Edie Melson's Blog, page 141

Tips for Creating the Perfect Fiction Title

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
It’s been said, “A book’s title is its most important marketing strategy.” We shouldn’t be surprised when we consider how long it takes to create the best title for our books.
Most publishing houses have a team who look at the story content, genre, plot, and psychological impact to ensure the reader is enthusiastic and involved emotionally with the book project. 
If the publishing house changes a title, it’s in the writer’s best interest. 
For example, these famous novels didn’t start with an enticing title:
First Impressions → Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)Something That Happened → Of Mice and Men—John SteinbeckAtticus → To Kill a Mockingbird—Harper LeeTomorrow is Another Day → Gone with the Wind—Margaret MitchellStranger From Within → Lord of the Flies—William GoldingAll’s Well that Ends Well → War and Peace—Leo TolstoyThey Don’t Build Statues to Businessmen → Valley of the Dolls—Jacqueline SusannThe Mute → The Heart is a Lonely Hunter—Carson McCullers
How does a writer create a title?
1. Use strong nouns and active verbsTo Kill a Mockingbird—Harper LeeThe Eagle has Landed—Jack HigginsWatership Down—Richard Adams
2. Look to figurative language: metaphors and similes
3. Examine your story’s theme
4. BrainstormConsult friends for help. Host a brainstorming party, either live or online. Don’t discard any random titles because one day you might need them.Create a new word—especially if the novel is fantasy or sci-fi
5. Read poetryFigurative language offers insight into the genre, emotions, and quality of book titles. Note: reading poetry before writing opens the writer’s mind.
The Lovely Bones—Alice Sebold came from “I Knew a Woman” by Theodore RoethkeOf Mice and Men—John Steinbeck came from “To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough” by Robert BurnsTender is the Night—F. Scott Fitzgerald came from “Ode to a Nightingale” by John KeatsFor Whom the Bell Tolls—Ernest Hemingway came from “Meditation XVII” by John Donne
6. Read a songbook or hymnalComposers labor over their song titles and the lyrics. Like poetry, the language is beautiful. 
Don’t Stop Belivin’—Olivia Newton-John came from a Journey song by the same name.We are Family—Patricia Hegarty came from a 1970’s song Sister SledgeI found this online: John Steinbeck's wife Carol Steinbeck provided the title to John's 1939 novel and masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath.The book title is a direct reference to lyrics in the second line from "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", by Julia Ward Howe. Also, specific lyrics from this song provide the title of John Updike's novel, In the Beauty of the Lilies. Plus, two more titles: Terrible Swift Sword and Never Call Retreat come from this song. They are volumes in Bruce Catton's Centennial History of the Civil War.
7. AlliterationThis is the obvious repetitive use of a letter for each word of the title. Horton Hears a Who—Dr. SeussMany Marvelous Monsters—Ed HeckBlack Beauty—Anna Sewell
8. Answers a question that must be answeredAre You Afraid of the Dark? —Sidney SheldonCan Love Happen Twice?—Ravinder SinghMadam, Will You Talk?—Mary Stewart
9. One-word titles or choose a nameFrankenstein—Mary ShelleyRebecca—Daphne Du MauerTwilight—Stephenie MeyerHarry Potter—J. K. Rowling 
10. ClichesIf a cliché is your choice, make sure it corresponds to the book’s genre and content.Or switch up a popular cliché or phraseDon’t Look Down—Hilary DavidsonLove is Blind—Linsay SandsThe Grass is Always Greener—Michele Jakubowski
11. Promise the reader specific contentAnd Then There were None—Agatha ChristieThe Hunger Games—Suzanne Collins The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe—C. S. Lewis
12. Research and settingWhere the Crawdads Sing—Delia OwensThe Bridges of Madison County—Robert James WallerThe Bridge on the River Kwai—Pierre Boulle
13. Subtitles are more for nonfiction books.
14. Online Title Generators such as https://www.title-generator.com/best-online-title-generator.html
Writers have 5 goals in choosing a book title:
1. UniqueA unique title means the writer has search on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christian Book to make sure the title isn’t currently being used.If the title appears on another novel, what is the publishing date?After weighing those criteria, do you feel safe in titling your book?
2. Matches genreTitling a book is not the time to be cute or confusing. The reader should immediately know the genre.
3. MemorableDoes the title reflect the storyline in such a way the reader will not soon forget?Short and Catchy
4. Emotion-grabbing Does the title tug on the heartstrings? 
5. Keyword searchableType your title into a search engine to see what comes up.
Are you ready to create the perfect title for your story?
TWEETABLECreating the Perfect Fiction Title, tips from @DiAnnMills on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. 
She is the former director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson. Connect here: DiAnnMills.com

Can One Writing Assignment Change the World?

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel
As the end of the year draws to a close, perhaps you are thinking about your writing life. Specifically, what you didn’t write this year. That lead or request you never pursued. That idea you failed to give attention and care, so it just sort of fizzled.
Friend, 2021 is done. It’s time to move on. We are given a fresh start in 2022. The question is, what will we do with these blank pages of days?
Perhaps we can ask God to bring a message out of our mess! May I share one of my most favorite stories about how a writing assignment changed a life? And perhaps even the world…
******
George was a mess. 
One night in 1741, this bent old man shuffled listlessly down a dark London street. he was starting out on one of the aimless, despondent wanderings that had become a nightly ritual for him. His mind was a battleground between hope based on his past glories and despair based on the future.
George Frederich Handel couldn’t help but think of his roller coaster life…
For forty years he had written stately music for the aristocracy of England and Europe. Kings and queens had showered him with honors. Then court society turned against him, reducing him to poverty and illness. For a while he experienced a recovery in health and fortune, until his patroness, Queen Caroline, died. As Handel sank deeper into debt, his heart sank deeper into depression.
Trudging into the warmth of his apartment that night, he discovered a package had been delivered—a commission to write a sacred oratorio. He would have preferred writing another opera. That is, until he began to read the words he was asked to set to music… “He was despised and rejected of men; ”“Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace;” and “I know that my Redeemer Liveth.”
As these words came alive with meaning and purpose, so did Handel. He became consumed with writing and then jumping up and running to the harpsichord. At times he would stride up and down the room flailing the air with his arms and singing at the top of his lungs, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” the tears running down his cheeks.
People thought he was going mad. For twenty-four days he labored like a fiend with little rest or food. Then he fell on his bed exhausted, with his new score, “Messiah,” laying on his desk. At the very first performance of “Messiah,” the King and Queen attended and spontaneously stood in reverence when the “Hallelujah Chorus” began. That custom has continued to this day.
Handel never again succumbed to despair. Age sapped his vitality, he went blind, but his undaunted spirit remained to the last. “Until us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given” became words that gave him new life.
And through his oratorio, George Frederich Handel lit a torch that still shines. His response to that writing assignment quite literally changed the world. 
This Child whom we celebrate during Christmas has great power to rescue those who are at the end of their rope - "messes" like you and me. To offer a lifeline which restores purpose and passion to a discouraged soul. To anoint with power so that even the feeblest of humans can make a divine offering back to the Giver.
What will your “Messiah” be this coming year?For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)TWEETABLECan One Writing Assignment Change the World? - encouragement from @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 15 books and contributing author to 30+ books. Her award-winning books include Soul Strong, Life-Giving Choices, Dwelling Places, and Ordinary Graces. 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 coaching writers and speakers, pouring into young mamas, or leading a restorative day of prayer, she is energized by investing in people of all ages. As a communications teacher, she 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 co-directs the annual spiritual retreat reNEW – retreat for New England Writing & Speaking. 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
Featured image: Photo by David Beale on Unsplash

Networking Tips to Increase Marketing Ability

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting
Start the New Year with strategies to networking for maximum results, especially for marketing.
First list your objectives and pray about themYou’re more likely to hit the mark when you set specific goals. It’s great to meet people, but better to make the most of each connection.
1. Professional connectionsList connections you want to make and why. This may include agents, editors, producers for film, etc.. These connections can move your career forward. Be ready to pitch ideas or find out when and how to pitch to them for good matches.
2. Marketing network connectionsThese are people can help you market such as media hosts and bloggers, or people with ideas on promoting your books and brand. Some may charge fees, such as coaches. These are people to follow and learn from, as well as people to see if there’s a way to provide content in return for promotion, such as interviews.
3. People who want content you writeMagazine editors, plus website and blog owners fall in this category. They hire people (some do not pay) for content. They seek good writers or want to find people who match with their target market. 
Ask what they need and see if there’ a common link. Otherwise, you may know someone they would like to meet who fits the need. You can give a referral. They may also know someone who needs content on your brand or focus, and may give you a referral.
4. Relationships within the writing worldIt’s good to build your personal writing network. You might strike up a friendship with an influencer or even a professional like an editor. Nurture these connections for advice, and support you can offer one another. Some are more advanced who can share their expertise, some who are on about the same level as you, and others who may be starting out and need your expertise. They are all valuable as friends and people with common interests. 
5. Potential readersYou may find someone who likes to buy what you write even if they do not work in that genre. This may include spouses who accompany a writer. They may want a bookmark to remember you and your titles. Invite them to follow you and engage them in social media.
6. Potential clientsIf you’re a professional you may be looking for specific people or clients if you’re an agent of coach. Be sure to hand exchange cards with likely connections.
Get networkingOnce you list goals it’s easier to network. With each person you meet, ask questions to discover where they fall within your desired network connections. If so, share something about the possible intersection of your interest in what they do to start a networking conversation,
So, if you meet and editor or agent, you can ask what types of manuscripts they publish or represent. If that has matching potential, give your elevator pitch to see if that sparks interest. Listen to what they need to see if you have an idea they might to have you develop and pitch later. If you don’t match listen to what they want and file that for later, to help someone else or to reconnect if you are pulled into their genre. I’ve picked up in-house jobs this way.
If you meet someone in marketing, ask questions to see if you can fill a need, such as a topic within audience needs to be a potential interviewee or guest blogger. Ask how they built their expertise and how they help their clients. That way you’ll know if they might be someone you’d like to hire.
If you meet someone looking for content, ask about specific needs, where it is published, and the rights they want. I wrote children’s church content for a publisher I met after we discovered we shared a focus in that area. I also wrote devotional content for a media website when someone else networked with the person and referred him to me.
When you meet someone who is another writer, see what you have in common within genres, locations where you live, topics you like to write about, and level of experience. These are people who can become friends and network connections. I have developed many friendships over the years and value them all. Some of them changed positions and became editors or agents. Other formed part of my support circle of friends where we bless one another.
For people who become your audience, be grateful you met them. That has happened for me from Uber drivers interested in where I was going, to wives of professionals interested in my brand. This provides an opportunity to ask them as readers and potential followers what grabs their interest and keeps them returning to authors they like. That expands the information about your reader’s Avitar.
Follow through with Connections MadeEmail or send thank you notes to people, continue conversations started with an email to see if your pitch or idea might get somewhere, or ask if your publisher can send a review copy to possibly get booked on the person’s show or blog. Follow the people you met and invite others to follow you. Send emails to potential friends. 
I generally leave conferences with new work and new marketing opportunities, and you can too!
TWEETABLENetworking Tips to Increase Marketing Ability 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

Gifts for the Writer

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s Christmas time. As a writer, you may be tapping the keys on your laptop to send off those last words to meet a deadline for your editor. Maybe you’re finishing off your December newsletter, or those last posts for 2021 to be placed on your website.
Possibly you’ve worked ahead in November and are all caught up with those items and are now off to get the right presents for those you care about. Most of us have started purchasing gifts and some of you may be already wrapping those purchased and placing them under your tree.
But have you stopped to pick up a few things for yourself? If you haven’t, I’d like to share a list: 
Things We Writers Should Give Ourselves this Year
1. Address a card with your name with a promise written to be kind to yourself. Please tell me I’m not the only one who critiques my work harder than my writer’s critique group. I think I can degrade my work faster than a Black Cat firecracker explodes. Those thoughts of you’re not good enough, what makes you think you can write and more may replay in our minds trying to convince us they are truth. C’mon, we know better. So make that promise for 2022 that no foolish talk (Ephesians5:4 ESV) will be spewed upon you or your work from yourself. 
2. Bake a batch of grace. Revert back to that kind of talk from number one above? Miss a deadline whether by your publisher or yourself? Grace was given to you and you didn’t do anything to deserve it from God. Why would you not offer that to yourself? Grace was given to us according to the measure of Christ’s gifts, which is abundant. (Ephesians 4:7 ESV) So also we need to extend grace to ourselves. 
3. Wrap up a big ol’ box of patience. Working on a new computer program that’s giving you the fits? Ahem, not me (cough). Stuck finishing a scene? Get up and make a cup of your favorite warm drink—new Christmas tea for me—and count to ten as you sip it. Or three thousand and ten if necessary. Then stretch, pray for the Lord to show you a different way to go at the project, and try again. 
4. Stick an extra dose of determination into your stocking. Make 2022 the year you are determined to finish your story. Determined to pitch that story. Then determined to start the next one that is rolling around that head of yours. Be determined to continue writing. God’s counting on your obedience to His calling on your life through your writing. Set that determination on path and go after it.
5. Serve a sweet dose of encouragement to yourself. There are many tins and platters of Christmas sweets all around us at this time of year. I believe there is nothing sweeter than kind words shared with others to encourage them. What about yourself? Have you tasted the sweetness of encouragement you’ve given to your own self? Seriously, who doesn’t like to hear an atta boy or atta girl? I Thessalonians 5:11 ESV tells us we are to encourage one another. I don’t believe we are excluded from this. I’m not speaking of boasting or bragging in any way. But have you ever finished something and been grateful it worked out or was done on time? Smile. It’s okay to encourage yourself to stay the course, to think nice things about YOU. 
6. Shove a gift bag full of laughter under the tree. Look for any opportunity to giggle and laugh this year. Definitely find some others to laugh with, too. I’ve been caught giggling away in line at the store with nobody along with me. We’ve had a rough couple of years, you and I, let’s find a way to make someone smile and get them to laugh as well. Can you even remember the last good belly laugh you’ve had with family or friends? Bring a gift bag of it with you when you visit people this year. It will do you and those with you a bit of good. 
7. Sing a song of joy. Yes, writing can be hard at times. I don’t need to remind you of the ways—you already know them. Yet, God has gifted you with the talent of using words, stringing them together to form sentences, then paragraphs, and finally a book. Sing a song of joy back to Him for the pleasure of walking in your calling. He doesn’t care if you’re a classically trained singer or you sing off key. He loves it all. This gift of song is for you, but also for Him that put that talent within you. 
None of these gifts above for you, the writer, will cost you money. They may cost you perseverance to follow through with them, though. But in the end, I believe they will serve us well if we gift them to ourselves this year. 
Which of the gifts above do you feel you might start with? As for me, I believe I’ll start with number one—I have some work to do.
TWEETABLEGifts for the Writer - encouragement from @TickledPinkTam on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
You’ll find Tammy using humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. She’s gone from down and defeated from a past filled with bullying and criticism from family to living a Tickled Pink life as she believes there is always a giggle wanting to come out! All because of HIM.
She’s the Social Media Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. President of ACFW Upstate SC, Past-President and current member of Word Weavers Upstate SC and Past-President of Cross N Pens Writers Group. She’s a member of My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. A writing team member for The Write Conversation, contributor for the Learn How to Write a Novel Blog and others. Published in the Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments.
She’s married to her college sweetheart Larry, a mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and excited to add a son-in-law in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, she now lives in South Carolina. Connect with Tammy at HTTPS://TAMMYKARASEK.COM.

A Writer Looks at C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme
While recently retreating from manufactured noise, I picked up my copy of C.S. Lewis’s book, The Abolition of Man. Aside from the Bible, Lewis is my go to when I need grounding from the often insane whirl of modern thinking. 
Chapter One begins with a quote from a traditional carol, “So he sent the word to slay and slew the little children.” In that brief sentence, Lewis announced that the power of the word diverted of truth will kill the minds and hearts of the innocent. He then goes on to critique certain authors of a text book used for teaching the young. 
Lewis titles Chapter One, The Chest, which he pictures as the indispensable liaison between cerebral man and man who is guided by emotion. Without “chests” we are unable to grasp objective reality and objective truth. We thus become susceptible to the propaganda of opinions rather than facts. He contends that education emphasizing the head, or rational part of man, at the expense of the heart, or emotions, results in “men without chests.”
The particular writers of whom Lewis is critiquing are leaving out the facts, Lewis claims, and only expressing their own feelings on the subject. They are disguising emotion as truth, thus causing the reader to be susceptible to the propaganda of opinions rather than fact. Lewis concludes that education must make moral values central to teaching, and science must develop a humble attitude, putting nature at the service of man rather than seek to dominate them both.
It’s interesting to note that in this piece Lewis shoves aside theology and address the subject philosophically. He tackles the thorny question of whether moral value is objective or not. Is our claim that something is right or wrong based on truth or are we merely reporting a subjective sentiment—the opinion of the masses. He rejects subjectivism and goes so far as to label the authors of his critiqued text book dangerous because their writing denies the capacity of the reader to make moral judgments.
Even though Lewis refrained from mentioning God, his lectures always spring from his knowledge that we live in a world created by the one true God for the men and women He created for Himself.
Lewis ends his lecture on The Chest with the following thoughts:
“You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more ‘drive,’ or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or ‘creativity.’ In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”
It’s easy to see why this lecture series was the personal favorite of C.S. Lewis. While my comments are those of a humble student of Lewis, whose depth of understanding far surpass my own, one can easily see the essential ingredient to good writing is to be grounded in truth and not to be afraid to write from that belief, detaching ourselves from thinking that diverts from that to which we have been called. 
TWEETABLEA Writer Looks at C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man, thoughts from @GannonEmme on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Emme Gannon is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to write stories that stir the heart. Her award-winning writing has appeared in Focus on the Family magazine, several anthologies, and numerous newsletters. She just completed her first novel.

Direct My Writing Paths

by Crystal Bowman
Fresh out of college, with a math-science degree in education, I pouted as I drove into the parking lot of Little Angel’s Nursery School. Teaching preschoolers was not what I had in mind while challenging my brain in calculus and chemistry classes. But it was the only job I could get. At twenty-two years old, it was the first time I questioned God. 
As days, weeks, and months passed, I discovered that I loved teaching preschool children and that God had equipped me to reach them. I enjoyed sharing songs and stories I made up, and seeing the children respond positively to my words was exciting. As more weeks and months clicked away, I smiled as the children glued Fruit Loops onto green paper Christmas trees and made snowmen pictures with cotton balls and glitter. When Tommy asked me to marry him, and Stevie wanted me to be his other mommy, I no longer questioned God. I realized this is what He had created me to do.
Looking BackIt wasn’t until twenty years later, that I fully realized God’s divine direction in my life. Those years of teaching preschool and writing songs and stories provided the foundation for my calling as a children’s writer. God knew what he was doing, even though I didn’t see it at the time.
It’s been a lesson in trust that I continue to learn. So often I don’t know why God allows things to happen. And sometimes my life gets redirected in a way I didn’t choose. But God’s ways are higher (and better) than my ways, and as time goes on, I see that His direction in my life is His divine plan for me.
Peace on the Writing PathAs opportunities for writing come and go, as doors open and close, as contracts and “no thank yous” fill my inbox, I have learned to trust God and let him direct my writing paths. Of course, we need to let God direct every area of our lives but writing and publishing are so unpredictable and constantly changing. I’m thankful God is in control. 
Submitting to God’s direction in my writing life allows me to have peace. If I receive a contract, I praise God. If I don’t, I praise God anyway. Sometimes a manuscript is used in a different way than I had intended, and sometimes one writing opportunity leads to another. So writers, keep doing what God has called and equipped you to do. Go through the doors He opens for you, even if it’s not what you had in mind. Trust in His ways because they are always best. 
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).
TWEETABLE

Direct My Writing Paths, encouragement from 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

How a Writer Can Perform an Annual Life Audit & Why it Helps

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga
There are many aspects to our life, since we are multifaceted beings with a body, mind, soul, and spirit. A diamond has many facets too, and when the diamond is clean, it sparkles. Doing an annual assessment of all the parts of our lives helps to improve the clarity of our priorities. That is when we understand what is most important to us and what area of our life needs attention. We don’t want to be discontent with our lives—we want to sparkle.
Where to BeginEach of the following areas represents a part of a person’s life. Sometimes we focus on one aspect too much, like our career, and let another area dwindle. Achieving a balance in the following areas is integral to obtaining a satisfactory life. Physical Well-Being: eating habits, exercise, sleep, illness, diseaseMental Health: mental outlook or mindset, emotional stabilityHome Life: physical dwelling, living space Career: job, work satisfaction, purpose/meaning, future directionRelationships: partner, family, community, connection with othersFinances: budget, savings, spending, stabilityPersonal Growth & Spirituality: church, education, dreams, future vision Recreation: hobbies, fun activitiesAs you assess each area of your life, look at how you have done in the past year and how you want to improve. Studies have shown that when we write goals, we are more likely to achieve them. So an annual assessment and plan are essential to our growth and well-being. 
For each area listed above, score each section from one to ten, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest for:Previous years ratingWhat do you want to continue to doWhat do you want to stop doingWhat would you like to do in the future to improve in this areaAfter you’ve completed a thorough assessment of these areas, you will understand what segment of your life you have focused on at the expense of others. Many times, we do not make time for our physical health through diet and exercise. Is that an area you want to focus on next year?
Unfortunately, we cannot keep a perfect ten score in all the areas of our lives. That is not realistic. Through this evaluation, you will see what segments of your life are thriving and the areas you want to focus on in the future. 
After the assessment is complete, it is time to realign your priorities and values. This is the fun part where you brainstorm about how you can improve in an area of your life. For each section list:Five ways to help you stop doing something:Five ideas for how you can improve: For each area, use specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time based (SMART) goals. After you’ve brainstormed, create a Plan of Action listing how and when you plan to incorporate these enhancements. Accountability always helps when wanting to achieve goals. 
Apply What You LearnLast year, I met with a couple of friends on New Year’s day and we all completed a life audit together. We shared where we thought we were the previous year and how we wanted to improve the following year. This was a heartfelt time of sharing and expression of vulnerability. We became closer friends and each of us provided ideas and feedback. It was an excellent personal growth experience. Six months later, we met again to review our goals and see how we were doing. 
With resolutions, we fail because we do not follow up on our progress. So add a three, six, and nine month revisit of your Plan of Action to your calendar. Who could you meet with to share your annual life audit? An annual life audit will help you sparkle and enjoy a satisfying life.
TWEETABLEHow a Writer Can Perform an Annual Life Audit & Why it Helps - insight from @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.

Five Tips for Writing about Scripture with Personality

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
I just couldn’t get it right. The first draft of my first book needed help. The introduction sounded so factual, like the beginning of a dictionary or commentary. I had used those in Bible college, and while they helped me to understand Scripture, the ones I read needed some “oomph.” That’s the technical term for “schmooze.” They needed some personality.
So I sat back in my chair and thought about how to introduce one of the greatest men of all time leaving his ministry to his son in the faith. How would you describe someone as great as the apostle Paul who was passing the baton of his ministry to Timothy? 
Passing a baton. Running. 
Older and younger. 
A veteran runner passing the baton to his protégé. 
And then I had my intro. I created a scene in which a veteran runner rounds the last curve, stretches out his weathered arm, and passes the baton to the man he had trained. The spiritual son he was proud of. 
When we write about Scripture, it should be anything but boring. No punching the snooze button in our brains. Our writing needs oomph. Punch, zip, and wow. Personality.
We can write about Scripture with personality when we’re passionate about how God’s Word is relevant to life today. That these words penned thousands of years ago still give meaning to our present-day lives and solve problems, heal wounds, give hope, renew strength, restore joy, and paint a picture of who God is and what life with Him can be like. 
5 Tips to Infuse Personality into Your Scripture-Based Writing
Whether you write devotions, Christian living, or Bible studies, use these five principles to infuse “oomph” into your writing. 
1. Pick a topic you’re passionate about, and write what you know.If I have no emotional connection to what I’m writing about, it will show. And if I have very limited understanding about a topic or passage, that will be evident too. 
So pick a topic from Scripture that you love. For me, it’s courage and victory. What’s your go-to topic? Then share what Scripture says about that topic. Give a unique insight or perspective about it. Share what you’ve learned through your studying and living. How have you seen the principle you’re sharing, played out in daily life? How has God been there for you and helped you with this particular challenge or hurdle? Share from the heart. 
2. Craft a main idea that grips both the mind and the heart.A piece of writing will steer clear of “cold” and “austere” when it has an intriguing main idea. What does your target audience need in their season of life? What challenges are they facing, and how does Scripture help? 
With our minds, we say, “I need to know how to handle this challenge.” With our hearts, we say, “I want to overcome this challenge.” So craft a main idea that shows your readers how to handle a particular challenge and why they should be motivated to practice what you’re saying. With our minds, we learn how to think about difficulties. We gain a new perspective. With our hearts, we learn why victory matters. We gain more “want-to.” 
3. Think “conversational,” not “book report.”It can be tempting to list everything we know about a topic, like God’s grace. But our readers don’t need a book report or term paper on grace. They need someone who will sit down with them in a coffee shop and talk about God’s grace for salvation and His grace for everyday life. 
We may not be able to meet our readers at a Starbucks (but wouldn’t that be fun?), but we can conversationally share what God’s grace is and how amazing and sufficient it is for every situation in life. 
4. Immerse yourself in the Bible passage.It’s getting colder outside—time to snuggle in a favorite blanket. Snuggle deep into God’s Word, and let its warmth sink into your heart. What does Scripture say about your topic, and how will it help your readers? 
Immerse yourself in a Bible passage by meditating on it with God. Look for what’s repeated—that’s what God is emphasizing. Look up definitions and cross-references. Dive into a few trusted commentaries. See the word pictures that God has included. Form statements of application that you can draw from when you write. Know the passage from the inside out so the Holy Spirit can draw upon what you’ve studied and guide you as you write. 
5. Pray through your application. This may be one of my favorites. Once I know what a passage of Scripture means and how it’s relevant to life today, I love to pray through it, thanking God for who He is and asking Him to work the principles I’ve learned into my life. 
Don’t hesitate to write down your prayers. I’ve asked God a time or two if it was okay to take part of a prayer and use it in a book. (I don’t think He minds.) The fervor we use in prayer can be the same kind of fervor we use to write with, and our prayers may give us writing points we would never have thought of otherwise. 
Which one of these tips do you like the most? Is there one you want to try more? Tell us in the comments below, and join the conversation! 
TWEETABLEFive Tips for Writing about Scripture with Personality from @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.
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, talk about art and crafts in 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 at her blog, WINNING THE VICTORY, and on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

The Critical Importance of Truth in the Stories We Write

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted
Research always turns up "head-scratchers," and my recent research was no exception. As I prepared to teach a class on adding Christian worldview into the general market writing, I ran across that head-scratcher.
A group of college students working on their masters' programs performed a pole among 1000 random individuals passing through bookstores nationwide. Their questions were specific. What genre do you read? Do you have a favorite author? Do you read the general market? Do you read the Christian Market? Then they got more specific. If a reader answered they only read in the general market, the question to follow was why and this was where my jaw dropped.
What Readers Often Say About Christian StoriesIt's cheesy. Hoakie. It's not real life. It's always tied up in a sweet bow, and life isn't that way. Christian storytellers lie.
The blood in my veins turned icey, and I felt such a sense of brokenness. Failure. How could readers say such a thing? There are some amazing Christian writers in this market. I had to lay down my personal attachment to the Christian writers I love to read like Francine Rivers, Stephen James, Coleen Cobble, and Max Lucado. There must be a reason why Christian writing appears to fail to general market readers.
Deeper research brought me to the conclusion that these readers were right. It pains me to say that, but it's true. As I flipped through book after book, I saw what general market readers saw. Truth was missing.
The ProblemNow, before you decide to hang me, hear me out. It is not that Christian writers are not good wordsmiths. Many are. In our effort to put the message of God out there, we forget the craft of writing. Storylines become forced. Events within the story become skewed as we work to bring about a "happy ending" where the protagonist wins, and a full conversion happens. Our stories continually show a God who answers every prayer exactly the way we ask. And to the faithful general market reader, this is fake and dishonest. Truth be known, as Christians, we know God answers our prayers ALWAYS, but not ALWAYS as we want.
It's not that we set out to make the world think because we are Christians, everything ends up happy. Instead, it's a mindset that we want those outside of Christ to see that God loves His children, and He wants us happy. God does answer our prayers and sometimes, exactly the way we pray, but more times than not, our answers are not what we anticipate, and the ending may not be joyful. This, my friends, is what general market readers see as a lie. They understand life is not always rosy and that sometimes the good guy loses. They don't expect a happy ending or even want a happy ending every time. Sometimes they simply want to be satisfied with the ending.
The FixSo how do we fix this? We begin by inserting truth into our stories. This is not just the truth of God but the reality of how life happens. Allow our characters to experience life as it really is. Write those times a believer may doubt or even grow angry at God. In essence, we allow our characters to become "real."
We know the truth of the world is not always happy. Our characters may lose a loved one rather than having that person suddenly survive the unsurvivable. We allow our characters to find peace in the storm, learn to live amid hardship and fight for what is right. That is adding truth into the mix. Once the story has truth, you can gently thread in faith. You can now allow your character to find peace and hope. The story may not tie up perfectly, but in the end, your character has found resolution and learns to adapt to the solution, regardless of the outcome. Perhaps they learn to trust – something they may have never done before. It doesn't have to be a complete conversion. Rather, a step toward that. 
This is how we are in our daily Christian lives. No one, bar none, has a perfect Christian life, so why would you allow your characters to have an ideal life? 
General market readers deem us hoaky and cheesy because most of our stories finish perfectly happy. Worse yet, plots seem forced to bring about that happy ending. Triple worse, the hope that we want to show in Christ becomes labeled as a lie.
If you want to write strictly to the Christian market, then keep up what you are doing. Preach to the choir. But if you want to become an outreach, change your mindset and write stories that show truth and redemption in characters. Let your story end satisfying instead of tied up in a bow. Allow your characters to grow in their faith and to experience those moments we all experience when we cry out to God and ask WHY? 
What makes a good story? Truth does. The fact is, human nature loves to see conflict, pain, and destruction. It's always been that way from the time of gladiators to the floor of our governments. We love to see conflict. Conflict drives the story. We want to know how the characters pull themselves out of a situation. They may not pull out perfectly, and there may be a consequence they must live through, but we want to see how that happens.
Several years back the television show Twenty-Four aired. Jack Bauer had only twenty-four hours to prevent a national disaster in this show. We walked through each hour of the twenty-four watching Jack face decision after decision and seeing that some of his decisions were not wise and came with a consequence. Ultimately, he solved the problem. As the series ended, the watcher took a deep sigh of relief. They felt satisfied that Jack Bauer had prevented a disaster, and though they rejoiced in that success, they also saw how the consequence of some of his actions continued to cause an issue. The story ended. We were satisfied, but life continued, and more hardships lay in the future. That is life. That is the truth in the story. A good writer can then add the truth of God gently into the plotline and show faith and trust. Even if things don't turn out rosy.
Bottom LineLearn to tell a good story and allow life to happen. Our world faces such disheartening challenges. Every place we turn, our faith is squelched. It doesn't mean we stop showing our faith. Instead, it means we become creative in how we deliver it. We know how this earthly story ends, and Christ wins. But the world does not know this. Meeting the world "where it is" doesn't mean stooping to its standards. It means raising the bar. The world can be a messy place, but then Jesus trod through all the messy places He could. The world needs the peace that passes all understanding, and we can learn to craft stories in real truth. 
It was once said, "Much is lost, but for one more effort." Make the effort.
TWEETABLEThe Critical Importance of Truth in the Stories We Write, insight 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.

21 Twitter Strategies for Writers in 2022

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Yes we’re barreling headlong into the holidays, but it’s never too early to begin compiling a strategy for next year’s social media. 
Below is a list of 21 tips that will help you start the new year off strong in the Twitterverse!
Twitter Strategies for Writers in 20221. Make sure your Twitter bio is completely—and accurately filled out. This means including your website and a recognizable headshot for your profile picture. 
2. DO NOT use an auto responder when someone follows you on Twitter. It irritates everyone and is almost universally considered a bad practice. 
3. Update your header with a clearly branded high resolution image. Your twitter header is the long rectangle at the top of your Twitter home page. And remember your brand is bigger than a single book. Yes, include your most recent book, but remember one book isn’t your brand. 
4. When you reply to someone else’s tweet, don’t include a link to your blog. (Yes, I’ve seen this done) Your blog link should be in your bio and if someone wishes to visit, they can find the link. 
5. Learn how to use hashtags correctly. This means limiting yourself to two (maybe three) per tweet, and researching a hashtag before you use it. For instance, there are hashtags that are used primarily for chats. Using one of those hashtags to promote your book will get you lots of irritated attention. 
6. Take time to use the robust search engine on Twitter for help. Unlike other social media networks, there’s a lot of valuable—easy to find—info on Twitter help. Get in the habit of searching there when you have questions.
7. Interact with those who interact with you. If someone makes a comment or answers a tweet you sent out, don’t ignore them. Also, if someone regularly retweets you or shares your posts, look for ways to do the same for them. Remember social media is reciprocal.
8. Along that same thought, follow people back who follow you. There are exceptions to this rule. I make it a point to NOT follow spammers or someone who makes me uncomfortable.
9. Don’t send a direct message to all your followers asking them to buy your book. This is actually a violation of Twitter’s Terms of Service (TOS). Everyone who follows you on Twitter is not your customer. Be smarter than that when it comes to marketing. 
10. Use the new 280 character length strategically. Create a list, use more than one link to show a natural continuity. But be smart. If you can say it effectively in 140 characters, do so. Shorter is still better on Twitter.
11. Also take advantage of the ability to lengthen your DISPLAY name on Twitter. We all know that our user names cannot be longer than 15 characters, but now our display names came be up to 50 characters.
12. Don’t tag someone in a tweet unless it pertains to them directly. If you mention them in your current blog post, yes tag them. Otherwise, don’t. This is another violation of Twitter TOS.
13. Be sure your Twitter feed is populated with updates that are NOT about you. I recommend Edie’s 5 to 1 rule to keep it from appearing to be self-serving. For every 5 Twitter updates you share, only 1 is about you.
14. DO NOT ever buy Twitter followers. This is another practice that violates Twitter TOS. Twitter is serious about protecting those who follow the guidelines and is really cracking down on spam practices. Educate yourself and make sure you know what is and isn’t considered spam. 
15. Always be on the lookout for new accounts to follow. You can do this by searching your followers, followers. We should never assume we’ve come to a place where our Twitter account will continue to grow automatically. 
16. Listen to your instincts. If someone is making you uncomfortable on Twitter, mute or block that account. There are a lot of crazy people out there. Don’t waste time trying to be polite. 
17. Vary your updates. Share a quote, ask or answer a question, put up a picture or a meme. Variety is the spice of life and will help your account grow faster.
18. Schedule and space out your updates. I use Tweetdeck, but Hootsuite and Buffer are also an excellent options to schedule your tweets. 
19. Always include an image. There was a time when tweets were driven by the text. Now a text-only tweet gets lost. 
20. Play nice. Google (and other search engines) cache Tweets, so even if you delete something it’s still available online. You’ll never regret being nice, but being rude or ugly can come back to haunt you years after the original update went out. 
21. Add value, not noise. There is a lot of junk on social media. I try to make sure that the things I share make someone’s life better.
Twitter is still a power house on social media, as long as you use it correctly. Take time to learn the culture and then enjoy the interactions that this network will bring your way. 
Now it’s your turn. I’d love to know what you’d add to many list of dos and don’ts for Twitter. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below. 
Don’t forget to join the conversationBlessings,Edie
TWEETABLE21 Twitter Strategies for Writers in 2022 - @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 on Instagram.