Edie Melson's Blog, page 382

Even More Tips for a Successful Book Launch Party

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 


How to Have a Successful Book Launch Party – Part Three. 

For the last two months in From the Editor’s Desk – A No nonsense Approach to Non-Fiction, I’ve been sharing tips to prepare for a successful book launch party. 

If you missed the posts, you can read Tips for a Successful Book Launch Party Part 1 and More Tips for a Successful Book Launch Party. 
This month I’d like to share three more tips for planning and executing a successful event.
Tip #6: Have a registration table.
On this table you should have three things: a place to enter for a prize giveaway, a guest book, and an eye-catching item.
To build your email list, you want to collect emails from those who are interested in your book. A giveaway drawing is a great way to do this. In advance, prepare pre-printed slips of paper with room for someone’s name and email address. When your guests approach, have one of your helpers invite them to enter the drawing to win an autographed copy of your book or some other prize.
To add interest to the table, I placed my antique typewriter with a sheet of paper rolled into the cartridge. In bold letters, the paper invited guests to ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY OF LORI’S NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK. It was the focal point of the table and a real conversation piece. Brainstorm your own centerpiece item based on your book.
After guests register for the giveaway, thank them for coming and invite them to sign your guest registry. Instead of a blank guest book, however, use a copy of your own book and encourage your guests to sign the front pages. Signing your new release will help your guests create a treasured keepsake of your special day and make them feel valued.
Another fun decorating idea is to take an item that captures the essence of your book and use it to create a decorating theme. Because my book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time , is directed toward busy women who are always watching the clock, I gathered eight or ten different tabletop clocks and arranged them among the books and food.
Tip #7: Draft a member of your tribe to be the photographer and historian.Like your wedding day, your launch party will speed by like a Metro train in D.C. You’ll be focusing so much on your guests that you won’t have time to admire the decorations, sample the food, or even remember who came. A photographer can capture all those details so you can look back later and savor the memories.It’s also important to enlist several of your tribe to share real-time photos and updates on social media. My friends took and posted photos of my first book sale, special friends who dropped by, and the beautiful table decorations. They captured images of me signing books, hugging readers, and chatting with my editor. As the pictures popped up all over Facebook and Instagram, they created a buzz that reminded people about the event and motivated them to come on out.
Tip #8: Thank your tribe of helpers with personally inscribed books, great big hugs, and words of appreciation. Be sure to pose for a picture with your team and post it on social media. Thank your readers, too, and all who came out to the event. Soon after the event, write good old-fashioned thank you notes to everyone who helped. Let them know you couldn’t have done it without them, and that you’re committed to paying it forward.
I don’t believe it takes a village to raise a child, but I do believe it takes a tribe to launch a book.
What about you? What are your best tips for a successful book launch party? Leave a comment below and share your ideas.
TWEETABLESEven more tips for a successful book launch party - via @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Planning a book launch party? Author @LoriHatcher2 has tips for you on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of two devotional books. Her second, 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 Twitter at @LoriHatcher2 or on Facebook - Hungry for God, Starving for Time.

Keeping It All in Perspective in Publishing

Edie here. Today's guest, Dianna T. Benson, is the award-winning and international bestselling author of The Hidden Son and Final Trimester. Persephone’s Fugitiveis her third release. An EMT and a HazMat and FEMA Operative since 2005, Dianna authentically implements her medical and rescue experience and knowledge into all her suspense novels. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and their three children. www.diannatbenson.com. I hope you enjoy her insight as much as me!

Keeping it All in Perspective in Publishing
by Dianna T Benson @DiannaTBenson

Since writing is my full-time career, EMS only part-time (too intense for me for full time), I’m reminded that as an author of fictional suspense I’m just an entertainer. Unlike EMS crews and firefighters, I’m not saving lives as a writer. That truth dissipates the pressure of being an award-winning author and the expectation to produce as good (if not better) book with each new book. Sure, the pressure is there but I don’t allow it to be anything more than motivation to write my best. With my experience and time in EMS over the years, I’m able to keep my publishing career in perspective and remain grounded. Keeping it all in perspective grants me inner peace about my professional life and the wisdom not to get too caught up in any part of the publishing industry. Even though the details of our lives seem so important to us humans, the only thing that is important is how we treat each other, how we treat ourselves, and how we treat God. Everything else beyond is just a human detail. Even though I know this to be true, at times it’s difficult to keep in my mind’s forefront. During those times, I turn to God to redirect my focus for the reminder our life is not about achievements.
In addition to entertaining readers, I hope my fictional suspense shows the realism of working emergency scenes and all that the job entails in order to honor EMS crews world-wide. For anyone interested for research purposes or other reasons, below is a snippet of EMS in action….
***
Pulling up on scene in our ambulance, my partner and I respond to a cardiac arrest of a forty-six-year-old male. With our stretcher packed with our airway bag, our jump bag, and cardiac monitor/defibrillator, we push through the opened door of the restaurant. After hearing the hysterical wife explain her husband fell over in his chair seconds after the family ordered their drinks, I touch the man’s shoulder.  “Sir?”
He’s unresponsive, so I feel for a carotid artery. Pulseless. I begin chest compressions.
“Does he have any health issues? Allergies?” I ask the wife, and swallow the sadness clogging my throat at the couple’s two teenaged children crying as they hang on to each other.
“No,” the wife cries out. “Nothing.”
My partner presses defibrillator pads to our patient’s chest—one under his right clavicle, the other on his side over his left lower ribs as I continue non-stop chest compressions.
The cardiac monitor assesses the heart rhythm. The wave pattern displays on the screen, and I interpret it. “Pulseless ventricular fibrillation,” I tell my partner while he’s whipping out our IV kit.
As we defibrillate the patient, four firefighters arrive on scene.
“Take over compressions,” I say to one of the males. He does.As my partner drills a hole into our patient’s shin for intraosseous access, the preferred and more effective route over intravenous in cardiac arrest, I dig into our airway bag for an airway adjunct, an oxygen tank, and a BVM (bag valve mask). I insert the oropharyngeal airway down the patient’s throat and connect the BVM to an oxygen line to oxygenate our patient.   “Two of you bag him,” I say to three of the firefighters. One presses the mask over the patient’s mouth and nose with a tight two-handed seal, the other squeezes the football-sized bag every five seconds.
I whip out our med box and spike a bag, as my partner finishes the IO (intraosseous) line. We push 1mg epinephrine and 40 unit vasopressin into the line; the four firefighters take turns with the exhausting actions of chest compressions and bagging.
I prick the patient’s finger and a run a BGL (blood glucose level) to test for hypoglycemia. “Does he take any medications?” I ask the wife. “78 BGL,” I say, telling my partner it’s at a normal level.
“No,” the wife wails out, tears flowing out her eyes. “Why isn’t he waking up?”
“Ma’am? If you believe in prayer, focus on praying, okay?”
She nods at me with the saddest smile I’ll never forget.  
I check the pulse. Carotid still absent. We repeat defibrillation then resume chest compressions and bagging. We add 300mg of Amiodarone to the line. Then sodium bicarbonate. We start another line, this one IV in the arm, and run cold fluids in it. We repeat defibrillation then resume chest compressions and bagging. I check the carotid. Still no sign of life. We add magnesium sulfate to the IO line. We push another 1mg of epinephrine and 150mg of Amiodarone. Then doses of Procainamide and Metroprolol.
We work the code for over thirty minutes, to no avail. I’m thinking this young and healthy appearing man possibly suffered acidosis, hyperkalemia, or cardiac tamponade. Or maybe he has an undiagnosed heart condition.
“Astyole,” I say to my partner while viewing the monitor screen.
“Is that bad?” the wife wails out. “There’s only one straight line on the screen thing.”
“Keep praying,” I tell her. “How about some Atropine?” I say to my partner, and he nods. I reach for the medication to administer it.
We continue to push additional med dosages and work the full code as the firefighters continue to rotate turns with bagging and chest compressions, neither I nor my partner willing to call it. Not yet. I can’t yet let the man go, and the wife and two children aren’t ready for it….
***

Everyone is different; what works for one person doesn’t work for another. How do you keep it all in perspective? Be sure to share your insights in the comments section below.
TWEETABLEKeeping it all in perspective in the world of publishing - via @DiannaTBenson on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Persephone’s Fugitive*** SPOILER ALERT *** Reading Persephone’s Fugitive (including the book blurb) before The Hidden Son (Book One in the Cayman Islands Trilogy) will ruin the ending of The Hidden Son. However, both books are standalones. 
When a routine 911 call turns deadly, Paramedic Sara Dyer finds herself held at gunpoint by Jason Keegan, an injured psych-ward patient charged with murder. The situation spirals out of Sara’s control when the confrontation becomes a tense standoff between Keegan and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
As Keegan’s hostage, Sara fights to save them both before he blows them up. She realizes his warning to the Cayman police is no empty threat since he’d rather die than spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. Sara soon discovers Keegan is just as determined to survive as she is - provided he can escape Grand Cayman and disappear forever. As she struggles to trust in God’s protection, help from an atheist turns her struggle into a lure away from her faith.

Ten Questions to Ask Before You Decide to Become a Writer

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

I love to say I’m a writer.
I love to say I’ve written.
I love to see my name on a book cover.
But I really wish someone had asked me ten questions before I delved into the wild, zany world of a writer.
1. Do I have what it takes to become a successful writer? A person may have the gift of communicating through the written word. However, to sell and publish means learning how the craft is done properly.
2. Am I ready to spend the hours alone writing and learning about the craft? Extroverted people have more of a difficult time adhering to a solitary profession than introverts. The art of writing demands quiet hours where the mind is engaged in absorbing information and transforming ideas into a nonfiction or fiction manuscript.
3. Can I discipline myself to set goals? This is a biggie. One who works at home has to draw boundaries for him/herself, family, and friends. Begin realistically with what needs to be accomplished then put the plan to paper and on to action. I have “stickies” on my Mac to show what needs to be done and when.
4. How can I become organized in every aspect of a writer’s world? A filing system is essential. Most of a writer’s files are kept online in folders and subfolders. Read books on organization, from time management to studying the tutorials on your computer. If this is confusing to you, enlist the assistance of someone who thrives on organization.
5. Will I be able to find the tools to manage and implement social media? The internet is filled with social media experts who can instruct you and recommend specific bloggers and resources to make this part of your writing career manageable. Edie Melson is an expert on social media. This blog is a priority for me every day!
6. What do I know that will help or entertain readers? Writers offer readers a service to either provide information or entertain or both. Your life experiences, passion, and core beliefs will guide you to your expertise. Writers use blogs and social media to reach out to others. No matter what we write, it’s about reader satisfaction. Never about ourselves.
7. How do I find the best writer groups? Ask! Reach out to writers whom you admire and respect. Look for them on social media and send a message. The professional writer is aware of writer groups, both online and face-to-face, that are beneficial and offer means for growth and giving to others.
8. Where do I learn about the publishing business? Again, pose this question to writers whom you value. This doesn’t mean you are asking the writer to explain the publishing business, but it does mean you’re asking for websites and bloggers who know their stuff.
9. What publications will best help me reach my writing goals? Research what’s best for you. For the last nearly 20 years, I’ve subscribed to Writer’s Digest. The magazine has always proven to be a well-rounded source of instruction and inspiration for the writer. Romance Writers of America include the RWR - Romance Writer’s Report in their membership. The magazines are out there. Simply ask for a reference from other writers.
10. Is it wrong to want to write a bestseller? All writers have goals, and yours may be to hit the bestseller list. Go for it! Read those titles and study them. These novels are the best of the best. Figure out why.

Obviously no one asked me these questions when I realized I had to write. Even if I’d been presented with the above questions, I’d have ignored them and strapped on my writing boots. Perhaps they’ll help you to make the big decision: to write or not to write. Can you ignore the passion?

TWEETABLES
10 Questions to Ask BEFORE You Decide to Become a Writer - via @DiAnnMills on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

10 Questions best-selling author @DiAnnMills wishes she'd been asked BEFORE she became a writer (Click to Tweet)

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. 
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. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. 
DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Finding Time to Write is a Myth

Edie here. I know you've already seen several posts by this talented writer. But I finally persuaded Henry McLaughlin to become a full-time member of The Write Conversation blogging team. I'm certain you'll be as encouraged and inspired by him as me!

A Time for Every Purpose
by Henry McLaughlin @Riverbendsagas

Many times, people come up to me and say they want to write a book but can’t find the time. Aspiring writers, people who are making an effort to write, often say the same thing.
Both groups cite full time jobs, church obligations, family responsibilities and activities that prevent or hinder them from pursuing their desire to write. These are all legitimate undertakings that must be accomplished if we’re to support ourselves, raise God-centered children and contribute to our faith communities and neighborhoods.
I want to share one insight I’ve gained over the years of pursuing this writing dream: You’ll never find the time to write. You make the time to write.
When I whined to my mentor, DiAnn Mills, that I couldn’t find the time to write, her simple, straight-forward advice: GET UP EARLIER. 
Not what I wanted to hear but it took root in my heart and God nurtured it. 
Okay, he nagged me. I started getting up at 4:00 a.m. to write. This gave me at least one-and-a-half hours of solid, productive writing time every morning before I went to my day job.
Jerry B. Jenkins wrote between 9:00 p.m. and midnight so as not to take time away from his family.
One of my close writing buddies negotiated with her children (she has 6) and husband for a certain amount of undisturbed writing time each week.
A soccer-mom friend uses soccer practice to write.
Need to make time to write? Take a couple of weeks and track your time. Make a simple chart that blocks out the hours of the day and then note what you’re doing during those hours. After two weeks, you’ll be able to identify at least five hours in your present schedule for writing without having to get up earlier or stay up later. Start with your television and internet time and go from there. Set a schedule, negotiate with your family, find a writing spot and do it.

And pray. If writing is the desire of your heart, God will give you the insight into how to make the time to live out His call, His plan, for you.
Now it's your turn. What creative ways have you found to make the time to write. Share them with us in the comments section below.
TWEETABLES
Finding time to #write is a myth - writers must MAKE time to write - via Henry McLaughlin @Riverbendsagas (Click to Tweet)

Still searching for time to #write - You're looking in the wrong place - via Henry McLaughlin @Riverbensagas (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.

Learn What You Can Legally Post & Share Online—Copyright 101

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about copyright issues. Specifically, what is legal to use on a blog, social media or in a book. 
First, I want to state right up front that I am NOT a lawyer and none of what I’ve said constitutes any kind of legal advice. All I’m trying to do is share what I've learned how to be responsible online. 
That said, at the end of this post I’m going to give you some links to the places where I found my information so you can go check out the specifics for yourself.Copyright Myths—How Familiar are you with the Law?
1. I can legally post any picture on my blog if I link back to the place I got it. This isn’t even remotely true. Photos, sketches, graphics, any kind—are covered by the same copyright law as our written words.
Unfortunately, there is lots of sharing going on over the Internet and it’s not legal. When we borrow photos without permission, even when we acknowledge where we got it, we are stealing. I truly believe that’s not the intent, but we need to educate ourselves on what’s right and what’s not and then lead by example. 
2. I cannot legally use a song’s title in a post, article or book. Song titles are the ONLY part of a song we may use legally. There is something in the copyright law called fair use. Without boring you by quoting the law, it means that you can refer to part of a work without being sued. Contrary to what some think, there is no set number of words or percentage that makes up fair use. Instead, there are four factors used to define it.
The purpose and character of your use.The nature of the copyrighted work.What amount and proportion of the whole work was taken.the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.Because of the small size of a song, say compared to a book, the courts have decided that quoting ANY portion of a song, except the title is a copyright infringement. The reason you can quote a title? Titles cannot be copyrighted.
3. I can legally use someone’s blog post as long as I give them credit and don’t change anything. You cannot legally borrow someone’s blog post without their permission, even if you give them credit or link back to it. Now, there are some sites that post guidelines for you to follow to be able to use their posts. But this doesn’t mean it’s legal to do so for another site.
4. I can legally use music or a song as background for an original video as long as I credit the source. I imagine many of you got this one correct. There has been so much written and so many fines leveed in regard to stolen music, it’s almost common knowledge that you cannot borrow a song or music for your own purposes.
5. I can’t legally post YouTube videos on my blog or website. This one was a little tricky. You can legally post YouTube videos on your site, because what you’re doing is linking, not reposting. Even when you embed videos, they are still linked to YouTube.
6. If I don’t make money off of it, it’s legal for me to use. Whether you profit from borrowing someone else’s work has no bearing on the legality. 
7. I can legally quote a small percentage of the words to a song in a post, article or book. We are all used to being able to quote passages from books and not get into any kind of copyright infringement. I am here to tell you, that is NOT the case with a song. The only part of a song you may quote is the title. 
If you’ve seen songs quoted in published books either someone paid a use fee or the author wrote the song himself. I’ve known of two authors who self-published books and had to pull the books because of songs quoted without permission.
8. If I don’t have a copyright symbol on my work it’s not covered by copyright law. Copyright symbols are visual REMINDERS that what you’re reading belongs to someone. Just because there isn’t one doesn’t affect the status of what you see in print or online. If someone wrote it, it’s copyrighted. 
SPECIAL NOTE: You do not have to apply for a copyright for your work...EVER. You can registeryour copyright, but it’s expensive and cumbersome to do. And it’s rarely necessary.
9. Fair Use means I can quote 200 words of a work without getting into copyright infringement. Not true. There is no definitive number of words that can be used under the fair use portion of the copyright law. The law is written vaguely on purpose, because the infringement depends on so many things, including but not limited to, the length of the original work and the portion of the passage quoted.
10. I can legally pin anything to one of my Pinterest Boards. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE Pinterest! I guess I’m just a visual kind of girl. But there are a lot of folks getting into trouble on Pinterest right now. We have to follow ALL the copyright rules when we’re pinning, just like when we’re posting on our blogs. And, if you violate a copyright with one of your Pinterest boards you, and you ONLY, are liable for any fines or charges. You agreed to this when you opened your Pinterest account and accepted their terms of use. If you want to read them again, here is the direct link: http://pinterest.com/about/terms/
But there is one slight loophole. If someone or some business has a Pinterest button on their website, you can assume they want their stuff to be pinned and you should be okay.
11. I can legally post a picture of a book cover I recommend or am reviewing. This is an instance of Fair Use. As long as you’re not saying the book in question is written by you (if it’s not) you can legally post a review and use the cover.
12. Copyright on written works expires 70 years after it was first published. A lot of folks have heard that copyrights expire after 70 years. In some cases that’s true...but not all. There are some instances when copyright expires 70 years after the author/creators death. There are also times when copyrights are renewed. Beyond that, there are other exceptions, so while the 70 year rule is a good place to start—it’s not the place to end. 
I have an opinion about all the borrowing that is happening around the Internet. I may be an optimist, but this is my personal opinion. 
I think a lot of bloggers are generous folks...to a fault. They frequently offer their own work to others for free. With this mindset as a foundation, it doesn’t always occur to them to think of what they’re doing as stealing—they don’t see other’s borrowing as stealing, after all. 
That said, I applaud the generosity with our own work. But, we should also be willing to guard the uniqueness and value of the work of others. 
Now it’s your turn, feel free to use the comments section to let me clarify any thing that wasn’t clear or anything I didn’t cover.
Don’t forget to join the Conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESFor Writers & Bloggers: Learn what you can legally post & share online - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don't get caught by copyright infringement. Online copyright 101. @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Resources (thought I’d forgotten, didn’t you!)Good explanations of copyrighthttp://www.copyright.gov/laws/
http://www.rbs2.com/copyr.htm
http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/index.html
http://library.findlaw.com/1999/Jan/1/241476.html
Public Domain Infohttp://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
YouTube Info:http://www.thesitewizard.com/general/embed-youtube-video-copyright-matters.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/t/copyright_education

The Work of Spring

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Since Friday was the first day of spring, I thought I'd share a recent experience in the form of a photo.

Last weekend my husband and I had the opportunity to witness the shy blooming of an endangered wildflower, Oconee Bells, shortia galacifolia. These shy flowers only bloom for about two weeks in the early spring.
"Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm." -John Muir






















What evidence of spring have spied recently?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark visible.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,
Edie

Writers Beware: Butt in Chair can Kill You!

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

As writers, we sit a lot!As writers, we sit. A lot. When we’re on a roll, or fighting a deadline, we can sit for several hours without taking a break.
So what’s the big deal?
While scientists don’t understand why, they say that sitting all day combined with the hours we spend in bed increases our likelihood of heart disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. 
In other words, our sedentary lifestyles are killing us.Even more shocking, they said that throwing in an hour of daily exercise—even intense exercise—doesn’t really help. Probably because an hour of working out isn’t enough to offset the 20 or so hours we spend working at a desk, watching TV, and sleeping.
These facts were unknown to me. Until recently. My body grabbed my attention when I incurred a severe back injury while changing my pants… That’s right. I said I was changing my pants. Family and friends have suggested I make something up that sounds a lot more dangerous, like I was climbing the Empire State Building. But the truth is the truth. And it was a resounding wake-up call.
When we look at the human body, common sense tells us we were made to move. God didn’t design us to sit and lay all day. Moses didn’t lead the Israelites through the wilderness while riding in his limousine. He walked. They all walked. Hundreds of miles.
But we’re writers. We do our work with BIC (butts in chairs). We think nothing of sitting for long hours, often with bad posture. So what can we do to combat this?
The good news is we don’t have to spend several hours a day at the gym, or jogging down the street. These same researchers say that simply standing for a few minutes every hour will greatly decrease our health risks from sitting. The goal is to cut out two or three hours of daily sitting.
We can stand while writingThere are some additional steps we can take. We can upgrade our laptops to the newer, light weight models that will operate for many hours without charging. This allows us to move from a desk to say a countertop where we can stand while writing. We can buy or build a standing desk. Many options for purchase or DIY can be found online.
I’m installing a laptop desk on my treadmill so I can stroll while writing.
Whether we’re aging or just falling apart, it’s important to exercise. It’s one way to love ourselves as God commands us to do. It doesn’t have to be the over-exuberant, painful exercising of infomercial fame. Simply keep moving. And if slimming down is one of our goals, it’s good to add some weight resistance to our routines.
Remember, “No pain, no gain” is a lie. Exercise should not hurt. Yes, there’ll be some soreness, but if it’s keeping us from performing our normal tasks, then we’re overdoing it.
So what do you do to “love yourself” in a way that will keep you moving? Please share with us. Let’s keep the conversation going.
TWEETABLESWriters Beware: Butt in Chair can Kill You - options for writing that are good for us - @BDBrady007 (Click to Tweet)
Taking care of ourselves can make us better writers - via @BDBrady007 on @EdieMelson (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.”

4 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Editor

by Harrison Demchick @HDemchick
We all need editing.So after many months, and maybe even years, you’ve finally completed your very first manuscript. You’re proud of what you’ve accomplished, but at the same time, when you read through your work, you know you’re not quite where you want to be. Something isn’t clicking, and you don’t know what or why, so you’ve made the decision to bring on an editor.
Great idea! We all need an editor. (Even those of us who are, in fact, editors.) But if you’re new to the publishing industry, odds are you don’t really have a clear idea of what you should be looking for. The internet is filled with eager and enthusiastic people claiming that they, and only they, can enable you to complete the very best version of your story. Who do you pick? How do you know?
What KIND of an editor?1. What kind of editor do I need?Are you looking for feedback on your story? Are you concerned about characterization? Conflict? Description and dialogue? Then what you want is a developmental editor. A developmental editor, sometimes called a substantive or content editor, works with you on the big-picture issues—everything from character arc to logic to writing style.

If you’re looking more for someone to catch all the spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, then what you need is a copyeditor. And if you want someone who will make more intensive changes than that, ensuring that each sentence is as strong as it can be, you want a line editor.
Knowing what you want is the first fundamental step toward finding your editor. Also helpful is knowing when you want these editors. A developmental editor typically appears early in the process, while a copyeditor usually comes in toward the end, when all substantive issues have been resolved.
2. But can’t I just have someone do both at the same time?You can. But you shouldn’t.
The problem with simultaneous developmental editing and copyediting (which I practiced myself for many years) is that you’ll probably end up paying for copyediting at least twice. Suppose a substantial logic issue uncovered in the developmental editing necessitates a complete rewrite of Chapters 6 through 10. What was the point of having those chapters copyedited? You’ll only need them copyedited again once you rewrite them.
Focusing on one form of editing at a time keeps the process efficient and effective.
How do I know if someone is a good editor?3. How do I know if someone is a good editor?Here’s the really tricky part. Everyone with an English degree and a love of reading believes they can be an editor, but the truth of the matter is that editing, like any creative field, requires a particular set of skills. A developmental editor needs a unique combination of creativity and logic. A copyeditor needs a near-perfect eye for error. And these are probably skills you’re not in a position to evaluate.
So what can you evaluate?
You can look at experience. Does this editor have a background in the publishing field, or is she just starting out? Does she have a history of published books? Are there previous clients you can speak with? Someone who has been succeeding in this field for more than five years or so is probably pretty good at their job.
Consider your manuscript as well. Does this editor have experience in your genre? You don’t want to send a fantasy novel to an editor whose emphasis is prescriptive nonfiction. (Or vice versa.)
4. Can’t I save a lot of money by hiring someone without experience?Sure. But it’s pretty risky.
In much the same way that you wouldn’t hire a med student to perform a tracheotomy or a law student to defend you in court, you should be wary about bringing in an amateur to edit your manuscript. You could wind up with a prodigy, but it’s more likely that you won’t, and without experience there’s really no way to be sure. Some seek out sample edits to alleviate this, but honestly, you learn a lot more from an editor’s history than from five pages of free edits—especially when you are, again, probably not in a position to evaluate.
That’s the other consideration. If you’re a first-time author, you get a lot more from someone who knows the field than someone every bit as new to this as you are. You will save money—there are tons of aspiring editors ready to work below minimum wage on your manuscript—but if your manuscript doesn’t improve, then it doesn’t really matter.
What are some other questions to ask a prospective editor? What’s worked for you? What hasn’t? Share your own editorial experiences in the conversation below!
TWEETABLES4 Questions to ask BEFORE Hiring a Freelance Editor - via @HDemchick on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Hiring an Editor, @HDemchick shares the questions you should ask BEFORE you choose someone (Click to Tweet)
Harrison Demchick came up in the world of small press publishing, working on more than fifty published novels and memoirs, several of which have been optioned for film. An expert in manuscripts as diverse as young adult, science-fiction, fantasy, mystery, literary fiction, women's fiction, memoir, and everything in-between, Harrison is known for quite possibly the most detailed editorial letters in the industry—if not the entire universe.

Harrison is also an award-winning, twice-optioned screenwriter, and the author of literary horror novel The Listeners (Bancroft Press, 2012). He's currently accepting new clients in fiction and memoir at The Writer's Ally (http://thewritersally.com).

Why Using Networked Blogs isn't Helpful for Building an Online Platform

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Lately I've seen a resurgence of an old Facebook app, Networked blogs. Truthfully, I didn't think anyone still used this. But it's come up, so I thought it would be a good idea to share what is involved with this app.


This is an app you sign up for on Facebook. Over time a new post is published, Networked Blogs picks it up, publishes it to Facebook and also to Twitter. 
On the surface it looks like a great idea.
BUT, as most things that look too good to be true, it's not a good idea. Here's why:
1. As I've said before, interaction, shares and click throughs are much lower when it's a computer generated post. This is due to the fact that we, as a social media audience, are much more savvy and just don't bother when the post is generated from a computer.
2. Since Facebook has instigated the Edgerank Algorithm (which decides what posts show up on your newsfeed) they are penalizing updates shared through an app - including their own Networked Blogs app!!!! Anything shared by an app ranks as less important and garners less organic shares from FB.
3. Networked blogs doesn't lead to click throughs to your blog site because it's mirrored (hosted) on the Facebook App. It looks like your blog, but the URL is different. All those people who think they're visiting your blog, really aren't. And your numbers on your blog site will reflect that. You are essentially building FB's platform, not yours.
4. Facebook has mentioned (in the past year) that they are getting ready to discontinue Networked Blogs. This isn't reflected on the Networked blogs site, but if you do a quick search of Networked blogs on Google, you'll notice there's very little new that's been written about this app since 2011. There's a reason for that—it's outdated and just not a good idea.
For those who'd like outside verification (and I applaud you for digging deeper) here are a couple of blog posts, completely unrelated to me, that give you other bloggers opinions of the Networked Blogs App. I had to dig to find recent posts because really no one is talking about this app.
http://www.dilipstechnoblog.com/2014/09/why-networkedblogs-may-not-be-good-idea.html
http://joinchado.empowernetwork.com/blog/networkedblogs-eyes-on-content 

Now I'd like to know what your experience has been with this app? Also if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comments section below.

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

TWEETABLES
Using Networked Blogs may be hurting your online platform - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Why Using Networked Blogs isn't Helpful for Building an Online Platform - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

3 Keys to Writing Memoir

Edie here. Today I'm excited to introduce you to a new member of The Write Conversation blogging team, Lucinda Secrest McDowell. I know you're going to love her as much as I do!

3 Keys to Writing Memoir
by Lucinda Secrest McDowell

“So what?”

Unfortunately, that may be just the response when you say you want to write a memoir. Why do you do it anyway?

To communicate a true story. Your story. Or at least part of it.
For a long time, the only people writing memoir were those who were rich, famous or extremely influential. But today anyone can write a memoir – and memoir stories are showing up in blogs, devotionals, and a whole variety of non-fiction books.

Why in the world would people read your memoir?

To gather important lessons, insight and perspective to help in their own personal stories.

Writer Douglas Crow puts it rather bluntly, “Nobody cares about your book. What people truly want is to improve their lives. The only reason someone may find your story interesting is how it relates to them.”
I’d like to encourage you to write your memoir, even if you aren’t rich, famous or particularly influential. Just remember these 3 keys to writing a memoir that people will read: Memoirs include a theme.Memoirs include a Theme
Don’t try to tell your whole life story. Pick one theme and weave stories using that thread. The theme you choose must be universal, yet personal, something others can relate to, even if they have never experienced exactly what you have. Memoir doesn’t work when it’s just a bunch of unrelated stories – there must be something that ties them together. How do you choose which theme? Brainstorm some of the most significant watershed moments in your life. As you do, certain constants will emerge --- perseverance over challenges, learning from bad choices, helping the underdog, etc. Remember to include a vital takeaway.

Memoirs are Interesting
Please don’t give us every single word that every person said when that thing happened to you. Just because it occurred doesn’t make it interesting. But if you use storytelling techniques you can make even the most ordinary everyday incident absolutely fascinating. Just don’t stretch the truth (remember James Frey and Brian Williams…) Use fiction techniques in writing your own non-fiction. And be sure to grab the reader from the very beginning with a great opening scene, perhaps even the pivotal moment of decision. Use dialogue to be vivid in your storytelling.
Memoirs are personal, yet universalMemoirs are Personal, yet Universal
A truly good memoir is one we can all connect to in some way. It’s not just your autobiography; it’s about something bigger than just you. What are people going to do after they read it? Are they moved to make a decision, pursue a dream or change a habit? Perhaps the trickiest part of memoir is the personal vulnerability. 
In memoir, writers are willing to work our way into our readers’ hearts through honest sharing of the hard parts of our story. Honesty is not the same thing as confession (blurting out stuff for shock value.) And you don’t have to include every detail. As Meghan Daum observes, “Honesty means making the reader feel less alone. Honesty is inherently generous. Confession is needy and intrusive.” Pray before you share your story and ask God to help you do it in a redeeming manner.

As you write memoir, remember that readers are looking for your story to help them live their story. If we tell our story well, others will discover insight and inspiration valuable to their own lives. For those of us who are followers of Christ, this is the very reason we write, isn’t it?

“Every word You give me is a miracle word — how could I help but obey?

Break open Your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.”

Psalm 119.129-130 MSG

Live your story. Write your story. And embrace your role in God’s great Kingdom Story.

TWEETABLES"Memoirs are personal, yet universal." 3 Keys to #writing Memoir with @LucindaSMcDowell (Click to Tweet)
Learn the 3 keys to #writing memoir with @LucindaSMcDowell on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Lucinda Secrest McDowell, M.T.S., is the author of 11 books, contributing author to 25 books, and has published in more than 50 magazines. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, she studied at the Wheaton Graduate School of Communication and served as Communications Specialist for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (Thailand) and Editor for Billy Graham’s International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists (Netherlands). A member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), she has received “Writer of the Year” awards from both Mt. Hermon and Blue Ridge Writers Conferences. Cindy speaks internationally through her ministry “Encouraging Words” and co-directs the New England Christian Writers Retreat. Known for her ability to convey deep truth in practical and winsome ways, she writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England. Visit her online at www.EncouragingWords.net 

Links   www.NewEnglandChristianWritersRetreat.com
Blog/website  www.EncouragingWords.net