Edie Melson's Blog, page 237

13 Things We Must Remember About Being a Writer

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Choosing to stand up and be identified as a writer can be a scary thing. The road is rarely a straight path to publication. These are some things that I hope will help you stay the course as you continue on your own writing journey

13 Truths About Being a Writer1. It’s an eternal struggle between you and the blank page. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get a whole lot easier. The doubts still crowd your mind, and fear still whispers in your ear no matter how long you’re in this business.
2. Talent without persistence is worthless. So much of what we need to know to be successful, no matter what our goals, can be learned.
3. You’re stronger than you think. If I had known when I started, the hard work and emotional toll getting to this point would take. I would have quite because I would never have dreamed I could do it.
4. You can’t plot a course always expecting to be the exception to the rule. Things generally happen in a certain way, over a certain time-frame. As believers we know that God can step in at any time and turn things upside down. But expecting that to always happen just isn’t reasonable. We need to do the work and celebrate when the exceptions do occur.
5. Quitting is the only path to failure. I’ve found writing success, but a lot of it has come simply because I refused to give up.
6. God is the One who directs my path—and yours. I can (and will continue) to make plans—but I stay flexible. I would never have even dreamed of the opportunities God has given me.
7. There’s a big difference between goals and dreams. They both have their place in the writer’s life, but a goal is something who’s outcome I can influence. A dream is something I wish would happen. It’s the difference between having the goal of getting a book published or having a best seller. I can achieve the first by hard work, but the second is ultimately up to God.
8. Detours aren’t the same thing as roadblocks. My path to publication has zigged and zagged so many times it looks like the path Mother Goose’s Crooked Old Man left behind. But more frequently than not, those detours ended up getting me further ahead, faster.
9. Change is the industry standard in publishing. It’s not possible to base your path on what has gone before. Technology is moving too fast. We either embrace the challenge or we fall by the wayside.
10. Generosity will always get you farther than selfishness. I have never once regretted putting someone else before me. I’d even go so far as to say that I’ve build my career (or at least my platform) by promoting others.
11. Your reputation is worth solid gold, but it’s not something I can buy. I can only achieve it and keep it by guarding it. I always try to communicate honestly and above all, keep my word.
12. The joy is in the journey. The people I’ve met, the things I’ve gotten to experience have been the high points, not the achievements.
13. Publication isn’t the sole definition of writing success. Touching someone’s life through the words I pen, whether it’s on a blog or a book or an article, is way more important than a book contract.
These are just a few of the things I wish I’d known when I started. I think my expectations would have been more realistic and the heartbreak a little less frequent. Although it could be that someone did, and I just wasn’t paying attention. 

What about you? 

Has writing taught you anything important about yourself and/or about life? Share your thoughts below.

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

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Dipping the Quill Deeper: Writing in the Hard Times

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

How do you write when you’re in the middle of life’s crises? 
I get this question a lot. And, I typically have the same answer, which is that if you had a “normal” 9 to 5 job, would you just shirk it? Not go in? Sure, there are times when we haveto take a day off. Sometimes, in extreme cases, a week or even more. Right now, as I write this, I’m sitting in a hospital where I’ve been for over a week now, taking care of my baby brother (who is no longer a baby, but will always be my baby brother). I had to cancel a major event in my yearly schedule—the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference—but I managed to throw my laptop and a few files into a briefcase, which means I’ve been able to stay on top of a few things.
But write? No. Not really.
Edit? Yes. Editing has become a reprieve. My husband says I can do it in my sleep, and I suppose now I have to agree with him. 
Read? Most definitely. The wonder of words is that they take us away from where we are to another time … another place … another set of circumstances. Someone else’s problems. Or a teaching that pierces us in the places that need poking. 
Journal? You bet. I need to get my feelings out, and that means, in my case, a favorite pen with the current journal. 
I Agree with AngieWhile sitting in my brother’s hospital room, I have scanned the internet for articles on craft and the generalities of our industry. I came across an interview of New York Times bestselling author Angela Hunt who was asked what motivates her to write. She answered honestly: I like to make my mortgage on time. 
I laughed out loud. Me, too, Angie! Me, too … 
I write (and edit and teach and speak) because this is the talent God gave me and I figured out a way to make a living at it. (Too many of us end up with jobs and those jobs are not always the ones that makes our heart sing. But, a few of us figured out what we love to do and then figured out how to make a living at it.) Like Angie, I have a mortgage. I kinda like to eat. The folks at Duke Energy require me to pay my bill on time if I want electricity to pulse through my house (and I do). So do the good folks down at City of Winter Springs and my internet provider. So, I get what Angie is saying.
I have no more right to call up all these good people and say, “I can’t write … or edit … or speak … or …” because I’m in crisis, so you’ll just have to forgive my payment this month. After all, all God’s children got junk. If I drove to an office and punched a time clock and then wrote or edited or spoke or … I’d still have to do this if I expect to make that mortgage payment.
God will not bring you to what He will not bring you through.
Remember that. As writers we will go through crises. They are not to destroy us, but instead are designed to sharpen us. They will deepen our ability to reach the heartbeat of God, first, and others after that. Yes, we may have to stop working on a project for a while. We may have to cancel a speaking event as I recently did. But we cannot stop. If we are going to make it through the crises, we must keep going. Remember the Hebrew children, who came up on the Red Sea? They had to walk through it to get to the Promised Land. 
Joel Osteen tells the story of his daughter who, when she was a little girl, was set to sing a song at the end of a Night of Joy event. She took the stage, microphone in hand, and began to sing. But the mic kept going in and out, which for an accomplished singer would be unnerving enough. But Alexandria was a child. When most would have dropped the mic and left the stage, she looked to her left and saw her mother smiling … nodding … “Keep on singing … keep on singing …” she seemed to say. And Alexandria did just that.
All that to say: the next time you feel that you are in the middle of a major crisis and you don’t know how you are supposed to fulfil your writing or editing or speaking responsibilities … keep on going. One foot in front of the other. Do what you can do and don’t worry about what you can’t do. The crisis will pass. You will get through it. The Promised Land is just a few steps away.

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Dipping the Quill Deeper: #Writing in the Hard Times - @EvaMarieEverson on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

How do you write when you’re in the middle of life’s crises? @EvaMarieEverson on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Eva Marie Everson is the multiple award-winning and bestselling author of over 35 books, both fiction and nonfiction. She is the president of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference and North Georgia Christian Writers Conference. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they enjoy a lake view, their children, and grandchildren. They are owned by a very small dog.

Fighting Writer Doubts

by Any Mulligan @AneMulligan

An engineer doesn’t doubt her calling. She’s a left-brained mathematician with a formula for every situation.
A fisherman doesn’t doubt his calling. He’s a left-brained strategist who can outsmart any fish.
A company CFO doesn’t doubt her calling. She has left-brained-focus on the bottom line.
But creatives are dogged by doubts. Is my work good enough? Will everyone hate it? Has the well run dry? Are all my ideas merely repeats of what I’ve already done? How didI do it last time? Am I really doing what I’m called to do?
My name is Ane Mulligan and I have another passion besides writing.
Oh, pick up your jaw. It’s not a secret to anyone who knows me. I’m managing director of a Community Theatre company. Theatre is in my blood just like stories are in my head.
The problem is when one passion’s demands are louder than the other. It doesn’t matter what that passion is. It can be family, especially when our children are young. Softball, swarm soccer, parent-teacher conferences. Your day job. They pull at a writer. 
Then, you hit a wall in your current WIP. Doubts raise their ugly heads. After all, a real writer doesn’t have writer’s block. A real writer can write through anything. Maybe you’re done. Is it time to quit? 
I’ve been plagued with all these and more in the last year. I found one WIP had gone totally off track and away from my brand, so I deleted thirty-thousand-plus words. I started over. The new beginning was great. 
Then we held auditions for a new show I’m directing, Calendar Girls. I’m very excited about it, and the busyness of planning and directing (and writing a few short bits to ease scenes transitions) stole my creativity and focus. 
Doubt crept in once more. Is writing my will for me or God’s? I couldn’t imagine quitting Community Theatre. Is it truly time to quit writing? If so, then so be it. 
Yet, I cringed at that thought. I didn’t want to quit either. I prayed and decided I’d leave it at His feet.
I turned my attention to the theatre and all the shows we’re doing. I’m producing one, directing one, and set dresser on another, all while managing the business of it all. Maybe that’s enough for one person.
Then it happened. As my husband and I chatted about his upcoming choir concert, suddenly in the midst of that conversation, the one piece I hadn’t consciously realized I’d missed exploded in my mind, sparking creativity in a great, big, wonderful visual of motivation ... for my character and for me. 
I love it when God shows up. 
Creatives will always be plagued by doubts. It’s part of it. Built into our DNA. We can’t escape it. So, what do we do? Panic and down copious pots of coffee and six pounds of chocolate?
No. Well, yes to the coffee and chocolate. But learn to embrace the doubts. Take them to God. He’s big enough to handle them. Then wait. Don’t try to force anything. Wait. 
Take a day trip. Grab your camera and go take photos somewhere peaceful. Somewhere you’re thinking about your WIP. Read a book. Cook a new recipe. Go shopping. 
And wait. God will show up.
After all, you’re a writer ... called to write.
TWEETABLEThoughts on fighting writer doubts from @AneMulligan on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall sweet tea. She's a bestselling novelist, and playwright. Ane resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her husband and a rascally Rottweiler who demands play dates with a whippet and a labradoodle. You can find Ane at her website, Amazon Author page, Facebook, Twitter, andPinterest.

Teach a Mom to List

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

Teach a man to fish, it’s all good. But teach a kid a card trick and be prepared to watch it nonstop for like 12 years. 
“Is this your card?”—‘til college.
Understand, you have to make time for that. It’s one of the reasons schedule-juggling is trickier with kids. I’m not a structured person by nature, so in those years of raising mine, to-do lists became my friends. And enemies.On any given day, I made a gargantuan list, then had to quick-plan for a dozen things that weren’t on it. Weren’t on any list. Ever. Who can plan, for instance, for an away-from-home potty-training disaster you’re forced to clean up with three Wal-Mart receipts, last week’s church bulletin and a Kit Kat wrapper (give me a break). 
Our time raising children is short. I can get philosophical about it, for sure. I’ve long said, when one door opens, another door opens. And then also a side door. All the doors. And they never close. Because you have kids.
I wonder how many months of my life I spent closing doors behind this or that kid running in or out. I had five babies in seven years. That means in a 12-year span I probably slept four hours. Total. Essentially, I traded sleep for door-closing. It’s a thought that makes me smile. And it makes me want a nap.
Ever feel like your soul needs a nap? Jesus knew you would. He said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” (Matthew 11:28-30, CSB).
Rest for our bodies? We do have to make time for that. But soul rest is at least as vital. Anytime we find ourselves feeling burned out, weary, burdened—heavy—it’s time to step back and listen to Jesus’ call to “Come to me.” It’s an open door. And to our delight, it stays open.
When you’re frantically sorting one to-do list from another (is this your card?), and when your mind feels cluttered and weighted down with challenges and stresses, remember your Savior’s reminder that He waits for you. He will be your respite, your comfort, your encouragement. All you have to do is come.
Come to Him in prayer. Come to Him in worship. Come to Him through His Word. Give Him the first-fruits of your time and you’ll find the perspective you’re looking for. So often all the urgent to-dos sort themselves out as we remember His call to come, to lay down a heavy, burdensome yoke we’ve placed on ourselves, and exchange our plan for the just-fits comfort of His will. Would you believe, even when an unexpected disaster thrusts itself upon your list, you can still smile. His easy yoke comes with grace, joy, peace—everything you need for a genuine “successful existence.”
Responding to His “come to me” should top my every list. Relief from my own exhausting yoke. Strength and renewal under His.  
As for my other lists, however, I’m still fishing through those. Guess I’m a work in progress. The other day I went to the store without my list and was proud of myself when I only took twelve thousand laps around the grocery section looking for something that wasn’t even on it.

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Teach a Mom to List - @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.

Tips to Help You Develop a Speaker Author One-sheet

by Cathy Fyock @CathyFyock

What’s a one-sheet? It’s generally an 8 ½ x 11 page that details who the Speaker Author is, what topics they speak about, testimonials from consulting and coaching clients, readers, and audiences, and contact information.
You may be thinking, “Aren’t they passé?” Our reply is, “You only need one if you want to speak.”We’re very serious about one sheets and you should be, too. They are still your primary marketing piece that can be used in a number of ways such as:Mailer or emailer to prospect or client.Follow-up email to prospect.Part of a handout for your presentationInformation to have on a product table that people can take home.Left on each attendee seat instead of a handout.A script for when you are selling over the phone.A one-piece marketing piece that can make any agent sound like they know you.
We think they are a great exercise in drilling down on positioning and expertise. Your one sheet can be one-sided or two. Here is the information that should be on the front:Business portrait picture.Positioning statement that describes you and the problems you solve.Speech titles and bullets that explain the take-a-ways. Each should begin with an action word.A picture of the book cover, a short description, and a few testimonials.Testimonials clients, readers, and audience members who have heard and love you.Blurb about your expertise and yourself, although not a long bio.Social media addresses.Contact information.
If you do a second side you may consider:More testimonials.Short blog post.Client list.QR codes (quick response codes) that contain client list, link to videos, etc.
As you fine-tune your book description or summary (by the way, you’ll need this for many purposes, including your book’s profile on Amazon), be sure to include the following:
What is your thesis statement?What problem do you solve for your readers?What is unique about your book?What features does your book have (e.g., checklists, questions)?
Your short bio should be in terminology that shows value for the audience member. Some items you’ll want to mention include:What value do you add to your readers/audiences?What problems you do help them solve?Which of your credentials directly speaks to your audience?What about you creates a human connection? For example, do you have hobbies and interests that might help you connect with audiences?
Session descriptions should be catchy and memorable, and should identify the value for the audience. The best titles are either your book title or a variation so that your book will be memorable. Be sure to begin each bulleted point with an action verb: develop, create, explore, identify, discover, learn, use.
If you have all of the above on a one sheet you are golden! Over the years Lois has worked with a couple of speakers bureaus who have told her that one sheets are important to them. They use them as scripts just as she suggests. They expect you to have one! Have it available to email and in a PDF file on your website so it can be downloaded. One sheets make your life easier, and everyone else’s who works with you. 
If you’d like to see a copy of Lois’, feel free to email her at Lois@BookMoreBusiness.comand in the subject line put “email one sheet.” To receive Cathy’s, email her at Cathy@CathyFyock.comand put “email one sheet” in the subject line. You can use these as templates.
One sheets are here to stay. 
Activity: Create your one-sheet. Share it with five colleagues and get their feedback. Begin using this as a tool to create speaking opportunities.
TWEETABLETips to Help You Develop a Speaker Author One-sheet from @CathyFyock on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Cathy Fyock is The Business Book Strategist, and works with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a book as a business growth strategy. This article is excerpted from her newest book available this Spring/Summer coauthored with Lois Creamer, titled The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches. Contact Cathy at Cathy@CathyFyock.com.

Recent Changes & Updates in Writing Style Guides

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

If you’ve been a writer long, you know the English language is ever-changing. Does email have a hyphen or not? Is the word internet capitalized or lowercased? And what in the world is a singular they? It sounds a little schizophrenic if you ask me.Because grammar, spelling, and formatting rules change, it’s important to stay as up-to-date as possible as you write and submit blog posts and articles. Your editors will appreciate you, the publications you write for will invite you to contribute more often, and your edited articles will no longer look like the victim in a slasher movie. 
Today I’d like to share several changes and points of style you may find helpful. In the spirit of full disclosure, I also struggle with (and sometimes fail to remember) the rules that govern them. When in doubt, look it up. But be sure to use credible sources. One of my new favorite reference books is Dreyer’s English, An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer.
The Singular They
Every year, editors announce big stylebook changes at the American Copy Editors Society (ACES) annual meeting. In 2017, they announced, “the AP Stylebook now allows writers to use they as a singular pronoun when rewriting the sentence as plural would be overly awkward or clumsy.” Even though I squirm a little, this change helps us avoid the annoying and often interruptive he/she or his/her.
Example: The teacher announced that each student could use one homework pass a month. This means he or she won’t have to turn in his or her homework on the night of the big football game.  
Change To: The teacher announced that each student could use one homework pass a month. This means they won’t have to turn in their homework on the night of the big football game.  
 The style also allows writers to pair they with everyone in similar situations.
Exclamation Points
The late Sue Duffy first editor at Reach Out, Columbia magazine, gently but firmly told me, “Use as few exclamation points as possible—only when someone is shrieking or their house is on fire.” Even now, years later, whenever my left pinkie reaches for that forbidden punctuation mark, I hear her voice and my pinkie returns to its proper place. 
“Began to” and “Started to”
In most cases, it’s best to avoid the use of “began to” or “started to.” 
Example: “Tears began to roll down his cheeks.”
Change To: “Tears rolled down his cheeks.”
We don’t begin to cry, we cry. We don’t start to walk, we walk. We don’t begin to eat, we eat.
Occasionally someone might start to walk to the front of the church and change his mind, but most of the time, it’s best to use the verb only. If you’re not sure which is correct, try it both ways. You’ll realize that began to and started to are usually unnecessary.
Were vs. Was
Remember the hot dog jingle, “I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener”? Why doesn’t it go, “I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener”? Many writers struggle with knowing when to use were and when to use was.
Dryer proposes this rule of thumb: “If you’re writing of a situation that is not merely not the case but is unlikely, improbable, or just plain impossible, you can certainly reach for a ‘were.’ If you’re writing of a situation that is simply not the case but could be, you might opt for a ‘was’.” 
Example Using Were: If I were to become the president of the United States, I’d end war, rid the world of nuclear weapons, and give every ten-year-old a bike.”
Example Using Was: If I was in that meeting, I’d have asked for a raise.
I hope these examples of grammar and style have made you think and settled more questions than they’ve raised. Applying them to your writing will quell that editor’s red pen and make your writing better. And in case you’re wondering, during that 2017 meeting of the ACES, editors also announced the Associate Press would no longer use a hyphen in email and lowercase the word internet. The Chicago Manual of Style followed suit the next day. 
Now you know.
TWEETABLERecent Changes & Updates in Writing Style Guides - @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Lori Hatcher is the editor of  Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of several devotional books.  Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women won the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Her most recent book, Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible is due out in the spring of 2020.A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog,  Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook,Twitter(@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest(Hungry for God).

The Art of Self-Editing, Part 3

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

So far we’ve discussed several areas in the art of self-editing our work. 
In the first post [Click Here], we covered letting our completed first draft cool off before revising and then reading a printed version of our manuscript. 
In the second post, [Click Here] we discussed the value of having our computer read our work to us and starting our second draft.Beta ReadersThis week, I want to introduce a valuable tool in the work of self-editing: beta readers. Beta readers read the entire second draft and give us feedback, but they don’t edit the work. They can point out things, but we want them to read as readers. 
What makes a good beta reader? For me, it’s someone who is reader, a lover of books and story. Being familiar with our genre is helpful, but not crucial as long as they’re comfortable reading it. 
They don’t necessarily have to be writers, but again, it helps. 
They don’t have to be family or friends. And probably shouldn’t be. I would be especially cautious if you’ve included a relative as a character in your novel. Your reader may recognize them and tell them. The repercussions may not be pleasant. Although it might boost sales within your family when the book is published. 
I’ve always appreciated a quote attributed to Anne Lamont. “If my relatives didn’t want me to write about them, they should have been nicer to me.”
You can find potential beta readers in your network of writing buddies. I’ve seen some solicit beta readers on Goodreads.
I’ve used people in my critique groups as beta readers. A couple of downsides to this are 1) those you don’t choose may feel hurt; 2) those you do choose may be so familiar with your story, they may not pick up issues and concerns as well as someone bringing fresh eyes to your writing.
Besides wanting a reader as a beta reader, I also look for someone who I respect and who I trust to give me honest feedback about my story.
I recommend limiting beta readers to three to five. More than that may result in too much conflicting input. Trying to incorporate everyone’s ideas could lead to the manuscript being a mess beyond recovery. 
When they’ve finished, surprise them with a thank you, such as a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Or agree to be a beta reader for them when they’re ready for that step.
FocusWhen I’ve recruited my beta readers, I send them the manuscript along with specific questions I want feedback on.
Here are a few suggestions:Does the hero’s character transformation seem complete and believable?Where did you get bored and want to skim pages?What pulled you into the story?What threw you out of the story?Are the characters believable? Did any character strike you as particularly memorable? (In a good or bad way?)Is the story world believable?Does the plot hold together throughout the novel?Is the conflict and tension sufficient to carry the story?
This seems like a lot of questions and we don’t want to overwhelm or disrespect our readers. On the other hand, we do want to give them specific points to focus on. I usually select no more than five questions. They’re based on areas I’m not sure about and need input. But I also don’t want to limit my beta readers. One approach is to include the list of questions and ask them to answer the three to five that strike them as the most important.
The more specific we can be about the feedback we’re looking for, the better response we’re going to get.
We also want to give our readers freedom to be honest with us. Not only on specifics we may ask, but also about any area they want to comment on. 
Next week, we’ll discuss the next revision and when it’s time to seek a professional editor.
What’s been your experience with beta readers? What did you find most helpful? Not so helpful?

TWEETABLES
The Art of Self-Editing, Part 3 - Henry McLaughlin, @RiverBendSagas on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Thoughts on how beta readers help writers with self-editing from Henry McLaughlin, @RiverBendSagas on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Henry’s debut novel, Journey to Riverbend, won the 2009 Operation First Novel contest.

Henry edits novels, leads critique groups, and teaches at conferences and workshops. He enjoys mentoring and coaching individual writers. 

Connect with Henry on his blog, Twitter and Facebook.

A Writer’s Danger Zone

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

A writer who slips into complacency enters a danger zone guaranteed to threaten a successful career. One of the biggest pitfalls in a writer’s life is a sense of self-regard that eliminates a dedication to growing in the craft. Add a false belief that previous publications, contracts, and name recognition will continue to soar with the writer investing little input.Continued publishing credits mean writers cannot stop the flow of hard work. The constant challenge of quality writing is as critical as the inspiration motivating us to write. 
Writers who ignore the warning signs of pride may blame the market, the publishing house, the agent—anyone but themselves. They lose passion in their writing and boredom marches in. A good kick in the seat of the pants might shake reality into place, but why take a step into the danger zone called complacency?
Please take a look at the following 10 ways to ensure complacency doesn’t happen to us.Avoid burnout to stay enthusiastic about our writing. If we work 7 days a week from early morning until late at night, the thrill escapes us.Celebrate life. If we accept life is all about writing and nothing else, we become dull by missing the excitement of the world’s beauty and adventure.Creativity is not just for writing, marketing, and promotion. We need other interests that appease our creative spirit.Develop friendships who aren’t writers or readers. Our relationships can stagnate when we are super-focused on only bookish buddies.Enlist an accountability partner. Reaching a goal is no fun if we don’t have someone to keep us on track or share in the achievements.Establish writing values or revisit our mission statement. What is the most important reason we are in this business?Evaluate our past writing projects. Are they our best, or are we allowing limited time and hurried efforts to rob readers of our most excellent work?Schedule daily time to grow in the craft and marketplace. We will never have all the answers to changes surfacing in the publishing industry, but we can commit to learning a little every day.Stay in touch with other writers. Be active in an online or face to face group.Take risks and try something new. A different type of writing project or an innovative method of marketing and promotion provides enthusiasm that can spur us on.  
How do you avoid the danger zone of complacency in your writing? 

TWEETABLES
Beware of a writer's danger zone - tips from @DiAnnMills on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

10 Tips to stay out of the writer's danger zone from @DiAnnMills on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. 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. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country.
DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

What I Learned After I Knew It All

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel


I was once young and full of it. Ideas. Opinions. Advice. Me. Truth-as-I-saw-it. Then... Life. I grew up and learned how much I really didn't know. 
So I began a new quest. For Vision. Purpose. Compassion. Truth. Hope. Grace. My Story....  Wisdom. 
1. I am deeply loved. You are too.This is where I hang my ultimate identity – I am “God’s Beloved”. If that sounds a bit presumptuous, so be it. In the Bible God says “I have loved with you with an everlasting love; I have gathered you with lovingkindness.”Jeremiah 31.3 That’s good enough for me. So, you can take any titles or status or other identity-marker away and this is what I’ll be – simply and purely God’s Beloved.
2. There is evil in the world. Do not be naïve – there is (and has always been) an ‘enemy of your soul’ who will do anything to destroy your life and keep you from being the person God created you to be. His wiles are many – but they usually start with whispers, doubts, distractions and making us believe lies… When people give in to this enemy, they do horrific things which destroy their lives and others lives. We are at war in the spiritual realm but we know Who has the power to win the final battle. Stay strong!
3. The only way to grow in faith is to spend time with God.A lot of people want to be spiritual. But the truth is, most people don’t want it enough to do what it takes to be godly, wise, and yes, holy. We cannot know God and live the life He calls us to by simply having a weeklyspiritual rhythm (church, a Bible Study). We must spend time with Him in prayer, meditation/study of His Word, and worship through a dailyspiritual rhythm. This is not ‘new news’, it is the ancient practice of spiritual disciplines. And there truly is no other way. Trust me.
4. Being grateful is much better than whining and complaining.I had a bumper sticker on my old suburban which said “Have You Thanked God Today?” Well, have you? Have I? Stop complaining and whining and dwelling on all the negative stuff. Instead, try to identify at least one thing you can Thank God for every single day. If you write it in a small little datebook, you will have a long list of blessings to ponder and remember. By the way, this practice willchange you and me.
5. God loves my children even more than I love them.I spend a lot of time and thought and prayer over my (now) six young adult children. They are not living in my nest because they are all out discovering how to live their unique lives and fulfill their callings. They are scattered far and wide and are each great adventurers. Sometimes I ache and want to ‘fix’ life for them, but I can’t. Sometimes I worry and want to protect them but I must continually remind myself that even though I love them enough to be willing to die for them, God loves them (and my three grands) even more than me and He is a perfect parent. And through His own Son, He did that very thing.
6. We are not alone.It’s so hard to feel all alone in a crowd. And it’s also hard to feel alone whilst alone. No one understands. No one knows. No one can help carry this particular ‘load.’ But the truth, as Christ told us upon leaving earth, is “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Matthew 28.20 We are not alone after all. He is only a prayer away. It often helps for me to envision Him sitting in the passenger seat of my car, on the empty chair across from my sofa. I find His “presence” my greatest present most days…
7. Prayer is powerful.True prayer is made up of a whole lot more than a list of things to ask God for…   I try to use the acronym TRIP to remind me to includeThanks (praise),Repentance (confession & asking forgiveness)Intercession (praying for others) andPetition (praying for myself)
The most important thing about prayer is to DO IT. But I find that making lists and consulting the Psalms (God’s prayerbook) as well as ancient prayers help me focus each morning and beyond. I have discovered there is nothing that can refresh, revive and support me daily as does praying both in the morning and evening. 
8. We are guided through both opened and closed doors.I love open doors and fresh beginnings and when someone says “Yes” to a request. A new book contract, an invitation to speak, a job offer, a budding relationship… But the truth is, in my own life God has also used closed doors (sometimes slammed in my face) to guide me to where He wants me. And I have almost always come to be grateful for that ‘severe mercy’ of deliverance. remember this and hope it takes the sting out of disappointment. He is sovereign. He is in control.
9 In every season of life, we have something important to offer.This week I have a birthday and whatever my age is, it certainly beats the alternative… But it also means that with the years I want to also have the wisdom and passion to make each moment count and to do the important things, not just the same-old thing. I don’t always know what I have left to give, but I’m determined to wake up each day and take feeble steps forward as a Kingdom builder—with encouraging words on my lips and a thankfulness in my heart for the privilege to grow older with grace.
10. The only proper response to God’s gift of grace is to receive it and pass it along to others.When I finally discovered that I didn’t have to strive to earn God’s love, but could rest in His grace because I was the recipient of that amazing gift I did not deserve, it literally changed my life. My only response was to seek to be a grace-giver to others. But that meant letting go of ‘shoulda-coulda-woulda’ living and judgmental attitudes. I haven’t always done this perfectly, but I join our literary friend Jean Valjean (he of Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables”) in knowing that when we have received much, we give much ---  “to love another person is to see the face of God” (final sung moments in the Les Mis musical). I know this is true. For a while I lived the other way. Today I choose to live in grace.
What have you learned since you thought you knew it all?

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What I Learned After I Knew it All - @LucindaSMcDowel on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Lucinda Secrest McDowell, M.T.S., is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while  “Helping you Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.”  A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, McDowell is the author of 13 books and contributing author to 30+ books. Her books include the award-winning  Dwelling Places  (2017 Christian Retailing BEST Award for Devotional),  Ordinary Graces   (2018 Selah Finalist),  Live These Words , and  Refresh!  Lucinda, a member of the Redbud Writers Guild, received Mt. Hermon “Writer of the Year” award and guest blogs for The Write Conversation, Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Blog and (in)courage. Whether co-directing   “reNEW ~ retreat for New England Writing,”   pouring into young mamas, or leading a restorative day of prayer, she is energized by investing in people of all ages. Lucinda’s favorites include tea parties, good books, laughing friends, ancient prayers, country music, cozy quilts, musical theatre, and especially her family scattered around the world doing amazing things.  Known for her ability to convey deep truth in practical and winsome ways, she writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and blogs weekly at http://www.EncouragingWords.net/ 
Follow Lucinda on Twitter: @LucindaSMcDowel

Showcase Marketing Ability in Your Book Proposal

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

An author’s marketing ability should shine throughout the proposal. Publishing experts indicate we need to either build a platform or gather and engage a tribe. Basically, authors need to clearly pinpoint the target buyer’s motivations to buy the book and how to reach that audience.Reader MotivationsList takeaways that inspire buyers to purchase the book. This is first done within a good hook that shares both the uniqueness of the book and main reader benefit. Add a section on demographics to access the potential audience size with supporting facts about the possible market size. Add links to articles and studies to demonstrate the need for the books and its benefits.
For fiction authors this means crafting a great hook that grabs attention. In the book’s description share ‘what if’ questions and emotions the characters will experience.
Benefits motivate people to buy a book, while affinity groups identify tribes or readers. 
Tribe of BuyersAn author starts characterizing the tribe by naming affinity groups. Add demographics of potential readers to communicate additional information about where readers spend their time and money. Recognizing what social media your readers use helps determine a strategy to reach those buyers. An author confirms reader connections through listing endorsers from affinity groups, blogs that will allow them to be guests, and reviewers from these organizations.
Fiction authors also need to identify readers who like the genre of their book and why the book will be unique enough to impact lives. Specific marketing plans explain how they will reach those fiction fans. That may mean providing a database of blogs and social media groups in the genre who will let you guest post. State what readers (tribal members) will receive in the posts, such as behind the scenes message, research, and story in blogs and places to engage readers. Next, make sure your book stands out.
Analyze Competing TitlesAnalyzing the competition challenges authors to explain the book’s uniqueness and position in the market. Various titles help authors build a case that the topic is saleable and popular. It’s also an opportunity to define the distinction of the author’s book slant, solutions offered, treatment, and overall message. It’s not an opportunity to put down other books, put an occasion to highlight the proposed book’s distinctiveness. 
For the author, dig deeper to see what the authors of the best sellers in the categories do to promote their books. Glean ideas to apply in your marketing plans.
Marketing PlansShowcase actual ideas you will put into action. Each one is a promise you make that you’ll need to keep. The main outlets for marketing can be boiled down to five: media, social media, print, speaking, and expertise. If you have a proven record in any category note those credentials and experience followed by ideas to apply. For media, list past interviews, media training, or your own experience in creating videos and FB live. Then share a sample pitch for interviews. Add connections you have for interviews (radio, television, podcast hosts, and print).With social media, provide information on number of followers, what social media engage your readers and how you will connect to them. Include experience with media posts that engaged followers, Facebook live, and ability to create memes. It’s more important to get followers to engage in conversation than to simply collect followers who may not actually read your posts.For print, list article pitches and publications, what types of materials you can create to augment your book such as charts, tip sheets, and facts. Indicate if you write a column or frequently contribute to any periodicals.With speaking, share your experience, speaker training, and ideas of possible speaking opportunities. This may include meetings of affinity groups, book clubs, and events your target audience attends. Outline your efforts to book speaking engagements through sharing ideas of seminars or talking points that will be used to develop keynotes and workshops.Expertise is becoming the person people contact for interviews and quotes. This comes as you get known. Increase opportunities to be quoted by subscribing to services such as PR newswire or Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and send press releases to media and meeting planners when your book releases or you speak. If you have published quotes and profiles list those.EndorsementsPublishers view endorsers as influencers for the book. For nonfiction, find endorsers with ties to affinity groups or expert authorities to validate your ability to write the book.
For fiction, endorsers should be well known authors within the same genre to help readers develop trust in your ability to write.
Author BioThis section specifies your authority and experience. Published articles and books, speaking and media experience, degrees and certificates in related fields to the book’s topic, and media experience verify your qualifications to write and market the book. Add some personal notes about your background and hobbies that adds interesting facts for readers and interviewers.
Work carefully on each of these elements to present a professional vision for marketing the book. It will help garner the interest of traditional publishers and guide you to develop a strategy for selling the book as a traditional or indie author. 
TWEETABLESShowcase Marketing Ability in Your Book Proposal - @KarenHWhiting on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Tips to put together a professional proposal - @KarenHWhiting on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
JOIN Karen in New Jersey June 21stKaren will hold at a one-day seminar. The morning will be workshops on writing craft. afternoon will be a group critique where she will give time to each attendees’ piece or need  in writing or marketing. $50. https://www.facebook.com/events/384673485595781/
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-five books for women, children, and families. Her newest book, The Gift of Bread: Recipes for the Heart and the Table reflects her passion for bread and growing up helping at her grandparent’s restaurant. 
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, The Kid’s Ark, and BCM International. Connect with Karen on Twitter @KarenHWhiting Pinterest KarenWhiting FB KarenHWhiting