Marshall Coleman's Blog, page 2

How to Be a Published Author

One of my short stories was published on a new site for fiction readers! You can check it out HERE!

In the midst of all the excitement, I was asked the same question multiple times this week by people who noticed this.

“How do you get what you wrote to be published?” I’m here to tell you it’s actually quite simple.

Two things: Research and Effort.

That is it when it comes to publishing stories or books these days. Sure, a few more detailed things can come in between there, but primarily it takes those two things. A study done by the New York Times a few years ago said that nearly 80% of people would love to write a book someday.

80 percent!

Nearly everyone has some sort of story they want to Give to the world. I’ve been within that 80 percent for 10 years. Some of you might have been in there even longer.  But I’m here to tell you that you can do it NOW!

The world of Indie Publishing has been lit up over the past few years. It has taken huge credibility and is no longer considered to be a laughable source of professionalism. My proof, you ask?

First of all, of the major films to be released in the past year, two of them started out as indie books. One of them is the upcoming film “The Martian” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon. That right there proves that how it’s published doesn’t seem to matter as much as long as there’s a good story or information.

On top of that, I’ve talked to many different people who either work in the publishing industry, or have been authors. I asked them advice as to what’s the best way to get my work out there. And each one, told me the same thing.

Do. It. Yourself.

They said it’s the most efficient way to get your work out there, you’d have to market your own work the most even if you were traditionally published AND you don’t have to wait for others to tell you if you’re good enough. YOU ARE. Just as long as you put forth those two things.

Research and Effort.

So I’ve taken that approach and have been an Indie Author ever since. And it’s been awesome!

I’ve researched (and still am constantly) on how to better my reach for this field. I’ve put forth effort (every night before bed and my off-days) to go above and beyond what I need to make my work the best it can be. I’ve used editors. I’ve found the best ways to market. I’ve figured out how to continually make myself a better writer.

It’s led to me finding a few sites, like the one I was just published on (originsfiction.com) to have my work published by others as I still retain the rights. I found it by researching the internet and by sending out submissions to them.

It’s also led to to publish my books through various forms of indie publishing resources, like Amazon and CreateSpace.

If you’re interested in writing, if you wish to be published someday or if you have a story to Give, that’s all it takes. Research how, what, when and where to do it (using the internet, social media, kindle books, youtube, etc.) and put forth the effort.

You can become a published author.
That's right.
YOU.

Do the Research.
Give the effort.
And
YOU
CAN
DO IT.

— Marshall Coleman (@Marsh_Coleman) September 11, 2015

Here’s 3 Simple Ways to Get Along With Someone You Disagree With

In today’s world, there is much to disagree on. Lately, it has seemed that our society has fallen in love with this idea that if someone disagrees with you, then they must hate you so therefore, you must hate them.

First of all, this is an unintelligent. Secondly, this is an incredibly immature way of thinking.

Regardless of what society and the media says, there are indeed ways to get along with people you disagree with. Here are 3:

Control your emotions. This is the root of where hate lingers. When we disagree, it can often stir something within to make our blood boil. This can sometimes be a natural reaction. However, this doesn’t make it ok. My 11 month old daughter reacts this way when she doesn’t hear or get what she wants. The way we grow up in this situation is by handling our issues in a mature fashion. With respect, kindness and love.
Be positive.  Optimism can bring out the best in not just others, but you. Look on the bright side of things. Positivity brings light to the conversation. Negativity brings darkness. This does not mean that you should give in to other person’s opinions. It just means that you can stand your ground while being uplifting at the same time.
Pray for them. Prayer is often the answer for most things but especially in this situation. Having worked in the church for a long while, you definitely gain some people who disagree with you. Christ said to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). I can tell you firsthand that this works. Praying for those people takes that identity of “enemy” away much easier than you think. It causes so much anger to settle and helps guide you with “…peace that surpasses understanding…” (Phillippians 4:7).

Remember that disagreeing is okay. It’s a matter of how you do it, though, that determines whether you’ll live with love in your heart or hate. I’ll stick with what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said.

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

-MLK Jr.

— Marshall Coleman (@Marsh_Coleman) September 8, 2015

May you Give love in every disagreement you come across in your story.

What other things have you done to help in disagreeing situations?

New Excerpt from My Upcoming Book!

It’s Friday!!! In honor of my upcoming book, ‘So…I’m a Dad!(?)’ here is ANOTHER story for you to enjoy before the release date October 27th!

 

-The Morning-

If anyone truly knows me, they know one thing about me that I often try to lie about. I am NOT a morning person. I want you to understand just how much of a non-morning person I am. I am the person that hits their snooze 7 times only to sleep past it the eighth time. 

I am the one who feels the difference between 6:58AM and 7:00AM.

I moan and groan and have to prepare myself for the day, most of the time with an unintentional exhausted scowl on my face.

I love my sleep.

My body is programmed to be this way. It’s something I can’t help. Ask my wife who is without a doubt a morning person. 

She’s one of those people who shoots up out of bed before her alarm and starts talking. (In my opinion silence is platinum the first 30 minutes of wake up. If any of you reading this agree, we need to fist bump right now). She could run 6 miles the second she wakes up. She’s a different breed.

So when the time came for us to have a child, I remember talking to my wife when she was 6 months pregnant about whose waking habits we thought our baby would have.

The results?

Smiley is a different breed.

The second the sun rises and she’s ready she lets out one of those weird baby stretching noises. She is standing up in her crib, smiling ear to ear and ready to take on the new adventures of the day. Nothing, and I mean nothing, not being horribly sick or getting no sleep or being hungry, is going to stop her from believing that. The morning is here, and she is determined to have a great, brand new day.

Most recently, she adds in other little things as well. One day it might be clapping. The next it might be a big bowl of uncontrollable laughter at Lord knows what. The following it could be babbling to herself happily. But it’s always encompassed by her unearthly joy for the morning.

Now, I could lie there each morning with the same attitude my body and mind have had my whole life and think “What are you doing, kid? You should want to be back asleep right now. Go back to sleep. Go. Back. To. Sleep.”

But I’d be missing something quite extraordinary. I wouldn’t get to witness the love of my child getting to start anew once again.

She doesn’t care if she’s tired. It doesn’t matter if she’s been up all night with a fever. It doesn’t bother her that her mouth has been killing her from teeth coming in. The morning is a new opportunity to be awake and she wants to take hold of it.

For the past few months I have taken note of this intensely. It’s something I’ve become quite jealous of. I have worked to become better at enjoying the morning as we all should. 

Now, I’m not going to lie and say I’m a born-again morning person, and you should be too. Or that I wake up with a smile bigger and creepier than the Joker’s. But I’m trying to be thankful for the new days. I’m trying to be gracious for the sun rising again. I’m doing my best to be joyful that I have another chance to be a husband, a father, and a living person.

It’s normal to wake up.  It’s unique to wake up with a smile.

Thank you, Smiley, for showing me this.

4 Ways to Shake Off the Worry

Naturally, I’m a worry wart. To all my other worry warts out there, I salute you.

We all worry about things. Sometimes it’s simple. Sometimes it’s drastic.

But nearly every time this happens we waste our energy. What we end up worrying about, most of the time, never actually happens. Then we are relieved and realize there was no need to worry about anything. (I often think “There’s never a need to worry again”).

Yet what do we do when the next thing comes up? We repeat the same process.

But we don’t have to continue this endless cycle.

Here are 4 simple ways to help you shake off those annoying little fears.

1. Do Something You Love. Getting your mind focused on something you enjoy doing (like writing, playing music, cooking, etc.) can brighten your mood and settle your stresses easily.

2. Find An Encourager. Whether it’s a friend, a parent, a mentor, or a dog, find people that you know can always lift you up. They are out there. You just have to be open and willing.

3. Do Something Active. Sitting with your own thoughts makes the fear grow. Your body is healthiest when you are active. Your mind, which is where your worries lie, is part of that body. Get out and exercise, walk, play a sport or even remove yourself from the environment you’re in for a little while. You’ll notice a difference in your attitude.

4. Pray About it. The most important. Isaiah 41:10 says “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am the Lord Your God.” God is right here. He is with you through all of it. He is ready for you to take your worries to Him. All you have to do is talk. Being able to communicate with God is peace in itself.

Be strong fellow worry warriors.

What are the things you worry about most? Are there any other things not listed that you do to escape the worry?