Edie Melson's Blog, page 187

11 Ways to Ignite Your Writing Passion

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Maybe you thought the summer heat would light a fire to your writing, but it didn’t happen. Now it’s the end of September, and you still haven’t found the match. In fact, you’re giving serious consideration to calling it quits. Maybe writing is for someone else and not you.

We writers live in seasons of growth and change, victories and challenges. To improve our craft, we must inspect every area of our writing and publishing life. Temporary discouragement isn’t a bad trait as long as we discover ways to develop our creativity. Take positive steps now to rekindle the passion for your writing.

How are you lighting a fire to your writing?

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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 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

Dipping The Quill Deeper: A Cry for Mercy

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

My daily devotions come from a book titled A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants, compiled and edited by Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck. Within its pages are weekly divisions of scripture verses, reflections from those who have come before us or walk beside us, invocations and benedictions, guides for prayers and reflection, and hymns to sing (although I usually just speak them as I would a poem). Often quoted within the leather-bound pages is Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer, and theologian. 

I can add nothing more here except . . . Amen. Amen.

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Eva Marie Everson is the president of Word Weavers International and the director of its two conferences. She is the multiple award-winning author of nearly 40 works and has received awards as a speaker and Bible teacher. Eva Marie is often seen at writers conferences across the States. She served as a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild for several years, and taught as a guest professor at Taylor University in 2011. She and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they enjoy their grandchildren. They are owned by one small dog and a princess cat. 

Marketing from Reader Feedback

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

Social media, focus groups, beta readers, and online reviews create plenty of reader feedback. Those words provide fodder for marketing.

Using reader feedback lets readers know you listen and value the opinions of your followers. That adds to your relationship with readers and others who provide feedback. It also develops reader loyalty. 

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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

Return to the Five Ws of Writing

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam
This year has certainly brought some oddities and changes to it. I believe most, if not all, of us have gone through periods without outside contact with our writing peers and friends. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, you’ve no doubt felt the difference in your normal writing-life pattern. I’ve talked to introverted friends that admitted they missed the in-person conversations with their writing groups. As an extrovert myself, it’s been hard.But, we are creative, and like most of the world quickly figured out how to work things out for our writing. We’ve gathered in Zoom meetings, Google Chats and the like. We’ve sent pieces to each other for critique and suggestions for plot holes. We’ve even sent out emails, texts or calls with an SOS to brainstorm. We’ve moved forward. 

 

As we approach the last few months of this crazy year known as 2020, I’ve noticed a few people slowing down. Not just slow down, but almost like a funk is hovering over them. It reminded me of something I used to tell our daughter at the end of every school year from middle school all the way through her Doctorate. I’d notice that in the last month or so she’d sort of lose steam. I would offer the same advice each year. Finish strong, you’re almost done.

 

As writers, we may have lost our fervor to keep writing also. I’d offer the same thought to you as well as myself. Finish strong, dear writer, this year is almost done. To do that, let’s return to the five W’s of writing we base our stories on. 

 

WHO

Who are we writing for? We are instructed to write for a particular person or people group, but is that really who we should be writing for? Isn’t the One we want to please the most God? Then return to writing your words back to Him. He’ll make sure those words reach the people he chooses.

 

WHAT 

What is it that you’re trying to say? Is your message clear? Would your words encourage, teach or edify another person? Write those.

 

WHERE         

Where are you writing now? Were you a writer who wrote in a coffee shop or library that still has closed doors? Have you found a new spot to write? If not, now would be a great time to create a special spot that brings you into the mood for writing, even if it’s just rearranging your writing space in a different way. Set yourself up for success.

 

WHEN

When do you write? Often we see the “musts” of writing. You must write before others wake up. You must write every day. You must write 3,000 words a day. But what if those don’t work out well for you, is something wrong with you? No, that’s false. All that means is that it’s not how your body, schedule, or family functions. Search what works best for you and make that your own personal must of writing. Then do that.

 

WHY 

Why do you write? I loved the comment I read years ago regarding that question. “Why do you write? It’s because I can’t not.” Grammatically so wrong, but such truth in the words. We write because we can’t stop ourselves from doing it. But this year has given us odd challenges, and maybe we’re not writing with the same determination we used to. I suggest we remember back to when God first gave us the nudge to write. When we realized He’d given us a calling to write the words he’d pour into us. Let’s return to that why.

 

As we wind down this crazy year of different, let’s return to those five W’s as they apply to our writing lives and not just what we write. 

 

Will you join me in giving the final months of 2020 everything you’ve got? 

Let’s finish strong, writing friends, this year is almost done.

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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

Are We Striving for the Inner Ring as Writers?

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

C.S. Lewis gave a talk to university students called, “The Inner Ring.” He said, “I believe that in all man’s lives at all periods between infancy and extreme old age, one the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the local Ring and the terror of being left outside.”

Which Ring? 

We need to ask ourselves what “ring” we are attempting to be a part of, knowing that when we, as a child of the living God, yield to God’s calling we are already in the inner ring of God’s family. These benefits may not bring earthly accolades. In fact, persecution may follow us as it did the disciples in the early church and often does today. Our call by God is not adapted to society’s decrees of right and wrong. That call was given before we were born when God said in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. And before you were born I consecrated you.” That is an awesome truth and one that, in our own understanding is hard to comprehend. But, God’s truth exists whether we believe it or not.

 

There are reasons why some of us stray from our calling and slide over into the desire to be a part of the inner ring. Chief among the reasons for betraying ourselves is fear. We may feel strength in the company of those who hold power. By turning away from who God called us to be and observing the presumed security of being a part of an accepted group, we soon begin to compromise. We loose our individuality to that of the group. Instead of being governed by God’s dream for us, we become driven by the desires and dictums of the society to which we have aligned ourselves. Soon our individual gifts are crushed and the dream God put in our hearts is counterfeited by the mission of others.

 

Pressure to Conform

We are all susceptible to the pressure to conform. As writers, our world is often shattered by rejection. It is here we stand at a crossroad. It is here that we often drift toward the inner ring. We believe we will achieve success by association. We move from our calling to, instead, write what others have deemed as worthy. We pour our energy into becoming what we are not and we set aside what we are.

 

It is at the crossroads that we meet our greatest challenge. By daring to be bold and brave and turning from compromise to believing in an outcome only known by God but believed by faith, we follow the Lord on His road of success for us. Our spirits are transformed from fear to courage. We know we are not alone, that He is with us. Our success is in His hands, whether it be great or small, it is mighty in the eternal. 

 

We are told to have faith in ourselves. I contend that we can only have faith in ourselves when we surrender first to faith in Jesus and His power to prove Himself in the face of all odds. 

 

Bottom Line

In our uncertain world, our very foundation is shaking. Truth is called a lie and lies are called truth. God’s authority over mankind is usurped to read man’s authority over God. The vehicle and means to live out our calling often shrivels under the burden of shutdowns. It is here we need to turn from the obstacles we can’t control and cling to the One who is in control. The Lord promises throughout scripture that He will never leave or forsake us. He who calls equips. Often in strange new ways. Be brave. This may be our finest hour.

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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.

Compilation Books—Why and How to Write Them

by Crystal Bowman
Compilations books are a collection of stories written by a variety of writers. Even though Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen struggled to get their first book published (like having 144 publishers say “no thank you”) the success of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series—with more than 500 million copies sold internationally—has proven that they have a place in the world of publishing. Why would an author decide to compile a collection of stories written by other writers rather than write his or her own story? 

 

It reaches a broader audience. 

A few years ago, my daughter-in-law asked me to help her write a book on the topic of infertility. During her five-year experience she struggled to find books that helped her emotionally. I told her that her story alone would not be enough to reach the market, but if we collected stories from a variety of women, it would reach a broader audience. We collected 30 stories from women ages 30-65 and covered the full spectrum that infertility encompasses. 

 

It allows more writers to share their stories.

Many of our contributors said that they had always wanted to share their stories, but it seemed overwhelming to write a book. Writing a chapter, however, was doable.  

 

It helps with marketing.

Many of our contributors were not published authors, so they were thrilled to see their stories and their names in a published book. They were eager to post the book on Facebook and spread the news on social media. 

 

How do you collect stories for a compilation book?

 

Start with people you know.

My daughter-in-law and I thought of several people who had stories to share, so we asked them first. Once we had a few solid contributors, we asked them to suggest other women who might be interested in sharing their stories. The number of contributors multiplied quickly and soon we had enough. 

 

Give specific guidelines and a few samples.

We wanted variety in the stories, but consistency in the format. We provided a template so the writers could follow the same format with their own content. The template was: My Story, My Struggle, My Strength, My Scripture. We requested word counts for each heading and provided several samples.  

 

Set a firm deadline.

Our deadline for the publisher was April 1, so the deadline for our writers was February 1. Some of the stories were professionally written, while other needed several revisions. Some followed the guidelines, others did not. 

 

Have all contributors sign release forms.

Since our book was being published by a traditional publisher, the publishing company provided release forms for each writer to sign. I needed to collect them and send them to the publisher. Some writers returned them quickly while others needed to be asked several times. 

 

Keep a list of names, address, and emails for all contributors. 

I needed to communicate often with our contributors, so having a current list of their contact information was critical.

 

Be sure every contributor receives a copy of the book. 

Our publisher was generous and sent 6 copies to every contributor. If your publisher doesn’t agree to sending complimentary copies, then it is your job to do that, and one copy is enough. I have contributed to several compilation books without receiving a complimentary copy and it’s discouraging. 

 

What about contributing to a compilation book?

Contributing to a compilation book, rather than compiling one has benefits as well. It allows you to share a story that isn’t long enough for a book, and it gets your name out there. Just be sure to follow the guidelines exactly to increase your chances of having your story published. It’s also a blessing to the person who has to edit it!

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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

Marketing for Writers - Create a Facebook Group Campaign

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga
Have you created a Facebook group yet for your readers? I discussed this in the blog, Connect With Readers Through Closed Facebook Groups. My Facebook group, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar, Carbs, and Gluten, has grown to 1500 members in the past two years. These people are my ideal readers who continue to purchase my books, courses, and digital products.Facebook Group Campaign
I launched a Lose your Pandemic Pounds Campaign in my Facebook group during September 2020 and conducted weekly Facebook Live sessions. These videos provided an overview of guidelines and readings participants should do each week. I also answered their questions during the live recordings. One member got up at 5 AM in the Philippines to watch the first session!
Now that my Facebook group has grown, numerous people asked questions and watched the live videos. Last year, when I tried live sessions, there were only a couple hundred members, and I got very little feedback. Therefore, I believe your Facebook group needs to grow to a substantial size for it to be worthwhile to do a Facebook Live campaign. Alternatively, if you started the live sessions, then your participation may increase.
I created and posted a weekly participant handout for the campaign. The handouts included chapters that they should read in my book, Healthy Living Series: 3 books in 1. During the first week of September, I put the e-book on sale for half price so anyone could afford to participate. I displayed specific memes during the week corresponding to the healthy eating guidelines. I also posted where they could join my email subscriber list and receive the ten appendices from my Amazon #1 best seller,  7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates .

Group ElementsSignificant elements of a group include creating graphics, posting a welcome graphic for new members, and generating group topics. My virtual assistant created beautiful memes to post regarding pertinent issues such as tips for sleep, healthy morning habits, and guidelines to prevent dementia. I tag new members in the welcome post and tell them to ask their questions directly in the group discussion section.  

Group topics allow anyone to find posts related to subjects. For example in my group, some subjects include Candida overgrowth, sugar consumption, and recipes. I tagged all the posts related to the Lose Your Pandemic Pounds Campaign so anyone could find this information in the future. This campaign will be a marketing tactic to get more people to join this group. To create group topics in your Facebook Group, click on Group Topics, and make several topics. For each post, click the three dots near the post’s title and click Add Post Topic. Designate a topic for each relevant post. 

 

During the Lose Your Pandemic Pounds campaign, I’ve spent up to an hour a day answering questions in this group. But I’ve sold up to forty books per day. I enjoy serving and interacting with my readers. This is how to connect with readers, so they get to know and trust you. Consequently, they become loyal followers and buy more of your books and products.
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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.

When Should We Start Editing?

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
I can’t turn off my internal editor. Thoughts like these often zip through my mind:Those praise music lyrics are missing punctuation. (Does that drive you crazy, too?)I’m writing compound sentences in my e-mails without commas. (And feeling guilty about it.)I can’t send this text until it’s perfect. (Half the time I’m missing something.)My internal editor is always on. Posting on Facebook takes five extra minutes because I’m worried I have a typo, and my voice-to-text feature frustrates me because it doesn’t capitalize properly. Doesn’t it know you have to capitalize book titles?

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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. 

Watch Your Words!

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

The next six weeks in our country will be full of words. Promises. Taunts. Pledges. Boasts. Truth. Untruth. Mockery. Threats. Loyalty. Division. Hope. Despair. Fear. Faith. Unity. Encouragement. And, did I mention, Hope?

We all know the power of social media to stay connected to friends and family, to learn from those we may have yet to meet, and to share the creative side of life. But social media also offers a megaphone – will we use ours to spew and rant and rave? Or will we use our megaphone to share the truth and love of Christ to a world desperate for healing and hope?

 

What exactly would you like your posts to accomplish during that quick scroll by someone else’s fingers?

 

And is it even possible to be authentic on social media without going to either extreme – hiding our heads in the sand, or using our fingers to yell at people? 

 

I find that answering these six questions help me to decide what I will throw out there into the world wide web:

Six Questions

What is my motive in posting this?  Am I bragging, sharing something best kept quiet, or provoking controversy?Is the content rooted in truth and my values? Am I sharing fake news, a false image of my life, or something that could reflect negatively on someone else?Is this post helpful? Does it celebrate, encourage, offer hope, give positive information, or even share humor (at no one’s expense)?Could this post be hurtful or harmful? Am I betraying a trust, sharing someone else’s news too soon, revealing family secrets, potentially endangering a child, or disobeying employee social rules?Will I cringe when this post pops up next month or next year? What would my future self say about what I’m considering making public today?Does this post give glory to God? Does my social media witness as a Christ-follower draw others to Him and His people?

Paul’s words to Timothy are perhaps appropriate for all of us in these days: “Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” 2 Timothy 2.16 MSG

 

Will you join me in praying for our world and shining for Jesus especially in the weeks ahead? And, if necessary, use words. 

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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

SPEAK UP WITH CONFIDENCE Guide for Authors

by Yvonne Ortega @YvonneOrtega1

I read Carol Kent’s revised and updated edition of Speak Up with Confidence from cover to cover. Her passion to speak words of eternal value and bathe every step of the process in prayer spoke to my heart. I hope it speaks to yours, too.

In conclusion, I highly recommend  Speak Up with Confidence  because it:

addresses your attitudes about speaking and unlikely speakers God helpedanswers the question about preparationalso answers the question about deliveryoffers so much more to build your confidence

Publisher: NavPress

Copyright: June 2, 2020

Paperback copy available at local and online stores

Kindle version available at: amazon.com

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Yvonne speaks with honesty and humor as she shares her life and struggles through presentations that empower women to find peace, power, and purpose through God’s Word. 
Yvonne’s background as a licensed professional counselor brings a unique perspective into the heart of women. She’s a speaking and writing coach and the owner of Moving from Broken to Beautiful®, LLC. She belongs to the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, the Christian Authors Network, the National Speakers Association, and Toastmasters International.
She celebrates life at the beach, where she walks, builds sand castles, blows bubbles, and dances.