Edie Melson's Blog, page 124

Why Writers Can’t Rush Ripeness

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell
Here in Florida, blueberry season recently ended. However, opening week back in April was something I anticipated, because my husband and I had made plans to drive up to my parents’ place and pick at the farm down the road from them. 
Though we left opening weekend with a good haul, several rows of bushes weren’t ready yet. Their berries were green or a queasy shade of light purple. Tasting one of those berries was a recipe for puckering up!
Those unripe berries reminded me that we can’t rush ripeness—on a berry bush or in our own lives. If you’re feeling impatient today about the progress of your writing or publishing journey, be encouraged that ripeness or completion takes time. 
Thrive in Your Writing Season
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV).
Born and raised in Florida, I don’t deal with seasonal changes like many of you, but even Florida has its seasons (that sometimes change on a weekly basis): cool and comfortable, warm, hot and humid, sweltering, and even chilly at times. Though some people want to rush through our intense summers for relief in our less humid fall weather, that’s not how Florida works.
It’s all not how life works either.
But here’s the secret Floridians know. The brutally hot summer is great for water sports. Get wet, and the heat can be your friend.
The same is true for writers. When we feel as though we’re in a desert season of rejection letters or rewrites, we can “get wet” by reminding ourselves that rejection brings us one step closer to the right fit for our work and that rewrites serve to make our writing better. We can find creative ways to cope with the heat, whether it be stepping away from our desks for a favorite hobby or watching a sunset and realizing that every ending is a new beginning.
Abide in Christ
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4 NKJV).
Abide is an interesting word. The definition means “to remain, continue, stay.” When we read John 15, that idea seems comforting and reassuring. When we think about being in an unripe season of life, it’s less desirable.
But whether our writing is ripe for the picking or still an unready shade of green, our relationship with Christ should be the same: constant abiding. Are we in the Word daily, remaining instant in prayer, connected with our fellow believers, and serving in our calling? When we stay close to the Source of life, we will ultimately bear fruit in our season.
That day back in April, those blueberries that weren’t the perfect shade of deep blue still had a chance to bloom because they were connected to their bush. As long as they were (and no pesky bird knocked them to the ground), they were guaranteed to ripen in a few weeks. 
We might have to wait longer than a few weeks for our writing to ripen, but if we remain connected to our Vine, we will bear fruit pleasing to Jesus in due time.
What ripeness would you like to take place in your writing? How can you make the most of your current ripening season? 
TWEETABLEWhy Writers Can't Rush Ripeness, insight from author @KHogrefeParnell on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for teens and adults. Her own suspense story involved waiting on God into her thirties to meet her husband, and she desires to keep embracing God’s plan for her life when it’s not what she expects. She also teaches English online and is an inspirational speaker for schools, churches, and podcasts. Her young adult dystopian novels, The Revisionary and The Reactionary, both won the Selah for speculative fiction, and her first romantic suspense novel with Mountain Brook Ink releases December 2022. Kristen and her husband live in Florida and are expecting their first baby in August. Connect with her at KristenHogrefeParnell.com.

Book-Worthy Letters

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank
And I wrote to you as I did…for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 2 Corinthians 2:3
The cardboard box was soft around the edges, fibers broken down by attic heat and time. I opened the floppy flaps to find a treasure of written letters, blooming with the handwriting of my youth. Across the ocean they had flown, from Japan to the United States. From Kenya. From England. From Colombia, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Scotland. These tucked-away letters told the story of faith and obedience, fear and hope. My life story recorded in bleeding ink.
A well-written letter not only tells a story, it shapes stories. The letters I received in return for mine gave me strength to go on during hard seasons. They brought news of loved ones, words of caution, help to find my way forward. 
Letters are living things.
Paul knew the power of a well-written letter. He used letters to bring grace and peace, encouragement and comfort to his readers. He sometimes penned them out of much affliction and anguish of heart and many tears (see 2 Corinthians 2:4), and other times deep joy. He used letters to teach people about Jesus, about relationships, about service. Paul's letters could be weighty and fiery. Letters were Paul’s instruments of change.
His most well-known letters became thirteen books of the New Testament, and we pore over them today, memorize their powerful words, recite them to the weary, and use them to remind the faint to persevere. The ink dried two millennia ago, yet the power of Paul’s letters lives on.
We don’t often think of letters as a pathway to writing books. But I wonder if we applied the principles of letter writing to our book writing what we would produce. Letters are addressed to very specific readers. Letters have a distinct purpose. Letters are often sincere, heartfelt, and even vulnerable. Personal. Self-disclosing and entreating. A well-written letter evokes a response. 
What would happen if we, like Paul, took up our pens and wrote because we felt sure of our readers, sure that our joy would be their joy? Confident that the truth we write could change their stories. 
When my young son was battling for his life in a burn intensive care unit, I wrote letters every day in journal form. Over 40,000 people have read those now. People who cared for him and for us, readers whose lives were changed alongside ours in the painful, victorious journey of faith and hope. Last Christmas we printed them and bound them in a book. Our story within those book-worthy letters reminds us of God’s story in our lives.
Could our letters become instruments of change in the world, inspiring long after the ink has dried?
Let’s go write a letter today.
Lord, thank you for the power of a good letter. Use me to write letters that change the world. Amen.
TWEETABLEBook-Worthy Letters, insight & inspiration from author @AudreyCFrank on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Audrey Frank is an author, speaker, and storyteller. The stories she shares are brave and true. They give voice to those whose words are silenced by shame, the hard things in life that don’t make sense, and the losses that leave us wondering if we will survive. Audrey and her family have spent over twenty years living and working among different cultures and world views, and she has found that God’s story of redemption spans every geography and culture. He is the God of Instead, giving honor instead of shame, gladness instead of mourning, hope instead of despair. Although she has three different degrees in communication and intercultural studies, Audrey’s greatest credential is that she is known and loved by the One who made her.Audrey is the author of Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World (Harvest House Publishers), an outpouring of Audrey’s heart to introduce others to the God of Instead. Shame is not unique to the developing world, the plight of the women behind veils, young girls trafficked across borders; shame is lurking in hearts everywhere. Through powerful stories from women around the world, Covered Glory illuminates the power of the Gospel to remove shame, giving honor instead. Available at favorite booksellers: BARNES & NOBLE , BOOKS A MILLION, AMAZON.

When Writing Hurts

by Debb Hackett @Debb_Hackett

“I’ve been thinking I should write a book.” “I’ve always thought I’d write a book one day.”

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard these remarks, from people who have never tried to write, much less revise or edit a full manuscript. To many who haven’t written a book, doing so seems easy. You just sit down and write, right?
Wrong. Unless you’re some crazy talented prodigy-type. In which case, don’t tell me because I want to genuinely like all my writing colleagues. And if writing comes easily, I might struggle to like you. The actual writing is obviously the biggest component of the process but it’s far from the only one. There’s learning how to do it well, researching, editing, revising, publishing, marketing and on and on it goes.

Writing is hard, (said every writer, ever). And writing well can be excruciating.

So, what do we do when writing hurts? Because, truthfully, there have been times when the last thing (as in I’d rather get a root canal then move along to the proctologist) I want to do is sit at my laptop and pour my heart onto the white screen. But that’s what I’m called to do. And let’s be honest. Called is an aspirational word for commanded. God commands writers to write for Him. To His glory. And who in their right mind wants to ignore a command from God?

What if you’ve just had a rejection that stings, you’re stuck in the middle of a chapter and frustrated, or you’re discouraged by a bad review? Not exactly things that make you excited to craft another thousand words. Writing when it hurts can put your faith under pressure it doesn’t need. I have some steps to protect your soul, triage your heart and get your butt back in the chair.
Tips for When Writing Hurts

Protect Your Soul: Prayer, praise, and people

When writing hurts, the first place I look for a diagnosis is the enemy. Is the one who seeks to kill and destroy messing with me? If so, that’s okay, I know how to handle that. Because friends, this battle is long over. Satan has no hold on me. First of all, pray. Ask Jesus’ truth to fill your ears, for His power to protect you, for the freedom He paid so dearly for, to repel the liar far away. Then, for added fortification, crank up the worship tunes. Whether you love old hymns, Toby Mac, or Bethel/Hillsong/Chris Tomlin type acoustic music, get your praise on. I firmly believe a worshiping soul shines brightly enough to blind death. And finally, surround yourself with the community of writers. I’ve been working with refugees fleeing Ukraine. The power of empathy, that shared experience is everything.

Triage Your Heart: Rest, read, reconnect

When writing hurts, it goes deep into the core of who we are. Nurture yourself. Take some time, hours, or days (but not too long) to rest your mind from the tiring work of creating. Go for walks, sit outside and breathe fresh air. Watch movies, eat well. Do that thing that nourishes your body. Then read someone who inspires you. Find a writer whose voice you admire. Remind yourself of why we sometimes torture ourselves. Because when the words are flowing, when the chapter or story comes together, it is amazing. Then finally, reconnect with other writers who are actively working. Ask someone to hold you accountable as you get back to the task set before you. Knowing I will have to explain myself if I haven’t written anything often motivates me to get on with it. Whether I feel like it or not.

Return Your Butt: Plan, prepare, prayer

When writing hurts but you know you need to get back to it, structure, even if you’re a pantster, can be helpful. So, plan for what you’ll write (doesn’t need to be a plot, just decide which chapter or scene or section). Set aside time in the day, just for writing. Then prepare your return. Have good snacks lined up ready to reach for (peanut M&Ms and a skinny latte please). Make sure your laptop is charged. Review what you’ve already written or get a fresh document ready to receive your shiny new words. Maybe look at a pertinent section in a craft book. And finally, because we began this whole process with prayer, end cap it the same way. Ask the Lord to guide your hands over the keys, to overlay your fingers with His, and to be glorified in every word. At that point, you can’ t lose.

When we have a physical or emotional wound, the sensible thing to do is tend it, and writing is no different. Take the time to recover and then jump right back in.

How about you? What advice do you have for writers who are hurting? How do you handle that?
TWEETABLEWhen Writing Hurts, insight from @Debb_Hackett on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Writer, broadcaster and speaker Debb Hackett has been a radio journalist for more than twenty years. Married to a test pilot, Debb writes for military wives and lives just outside London, England, with her husband and two daughters. Her first work of fiction won the Foundation Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and was an ACFW Genesis Award finalist. When she’s not writing, Debb can be found leading worship, cheering for Green Bay or skiing. If you can swing by her house while she’s making scones, that would also be a win. She blogs at: https://debbhackett.com

Writing an Un-Put-Downable Character (Part 5 of 10): Interests

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author
When you make a connection with another person in life, what do you do? I'm not sure how it works for you, but when I'm trying to get to know someone, I ask about their hobbies. 
Would you believe it works the same way for fictional people too?
Last month in our series about creating un-put-downable characters, we talked about History (links to previous posts can be found at the bottom of today's post). Today, we’re talking about Interests.
Even though they are figments of your imagination, your characters are people. They should have things they like and dislike, personal preferences, and unique tastes.
Take a classic as an example. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet enjoys reading, but she isn't much for music. (Granted, if you ask Mr. Darcy, she plays the pianoforte quite well!)
In the Pixar movie, Ratatouille, the story's protagonist Remy loves to cook. In Disney's The Little Mermaid, Ariel loves to collect human things. 
What's important about Interests, though, is that they serve as part of the story. Sure you can have a character love to surf, but what is the point of that interest if it doesn't matter to the overall story? 
One of the most popular Netflix streaming shows, Stranger Things, is a fascinating mash-up of high-stakes horror tropes and 80s nostalgia. But one of the most fun parts of the show is how the four main kids who lead the story experience everything through their shared love of Dungeons and Dragons role playing games. 
Each one of these kids is obsessed with D&D, so it makes sense that when they encounter a terrifying monster that they’d compare it to something they all recognized. But it’s more than just what Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will call the monster (the Demigorgon), it’s how the way they respond to the terrifying unknown shows us how close they are as friends. And it also demonstrates a sense of innocence that they only way they can make sense of the horrifying things that are happening around them is to compare it to a fantasy game.
Pop-culture comparisons aside, sometimes a skill or a hobby can become the foundation for the entire plot of a novel or movie. In stories like The Last Starfighter or Ender's Game, the main character is able to do what is required of them because of their skill with a computer game. 
An important part of who we are as people comes from the things we enjoy doing. So take that element of the human experience and infuse it into your character’s design. Just make sure that it goes along with the story in some way. 
Say you’re writing a historical fiction novel, and your main character runs an inn in a small village somewhere in England. Maybe she inherited the inn as a family business, and her real interest is archery. But to keep the family business running, she only indulges in her archery habit in her free time. So what happens when her village is raided by Vikings? She could totally be sniping people from the church’s bell tower. 
What about a science fiction novel? Your main character could be the captain of a military space vessel that’s out on some distant exploratory voyage. And maybe he’s great at military tactics and strategies, but his first love is Shakespeare. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the captain of this ship happened to stumble upon a planet somewhere in a distant galaxy that is oddly reminiscent of the world in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
The possibilities are as endless as the characters we can create. Whether you write contemporary romance or mystery thrillers, your characters need to be fully rounded in order to be believable. And the best way to create a fully rounded character is to give them interests.
Of course, if you’re giving a character an interest you know nothing about, you’d better do your research. Nothing will give away your own ignorance like writing a character who loves mathematical puzzles when you as the author hate math. 
Use examples from people you know in real life if you can’t think of any yourself. I mean, a great example is my own dad—who worked as a banker for years but was also an amateur race car driver! 
Every person you meet has more layers than you can see, and part of what gives them those layers is the unique interests and hobbies that shape their lives. 
What interests do your characters have? If you don’t know, it’s time to start asking questions. It will make all the difference in the world. Just be intentional about it. Who knows? Once your characters figure out what their hobbies are, they may solve you plot problems for you!
In case you’re wondering, here’s what’s left in our ten-step journey:
Personality Conflict Contradictions History Interests Language Internalization Dreams Observables Growth
TWEETABLEWriting an Un-Put-Downable Character (Part 5 of 10): Interests - insight & tips from @ACW_Author on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don't Miss the Other Posts in This SeriesPart 1 Personality: Writing the Un-Put-Downable Character Part 2 Conflict: Writing the Un-Put-Downable Character Part 3 Contractions: Writing The Un-Put-Downable CharacterPart 4 History: Writing the un-Put-Downable CharacterPart 5 Interests: Writing the un-Put-Downable Character
Award-winning author, A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks won’t match. She has authored eight novels, two novellas, three devotional books, and more flash fiction than you can shake a stick at. A senior partner at the award-winning Uncommon Universes Press , she is passionate about stories and the authors who write them. Learn more about her book coaching and follow her adventures online at https://www.amycwilliams.com .

Writing Advice for Writers Who Haven't found Writing Advice that Works

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn
I love being able to talk to new writers and give them some encouragement. I love sharing from my own experience—the things that worked and the things that didn’t. 
But here’s the scary part. I still have no idea what I’m doing.
There are a lot of writing experts out there. They really do know what they’re doing. They’re great at it. They write lots of books, and they write books about writing books. And some writers read those books, apply those methods, and experience great success. 
I am not one of those writers.
I have read so.many.books on the craft that I should be an expert by now. Surely at least one of those methods works for me. Right? 
Um. Yeah. About that. It has taken me many years to realize something important. I write the way I write, and the way I write is unlike the way anyone else writes. And that is okay.
My personal approach is a mishmash of the methods I’ve read, with a healthy swirl of my own weirdness. I cannot tell you how to write a book. I can’t even tell you how I write a book. But I can write books. 
If you’ve found a writing style that works for you, then do not let anything I’m about to say change your mind. You’ve found your path. Stay on it!!! This will probably be true of 30-40% of writers. I’m thrilled for you. Truly.
But, if you’ve been taking classes, reading books, and fretting over the fact that you can’t seem to figure out a method that works for you, may I humbly suggest that the reason for that is that no one else’s method is ever going to work for you? You’re going to have to figure out your own way of doing it and trust the process that comes naturally to you.
You are probably an organic/discovery/intuitive writer (which sounds and is way better than pantser) and trying to make yourself into a different kind of writer is not going to work.
It has taken me years to understand this, and if I can save some of you some angst and drama, that would make me very happy.
So here’s my writing advice for writers who find that writing advice almost never works:
1. Read all the books you can about the writing craft, but don’t assume that because it works for someone else, even lots of someones, that it will work for you. 
I’m not trying to be a downer here, but if your expectation is that you’ll somehow find the holy grail that will unlock the secret to your writing success in someone else’s approach, you’re going to be disappointed. 
So, why do I suggest reading these books anyway? I’m so glad you asked. 
2. When I read a writing book, I’m not looking for a method I can emulate. I’m looking for little nuggets that resonate. It could be a suggestion about character development, pacing, or status that I’ve never heard put quite that way before. It could be a thought about revisions or about story creation that clicks with me. 
I’ve never read a book on writing that didn’t have at least one good suggestion that I could put into practice—in my own way. My style of writing takes everything I’ve ever learned and uses it. Usually not in the way it was intended. 
This is why I say that…
3. When you find a suggestion that speaks to you, give it a whirl. If it works, make it yours. But don’t be afraid to tweak it. It’s highly unlikely that the way it works for you will be exactly the same way it worked for someone else. 
This can be terrifying, especially for new writers. The tendency is to think that if someone who is so successful and wise about writing does it this way, that it is the only way. 
No. Nope. Not true. 
I have lots of writing friends. Some write in a way that is polar opposite to my own approach. Some write in a similar way to the way I do it. But not a single one of us write exactly the same way. 
I’m not sure why we find that surprising. God made us all different. We bring our own life experience, education, family dynamics, and brain wiring to the page. It makes perfect sense to me that how we apply what we’ve learned will be as unique as we are. 
This means that you’re going to have to find your own path and then…
4. Trust your process. Now, friends, this is something that will take time. You are not going to be able to trust a process that hasn’t given you results. Which means you’re going to have to write. A lot. I’m eight books and three novellas in, and I’m still learning to trust my process. To trust that if I do what I’ve learned I need to do, that eventually the story will unfold. There is no shortcut to this. You learn to trust your process by trusting your process. It will take time. I’m sorry. I wish I could make it easier. I can’t.
But I can leave you with this:
5. The method that works for you is the most efficient method for you. What I’ve come to understand is that leaning into my own process really is the most efficient way for me to get words on the page. Trying to force myself to write in a different way, even if the theory says that way would be faster/better/more logical, only results in lost time and frustration. 
If this resonated with you today, I’d love to chat with you about it in the comments!
Grace and peace,




TWEETABLEWriting Advice for Writers Who Haven't found Writing Advice that Works - insight from @LynnHBlackburn on @EdieMelson (CLick to Tweet)
Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she's sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas! 
Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series, was a 2021 Christy Award finalist and her previous titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Malicious Intent, the second book in the series, released March 2022.
She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LYNNHBLACKBURN.COMand @LynnHBlackburn on BOOKBUB, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, andINSTAGRAM.

Making the Characters We Write React

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer
Characters react. Well, first they have a stimulus of sort, and THEN they react. In fact, characters (and humans) are always in some form of stimulus/reaction or cause/effect or motivation/response mode. Because that’s how story (and life) work. Nothing comes from nothing. 
But how do we make our characters react in our stories? I see only half of the equation in so many of the manuscripts that cross my desk that I know it’s just a lack of understanding. Most of the time, writers don’t emphasize the reaction side enough, or they leave it out completely. Or they have a reaction but no great stimulus. And often, I see where they put it in the wrong order. Another problem is that we get a physical reaction but no emotional one. All of these can be easily fixed, once we understand how it works.
Plenty of stimulus but no response—and no emotion—can look like this:
“Tires screeched. A sickening thump told Heather that her dog, who had just escaped from the back yard, had finally met his match.”
Not bad, but it leaves us to wonder not only what happens next but whether or not she cared about the dog. Possible response? 
“She gasped and whispered, ‘Oh no!’ under her breath, then raced for the street, knowing, just knowing, that Fluffy was dead.”
First, a visceral reaction, second, a voiced one, then the physical run, and finally, a thought. The visceral reaction—something our bodies do without our thinking about it—should always be first, and the other three can be in any order. Or, you can leave one out, if you don’t want your character to speak, for instance. But now we know for sure she cared and that she’s going to take some sort of action, which starts the whole process again.
Leaving out the stimulus is a little less common, but it still happens. Usually, the problem is that the reaction comes first.
“Heather screamed. The screeching of the tires told her that Fluffy had been hit by a car and was probably dead.”
Do you see the problem? And how awkward that sounds? Yes, we often watch TV shows where we SEE the reaction of a character before we get to see the reason they’re reacting—think horror movies where the character’s reaction sets up the tension, usually right before a commercial, THEN we see the horrible thing when we get back from making popcorn. It can be done successfully and adroitly, but it is much harder to do it in a book. And changing the order is a simple fix.
The beat of stimulus/reaction goes on throughout the entire story. The micro level is in the sentence structure where it’s a matter of “and then THIS happens, which causes THAT, then THIS happens next,” with each set of cause-and-effect units creating the following one. 
The macro version is at the scene and chapter level. Each scene or chapter must set up the next one by creating an effect because of the cause in the previous one, with rising and falling tension.
Easy as pie, right? Unfortunately, it can be a little overwhelming. But it is a good tool for your toolbox, and a great way to understand story.
How are your stimulus/reaction units going? Can you see room for improvement?
TWEETABLEMaking the Characters We Write React, tips from @SarahSallyHamer on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Sarah (Sally) Hamer, B.S., MLA, is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories, whether through fiction or through memoir. Writing in many genres—mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, medieval history, non-fiction—she has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.
A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for almost twenty years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at www.margielawson.com. Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach at Touch Not the Cat Books, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors. 
You can find her at hamerse@bellsouth.net or www.sallyhamer.blogspot.com
From Sally: I wish to express gratitude to the giants upon whose shoulders I stand and who taught me so much about the writing craft. I would list every one, if it were only possible.

10 Tips to become a Valuable Contributing Writer

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
One excellent way to grow your visibility and readership is through contributing to articles and posts to other websites. This can be done through a single guest post or by becoming a regular, contributing, writer on a site that’s not your own. 
While website and blog owners are always looking for new content, they are protective of the communities they’ve nurtured and only willing to accept contributions that benefit that community. 
10 Tips for Submitting Articles to Online Sites
1. Get to know the community. Don’t stop with reading the guest post or article submission guidelines. Study the site and pay attention to the content that’s already there.
2. Follow the guidelines. This isn’t a place to get creative, if the submission guidelines say they only accept submission that are 700-900 words, don’t send a 1200 word article. 
3. Pay attention to the most popular posts. Figure out the types of posts the community build around the site enjoys. You’ll be able to tell by looking at the comments and shares of specific posts.
4. Find a niche that fits your knowledge base. As you study a site, look for areas where you could provide content. For example, Karen Whiting looked at my site and saw I was light in the area of author marketing tips. That was what she proposed when she asked to become a contributing writing. I already knew I was weak there and snapped her up in a second!
5. Don’t go outside to the site’s focus. I get daily proposals from people who want to write an article about unrelated topics, such as mental health, dog care, and how to repair a computer. I don’t even bother to answer. If the person submitting didn’t even take two minutes to see what the obvious focus of my site is, I feel no obligation to taking my valuable time to answer them.
6. Learn how to write for the internet. Writing online articles and blog posts is a very different craft than writing for print outlets. Site owners don’t generally have time to educate you on how to do this. If you’re proposing to write for an online outlet, it’s assumed you have that skill in your wheelhouse. 
7. Follow the deadlines scrupulously. Submission deadlines are important and they’re usually NOT much wiggle room. Professional bloggers need to have posts and articles up several weeks ahead of the actual publish date. This allows time for keyword research and image selection to make sure each post is top notch.
8. Include a professional bio. Actually you should have several—of differing word-count lengths. This bio is your calling card and enables those who read your article will be able to find you and your work. 
9. Be ready on the day your article goes live to promote it. Your benefit for writing for a different site is being exposed to a new audience. The site owner’s benefit is the same—their site is exposed to the new audience you bring to the picture. If you’re not willing to promote the article on the day it’s published, you aren’t holding up your end of the deal. A contributor who doesn’t promote (or answer comments, see #10 below) probably won’t be asked back. 
10. Go back and answer comments. If the site you’re contributing to allows comments, be sure to check in several times on the day your post goes live to answer comment questions and thank those who leave a comment. If the site posts less than every day, I usually check in several times before the next article/post goes live to make sure I don’t miss anyone who is kind enough to take time and comment.
These tips won’t always guarantee acceptance, but they will ensure you stand out in the crowd and make the site owner more likely to accept you in the future. 
Now it’s your turn, what would you add to my list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLE10 Tips to become a Valuable Contributing Writer from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website , through Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Tips to Help Speakers Deal with a Persistent Cough or Voice Loss

by Yvonne Ortega @YvonneOrtega1
After a return home from a trip out of state, I woke up the next day with a cough and slight fever. My doctor insisted a trip to the ER for COVID and influenza testing plus blood tests, a chest X-ray, and an EKG were in order.
Nothing showed up except a cough, slight fever and elevated blood pressure attributed to the tension of riding in an ambulance. Therefore, the doctor prescribed only an OTC cough medicine. 
Less than twenty-four hours later, my fever spiked, and the cough worsened. I saw my own doctor.
He prescribed an antibiotic for bronchitis, extra strength cough drops with honey, seven glasses of water daily, and rest for seven to ten days. He told me to sit in my rocker-recliner for an hour after an antibiotic to increase its effectiveness. I stayed there for the night more than once. 
Because of my history with asthma and aggressive cancer treatment in the past, I’ve tried many of the following remedies.
Allegra
Allegra® comes in Regular, 12HR, 24 HR, and children’s Allegra®. Although one of my speaker friends swears by it, years ago, its effectiveness dwindled. 
Altered Diet
Pollen, dust, dairy products, coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate aggravate my asthma and cough. So do scented products, such as cologne, hair spray, and perfume. I’m grateful I dislike those products, but dark chocolate in moderation seems to be safe at times. 
Essential Oils 
I use Eucalyptus and Lavender as a cold and flu remedy, because they help to provide natural sleep. My body also likes Lemon and Breathe. Several women in my area sell these essential oils in a brand that enhances my wellbeing. 
My Most Effective Treatment
The specific antibiotic for my system, lots of rest for seven to ten days, extra strength cough drops with honey, chicken soup with rice from a trusted restaurant or homemade chicken soup with Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning, and seven glasses of water daily do more than anything else for me. 
I find Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning online at Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning and at the grocery store.
My Two Favorite Cookbooks
Healthy Treasures Cookbook
Annette Reeder, BHS, diploma in Biblical Studies, and certified in nutrition consulting, has put together a wealth of tasty recipes. She founded Designed Healthy Living and Design Publishing. I enjoy her appetizers, soups, and desserts, which she calls “Happy Endings.” 
Her family’s deteriorating health led her on the journey to this healthy treasure.
The chapters on Setting Up Your Kitchen: The Right Tools and Intriguing Ingredients plus the recipes helped me to eliminate foods that aggravate my system. The better I eat, the better I feel. My body welcomes almond milk, Navy beans, and walnuts but rejects rice milk, Quinoa, and pumpkin seeds. 
7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates
Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS has a background in nursing and health services. I like Neal’s seven steps which helped me get started. I’ll quote three here. Step 1: Decide to Improve Your Health.Step 2: Acquire a Support System and Knowledge. Step 3: Clean Out the Pantry and Refrigerator.The checklists, assessments, and journal tips helped me stay focused.
Periodically, I go back to both books for refresher training as I am now. 
Prayer and a Prayer/Health-seeking Partner
As a human being, I can’t stay on a healthy diet alone. Daily prayer and support from others are essential. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV) 
Please share a tip you’ve found effective for persistent cough or voice loss.
TWEETABLETips to Help Speakers Deal with a Persistent Cough or Voice Loss from @YvonneOrtega1 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Yvonne Ortega walks with a small footprint but leaves a giant imprint in people’s lives. This power-packed package is a professional speaker and the author of the Moving from Broken to Beautiful® Series through cancer, divorce, forgiveness, and loss. Learn more at WWW.YVONNEORTEGA.COM
Yvonne speaks with honesty and humor as she shares her life and struggles through presentations that empower women to find peace, power, and purpose through God’s Word. 
Yvonne’s background as a licensed professional counselor brings a unique perspective into the heart of women. She’s a speaking and writing coach and the owner of Moving from Broken to Beautiful®, LLC. She belongs to the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, the Christian Authors Network, the National Speakers Association, and Toastmasters International.
She celebrates life at the beach, where she walks, builds sand castles, blows bubbles, and dances.
Featured Image: Photo by Dr Josiah Sarpong on Unsplash

9 Things My Dog Taught Me About Blogging

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Most of you know I’m an animal lover. We had one cat, Emily Dickinson, and our son's dog, Cosmo. I don’t know what I’d do without my four-legged friends cheering me on as I work every day.
But they’re more than just great companions, they’ve got a lot to teach me. I’ve shared lessons from Emily before in a devotion on Being Still. So today I’d like to pass along some of the wisdom I’ve gleaned from my dogs.
Blogging Tips for Writers
1. Go all in. When you play, play. When you work, work. And when you rest, rest. My dogs are one hundred percent involved in whatever they’re doing. Beyond that, I’ve discovered that there’s no such thing as a multi-tasking dog. The same should be true for bloggers. Focus on the task at hand by setting aside time to blog. Don’t think of it as work you do in the spaces. 
2. Chasing squirrels never ends well. It may be fun, but it rarely bring value to what you’re doing. When our boys were young (and so was Jake) they had the great idea of tying his leash to the handlebars of a scooter so he could pull them down the street. It went well until a squirrel darted in front of Jake. He took off one direction, the son on the scooter went another way. There was definitely collateral damage although none of it permanent. The same thing can with blogging. Leave the squirrel chasing for play time and stay focused on where you’re going in your post and avoid the collateral damage. 
3. Loyalty is everything. My dogs are friendly with almost everyone, but their loyalty is to me. As bloggers, we have to have that same kind of loyalty toward our readers. 
4. 50 New smells a day. For a dog, going outside is more than exercise, it’s the ability to gather information about the world around them. As bloggers, we can’t become so immersed in our own corner of the world and especially only our point of view. 
5. Keep digging until you have what you need. Both our dogs have favorite toys. But when our son's dog was a puppy, his favorite pastime appeared to be getting his stuck under things. He’s learning though, to not just rely on us to get what he needs. He’s learning how to work and dig until he gets them back. As bloggers we can’t just rely on the information others provide. We have to be willing to learn, grow, and dig out what we need to be the best we can be.
6. Wag more, bark less. When my dog comes up to me, he’s grinning and his tail is wagging. He doesn’t approach me barking and growling. We need to make sure we interact with people online by wagging, not barking. Think before you post and keep it positive, you’ll never regret being nice. 
7. Puppy treats make the worst job easier. Both our dogs love treats, but training our puppy is giving us a new appreciation about how valuable they are. Treats are also a good way to get me to finish a job I’m dreading. 
8. Be ready for an adventure and travel light. My dogs are always ready to go for an adventure. Don’t be too tied to home base. As bloggers (and writers) we can pick up and go at the drop of a hat. 
9. Always on guard. My dogs are always aware of what’s going on around them. They may appear to be sleeping soundly or playing hard, but if someone comes to the door, they are the first to alert. Because blogging is an online activity, we also need to always be alert. We shouldn’t be fearful, but we do need to be smart and stay aware. 
These are some of the lessons I’ve learned, what has your pet taught you about blogging, writing or even life? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below. 
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLE9 Things My Dog Taught Me About Blogging from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

4 Clever Tricks to Immediately Transform Any Scene into a Compelling High-Stakes Situation

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe
Ever feel like you’ve written a scene and it’s just plain boring? Maybe that scene is too important to be cut, but it slows down the momentum of your story and just isn’t compelling. If you find yourself in this situation, behold, I bring good news. Here are four clever tricks that you can use to transform a ho-hum scene and make it come alive. 
1. Make sure the situation is attached to something important.
The only reason we ever invest in a story is if we care about the main character’s journey, and the only reason we care about their journey is if there’s something important at stake. In other words, we need to believe that the outcome matters. Make it clear to your readers what will happen if your character succeeds or fails in each scene. Readers emotionally invest in a story if and only if the stakes are high enough. They need to fear the possibility of a terrible outcome for your character. They need to feel like, if the character fails, all will be lost. Thus, a scene that drags is usually an indication of a low-stakes scenario, which means we can transform that scene simply by raising the stakes. 
2. Rewrite that scene so that there’s a ticking time bomb of some sort.
Using time as a device to put pressure on your character is a wonderful way to raise the stakes. Even a scene that moves slowly can feel suspenseful when we know that time is running out. In fact, the very slowness itself can play a role in adding tension. It makes our readers nervous. It causes anxiety and fear. While we may wish to avoid these emotions in real life, these are essential to good storytelling. Unfortunately, this device may be more or less difficult to employ depending on your genre. It’s one thing for an action character to be racing against the clock to locate and diffuse a bomb, but this scenario wouldn’t be believable in, say, a medieval romance novel. Nevertheless, the goal is to simply put your character in a difficult situation where they must navigate a situation quickly and deftly to avoid some undesirable outcome. 
3. Catch the character off guard.
Another trick is to have something happen that takes your character by surprise. It could be something huge and dramatic, or something more personal or subtle. It doesn’t matter how big the event is so long as it makes sense given the type of story. Perhaps in your crime thriller, your main character is out buying flowers when suddenly, BOOM! The coffee house next door explodes in a rain of gunfire. Now, your character must find a way to survive this horrible terrorist attack. Or, perhaps in your post WWII relationship drama, your main character is working alone in her garden when suddenly, BOOM! Her stern mother-in-law drops by for an unexpected visit. Now, your character must play host to a mean woman who has only ever shown her disdain. 
In both cases, the stakes go up and the scene unfolds in a similar fashion. In scenario one, the main character must try to control her fears, keep her wits, and find a way to escape death even as people scream and run for cover all around her. In scenario two, the main character may be internally screaming and running for cover, but outwardly, she, too, must control her fears, keep her wits, and find a way “to escape” (avoid conflict) “death” (being destroyed by her mother-in-law). 
In scenario one, the stakes are literally life and death, whereas in scenario two, the stakes are figurative. The main character won’t actually die if she fails to navigate her condescending mother-in-law, but she does risk losing her dignity, or perhaps even her standing in the family, if she fails. You can manufacture a high-stakes situation simply by taking your character by surprise. Generally, the surprise is a negative one, but it could also be something positive so long as it still causes stress, like a friend who takes the character on an impromptu skydiving adventure. The key is to catch the character off guard.
4. Take away their “toys”. 
No matter the genre, your main character inevitably has things that he or she has come to rely upon for peace of mind or a sense of control. Perhaps it’s her relationship with the next-door neighbor, who always gives her tea and life-advice in a timely fashion. The point is to transform the scene into a high-pressure situation by taking away anything that your character could use to help regulate her own emotions, reduce stress, or alleviate the pressure she’s feeling. When we can’t enjoy a fresh cup of coffee on the morning of the big interview because the pot is suddenly on the fritz, it does more than just prevent us from reducing stress. It adds even more pressure to the situation. It frazzles us. Puts us on edge. It shows us who we are deep down. 
It could be anything, really. A type of food. A special drink. Smoking a pipe. Playing the piano. Rock climbing. Boxing. Cleaning the house. Knowledge. It might even be a type of weapon or tool that the character uses to defend or protect herself. Whatever gives your character a sense of safety, peace, or normalcy, whatever she turns to when things start to crumble, that’s the “toy” you want to take away. 
The idea is to prevent the character from finding relief, and you do that by removing those comfort items that have the potential to restore their sense of equilibrium. We need to keep the pressure on so they’ll be forced to rely on themselves rather than their favorite coping mechanisms. If your character is prone to relying on a best friend’s advice, then that friend is unavailable during the character’s time of crisis. If it’s a weapon that comforts them, it gets confiscated or otherwise removed from the equation. If it’s an emotional support dog who helps manage her anxiety, the dog goes missing (which makes her anxiety worse). If she plays the violin when she’s upset, one of the strings breaks. If she’s in the habit of jogging to release pent-up anger, she trips and falls and sprains her ankle, or steps into a puddle of mud and ruins her running shoes—whatever you need to do to take the toys away. 
CONCLUSION
The next time you find yourself with a scene that lacks luster, try employing one of these four nifty tricks. Instead of allowing your character to calm her nerves by resorting to one of the many habits she’s developed, take away her toys until she's got nothing left but her own wits. Or throw her off her game by taking her by surprise. Or, add pressure by making her race against the clock. In all of it, make sure that the outcome matters. This transforms the scene from an innocuous one into a high-pressure, high-stakes scenario, and that’s when things really get interesting.
TWEETABLE4 Clever Tricks to Immediately Transform Any Scene into a Compelling High-Stakes Situation from @ZenaDellLowe on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Zena has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a writer, producer, director, actress, and story consultant. Zena also teaches advanced classes on writing all over the country. As a writer, Zena has won numerous awards for her work. She also has several feature film projects in development through her independent production company, Mission Ranch Films. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Zena launched The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe, a podcast designed to serve the whole artist, not just focus on craft. In 2021, Zena launched The Storyteller’s Mission Online Platform, where she offers advanced classes and other key services to writers. Zena loves story and loves to support storytellers. Her passion is to equip artists of all levels to achieve excellence at their craft, so that they will truly have everything they need to change the world for the better through story.
To find out more about Zena or her current courses and projects, check out her websites at WWW.MISSIONRANCHFILMS.COM and WWW.THESTORYTELLERSMISSION.COM