiment with match types (exact, phrase, broad) to find the most efficient combination.Use Tools for Automation:Use tools like Publisher Rocket, Helium 10, or Amazon’s Search Term Report to analyze and refine keyword performance automatically.Identify new keyword opportunities from search terms that have led to conversions.Evaluate Over Time: Track changes in performance after adjustments:Compare CTR, conversion rate, and ACoS before and after changes.Look for trends to determine if new keywords or adjusted bids are improving overall efficiency.Outcome:

By systematically reviewing and refining keywords every two weeks, you ensure that your campaigns remain optimized, reducing wasted spend and focusing on the keywords that drive impressions, clicks, and sales efficiently.

1. Create Videos Using Free ToolsCanva:Canva’s free version allows you to create professional-looking videos with text overlays, animations, and royalty-free music.Use templates to add book cover images, key themes, or fun facts.Export the videos in MP4 format.canva.comCapCut:CapCut is a free video editing app for smartphones and desktops.Add transitions, text effects, and audio to make engaging videos.Perfect for creating polished videos on the go.Available for Android and iOS.InShot:Another free mobile app that lets you trim, edit, and enhance videos.Add your own voiceover or background music to highlight book details.Great for creating simple, clean videos quickly.Available for Android and iOS.2. Content Ideas for VideosHighlight Key Themes:Record yourself summarizing a core theme from one of your books.Example: For Dead Man’s Hand: “Did you know this book was inspired by the Old West’s obsession with ghost stories? Find out how Nick Caden uncovers the truth!”Fun Facts About the Books:Use text and images to reveal little-known facts.Example: “The idea for Skull Creek Stakeout came from real vampire legends in Transylvania County, North Carolina.”Reader Challenges or Questions:Pose questions like, “What would you do if you discovered a body drained of blood? Nick Caden has to solve this mystery in Skull Creek Stakeout! Read now!”Behind-the-Scenes Insights:Share a quick clip about what inspired a particular scene or character.Example: “The zombie in Dead Low Tide? Inspired by a story I heard about shipwrecks and mysterious disappearances!”3. Share Videos on Free PlatformsInstagram Reels:Post the videos as Reels to reach a broad audience. Use hashtags like #ChristianFiction #YAReads #Bookstagram.Encourage followers to share or comment.TikTok:Use TikTok to showcase book-related themes with trending audio.Tag your videos with niche-specific hashtags like #ChristianBooks #YAAdventure.YouTube Shorts:Create short, engaging videos on YouTube to reach a wider audience.Add engaging titles like “Unravel the Mystery with Nick Caden!”Facebook Stories:Share your videos on Facebook Stories or posts. Join Christian fiction and YA mystery groups and share your content there.Twitter/X:Post videos directly on Twitter, where short, snappy content performs well.Pair the videos with engaging tweets.Pinterest Idea Pins:Use Pinterest to create visual Idea Pins (short video posts).Perfect for driving traffic to your website or book links.4. Leverage Your Smartphone

You don’t need fancy equipment to create videos. Use your smartphone to:

Record a quick clip of yourself talking about your book.Film book covers or props that relate to your story.Edit directly in free apps like CapCut or InShot.5. Free Audio and Music OptionsYouTube Audio Library: Royalty-free music to use in videos.FreeSound: A community-driven platform with free sound effects.Canva’s Free Music Library: Add music to videos with Canva.6. Maximize ReachEngage Viewers: End your video with a call to action, like “Get your copy today!” or “Follow me for more mysteries.”Use Hashtags: Research and include relevant hashtags for discoverability.Tag Others: If your book has ties to a specific genre or group, tag influencers or relevant accounts.

By combining free tools and platforms, you can create and distribute professional-quality short-form videos that engage readers and drive interest in your books.

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Going to War with God’s Words

Defeating the Devil's Schemes Against Your Writing

For my writing friends, I offer this strategic battle plan to defeat the enemy and expand your territory and influence.

In the heavenly places we fight against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil. Ephesians 6:12

Put on your spiritual armor and attack with force using all the might of God’s word!

Keywords in Titles, Descriptions, and Metadata

Salvo: Precision-guided missile
The weapons I fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds. I demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the work and knowledge of God, my Father, and I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 10:4

In the name of Jesus, I declare that every keyword embedded within my books’ metadata will pierce through the darkness and rise to prominence in search algorithms. My books’ titles, descriptions, and metadata show clarity, bypassing all manipulation and obfuscation. Above all, my books’ titles, descriptions, and metadata reign supreme on Amazon and other platforms.

Historical and Recent Sales Data, Conversion Rates

Salvo: Aerial bombardment

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16You say, whatever I ask for in prayer, believe that I have received it, and it will be mine. Mark 11:24I will not be anxious about anything. In every situation, I will present my prayers and petitions with thanksgiving to You. Philippians 4:6-7Father, You will do whatever I ask in Jesus name, so that You are glorified in the Son. I may ask You for anything in Jesus’ name, and You will do it. John 14:13-14My Father, I have confidence in approaching You, knowing that when I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me. And because You hear me, I know I have what I asked of You. 1 John 5:14-15If I agree with another believer about anything we ask for, it will be done for us by You—not because I’m deserving, but because my righteousness is in Jesus. Matthew 18:19-20You, Lord, are near when I call on You in truth. As I fear You, You fulfill my desires. You hear my cry and save me. Psalm 145:18-19

By the authority of Jesus, I ask that every obstacle tied to my books’ sales performance be obliterated. By this PRaerial bombardment of God’s promises, all schemes designed to prevent my books from being seen, found, and sold are shattered. Every algorithm bows to the authority of Jesus and the power of God’s word, ensuring my books reach their intended audience.

Ratings and Reviews

Salvo: Grenade explosions
No weapon forged against me will prevail. By the power of Jesus and in His name I refute every tongue that comes against me. Isaiah 54:17

By the authority given to me by Jesus, I declare that every false and vindictive review and negative rating planted by the enemy and featured above positive reviews is obliterated. Every attempt to suppress or diminish my books through negative reviews and ratings is destroyed by the word of God: No weapon forged against you will prevail. Amen

Browsing History, Purchases, Wishlist, and Cart Activity

Salvo: Tank fire
At the name Jesus!, every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow. Philippians 2:10

Lord Jesus, at Your name every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth quakes. At Your name we fall, hiding our face from You. This is Your might, Your authority. And because you have entrusted Your authority to me, I declare that the enemy cannot stand when Your name is proclaimed. Ready? Aim? JESUS IS LORD! Be there anything blocking my books from being discovered and purchased, by the name of Jesus I unleash a holy barrage tank fire. At the shout Jesus reigns!

When You come near, Lord, all the earth trembles. Mountains melt like wax before You. The heavens declare Your glory. At Your command, Your holy mountain shook violently, the foundations of the earth were laid bare, and rocks split apart. Even the hills dissolve before Your glory. No power can stand against You, Lord of all creation, for the earth and all within it respond to Your voice and Your presence. Exodus 19:18, Psalm 18:7, Psalm 68:8, Psalm 97:4-5, Psalm 114:7, Nahum 1:5, Matthew 27:51, Matthew 28:2

Therefore I declare any barriers that come against my books explode and crumble, making wide, clear pathways for readers to find and purchase them without obstruction. Through the blood of Jesus, I am Your child and co-heir with Christ. You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places and meet all my needs according to the riches of Your glory (Romans 8:17, Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 4:19). Blast those enemy bunkers, foxholes, caves, and buildings so that my books—which glorify You—are set free to sell!

Amazon Ads

Salvo: Sniper shot
I submit to God. I resist the devil with God’s word. “The LORD rebuke You, Satan! Flee! James 4:7, Zechariah 3:2

I submit to my Father and with the word of the Lord, take sniper-like precision at specific categories, similar books, and search phrases. Lord, I load my belt of truth with Your word—given to me by the Word of God, Jesus—and send it flying into the face of the devil and his enemy force.

Lord, You give me the ability to produce wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18You give me riches and honor. 1 Kings 3:13Prosperity comes when I keep Your commands and seek You. 1 Chronicles 22:13When I obey You, I am satisfied in both feast and famine. Psalm 37:19Each day, Lord, You load me with benefits. Remind me to look and count. Psalm 68:19Lord, Your blessing makes me rich. Proverbs 10:22You teach me how to profit! Isaiah 48:17Trusting in You, Lord, brings stability and fruitfulness to my life. Jeremiah 17:7-8Lord, You freely give me all things. Romans 8:32

My Father, by declaring your blessings over my books by Your word, divine favor falls upon my ads, hitting the exact customer who might enjoy my book or the parent of a child who needs my book. Lord, Your word is truth, and my books contain Your truth and words. I resist the devil’s oppressive attacks with Your word. Amen.

Primary/Secondary Categories, Cross-Category Success

Salvo: Artillery barrage
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me—and I give you authority to overcome all the power of the enemy.” Matthew 28:18, Luke 10:19

On the authority of Jesus, I unleash this artillery barrage against every category-barrier within Amazon and other platforms. I send salvos of God’s spoken word against the enemy.

Lord, because of your blessings on my life, I reap a harvest of a hundredfold at the end of this battle. Genesis 26:12Lord, You commands Your blessings to fall upon everything to which I set my hand. Deuteronomy 28:8Lord, You bless me when I choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19-20When I delight in Your law, I flourish. Psalm 1:1-3When I trust and commit my way to You, I prosper. Psalm 37:3-11As I walk in Your righteousness, I flourish and bear fruit. Psalm 92:12-15When I commit my works to You, my plans and imaginations are established. Proverbs 16:3

By Your word, I demolish all unfair limitations imposed upon my books by Amazon and other platforms, ensuring my books are featured prominently across all relevant and selected categories.

External Referrals, Searches, and Links

Salvo: Precision drone strike
Submit to God, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

Lord, I direct Your Word as a precision drone strike against every barrier that prevents my books from being found. At the power of Your Word, the enemy scatters in defeat; though he advances against me in one direction, he flees in seven. You arm me with strength for battle and crush every force that prevents my books from selling. Though thousands of adversaries rise at my side and tens of thousands at my right hand, because of You and Your word, none can stand against me (Deuteronomy 28:7, Psalm 18:37-40, Psalm 91:7-8)

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Robin Graves and Digger Felps Dig Into the Mystery of “Rumor of a Werewolf”

Robin Graves: “So, Digger, why did Nick head to Sleepy Hollow? Looking for some peace and quiet, or maybe a place to rest . . .  forever, shall we say”

Digger Felps: “Nah, Robin, the kid wasn’t shopping for headstones. His parents and sister ditched him for a quick trip to Kansas so they could move their belongings back East. They thought Sleepy Hollow would be a charming little town to solve a mystery. Spoiler alert: they were right.”

Robin Graves: “And what’s the deal with that Headless Horseman Inn? Sounds like my kind of haunt.”

Digger Felps: “Oh, it’s a scream, Robin. Creepy décor, spooky vibes, and guests who might just crawl out of their coffins for midnight snacks. Nick didn’t even get a proper welcome. First person he met was Nancy Drew, and she seemed more like the real deal than some rich girl who inherited a creepy old boarding house!”

Robin Graves: “Speaking of Nancy Drew, what’s her deal? Is she playing detective, or is she just another ghoul trying to upstage the Wendigo?”

Digger Felps: “She’s more like Nick’s unlicensed sidekick. They stumble on clues together, but she has a knack for sniffing out trouble in ways Nick doesn’t. She’s more a young Agatha Christie while Nick’s going full-on Scooby-Doo.”

Robin Graves: “Tell me about Sun Bear. Is he really just this wise man with an exotic past, or one of those cryptic types who makes you think you’re about to solve the mystery when you’re not?”

Digger Felps: “Oh, he’s got the whole ‘wise elder who knows too much’ vibe. He drops Wendigo lore on Nick like it’s the nightly news, but half the time, Nick’s just standing there wondering if this guy’s been sampling the spooky punch.”

Robin Graves: “Alright, let’s talk evidence. What did Nick dig up at the crime scene?”

Digger Felps: “Evidence? Try a buffet of creepy clues like claw marks, suspicious footprints, and what looked like shredded fur. Either it was the werewolf or the local dry cleaner’s mascot had a bad day.”

Robin Graves: “How about R.I.P.’s restaurant? I hear the menu’s to die for.”

Digger Felps: “Oh, it’s killer, Robin. But don’t trust the specials. The restaurant’s more about dishing out clues than food. Nick found out some of the suspects had late-night cravings… for alibis, not appetizers.”

Robin Graves: “Tell me about this ‘70s group Nick kept running into. What’s their deal?”

Digger Felps: “They’re like ghosts of Groovy Past! A bunch of wannabe actors playing TV cops and detective characters, trying to relive the glory days of classic TV. They show up with theories wilder than a disco ball, but somehow, they keep stumbling into the action—bell-bottoms and all.”

Robin Graves: “Let’s not leave out the cryptic messages. What was Nick getting—text messages from the undead?”

Digger Felps: “Not quite. More like spooky riddles leading him to Raven’s Rock. It’s the kind of place you’d expect a werewolf to hang out, but turns out, the truth’s stranger than fur-fiction.”

Robin Graves: “Alright, Digger, time for the big reveal. Who’s the killer, and was it a hairy situation?”

Digger Felps: “We’ll leave that for readers to decide.”

Robin Graves: “Last question, Digger. That strange confrontation on the train ride home. What was that about?”

Digger Felps: “I’m betting it wasn’t a trailer for a Hallmark movie. My money’s on someone who wanted Nick to stay in the mystery business. You know, keep him howling for answers.”

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