Edie Melson's Blog, page 181

What Am I Really Afraid of as a Writer?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, 
turning people away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27
We writers are a fearful lot.But what if fear isn’t always a death sentence for our dreams. What if the right kind of fears could propel us into fulfilling our callings?
I’d like to propose that we’re afraid of the wrong things.Instead of fearing the opinions of others, we feared the opinion of GodInstead of fearing ridicule, we feared NOT standing for something that matter.Instead of fearing falling short, we feared not making an effort.Instead of failing, we feared immobility.Instead of fearing success, we feared putting the emphasis on the wrong things.Today I’m starting new, redirecting the fear I feel in the right direction. How about you? What fear do you need to redirect to once again get back in the middle of the path God has for you?
TWEETABLEWhat Am I Really Afraid of as a Writer? - @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.

Writing Truth in a Secular Society

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme
“What is truth?” Pilate posed this question to Jesus after hearing His proclamation of His divinity. Rather than wait for an answer, Pilate turned from the Lord of the universe and walked away, deciding to come to his own conclusion.Eve was faced with this all important question when Satan came to her in the garden and challenged what God told her to be true. She did what we all do when we forsake truth. She leaned on her own understanding. She abandoned the edicts of God, instead weaving a web of deceit to fit into her desires. And her husband, who was with her, joined in. 
We all know where that led. We suffer from it still. Down through the ages there have been those who are willing participants in Satan’s scheme to replace God’s truth with lies. Lies always lead to brokenness and strip us of the purpose for which we were created. They divert us to another path, one that leads us away from the will of the Lord. 
As society leans more left, truth is often obscured to fit the will of the individual and presented as a platform of freedom. We do well to pull back and reacquaint ourselves with the ever present question mankind has asked since Creation. “What is truth?”
What is truth? Truth is what scripture said it is. Truth is embodied in Jesus Christ and His Word. Truth exists because God exists. It is the foundation of who we were meant to be. The filter through which we were meant to live our lives. Truth produces light because we live beyond our understanding, trusting in the One who is all truth. 
As society discards God and crafts its own reality, truth becomes subjective. Truth becomes what one believes it to be. Some look to science for truth. Science, however, is not truth as it is constantly evolving by creating hypotheses that are forever changing as new information emerges. Subsequently one person’s truth collides with another’s idea of truth producing anger. It’s when individual’s lies join together, form a cohesive unit, and seek to thrust their ideas on others that society is threatened. Does that mean the loudest voice wins? The most forceful take control? Does anger cause we who know truth to shrink back for the sake of peace? 
Russian dissident and novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn did not shrink from speaking truth. Even though he suffered for his faith, he made “live not by lies” the core of his resistance to the oppression surrounding him. He lived outside the mainstream of society and was willing to endure the consequences. He chose truth over conformity.
While we may never suffer the abuse of a totalitarian regime as did Solzhenitsyn, the winds of darkness is always at the ready—always eagerly attempting to swallow truth and extinguish the light. Truth is that light that shines in those darkest of places, bringing hope to those who have no hope. A way where there was none. A view beyond the storm clouds to the heavenly realm.
God’s truth exists whether we embrace it or not. As religious liberty becomes a code word for intolerance, our words are ever a beacon to the lost, the hurting, and those imprisoned by lies. There are always those yearning to hear what we have to say, waiting for truth to tear down the walls of deception that darken their world. As we write, truth cannot help but erupt from a heart yielded to God and nurtured by His Word. Dare we challenge the false rhetoric thrust upon us by the world with the gentle declaration of truth.
“You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.” Alexandr Solzhenitsyn.
TWEETABLEWriting Truth in a Secular Society - @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.

Those Pesky Little Pronouns

by Crystal Bowman
Some of the shortest words in the English language can be as annoying as a mosquito in your bedroom when you’re trying to fall asleep. I’m talking about pronouns. They do not add creativity or emotion to your writing. They do not enhance the suspense of a plot. They simply give us an alternative to using a person’s name too many times. At first, they seem pretty innocent. But when you begin using them in your stories, they can mess with you. To cover the entire spectrum of pronouns would take numerous blog posts, so let’s just look at a few that tend to trip up writers. Singular Subject/Singular PronounThe previous rule was fairly simple—always use a singular pronoun with a singular subject. 
Example: When my mom shops at the market, she can buy fresh produce. 
Easy-peasy. But when we don’t know the gender of the subject, it gets more complicated. 
Example: When a person shops at the market, he or she can buy fresh produce.
Or: When a person shops the market, it can buy fresh produce. 
Since these gender-neutral options are awkward, the sixteenth edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS, 2010) introduced using they, them, and their as singular pronouns. I almost went into a period of mourning—but I am getting used to it. I agree it’s better than referring to a person as it, and the whole he or she thing is a bit weird.
Examples: When your child is talking to you, they want you to listen. Go for a walk with friend and tell them you enjoy their company. 
Since this decision was met with opposition, the position of CMOS is that using they, them, and their as singular, gender-neutral pronouns is acceptable, but professional writers may want to explore other options such as changing the subject to plural when possible. 
Example: When children are talking to you, they want you to listen.
Personal PronounsHe, She, I—These are singular personal pronouns when used as the subject. When used as the direct object, they become him, her, and me. Example: She threw the ball to me. I called her on the phone. These are pretty much no brainers, but when the subjects or direct objects are compound, the grammar police show up! Brad and I are going on a date (correct). The night was fun for Brad and I. (wrong). You would not say: The night was fun for I. So when it’s a compound direct object use me. The night was fun for Brad and me (correct).
Possessive PronounsMy, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, their, theirs, its, our, whose are used to show that something belongs to an antecedent. These are pretty straightforward, but a common mistake is made with the word its. Its is a singular possessive pronoun and needs no apostrophe (like his or hers). It’s is the contraction of it is and always uses an apostrophe. 
Example: It’s best to put trash in its place. 
Relative PronounsRelative pronouns are used to connect relative clauses to independent clauses, sometime offering more information. Relative pronouns include that, what, which, who, and whom. Typically, who refers to people, and which and that refer to animals or things.
Example: The people who live in the United States are Americans.
The dog that was lost was found by a neighbor. 
A common confusion with writers is when to use who vs whom— Who is a subject pronoun and whom is a direct object pronoun.
Example: Who is going to the conference next week?
To whom are you sending those letters?
Deity PronounsAnd the big question is: Do we capitalize pronouns referring to God? Some believe it shows reverence for God, while other believe our rules of English deem it unnecessary. Most publishers leave it up to the author to decide. The key is to be consistent. If you prefer to capitalize deity pronouns, then any scripture references you use should be from a version that also capitalizes the pronouns for God such as the New King James Version. If you do not capitalize deity pronouns, then use versions such as the New International Version or New Living Translation (there are many more). 
The Bottom Line
Pronouns may be small words, but they can make a big difference in your writing, so professional writers need to learn how to use them correctly. Pronouns will never go away, not even with mosquito repellant.
TWEETABLEThose Pesky Little Pronouns - tips 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

Improve Your Website’s Domain Authority

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga
Domain authority is a scoring system to determine how high your website ranks on search engines like Google. The higher the domain authority, the more likely you can obtain paid sponsors for your website. These paid sponsors could be in the form of ads or keywords added to blog posts.To determine your website’s domain authority go to https://moz.com/domain-analysis - index. Enter your website’s domain name and click analyze. Three months ago, my website, SusanUNeal.com, ranked 17. Today it ranks 50, a high domain authority.
How to Improve Your Domain Authority
One of the first things you can do is improve your website’s speed. I moved my website from a less-expensive, shared hosting plan to a dedicated plan on the hosting site WP Engine. On shared hosting plans, you could be on the same web server as inappropriate websites that you would never want to be associated with.
Next, ensure your website is an https site. To find this go to your website and check the web browser. Does your URL start with http or https? The https provides a security feature to your site, and Google ranks you higher for it. I had my website upgraded from an http site to a https site.
Next, identify keywords for your website. I used Publisher Rocket to identify high ranking keywords. You could also use Google Ad Words. On a spreadsheet I included the keyword, Google searches/month, and competitive score to determine the best keywords. You should identify primary as well as secondary keywords.
Primary keywords include the top three to five words that best suits your website regardless of the word’s competitive score or Google searches/month. These include words that you want to dominate on the web in the long-term. Secondary keywords include another five to ten words that you can use when writing blog articles. These words help support long-term keywords. For example, two of my website’s primary keywords are low-sugar diet and low-carb diet. Two secondary keywords are healthy diet and healthy eating. The secondary keywords may be easier to include in blog articles.
Next, you want to write guest blog posts with a dofollow link back to your website. By default, all links are dofollow links unless they are changed. Dofollow links rank higher in Google. In addition to linking to your website through its domain name, you also want to link back to it using your keywords. For example, linking the word healthy living back to my website would help my website’s ranking. Finally, Google also likes you to have a mixture of link types, including naked links that include the http or https code (https://susanuneal.com/), to your website in guest blog posts and articles. Ultimately, these keywords drive traffic to your website.
I worked with a search engine optimization (SEO) friend who improved my website’s domain authority in two months. You can check out his services at Magnum Marketing. He orchestrated many of my website’s keywords being placed on different blogs with high domain authority.
In summary, follow these steps to increase your website’s ranking on Google:
1. Improve your website’s speed
2. Ensure your website is an HTTPS site
3. Identify your website’s primary and secondary keywords
4. Publish guest blog posts and articles with do follow links to your website
Obtain Paid Sponsors
Once your domain authority is higher, you can monetize your website through ads and blogging. Ensure that your contact form on your website works and goes to your inbox and not the Junk folder. Now that my domain authority is high, I’ve received unsolicited emails regarding ad placements. 
My SEO freelancer recommended the advertising sites listed in this article, https://www.adpushup.com/blog/the-best-ad-networks-for-publishers/. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith recommended SheMedia.com because their ads are always clean. She uses nonobtrusive end of the website page banner ads. You can check out these ads on her website at https://ichoosemybestlife.com/. Saundra also recommended GetBlogged.net to find sponsors who will pay you to insert their keywords in a blog you write or that they give to you to post. 
Ultimately, writing is a business, not just a ministry. We need to earn money to continue to spread the Word of God through our writing. Check out my previous article, Author Income Diversification, where I discuss other monetizing options. 
TWEETABLEImprove Your Website's Domain Authority - @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHSSusan’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 COACH with 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 YOGA a #1 Amazon best-selling yoga book, and YOGA FOR BEGINNERS which 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 DEMENTIA is a great resource. To learn more about Susan visit her website SUSANUNEAL.COM You can also connect with Susan on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM.

The Stepping Stones of Our Writing

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
Clunk, clunk, clunk. 
I hopped to each stepping stone and landed with a thud. This would be fun if I were five years old. The stones I had spaced were so far apart that crossing the yard felt awkward. Sometimes I had to leap. How unnatural. What was I thinking?Let me try that again. I moved the stones closer to each other, and I started walking once more on the brown faces of the rocks. Clop, clop, clop, clop, clop. I felt like a bunny as I crossed the yard with speed and grace. As much grace as you can muster in tennis shoes. 
Sometimes when I write an article, the first lines of my paragraphs are awkward. Instead of acting like “speedy” stepping stones in my backyard, they slow me down as I read a page. The wording is too factual, or the flow of thought doesn’t track. What was I thinking?
So I go back and edit the “stepping stones.” I adjust my flow of thought or I trade weak words for vivid ones. Then I read again. I fly better from paragraph to paragraph, and if editing my stones helps me, it will definitely help the reader.
Did you know that you can track your flow of thought by reading just the first lines of your paragraphs? Take a piece of your work, and only read the first lines. Is that the message you meant to share? Is the wording vivid and captivating? Do you share unique insights at the beginning of each paragraph? 
First lines are the writer’s ally to help readers walk through the pages and chapters of our nonfiction writing. How can we create the best stepping stones to help readers travel through our pages and principles? ()In the first line of a paragraph, repeat a word that was mentioned at the end of the previous paragraph—you’ve brought your previous thought forward. Start a paragraph with a unique insight to keep the readers’ interest—an insight that they may not have thought of before. Infuse your first lines with vivid nouns and verbs.Read your first lines aloud, and listen to the syllables—is there a lyrical quality to the words you have chosen?Track your flow of thought in your first lines, and adjust the track so that the train of attention and understanding have the best possible route.Eliminate factual wording by not just mentioning the “what” in your first line, but by including a taste of the “why” or the “how.” Include headings throughout your writing that act as extra “stepping stones.”Start some paragraphs with a story to keep the reader flying through your pages. Do you ever find your first lines to be too factual like mine, or spaced too far apart for the reader to follow? Try some of these tips, and tell us in the comments which one is your favorite. Join the conversation!
TWEETABLEThe Stepping Stones of Our Writing - @KatyKauffman28 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of REFRESH BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE, and a co-founder of LIGHTHOUSE BIBLE STUDIES. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, Collection 1 which is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist. She recently started THE LIGHTHOUSE CONNECTION, a monthly writers’ newsletter including writing tips, inspiration to write, and news of submission opportunities. 
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, take acrylic painting classes online, and do yard work in the morning sun. Connect with her at her blog, WINNING THE VICTORY, and on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

Writing to Felt Needs

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel
What are your readers feeling these days – anxiety, fear, anger, confusion, despair, anticipation, celebration, emptiness, loneliness, and weariness? Our souls are full of emotions and needs, longing for someone to reach out in encouragement with answers, or at least something to point us in the right direction.Your words can touch that person. 
As I consider small writing projects, I have discovered these 5 steps help keep me focused on my reader in order to develop both a practical and powerful message, delivered in easy-to-consume steps.
1. Determine the felt need.
While there are many needs out there at any given moment, your short piece works best when targeted to only one or two. Perhaps you’ve decided you will speak to those feelings of weakness and powerlessness. In the early days of the pandemic, I knew I wanted to reach out to others in my same situation.
2. Decide on a practical takeaway.
If you have a specific aim, then you will hit your target every time. For instance, if I want to impart strength and coping mechanisms to those trying to survive an unexpected quarantine, I will come up with workable suggestions.
3. Design an easy outline.
A memorable way to retain any message is to have 3-5 main points, perhaps listed in a clever way. Alliteration or acronyms are my go-to version for such writings. In this case, I used the acronym S.T.R.O.N.G. to list 6 ways to stay soul strong in a pandemic.
4. Deliver your message.
Open each point with a story or situation that immediately connects with your reader. That’s your “hook” which then keeps them reading for the takeaway from that part of the piece. Be clear, clever, and concise.
5. Direct your reader to God.
Since our calling is to offer Jesus to a hurting and broken world, we speak from our Christian worldview in all we write. Sometimes we are more specific, other times more subtle – all depending on our audience. But, as for me, life is too short not to always include the truth of God’s Scripture as my rule and guide. In this piece on staying strong I included a short Bible verse illustrating each of the S.T.R.O.N.G. points. Another way is to end your writing with a short prayer. 
You have an important message (or two or twenty) to share with the world today! This basic outline can be used for guest blogs, online articles, spoken messages, even a whole book. Cover all your plans with prayer and hard work, and God will use your words. 
WRITE TO FELT NEEDS
1. Determine the felt need.
2. Decide on a practical takeaway.
3. Design an easy outline.
4. Deliver your message.
5. Direct your reader to God.
To see these ideas today fleshed out in a specific message, go to my April 2020 Blog, written in the early days of the pandemic, “How to Survive April” on how to stay soul strong whilst in quarantine. https://lucindasecrestmcdowell.com/how-to-survive-april/
TWEETABLEWriting to Felt Needs - insight & tips 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

Holiday Marketing for Authors

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting
Tis’ the season for promoting books as gifts! Ideas of what to do abound, so consider the options and start planning and implementing holiday promotions.Special Christmas Sale
Author Paula K. Parker starts planning her holiday sale early. This year she created an Old-Fashioned Christmas Sale to honor a cherished grandmother. She said, “Grandma always had her Christmas gifts purchased by July. She shopped early in order to take advantage of sales. This allowed her to ship early, so her gifts would arrive in time. This allowed he to spend all of December decorating, baking, and enjoying her family.”
Her sale consists of two parts: 1. People can use the coupon code Xmas on her website during checkout to receive 15% off their entire purchase. 2. If they purchase a copy of “Sisters of Lazarus; Beauty Unveiled” – either by itself or in the Sisters of Lazarus bundle – they can use the coupon code Ship Free to receive free shipping. This can be eblasted and ramped up on social media on cyber Monday.
Newsletter Cross Promotion
I’m starting a little late with a group of friends. We can get more mileage to combine our sales and other promotional activities. To gain the most long-term results from our efforts we will each offer a free downloadable pdf, plus share freebies and deals anyone gets if they subscribe to that person’s newsletter. We’ll each include the information in our own newsletter to get it to everyone’s mailing list and hope that helps us each grow our lists. 
We’ll also make a landing page for the specials and create a meme to spread the word on our social media outlets. We can place the meme on our websites too and make postcards to hand out at live events.
Live Christmas Book Events
Though many have been cancelled, I have a few church bazaars and places to sell in person this year. Search online and check with local writers to see what’s happening in your area. Ask how they advertise the event. Is it mostly their own congregation or do the attract the community? That will help you choose which ones will be a good match. Once you sign up, be sure to check on whether you need to bring a table or table covering or if one will be supplied.
If you have an inexpensive supply of gift bags, offer those free to customers with a purchase. Be sure to include a bookmark or other handout with your contact information to encourage future purchases. With my children’s books, I like to give out free art kits in a zip lock bag. They make great stocking stuffers and the directions include the matching book cover and title. Freebies, even tip sheets, can engage customers and give them a way to remember you. Add sample notes that can be packaged with the book to make it a more personal present, such as Add joy to your life throughout the coming year with this joy filled devotional.
Social Media Promotion
Snap photos of recent releases or a Christmas special with decorations in the background. Post those on social media and use one for a Christmas blog post. Write about a Christmas memory, fun and easy tradition, or tips to lesson stress, or other topic that will interest your audience.
Consider creating some FB live posts to spread holiday cheer and share a bit about the book. It’s the time of year when I’ll share some Christmas bread recipes and other easy to make treats and crafts. 
Create a Christmas Pinterest board with some recipes, tips, and your books that include notes of how they will add hope or joy to the life of recipients. Add links to your videos bout the product.
Create a countdown or twelve days of Christmas line up of posts. I’ve done 12 days of crafting tips and 12 days of Christmas articles from ones I wrote over the years. I might do one on simple decorations and package toppers this year. Think of ideas easy to do as live videos or PPT presentations.
Personalize the Gifting!
Consider an ornament to make or inexpensive item to add to the package for those who order a certain amount. One of my specials this year will be a free teddy bear necklace kit with the purchase of one of my Weekly Devotions books. If you are not crafty checkout bargains and see if you can find something to give. If the quantities are limited, then state that the first XX number of orders that receive the gift. Or, offer a sneak peek into the first chapter of an upcoming book, signed by the author.
Gift Author Friends with Needed Reviews
Remember author friends who often need more book reviews and try to do a few before the holidays! If you have a group of friends or a critique group, consider a book swap where each person reviews the book they get at the swap. You’ll celebrate your books and gain a little more form it. You might include special friend prices to buy at your gathering, for gifts for their loved ones.
Add to the cheer and marketing opportunities by posting your tips for holiday marketing. We all gain from many ideas and make the season merrier!
TWEETABLEHoliday Marketing for Authors - @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-six books for women, children, and families. Her newest book, 52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve, uses stories, activities, and chat prompts to help families develop servant hearts and foster strong bonds in families who have members serving the community, nation, or world.
She has a heart to grow tomorrow’s wholesome families today. She has written more than seven hundred articles for more than sixty publications and loves to let creativity splash over the pages of what she writes. She writes for Leading Hearts and Crosswalk.com. Connect with Karen on Twitter @KarenHWhiting, Pinterest KarenWhiting, and FB KarenHWhiting

A Writer’s Accolade of One

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam
I finally entered a contest I finaled in. And the crowd roared, well, the crowd of one—and maybe my biggest fan—my hubby. The contest—NaNoWriMo. 
For those unfamiliar with that term, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. It is held all over the world each November with the goal of reaching at least 50,000 words in thirty days. The idea is to sit down to write every day in that month to reach that goal. Pre-Covid you could meet up in write-ins at coffee shops and bookstores where other folks were aiming to do the same thing.
While it’s not a competition per se, it is to some degree a challenge to get to 50,000 words in thirty days. I’ve entered other contests before only to receive that end of contest email, “thank you for entering, but you didn’t win this time. Please enter next year.” In NaNoWriMo, you’re not competing against people, but against the calendar.
But on two occasions, I did win NaNoWriMo. Last year was one of those years. I didn’t win money, or any type of prize. But I did win a certificate I could print out myself claiming the title of Winner. I also won the opportunity to buy the Winner shirt as well.
But I really won more than either of those. I won something of value that can’t be measured or seen—the knowledge that I had walked in obedience. I followed the directive I received from God in June 2011 when listening to a Father’s day sermon about tools in God’s tool belt. I asked Him what kind of tool I could be for His kingdom. Now that I had become an empty nester, my time of daily mom hood had changed. My employment had changed. What was next?
His answer? Write. How do I know that was His answer? My concordance had fallen open to a page from where I’d been following along with the pastor, and the word write stood out loud and clear. I stared.
I had no doubt it was a message from God. I’ve read books and journaled my entire life. So seeing the word write was not a shock. But I still wondered if I should write for something or someone besides my journals. I began to write.
But I’ve drug my oar. I’ve piddled and paddled. And barely moved the boat. 
I’ve written some here and there. But never for a long stretch. And never everyday for almost thirty days. You know, everyday, like they recommend if you’re going to be a serious writer. 
But this time I wrote from obedience. I felt the nudge to do the 50,000 words on my book. And this time I obeyed. At that moment, without questioning if I should. I’d followed the leading of Him who began this path of writing for me many years ago. 
And won.
My crowd of one that I share a home with high-fived and cheered loudly for me. And it was great and appreciated. 
But the One who sent the directive was the One whose accolade I appreciated most. 
What about you? Are you seeking the accolade of the One that gifted you with this talent and sent you on a mission to write? I’d love to hear your thoughts. 
TWEETABLEA Writer's Accolade of One - @TickledPinkTam on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
You’ll find Tammy seeing humor and causing laughter in every aspect of life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s been married to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 37 years, a mom to their grown daughter, Kristen, and wrapped around the paw of a little dog named Hattie. Born and raised in Ohio, her family now resides in South Carolina. She is the President of Word Weavers Upstate SC, member of ACFW and My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. She’s the Blog Editor for Word Weavers International. A Conference Assistant for Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. A monthly contributor for The Write Conversation. A contributor in the 2018 Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. Also a regular contributor to several other blogs. 
Connect with Tammy: Blog: HTTP://WWW.TAMMYKARASEK.COM Email: tickledpinktammy@gmail.com

Choosing to be Grateful in the Face of Uncertainty

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt
COVID-19 continues to affect so many different aspects of both our writing and our real lives. The pandemic also has placed a huge question mark on the upcoming holiday season.Has 2020 looked anything like we expected? No, not at all. 
What will 2021 hold for us? No one knows.
I’m determined to be grateful even in the face of looming uncertainty.I’m thankful for how writer-friends rallied around one another this year. We listened to one another. Prayed for one another. Encouraged one another when our optimism failed. Shouted out one another’s books during a tough time in the publishing industry.I’m thankful for how writers embraced new things this year. No face-to-face conferences or writer meetings? Enter virtual conferences and meetings. Thank you, Zoom, for giving us a reason to put on decent clothes (At least from the waist up, right?) and style our hair and put on makeup (Waving at the women!) and to connect via the Internet, even if we couldn’t hug one another. I’m thankful for everyone celebrating successes. Break out the firework and applause GIFs. Success in 2020 was hard-won, wasn’t it? Books were stuck in publishers’ warehouses. Amazon declared books non-essential (Excuse me?). Contracts were canceled and some writers fought for creativity even as others thrived in the midst of the chaos of COVID-19. I’m thankful for everyone who trudged through failure and proved we can get past our struggles. “There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.” [Brené Brown (1965-), American professor & author] If you’re a writer looking back at a season of disappointments, I encourage you to take one last look – and move on. You attempted something creative, and that is a success worth celebrating. Bravo! Don’t forget to consider what lessons you can take away from your efforts.I’m thankful that hope is a commodity that never runs out. Ongoing uncertainty is emotionally exhausting. We may crawl into bed worn out at the end of the day. But God promises us that His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great. (Lamentations 3:22-23) And that truth allows us to start each day with renewed hope. What are you thankful for?
TWEETABLEChoosing to be Grateful in the Face of Uncertainty - @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.

TAKING PART IN GOD’S WRITING PROCESS

by Joshua J. Masters @JoshuaJMasters
Christian writers feel called to take part in the creative nature of God, emulating the greatest author in (or outside) history by changing the lives of others with words. 
But God writes more than words. In fact, Scripture says you are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). He’s authoring your life story, skillfully weaving a chronicle of hope, purpose, and transformation.The practice of writing isn’t always easy. We crumple up our outlines, resist honest critiques, and dread the editing process. But I’m not talking about our own projects—I’m talking about our response to God’s authorship in our own lives.
Here are three ways we can better participate in God’s writing process.
1. STICK TO THE OUTLINE
Do your characters always cooperate with you? Even the strictest of outliners will sit around writing conferences regaling others with stories about their characters changing direction with little consideration for the author’s well bulleted and beloved outline. “My character has a mind of his own—I can’t believe he killed another character I need in book two of the series!”
Whether that’s the author’s creativity taking her on an unexpected detour or she’s blaming her characters for the fatal flaw she’s discovered in her outline doesn’t matter. The planned path for the story lies in the noir shadows of a recycle bin. 
But God’s outline is perfect. It’s never tossed away and never wrong—so when the characters in His story try to rebel, it only causes hardship for the character. That’s us, by the way. 
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NIV) 
Are we more interested in the course we’ve charted in our hearts or the steps God has planned for our story? I spend a lot of time preparing for writing conferences; building binders, printing one-sheets, selecting classes, and researching the editors. But what if my primary preparation was quietly asking God what’s on His outline for the week? What if I were more concerned about who I was there to encourage rather than getting to that appointment table, gently nudging others out of my way with the elbow of Christ?
A call to writing may be part of God’s outline for our lives—but it’s not the only thing, and even if you write full time, it’s safe to say it’s a subplot in God’s outline for you. 
Stick to God’s outline. Ask Him about the next bullet point every day and you’ll avoid a lot of rewrites. 
2. ACCEPT CRITIQUES
The truth is, we’re human. So, we’re going to fight against that outline, especially when we face one of those plot-points we don’t like. You know, the conflicts that cause transformation and make our character dynamic? But how do we get back on course once we realize we’re working against the outline God has written for our lives? We accept critiques.
Many new members of a critique group sit with their knee bouncing, fidgeting with paperclips and curling the edge of their creation as they wait for someone to analyze every comma, awkward phrase, and POV issue they’ve committed to paper. Hopefully, we’re kind in our constructive review of one another’s work, but some never return. No one loves a challenging review, but the people who are most successful realize that critiques are not your identity—they’re a tool to improve our identity as a writer.
As a pastor, I oversee a ministry called Celebrate Recovery. We encourage everyone to do a daily inventory, which is a series of questions we bring to God, asking Him to critique our day—in writing terms, we ask the Holy Spirit to show us how far off the outline we’ve tried to stray. Are you willing to submit yourself to God’s critique of your life, echoing the prayer of David?
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT)
If you want to be a better writer, accept critiques from other writers,
If you want to be a better follower of Christ, accept critiques from your Author.
3. BE GRATEFUL FOR EDITS
Critiques lead to rewrites and edits. Always. 
My latest book has just entered the editing phase with a traditional publisher. Soon, with my eyes half open and a cup of coffee making its way to my lips, I’ll launch my email app with lethargy and discover the email I’ve both longed for and dreaded. My eyes will shoot open and I’ll undoubtably get coffee on my shirt.
When that day comes, I’ll have two ways to view that document—with prideful arrogance or gratitude. I can perceive every note as a murder attempt on my character, or I can remember that the editor isn’t trying to destroy my book but is giving me the opportunity to present the very best version of it.
If you’re a follower of Christ, that’s what God wants for your life. More than that, he wants to transform you to be more like Jesus. But that requires editing. Will you gratefully submit to the editing God wants to do in your life to make that happen?
Look how seriously Jesus takes the editing process in the Book of John:
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (John 15:1-2 NLT)
Notice that the branches don’t have the option of being left alone. God can either prune them or cut them off.
In gardening, it’s called pruning. In writing, it’s editing. In Christianity it’s referred to as sanctification, the slow, continual editing and pruning of our hearts to become God’s masterpiece.
TWEETABLETaking Part in God's Writing Process - @JoshuaJMasters on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Joshua J. Masters is a pastor, author, and speaker. He’s been featured on CBN Television, HIS Radio, and the Light Radio Network. Josh is the author of American Psalms: Prayers for the Christian Patriot and is a contributing author for Feed Your Soul, Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and One Christian Voice. Josh has also worked as an actor and crew member in the film industry (SAG/AFTRA) and continues to have a passion for film. He lives with his wife, Gina, and Franklin the Pup outside Greenville, South Carolina where he serves as a speaking and care pastor.
Josh would love to connect with you on his website, www.joshuajmasters.com or engage with you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Goodreads.