Edie Melson's Blog, page 347

30 Days of Idea Starters for Writers - Calendar Days - April's Crazy Holidays & Special Occasions

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It’s time again for Calendar Days. These are just fun to read. They’re also a great way to jumpstart our creativity when looking for ideas for articles and blog posts. They’re also a fun writing prompt idea. 
In addition, calendar days are great conversation starters for social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. This month is  especially fun for writers because of all the writing/reading related holidays:It's National Poetry Month & the first week is National Library Week. In addition there are these specific days:April 1 Poetry and the Creative Mind Day & Reading is Funny DayApril 2 Children’s Book DayApril 4 National School Librarian Day & National Hug a Newsman DayApril 10 National Encourage a Young Writer DayApril 12 National Library Workers DayApril 13 National Scrabble Day & National Bookmobile DayApril 14 National Support Teen Literature DayApril 15 National Rubber Eraser DayApril 16 National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day & National Librarian DayApril 17 National Haiku Poetry DayApril 18 National Columnist DayApril 21 National Have a Poem in Your Pocket DayApril 23 National Talk Like Shakespeare DayApril 27 World Stationery Day & National Tell a Story DayApril 28 National Great Poetry Reading Day
April Holidays, Special Days & Downright Crazy Days
April is:National Month of the Military ChildInventor’s MonthNational Humor MonthInternational Guitar MonthScottish American Heritage MonthNational Safe Digging MonthDecorating MonthNational Fresh Celery MonthStraw Hat MonthInternational Guitar MonthJazz Appreciation MonthKeep America Beautiful MonthLawn & Garden MonthNational Poetry MonthNational Pecan MonthNational Welding MonthRecords & Information Management MonthStress Awareness MonthSexual Assault Awareness Month
Weekly Celebrations:Week 1 Read a Road Map WeekNational Library Week
Week 2 National Garden Week
Week 3 Organize Your Files WeekMedical Labs Week
Week 4 Administrative Assistants WeekNational Karaoke Week
Daily Celebrations:April 1 Poetry and the Creative Mind DaySourdough Bread DayInternational Tuba DayFun DayWalk to Work DayNational One Cent DayInternational Tatting DayApril Fools DayReading is Funny DayInternational Fun at Work Day
April 2 World Autism DayNational Love Our Children DayNational Peanut & Jelly DayInternational Pillow Fight DayChildren’s Book DayNational Ferret DayNational Reconciliation Day
April 3 National Tweed Day National Chocolate Mousse DayNational Find a Rainbow DayFish Fingers & Custard DayDon’t Go to Work Unless it’s Fun Day
April 4 National School Librarian DayVitamin C DayNational Hug a Newsman DayNational Walk Around Things Day
April 5 National Gold Star Wives DayNational Deep Dish Pizza DayNational Go for Broke DayNational Read a Road Map DayNational Caramel Day
April 6 Army DayNational Teflon DayNational Walking DayNational Day of HopeNational Tartan DayNational Caramel Popcorn DayPlan Your Epitaph DayNational Student-Athlete DayNational Sorry Charlie Day
April 7 World Health DayNational Coffee Cake DayTell a Lie DayNational No Housework Day
April 8 National Zoo Lovers DayDraw a Picture of a Bird DayNational All is Ours Day
April 9 National Winston Churchill DayNational Former Prisoner of War Recognition DayNational Cherish an Antique DayNational Name Yourself Day
April 10National Encourage a Young Writer DayInternational Safety Pin DayNational Sibling DayNational Farm Animals DayGolfer’s Day
April 11 National Eight Track Tape DayWorld Parkinson’s Disease DayNational Pet DayNational Cheese Fondue DayNational Barbershop quartet DayNational Submarine Day
April 12 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich DayNational Licorice DayNational Library Workers DayBe kind to Lawyers DayNational Big Wind DayRussian Cosmonaut DayWalk on Your Wild Side Day
April 13 National Scrabble DayNational Bookmobile DayNational Peach cobbler DayNational Thomas Jefferson Day
April 14 Air Force Reserves BirthdayLook up at the Sky DayNational Support Teen Literature DayNational Dolphin DayNational Reach as High as You Can DayNational Pecan DayNational Ex Spouse DayInternational Moment of Laughter Day
April 15 That Sucks DayNational Day of SilenceNational Tax Day National Take a Wild Guess DayNational Titanic Remembrance DayNational Rubber Eraser Day
April 16 National National Eggs Benedict DayRecord Store DaySave the Elephant DayNational Healthcare Decisions DayNational Wear Your Pajamas to Work DayNational Auctioneers DayNational Librarian DayNational Stress Awareness Day
April 17 National Haiku Poetry DayFord Mustang DayNational Ellis Island Family History DayBlah, Blah, Blah DayNational Bat Appreciation DayNational Cheese Ball Day
April 18 Amateur Radio DayNational Animal Crackers DayPet Owners Independence DayNational Lineman Appreciation DayPatriot’s Day (third Monday of the month)National Columnist DayInternational Juggler’s Day
April 19 Bicycle DayNational Education and Sharing DayNational Hanging out DayNational Garlic Day
April 20 Banana DayNational Cheddar Fries DayNational Lima Bean Respect DayVolunteer Recognition DayNational Look Alike Day
April 21 National Have a Poem in Your Pocket DayNational Kindergarten DayBulldogs are Beautiful DayGet to Know Your customers DayNational Chocolate Covered Cashews DayNational High Five Day
April 22 National Jelly Bean DayNational Girl Scout Leader DayNational Earth Day
April 23 National Talk Like Shakespeare DayNational Cherry Cheesecake DayNational Picnic DayNational Take a Chance DayNational Zucchini Bread DayWorld Laboratory DayLover’s Day
April 24 National in a Blanket DayNational Pet Parents DayPinhole Photography DayTeach Your Children to Save Day
April 25 National Hug a Plumber DayNational DNA DayNational Telephone DayMalaria DayNational Zucchini Bread DayNational East Meets West DayWorld Penguin Day
April 26 National Pretzel DayNational Help a Horse DayNational Kids and Pets DayNational Audubon DayHug an Australian DayNational Richter Scale Day
April 27 International Guide Dogs DayNational Babe Ruth DayWorld Stationery DayNational Administrative Professionals Day (Secretary’s Day)Morse Code DayNational Prime Rib DayNational Tell a Story Day
April 28 National BraveHearts DayNational Blueberry Pie DayNational Take our Daughters and Sons to Work DayInternational Astronomy DayNational Great Poetry Reading DayKiss Your Mate Day
April 29 National Zipper DayInternational Dance DayWorld Wish DayNational Arbor DayNational Hairball Awareness DayNational Peace Rose DayNational Shrimp Scampi Day
April 30 National Bugs Bunny DayWorld Veterinary DayInternational Jazz DaySave the Frogs DayNational Sense of Smell DayNational Kiss of Hope DayNational Raisin DayGo Birding DayNational Hairstylist Appreciation DayNational Pool Opening DayNational Adopt a Shelter Pet DayNational Honesty Day
What days  are you going to use this month? Be sure to share in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLES30 Days of Idea Starters for #Blogging Articles & #SocialMedia - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
April holidays start the #socialmedia conversation & spark writing ideas - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don't get caught without an idea, use the calendar for#blogging & #socialmedia - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Born to be a Writer

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

Were you born to be a writer?Ten months ago I was told I had a year to live, maybe two. My body was being consumed by tumors resulting from “Stage IV, aggressive, incurable metastatic prostate cancer.” It was a sobering statement.

Thoughts of my imminent death led me down paths I’d not considered before. My attention turned to getting my life in order and positioning my wife in a situation that would provide constant support after I died. This became my primary focus. Hardly a thought was given to writing.
So what’s my cancer got to do with writing? My thoughts were consumed by what ifs, and my days by medical appointments and trying to figure out how I would pay for everything. It was a major distraction. I had no desire to write. I would sit with hopes of progressing on my manuscript, but the words didn’t come— my characters ceased to converse with me.

But the Lord didn’t let me quit. During my quiet times, He would tell me to share an insight He’d given me via Facebook. Like Peter, God gave me the words for my monthly post on The Write Conversation. He helped me through my fears and limitations because I’m supposed to write.
We all deal with various challenges
when we sit down to write.We all deal with various challenges when we sit down to write. Most, thankfully, are not life threatening. But they do keep us from doing what we know we must.

Our world bombards us with myriad reasons to avoid writing— especially when we seek to express the joy of living godly lives. Writing for Him guarantees we’ll be attacked by His, and our, enemies.

Waking to a barrage of distractions can be discouraging. The list of things that must be done runs through our minds until we’re overwhelmed. Then we create good reasons why we cannot write today—and perhaps ever.

But there is hope. Our defeat is not inevitable.

The God who created us and led us to become writers is always more powerful than anything the devil or life throws at us. He reminds us that we’re created in love—unconditional, and more important to Him than all His other creations. He assures us that with His guidance, we can accomplish all the important things that must be done and write.

By following His path for our lives, we will get through every challenge we face. He will protect us from our enemies and ourselves. He’ll provide the ideas, the time, the words we need to write for Him. Regardless of anything we’ve ever thought or done, the Lord can turn things around for us—if we just let Him.

The truth is if we write for Him—if we seek to show the world the hope and love the Lord offers—then we were born to write.

My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. - Psalm 62:7 NLT

What do you think? Were you born to write? I really want to know. Let’s keep the conversation going.
TWEETABLESWe all face challenges when we sit down to write - @BDBrady007 (Click to Tweet)
Were You Born to Be a Writer? - thoughts from @BDBrady007 (Click to Tweet)
Bruce Brady is an author, writer and playwright. His work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family, www.ChristianDevotions.us, and on stage. Currently, Bruce is working on a Young Adult Novel about a boy who must deal with the death of his dad, being bullied, and helping his mom through her grief. His first five pages took third place in the ACFW South Carolina Chapter’s “First Five Pages” contest.

When he’s not writing, Bruce spends time learning from and helping other writers. He serves as Mentor of Word Weavers International’s Online Chapter, and as a member of Cross ‘N’ Pens, The Writer’s Plot, ACFW’s National and South Carolina Chapters.

“My dream is to entertain my readers and give them hope as they travel the rocky road of life.”

The Basics of Building an Author Platform

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

What is an author platform and why do I need one?What is a platform and How do I build one?These are good questions, but difficult ones to answer in a single blogpost. As a matter of fact, these question are the source of entire books. There truly is no easy answer. 
That said, let me lay out some of the basics. To build a firm, healthy online presence, an author needs 3 things: A presence on Facebook.A presence on Twitter.A blog—this can be a solo blog, where you post once a week or a group blog, where you post twice or more a month.
Where should I blog?Where Should I Blog?I recommend beginning bloggers start out on Blogger. It's owned by Google—which has excellent personalization options that the free version of WordPress doesn't offer. But the importance of where you blog is secondary to the content and consistency of your blog.
A paid site is also an option, but it's important to look at your budget and spend your money wisely. Foe example, spending a lot of money having a site built isn't as important as learning how to write by buying books, attending classes and conferences, and joining professional organization. And you don’t have to have a paid site to be considered a top-tier blogger. This site is currently built on the Blogger platform, and I haven't paid a dime for it.
What do I blog about?What Do I Blog About?As far as what to blog about, that takes more thought. Are you planning to write fiction, non-fiction or a combination? A strong non-fiction writer can make the topic of the blog the same as the books. But that's not a requirement.
People will not follow us initially because we're writers. They'll follow us because we're interesting. 
I know successful author bloggers who have sites focused on everything from knitting to quotes to travel. Blogging takes work, so it's important to pick a topic that won't become boring. 
My site is a site for writers and those interested in social media. 
My other blog—on the Guideposts.org site—is for military families and the communities that serve them. 
Neither one of them is a platform from which to sell my books. 
Social media and blogging are ways to grow relationships, not a major avenue of advertising and mass marketing.
Now why am I building a platform?Now Why Am I building a Platform?I'm a member of a large church in upstate SC. We have several thousand members. There is no military base nearby, and I write books for military families. 
However, I am a part of this church community. I've added value to the community and made friends. Some are close friends, so I only know by name or sight. BUT, because I'm part of this community, when I have a book release they support me. 
Again, no more than a handful of families actually have family members currently serving in the military. But they're excited for me and they help spread the word to those the book would help. 
It's that type of community that we're looking to build online. Part of it comes from your blog, part from social media. The purpose is to be a valuable part of the community and help them, noting when we need them, they'll help us.  
Now What is a Platform?Essentially that's what a platform is, the number of people we can share information—like a book launching—with.
My platform is considerable (and it should be because I've been growing it for a while). I get between 30,000 and 50,000 unique hits per month on my blog. I have had, over the lifetime of the site, 1.8 million hits. I have 18,000 Twitter followers, thousands of FB friends and followers, as well as connections on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. 
BUT I grew this platform one relationship at a time—with small consistent steps. And I began growing it long before I had a book contract or even an agent. If we wait until then, it's very hard to catch up because we're way behind. A platform is what helps sell us to publishers and agents.
It's a doable thing, but it takes a deliberate decision to do so. What do you consider some of the things a writer needs to know/do to begin building a platform? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
My friend DiAnn Mills and I know how vital this is to an author's career. That's why we've started The Author Roadmap. It's a website wholly devoted to platform building and marketing for writers. Drop by and check us out!
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESThe Basics of Building anAuthor Platform - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
What is an Author Platform & Why do I Need One? - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

A Writer's Prayer

Edie here. I was fortunate to speak at the Mid-south Christian Writers Conference this spring and met April Thompson. April was our emcee, but is also a talented writer in her own right. When she shared this Writer's Prayer, I knew it was something I needed to hear, and something I wanted to share with you. Please give her a warm, Write Conversation welcome!

A Writer's Prayer
by April Thompson @AThompson_WREG3 

Lord you have put this desire in my heartto tell others through words what you would have them to hear.
Let me use it wisely, carefully and guided by you...not to give myself glory or riches, but to give you glory and those I reach a path to real living in you.
Help me to boldly write the words that you want written      ...not afraid of judgment or condemnation,  for if the words are from you, they are true.
This is a noble calling I don't take lightly.You have trusted me to be a voice for you.Speak to me...give me the heart to feel, the ear to hear and the courage to write.
TWEETABLEA Writer's Prayer for us all - April Thompson @AThompson_WREG3 (Click to Tweet)
April Thompson is an Anchor and Investigative Reporter at WREG TV News Channel 3 (CBS) in Memphis, TN. April is an avid writer who has spent nearly 30 years writing, reporting and anchoring television and radio news stories across the Southeast. Her detailed and straight-forward ability to relate to all audiences has resulted in accolades and awards. With a desire to find deeper meaning in her work and also in her calling as a Christian, April embarked on writing her first Christian novel. She enjoys meeting other authors, speaking to audiences and emceeing public events. Connect with April Thompson on Facebook (April Thompson) and Twitter @AThompson_WREG3.

Protect Yourself Against Being Hacked, 8 Tips to Stay Safe Online

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson


Protect yourself against being hacked.Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never be hacked. Especially since, as writers today, this is where we spend so much of our time. But there are a LOT of things we can do to lower the odds of it happening.
This week I want to give you some tips on how to keep from being hacked online. This advice will continue to change because inevitably, the more wise we become at protecting ourselves, the more cunning those wishing us harm become.The majority of times we get hacked it’s because we clicked a link that uploaded a virus which opened us up to hackers. 
This is the bad news, but there’s also good news. This kind of hacking is preventable, and here are some steps to take to stay safe online.
Be wise.1. Be wise. This seems basic, but so many times we just ignore our better judgment. How many of us have been sucked in by direct messages like these? “Have you heard the rumors your fiend is spreading about you?” or “This is a hilarious video just uploaded about you.” Stop. Think. Then DON’T click that link!
2. Assume it’s a lie. Awhile back, I got an email from an online company confirming a large purchase with my credit card. I knew I hadn’t made any purchases, but still had to fight the urge to panic. My gut response was to reply to the email. Thankfully, I took a step back and looked more closely at the email. I noticed several things that made me suspicious. I immediately did an online search for scams involving that company and came up with pages of recent victims. I contacted the company directly (not through the info in their email) and confirmed the email was a ruse to steal my information.
3. Never give out sensitive information. Let me repeat, NEVER GIVE OUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION! Companies don’t ask for bank account info, passwords or other information over the internet. First, if you’re a customer, they already have all of your information they need. Keeping up with personal passwords is a liability for companies. 
Stop accepting friend requests from people you don't know.4. Stop accepting friend requests on Facebook from people you don’t know. If you’ve read my blog for long, you know that I run my personal FB profile as a public forum. BUT I still don’t allow “FRIEND” access to strangers. There was a time when we could look at common friends as a sort of endorsement for accepting a connect. That time is GONE. The only time I might consider looking further at a possible friendship would be if we had HUNDREDS of friends in common.
5. Never share personal data while you’re on a public Wi-Fi. This includes logging into sites when you must type in a password. It’s okay to bring up a site you’re already logged into, but NEVER type a password in a public place. Not only is it a risk, but it’s so easy to counterfeit a public Wi-Fi and make it look legitimate.
6. Use two-level authentication whenever possible. For instance, when I log into my Google account from a new device or new location, I receive a text message with an additional code I must type in. This has saved me so many times. A lot of networks offer this option and I always sign up for it. It may seem frustrating when you’re in a hurry. The truth is, when we’re rushed is when we’re not paying attention and we’re often more vulnerable.
7. For PC users, invest in a good security program. And good programs don’t necessarily mean expensive programs. AVG is an excellent option and has free options.
8. Have a different password for EVERY site you’re on. And change your passwords every six months. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I cannot emphasize this strong enough. Your password must be different for every account you have. That can seem overwhelming. If you’re like me you probably have dozens of accounts, so how can we keep up with all those passwords? Trust me, it’s not with sticky notes or a file on your computer. Every single time I share this information, someone confesses that they have a file on their computer and no one will know it’s there because it’s labeled INFO or something similar.
Instead, take advantage of some wonderful programs. Some charge a small fee, others are free—all have the highest security rating available. And they all have apps so you can access your accounts from your mobile devices.LastPass1Password Keepass X (for Mac) and Keepass (for PC)
I’ve heard people suggest that these programs are a security risk. The experts disagree and so do I. Look for ones that have AES-256 encryption (and ideally two-factor authentication) to make certain your information stays safe.
There are also blank booklets available for those of you who are old school and want something you can hold in your hand. I’ve seen them at local discount stores, as well as high end specialty stores.
Now it’s your turn, what are some tricks you use to stay safe online? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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

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Protect Yourself Against Being Hacked Online - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

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Increase the Reach of Every Blog Post You Write – 15 Things to do Before You Hit Publish

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

We all want every blog post we publish to be the best it can be. Beyond that, we want our posts to get found. For that to happen, we have to increase the reach of every blog post we write. 
It's hard to remember all the things that go into an effective post, so I've compiled a checklist for my own blogging and today I'm going to share it with you.15 Things to Do Before You Hit Publish1. Determine the main key word phrase for your post. Do this by finding the focus of the post and For this post, the key word phrase is Increase the Reach of Every Blog Post .
Compose a title that contains this key word phrase.2. Compose a title for your blog that contains this keyword phrase. It will help get your blog found if that title is phrased like something that would be typed into a search engine.
3. Add labels/tags to your post. These should always include: key words, the title of the blog post, the name of the author (even if you’re the only author who ever writes for your site), the title of your blog site, if it’s different than your name (the title of my blog site is The Write Conversation, so that’s one of my labels). Here's a blog post with the specifics of How to Label and Tag Your Blog Post . 
4. Make sure there is a byline at the top of the post. In WordPress, that can be set up to show automatically. In Blogger, you’ll need to treat that as part of your blog post. With that byline, include a link to your Twitter account for easy sharing on social media.
5. Read your post out loud. This will help catch any typos or awkward sentences you may have missed before.
Compose an open-ended question of call to action for the
end of your post.6. Compose an open-ended question or call to action for the end of your post. This will help engage your audience. And Don’t forget to come back and answer the comments.
7. Look at word count.An ideal length for most posts is 700-800 words. There are exceptions and if your blog is an exception, notice what word-length works best for you.
8. Check for formatting.Look for clear and concise (and mainly short) sentences. Check to make sure your paragraphs no longer than 50 words. Search for extra spaces or extra blank lines. They are more apparent online than in print.
9. If the blog post is written by a guest, include a bio and headshot. This bio should include social media links—so readers can connect—as well as an book links.
Verify all hyperlinks are working.10. Verify all hyperlinks are working. There is nothing more frustrating than to click on a dead link. Google actually penalizes sites by reduced SEO if they have dead links. So take time to double-check.
11. Make sure your images are captioned. Images aren’t easily searchable online, but images that are captioned are. This adds extra power to the SEO of your blog post.
12. Check the position of your images. Pictures and graphics should illustrate your post, not interrupt the flow of the text. Think of it like a magazine layout.
13. Add a Click to Tweet or Tweetdis for easy sharing. Tweetdis is a paid plugin for Wordpress and won’t work on Blogger, but it’s becoming my new favorite for my WordPress sites. Click to Tweet is free and here's the link to a screencast on How to Install Click to Tweet.
14. Preview your post. Take an extra minute and preview your post one last time. Especially if you've made changes, this help ensure they haven't caused other issues.
15. Schedule your post.I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but occasionally I forget to hit schedule and the post ends up as a draft and is late when I discover my mistake.
By consistently checking for each of the 15 things listed above, you’ll increase the reach of your individual posts and the overall reach of your blog. I’d love to know what you’d add to the list. Be sure to leave your suggestions in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESIncrease the Reach of Every Blog Post You Write -@EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
15 Things to do before you hit publish on your blog - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

The Work of His Hands

In this season of Easter, my thoughts and imaginings have turned to hands. Of course you know what started me down that path. The image of Jesus’ nail-scarred palms are everywhere. But as I reflect on those precious hands, I realize the story of our Savior’s hands begin much earlier.
I believe we see the power of His hands as He stretched them over the formless void and spoke creation into existence. We saw them as He tenderly shaped His children—man and woman—made perfectly in His own image. Then, with heart-breaking clarity, in my mind’s eye, I can see those powerful hands when they performed the first sacrifice as he provided a covering for His sinful children. As the centuries progressed, we saw that God sometimes worked through the hands of men like Noah. God used Him to preserve a remnant of humanity when creation went so wrong. In Moses, I saw the power of God when His prophet stretched forth his hands and parted the Red Sea, providing for the salvation of His people. He was there as Joshua defeated Jericho and with Gideon as he discovered his own part in God’s plan. We saw the fingerprints of God working throughout the Old Testament—from Elijah to Elisha, Job to Josiah. He was always present— rebuilding, refining, remonstrating and renewing those He loves.
Then it happened. God’s Spirit descended and touched a young girl and Mary was with child—destined to give birth to the Son of God. As her time drew near, we saw how God’s loving hands worked through Joseph as he protected his wife, delivered his infant son, and cared for them.
When Jesus began His time of ministry, we once more saw the work of God’s hands. He was everywhere. He touched the untouchables and encouraged a dark world to refocus on God’s light. His hands were love in action, serving and sharing; reaching out and sometimes rebuking; comforting and consoling; protecting and proclaiming—and always forgiving.
Finally, we see the ultimate sacrifice as He stretched out those hands and took the punishment I deserved. His hands were pierced instead of mine. He was the one ridiculed and beaten instead of me. Those precious hands ran red as the life-giving fluid was poured out for me.
But that’s not the end of the story.
In God’s word, we see how Jesus defeated Satan and death. Proving once and for all His hands are mighty to save.
He commissioned His disciples to carry on the work of His hands. That command hasn’t changed. Now it’s His people who reach out their hands in His name. We are called to love in action, serving and sharing; reaching out and sometimes rebuking; comforting and consoling; protecting and proclaiming—and always loving and forgiving.
This Easter Sunday morning it’s time to rejoice, yes. But it’s also time to reflect and recommit to being God’s hands—touching the untouchables and encouraging a dark world to refocus on God’s light.

Lord, Your right hand is glorious in power. Lord, Your right hand shattered the enemy. Exodus 15:6

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As Christ-followers, We need to be about the work of His hands - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Blogging Smarter by Narrowing Your Scope

by Jennifer Slattery @JenSlattery
Edie here. Today I'm excited to welcome back Jennifer Slattery. She has a new book, Breaking Free, and I'm sure you'll want to download the free sample and give it a test run. Jennifer is an expert blogger and has some valuable advice for authors.
Blogging Smarter by Narrowing Your ScopeIt’s quite possible to wear oneself out writing numerous articles and blog posts with little to show for it. Though I was hitting my target readership, I didn’t realize my scope was too broad. My topics: Christian living, because, well, I guess I figured all women between the ages of 35-70 need daily encouragement. And that worked—for fiction. The problem is, I eventually want to break into the nonfiction arena as well.I figured my fiction platform would bleed into a nonfiction one.
Not likely. At least, not unless I’m intentional to make this happen. The only problem was I’m already all over the Internet promoting my novels. How could I possibly add an entirely new genre to the mix? Did this mean maybe I should only stick with stories?
Nope. It meant I needed to blog smarter, doing what I can to use my efforts to promote my fiction to also build my nonfiction credibility. It wasn’t about writing more but rather about being intentional when I write.
I paused to consider the topics I want to cover and I realized, they largely fall into two categories: marriage and parenting. Therefore, this was what I needed to concentrate on.
For example, if I’m scheduled to guest on a friend’s blog, rather than simply writing about whatever Christian living topic that comes to mind, I narrow my theme to parenting or marriage. This way I’m accomplishing two things in one post—I’m promoting my latest release and I building a nonfiction readership.
This also means I’m limiting myself, but in a good way. Remember when I said my book ideas “largely” fell into two categories? That means some of my ideas reach beyond those categories, and though I love all my potential topics, I’ve realized I have to set some aside for later.
I need to focus on building a readership for one topic before I try to focus on another. Otherwise my efforts will be divided and defused. Right now, that means writing to moms and wives. In a year, maybe two, perhaps I’ll start writing to wounded women.
But for today, I’m narrowing my scope to broaden my reach.
What about you? What do you write? Do you know your target audience? Are you intentionally reaching them with every blog post and article you write, or are you running with whatever idea comes your way? How might narrowing your scope expand your efforts, and what can you do today to make that happen?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from each other.
TWEETABLELearn to blog smarter by narrowing your scope - @JenSlattery (Click to Tweet)
Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New ope Publishers, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and devotions for Internet Café Devotions, the group blog, Faith-filled Friends, and her personal blog. She also does content editing for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas’ Firefly imprint, and loves working with authors who are serious about pursuing their calling. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.
Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Breaking Free

Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters.

Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard, and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?

Read a free, 33-page excerpt here: http://newhopepublishers.com/2016/02/...
Buy it:ChristianBook DistributorsBarnesand NobleAmazonSee scene location pictures for Breaking Free on Pinterest: 

Why Bloggers Should Consider Pinterest

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

When I needed decorating ideas for my daughter’s baby shower, I went to Pinterest. When I searched for a recipe for a French toast casserole, I went to Pinterest. When I lost the directions for how to make reindeer Christmas tree ornaments, I went to Pinterest.
As the fastest growing social media site, Pinterest has become the go-to place for information. But is it also a valuable platform for writers? I say YES.Today I’d like to build a case for why writers, especially bloggers, should use Pinterest. I’ll share some stats, then tell you about my personal Pinterest experience. Beginning next month, I’ll share some practical tips to get you started.
Digital Marketing Research website reveals that 72.8 million people use Pinterest. Eighty-five percent of them are women, and an estimated 42 percent of online adult women use Pinterest.
Did you catch that last statistic? Almost HALF of online adult women use Pinterest.
If someone offered you a marketing strategy to reach half the online women in America, and all it cost was some time and creativity, how quickly would you say YES? Well here you go—my gift to you.
In the summer of 2014, thanks to the encouragement of a kind and successful fellow blogger, I took the Pinterest plunge. Although my efforts were rudimentary and somewhat haphazard, I saw a 33 percent increase in my page views in the first month. Even more important, I gained dozens of new subscribers.
In the 18 months since, I’ve had several months with 100 percent increases in page views and have almost tripled my subscriber base. Pinterest has been the single most effective strategy I’ve employed for growing my blog and sharing the words God gives me.
Another powerful reason for directing your time and creative talents toward Pinterest is its sustainability. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest images (with links to your blog posts) have an amazing lifespan. Social Marketing Writing website states, “The half-life of a Pinterest pin is 3.5 months. i.e. it takes a pin 3.5 months to get 50% of its engagement. The half-life of a tweet is only 24 minutes and the half-life of a Facebook post is only 90 minutes. This means that the half-life of a Pinterest pin is 1,680 times longer than a Facebook post.”
These statistics show that if you create a pin that catches people’s attention, it can linger, growing in the blogosphere for months or even years, continuing to reach more and more people with little or no ongoing effort on your part.
I’ve experienced this amazing phenomenon. Twice a week I create pinnable images for one of my blog posts. I share the images on Facebook and Pinterest. A year ago, I shared an image from my post called “How To Know It’s God Speaking to You.” It received 15 likes on Facebook and four people shared it. Six people clicked through to read the blog post.
I pinned a similar image on Pinterest and shared it on several group boards. As of January 1, 2016, Pinterest users have repinned that pin more than 6,000 times. Fifty-four thousand five hundred and fifty-one (54,551) readers have clicked through to read the corresponding blog post. Because of Pinterest, this post continues to receive the most page views of all the posts on my blog almost every single day—a year after I pinned it.
I hope I’ve convinced you to take a serious look at Pinterest as a way to promote your blog and get your message out. It could be a serious game changer.
TWEETABLESWhy bloggers should consider pinterest - @LoriHather2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet) 
Pinterest is a perfect for writers & bloggers - @LoriHatcher2 (Click to Tweet)
Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of two devotional books. Her second book, Hungry for God…Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women released in December. A blogger, writing instructor, and women’s ministry 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 Joy of Character Serendipity in Writing

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

The Joy of Character SerendipityI find myself in a bit of a transition in my writing right now. A while back, my weekly writing group challenged me to write a fantasy novel. (I love you, Solitary Scribes.) My agent at the time said I’d have to come up with a pen name because it’s such a genre switch. I’m thinking C.S. Tolkien might work. Or Tim Dekker. Or Johnny C. Jenkins.
Part of the challenge I set for myself—I really can’t blame my group for this—is to write it organically as Steven James calls it. So, yeah, he gets some of the blame/credit for this too.For years, I practiced and preached using a detailed outline. I would spend weeks writing an outline before I ever typed “Chapter One.” Along with the outline would be days of detailed character development. Questionnaires, psychological profiles, interviews with the character, histories. Physical descriptions. As much detail as I could develop. I wanted to know these guys inside and out.
When I started organic writing, all this character detail didn’t seem as important. I knew my hero’s role, kind of knew what he looked like, knew his story goal. I had an idea of his internal core values and how they would conflict over the story. I was comfortable with him and he seemed comfortable with me. I knew more of him would be revealed as the story went along, more depth, more complexity.
As the story moves along, seeds are sprouting about a romantic relationship between my hero and heroine. Seems to have a good pace, good tension. The attraction is mutual but there are issues which threaten to keep them apart. Like he’s twenty years older than her and she’s religious and he hates religion in every form.
And then—feels like there should be dramatic music here—he meets a woman he hasn’t seen in eleven years. I knew she was in the story and they would reconnect. As he talks with her and I see her through his eyes (I’m also writing a first person POV for the first time), he gets all mushy. And I realize—he’s still in love with her. Very much in love with her.
I’ve never had a character throw this big a curveball at me. When I asked him about this, he shrugged. I asked what about him and the heroine and their relationship. He patted me on the shoulder and said, “You’ll figure it out.”
I can’t wait to see where this takes us.
What is the most surprising thing a character has done to you? How did you handle it?

TWEETABLE
The Joy of Character Serendipity in Writing - @RiverBendSagas (Click to Tweet)

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

He serves as Associate Director of North Texas Christian Writers. 

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.