Edie Melson's Blog, page 230

Freelance Writer Questions Answered

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

These questions came from a writer who is growing his career. 
Q: Should I propose an idea or a fully written story to a magazine or newspaper editor? I don't want to submit a completed story that does not fit what the publication's editor wants.A: Typically, you can find writers guidelines that will tell you if a publication prefers a query, proposal, or article. Writer’s guidelines for your target publication can be found on the web or in the Writers Marketor Christian Writers Market. Be certain to research the publication so you write to their audience and specifications. Note what type of stories the publication has run recently, as well as length and tone. Get additional mileage from your work by submitting to publications that accept reprints.
Q: Before emailing an editor about a story idea, should I make certain that the person I want to interview would agree to talk with me?
A: This is a chicken or the egg question. An editor may be more apt to accept a story idea when you state that you already have the interview lined up. Concurrently, an interview may be more willing to talk when you can say “I would like to write a profile about you for Publication Monthly.” 
Q: How much should I press an editor for a response to my email with a story idea?
A: Research what topics your target publication has run in the past. Make certain you suggest something fresh. Many publications specify that if you don’t hear back in eight weeks, your idea has been passed over. Without a timeline in the writers’ guidelines, you can send a polite follow-up email to ask if the editor has had time to review your query. Attach your query to the follow-up message for their convenience. No response is often a ‘no, thank you.’ 

Q: Is it better to email an editor, call them, or visit in person?
A: This depends on the editor and how he or she prefers to communicate with their writers. This information is usually available in their writer guidelines. If you live nearby, you can make an appointment to meet. 

Q: What resources do you recommend?
A: Articles, Articles, Articles: Your Comprehensive Guide by Linda Gilden, Soul Care When You’re Weary by Edie Melson, Writing for the Soul by Jerry Jenkins; Platform by Michael Hyatt, The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, The Writers Market and The Christian Writers Market.
TWEETABLESFreelance Writer Questions Answered by expert @PeggySueWells on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
What questions do you have about freelance writing? Answers from @PeggySueWells on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Tropical island votary and history buff, PeggySue Wells parasails, skydives, snorkels, scuba dives, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. Writing from the 100-Acre wood in Indiana, Wells is the bestselling author of twenty-eight books including The Slave Across the Street, Slavery in the Land of the Free, Bonding With Your Child Through Boundaries, Homeless for the Holidays, and Chasing Sunrise. Optimistic dream-driver, PeggySue is named for the Buddy Holly song with the great drumbeat. At school author visits, she teaches students the secrets to writing, and speaks at events and conferences. Connect with her at www.PeggySueWells.com, on Facebook at PeggySue Wells, and Twitter @PeggySueWells. 

Writers Conferences: 10 Lesser Known Benefits

by Ralene Burke @RaleneB

Whew! Last month flew by faster than ice cream melts in the summer sun. As Marketing Director for Realm Makers, July is always a big month as we prepare for our annual writers conference and book festival. This year, I was doing just that—while trying to move! Yes, July was indeed a blur.While I was at Realm Makers, I realized several things I wanted to share. We all know the many benefits of attending writers conferences. Workshops from professionals, networking, pitching sessions, etc. are all great ways to move our publishing careers forward. Yet, there are some benefits I think often go overlooked.
Lesser Known Benefits of Writers ConferencesConnecting with our tribe.One of my first posts on this blog was about the importance of finding your tribe. While the internet has provided us with many opportunities to connect with other writers online, there's just something that helps to solidify our relationships when we get to meet people in person. At Realm Makers, writers get to do this, not only on the professional level, but on a more personal and fun level with late night games and venturing out for meals and other adventures.Pushing ourselves!Let's face it. There's a lot about writers conferences that can make us uncomfortable. Maybe we're introverts, and the idea of being around so many people all day is stressful. Maybe we struggle with talking about our books, and yet we want pitch our story to agents/editors. Maybe we get nervous in front of others, but we have something valuable to teach other writers. Whatever our situation, we often find ourselves pushing the limits. Go us!Learning from those who are further in their career.Yes, conferences offer wonderful workshops. But when we get to sit at a meal or in a lobby with a publishing professional and just chat about their writing career, their experiences, publishing in general, we often garner more gems than we would from a hundred workshops, books, or blogs. And many conferences, including Realm Makers, offer mentor appointments in addition to their pitch appointments, so attendees can do just this in a more structured way.Getting in our steps!So, this one may sound silly, but it's true. A lot of bigger conferences are held in conference centers or hotels, where we have to walk around to find classrooms, meals, appointments, etc. We can easily work in some extra miles. I actually lost about 5 pounds at Realm Makers this year. Of course, I did a lot more running around than the average attendee. Still…Brainstorming power!This kind of goes along with connecting with our tribe, but conferences are a great place to throw out ideas and work through plot issues. With a host of creative minds, there's nothing we can't work through. We just have to be brave, describe our story, and state our issue. We're all writers! We love stories, and most love helping!  Books, books, books!So, this is not true of every writers conference, but one potential perk is access to BOOKS! Sometimes, there's free ones. Realm Makers had one publisher send a free book to go in every attendee's bag, and ACFW has had books on the seats at meals. Some conferences have bookstores or vendor halls, which are a treasure trove of bookish fun. This year, I came home with 10 books from Realm Makers—a couple were free, and the rest I bought in the bookstore.A break from the family.Now, this isn't to say we don't miss our families when we're away, but sometimes a break is refreshing and motivating. When we return home, we're ready to focus and get back to life with a smile on our face!Getting involved!While the writers conferences are put on to help us grow and connect as writers. They are also a great place for us to give back or reach out. Most conferences NEED volunteers to help them run smoothly, and volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and meet people.Visiting new places.Have you ever been to Atlantic City? I haven't. Realm Makers is going to be in Atlantic City next year, though. I'll be able to go down a little early, get to know the area a bit. Maybe visit some fun places. Because of Realm Makers and other writers conferences, I've also been able to visit Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, Nashville, Reno, and many other places. Experience in budgeting and ways to raise money. I'll be honest. Going to conferences is not cheap, especially if they aren't local. When I first started going to conferences, I had to get creative with how I was going to pay for them—after all, I wasn't even a published author yet. But investing in ourselves as authors is just as important as a doctor going to college or a computer tech getting certified. We want to set ourselves up for success!
Writers conferences offer a variety of benefits that go beyond what we learn from the workshops and the opportunities we get from networking and pitching. When we embrace the full conference experience, then the benefits begin to pile up and we come away with so much more than we expected. 
What has been your favorite conference so far? Or do you need to start planning for your first one?

TWEETABLESWriters Conferences: 10 Lesser Known Benefits - @RaleneB on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
"Writers conferences offer a variety of benefits that go beyond what we learn from the workshops and the opportunities we get from networking and pitching." @RaleneB on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Whether she’s wielding a fantasy writer’s pen, a social media wand, or a freelance editor’s sword, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to help everyone #SHINE Beyond their circumstances! Her novels, Bellanok and Armor of Aletheia, are available on Amazon. More fantasy novels coming soon!
When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all-around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . . You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.

Word Rehab

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees (Job 4:4, NIV)
The verdict was in: one snapped ligament, two torn ligaments, and one major fracture. My husband’s day on the ski slopes with our son’s Boy Scout troop had ended in disaster. Without the use of his knee, he would not be walking for some time. Our busy schedule came to a sudden stop and I refocused all my attention on helping him do the most basic tasks. When he slept, I worked on my manuscript, its deadline looming just ahead.
After surgery and months working diligently with a team of doctors, nurses, and physical therapists, he slowly regained strength and function in his leg. 
Now, he cycles over 40 miles almost daily, the injury little more than an unpleasant memory with a nice scar to keep him humble. With the right rehab, healing and new strength are possible even after the most debilitating accidents.
Job 4:4 compares our souls to stumbling, faltering knees. Two Hebrew words are used to describe the soul in need of support and strength. Kāra’ means to bow down, sink down, cower or writhe in pain. Kāšalis defined as to totter, stumble, stagger, fall, be overthrown; to faint, become weak, or figuratively to be brought to ruin. Both words describe a debilitated soul, unable to heal without intervention and support (Old Testament Lexical Aid, AMG Publishers).
Gods very words, His promises, and proclamations found in the Bible, are rehabilitation for broken souls. They imbue the weak with strength and support the faint. God’s words place a gentle hand on the one writhing in pain and bring relief. His promises walk among the ruins of our lives and rebuild what has been destroyed.
We writers are in the business of sharing God’s words with others. With the right combination of skill and patience, we can help others find the support and strength they need to heal. Metaphorically speaking, we could be called God’s therapists, offering rehabilitation to broken souls.
I like that idea.
Lord, use my writing to bring Your words to others, helping them find the support and strength they need to heal. Amen.

TWEETABLE
Word Rehab - encouragement on #FollowingGod from @AudreyCFrank on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Audrey Frank is an author, speaker, and storyteller. The stories she shares are brave and true. They give voice to those whose words are silenced by shame, the hard things in life that don’t make sense, and the losses that leave us wondering if we will survive. Audrey and her family have spent over twenty years living and working among different cultures and world views, and she has found that God’s story of redemption spans every geography and culture. He is the God of  Instead , giving honor instead of shame, gladness instead of mourning, hope instead of despair. Although she has three different degrees in communication and intercultural studies, Audrey’s greatest credential is that she is known and loved by the One who made her.
Her upcoming book, Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World, is an outpouring of Audrey’s heart to introduce others to the God of Instead. Shame is not unique to the developing world, the plight of the women behind veils, young girls trafficked across borders; shame is lurking in hearts everywhere. Through powerful stories from women around the world, Covered Glory illuminates the power of the Gospel to remove shame, giving honor instead. Available for pre-order now at https://www.amazon.com/author/audreyc...
You can also find Audrey at www.audreyfrank.com, as well as on Twitter and Facebook

Advice For Writers Who Are Also Caregivers

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

This summer has really been a strange time for me. I don’t know if it’s the summer doldrums or trying to shoehorn too much into a day or new distractions, but I’ve spent very little time at the laptop. Very little.
It’s worrying my wife. She’s learned that if I go without writing for too long, I tend to get a bit cranky. Maybe a smidge. Like Godzilla taking over Tokyo.Now, I want to explain my situation. My wife and I have decided that I would be our autistic son’s primary caregiver while she’s at work. I like to say that I’m his butler because most of what I do is get the things he tells me he wants.
And it will look good in my bio.
Care giving means different things in different situation. Some people need more medical care, others only need a companion to watch over them. Caregiver.org says that there are forty-four million Americans providing care each year. From meeting people at our conferences and writers’ groups, I know that includes many of our readers.
Being his caregiver works well with my writing. I write for some blogs, a devotion now and again, and I’m working on some novels that I just know the world is anxiously waiting to read. I don’t have any real deadlines, just the sound of the pages of the calendar persistently turning.
And this summer I’ve been okay with spending time away from the screen, which really surprises me. But, I know that the rest is just for a season, a very short season.
This summer, we’ve have been blessed with having more help with the care giving of our son than normal. His buddy is a school teacher. When school goes back, we’ll see him a lot less. Which is why I’m not going to beat myself up over taking a little time away from writing.
We are told that writers write. To be a writer, you have to write. And, they say, it should be every day. In wind or rain. (Don’t they know we write inside?) Every day.
But that isn’t always the case for everyone. Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and regroup. Recharge your mental batteries. Especially if much of your energy is being used at another job or caring for someone.
I’m finding that taking some time off this summer seems to be helpful for me in a few ways:
1. It’s allowed me to develop some new interests.One of the things I’ve done with my extra time is to join a senior bowling league, after not bowling for over thirty years. Let’s just say my mind and my body haven’t yet gotten into sync. I’m enjoying meeting new people, but it’s humbling being out-bowled by a eighty-six-year-old lady.
A little humility every once in a while isn’t a bad thing.
And being exposed to new situations may come in handy in my stories.
2. It’s allowed me to spend time with old friends.One of the biggest problems for both a caregiver and a writer is becoming isolated. The white page or the needs of another sometimes make it impossible to go out. After a few days, or weeks it becomes easier just staying home.
However, we are all wired to one extent or another for social connections. Not just as a vent for our own frustrations but to help someone else with theirs. Laughter is the best medicine is more than just a catchy saying but good advice.
Even if your circumstances don’t let you get out, that doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Call a friend, text someone, get on a positive Facebook page, or an online chat group.
We are not meant to go through this alone. Get out, in person or online, and meet someone. It will help both of you.
3. It’s allowed me to spend time outside.Summer days seem to be a great time to find reasons to get out. Many cities and towns have festivals, parks, or free music. Even if it’s just for a few hours, get outside. Get some sunshine.
I’ve taken up fishing. Sitting outside watching a red-and-white float, in the sun, while I’m swatting bugs. It’s hard to beat.
4. It’s allowed me time to meet new people.It’s easy to let our lives get into ruts. Wednesday night, then it must be meatloaf. But it is good to shake it up sometimes. Meeting new people does this. (By new people I don’t mean infants, although . . .)
Making new connections stretches us, teaching us new things about ourselves as well as showing us different things about others. Both good things for writers.
And you never know why God set up that appointment for you.
So, sometimes, give yourself permission to step away from the keyboard. Put down the pen. Get out of the office. God has made a wonderful world out therefor us. Populated by His characters.
Allow yourself some time to go out there and enjoy His world.

TWEETABLEAdvice For Writers Who Are Also Caregivers - @TimSuddeth on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Tim Suddeth is a stay-at-home dad and butler for his wonderful, adult son with autism. He has written numerous blogs posts, short stories, and three novels waiting for publication. He is a frequent attendee at writers’ conferences, including the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and a member of Word Weavers and ACFW. He lives near Greenville, SC where he shares a house with a bossy Shorky and three too-curious Persians. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, or at timingreenville.com.

Tips to Stay Safe Online

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

As writers we know the importance of developing an online presence, but is there such a thing as putting too much information out there? 
How do we know when we've gone beyond platform building into an area that puts us and our families at risk?

But it is possible to be smart and still have an online presence that will garner you the right kind of reader notice.
Here are some tips to help you stay out of trouble:Have boundaries firmly established in your own mind—BEFORE something happens. That way, when someone get too familiar, you’ll be ready to do more than just feel vaguely uncomfortable. So often I talk to writers who have a cyber-stalker and they’re not even certain whether they should be concerned or not.Trust your instincts. I cannot emphasize this one strongly enough. If someone makes you uncomfortable, act on your feelings.Don’t friend/follow/or otherwise engage someone who isn’t willing to post a picture and/or give out reasonable information.Don’t use an social media networks and/or settings where you check in at places. There is no good reason or someone to know where you are generally. If you’re at a conference or a big event, you can let people know you’re there if you choose, but don’t leave your safety to a computer program.Turn OFF your location settings for your phone, digital camera, ereader and tablet. Otherwise, any picture you take with those devices could have an imbedded code that gives the latitude and longitude of where the picture was taken. This is especially true if you post pictures of children (your own or even grandkids). Don’t make it easy for a predator to map out your location.

What should you do when something makes you uncomfortable?
The biggest thing is do NOT be tempted to be polite when you’re worried. This is similar to following your instincts in that we often push down our uncomfortable feelings for the sake of being polite. If someone is tweeting to you, sending you repeated Facebook messages, or contacting you in any way that makes you uncomfortable, don’t ignore your feelings.First, if appropriate , confront the person making you uncomfortable and request they respect your boundaries.If they don’t adhere to your guidelines, immediately block them from the social media networks where they are contacting you.Finally, report them to the social media network(s) where the infraction occurred.This isn’t something you should fool around with, but it’s also something you shouldn’t be worried about. Taking these steps will keep you safe and give you the boundaries you need to stay safe online.
What steps do you take to stay safe? Have you ever felt uncomfortable by a contact? If so what did you do?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings, Edie

TWEETABLES
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How much information is safe for an author to share online? Tips from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

My Editing Prayer

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

If there is one part of the publication process that I have the most mixed feelings about, it would have to be editing.
Please note that I said editing—not to be confused with editors—my editors are amazing and I’m extremely thankful for them!
But as someone who thrives on words of affirmation, who has a deep (and wide) streak of perfectionism, and who avoids conflict at all costs, well, you can imagine how fraught with peril the editing process can be!I work for months on a project. I make it the best it can be. And then I hand it over to someone who I know for a fact will not only see all my errors, but will then point them out and put me in a position to either accept their suggestions, or in some cases, defend my words. 
It’s the most ridiculously awful combination of all the things I struggle with most. 
So, you might be wondering how I can say my feelings are mixed when from what I’ve written above, it sounds like they are decidedly negative.
It turns out, if I can ever get over my own issues, that I do love the editing process.I love having someone take my words and make them better. I don’t want to publish a book riddled with mistakes. I want it to go out into the world and bring glory to God, and my editors help me do that, better than anyone else.
Last winter, before I opened the file with the edits for what will be my fifth published novel,  One Final Breath , I wrote this prayer. I wanted to share it with The Write Conversation family in the hope that if you, like me, struggle with the editorial process, this will help you reframe the experience in a positive way. 
Good Morning, Father.
It’s me. Again.I’m dreading this.Again.Dreading opening the file and seeing all the places I got it wrong. All the places my meaning was murky and my words were misunderstood. I’m dreading the hours of work ahead. The rewording, rearranging, and rewriting. 
I’m dreading having my mistakes pointed out to me—over and over and over again.
Deep in my core, I want perfection. In some ways, I know it’s because that’s what I was created for. A perfect world where every day began—and ended—with no mistakes in it.But the same sin that ended that perfect place also corrupted my desires. Now, my perfectionism is more about control. More about saving face. More about longing to be impressive. More about the desire to be praised than about the desire to put something into the world that will draw others to praise You. 
Father, pry my fingers from my words. Open my hands and my heart to the beauty that is waiting on the other side of this journey. Open my mind and my will to make changes that will better convey the story You gave me, the story that You want told. 
Jesus, thank you for dying and rescuing me from my own tiny world where I want to reign and rule. Thank you for living now and interceding on my behalf, even when I regularly try to take the throne away and sit on it myself. As I dive into this story, would you, the Word made flesh, fill my mind with the words that will best draw readers closer to You?
Spirit, I long for a fresh breath of Your creative power. I need You to give me the desire to do this work with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. And when I falter, to remind me that all things are possible through You.
I’m so thankful that You’ve already gone before me into this day, into this story, into the future where readers will someday join me on this journey. You’ve proven yourself faithful—time and time again—as I wrote this story. Why would I doubt that You will be faithful as I finish it? Please help me see this part of the process, not as a painful necessity, but as a glorious opportunity to make every chapter, scene, paragraph, and word, matter for eternity. 
To You, the Author and Finisher, be the glory.Amen. 
TWEETABLESAn Editing Prayer for Writers from @LynnHBlackburn on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Sometimes the #editing process is fraught with difficult, @LynnHBlackburn shares a #prayer to help calm the stress on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy—but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations—while she's sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas! 
Her Dive Team Investigations series kicked off in 2018 with Beneath the Surface and In Too Deep (A SIBA Okra pick and Selah Award Finalist). The 3rd book in the series, One Final Breath, releases in September 2019. She is also the author of Hidden Legacyand Covert Justice,which won the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel and the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after at www.LynnHBlackburn.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Midyear Writing Goal Assessment

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

Are you meeting your 2019 goals? Now is the perfect time to assess your writing goals, determine what you’ve accomplished, and adjust your goals accordingly. If you did not write your 2019 goals, look at my previous blog,  New Goals & A New Writing You . 2019 GoalsPrint your 2019 goals, and begin this session with prayer. Ask God to lead you to accomplish what he desires. First, celebrate your accomplishments. Go out to dinner and make a toast to your victories, or schedule a treat for yourself like a massage. Next, modify your objectives based upon what has transpired in the past six months. Consider new information when adjusting your goals. I recommend dividing your goals into quarterly segments.
I added a new, large task to my third quarter ambitions—create a course with Serious Writer Academy called “How to Sell 1000 Books in Three Months.” While attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, I realized other writers need help with marketing. Many authors asked me what my best practices were for selling my books. I took a lot of marketing classes while working on my MBA and applied that knowledge effectively to my writing career. My best seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates,sold 5000 copies in its first fourteen months. 
Goal ModificationWhat goals do you need to modify at this point in the year? When reviewing your list of objectives, make sure that they are under the umbrella of your mission statement. My tagline is inspiring others to improve their health so they can serve God better. The branding specialist, Bare Faced Creative Media, helped me define my mission. I posted three potential taglines on Facebook, and my audience chose the one that fit best.
Recently I started writing a children’s book about hatching eggs in an incubator. This picture book manuscript fell outside my overall mission statement. Through my midyear assessment I realized I needed to drop this project. However, another children’s book I am working on, about eating God’s foods, is under my mission umbrella.

Don’t feel like you have to get everything accomplished at once. Spread out your goals. By doing this, you give yourself breathing room and have new, exciting accomplishments spread out through the year. Initially, my second quarter goals included publishing a large-print version of7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. But I have not had time since I attended three writer conferences so far this year. It is best to schedule downtime on your calendar before and after a conference. 
I want to create the book marketing course before I speak on this topic at the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Conferencein August. So the course became a priority over the large-print book. The fourth quarter will be a better time to publish the large-print version. 
Monthly To-Do List
I create a monthly to-do list by dictating items into the Notes app on my iPhone. I segment my duties based upon A, B, and C priorities. I also add errands and household chores to the bottom of the list. Creating a prioritized list keeps me focused on what is most important. 
How do you maintain your focus and prioritize? What have you adjusted in your 2019 goals?

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Midyear #Writing Goal Assessment - @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

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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.

How to Best the Box Jumps in Your Writing - Part 2

by Kristen Hogrefe @kjhogrefe
Kristen here. I’m happy to report I haven’t bruised my shin on the box jump this week. Level 4 is still slightly out of reach, but I’ll get there. That’s what my husband James tells me, and I choose to believe him.
Last time, we saw how the “box jumps” of fear and failure can prevent us from reaching our writing goals, and today, we’re going to learn how to combat them. Yes, these obstacles present challenges, but the good news is that we can overcome them with some help and tenacity.You need a cheerleader. This person is not our editor or agent, although those people play vital roles in our writing career and can also provide encouragement. Instead, a cheerleader is someone who is going to encourage us regardless and will be biased for us. They love us, even in the form of tough love when necessary.
Cheerleaders are the ones who say, "You’ve got this" when you really don't. James is one of my cheerleaders at the box jump and in my writing.
The other day, he told me, "I think you have a four [box jump level] in you today." I definitely did nothave a four in me that day, and even though I resented his sunshine optimism at the time, I also secretly appreciated it. I knew it meant he will keep cheering me on, regardless if I hit the four or not.
As writers, we need sounding boards, and cheerleaders are willing to listen. Sometimes, just talking out our thoughts and ideas helps make them clearer or makes clear to us we need more practice. I'll never forget the time James asked me to explain one of my story concepts. I strangled that pitch badly, but at the end, he said, "I still don't quite get what it's about, but I'm sure I'll love it."
His honesty told me I had some serious work to do, and his loving confidence provided the motivation.
You need practice.In other words, our cheerleaders give us the affirmation we need to press on and keep practicing our craft. Recently, I took a blogging class by Thomas Umstattd through the Christian Writer's Institute. I've been blogging for many years now, but even still, I'm always learning. One fact he shared struck me in particular. He said that in almost every case, before a person writes a viral post, that writer must first publish at least 100 posts.
That's a lot of posts! That's a lot of practice.
When my students ask me what tips I can share from my publishing journey, I don't share any glamorous truisms. I tell them to practice and keep practicing. It's probably not what they want to hear, but it's the truth.
You need the right mindset.Last but not least, we need the right attitude. I constantly fight this challenge. Once when James and I finished our box jump practice, he told me, "You killed it in there."
"What??" I asked. "I did not.”
"Well, after you freaked out the first few tries, you nailed it.”  
In box jumps or in writing, we have to fight "freak out" moments. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar? I can't do this. I'm not good enough. It's too hard. I'll just get another rejection.
Fight those lies with truth! You can do all things through Christ who is your strength (Philippians 4:13 paraphrase). Sure, we're going to fail, but that doesn't make us failures. It makes us fighters.
What's your box jump right now? Which of these ideas might be the missing piece to your victory plan?
TWEETABLESHow to Best the Box Jumps in Your #Writing- @kjhogrefe on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
You’re not a failure. You’re a fighter. - @kjhogrefe on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don't Miss Kristen's YA Trilogy! (It's one of my personal favorites)


Kristen Hogrefe is an award-winning author and life-long learner who enjoys starting her day with Jesus and coffee. By day, she teaches English for Alpha Omega Academy, and by night, she writes fiction for young adults and the young at heart. Kristen and her husband live in Florida, the perfect setting for their many outdoor adventures. Join her at KristenHogrefe.com.

Box Jumps in the Writing Life - Part 1

by Kristen Hogrefe @kjhogrefe
When my husband and I joined a gym together, he introduced me to the box jump. In theory, it’s simple, a metal platform that you jump on with both feet at the same time. You can move to higher levels as you advance in ability. At least, that's how it's supposed to work.
In theory, publishing is simple too. You have a great idea. You write it down on paper. You publish it, and it becomes a New York Times’ best seller. And you laugh. Of course, publishing doesn’t work that way. Mastering the box jump isn’t so easy either. In fact, it has many parallels with the writing life. 
Mental Hurdle: FearWhen I first step up to the box jump, all I can envision is catching my foot on the bottom and losing my front teeth. So, I stretch, procrastinate, and then finally step toward it. Deep breath. Swing arms. Grit teeth. And … freeze.
James gently reminds me, “It’s all in your head, you know.”
Mostly, he’s right. There are my physical limitations, but what’s really holding me back is my fear of getting hurt.  
We writers have our share of fears, don't we? Sometimes, we call them "writer's block" where try as we might, we can't find the next word of our project. We stress that we’ll never be able to finish, and our paralysis freezes up the wheels of our imaginations.
Other times, we face the fear of rejection from agents and editors. Although refusals are a realistic part of the writer's life, that doesn't mean they sting any less. Perhaps even more unnerving is the day we do publish something, and we fear no one will read it or like it.
However, as Scripture reminds us, fear is not supposed to be our focus. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV). Although this truth doesn’t discount our very real fears, it does redirect our attention to think on what is true and what we can do through the power of Christ.
Physical Hurdle: FailureUsually, what happens on my first box jump attempt is that I chicken out and jump just one foot onto the platform with the other available to stop my fall if I miss. By the third or fourth try, I often do make the third level.
But James has been challenging me to hit level 4. Oh, I hit it all right. Like a mental brick wall and also with my shin, which you’re not supposed to do. Ouch!
We writers hit failure too. I don’t even need to spell out what that looks like, because you already know. 
Perhaps you’re tempted to throw in the towel after a recent disappointment. My friend, may I encourage you to do just the opposite? Persist like the widow in Luke 18. Despite the many times the judge turned her down, she kept going to visit him. One day, she got her request.
Granted, you shouldn’t pester agents and editors until they shut down. That approach won’t work. However, you can ask if there’s an opportunity for you to resubmit after you make changes to your project. If not, then you can research other agents and publishing houses. There are opportunities out there. You just have to be willing to work hard and find the right fit.
Have you bruised your dreams on a figurative box jump recently? What encourages you to keep going?
TWEETABLESBox Jumps in the #Writing Life - @kjhogrefe on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Bruised dreams? Don’t throw in the towel on your #writing just yet. - @kjhogrefe on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don't Miss Kristen's YA Trilogy! (It's one of my personal favorites)


Kristen Hogrefe is an award-winning author and life-long learner who enjoys starting her day with Jesus and coffee. By day, she teaches English for Alpha Omega Academy, and by night, she writes fiction for young adults and the young at heart. Kristen and her husband live in Florida, the perfect setting for their many outdoor adventures. Join her at KristenHogrefe.com.

Scratching Where It Itches

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

I confess I don’t have the greenest thumb on the block. As a matter of fact, I was thinking it might be easier to just give up on all other greenery and grow a poison ivy garden instead. Except that at this point I’d have to start from scratch. 
Scratch? Get it? Anyway, I decided it would probably be better not do anything that “rash.”That’s because we really do have to be careful what we plant. We will reap what we sow. It’s right there in Galatians 6:7. And according to the verse that follows, not only should we be careful what we plant, but we’re told if we choose to live only to please our own sinful selves, we’ll reap a harvest of death and decay. I think I’ve grown that kind of plant before. But when we’re talking about what we’re growing spiritually, we’re talking about an especially ugly garden. Eternally worse than poison ivy. Don’t even bother with the weed-whacker. Round-Up won’t cut it either.
Take a look at the passage: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:7-10 NIV).
I love how Paul rounds out his point in verse 9 with an understood “so” when he charges us to “not become weary in doing good.” He lets us know that the harvest kind of thinking and learning to live to please the Spirit instead of the flesh leads to staying energized in doing good things for the Kingdom—leads us to not “give up.” And that leads to a harvest of everlasting blessing. 
Our gardening time here is short. We need to stay on task. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 charges us to, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (NIV).
Instead of catering to the poison-ivy-itchy-ears of those who simply want the easy way, and instead of letting them distract us, we’re called to keep our heads and to steadfastly keep on working in whatever ministry God has called us to. The passages in Galatians 6 and 2 Timothy 4 are the kinds of sound-the-charge verses we can put to memory. They can remind us all along the way to stay tenaciously resolute in our service. It’s then that we can become more and more the kind of Christ followers who don’t just tickle itchy ears, but truly scratch those eternal itches. 
So, ready to write down those passages? Okay, but first you’ll need some scratch paper.

TWEETABLEScratching Where it Itches - Thoughts on #FollowingGod from @RhondaRhea on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Rhonda Rhea is a humor columnist for lots of great magazines, including HomeLife, Leading Hearts, The Pathway and more. She is the author of 10 nonfiction books, including How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person? and coauthors fiction with her daughter, Kaley Faith Rhea. She and her daughters host the TV show, That’s My Mom, for Christian Television Network’s KNLJ. Rhonda enjoys traveling the country speaking at all kinds of conferences and events. She and her pastor/hubs have five grown children and live in the St. Louis area.