Edie Melson's Blog, page 229

Why & How to Step out of Your Writing Comfort Zone

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson


As a whole, writers consistently struggle with self-confidence. Part of that comes, I believe, from working alone. Another contributing issue is the fact that writing is creating. We bring something tangible out of nothing and it carries our creative DNA. Both of these factors make it hard for us to have accurate perspective, so we err on the side of negativity. We tend to think less of our writing—and our abilities—than we ought. 
Hand in hand with this comes our unwillingness to leave our comfort zones. We’ve each built a safe place, populated it with safe people, and do only safe things there. But as comfortable as we are, this gated community can prove to be  stifling to our creativity.
We’ve got to find ways to break free from comfortable and embrace the new and terrifying.
Why & How to Step Out of Our Writing Comfort Zone1. Trying new things—hard things—will stretch us and grow us as writers. Even if we choose not to continue with what we’ve tried, that experience will add to our abilities.
2. Leaving our comfort zone gives us a new perspective. When we only view something—writing—from one vantage point, we deny ourselves. For example, writing fiction, after years of writing nonfiction, can add depth and life to both endeavors.
3. We need to change locals to meet new people. Maybe you only write at home, or have a single critique partner. Move location, write in a coffee shop or library. Exchange your writing with someone new to get a different type of input.
4. Write in a different genre. If you write fiction, try your hand at article writing. If you write articles, give poetry a whirl. Wherever you are, try something different.
5. Visit a new group or conference. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and only attend the same group or go to the same conference every year. Instead, be brave. Strike out on your own and visit a new group.
6. Enter a contest or sign up for a critique. It’s important to keep our writing fresh and current. Competing and asking for feedback is a perfect way to do that.
7. Try a writing prompt. There are a lot of books out there with writing prompts, but you can also just to an internet search. Set a timer and let creativity take over.
8. Take part in a write-off. This is a timed writing event. You can challenge another writer, or meet together as a group. The goal is to see who can write the most words in a set time-frame. Pushing yourself with a word-count goal will help turn off your internal editor. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it the fact that you tried that brings the benefit.
9. Ditch the computer and write long-hand. I know, we’re in the twenty-first century, but there’s something ultimately creative by touching pen to paper. You might be surprised how enjoyable it is sometimes. And if you’re one of those who does write everything long-hand, you should give computer technology a try. Not because either is better, but because different leads to discovery.
These are my suggestions. Now it’s your turn to add to the list. What have you done to break out of the writing comfort zone? How has it worked?
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 Instagram.

Author Income Diversification

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga

Income diversification is prudent in any business. Writing is a business. As an author, there are many facets to obtain multiple streams of income including, book and digital product sales, articles, courses, coaching, and speaking. 
The largest income source for most authors is through book sales. How do you sell more books? My previous article, “Marketing Strategies to Improve Books Sales,” reviews numerous marketing tactics.

Have you thought about creating an audiobook or large-print book? Do you own the audio rights to your book? Check your contract. If you do, you could create an audiobook and obtain additional sales through this source. This year, I created an audiobook of my bestseller,  7 Steps to Get off Sugar and Carbohydrates . Now I sell dozens of Audible books each month.

Have you thought about creating a large-print book? It is not difficult to do, and you would gain a new audience who may not be able to read your normal-sized print book. Audiobooks and large-print books expand your target market without having to write a new book.

Start writing your next book soon after you launch your previous one. You never know which book will be your best seller. Have you started working on your next book yet?
Book-Related and Digital ProductsAfter I published my first book, Scripture Yoga, I created Christian Yoga Card Decks to provide another type of product related to my book. I also sell Christian Yoga DVDs. Brainstorm and think of other book-related products you could create.

It is easy to create and sell digital products. Place them on your website or add a link to the bio in your articles and blogs. My best-selling digital product, “How to Prevent, Improve, and Reverse Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” sells several copies every month. Check out the selection of book-related and digital products that I sell on my website, ChristianYoga.com. If you would like to learn how to create and sell digital products, watch the training I did on Patricia Durgin’s, The Write Start Online Summit. There are twenty, free author-related training sessions available through this summit. 
Magazine ArticlesPublishing magazine articles is another source of revenue. I found that starting with smaller, non-paying magazines and then moving to more significant publications worked best. After you have a proven track record, larger magazines are more likely to accept your articles. I keep an annual list and corresponding link to all my publications on a Word document and the Mediapage of my website.

Courses
Have you thought about creating a class on a topic that you specialize in? You could make a course and sell it on your website. Recently, I created a course through Serious Writer Academy, “How to Sell 1000 Books in Three Months.” This will be a new income stream for me. If you are interested in this course, please use the discount code NEALTWC20 for 20% off.

Coaching and Speaking
Do you provide coaching services? I am a certified Christian health and wellness coach and provide coaching services directly from my website. Could you offer author coaching? I do. Check out my author coaching page. 
Do you speak at conferences? This is another income generator. When you do, you sell more books at the conference bookstore. List the type of speaking topics you do on your website.

Diversification
Whether you are investing in stocks or a writing career, diversification is vital. There are numerous audiences you could tap into through different sources. This year, I created an audiobook in the spring, a course in the summer, and I plan to create a large-print book in the fall. What steps can you take to diversify your author income?

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Writing is a business and diversification makes sense - tips from @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.

Publishing As a Second Language - A Publishing Glossary

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

When I first began writing there were times I felt like I was in foreign language class! What did these new words mean? 
Wasn’t a clip something you put in your hair when you were going out? And felt needs? Aren’t all needs felt? What about a slush pile? Things that are slushy aren’t easy to pile up. 
That's when I discovered a need to conquer publishing as a second language (PSL).
True, there is a specific language of the publishing world. But it is not a secret and it is not foreign. You just have to do a little studying. Some of the words are obvious – like simultaneous submission. I could figure out that meant to send things at the same time. But did it mean send the same thing to multiple places or did it mean that I sent multiple submissions on the same day?
Here are a few terms that helped me to navigate a little better in the publishing world. BYLINE – Your name as you wish it to appear on your work, usually placed under the title.CLIP – Copies of an author’s published works. Also called tearsheets. The truth is that these days no one really tears anything out of anywhere. You will probably copy and paste your previous work into an electronic file. But you may still hear these words used.FELT NEEDS – Many editors say what they are looking for is a book or article that address felt needs. So, simply put, your work must touch your reader at a point of need.SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSION – This is usually applied to books. Some people say they use this with magazine articles but I, personally, don’t recommend it. Book publishers usually take several months to reply to your submission. Rightly so, since they must have a number of committees comment. They know that if you wait months for an answer every time you submit a book manuscript, you may take years to find a home for your work. So the publishers are fine with your submitting your book manuscript to more than one publisher as long as you let them know in your query or cover letter that you are sending to more publishing houses than just one. Add a line to your letter such as “this is a simultaneous submission.”SLUSH PILE – The pile on the editor’s desk that has all the submitted manuscripts. Usually this pile is very high so you need to make sure anything you submit is your best writing and well-edited. (I know you thought that’s what editors were for but today’s editorial staffs are very small if not a solo position. So make sure you have done their editing for them (even if you have to hire a freelance editor) so your manuscript will rise to the top of the pile! Hope this helps. We will continue next month as we talk about the difference between a query letter and a cover letter. But in the meantime, be sure to ask any questions about terms you've heard and don't understand. 

Don't forget to join the conversation!

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Publishing As a Second Language: A Publishing Glossary - via author @LindaGilden on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

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Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Linda is the author of 19 books and over 1000 magazine articles. She enjoys every meeting with editors and knowing we are all part of the same team. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

Extrovert Tips for Introverted Writers

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

I stepped to the podium. “Raise your hand if you are an introvert?” Conferees began to glance over their shoulders, waiting for that first person to be brave enough to raise their hand. It took a minute, but hands began to reach into the air. My first thought was to laugh. Over half the room of writers considered themselves introverts.Why was that funny to me? It was obvious so many were introverts. It took forever for them to raise their hands because they ARE introverts.
We’ve heard it said hundreds of times, “To be a writer you must be a speaker and to be a speaker, you must be a writer.” How is that possible when the bulk of the writers polled, are introverts? Standing in front of a group of folks to speak is . . . well.  . . mind blowing.
When I tell folks I’m an introvert, they find it hard to believe. But you’re so outgoing and talkative.It’s not easy to turn the extrovert button to ON when my introvert button is stuck on OFF. The truth is, it takes practice and hard work. Speaking does not come naturally to the introvert. Rather it is a learned skill.
Becoming an author is more than writing a manuscript. It’s an all-encompassing thing.  One could say, your platform hinges on it. Just as you learn to master the craft of writing, your work to grasp hold of speaking and teaching should grow along side. 
I remember my first writers conference, sitting toward the back of the auditorium watching Yvonne Lehman, Alton Gansky, and Eva Marie Everson speak. They awed the crowd with wisdom, humor, and encouragement, yet when I sat at a lunch table with some of these same folks, they joked about being somewhat of an introvert. They have taken time throughout their careers to learn to overcome. 
It’s important to understand that it’s not a lack of self-confidence if you are uncomfortable moving into the extrovert mindset. It says nothing about your ability as a writer or a storyteller, but it does say, it’s time to hone those skills. In order to approach agents, editors, and publishers, you have come out of the cocoon. Let me offer some easy tips on becoming an introverted extrovert.
Practice conversation: Stand in front of a mirror and look yourself in the eye, then carry on a conversation. Sure, it feels a little silly at first but then, so does putting on your extrovert hat. When you look yourself in the eye, it helps train you to actively seek out others. In our quiet, reclusive world, we often forget how to comfortably initiate conversation. I’m the world’s best at chiming in on conversations, but I’m equally as bad at being the initiator.
Move to the front row or center of a room: Introverts are happy in the back of the line. Practice moving around the room. Instead of taking your normal back pew at church, move closer to the front (and I don’t mean by one row – I mean to the front.) In a group, mingle to the center of the room and stay away from the comfort of the walls. Put yourself into the crowd. You will soon learn how to manage your way and feel comfortable.
Find your happy place: When I speak, I pray that God will take me to my happy place. I ask to put on the hat of an extrovert and then move ahead. 
Body language and posture are important: Stand up straight. Speak clearly and practice projecting your voice. When you command body language, you command the crowd. The more you show your confidence, the easier it is to take hold of the group and move ahead. I’ve heard it said more than once, if you don’t believe in you, why should I? 
Learn to laugh: If something unexpected happens, learn to laugh. When you laugh at yourself, the crowd will laugh with you, so don’t worry about making a mistake. Just roll with it.
Discover a way to keep on track: Some folks make paper notes, others use their tablet, but everyone needs an agenda to keep you on track. This not only keeps you within your speaking timeframe, but it helps you maintain a good hold on what you are teaching or speaking about. The introvert finds it hard to ignore their written instructions, so make notes and use them. Notes are not shameful – they are gold.
Give yourself permission: When you’re done at the end of the day. Give yourself permission to lay down and unwind. As a conferee, I could stay up and hold court with the best of them – laughing, talking, and making plans. But when I began to teach at conferences, when the final bell rings, I needed to find a place to unwind. I’ve often teased that it is important to find a quiet corner and ball up into the fetal position. As funny as that seems, when you are an introvert who steps into the extrovert’s shoes, you’re completely exhausted mentally when the day is done. 
Practice taking your career to the next level by working on your extrovert skills. There will come a time when you are knocking out contracts one after the other, and you will be asked to teach and speak. Start now grooming those skills so when the day arrives, you can whip off that introvert hat and become the extrovert that lives within you.

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Extrovert tips for Introverted Writers from @CindyDevoted on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

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Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and InspireaFire.com. Cindy is the managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, both imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is an award-winning and best-selling author and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at  www.cindysproles.com . @cindydevoted

Facing Exhaustion in Ministry: When You Can’t Do More

by Yvonne Ortega @YvonneOrtega1

You and I will face exhaustion in ministry when we can’t do more. Then what?
First, remember that God is with us.I suffer from sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to sleep better. Before my trip out-of-state to visit family and attend the SpeakUp Conference, I noticed a leak in the machine’s hose. I called the doctor’s office, but they had closed early for the United States Independence Day weekend. My trip included only short stays in any one place, too short for a new hose to be mailed to me. So, I struggled with my faulty machine the whole time and repeated Deuteronomy 31:6, “For the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I remembered that Bible verse as the hose leaked at night and made a sound sleep impossible. I remembered that Bible verse when I did my best to function despite sleep deprivation.
Second, we will suffer on earth. This is no time to tell God, “Look at all I’m doing for you. Can’t you stop bad things from happening to me?”
Jeremiah obeyed the Lord and warned the king of Judah and his officials that the people needed to repent. In retaliation, the officials threw Jeremiah into a cistern without water, and Jeremiah sank into the mud (Jeremiah 38:6). 
Although thirty men helped a Cushite lift Jeremiah from the cistern (verse 10), he remained in the courtyard of the guard until the capture of Jerusalem (verse 28). When the remnant of Judah went to Egypt in disobedience to the Lord, they took Jeremiah with them (Jeremiah 43:5-6). 
James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Thank God for the opportunity to become “mature and complete” believers. 
Third, ask for prayer.At the conference, an attendee asked me to pray for her. She had flown from the West coast to the East coast of the United States. Although a cancer patient, she believed the Lord wanted her there. As we prayed and talked, she said, “I’m hungry. I couldn’t eat dinner.” I invited her to my room and shared my packaged snacks, fresh fruit, and bottled water. God used those items given to me to take care of her. 
James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask” (NKJV).
Fourth, God strengthens us.My last night of that trip, I stayed with a cousin close to the airport. I must have looked as bad as I felt. She and her husband brought my suitcase and carryon items into their home and took them out for me the next morning.
“Could I please board early?” I asked the gate agent at the airport, as I dragged one foot in front of the other.
She looked at me and said, “Do you need a wheelchair?”
I shook my head and said, “I’ve been traveling for two weeks. I have arthritis from head to foot and neuropathy in my feet from the chemotherapy plus a leaky hose on my CPAP machine.”
“Wait a minute,” the gate agent said and handed me a boarding pass with a seat closer to the front. 
I thanked her and God and asked him to bless her.
When I boarded my connecting flight, I asked the flight attendant if I could move closer to the front. Not only did that happen, but two flight attendants also placed my carryon bag and my CPAP machine in the overhead bin by my new seat.
I’m back home from that trip, have a new CPAP hose now, and feel better. 
Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” 
To wrap up, when you face exhaustion in ministry, remember:God is with us.We will suffer on earth.Ask for prayer.God strengthens us. TJWEETABLESFacing Exhaustion in Ministry: When You Can't Do More - @YvonneOrtega1 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
4 Things to remember when ministry & life leaves you exhausted - @YvonneOrtega1 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Yvonne Ortega walks with a small footprint but leaves a giant imprint in people’s lives. This power-packed package is a professional speaker and the author of the Moving from Broken to Beautiful® Series through cancer, divorce, forgiveness, and loss. Learn more at www.YvonneOrtega.com
Yvonne speaks with honesty and humor as she shares her life and struggles through presentations that empower women to find peace, power, and purpose through God’s Word. 
Yvonne’s background as a licensed professional counselor brings a unique perspective into the heart of women. She’s a speaking and writing coach and the owner of Moving from Broken to Beautiful®, LLC. She belongs to the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, the Christian Authors Network, the National Speakers Association, and Toastmasters International.
She celebrates life at the beach, where she walks, builds sand castles, blows bubbles, and dances. 

Thoughts on Being Used by God

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

For the past few months I've been sharing some of my photographs on social media along with a short devotion. Today I'd like to share one of them with those of you who are part of the Write Conversation community. 


Thoughts on Being Used by God

I’ve always been fascinated by bees. Now that I have a daughter-in-law who’s a beekeeper, I’m even more aware—and a lot more educated—about this amazing insect. 
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I was surprised to learn that bees have relatively short life spans. And that the worker bees we see gathering the nectar can travel up to seven miles and sometimes make close to one hundred trips a day. And the amount each bee has to show for her work? About one-twelfth of a teaspoon. 
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Taken individually, it seems like a lot of work for not much gain. But if we look at what bees as a species accomplish, the result is mind-boggling.
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Truthfully, our food source would be in serious jeopardy if it weren’t for the pollination of bees. It’s estimated that at least one-third of our food source relies directly on pollination—and the vast majority of that is done by bees. Without bees, we would be facing a world-wide famine of epic proportions.
▫️
Sometimes I feel like this tiny worker, accomplishing so little for the kingdom of God. But the truth is this, each of us matters. Our obedience makes a difference—whether it seems that way or not. There is a purpose for my life and for yours. We may not realize the importance of our contribution this side of Heaven, but we can rest assured that if God can feed the world using these tiny insects, He can use us too. 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8

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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 Instagram.

Be a Writer Who Dares to Write with Honesty

by Beth Vogt @BethVogt

“Writing has made me more honest.”
My statement surprised me, even as it rang true.
I was out on an impromptu date with my husband, Rob. The conversation had turned to my writing life—the ups, the downs, and the constant choice to trust God with this hard work of living my dream. 
And somewhere, in the midst of it all, came this moment of clarity: the reality that choosing to be a writer demands I live an honest life.We writers talk about learning our craft. If we’re novelists, we attend conferences and take workshops on dialogue and setting and characterization. Whatever side of the writing road we walk along, we study the rules so we can break ‘em. We search for our voice until we recognize the sound of it in every word, sentence, paragraph, and chapter. 
Doing all of this makes us better writers. Possibly even award-winning writers. (Awards are fun, y’all!)
But what gets me every time is when another writer dares to put from-their-heart-honest words on the page. That kind of writing makes me stop and think, “I want to write like that.”
Sometimes what I’m reading is as simple as a Facebook or Instagram post. But it’s not a social media post masquerading as Mary Poppins, where a person’s life – past, present, future – is practically perfect in every way. 
And then there are the times I read a nonfiction book, and the writer dares to be candid about their struggles. Or I read a novel, and the author’s imaginary characters are living real life on the page. I’ve struggled with that pain, cried those tears, regretted those choices.  
And then … then there are the times I choose to write like that. I decide I write honest.
Yes, it would be easier to hide behind my words. But story is an opportunity to connect with our readers. And if we’re going to connect, why not risk enough to connect in a genuine way?
Is it scary to write honest? Yes. There have been times I’ve written a scene that’s a direct reflection of my heart – pulled from my life – and I’ve second guessed myself. Wondered if it’s too honest. Too much. Times when I’ve pushed away from the computer to cry. To pray. And come back to write.
But it’s a choice of either living out loud as a writer … or whispering. And the writing life should never, ever be about whispering.
And so, I ask you: What choice are you making with your words? Are your written words whispers? Are you living out loud and writing honest?
TWEETABLEBe a writer who dares to write with honesty - insight from @BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Award-winning author Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored nine contemporary romance novels and novellas, Beth's first women's fiction novel with Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, released May 2018. Moments We Forget, book two in the Thatcher Sisters Series, releases May 2019. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.

Blogging Dos and Don'ts for Writers

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I love to blog, and I try to share my love of blogging when I teach at writing conferences.

I also know that many of you aren’t such fans. Many try to love blogging because it’s a good way to connect with readers and build an online presence. Others, don’t even try to love it, but do it out of necessity. The rest are like me, and enjoy the process as well as the connections it brings.
No matter where you are with blogging, it’s important to do it well. Whether you blog twice a month on a group blog, or daily on your own site, there are some essential dos and don’ts of blogging that I’d like to share today.
Blogging is a great way to build relationships with our audience. 
But a lot of people forget that, just like building relationship in person, it’s never a good idea to talk so much that others don’t have a chance to share their thoughts. 
I often visit blogs where I want to ask the blogger, “Are you blogging or lecturing?” There are things we can do to make sure our posts encourage conversation. And there are things we can do that discourage interaction.

The Dos of BloggingEnd every blog post with an open-ended question. It’s not enough to ask a question at the end of the post. We must make sure the answer to the question isn’t just yes or no.Make sure the question posed doesn’t have an assumed right or wrong answer. This will shut down conversation even faster than a yes or no question. If we ask a question that has a definite right or wrong answer, very few people will be willing to risk the wrong answer. And after several have answered the question correctly, we’ll find no one else is answering because they feel like everything that needs to be said has been said.Ask readers to share an experience that relates to the post. Sometimes a blog post won’t lend itself to a question. In those instances we can encourage our audience to share their experience.Ask readers to add to a list of suggestions or tips that have been shared. I do that a lot on here. (And I’ll do it at the end of this post.) Again, if a question isn’t appropriate or feel right, ask them to contribute to the topic already introduced.Avoid using the pronoun you whenever possible. This is especially true if the post is pointing out something negative. Using the word you carries a finger-pointing connotation that we want to avoid. For example, in the point above, I would never say, “you must make sure the answer to the question isn’t just yes or no.” Instead, I phrased it, “We must make sure the answer to the question isn’t just yes or no.” Share your own personal experience. If we’re asking someone else to share, we need to make sure our blogs are a safe place for that. Going first rarely feels safe. So I always try to make sure I share my own experience before asking my readers to share theirs.Always try to answer blog comments. This doesn’t mean every single comment has to be answered individually, although I do try to do that. It’s important that your readers don’t feel like they’re commenting to nobody.Do Keep a Schedule: I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it until the day I die. If we expect our readers to come back regularly, we must be dependable. How often would you visit a business if you never knew whether or not it would be open? If we don’t have a new post up when we say we will, it’s like we’re not open for business.Do Include Social Media Links in Your Sidebar: Don’t miss out on valuable connections on other networks just because you’ve forgotten to add social media links to your blog.Do Use Proper Formatting & Images: This means utilize bold headings, bullet points, and images to illustrate your posts. Proper formatting will break up the text and make the blog easier to be read. Make your post scannable. This proves your post’s value and makes it more likely to be read.     The Don’ts of Blogging Don’t Make Your Post too Long: The ideal post length is between 500-700 words. Any longer and it’s much less likely to be read. Yes, there are exceptions. But those exceptions are just that, and many bloggers I talk to think they're the exception but they aren’t. It’s a hard truth, but shorter posts will up the engagement and readership of 98% of the blogs out there.Don’t Make Your Blog Hard to Read:Make sure the font used is a sans-serif font, like the one used here, which is VERDANA. As opposed to a serif font, like this one: Times New Roman. Also make sure your font is large enough to be easily read. Finally, be careful which colors you choose for your blog.Don’t Use Vague Titles for Blog Posts: Our audience will judge our posts on the expectations we set in the titles we choose. Also, social media is often a world without context. Use this question when choosing a title: If someone were to only read the title, would they know what the post was about? If the answer’s no, then choose another title.Don’t Clutter Your Blog’s Sidebar: The sidebar of our blogs should be organized in the order of importance. If the most important thing to you is having people sign up for updates for your blog, then email and RSS signups should be at the top of your sidebar. If it’s hard for people to find your sign up or your social media links, you’re missing out on building your online audience.Remember the main purpose of blogging is building relationships. 
To build those relationships, we have to be good hosts when it comes to our blogs and make our readers fee welcome. We have to make it a place where people want to visit and want join the conversation. 
What makes you feel welcome when you visit a blog? What turns you off? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESA List of #Blogging Dos & Don'ts for Writers - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
The main purpose of #blogging is to build relationships - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Newspaper Writing: Tips for Becoming a SuperStringer

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

EXTRA! EXTRA!      Read all about it! 
Who? You, that’s who.
What? Could earn valuable writing credits.
When? Every time your article is accepted.
Where? In your local newspaper.
Why? Because newspapers need fresh, up-to-date content every day!
How? With the help of freelance writers willing to seek and write current event, community articles and hometown human interest stories.It’s me again—SuperStringer—encouraging you to don cape … well, perhaps pen and notepad would give you better super-powers … and join the ranks of other newspaper freelancers, also called “stringers,” who contribute content regularly to a hometown newspaper, earning those much-sought-after writing credits. 
We talked last month about the 5 Ws and 1 H of every newspaper story (and other forms of communication, but not necessarily all wrapped-up in the very first paragraph, like a newspaper article).
For just a quick review.
A standard newspaper article has five designated parts. 
Headline: think “title”—and is the short, attention getting statement about the event. The headline, however, is most often not cutesy and clever, but rather is the gist of the article in a few short words.
Byline: writer’s name
Lead paragraph: Gives the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the article in one or two sentences.
Explanation: paragraphs that give additional, important details about the article or event, elaborating on the brief details in the lead paragraph. With most newspaper articles, quotes from reliable sources, experts, or witnesses are included in this part.
Additional information: information that has the least relevance to the story. Unfortunately, readers may not take the time to read an entire newspaper article, so the main parts need to be in the first paragraphs. The lesser important details are also relegated to the end, in case the editor cuts part of the story to meet the word count and layout needs of the paper.
Last month, we talked mostly about the lead paragraph, and we learned that all the details are included in one sentence, preferably, or maybe two. Most of those leads are 25 to 35 words tops. 
(But I do have to chuckle when I read a lead sentence that goes on and on that makes me gasp for air after reading it. A recent Associated Press article began this way: “A summer afternoon at the beach quickly became a scramble to save a pod of disoriented pilot whales, as vacationers on a popular Georgia island joined lifeguards and state wildlife crews in the water to stop dozens of the large marine mammals from beaching themselves.”)
Catch your breath—that was 45 words!!!
After the lead, complete the article with details. Be sure to cover all the details and don’t leave questions unanswered; however, be careful with the word count of the story. 
An editor may give you an exact word count, but may not. When I first started writing regularly for the newspaper, I would pay attention to the length of similar articles and follow suit. Now, it’s painfully difficult to count the words by hand from a print paper, so I would pull up the story online, and then copy and paste it in a word document to check the word count.
A few of my shorter articles will run 300 to 400 words, but most of the time, they run from 500 to 700 words. For some of the human interest stories, my editor allows up to 1000 words, but that’s rare. Just ask your editor—he or she will give you a ball-park to shoot for. 
Newspaper articles, in general, use short sentences and short paragraphs. In fact, the lead sentence may be the longest sentence of the whole article. And paragraphs are usually two to three sentences long at most. But again, this varies between papers—check out your own paper for style and tone and sentence length and word count. 
Generally speaking, newspapers aim towards an eighth-grade reading level. Don’t use big, huge, flowery language, or words that most people can’t even pronounce, let alone know the meaning of. Again—this will vary in some papers, and the subject of the article itself, may not lend itself to a middle-school vocabulary. 
Again, pay attention to your own paper. (You can even do a reading level of the article you copied and pasted into a document to check word count.) 
And then lastly, use active voice. When possible—hopefully that’s regularly—let the subject do the action. Active sentences are stronger and should be used most often. 
Until next time—get active ….. (see what I did there?) …… and look for news stories in your community to share with a newspaper editor.
(PS: If you find a lengthy lead sentence in your newspaper before our EXTRA EXTRA time resumes next month, share it with me below. I just love the creativity of a SuperStringer who can write a 45-word sentence that makes perfect sense and tells the entire summary of an article!)
TWEETABLES
Newspaper Writing: Tips for Becoming a SuperStringer - @JLavenderWrites on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

More Tips on How to Become a Newspaper Stringer - @JLavenderWrites on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Julie Lavender read newspapers all over the country while her husband served as a Navy entomologist for twenty years. She wrote for the children’s section of the Denver Post for four years. Currently, she reads and writes for her local newspaper, the Statesboro Herald, back in their Georgia hometown and loves the interesting people she meets as a journalist. Julie also writes for GuidepostsPublications, other magazines, a couple of homeschooling blogs, Just18Summers.com, and many compilations. Combining her education degree, love of homeschooling, and joy of celebrating, Julie wrote a devotional entitled, 365 Days of Celebration and Praise, a party planning book called, Creative Sleepovers for Kids, and three teacher resource books for the religious division of Carson-Dellosa. Julie and David are enamored with their four adult children, one son-in-love, and one gorgeous grandson. Keep up with Julie on social media and at her blog at julielavender.blogspot.com.

For Writers: Solving the Mystery of Deep Point of View: More Techniques for Deep POV – Part Three

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Still digging deep into deep POV!
Deep POV isn’t really a mystery, it’s one of many techniques to create your characters all the way “to the bone,” where their emotions live. It’s a way to drag your audience along on that journey. And, it’s a way to allow your characters to tell their stories. Part One and Two showed how dialogue, body language, and a character’s goal and motivation add layers to both the characters and the story itself. (Links at the end of the post)
In Part Three, I want to add some tips:Setting can not only allow a character to react in realistic ways, it can also become a character in itself. Imagine Gone with the Windin any other place besides Georgia during the Civil War. Doesn’t work, does it? Settings which are that intertwined with the story can give the character a world of depth. The movie, Cape Fear¸uses a terrible storm to up the horror factor. Find a setting that allows your characters to react as they go through their arc.Power words allow writers to find more depth in their characters. For instance, a murder mystery will use words like blood, death, knife. Romances use kiss and caress and warmth. Do you see the difference between them? Make a list of words that you think most closely match the mood/tone you want in your story and use them as you go. It will create a mindset for the reader and keep them engaged.External conflict is driven by internal conflict. In the case of our two heroines – Belinda and Susan (from Part One and Part Two) – each are filled with internal conflict since Belinda is going through a divorce and Susan is burying her child. But they must also have external conflict where events beyond their control are happening. Belinda can’t stop her ex from bringing the new girlfriend to the divorce proceedings. It’s her internal conflict that makes Belinda attack her ex, but the external consists of things like who gets custody of the dog, and what Belinda does next in her life. Will she move to another state? Get a job, since she won’t have enough money afterward? Be angry all the time?Susan’s external conflict may be that her husband refuses to face the fact of their child’s death and starts drinking. 
Regardless of what happens to our two heroines, they’ll have to deal with it. And, using deep POV, we have the opportunity to express it through our words so that the reader can understand – and care for – them. I hope this series on deep POV helps you to dig deeper!TWEETABLESFor Writers: Solving the Mystery of Deep Point of View: More Techniques for Deep POV - @SarahSallyHamer on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
For Writers: Dig Deeper into Your Story with Deep POV - tips from @SarahSallyHamer on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don't Miss All the Posts in This Series
For Writers: Solving the Mystery of Deep Point of View—Part OneFor Writers: Still Digging Deep,Solving the Mystery of Deep Point of View—Part TwoFor Writers: More Techniques for Deep POV—Part Three
I wish to express gratitude to the giants whose shoulders I stand on and who taught me so much about the writing craft. I would list every one, if it were only possible.
Sarah (Sally) Hamer is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories, whether through fiction or through memoir. Writing in many genres - mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, medieval history, non-fiction – she has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.
A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for over sixteen years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at www.margielawson.com. Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach at Touch Not the Cat Books, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors. 
You can find her at hamerse@bellsouth.netor www.sallyhamer.blogspot.com