Keri Wyatt Kent's Blog, page 3

Make 2024 the year you finally write your book

You’ve always wanted to write a book. What if 2024 is the year you make that happen? 

Registration opens today for the 2024 Powerful Story Writers’ Group. Read on or jump to the application here.

You have a powerful story to tell, wisdom to share. Perhaps you’ve been working on a book, or maybe it’s been sitting on a shelf (or on your laptop) for a while. But now, you’re motivated to get it done! You just need someone to guide you, encourage you, and hold you accountable.

Maybe you’re a professional who wants to put the expertise you’ve gained in your work into a book that will establish you as an authority, and open the door to speaking and consulting opportunities. Or maybe you just want to offer your hard-earned wisdom to mentor others via the written word. Maybe you just feel called to write!

In my own writing journey, I’ve found that having fellow writers to encourage, challenge and guide me has made the journey all the more satisfying–and productive.

Photo by Victoria Borodinova (Pexels)

Writing can be a lonely undertaking.

But what if you could be a part of a writing community? What if you could sharpen your writing skills in a group learning experience that also provided encouragement and accountability? And provided a path to getting your non-fiction manuscript finished in one year?

The Powerful Story Writers’ Group provides just that. This twelve-month online writing community, led by multi-published author and writing coach Keri Wyatt Kent, will take you from stuck to completed rough draft in one year–as long as you are willing to commit to the process. Focused on non-fiction, the group will help you define your writing goals, break them down into manageable steps, and achieve them. And you’ll be part of an encouraging community that will cheer you on every step of the way!

Read more or jump to the application here.

A one-year online writing community

You’ll learn together with others in this community, receiving customized instruction and coaching. You’ll be part of a writers’ group, where you can work and learn alongside other writers in an online community that provides encouragement, accountability, and practical instruction.  You don’t have to read in front of the group, you don’t have to be an expert. Just come as a learner who wants to get things done! Even if you have no experience, you’re invited to apply! 

Writing can be a lonely endeavor and having others to learn and grow alongside you can keep you moving forward. The Powerful Story Writers’ Group is ideal for those who have started working on a book but are eager to improve their writing and complete their manuscript. Or those who have always wanted to write a book but need accountability, encouragement and practical help!

Your guide and teacher, Keri Wyatt Kent, is the author of twelve books, and the co-author or contributor on twelve more. She’s been traditionally published and self-published, collaborated with New York Times bestselling authors, and been working as a journalist, author and content creator for more than 30 years. She serves on the board of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference, where she also serves on the faculty.

Join this writing community and you get:the Start Your Powerful Story workbook, a brainstorming tool to help you clarify your message, determine your target reader, understand your strengths and more.live monthly writing instruction (everything from developing your book’s “hook” to how to do research) from a multi-published author, writing coach and writers’ conference instructorone 30-minute one-on-one coaching call each quarter of the year. That’s four coaching sessions!access to recorded teaching videosmembership in the Powerful Story private Facebook group, where you can ask questions, connect with other writers and get writing tips and encouragement.teaching that will improve your writing.connection, encouragement, and accountability of a writing community.specific, constructive, individual writing feedback via email each month.connecting with other writers to learn and be encouraged in a group setting.accountability to complete short-term and long-term goals.the satisfaction of finally finishing your manuscript!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

How this writing community works: 

You’ll receive monthly instruction about writing, publishing, and self-editing, delivered via 45-minute group Zoom call. This interactive writing class is like attending a writer’s conference session once a month. Learn in focused, manageable sessions and then practice what you learn.

All members will receive the Start Your Powerful Story workbook, an in-depth tool that asks you 20 questions about your message, your reader, your story and your topic that will help focus your writing. In our first meeting we’ll go through your answers to help you use the workbook to outline your book.

All group members will set a writing word count goal for the year. We’ll break that down into monthly goals (typically 5000 to 10,000 words per month). Every month, you’ll turn in a draft of what you write. Keri will review and return your draft within one week, noting strengths and areas that need more attention.

You’ll also receive a quarterly private coaching session (via Zoom) with Keri, offering specific feedback on your work, and suggested next steps.

Videos of teaching, writing tips and other content will be posted in a private Facebook group (or emailed to you if you prefer) where you can interact with other cohort members and Keri. You’ll have lifetime access to the videos to review whenever you like, even after you graduate from the group.

Your assignments all move you closer to your goal of a finished draft—no writing prompts or off-topic exercises.  No reading out loud or being critiqued in front of the group. Just a clear plan to complete your book in an atmosphere of encouragement and accountability.

You’ll get quick feedback and constructive critique to encourage you while bringing out the best in your writing.

The group will purposely be limited in size so you get individualized attention and mentoring.

Normally, the cost is $299 per month.

However, you can get the early bird rate of $199 per month by signing up before December 15, 2023.

The first class meets Thursday, January 4, 2023. We’ll meet the first Thursday of each month via Zoom at 7 p.m. central time so that participants from across the country can participate.

To apply for a spot in this writers’ community, fill out this Google form. There are only ten slots so if you’re ready to finish your book in one year, apply right away. Once you’re accepted as a group member, you’ll receive an invoice.

FAQ’s about this writing community

 

Do you offer discounts? Yes! If you register before December 15, 2023, you’ll get half off the monthly rate! And you can get a one free month if you meet your word goal, or if you refer another person who joins the group. You can choose to take that in the form of a refund or in one additional month of coaching.

Will my book be ready to publish in one year? Probably not. The journey from idea to published book takes a bit longer than twelve months. Your completed draft should be ready for editing, and then for self-publishing. Or, if you decide to pursue it, seeking traditional publication. (One of our classes will cover publishing options.) We can hook you up with whatever you need next on your journey to publication, if that’s your ultimate goal.

Can I really finish my book in one year? You’ll get out of this what you put in. If you commit to the process, you’ll finish a draft in twelve months. It may still need some revising and polishing and will definitely need to be professionally edited. (I’ve written two dozen books and every one was professionally edited. Most books are go through several rounds of editing before publication.) But if you invest the time and meet your word count goals, you can complete a solid draft in one year.

Will you write my book for me? I’d love to, but that’s not what this group is about. I do offer collaborative writing services, but that’s a separate service altogether—and a considerably larger investment. (If you’re looking for a coauthor message me about that.) This group will develop your writing skills, boost your confidence and help YOU write your own book. I’ll offer feedback and coaching, but not editing, rewriting, or writing for you.

How much do I have to write each week? At the first meeting, you’ll set a word count goal for the six months. You’ll fill out a contract to commit to that goal. A standard non-fiction book is around 50,000 to 60,000 words. If you want to write a 50,000-word book, that’s 4,166 words per month. Which is about 1000 words per week. But if you write five days a week, that’s only about 200 words per each of those five days–which is about a half page or so. It’s very doable but takes commitment. If you complete the word count in your contract, you get one month of free coaching.

Why do we measure progress in word count? Word count is standard way of measuring manuscript length in the publishing industry. No matter what size or font, 1000 words is still 1000 words. A typical non-fiction book is 50,000 to 70,000 words. You will set your word goal at our first group coaching session and commit to that.

Who is in the group? We will have up to ten non-fiction writers in this group. (If you are working on a novel or memoir, I can refer you to other groups specializing in those genres.) Writers will be selected based on topic, so that we don’t have overlap. The other members will not be critiquing your work, only learning beside you, asking clarifying questions, offering positive feedback and providing encouragement on the journey.

What if I don’t finish my book? That’s okay. Keri will lead another group in the future. We’ll celebrate whatever progress you make and cheer you on. But if you put in the work each week, you will finish a draft of your manuscript in twelve months.

Ready to apply for membership in the Powerful Story Writers’ Group? Click here to fill out the application. You don’t pay anything until you’re accepted into the group.

 

 

 

 

The post Make 2024 the year you finally write your book appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

Transformational travel: Why I traveled solo to France

To some of my friends, it made no sense at all. To others, it made perfect sense.

Why would a happily (well, mostly happily) married 60-year-old decide to travel solo to Chamonix, France, to hike in the Alps? Then again, why wouldn’t she?

Ever since my daughter visited Chamonix while she was in college, I’ve been intrigued with this tiny ski village located in a valley in France, snuggled up against the borders of Italy and Switzerland, in the shadow of the famous Mont Blanc. In the summer, it’s a mecca for trail runners, hiker, climbers.

[image error]

I kept reading and hearing about the trend of solo travel—especially for women. I’d been traveling solo for years—mostly in the U.S., and mostly by accident. In an earlier season of my life, I traveled to speak at events and retreats around the country. I’d always tack on an extra day or two at the end of my travels to explore a city or even just take a solitary retreat of my own.

A few years ago, I went with my kids and husband to Italy. I purposely booked my flight a couple of days before my family so I could explore Venice on my own. I did the same thing when I traveled to Ireland with a friend, and England with my daughter. So I’d done some mini solo excursions.

But Chamonix was different. I longed to do a week there on my own—staying in town but taking day hikes around the valley. I felt an insistent tug to explore the Alps. Some people like to shop or take tours or lay on a beach when they travel. But I wanted to hike.

My husband is not a hiker, and I knew he would not enjoy a vacation that consisted of walking up and down steep hills for several hours each day.

I was both intrigued and scared about going solo. And I thought—maybe I’ll do that someday. Maybe next year.

But then, it kind of hit me: next year, I won’t be more fit for hiking. I won’t be younger. I won’t have more money. Who knows what could happen in a year?

And I looked around. One friend was having meniscus surgery, another broke her knee. Another friend was fighting cancer.

And I thought: someday is now.

Right now, I am fit, healthy, can afford this trip and have the time to do it.

I booked my ticket. And then told my husband I was going. “By yourself?” he asked.

I told a few people I was thinking about it, and pretty soon, a few friends were talking about joining me. I was like, sure, why not? One even booked a ticket and reserved an apartment in town for us. Then she broke her foot and couldn’t go.

The others couldn’t commit to a week in September, and so I was back to solo—and while I’m so sorry my friend broke her foot, and it would have been great to have companions, I was excited to be going on my own. I had a plane ticket (purchased with points) and a reasonably priced place to stay, and I wasn’t about to cancel. I’d read a lot about solo travel, and I was curious. And a little nervous.

I’m a big planner when it comes to travel. I had a spreadsheet. I printed out directions for various hikes. I read articles on what to do in Chamonix in summer, although my trip was in the shoulder season, which made it much less crowded. I studied the map of Chamonix, and realized the village is actually small, quaint and easy to navigate. I watched approximately 200 YouTube videos from travel vloggers who showed me various hikes and trails. I talked to a friend who’d recently hiked the Trail du Mont Blanc. (Two of my top StrengthsFinders are “Learner” and “Input” which serves me well when it comes to travel.)

I downloaded DuoLingo and started practicing French (which I don’t speak), using that and Google translate to figure out how to say basic phrases.

I also prepared physically. I’m pretty fit for my age. I run 20 miles a week or more. I walk every day. I stretched my long runs, added more walking (including finding whatever hills I could here in the Midwest) and visits to the gym. I trained for this trip as if it were a race.

On the trails of Chamonix, I often encountered people older than myself, hiking along the steep, rocky paths as if they were strolling through the park. I loved this.

But most importantly, I experienced joy. When my daughter looked at my photos (I’ll be sharing them over the next week or two on my Instagram) she said, “You look so happy in all of these.” Which was a truth I had to examine: why did a week on my own bring me such contentment and joy?

I wore this silly grin all week.

My little apartment, a third-floor walkup above an organic grocery store just off the main street, was perfect. Some days, I hiked to a chalet or refuge and purchased lunch. Other days, I brought my own lunch by visiting the little shop around the corner and purchasing a “sandwich de refuge,” which was a length of French bread stuffed with prosciutto, ham and cheese—amazing and filling, and notably, not soaked in mayonnaise. It cost just five euros and it fit easily in my pack. Packed in next to my cold water, it stayed fresh all day.

Despite the fact it wasn’t high season, I saw plenty of people, both in town and out on the trails. People were friendly, offering a simple “Bonjour!” as they passed on the trails.

The freedom of solo travel exhilarates me. I wake up when I want, plan my day as I wish. I sometimes meet people, and sometimes don’t. But there were no committee meetings about what we’d do each day, as there tend to be when you travel with a group. There was no having to consult or accommodate for anyone else.

As I said, I’m a planner. I had a variety of hikes planned, but flexed according to the weather and how achy my legs were. But I didn’t have to be the tour guide for other people. I had no one to corral out the door except myself. I didn’t need to feed anyone except myself. I just said, “Ready to go?” and I replied “Yep.” There was no one saying, “Just a minute, I need to first…” or “How far is this hike?” or “Where are my hiking boots?” As long as I didn’t complain, there was no one complaining, no one I had to tend to.

I hiked for several hours each day, I rode the cable car to the top of the world, I saw glaciers, I cooled my sweaty face in mountain streams. I stood and just stared at Mont Blanc in amazement. I got coffee, or gelato, or a beer, when I wanted to. I ate when I was hungry and didn’t if I wasn’t.

In wandering, we run into ourselves, and God. Sitting on a rock, gazing at the Alps, I felt a gentle presence of the Spirit that I haven’t felt in a long while. I felt welcomed by the town—people in a tourist town are friendly. I also felt capable. Even with my very limited French, I can figure out how to buy postcard stamps, catch the bus, order coffee, and find the bathrooms.

In many ways, I’ve been “training” spiritually and emotionally for this trip for a long time. I’ve explored museums and neighborhoods in my hometown of Chicago by myself. I’m comfortable with myself—hiking alone, eating alone, just relaxing and reading a book or writing in my journal by myself. Because I don’t have much talent for small talk, and the thoughts in my head are interesting. I like watching people and wondering about their stories, but I also feel quite comfortable just hanging out by myself.

Walking by the Arve River in Chamonix valley

Most of all, I like making adventures part of my own story. I want to live a meaningful and interesting story. Maybe you do too.

If that’s you, I hope you’ll click over and read my new Substack that explores the intersection of hospitality and travel, called Welcoming and Wandering. Subscribe for free and read it here. I’ll be writing about welcoming (hospitality and how that’s shaped me and my family) and wandering (travel and how that shapes us). Both of these practices expand our world, grow our understanding, connect us with others and with God.

I’m curating a day-by-day album of my trip on Instagram, with specific hikes and tips, should you be curious or even considering a trip to Chamonix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Transformational travel: Why I traveled solo to France appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

What does it take to get a royalty book deal?

Many aspiring writers think that the only way to get their book published is to self-publish, or pay someone to publish their book. But traditional royalty publishers pay their authors to write books.

Sounds great, right?

Photo by Sora Shimazaki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/

But what exactly is royalty publishing? And how do you get a publisher to work with you? I wrote about it recently in my free Powerful Story Newsletter. Let me share some of what I wrote there:

The path to publication

If you’re writing a book, I know you’re asking: what’s the best path to publication? I know this because writers ask me all the time: how do I turn my idea (or rough draft, or pages of scribbling) into an actual book? How can I get published?

Basically, there are three paths to take your manuscript to a published book: self-publishing, hybrid (also called vanity) publishing (this one has a thousand variations), and traditional royalty publishing.

I write a lot about self-publishing (like this popular post), but today I want to lay out the basics about traditional (aka royalty)  publishing. And bust some myths in the process.

Self-publishing is just that: the author is also the publisher.  Which means the author takes on all of the expenses that publishers normally do: editing, design, printing, distribution. In return, they get to keep the profits after their expenses (just like all publishers do). It’s simple economics. Costs minus sales revenue equals profit. (The problem is, sometimes there is not much profit. In other words, if you don’t sell books, you don’t earn a profit.)

Traditional publishers pay those expenses, and contract with authors to create books. The publisher pays the author to write the book.  The traditional publisher makes money selling books—not by charging the author anything. (Vanity publishers, by contrast, make money by charging the author to publish their book for them.) Traditional royalty publishers are a business with a staff of editors, designers, and other production specialists to get the book from start to finish.

So how do you get a royalty publishing deal, and what can you expect if you take this path to publication? And what myths about publishing do you need to stop believing in order to find this path??

Publishing Myth: I can just send my manuscript to publishers and they’ll make me an offer.

Traditional publishers are extremely selective about which authors they work with. If you want to get your book published, you must come with great writing, a saleable idea, and a strong platform (meaning you bring an audience with you). You must sell yourself and your idea with a strong book proposal. Even strong, capable writers get rejected by publishers every day.

Nearly always, you cannot get in the door at a traditional publisher unless you have an agent. Some smaller independent publishers might take unagented work, but it has to really shine to get a green light. But publishers prefer to work with reputable agents who will only send them quality projects.

A reputable agent will not charge their clients anything, other than a 15 percent commission on their book deal. They get paid only when the author does.

Also, if you are writing non-fiction, you would first submit a book proposal, not the whole manuscript. If you’re writing a novel, you’d still submit a proposal and query letter, but the publisher will then want to see the full manuscript before making an offer.

Photo by Ron Lach
(Pexels)

Publishing Myth: You make a lot of money if you get a publishing deal.

A royalty publisher pays you. That’s true. But not a lot—at least when you are a newbie. A royalty publisher often pays a contracted author an advance, anywhere from a few thousand to over six figures (typically for celebrities or very successful authors), before the book is published (and in the case of non-fiction, before it is fully written). Authors typically receive part of the advance upon signing the contract, another portion once they submit an acceptable manuscript, and the last portion when the book is released, although contracts vary. (Some publishers might not offer an advance to debut writers, but they won’t charge you money to publish your book.)

The advance, however, has some strings attached. First, if you do not actually write the book, or don’t produce a book that the publisher deems acceptable, you must pay your advance back. So if you promise a World War II historical romance, but actually write about a space alien adventure, you’ve not written what is called an “acceptable manuscript.” Or if the quality of your writing doesn’t match what was in the sample chapters of your book proposal, you’ve again not written an acceptable manuscript, and you not only don’t receive the rest of your advance, you usually have to pay back the part you already received.

The second “string” attached to advances is this: an advance gets paid back with book sales, like a draw on a commission. Say you get a $10,000 advance. (For a book that probably took you a year to write.) Your agent gets 15 percent, which means your advance is now $8,500. (Don’t quit your day job just yet.) Your contract will spell this out, but every book you sell will pay you a small royalty (10 to 20 percent of the sales price, typically). But before you start collecting royalties, your book needs to “earn out.” Meaning if your book retails for $20, and you get $4 as a royalty, that $4 gets deducted from what the publisher has already paid you. You have to basically pay back the advance with book sales (in this example, sell 2500 books) before you get paid additional funds. If you do earn out, your agent will get 15 percent of subsequent royalties you earn. (And yes, agents are worth every penny of that commission.)

Most books don’t earn out (only about 25 percent do). And depending on your contract, your royalty might be less (say, if amazon sells your $20 book for $10, you get the royalty on that price. Again, don’t quit your day job). This makes it take even longer to “earn out.” Publishers still make money on books that don’t earn out, and you don’t have to pay back your advance if you don’t earn out.

Photo by MART PRODUCTION: https://www.pexels.com/

Publishing Myth: I don’t need to edit my book, the publisher will do that.

Traditional publishers employ editors and designers, who work on the books their employer has contracted. They do not charge authors a fee for completing this work. Because the publisher keeps the bulk of the profits from book sales, they have capital with which to pay their employees. So yes, a traditional publisher will provide editing services.

However, this gets tricky. Rookie authors should have someone to edit their book before they submit it to an agent or publisher, simply because it increases the chances of a publisher saying yes. If you’ve written a book, you need a careful self-edit, followed by a professional developmental edit, before you submit it to an agent or publisher. Most traditionally published books go through multiple rounds of editing. I’ve had clients tell me, “I don’t think I need an editor. I used to teach English.” I give them a sample edit of two pages of their manuscript, and they’re like–whoa. Here’s more on why you need an editor, and what editors do for authors.

Sending an unedited manuscript is a recipe for rejection. Because first of all, rookie authors should actually start by writing a book proposal, which includes two or three sample chapters. And second, and they should have that proposal and sample edited before submitting it.

Confusion arises when vanity publishers or so-called hybrid publishers say that they are “publishers” but charge a fee for editing, typesetting, printing or other production costs. There are hundreds of companies that do this, and typically, they’ll work with anyone willing to pay them.

Want to read the rest of this post, learn more about hybrid publishers and what publishers do to market your book? Hop over to Substack where you can read the rest of this post, plus more on writing and publishing. Visit https://keriwyattkent.substack.com/ to read all my newsletters and subscribe.

If you’ve writing a book and would like a free consultation on finding the right publishing path, I’m here to help. This is not an offer to read your full manuscript, but a chance to have a meaningful and honest conversation in which I’ll give you some free advice and suggest next steps. Just click that blue contact button on the upper right of this page or visit https://keriwyattkent.com/contact-us/ to request your free consultation.

The post What does it take to get a royalty book deal? appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

Writers: Let curiosity guide your research

If you’re writing a book, or thinking of writing one, a vital first step is research. But maybe you chafe at word, or the idea. This week’s Substack offers tips on how to lean in to your curiosity, and how you’ll find yourself doing “research” without really trying when you do. Here’s a preview of this week’s newsletter, which explores the benefits and the surprising downside of doing research for your writing:

Why writers need to start with research

A non-fiction book is not an island. It is, rather, a building in a city of ideas. One voice of many in a conversation. Employ whatever metaphor you want, but you are not the first person to write about whatever topic you are writing about. However, you do have something to add to that conversation.

My own non-fiction books (I’ve written a dozen of them) often began with a question or dilemma in my own life. I’d often follow the old advice of writing a book that I wish I could read.

How do I nurture my spiritual life while raising preschoolers? (God’s Whisper in a Mother’s Chaos)

How do I hear God? (Listen)

 How is the pace of my life related to my experience of God? (Breathe)

My writing is driven by my commitment to be curious. While I share my thoughts on a topic, and contribute to the conversation, I also want to learn by writing. I want to always nurture my curiosity, and research allows me to do that.

Writing a book begins with drilling down on our curiosity. Before you write—read. Another way to say it: Before and while you write a non-fiction book, you need to do research.

Photo by cottonbro studio at www.pexels.com

The benefits of researchWriters do research so that they can:

1.     Be informed about the topic

The term “research” may conjure memories of schoolwork or science or other unpleasant past experiences. But if you think of research as simply leaning in on your curiosity, it will feel easier and more interesting.

Curious about curiosity? Subscribe for free to A Powerful Story Newsletter and read the rest of this week’s newsletter right here.

The post Writers: Let curiosity guide your research appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

Holding one another’s stories

I recently took on the adventure of mentoring a small group of writers. I sometimes wonder what I was thinking. This is no easy task. I daily doubt myself.

But today I read through some of what they’ve courageously submitted for me to review (that’s part of the writers’ group rules—you have to write! And let me read it!). They have each pulled back the curtain on their lives and put into words the events, feelings, and conversations that shaped them.

Photo by Artem Podrez: https://www.pexels.com

And I was blown away by how precious each of our lives are, and what a delicate and fierce treasure each of our stories really are.

Becoming a storyteller

Stories of pain, stories of joy, stories of meeting God in the midst of both joy and pain—my writers (I like to claim them as my writers—like adopted children) poured all of that onto the page. I felt honored to receive their words, feelings, stories. I see all of them making progress as they figure out this crazy craft of storytelling. And when I watch them somehow summon the courage to use that skill in the most vulnerable and brave act of all—telling the truth about your life—I feel proud and honored, like they’ve shared a gift. Which they have.

Even if you don’t write it down, your story can inspire others. You can speak your truth, share your experience, offer wisdom that says “me too. I’ve been there. Here’s what i learned.” Whether you do that in the context of a small group of friends, or a mentoring relationship, your story gains strength in being told.

Becoming a story-holder

Even if you are not a writing mentor or editor like me, you can still hold people’s stories, cupping them in your hand like a found seashell or a four-leaf clover. Stories don’t have to be written to be powerful. By simply listening to others, you are fulfilling what Jesus said was the most important: love God, and love others. It’s been said that most people cannot tell the difference between being loved and being listened to, because they feel the same.

By simply making yourself available to listen, with one ear tuned to the story-teller, and the other to the Divine whisper, you can be a story-holder. A receiver and affirmer of the most precious gift each of us has—our story. And by listening, without judgment or interjecting (“that reminds me of–me!”) two things happen.

Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi: https://www.pexels.com/

You get the opportunity to “be Jesus” to another person. You get to serve as ambassadors, offering the attention that God lavishes on us, but with skin (and ears) on. The story teller gets to experience love through you. What a gift to give someone.

As a story-holder, you also get to hear from God. The stories of writers or wanderers or ordinary people are soaked with grace, that sometimes needs to be excavated carefully. You unbury that treasure and find that God has met you, ministered to you, blessed you. You give your attention, you receive the grace that only story-holders experience.

Who needs you to be a “story holder” for them? Who needs the ministry of your listening?

P.S. I write more about the practice of listening (story-holding) in my book Listen. You can grab a copy of the updated and improved 2023 edition on amazon.

 

The post Holding one another’s stories appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

When God seems distant, a strategy for connection

If I were to ask you to list three things you’re grateful for, what would make the list?

In fact, I am asking you to list what you’re grateful for. I mean, it’s up to you. But if you want to experience joy, I highly recommend it. Not just today, but every day. The practice of gratitude recalibrates, reminds us to notice the good. We need it for our mental and spiritual health.

What would happen if you paid attention to your joy? If you took time to notice what brings you joy, and regularly schedule time for gratitude and the joy it brings?

Your joy connects you to God. If God feels distant, begin to bridge the gap by tapping into your joy. How? By practicing gratitude.

The last few days, I spent time with friends I’ve known since college. I’m incredibly grateful for them, and being able to spend a California weekend with them. We ate too much, stayed up late laughing, drank wine while watching some gorgeous sunsets. We walked the beach. We went on a sail. Allegedly to watch whales. We didn’t see any whales but we still had fun, singing the entire theme to Gilligan’s Island as we motored out of the harbor for “a three four hour tour.”

What brings you joy?

In my book Listen, I wrote this about listening to God in our joy. Here’s a short excerpt (from the new revised 2023 edition):

Most of us discount our own joy. Or when we accomplish something, we just check it off the list instead of enjoying the satisfaction of a job well done. Or at least, done. We don’t notice what we love, what we’re good at. But these things matter. Their impact ripples out to the people you will love and serve and help. When you determine what you love, you see in it a way to love others and also see how you are loved.

God loves you enough to give us good gifts.  When you ask, “What do I love?” you are really asking, “What good gifts has God given me?”

Taking time to name the good gifts in your life brings more joy into your life. Author and researcher Brené Brown says this about her research on joy: “Without exception, every person I interviewed who described living a joyful life or who described themselves as joyful actively practiced gratitude and attributed their joyfulness to their gratitude practice.”

I’ve found this to be true: when things are rough, I make a practice of gratitude anyway. And I experience joy in spite of my circumstances.  I practice gratitude daily–the days when life seems smooth, it’s easier. And it is good training, so to speak, for the days when my gratitude muscles are stiff and sore.  Listing three things I’m grateful for in my journal each morning helps me tune in to the voice of love. To remember what it is that I love in the first place.

For example, you may have people in our life—friends or family—that we love. They are a gift from God. You may love the beauty of nature—another gift. You may love doing certain things. Your ability to do them and do them well is a gift from God as well. By looking at what you love, you see where God is present in your life. Those good gifts are God’s message to you.  God loves you enough to give generously to you. Through the things you love, God calls you beloved.

 

When I think about what brings me joy, I embrace a contradiction:

I love being with my people. One of the ways God demonstrates love is through people. I’m blessed to have friends. I’m also grateful that many of them, including the friends I spent the weekend with, have known me for decades.

I also love time alone, to read, run, think. Today my friends went home and I gave myself the gift of time alone. I took a walk on the beach. I spent time writing.

What do you need to give yourself today?

Listen to your life, and to your deepest desires. What brings you joy? Do that thing. Or things.

I think sometimes we separate the “God stuff” and the “fun stuff” in our lives. That’s a mistake. God invented joy and wants you to experience it.

Maybe you aren’t even sure what would bring you joy. Give yourself the gift of figuring that out. Listen can help.

Get your copy on amazon today. 

 

P.S. Want encouragement like this in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to my newsletter and don’t miss a beat.

The post When God seems distant, a strategy for connection appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

Finding God in the Story of Your Life

I celebrated a milestone birthday this month. As often happens when you turn not just a year but a decade older, you sense an invitation to pause, to consider both past and future. Where have I been, and where do I want to go? What story is God telling through my life?

Can you relate? Does time to be slipping past faster than you can grab it?

In 2006, my fourth book, Listen, was published.  It’s about how to listen to God through your life’s struggles, joys, and longings. It’s about hearing God through other people, and practices like prayer and meditation. Do you know what brings you joy?

That book went out of print recently. I acquired the rights, which meant I could self-publish it. If you’re an author with an out-of-print book, I’d be happy to share with you how that works.

I read through the book, revisiting the words I wrote so long ago, and thought at times, “this is surprisingly insightful.” At other times, I thought, “wow. I was really into accomplishing things for God. What exactly was I trying to prove?” Of course, at that time, I was at a church that seemed to value doing a lot more than being. Where “serving” was not only applauded but expected.

It’s like a different version of me wrote that book.

I’ve since left that church (yes, it’s Willow Creek) and so I rewrote the introduction to talk quite[image error] candidly about God’s invitation to leave (you can peak at the intro on amazon here).

So I revised. In revision, you decide what to keep, and what to change, and what to just delete.

I got the cover redesigned, did a lot of revising, and now, ta-da! I’m launching the 2023 edition of Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life. Wanna read it for free? Keep reading.

[image error]

In the 17 years since this book first came out, I’ve made a lot of revisions: to my life. To my belief systems. To my relationships. (Though I’m happy to report that many people I knew when I wrote Listen are still in my life. I’ve kept the gems worth keeping.)

Lisa P and Lisa W, friends I’ve had since before I first wrote Listen. They’re gems.

As one would hope, I’ve grown. I still love Jesus, but labels within the Christian subculture that used to fit now feel like an itchy sweater, so I’ve cast those aside. I’ve rethought my positions on certain human rights issues and am much less “certain” that I can fit God into a box. I’m much more into the mystery and beauty of God than the “proofs” for any truth. I sometimes feel the need to apologize for what’s been done in the name of “apologetics.”

I know you have evolved as well—whether you’re 40 or 60 or whatever, you’re learning to pay attention, to cast off what not longer fits, or just rubs the wrong way. Maybe an invitation to listen might be an invitation to lean into what you love, and let go off what is no longer serving you.

I still believe God speaks to human beings—an audacious assertion that led me to write Listen in the first place. However, I don’t think God is issuing marching orders as much as I seemed to believe in my 40s. Oh, we used words like “calling” and “purpose” but if you dug a little deeper, my motives were mixed. That serving was sometimes about doing for God. Or actually, doing for people whose approval I sought. These days, I’m more into just being with God. And loving people without necessarily seeking to please them. Grabbing joy where I can find it.

I still do a lot. I’m a working writer. I’ve got two books in progress, two newsletters, and a couple of other clients.

I work. I play. I run. I read. I write. I get things done, but I give myself grace to not get things done also which is –I don’t know, helpful. I’ve examined my motives, and tried to let go of people pleasing. I’ve listened to God’s invitation to breathe, to rest.

Although I’ve revised it, Listen is still about what it means to listen to God: through the story of your life, through other people, through spiritual practices. God longs for intimate conversation with us—that blows me away.

[image error][image error] So, if you’ve read this far, here’s an invitation:

Want a free review copy of Listen?

Here’s all you have to do: Leave a comment below, asking for your review copy.  I’ll email you a readers’ review PDF. If you post a review of the book on amazon (right here), and send me a link to your review, you’ll be in a drawing to win one of three free copies of the 2023 version of Listen.

The post Finding God in the Story of Your Life appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

Do I Really Need an Editor for My Book?

Note: If you’re a writer, do you really need an editor? We’ve been talking about this recently here on the blog, and in the Powerful Story newsletter. This guest post from a professional editor offers further “insights” into editing. 

by Ann Cathleen Neumann

Wisdom cries aloud in the street . . . and her name is Editor. 

Lest you think I take liberties with Proverbs 1:20, consider the rest of the verse: “in the markets she raises her voice” (ESV). You didn’t know the Bible addresses the publishing industry, did you? 

Okay, maybe scripture doesn’t specifically admonish authors who fail to secure editors, but it does speak to wisdom. And wisdom in the book-selling market, to take further liberties, declares that appreciation for the editor often signals the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). 

But you’re an English major. Or an avid reader. Or your mother-in-law taught ninth-grade composition and has already flagged six confused uses of your for you’re. Do you really need an editor for your book? 

Type that question into your browser and behold the cascade of websites, blogs, and testimonials, all answering with a resounding “are you serious?” What also appears is discussions of the various types of editing: developmental, line, copy. But one thing that won’t come up is my appointment with the eye doctor last week—possibly the best answer. 

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com

To correct my astigmatism, I wear monovision contact lenses. Even so, my vision is not perfect.

If you yourself wear monovision contact lenses, then you know that one eye can see items in the distance, while the other eye can see items up close. Essentially, you are a cyclops. The idea is that although you cannot see the stop sign with perfect clarity nor your iPhone map indicating a wrong turn, you can see well enough not to blow through the intersection or toss your phone out the window. 

That’s the idea. The reality, though, is that imperfect vision is imperfect.

In the doctor’s office, I peered at letters wobbling on the far wall. “Is two better or three?” my doctor barked, flipping the gadget perched on my nose. “Three or four?”

It was a hopeless affair. 

“Now try these.” 

I inserted my new monovision contacts. The letters sprang from the wall. “Wow, I can see perfectly!” 

“Can you? Cover your right eye.” 

Someone had smashed insects on the wall. 

“For perfect vision, you will need to wear glasses over your contacts: one pair for distance, another for reading.”

You don’t need perfect vision to see where I’m going. 

As writers we might be able to craft a captivating story, set it into compelling prose. But even the best of us cannot see with absolute clarity. An editor is the writer’s pair of glasses: distance glasses to sharpen view of plot, character arcs, and theme (developmental edit) and reading glasses to snap sentences into crisp focus (line edit) and comb the manuscript for errors (copy edit). 

Photo by Ron Lach (Pexels.com)

Can you write and publish a book without an editor? Sure. I can brake in time at the stop sign—usually. But are you satisfied with imperfect vision? In the competitive book market, are you willing to jeopardize your sales, reputation, and career for lack of an editor? 

Without glasses, I cannot see as well as I could. And without an editor, authors cannot write and publish as well they could. Even I, a professional editor, consulted with an editor on this piece. 

Wisdom tells me to wear glasses. How about you? 

Ann Cathleen Neumann  has enjoyed a long career as a writing instructor and freelance editor. Her signature courses include Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage for Editors, the foundational course in UC Berkeley’s Professional Sequence in Editing program; and Technical Writing for Forensic Scientists, which she developed and taught for UC Davis’s graduate program. Recently, she has turned her talents to the Christian market, editing for authors and writing fiction and creative nonfiction under her pen name, Cate Touryan. 

Ann lives on the central coast of California with her husband, her Yorkie, and a rafter of turkeys—as in both a whole bunch of them and in the rafters. She has yet to turn them into story, but when she does, their identities will not be concealed. For information about Ann’s editorial services, send an email detailing your editing needs to  ann.neumann@gmail.com .

For more on what a book editor does, read this post.

The post Do I Really Need an Editor for My Book? appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

What does a book editor do? Why authors need editors.

Photo by George Milton: https://www.pexels.com/

You’ve written a book. You want to get it published. 

The good news: you can do that!

The harder truth: you’ll take quite a few steps before you get to publication. Starting with editing.

My business, A Powerful Story, provides assisted self-publishing (and other writing and editing services as well). I pull together a team that includes editors and designers. I shepherd your book through the production process and guide you in setting up everything you need to be the publisher of your own book.

The popularity and growth of self-publishing means that many authors are also publishers. They can “do it themselves” and put their book out there. Whether it sells or not depends on many factors.

DIY publishing is easy…

You could, today, create a free account on Kindle Direct Publishing (kdp.com), a branch of amazon. You could upload your rough draft, or a book about what you had for lunch every day for the past two years–whatever manuscript you want (as long as it passes Amazon’s screening for plagiarism and decency), create a cover using their template, and have a “published” ebook tomorrow. 

Getting readers and sales is harder.

This path is possible, but I don’t recommend it unless you really want to waste your time. Because a book created in this slipshod manner won’t sell. Your DIY cover could end up in an article like this one, poking fun at DIY self-pubbed covers.

Even if you manage a decent cover, your book’s interior will betray your lack of experience. The formatting will be wonky. If you don’t have it edited, it will have mistakes: typos, grammar snafus, run-on sentences, misspellings. It will likely even anger readers who even “look inside” and read a few pages because they’ll see you don’t care about quality. Scathing reviews will likely ensue. Or, no one will even bother to read your book.

Once you complete your manuscript, you’re ready to begin the publishing adventure. If you want to self-publish, and reach an audience, your next step is getting your book edited. 

 

“Why hire an editor?”

Let’s assume you’re actually going to work hard on writing—which is only the first stage of writing a book. You study the craft, you write several drafts, revising and polishing your work. 

You know you’re a good writer—your high school English teacher told you so! Even though you’ve written nothing but emails since then, because you’re working as an accountant, you wonder—why hire an editor? My book is pretty great. It seems unnecessary to hire someone who’s just going to nitpick.

Editors do more than nitpick. They improve the quality of your book. They give you a better shot at making a great first impression with readers. They save you from the embarrassment of publishing a book that doesn’t make sense, has a boring plot, is too wordy, or is full of grammar and spelling mistakes. 

If you’re only writing for yourself, to simply enjoy the satisfaction of creating with words, then you don’t need an editor. But if you intend to get your work in front of readers (that is, you want to publish it), you’ll do all you can to make your writing the best it can be, and you need an editor. 

Why do you want to publish a book in the first place? 

You want people to read and enjoy it. Because you want to tell your powerful story, share your wisdom, mentor others via the written word, entertain readers with your wit and insight. Bottom line, you want to sell books. 

Since self-publishing requires that you pay all of the production costs of your book, you hope to recoup some of those costs by selling books. But an unedited book won’t sell well. Editing is an essential step in book production. 

At A Powerful Story, we provide what’s called assisted self-publishing and it’s a great way to get a book out into the world. I call myself a publishing adventure guide, because the journey from manuscript to published book can be difficult to navigate. It helps to have a guide who knows the path.

The editing process surprise

When I tell clients the first step will be editing, some are surprised. They don’t think they need editing. Imagine their surprise when I tell them that at major publishing houses, even the books of best-selling authors go through not just one edit, but several rounds of edits.

What do editors do for books

Editors catch mistakes of every kind. After working on your book manuscript for the better part of a year, you’re way too close to the project to see potential problems, or outright mistakes.  

Every book goes through at least four edits:Self-edit: the author revises the first draft of the book, tightening and improving. They look for everything from overuse of the passive voice to holes in the plot or missing information. I provide my clients with a self-editing checklist to help them in this stage. Developmental edit: a big picture edit, looking at scope, sequence, and structure. In non-fiction, it looks at writing style, whether the book makes sense and keeps the reader engaged. In fiction, it might deal with character development, plot and reader engagement. Done by an editor, not the author.Copy edit: catches grammar, spelling, sentence structure and other small but critical details. Completed by yet another editor so you have a fresh set of eyes on your work. Final galley edit—the final once-over after formatting, to find any lingering typos, missing information or inconsistencies. Done by the writer, typically, to make sure everything is as they want it.

One of the hardest parts of editing to go through, and for new writers to understand, is the developmental edit. 

Do I need an editor for my book?

Photo by MART PRODUCTION: https://www.pexels.com/

I’ve written or co-written more than two dozen books, and all of them went through several rounds of edits (after I had self-edited and reworked each manuscript at least three times.)

I’ve turned in plenty of manuscripts where the editor responded with minor tweaks or had questions and suggestions: strengthen your opening chapter, take this out, move this chapter here, develop this idea more.

Sometimes, though, developmental edits ask more of a writer. Case in point: my current work in progress is being professionally edited. I am writing with a coauthor. 

What is a coauthor? I explain what a coauthor is in this recent newsletter article. Even though we have two authors working together, we still entrust editing and proofreading to a good editor.

This week I got an email from my editor for this project, which we have contracted at a major publishing house. She’d read the manuscript my coauthor and I had turned in. Upon review—that is, her first read of a developmental edit—she wanted us to do some reworking. 

This didn’t involve grammar or spelling, but rather, big picture stuff: character development (an important factor even in nonfiction), narrative arc, including more detail in scenes, deeper engagement with the reader. And of course, as editors always tell writers: More showing, less telling. 

It means my coauthor and I are now working hard to revise, to make the book better—but hearing this was hard. We were quite sure we’d given her a masterpiece. Turns out we’d given her a working draft in need of revision.

Did I mention that this is my 25 th book?

Such is the stuff of a developmental edit, where your editor examines the overall flow, scope, and sequence of your book, and offers suggestions on changes that need to be made. A developmental edit is hard to do, and sometimes hard to receive. But the good news is, our editor is on our side. She wants to make our book shine.

Developmental editing makes the book better, stronger, and more likely to sell. Why? Because it forces the writer to make sure they are engaging with the audience throughout the book, holding the reader’s attention and giving them what they need to stay connected and turning the pages.I think knowing this happens is why writers are so nervous about the developmental edit. 

How much does it cost to hire an editor?

First of all, if you are self-publishing, it’s a sizable investment (about 3 to 6 cents per word is typical). This means that the minimum costs for editing a 70,000 word manuscript can be $2,100 – $5,000.

And what if the editor reads your work and says, um, this doesn’t work? Or this chapter should be cut, and this one completely rewritten.

I’ve had clients who, at my suggestion, do some courageous self-editing, tightening and improving the writing. They are sometimes surprised to learn that the next step on the publishing adventure is a developmental edit. Didn’t they just self-edit? Wasn’t that enough?

The best books to read are edited books

Even multi-published authors, even bestsellers, need editing. Editing refines a manuscript, makes it stronger, and ultimately, more salable. In order for your book to find its readers and get them to read the whole book and want to read more from you, it need to be edited. 

If you work with a traditional royalty publisher, they provide this edit as part of your contract. If you are self-publishing, that means you, the publisher, take on the cost of this task. Too many writers think that self-editing is the only editing they need because they are self-publishing. 

Self-editing is not enough

Self-editing is important and necessary. But then, you need a fresh set of eyes on your book to make it the best it can be. That means being brave enough to let a professional developmental editor read and give feedback on your book.

How to find an editor for your book

When writers come to me for help with self-publishing, I assemble a team to get their book completed: a copy editor, cover designer, interior page formatter. I’ve built solid relationships with editors and designers whom I know and trust. I know they’ll do great work for my clients. Hiring an experienced team ensures you will get your book published.

There are plenty of freelance editors out there—charging a wide range of prices. Ask for samples, look at their website, and ask for references. Sites like reedsy.com or upwork.com have listings for all sorts of freelance workers including editors. 

Read more:

Do you need to hire a professional editor? Natalie Hanemann tackles that question in this helpful post on my agent’s blog: https://stevelaube.com/do-you-need-to-hire-a-professional-editor/

 

The post What does a book editor do? Why authors need editors. appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.

What can cairns teach us about the spiritual journey?

Moab, UT—At the trailhead in Arches National Park, my daughter and I launch our hike on a relatively benign dirt hiking trail, easily followed, marked with a metal sign. As the hike progresses, the trail becomes less clear. We don’t know it now, but we will be grateful for those who have gone before us, showing us the way.

As we move toward Delicate Arch, an amazing natural stone structure carved by wind and erosion over centuries, the path takes us across an open space, sloping steadily upward, paved with nearly unbroken layer of flat red rock. I feel a bit of worry–the path is steeper, and seemingly unmarked. It feels just a little dangerous, and uncertain. I look around for a park ranger to ask directions from–but no one from the National Park service seems to be anywhere in sight. Though it is late summer, only a few hikers share the path with us.

 

The trail, worn by countless hiking boots, cannot be seen clearly—although in some spots, the path is a slightly lighter shade than the acres of flat red rock surrounding it. There are no metal signs anymore.

And yet, we find our way, because hikers before us have built cairns to mark the path.

What is a cairn?

Cairns are small piles of rock, set along the path. They do not tell you which trail you’re on, or have an arrow pointing out a direction. These rudimentary yet beautiful trail markers show us the way. Over a long open area, we can see more than one cairn, and so make our way from one to the next. In Arches, they are particularly poetic, mimicking in miniature the ancient naturally balanced stone formations for which the park is famous.

I recently noticed a cairn of rocks in the woods where I run several times a week. The trails are very familiar to me, enough that I simply don’t get lost there–even little side trails feel like home. I didn’t need the cairn to find my way. Seeing the rock cairn, though, reminded me of what they symbolize: an offer of hospitality and human connection, a reminder that we’re not alone. They also remind me that God speaks even in the mundane and familiar.

These simple piles of stone are trail markers. But to me, they are much more than that.

What does a cairn represent?

Reflecting on it now, I can’t help but think of the spiritual meaning of a cairn. Cairns exist because of the benevolence of strangers–cairns symbolically represent to me a sort of hospitality, in the biblical sense of the word. That is, hospitality to strangers. Someone who didn’t know me is welcoming me and making sure I find my way.

When we do something we don’t “have” to do, for people we may not even know–we are cairn building. Even if we are not creating a pile of stones, when we show kindness to strangers, or mentor others who need our guidance—we begin to uncover the spiritual meaning of a cairn.

But cairns also symbolize the quiet voice of God–this simple piles of flat rocks are easy to miss in the rugged landscape. Only when we pay close attention do we receive the guidance of cairns. Cairns can teach us to listen to God, to pay attention on the spiritual journey. And by the way, every journey is a spiritual one–whether we are aware of that or not.

Cairns are not permanent. Anyone could easily dissemble them, which is what makes these piles of stone so precious. But there is a camaraderie of hikers on a shared mission. Although we’ve never met the people who assembled these small rock structures, we trust them. Following cairns requires that we pay attention. Cairns remind us to pay attention on all of our journeys. They simply let you know you’re on the path, but don’t necessarily direct you. Cairns don’t tell you where you will end up–again, the similarities to spiritual pilgrimage abound. Still, we follow and protect these trail markers, like breadcrumbs that birds cannot eat.

And where we can, we build a few more cairns—contributing to the collective wisdom of hikers, showing others the way. Offering those on the journey a symbol of our hospitality. Welcome to the journey, we say. Walk in confidence and faith. (Sam Van Eman wrote a great post over at The High Calling blog on how using our voice and wisdom can make us “human cairns” for one another.)

These sweet small piles of flat stones, balanced like a child’s building blocks, provide a picture of faith, of calling. Perhaps you wonder about your own purpose, and wish someone would build cairns for you, to show you the way. But maybe they have, and what you need to do is stop and look and pay attention.

Where will your spiritual journey take you?

I want to guide others on the journey of faith, to be a spiritual mentor. But I cannot take the journey for others, or carry them. But I can build cairns—small markers that point the way. Sometimes they’re made of rock but sometimes they things we do or even ways of being. As Sam points out in his essay, I can be a cairn for others by fearlessly sharing wisdom, using my voice.

God has called me to guide others in their spiritual formation—to teach and write about spiritual practices that will help them to grow. He’s also called me to guide those who want to write their story–a different sort of spiritual mentoring. In both cases, to invite others into an adventure of discovering the path. To build cairns, to be a cairn. To be a trail marker, a trail guide on the adventure of spiritual growth, on the spiritual practice of writing.

I see my own writing, for example, as a series of cairns, marking the path to a deeper experience of God, inviting others into an adventure. Each time others share my words, they place another rock on that particular cairn.

What is the next step on your journey? Which path are the cairns in your life directing you to take?

Next month, I will launch a writers’ group–a place of community where we can travel together, to find the beauty that the path leads us to. I will teach and encourage: building cairns for this group of travelers to follow. How about you? Who’s traveled before you to build cairns for you? Who are you building cairns for, or being a cairn for? We all need guidance on the journey if we are to find our way. You may not feel it, but someone needs your wisdom.

That day in Arches National Park, Mel and I made our way to the stunning Delicate Arch. We were grateful for the beauty, and for those who had trod the path before us and offered us the kindness and hospitality of simple stacks of rock to show the way.

 

The post What can cairns teach us about the spiritual journey? appeared first on Keri Wyatt Kent.