Edie Melson's Blog, page 113

The Best Things About Being a Writer

by Henry Mclaughlin @RiverBendSagas
In my last blog, I wrote about reassessing where we are in our life journey in These Priorities in Our Lives Make Us Better Writers.
When we consider our writing life, it’s easy to focus on the negative things, the hard things. As I reassessed, I also thought of the good things about being a writer. Thus, the catchy title to this blog.
I identified what I consider four of the best things about being a writer. The best for me, anyway. I’m sure there are more. Each of us has a unique writing journey. This is mine.
Creating Stories
Creating stories is why I write. I welcome the challenge of doing something I thoroughly enjoy and doing it in obedience to God.
A large part of my process is letting new ideas marinate in my brain. I’ve shared how most of my story ideas come from images that pop into my brain. It’s usually the image of a person. Sometimes it’s a part of the story world, a part that grabs my interest.
My latest image is of a man standing in the doorway of an Old West saloon, drenched from the pouring rain. It’s late at night. He’s soaked, chilled, and hungry. His name is Joe Cooper. Why is he here the first question? And a story begins. I’ve written a couple of pages, but I’m waiting for Joe to tell me more.
Learning from the characters is part of this. About themselves. Their goals. Their values. How they see God. If they’re part of a series, it’s seeing how they’ve grown over the course of the series.
Building a story world is always fun for me. I enjoy the research that helps me make my stories unique and real to the reader.
Let’s not forget plotting. I’m a pantser, so the word plotting has a different meaning for me. For me, plotting is determining what my character wants and what is preventing him or her from getting it. What propels them into the story and what keeps them there?
The actual writing is a joyful release where all this pondering, marinating, brainstorming, and researching flows into reality on the screen before me.
Learning
Learning is one of the best aspects of writing. Learning about the craft and learning about people. There is a value in reading books and magazines and blogs, in following podcasts and webinars. We can learn so much about tools and techniques to improve our writing.
Brick and mortar bookstores are also a valuable resource. It’s fun to wander a local bookstore or a Barnes and Noble. More fun than browsing Amazon. Something unusual will catch my eye, or I’ll talk with a sales associate who loves books as much as I do. Chatting with other customers in the same aisle I’m in.
In-person conferences are awesome and I’m so grateful to God they’re making a comeback. We’re in that focused environment with teachers and other writers. Friendships and encouragement flow like a mountain stream.
Good critique groups are outstanding for sharing our work, learning about writing, and developing meaningful relationships.
Relationships
Relationships are important because even though writing is very much a solitary practice, we can’t do it in a vacuum. We need people. Over the course of my writing journey, I’ve had outstanding teachers and mentors who stick with me. Fellowshiping with other writers builds bonds that help us when we feel alone. Working with agents, publishers, editors, and other professionals strengthens and educates us in learning the craft and the business of writing. For many of us, writing is a calling. We need to remember it is also work and these relationships help us navigate the river of the journey.
Helping Other Writers
For me, helping other writers is right up there with creating stories as one of the very best things about being a writer. When God makes a way for me to help another writer, it’s a way for me to pay forward for all those who helped me on the journey. Being active in a critique group is part of this. And God has opened so many other doors for me in this area: I mentor, coach, edit, and teach. I enjoy seeing other writers grow in the craft as I help them learn about who they are as authors and as I help them fine tune their calling to be servants of God as writers.
How about you? What are some of the best things for you about being a writer?
TWEETABLEThe Best Things About Being a Writer, insight and encouragement from author Henry McLaughlin, @RiverBendSagas on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Henry’s debut novel, Journey to Riverbend, won the 2009 Operation First Novel contest.
Henry edits novels, leads critique groups, and teaches at conferences and workshops. He enjoys mentoring and coaching individual writers.
Connect with Henry on his BLOG, TWITTER and FACEBOOK.
Featured Image: Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Lead Your Readers Deeper into God's Word When You Ask this One Insightful Question

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
What question can we ask about any passage in the Bible so we can learn from it? What question would apply to both the Bible’s stories and its promises? What could we ask about Psalms and Proverbs that we could also ask about the books written by the prophets? What question would fit both Romans and Revelation?
A key question for writing about anything in the Bible is this:
What does God want us to know or to do?
Housed in the pages of Scripture is a manual for living. It shows us what God wants us to know—promises, realities, goals, and warnings. It also shows us what He wants us to do—instructions, strategies, steps, and daily choices. 
So if we ever get stuck in knowing what to write about, we can look at a passage of Scripture, and ask, “What does God want us to know or to do according to this passage?” And we’ll have writing fodder for a lifetime.
When we ask this question about the stories in the Old Testament:We discover what to know—what happens when we trust God or when we don’t, promises we can hold on to or warnings we need to heed, examples of God’s character and why He is trustworthy, and why perseverance is worth it.We discover what to do—how we can follow God and overcome challenges, how to grow in Godliness, how to stay under God’s leadership, and how to stay on the path to more freedom and joy.When we ask this question about the Gospels:We discover what to know—who Jesus is and what He can do in our lives, how personable God really is, what we have to look forward to in heaven, how God wants us to live now, and the consequences of unbelief and hardness of heart. We discover what to do—the way to relate to a loving God, how to trust God for great things, how to live out God’s wisdom, and how to pray.When we ask this question about Paul’s epistles and the other letters:We discover what to know—the realities of life in Christ, the constitution (inner workings) of our faith, how God calls us to be involved in His work, and the promises we can cling to and the pitfalls to avoid. We discover what to do—how to live out what Jesus made possible for us, how to serve Him with love and humility, how to overcome our own weaknesses and fears, and how to be there for one another.When we ask this question about Revelation:We discover what to know—the church has a call from our Lord to be faithful and diligent, the earth has an expiration date, the period of tribulation will be terrifying, and Jesus overcomes.We discover what to do—share the gospel with the time we have left, be faithful until the very end, remember who has the final victory, and do God’s will now because people’s lives hang in the balance. So let’s be on fire for God and keep studying and writing. The more we study God’s Word and write about it, the more we understand what He wants us to know and to do. As we ask this key question in our Bible study time, our own hearts will be shaped by what we discover, and our writing will be infused with strategies, helps, comforts, and enrichment for our readers. 
Think about your favorite verse in Scripture, and ask—What does God want me to know or to do? What takeaway, or application, do you see for that verse? In the comments below, share the reference of your favorite verse and your answer. Let’s celebrate the richness and relevance of God’s Word to our everyday lives. 
TWEETABLELead Your Readers Deeper into God's Word When You Ask this One Insightful Question, thoughts from author @KatyKauffman28 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of LIGHTHOUSE BIBLE STUDIES. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, Collection 1 which is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist. She also enjoys encouraging writers and giving writing tips in her monthly writers’ newsletter called THE LIGHTHOUSE CONNECTION.
In addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.COM, thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time with family and friends, create art and make crafts with her group MY ARTSY TRIBE, and tend the garden in the morning sun. She makes her home in a cozy suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. Connect with her on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

Writer's Block Happens, Here are 5 Strategies to Keep Writing

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel
Back in 1993, just after being named “Writer of the Year” at the Mount Hermon Writers Conference in California, I contracted for my first solo book. My proposal had been accepted and I was so excited to put together all I had been learning about God’s amazing grace – the gift we don’t deserve and can never earn. 
Unfortunately, when I returned home to New England, I faced a blank page in my computer.
For four months. 
The enormous responsibility of writing my own book had paralyzed me with insecurity, anxiety, and fear of getting it all wrong. Fear of my words not glorifying my Lord. 
“Who am I to write a book? Everyone is going to be so disappointed…”
Ironically, all these feelings came for a book with the life-changing subject matter of GRACE. Which was exactly what God used in my life to pick me up and empower me with all it took to write that book for B & H Publishers back in 1995 – “Amazed by Grace.”
Are you facing writer’s block? Do you find it hard to retrieve all those stories and principles and teaching that you so passionately proclaimed as you pitched your topic and project? 
Or perhaps your world is so full of chaos and need and life complications right now that you simply cannot focus on the work of writing?
5 Go-To Strategies to Keep Writing:
1. REFLECTRemember your why. Why are you writing this story? What prompted you to put together this particular piece? If you are writing on assignment, remember the relationships involved and the ministry deadlines to which you must adhere. If you have finally come up with something important you want to send out into the world, remember your passion for the telling. What God did for you, and what He is doing even now.
2. REVIEWWhat exactly is this particular writing project—a weekly blog, a contribution to a compilation work, a stand-alone book, a speech or teaching series? Reviewing definite parameters for this piece will help you break the whole down into parts. Parts are much easier to write. Gradually. If this is an assignment, go over all the details you were given, and if you have questions, contact your editor before you move forward. If it is your own idea, be willing to review it from a different perspective for fresh insight.
3. RELAXWhere can you go to spend some quiet time with God? To be silent and listen for God’s voice of encouragement through His Word. I have found it extremely helpful to “escape” my normal environment and go somewhere with no or few responsibilities pulling on me. A place and time to pray and lay before Him all my concerns, vision, and dependence upon Him for the right words to come. Ask God to still the whisper hisses of the enemy of your soul who is trying to convince you that you will never write again.
4. RESTOREHow do you restore that fervor and passion to get the words down on paper? The answer will be different for each writer. For some of us, the ritual of a hot cup of Earl Grey Tea (leaves, please) and a treat in a beautiful surrounding with lovely music can be restorative. Others take a long run on the beach, revitalized by sand and sun. Because the worry of experiencing writer’s block can actually tie us up in knots, getting outside for a long walk in nature, or taking some needed physical rest can be life-giving.
5. REBOOTWhen the above four issues have been addressed, then it’s clearly time to get down to work! Go over your own book proposal and remind yourself why writing this is so important to you. Ask yourself the felt need of your potential readers and pray aloud that God will give you words that speak directly into their lives. Set up a writing calendar with appointments for each session, and deadlines for completing chapters. Writing is hard work, but friend, you are a writer.You can do this! I find that adopting a certain prayer (mine or someone else’s) for each project and praying that before I hit the computer, adds continuity and commitment to my craft.
Is there ever a time to stop writing? Yes. But I cannot tell you what circumstances are necessary to release you from a writing project you once began. However, God does lead through both dead ends and detours. If you stay in touch with Him through prayer, and with godly counsel in community, you will know His will and His way. 
And I’m praying the words that come will be for others’ good and God’s glory.
TWEETABLEWriter's Block Happens, Here are 5 Strategies to Keep Writing, insight from author @LucindaSMcDowel on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Lucinda Secrest McDowell, M.T.S., is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while “Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.” A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, McDowell is the author of 17 books and contributing author to 36+ books. Her award-winning books include Soul Strong, Life-Giving Choices, Dwelling Places, and The Courage to Write. Lucinda, a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and AWSA, received Mt. Hermon “Writer of the Year” award and guest blogs monthly for ‘The Write Conversation.’ 
Whether pouring into young mamas, leading a restorative day of prayer, or coaching writers and speakers through “Encouraging Words Consulting,” she is energized by investing in people of all ages. As a communications teacher, she co-directs “reNEW – spiritual retreat for writers & speakers” and has served on the faculty of Speak Up Conference, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Florida Christian Writers Conference, Asheville Christian Writers Conference, and She Writes for Him. Known for her ability to convey deep truth in practical and winsome ways, McDowell shares words from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and blogs weekly at WWW.LUCINDASECRESTMCDOWELL.COM

Connect with Readers Through These Follow-Up Strategies for Writing and Marketing Success (Part 1)

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting
In the sales world and probably many other areas, 80% of opportunities are lost due to lack of follow up. The writing industry is very relationship based, so it’s vital to cultivate connections. 
We meet people in all sorts of places. They can be potential readers, connectors, or industry professionals. On a plane trip recently, I met a Christian woman who loves reading. I gave her names of authors she might enjoy. Then she shared some difficulties, and I realized I had a book from a friend in my bag. I gave it to her. She emailed when she got home to thank me, and we agreed to pray for one another. That’s a new connection that could blossom into a friendship, or even a fan.
Basic Communication Strategies
A plan of action to follow through plus good habits make it easier to effectively engage with others and build relationships. These include good timing, adding value to conversations, and great listening skills.
Everyone you meet is a potential connection to grow your network, readers, and relationships. Start with a simple introduction and asking the other person questions. Through questions seek to find out the individual’s passions, interests, and goals, plus communication preferences. See where your own interests intersect to build a relationship. Ask if you can follow up and the best time and way to connect.
Try to connect as soon as possible after meeting someone and getting their contact information. Friend them on social media and add a comment, or email to let the individuals know you enjoyed meeting them. When you get a business card or enter the person into your data base, add a note about what you discussed or an interest the person expressed. Continue to follow up with holiday greetings or news they may need.
When you connect, add value to cultivate the relationship and trust. Show respect while offering tips, feedback, or something of value related to your books in response to their needs or interests. I recently attended a retail show and offered store owners and managers an activity for the children who come to the store. They know the parents who shop at their stores appreciate people who notice their children, or occupy their little ones with something to do to make shopping easier.
Organization for Follow Up
It’s easier to follow up if you have a system. It might be as easy as adding a note to your calendar to schedule times to send notes, email new connections, or follow up on submissions to editor. Some follow up can be scheduled out, such as a friendly note to send several weeks after sending a submission.
Keep contacts organized. Transfer cards to an online place, such as Camcard, where you can sort them into groups and find them by the group or name. Build a list or spread sheet of important contacts. I built spread sheets for various groups including media, retailers, and launch team volunteers. I pray over the lists, for the individuals listed, and for the businesses and careers in which they are involved.
Set goals and follow up on them. That helps build good follow up habits. When I received some great awards and posted about it, I had hundreds of people post comments. I set aside time that day to follow up respond. For people I did not know well, I clicked through to their page and read a little. That way I could make a comment, offer to pray for a need, or congratulate them on an accomplishment they posted. That sparked a number of conversations. I will return to that post and follow up again in a week or two. Those interactions build new friends or add to relationships made in the past.
John C. Maxwell said, “Diligent follow-up and follow-through will set you apart from the crowd and communicate excellence.” It brings you to a higher level of professionalism, and also brings more success. If you truly want to reach more people with what God has put on your heart, then make the most of every contact to build relationships.
TWEETABLEConnect with Readers Through These Follow-Up Strategies for Writing and Marketing Success (Part 1), valuable tips from @KarenHWhiting on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Karen Whiting (WWW.KARENWHITING.COM) is an international speaker, former television host of Puppets on Parade, certified writing and marketing coach, and award-winning author of twenty-seven books for women, children, and families. Her newest book, The Gift of Bread: Recipes for the Heart and the Table reflects her passion for bread and growing up helping at her grandparent’s restaurant. Check out her newest book Growing a Mother’s Heart: Devotions of Faith, Hope, and Love from Mothers Past, Present, and Future. It's full of heartwarming and teary-eyed stories of moms.
Karen has a heart to grow tomorrow’s wholesome families today. She has written more than eight hundred articles for more than sixty publications and loves to let creativity splash over the pages of what she writes. She writes for Crosswalk. Connect with Karen on Twitter @KarenHWhiting Pinterest KarenWhiting FB KarenHWhiting.
Featured Image: Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Even Writers Need to Play—Join in on the ABCs of Writing

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam
I don’t know how your year has gone, but my year has been rather testing on many levels. The summer brought us a new degree of on our knees praying. A lot. With that, I’ve lost a lot of time to write, which in turn has me pretty down. 
I’ve struggled with writing and all the doubts and questions have risen to a bubbling point. But I’m generally a positive person—and definitely one who loves to giggle as much as possible—so I thought I’d give us something to get any of us writers out there with drooping chins something to have fun with. 
Let’s have some fun and play “The ABCs of Writing.” I enjoyed trying this as I prepared this post, but I know you all can add to my list. For each letter of the alphabet, share a word in the comments below that is writing and writing industry related. See how many more you can add, and maybe we might find ourselves having to do a little research on some words we’ve not come across in our writing journey yet. 
Play the ABCs of Writing
A – agents, archetype, antagonist, acquisitions, alliteration.
B – brainstorming, bylines, bios, blogging, beats.
C – caffeine, chocolate, coaching, connections, critiques, conferences.
D – deadlines, deleting, dictionary.
E – editors, edits, engagement, editing, eBook.
F – friendship, fiction, flash-fiction
G – genre, galleys.
H – hybrid, historical.
I – Independent.
J – Jargon, journal.
K – keywords.
L – learn, lingo. 
M – manuscript, metaphor.
N – nonfiction, novel, novella.
O – online, outline.
P – premise, publishing, platform, protagonist, plot, POV, punster, proposals.
Q – query, questions, quantifiers.
R – romance, reading.
S – synopsis, suspense, subplot, speculative.
T – thesaurus, togs, trope, theme.
U – update, understatement.
V – value-added, voice, vocabulary.
W – writing, write, writer.
X – Xenophanic (for real writing term!).
Y – YOU (only YOU can answer YOUR calling to write YOUR story).
Z – Zoom!, Zzzzs (need your rest), Zeugma (look it up!).
Those are some I have come up with. What else would you add to the list? 
TWEETABLEEven Writers Need to Play—Join in on the ABCs of Writing, from @TickledPinkTam on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out! 
She’s the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC, Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. She’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, and MBT Monday Devotions and others. Her work was published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. When not writing Women’s Fiction and Rom-Com, she’s The Launch Team Geek helping authors launch their books and a Virtual Assistant for authors.

How to Reactivate A Dormant Email List and Reconnect with Readers

by Patricia Durgin @PatriciaDurgin
You never thought it would happen to you. One minute, you were ecstatic to hear that special “bing!” that a new reader signed up for your email list. Hooray! The next minute (or so it seemed), months passed since your last email. That email list has gone silent. Dormant. Almost dead. (An e-mail “list” is a collection of names and email addresses of readers interested in a specific topic within your message.)
What to do? Should you delete all those names and email addresses and begin from scratch again? Heavens, no! Instead...
Reactivate Your Email List 
When sending their first email after being silent for a while, some people fall on their sword, crying, “Mea culpa!” repeatedly. Multiple apologies are unnecessary and make readers uncomfortable. 
Others simply begin sending emails again, without acknowledging they’ve been gone for weeks or months. Readers may find that insulting, suggesting, perhaps, that they’ve been taken for granted. 
Find a balance between the two extremes above. Acknowledge your absence, assure your readers you value them, and move on, offering them great resources or content in that “reactivation” email. (Of course, don’t use that marketing term in your email.) 
Won’t It Feel Awkward to Reach Out After All That Time?
Highly likely. But it must be done. Email readers are too hard to get, and keep, to simply let them go. Prove yourself worthy of their time. You did it before. That's why they signed up in the first place. Now do it again. 
Approach the conversation just as you would with any friend with whom you’ve lost touch. Be yourself. Be honest about your absence without sharing too many details. Apologize once. Don’t ramble on. 
Then dive right into the good part…what’s in it for them. Serve them well, sharing content they’ll find irresistible. What did they sign up to learn? Choose a great teaching point and share that. Simple. Easy. Done! 
What to Say Before Segueing Into “Regular” Email Content
Like other difficult tasks, the first words in your reactivation email may be the most challenging. Here are three idea prompts to spur your imagination as you consider the title and first paragraph of your reactivation email. Let your personality, humor, or passion shine through your message. Help your readers "hear" your voice. 
Option #1
Title: The rumors aren’t true!
First paragraph: I have not enrolled in the Witness Protection Program. It just felt like it, due to (identify the issue in a short phrase). Has your world turned upside down, too? Let’s start over…together. 
Then move directly into your teaching content. 
Option #2
Title: I’m baaaack! or I apologize (choose one of those two-word phrases).
First paragraph: You haven’t heard from me in a while. I apologize. Life interrupted my regular schedule. That issue has passed. I’m able—and eager—to serve you again. Let’s get busy…
Then move directly into your teaching content.
Option #3 
Title: Still want to learn about (fill-in-the-blank)? 
First paragraph: I took an unscheduled break, had a slight meltdown (not really!) and now I’m back, rarin’ to go! I’m sorry it’s been a while since you heard from me. Let’s dive into (topic) again, shall we?
Then move directly into your teaching content. 
What Response Should You Expect?
Some readers will undoubtedly unsubscribe, depending upon how long you were silent or how valuable your content was before you went missing-in-action.
Others will be glad to see your name in their Inbox again. That’s what we work toward.
Remember to include fantastic content in your reconnection email. That will help readers remember why they subscribed in the first place. 
They took a chance on you when they signed up. Take a chance on them by sending this reactivation email. You’ll be glad you did!
TWEETABLEHow to Reactivate A Dormant Email List and Reconnect with Readers, tips from @PatriciaDurgin on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Patricia Durgin loves clarity! It's her honor to serve Christian writers and speakers who are on fire for Jesus but who—whether beginners or advanced—lack the clarity to market their message beyond their family and friends. As a recognized marketing coach and strategist, Patricia serves via one-on-one and small group coaching, online courses, and a private Facebook group for Christian communicators. She contributes monthly columns to The Write Life, Almost an Author, and as of this article, The Write Conversation. Yay! 
Though Patricia's vision impaired, Jesus sends her on grand adventures across the country, all to serve Him. Don't worry...He sends the help she needs. One day that might be you! 
Connect with Patricia at MarketersOnAMission.com
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The Writer's Life: How Waiting to Be Picked for a Team at Recess Prepared Us

by Crystal Bowman
Pick Me!
Most of us can remember standing in a group of kids on the playground as the two best baseball players chose kids to be on their teams. I remember my heart pounding, my stomach churning, and my self-esteem hanging on the line as I waited to be chosen for the game at recess. Once I was chosen first, and one time I was chosen last. Most of the time I was somewhere in the middle. Being a writer can feel the same way at times. You worked hard on your proposal and manuscript, and you wait for it to be chosen from the crowd. Sometimes it’s chosen right away. Sometimes it’s set aside while someone else’s book gets published first, and sometimes it’s not chosen at all. When a publisher chooses someone else’s work over yours, it hurts and knocks you down. But you pick yourself up and get back on the playground, waiting for the next opportunity to be chosen. 
The Substitute Author
When one of the baseball players on the field has to step out of the game, a substitute is called in to take his or her place. Being a writer can be like that too. One time I got an email from an editor who asked me to write a children’s picture book ASAP. The illustrations were already completed, but for reasons that were not explained to me, the author was unable to move forward with the project. I agreed to jump in as the substitute author and was thankful for the opportunity to write a delightful story in rhythm and rhyme (one of my favorite writing styles). I didn’t care that someone else had been chosen for this project first. I was honored that the editor trusted me with the project and called me in as the sub. 
Since many of my children’s books were published before the days of the Internet and social media marketing, I was active in the local schools with author assemblies and poetry workshops in the classroom. Most of these events were scheduled months in advance so I was surprised when I got a call from a Christian school librarian asking me to come the following week. I was available and agreed.
At the end of the school day, the librarian explained the reason for the last-minute invitation. She said, “We had another author scheduled who has some wonderful children’s books that we love. However, we asked her not to talk about her Halloween story since some of our families do not celebrate the holiday. She was offended and canceled the event. Our staff got together and prayed for God to send someone else. One of the teachers suggested you, and here you are---God’s answer to prayer.”
What Matters Most
So whether we are chosen first or last, or if we need to fill in for someone who was chosen before us, what matters is that we are available to use our writing and speaking to honor God. As writers and speakers we are part of a team, and as believers in Jesus, we are part of the body of Christ. What we do is not about us. We do it all for Him.
TWEETABLEThe Writer's Life: How Waiting to Be Picked for a Team at Recess Prepared Us, insight from author Crystal Bowman on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Crystal Bowman is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 100 books for children and four nonfiction books for women. She also writes lyrics for children’s piano music and is a monthly contributor to Clubhouse Jr. Magazine. She loves going to schools to teach kids about poetry. She also speaks at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups and teaches workshops at writers’ conferences. When she is not writing or speaking, she enjoys going for walks, working out at the gym, and eating ice cream. She and her husband live in Michigan and have seven huggable grandkids. 
WWW.CRYSTALBOWMAN.COMWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CRYSTAL.BOWMANWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CRYSTALJBOWMANWWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CRYSTALBOWMANAUTHOR
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Techniques to Improve Your Book’s Amazon Rank

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga
Would you like to be an award-winning, bestselling author who sells over 500 books a month? To achieve this goal, you need a multi-faceted approach to book marketing. It is not one specific technique that causes a book to sell well. In this article we will review the strategies used to get one of my book’s overall Amazon rank to 4,400 out of 6,000,000 books. That ranking is better than 99.9 percent of Amazon books. A snowball effect occurred as layers of techniques were utilized to improve book sales and Amazon ranking.
Book Marketing on Amazon
Meet the Readers Need
First, a book must be well written and professionally edited. It should provide the reader with delightful entertainment, significant information, or transformational power. Whether your book is fiction or nonfiction the reader must gain something positive from the book content. It needs to be so good that a reader will tell their friends about it and write an unsolicited Amazon review. 
Determine Categories & Keywords
Determining your book’s best categories and keywords significantly improves your book’s viability. Categories are similar to genres. Amazon has over 12,000 categories for you to choose from. It takes time and training to figure out a book’s categories. Many times, publishers appreciate an author performing this analysis for their book.
To help your book be found from the millions of books on Amazon, you want to incorporate highly searched keywords into your book’s title, back cover, and Amazon description. This helps readers find your book because it is more likely to populate on the search feed when your book contains a keyword that an Amazon reader is searching for. If you want to figure out your book’s categories and keywords, take my course, Improve Your Book’s Amazon Rank by Expanding Categories and Keywords, at CIPA.Podia.com.
Obtain Amazon Reviews
Next, the book’s cover and description must be captivating. A significant amount of positive Amazon reviews lets the reader know the book is vetted. An author needs to get at least fifty to one hundred Amazon reviews before they occur naturally. When I receive positive feedback from a reader, I ask them if they would please write an Amazon book review because reviews are like gold to authors. If you would like more information on this topic, read How to Get More Reviews.
It took me two years to get my first fifty Amazon reviews. At that time, I also expanded all of my books’ categories and keywords. Two years later, my number one Amazon best-selling book, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates , had 1000 reviews. Most of the reviews occurred organically without solicitation. It was the first fifty reviews that were the toughest to get.
Win Book Awards
When a book has won awards, it endorses the book’s content and shows the reader it is an excellent book. Enter your book in numerous awards so it can become award-winning. Check out the great resource, Book Contest List, which lists fifty Christian book contests at CIPA.Podia.com. My books have won first place in the Selah, Directors’ Choice, and Golden Scroll awards.
Books that win contests demonstrate to the reader that the book is superior. Adding the gold seal to the cover is an excellent marketing technique that propels book sales. Awards boost sales and lengthen the life of books.
Market Your Book
I’ve found splendid success with marketing my books through guest blog posts, magazine articles, and podcast and television interviews. I have been a contributing author to this award-winning blog, The Write Conversation, since 2018. I’ve written guest blogs for many other sites as well. 
A month prior to my book’s best Amazon rank, I was on the cover of the Leading Hearts magazine, which included a feature article about me becoming the director of the Christian Authors Network (CAN) and Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA). 
Continue Marketing Years After Publication
This year, I attended the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention where I met a WATC-TV representative. Of course, I pitched my books and dropped off my media kit. From this marketing effort, I landed four television interviews where we discussed five of my books. I highly recommend authors attend NRB as you can get a year’s worth of media interviews from this tradeshow. I have a CAN/CIPA booth at NRB annually for my members.
My first television interview was recorded over Zoom. After that, I asked if I could drive to their studio in Atlanta for an additional interview. The studio scheduled three interviews with me in their studio. One show, Atlanta Live, was broadcast live. 
Four years after my books publication, this interview brought my book up to being a number one Amazon best seller right before speaking at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC). After this exceptional day of being interviewed at their studio, I sent them an Edible Delights arrangement of fresh fruit. Since my genre is healthy living, I thought that was a perfect gift. I received an email from the studio president thanking me for the arrangement and offering additional interviews after the publication of my next book. We want to be remembered, so send your hand-written thank-you notes. 
The day before my book ranked 4,400, my third television show ran in the Atlanta area. Sometimes it takes readers seeing the product several times before they will buy it. The next day my book had its best Amazon rank ever.
Obtain Speaking Engagements
Speaking engagements have a broad reaching effect. In the first half of this year, I spoke at four Christian writers conferences. The BRMCWC had 600 attendees. During the awards ceremony, I went up on stage twice to receive awards for the Selah and Directors Choice awards for my children’s book, Eat God’s Food: A Kid’s Guide to Healthy Eating.
While I was teaching my BRMCWC practicum about expanding your books’ categories and keywords, my book ranked number one in the Candida category. And my second book in the series, Christian Study Guide for 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates , ranked number five in this category. It amazed the class that my books got such high Amazon ranks. One attendee commented, “Expanding your book’s categories and keywords really works.”
When your book achieves number one in any category, Amazon places a best seller sticker next to it. This sticker is a huge marketing flag. Now that is advertising at its best. If you determined narrow categories for your book and obtained a good amount of book sales, your book may rank on Amazon’s top 100 Best Seller list in that category. 
Run Amazon Ads
Running Amazon ads is a key marketing element. Amazon wants their cut of your profits. If you will share your earnings, and have done your research for applicable, high-ranking keywords, Amazon will show your book to many readers. If the cover and high number of Amazon reviews reals the reader in, you will obtain higher sales.
There are many facets to marketing your Christian book from obtaining Amazon reviews to awards. Just like you keep raising your child, after it is born, you need to continue marketing your book years after its publication. The highest Amazon ranking of my book came four years after its publication. A snowball gets larger as you roll it in the snow, and so does book marketing. The more layers you have, the more book sales you will achieve. What effective marketing technique have you used?
TWEETABLETechniques to Improve Your Book’s Amazon Rank, tips from expert Susan U. Neal, @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS: Susan’s mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ. She has her RN and MBA degrees, as well as a master’s in health science. She is a CERTIFIED HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHwith the American Association of Christian Counselors. She published five books, the Selah award winner 7 STEPS TO GET OFF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES, CHRISTIAN STUDY GUIDE FOR 7 STEPS TO GET OFF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES, HEALTHY LIVING JOURNAL, SCRIPTURE YOGAa #1 Amazon best-selling yoga book, and YOGA FOR BEGINNERSwhich ranked #3. She published two sets of Christian Yoga Card Decks and two Christian Yoga DVDs that are available at CHRISTINAYOGA.COM. Her digital product HOW TO PREVENT, IMPROVE, AND REVERSE ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIAis a great resource. To learn more about Susan visit her website SUSANUNEAL.COM You can also connect with Susan on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM.

Why Editing is So Important for Writers Who Want to Continue to Improve

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden
One of the best bits of advice a new writer can follow is to have their projects professionally edited, especially in the early days of writing. Turning in your first manuscript is an exciting moment. But even more exciting is to have your editor respond with, “Your writing is so clean (that means few mistakes).
Many new writers seriously question as to why they should hire an editor for their work. 
After all, “I made an A in college English.” “My grandmother is a retired English teacher and she knows where every comma goes.”“My mother read it and said it was really good. She already wants to buy a copy.”
These are all legitimate statements. But unfortunately, neither Mom nor Grandma is familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style, which is the grammar standard for Christian Publishing. Occasionally you run across a publication that prefers a different style book. It’s always good to ask when you are writing for a publishing house for the first time. Then you will know from then on. You might also ask what version of the Bible they prefer to use. You will save them some time editing and changing versions.
How to Find a Good Editor
Study books that have won awards. Look on the copyright page and see who the editor was. Go to their website and see what you find there.
Talk to other authors. Ask them who they have hired as editors. Ask questions if you have any concerns. Find out if they were pleased with the way the editor worked and the timing of the project.
Once you have settled on an editor, contact him or her and discuss your project. You may want to send a sample of your work so that he or she can assess the type of edit you will need. This will give you a more accurate quote. Often an author will choose the lowest price the editor offers when really what the author needs is a mid to more detailed type of editing.
There is a list of editors in the editor section of the Christian Writers Market Guide. You will find reputable editors on that list.
Remember, the first manuscript you send to an editor shows him or her the quality of your work. When you are able to say it has been professionally edited, your editor knows that it matters to you that your work is the best it can be. If you learn from the edits made to your work, your writing will improve with each project and you will receive follow up aceptances from your editor. Don’t miss that opportunity!
TWEETABLEWhy Editing is So Important for Writers Who Want to Continue to Improve, insight from author @LindaGilden on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Linda Gilden has coauthored 11 books with 5 different coauthors and has #12 and #13 coming out in 2022, adding a new co-author to the list. She loves every one of her coauthors and enjoys collaborating on interesting projects with them. She also has written many books on her own and realizes what a treasure and blessing a good co-author is.

Improve Your Writing: Choose to Edit Until It Hurts

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted
Statistics show nearly half the marriages performed in our nation today, end in divorce. It’s enough to divorce a person but who would ever divorce their words?
Part of the learning curve in writing is learning to divorce your words. This is especially difficult for new writers for two reasons:It took a good amount of time to write those words To the new writer who has not learned the value of self-editing, all their words are good. 
Once they marry the phrases and emotions within their written words, they become detrimentally attached.
It is not uncommon to hear well-seasoned writers talk about the cutting process. Trimming words is no easier for them than it is for a new writer, except they have learned those words can be used better elsewhere—the words we craft become very sentimental, and rightfully so. A lot of sweat goes into our creations. Long hours of thought, tweaks, and re-tweaks, and when we’re done, the work-in-progress is nothing short of a masterpiece. But is it?
Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, once said, “Much is lost but for a little more effort.” Truer words have never been spoken. To the writer, the finished work is at its best. 
The piece drives home the perfect thought, and readers are moved. The ending is perfect. It’s everything we’d hoped it would be.
Until an editor gets it, and everything falls apart. The writer’s attitude is, “Nothing more can be done to make this work any better.” Their mind shuts out any suggestions that might bring clarity to the reader.
The art of writing requires writers to learn, listen, edit, and rephrase. What is clear in the writer’s mind may be muddy to the reader. 
Reasons Editing is Important: The writer has all the twists, turns, and motives in their head: Sometimes in the haste to get those things on paper, important details are missed. I once read a proposal where the entire second chapter referred to “she” and “her.” The first chapter contained four different women, so when I asked the writer to clarify, she was insulted. “Can’t you follow the characters?” She said. Actually, no. With four female characters and no identification other than she and her, the plot could have been spectacular, and I’d still not been able to follow.Share the details, so the reader is part of the action: As the writer, you know the most intimate details about your characters. Until you share those details, the reader meets a void that will make them close the book and never finish. Unless an in-depth description of the character is needed, allow the reader to use their mind’s eye to fill in certain details. It builds that fictional bubble and makes your writing tight and concise. Give them what is important to push the story ahead. Cut the fluff and add the story.Too much back story bores the reader: Part of the fun in reading is learning about the character as you go. Little snippets of their lives are revealed bit by bit rather than, what publishing calls an “information dump.” As the writer, we feel that we need to explain every tiny detail to the reader when in fact, readers are pretty intelligent people. Let the reader have their fun. Let them live inside the world you’ve created. Allow your reader to experience and grow to love your character as they walk their paths with them. Take away the unnecessary description that doesn’t move your story ahead.Make fiction believable: Even in a fiction story, the reader will draw a line in the sand for believability. If you cross over it, they label it corny or, worse, unbelievable. I talked with an author once whose protagonist rode his horse over a cliff into the crashing waves and sharp rocks below. Then without hesitation, the two swam to the shore and galloped off. (Shore with jagged rocks and crashing water?) It was unbelievable. A thousand-pound horse plus his rider cannot leap from a high cliff and hope that the waves are deep enough to prevent them from being killed from the impact or impaled by the rocks. A running horse and rider will not hesitate to time the waves hitting at just the right moment. If they survived the fall, both would have to take a little time to get their wits about them before riding (or hobbling) into the sunset. The truth is, your reader wants a story that can ring true, and they’re quite put off when you insult their intelligence. Make your action true to life. Don’t assume that your reader will bite because they do it in the movies. Edit out that unbelievable part and rewrite it into a believable scene.
My best advice for aspiring writers is, “Don’t marry your words.” There are always better ways to say something. Keener ways to phrase. Better twists.” Often these words of advice fall on deaf ears. Don’t become a statistic by marrying your words. Instead, form a healthy relationship, snipping and pruning so growth can occur.
TWEETABLEImprove Your Writing: Choose to Edit Until It Hurts, tips from @CindyDevoted on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the executive editor for www.christiandevotions.us and www.inspireafire.com. Cindy is the lead managing editor for SonRise Devotionals and also Straight Street Books, both imprints of LPC/Iron Stream Media Publications. She is a mentor with Write Right and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference held each February at the Billy Graham Training Center, the Cove, Asheville, NC. Cindy is a best selling, award winning novelist. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.