Edie Melson's Blog, page 169

A Writer Looks at Lent

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

As this posts we’re a little over four weeks into Lent—a penitential time in the Church year where Christians examine their lives and set aside time to reflect more fully on those sins and bad habits that often beset us. 

During Lent, believers prepare their hearts for Easter through prayer, repentance, and self-denial, so that we can more fully hear the voice of God. These acts of contrition do not and cannot earn us points with God for Jesus already paid the price for our sins when He gave His life for us on the cross and God raised Him from the dead to forever make intercession for us. The work was fully done for those of us who believe. We are His through grace, God’s unmerited favor.

 

So why Lent? Why do more when it has already been done for us by our Savior. We should be reflecting all the time, you say. Yes, that’s true. But do we? I can’t speak for others, but I know the human part of me feels very comfortable in my routines and successes. Stretching hurts and brings out all of my insecurities. No thank you, Lord. I’m happy where I’m at, you may say. But are we?

 

One of the many things I loved about my husband is that he stretched me. Growing up without a father stamped me with insecurities and the need to earn approval. Jumping into new situations meant I was far out of my comfort zone. So God sent me an adventurous husband who lovingly coaxed me to discover my gifts and go for it. It was he who encouraged me to tag along with my writer friends to my first writer’s conference. We did three conferences that first year. I discovered something about myself that I knew but was afraid to admit. I love weaving words together to create stories. 

 

God used my husband to open the box. The Lord showed me what was inside. Because I was in a strange environment, I tread lightly and sought the Lord’s leading as I had no experience to guide me. I discovered many things about myself that became an anchor for my life. You see, we often departmentalize God, but when He grows us in one area, that knowledge floods every area of our lives. 

 

Lent is like that. God wants to unlock emotional doors that we have locked, walls that we have built, secrets that we have hidden away that we no longer remember, but that have become part of who we are. Secrets that need to be exposed so we can be free to be that person we were created to be. 

Whether we use Lent as a penitential time to examine our sinful nature so that we can yield all to God, or this is something we regularly do, I encourage you to take that step. It’s not so much what we do for God, but what we allow Him to do for us. Surrender opens up the door of our hearts a little wider so that His light and love can burn through the barriers we’ve set up to protect us. 

I assure you, by allowing the Lord to expose the dark places of our soul, He will speak to you in ways you can’t imagine. You will not only become more like Him, but discover you are more than who you think you are. 

TWEETABLEA Writer Looks at Lent - @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.

All Because I Went to a Writers Conference - The Value of Investing in Your Writing Career

by Crystal Bowman

The year was 2006, and I had been in the publishing world for ten years. I was writing for two major publishing houses, had thirty-five children’s books published with five bestselling titles. Though I had a pretty strong resume, I felt like my writing life was at a standstill with no contracts on the horizon. I had heard about writers conference but had never attended one, and the more I learned about writing, the more I knew there was more to learn (like not using a word three times in one sentence.) 

 

I was living in Florida at the time, and the Florida Christian Writers Conference was a four-hour drive north, so I attended as a conferee. It changed my life! That may sound dramatic, but it really did. 

 

I attended the continuing classes on writing for children. I went to every workshop that I could fit into my schedule. I attended every general session, met with editors, and ate lunch with other writers—many of whom became my friends. I learned what networking is all about

. 

It is not possible for me to list all the ways I benefitted from attending that first conference, but I'm going to share a few.

Benefits from Attending a Writers Conference

An editor from a “new-to-me” publishing house took one of my proposals and I eventually wrote six books for them. I also contributed to their seasonal program books for churches. 

 

I met an editor from Focus on the Family and have been writing for Clubhouse Jr. Magazine for more than 10 years.

 

I submitted a proposal to teach a workshop at FCWC, and for the next several years I taught writing workshops at the conference. I eventually taught the continuing classes on writing for children.

 

Being on staff at FCWC opened doors for me to teach at writers’ conferences in several other states.

 

A writer from one of my children’s workshops asked me to edit her story, and that launched my freelance editing service.

 

A return on my investment.

Business analysts study the ROI (return on investment), to help a client know if a service or event is worth the time and money. Will they receive more than they invest? For me it’s a giant YES. Writers’ conferences are not inexpensive, but the return on my investment was— and still is—immeasurable. 

 

A way to help other writers.

I used to break out in a sweat when someone wanted advice on how to get published. Any published author can relate to this. I think people look at writers and assume: Well, if you figured out how to get published, so can I.  I love mentoring and coaching writers and I have a service for that. But for those who want an on-the-spot-easy answer, I no longer offer lengthy explanations and feel obligated to help them figure it out. When someone asks me how they can break into publishing, I reply with five powerful words: Go to a writers conference!

And then I smile and say no more. See? I told you it changed my life! 

TWEETABLE

All Because I Went to a Writers Conference - 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 Writers Use Instagram with Linktr.ee

Excerpt from Social Media for Today's Writer , Bold Vision Bookswritten by Edie Melson & DiAnn Mills

Since 2017, Instagram has continued to be one of the fasted growing social media networks. The users aren’t just growing in numbers, but the range of users is expanding, making it valuable for all ages and demographics. With the creation of Stories within the app, it has multiple applications for brands as well as individuals who want to be social.

 

So how do writers use Instagram effectively? I’m so glad you asked!

 

Instagram only allows a single link in the profile, but there’s a great work-around for that. We recommend the free version of Linktr.ee (www.Linktr.ee). This site allows you to post a single link to a site like Instagram and then branches into multiple links when clicked. This is a vital part of your Instagram set up because live links are not allowed in the captions for individual posts.

 

Why does this matter?

 

Let’s say a writer wants to share a blog post on Instagram. We post the picture from the post and in the caption, we want to share the link to the post. Instagram won’t allow it. We can type in the characters of the link, but what’s there isn’t clickable or even able to be copied. No one can get to the post from that caption.

 

If, on the other hand, you have the link to your blog in your LinkTr.ee account in your bio, you can add, “Clickable link in bio.” That directs readers to your bio and instantly to your blog.

 

Setting Up Your Free Linktr.ee Account

 

1. Go to www.Linktr.ee and choose the FREE account. I love the paid version, but set up the free to begin with to make sure you like it before you begin paying for it. There will be several questions you’ll need to answer and you’ll need to verify your email account, so check for that email because you won’t be allowed to publish your Linktr.ee until your email is confirmed. 

 

2. Once you’re verified set up, you’ll want to do a little housekeeping. Below is a screenshot of my free linktr.ee account. Across the top are several clickable tabs: LINKS, APPEARANCE, SETTINGS, and PRO.

 

3. The APPEARANCE tab is where you want to go to finish your account set up. You’ll want to set up your profile image (avatar) and come up with a short bio, as well as choose your theme.  

 

4. Now go back to the LINKS tab to begin adding links. 

 

5. Click on ADD NEW LINK (see screenshot below)

 

6. Fill in the two blanks (see screenshot above):

TitleURL

7. Now Click the slider button in the upper right corner so it shows up green.Sometimes this happens automatically, sometimes you have to click it manually. If it shows up yellow, click it off, then back on. 

(See Screenshot below) 

You’ll notice there are three vertical dots on the left of each entry. You can use that area to click and drag the entries into any order you choose.

Now it's your turn. What questions do you have about Linktr.ee or Instagram. Post them in the comments section below!

Don't forget to join the conversation

Blessings,

Edie & DiAnn

If you've found this helpful, take a look at our book, Social Media for Today's Writer.  DiAnn Mills and I have packed this volume with all the practical social media help you need to take your online visibility to the next level. 

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How Writers Use Instagram with Linktr.ee - @EdieMelson & @DiAnnMills (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.

The Writer’s Prayer Guide

 

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

“Father, please help me as I write today.”

 

“Father, I’m stuck. Where do I go from here?”

 

“Father, thank You for that line. That’s exactly what I needed to say.”

 

Before I write any blog post or article, when I get stuck, when I need inspiration, and when I have a breakthrough—I pray. How often do you pray when you write?

 

When we pray through every stage of writing, we tap into God’s wisdom and power. He supplies the insights and words we need as we seek His help. Have you ever seen God give you the perfect line to start a paragraph? How about just the right illustration for a chapter? An attitude of prayer keeps us connected to the One who can make the greatest impact on our readers. He knows what they need to read. He knows how to phrase what we need to write. 

 

Use the following prayer guide as a way to stay connected to God, His help, and His wisdom as you write. I’m praying these things for my writing ministry, and I’ve prayed several of these points for the ministries of my writer friends. 

 

Before You Write

Ask God to prepare your heart so you can hear His leading as you write.Ask Him to clear away all distractions.Ask Him to bind the spiritual enemies of doubt, fear, anxiety, and the devil as you write.

As You Write

Ask God to help you develop your main idea. If you’re writing about Scripture, pray over the Bible passage that you’re using, turning the application you see into praise to God or a petition for yourself and others.Ask God to show you the best wording, especially when you get stuck in the writing process. Thank God for the principle He showed you from Scripture and from the life stories you’re sharing with readers. Pray that God speaks to the reader through your writing—that they appreciate Him more, understand truth better, and know how to live out what Scripture is teaching. 

For Your Audience

Ask God to prepare the hearts and minds of those who need the message He has given you. Pray for your readers to depend on God when they face the struggle you’re writing about, and to look to His Word for promises to hold onto and for strength to persevere.Ask God to highlight for your audience whatever takeaway they need on the day they read your writing. Pray that your readers will be able to relate to the stories you share and see how God helped you through a struggle. Ask God that your writing would reach just the right people at just the right time in their lives. 

After You Hit Send on a Submission

First, breathe. Next, thank God that this submission has been sent!Pray that God gives guidance to the publisher and grace to you as you wait to hear a reply.  Ask God for the wisdom and direction to work on the next piece of writing while you wait.Also ask God to help you trust Him whatever the outcome is, because He knows how to best publish your work. 

Once Your Writing Is Published

Thank God for this opportunity, and pray that your writing will find its way to those who need to read it.Ask God for ideas and open doors to promote the material, because after all, you’re promoting the message He has supplied. Pray that your writing acts like a piece of a puzzle, filling in a gap of comfort, truth, encouragement, grace, or strength that your readers needed. Pray that your writing will join forces with the writing of other Christian writers from around the world, to be a beacon of hope, a lighthouse of truth, a demonstration of God’s love, and an encouragement to all who read it.

When you write, what do you like to pray? Share your ideas in the comments below, so we can seek God together as we write!

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The Writer’s Prayer Guide - @KatyKauffman28 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Katy Kauffman finds herself writing about life’s spiritual battles more than anything else. As an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, she has the privilege of working with writers and the Lighthouse team to create Bible study compilations and magazine issues. She recently started a monthly newsletter for writers called The Lighthouse Connection, and she contributes to three blogs on writing. Connect with Katy at her blog, Winning the Victory, and on Facebook and Twitter.

When You Wonder If Your Writing Even Matters…

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel
Katherine was a human computer. 
A black woman in the mid-century America NASA space program. Among other responsibilities, she calculated the trajectories for both the Mercury and Apollo missions. 
But no one knew about her work. 
Until the book and movie “Hidden Figures” revealed the true story of the “West Computers” – women who were at the heart of NASA’s advancements. Yes, even Katherine G. Johnson.
“They worked through equations that described every function of the plane, running the numbers often with no sense of the greater mission of the project. They contributed to the ever-changing design of a menagerie of wartime flying machines, making them faster, safer, and more aerodynamic. Unlike the male engineers, few of these women were acknowledged in academic publications or for their work on various projects.”
We all want our work to matter. Katherine Johnson was one of those courageous women who lived a full and inspiring life, leaving us in this last hard year.
Moses prayed, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the workof our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.”(Psalm 90.17) 
I pray a similar prayer. “Make the small and large things You have called me to do help bring light and hope to the world.”
In the Old Testament Hebrew, the word for confirm or establish means “firmly fixed, stable, secure.” We all want to believe that all we have invested in during this life – the words we have written -- will be appreciated and make a difference. 
But there are no guarantees.
How do we ever know the results of “the work of our hands?” For author Philip Yancey, writing is a very isolated occupation. “We write in desperate hope that the sometimes-tedious tasks of researching, composing, and polishing words will eventually become a virtual chain that links us to others.” 
Still, he is amazed at some responses to his books. “A woman in Lebanon told me how much my book “Disappointment with God” meant to her. She read it a few pages a night in the midst of the civil war there, in a bomb shelter by the light of a kerosene lamp. Another woman in Beirut wrote that my book “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” helped her have a better attitude toward the P.L.O. guerrillas who had commandeered her apartment. I read such letters and think to myself, I really had in mind a chronic illness not a civil war, and neighbors who play loud music, not guerrillas who move in uninvited. Again and again God has surprised me by using words written with mixed motives by my impure self to bear fruit in ways I never could have imagined.” 
When I am tempted to wonder if my writing, speaking and teaching will ever make a difference, invariably I will get a note from someone sharing the impact of my words. They read my book or heard my presentation. It was used in their life. This spurs me on tremendously!
Did you feel like quitting today? Because you have absolutely no idea if your words will ever reach and touch anyone?
Friend, the same God who calls you is the God who will use you. In His way and in His time. Will you trust Him and keep writing and speaking?
Author Robert Benson points out, “The real reason we cannot quit is because of the friends, known and unknown to us, who have somehow come to expect that the bits and pieces of our personal lives… do indeed reveal the places where the One Who made us has made an appearance will shed light on the ways such appearances are taking place in their own.”
Do your work – as unto the Lord.

TWEETABLEWhen You Wonder if Your Writing Even Matters... @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

Learn to Promote Your Book & Your Brand from the 2020 CAN Crown Marketing Award Winners

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting
The 2020 CAN Crown Marketing Award winners created great campaigns to promote books and brands. Each campaign had a specific focus, but the authors worked in multiple directions to achieve their goals. We can learn from their success.
Winning Broadcast Campaign
Susan Neal won gold for Outstanding Broadcast for her Healthy Living Brand. She made strategic plans that included changing categories for her books, grouping her books into a brand, and worked hard to be a guest on media. Her books placed in the top 100 within specific categories and one jumped to a number one spot when put in the healthy diet category. That meant Amazon applied a best seller sticker to her book and that upped sales to 800 copies within a month. The software Publisher Rocket helped her identify categories and keywords to use.
In creating her Healthy Living brand, she grouped three of her books into a series and pulled all her books under one umbrella. This helped viewers find her books and see the others when they ordered one. Pitching her brand to media offered a broader variety of topics and allowed hosts to choose the one most relevant to their audience. She sought podcasts and media shows through organizations where she’s a member plus subscribed to services that list podcasts and radio shows seeking guests. That landed her more than thirty guest spots on podcasts, radio, and television.
Susan also worked on Pinterest and hired someone to manage her account. With great memes that she also shared on her website she increased her views on Pinterest from 2000 monthly to 1.5 million and her website hits increased ten-fold to 6736 per month. She tracked her efforts on a spreadsheet that included where she pitched, response, and ROI.
Winning Web Presence Campaign
Carla Hoch won gold for her brand FightWrite™ where she teaches authors to create realistic fight scenes. She gave the brand a makeover in 2020 and created a website rather than simply her blog. That raised it to a more professional level. It took a while for the site to get traction, but she continued posting and studied her analytics plus offered a free reference guide on injuries and a discount for her Writer’s Digest class she teaches under her brand. Once it took off her monthly views increased from 2000 to 7000. 
Carla also believes in using calls to action. Her first calls to action focused on readers sending questions for her to answer on her blog. Chosen authors that she answered gave her a boost as they shared the post with their networks. In turn, many of those authors featured her on their podcasts or blogs or posted about her on their Instagram accounts. Her brand includes her book, videos, podcasts, and merchandise. Her site has been named in Writer’s Digest top 100 sites for writers.
Outstanding Visual Media Campaign
Winners Michelle Medlock Adams and Bethany Jett started the marketing before designing the book and their strategies helped sell 1500 copies in the first three weeks of release. They included a sidebar with every weekly devotional that fit their tagline of Real. Raw. Resourceful. The used takeaways in the book to create a 52-week funnel that delivered a new takeaway to newsletter readers.
To reach the media hosts they planned a consistent campaign that started with color and whitespace to become more recognizable. That helped build the brand and used the colors of the book cover. They used the colors in Facebook ads also that reached 10,524 people in a month long campaign.
They also stuck to their goal to include as many of the “hats” that mom wear as possible. They targeted moms who represented the different roles for summit interviews they did and reflected those voices in their media interviews. They landed many interviews including Faith Radio show The Meeting House, All Mom Does podcast, Moms on the Mic podcast, and Moody Radio Spokane. Their efforts also helped them grow their newsletter readership to 13,000.
Lessons from the Pros
What do all these winning marketers have in common? Planning, setting goals, and developing strategies to reach the goals. As you think marketing, consider these concepts:Identify categories in Amazon to increase visibilityOrganize your efforts to easily track your activitiesUse “Call to Actions” to grab attention of readersCoordinate book cover colors with your mems and visual materialsBuild in takeaways in your book to expand those into posts hen marketingConsider the wider audience and how to incorporate them into your marketingTWEETABLELearn to Promote Your Book & Your Brand from the 2020 CAN Crown Marketing Award Winners - @KarenHWhiting on @EdieMelson
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

When God Surprises

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” John 20:2 NLT
She knew what she was doing; I had no idea.
My wife and I—along with about one hundred other guests—sat under a large tent at our daughter’s wedding reception. Only the wedding had taken place four months earlier, courtesy of COVID. 
After a lip-licking catered Southern meal, the time arrived for our daughter and our son-in-law to have their first dance as a married couple. They slow danced for a few minutes, then suddenly broke out into a much faster move. Knowing my daughter and her shenanigans, this didn’t surprise me. I watched as she twisted around, rubbing her stomach in the process. Strange moves, I thought. I then noticed my son-in-law struggling to open a bag. I wondered what they’d bring out next. I soon found out: diapers. 
I remained clueless until my wife hollered and began crying. Oh, she’s pregnant, I surmised. We knew they had planned to begin a family right away, and obviously, it worked. Grandchild number five. Baby H for the moment. 
Mary got surprised also, along with the disciples. Although Jesus had told them He would rise from the dead three days after His death, they didn’t get it. Why else would Mary tell the other disciples that someone had stolen Jesus’ body? 
What was a surprise to the guests at the wedding reception was no surprise to my daughter and son-in-law. They had known all along. And what surprised Mary and the disciples didn’t surprise God. He had planned His Son’s resurrection before the foundation of the world. 
God’s surprises often come because we box Him up, thinking He can only act in certain ways. And to a degree, that’s true. He can only operate within the confines of His nature, which is holy. But many options reside within those confines. 
While God’s plans might surprise us, they don’t surprise Him. He knows the plans He has for us. They are good, and they will take us to abundant life. This doesn’t mean hard times and severe trials won’t inhabit the mix (even struggling through a worldwide pandemic), but the result will constitute good for us and, more importantly, for God’s Kingdom. 
Knowing God has a plan also reminds us of His sovereignty, which puts us in a comfort zone encapsulated by peace. Fate does not govern our lives—or the world. God does. Believing that, we can enjoy whatever journey God takes us on, even if it does surprise us. 
When God’s plan takes you by surprise, remember it’s not a surprise to God.
TWEETABLEWhen God Surprises - Martin Wiles, @LinesFromGod on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Martin Wiles is the founder of Love Lines from God (www.lovelinesfromgod.com) and serves as Managing Editor for Christian Devotions, Senior Editor for Inspire a Fire, and Proof Editor for Courier Publishing. He has authored six books and has been published in numerous publications. His most recent book, A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapes in a Busy World, released in December 2019. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, author, and pastor.

Choosing to Strengthen Your Writing Dream with Prayer

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt
My friend Fran visited Colorado Springs the other day and we met for breakfast. 
Fran has also always supported my writing dreams, even back when I was the tired mom of little kids. My dream was nothing more than me saying, “I’m going to get back to writing again one day.”

Fran and I have known each other for 36 years. Our friendship spans the decades we were both military spouses, raising our kiddos while adjusting to moves across country—and sometimes around the world. 

Fran’s the kind of friend who will drive you to the ER because your doctor-husband is already tending to patients there. She’ll walk beside you into the hospital while holding a bucket because yes, you’re that sick.

Fran never laughed at that I-hope-it-happens-one-day dream. 

And when I finally made the time to write again, Fran cheered me on. But even more important than her encouragement, Fran prayed for me. 
She prayed for me while I wrote manuscripts. When I attended writers conferences and pitched magazine articles and book ideas. When I stared down deadlines. When I transitioned from nonfiction to fiction. 
When the writing life is good and yes, when the writing life is disappointing, Fran prays for me. 
Understand this: Fran is not a writer. Pursuing publication is not her dream – but she prays for me.
Who undergirds your writing dream with prayer? 
If a name comes to mind, then you have reason to be grateful. A dream supported by the prayers of others is all the more sacred. 
If you can’t think of anyone besides yourself praying over your writing, then it’s time to enlist some spiritual ground support.
Finding Prayer Support1. Make a list of family members and friends you could ask to pray for you. Some will say yes, some will say no. That’s okay. Ask God to bring the right person or persons to pray for you. 
2. Make a list of two to four prayer requests. Focus on a manuscript you’re writing. An upcoming deadline or conference. Finding an agent or editor. Launching your indie career. You know what your greatest needs are.
3. Update your prayer partners every four to six weeks. When you connect, share honestly about how things are going. Express gratitude for their support – and when God brings them to mind, pray for them too. 
TWEETABLEChoosing to Strengthen Your Writing Dream with Prayer - @BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored nine contemporary romance novels and novellas, The Best We’ve Been, the final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, releasers May 2020. Other books in the women’s fiction series include Things I Never Told You, which won the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year, and Moments We Forget. Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.

How to Write Your Author Bio

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
It doesn't matter whether you're multi-published, just starting out or working as a freelance writer. Every writer needs a bio. And just like writing a query letter, a proposal, or a synopsis—writing a bio is something almost every writer struggles with. So today I'm going to share some basics and show you how to write your author bio.
 I said you need A bio, but actually, you need three.A small one, 25-50 wordsA medium length one, approximately two paragraphsA full page one, in depthMany times this written bio is the first introduction someone in this business (think editor or event coordinator) or a consumer (reader or attendee) will have of you. This, with your message, can mean the difference between making the sale or not.
Your bio should reflect, through words, exactly who you are. It should boil down the essence of your personality. It should always be written in third person, as if you were talking about someone else.
A bio must beRelevantIt must give youPersonalityCredibilityBelow are some (not all) of the instances where a bio will be necessary.Cover letter (to an editor, agent or event coordinator)Book ProposalQuery LetterYour websiteInside your book or on the jacketPublicity for a personal appearance In a publication (web or print) after an articleIt’s important that you have control over your bio. Which means planning now. It will, in effect, be a part of your personal brand. It gives you credibility, whether you are speaking or writing. As such it should contain only things pertaining to your credibility and identity. For example, if you’re not speaking on sales, it isn’t important to mention your job 15 years ago as an outside sales person. Think relevant when you’re composing your bio.
Here are some steps to help you write an engaging author bio:
Step One—ask yourself a few questions.What are some of my passions?Why am I pursuing this craft of writing and/or speaking?What value do I present my audience?What are some of my strengths?What impression do I leave with most people?Don’t worry about sounding like an egomaniac when you answer, no one but you will see your rough draft. After answering those questions, try to come up with a one-sentence statement about yourself. Use active verbs and vivid adjectives.
Step Two—more questions.What is my experience in this field?What experience(s) in other fields are relevant to this field?What aspects of my personality give me credibility?What study(s) give me credibility?What life experience gives me credibility?Step Three—get the order right.Now begin to put the above information in order of importance. This isn’t the time to build up to the point. Think about who the bio is for and put the information that is most important for them to know FIRST. 
Step Four—flesh it out.Build a word pool. From the questions above you’ll begin to see a trend. Use it. Amplify it by trading on words that bring your essence to mind.
Step Five – wrap it up.Put it all together. It’s time to assemble the information you’ve gathered into your full-page bio. If you’re having problems pulling it together, this is the time to get some feedback from close friends.
Step Six - refine it. Now that you have your full-page bio it’s time to sift through it and boil it down, first reduce it two paragraphs (try to keep it at no more than 200 words). Then cut it further to 25-50 words.
To help you, I've created a bio worksheet. I'm going to share it with you here as a PDF download: Edie's Bio Worksheet Now it's your turn. Post your short bio in the comments section below and let's get to know one another better! (My bio is at the end of this post, so I've gone first!)
Don't Forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
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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.

Write What You Know, But Learn As You Go

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites
Recently, I had the pleasure of contributing an article to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for their Raising an Entomologist theme. The acceptance took me back on a reminiscent journey of my writing.
Very early in my writing trek, after receiving many rejections, I decided I needed to actually do some research to find out more about the actual concept of becoming a published writer. After all, my undergraduate and graduate degrees were both Early Childhood Education. 
I heard the phrase “write what you know” at a conference and decided to adhere to that path. I sent a query to an educational publishing house for a teacher resource book idea. Because of my education degrees, teaching experience, the company said I was a great fit to write the book I’d proposed. I completed the manuscript, received my pay, and looked forward to seeing the book in print.
By the time I received the acceptance, I was no longer teaching. My new hat was stay-at-home mom. I continued on the “write what you know” path and sent in queries to a sweet, non-paying publication for stay-at-home moms called Welcome Home. I had several pieces accepted, which helped me get acceptances to a paying market, Lifeway’s ParentLife Magazine.
Fast-forward a couple of years, and I added the homeschooling mom hat to my resume. I queried Homeschooling Today Magazine about a unit study on insects, because, after all, I was married to an entomologist, so I knew I had a resident resource at my disposal. That acceptance led to other science-based unit studies, as well as others, and I wrote for that magazine for several years. 
As my children got older and took part in Vacation Bible School and children’s ministry activities, I jumped right in as a volunteer with each activity. I used that knowledge to help me get an acceptance as a Group Publishing curriculum writer. I wrote lessons for that company for years and have pieces included in two dozen resources. 
While at a Group Publishing workshop, I met a fellow author who wrote children’s news events for the Denver Post. She asked if I’d come aboard as a writer with her. I hesitated to say yes – I’d never written for a newspaper, but, she reminded me that I’d be translating current event articles into kid-friendly language, and she knew my background with Early Childhood Education. It was my first step off the “write what you know” path. I decided I could “learn as I go” with my friend’s help. 
I enjoyed writing with the Post for a number of years, and that gave me the confidence to query my local newspaper editor about contributing a family column. Another, “learn as you go” adventure. He jumped at the chance to have another monthly columnist and later asked me to contribute faith-based pieces to the paper. I was so excited to write God-stories in the newspaper that I didn’t hesitate to say “yes,” even though I knew for sure that would be a “learn as you go” path into the wilderness, because I knew nothing at all about newspaper freelancing.
I’ve enjoyed a great time as a newspaper stringer and continued contributing to other avenues that were already a part of my repertoire. Keeping the idea of “write what you know,” combined with “learn as you go,” keeps my writing fun and adventurous. 
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If you’re just starting the writing journey, brainstorm areas that you might qualify for with experience. Think about your education background, career path, childhood happenings, volunteer opportunities, hobbies, and passions. But, also be willing to jump into unfamiliar territory with the plan to “learn as you go.” When you combine the two, you’ll have a fun and adventurous writing journey! Julie Lavender enjoys writing in areas that she feels qualified to write due to her experiences, but she also loves the challenge of learning something new to put pen to paper! No matter what she writes, she feels guided by the Lord along the path, because as she says, “My background is Early Childhood Education. That makes it even easier to give God all the credit for my writing journey.” She’s especially thankful God guided her to write 365 Ways to Love Your Children: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories, that released in October from Revell.