Edie Melson's Blog, page 428

Weekend Worship—What If…NOT a Place for Believers to Dwell

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
This past week our family had quite a scare. 
Our youngest son was back home from college and at a trampoline park with friends. He landed wrong and broke his back. 
Fortunately there was no spinal cord damage.
Now, I’m good in a crisis. For some reason what makes other people panic creates in me to the ability to act clearly and decisively. So when they brought him home, I was woman-in-control. I can be calm and clear-headed in the worst catastrophe.
At least until the crisis is over.
Then I fall apart—sometimes for several days. The slightest things will bring uncontrollable sobs. And it’s all because I’ve taken up residence in the place of What If.
We’ve all been there, caught in the unending loop of shoulda, woulda, coulda. We replay scenarios, letting our minds wander from bad to worse.If the break had been on millimeter to the left or the right.If we hadn’t gone ahead and taken him to the emergency room.If there had been swelling. 
The dark places of What If are populated with nightmares of our own imaginings.
But this isn’t a place that believers need to go. We are protected from the horrors of what if by an all-seeing God. He never sleeps, and He never relaxes His vigilance on our behalf.
This doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen—far from it in this world. BUT we have His promise that He will take those tragedies and turn them into good. He has our future well in hand.
So when you’re tempted to vacation in the land of What If , take a deep breath, look up and choose to dwell in the land of certainty. It’s a place of welfare, not disaster, and it’s filled with hope.

What If…NOT a Place for Believers to Dwell

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
This past week our family had quite a scare. 
Our youngest son was back home from college and at a trampoline park with friends. He landed wrong and broke his back. 
Fortunately there was no spinal cord damage.
Now, I’m good in a crisis. For some reason what makes other people panic creates in me to the ability to act clearly and decisively. So when they brought him home, I was woman-in-control. I can be calm and clear-headed in the worst catastrophe.
At least until the crisis is over.
Then I fall apart—sometimes for several days. The slightest things will bring uncontrollable sobs. And it’s all because I’ve taken up residence in the place of What If.
We’ve all been there, caught in the unending loop of shoulda, woulda, coulda. We replay scenarios, letting our minds wander from bad to worse.If the break had been on millimeter to the left or the right.If we hadn’t gone ahead and taken him to the emergency room.If there had been swelling. 
The dark places of What If are populated with nightmares of our own imaginings.
But this isn’t a place that believers need to go. We are protected from the horrors of what if by an all-seeing God. He never sleeps, and He never relaxes His vigilance on our behalf.
This doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen—far from it in this world. BUT we have His promise that He will take those tragedies and turn them into good. He has our future well in hand.
So when you’re tempted to vacation in the land of What If , take a deep breath, look up and choose to dwell in the land of certainty. It’s a place of welfare, not disaster, and it’s filled with hope.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!

Tips to Adjust Your Writing Schedule and Enjoy the Holidays!

by Edie Melson

The holidays can be stressfulThe holidays can be a stressful time for anyone. But for those of us who work from home, the juggling act can be a minefield of unreasonable expectations and disappointments. And turning off your computer for a month and half isn't the answer. It's hard to restart a productive routine after taking a month off.

Today I want to share some tips to adjust your writing schedule and enjoy the holidays.


Observe. Refill your imagination tank. When you’re at a Christmas party or the mall, take a small notepad and notice something interesting about everyone there. Maybe it’s a small quirk (like a woman who constantly tucks her hair behind her ear or a new turn of phrase – like Oh for Crying in the Sink. I thought I’d die the first time I heard Susie say that)
Set small goals to stay on trackSet small goals. I struggle with my weight because I love to eat – especially baked goods. Now I have a rule for every Christmas treat I eat, like a cookie, I’m going to write 250 words first. Or Finish a blog post, or write a portion of a devotions. Something productive. I learned this one from a  friend of mine, Lynn Blackburn
And on this, rethink your blogging schedule. Maybe you should reduce the number of posts you put up during the holidays. Truthfully it won’t hurt your presence because people have less time to read blogs during December.
Use the buddy system.I have several writer friends with whom I have a standing agreement. Anytime I’m in a jam for a blog post, I’m welcome to steal something they’ve written on their sites.
Catch up on your readingCatch up on your reading. Visit those blogs you’ve been meaning to read. Find a book on craft and read it. There’s lots of waiting that goes on during the holidays, use it.
You can also use this time to read books in your genre and/or hang out on Goodreads making a to-be-read list for next year.
Rest. Set realistic goals and give yourself a pass on pounding out thousands of words on your WIP. Enjoy your family and friends. You’ll be fresher and stronger when the New Year rolls around.
Now I'd love to hear from you. What are some things you do to readjust your schedule and enjoy the holidays?
Don't forget to join the conversation!BlessingsEdie
Tweetables
The holidays can be stressful. @EdieMelson shares tips to adjust your writing schedule, stay on track and enjoy the season! (Click to Tweet)
Don't let the holidays derail your #writing goals. @EdieMelson gives you her tips to adjust and keep moving forward. (Click to Tweet)

Social Media Monday—Add a Custom Tab to Your Professional Facebook Page

by Edie Melson
Facebook is a valuable tool when it comes to social media. BUT, it’s important to make sure those who follow you on one platform, can find you on the others. There are several ways to do this:Make sure your user name/profile name is the same or very similar.Keep your profile picture consistent. It doesn’t have to be the exact same pose, but make sure you are recognizable.Make sure your blog/website is linked on all of them.
Number three is the one I want to focus on today. I’m going to give you step-by-step instructions on how to add a custom tab to your professional Facebook page.

Above is a picture of my Facebook Page. The pink arrows point to the two tabs (boxes) that I linked to my blog sites. Unfortunately, FB doesn't make adding these custom tabs easy.

Step-by-step Directions for Adding Custom TabsHere is the link you need to go to to add these tabs: 
https://www.facebook.com/iframehost?sk=app_208195102528120
Once there, click on SETTINGSChoose URLEnter the URL of your website or blog.Do NOT change any other default settings until you scroll down to the Change the Tab NameChange the Tab Name to either Visit My Blog, or your blog's title. On my tabs, the first one links to this blog, The Write Conversation. That's too long to fit under the tab so I used, VISIT MY BLOG. For my Steampunk blog, I abbreviated it. But it's important that EVERYTHING you want to say fits on ONLY one line under the image of the tab.Now Click on Change Tab Image and choose the image you want to use.Finally, Click save settings. Then scroll up and click Grant Permission to Application.Special Note: I had to go back and click save a couple of times on the Steampunk addition, so it may be necessary to play around with it a bit to get everything to show up correctly.
Now, once you've got the image set you're going to need to rearrange the order of your tabs. 
Once again, Facebook seems to have made this as difficult as possible. The reason you want to rearrange the tabs is because when someone visits your FB page, only the first 4 tabs will show. If a visitor want to see more, they must click the arrow.
To change the order of your tabs, Click on the small box on the row of tabs. See the screenshot above, the pink arrow is pointing to the box (mine has a 1 in it).
After you click that, you'll see both rows of possible tabs for your page. When you hover over a tab, a small pencil icon will appear in the upper right corner. (see screenshot below)

When you click that pencil icon, a drop-down menu will appear. You'll see the words, SWAP POSITIONS WITH. Choose the tab that's in the position where you want your new tab to be placed. (see screenshot below)

Special Note: The first tab is always photos. You can never its position.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, be sure to post them in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
Tweetables:It's not always easy to customize your Facebook page. Social Media expert @EdieMelson shares the tips you need! (Click to Tweet)
Link your blog on your Facebook page by customizing your tabs. Social Media expert @EdieMelson shows you how. (Click to Tweet)

Weekend Worship—Working with Us?

Edie Melson
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
I am constantly amazed that the God of the universe has chosen to work through us. I don’t know about you, but I am totally unworthy and unequipped for the honor. And looking at the condition of our world, I have to occasionally throw my hands up in frustration and ask, “What were you thinking?” Obviously, if He were doing the work Himself, we’d all be a lot better off

…or would we. Some of my fondest memories as I was growing up were times I spent in the kitchen with my grandmother. She’d back a kitchen chair up to the counter, wrap one her old aprons twice around me and together we’d spend the afternoon cooking. My grandmother never used recipes and I don’t ever remember seeing her open a cookbook. All her skill—and it was impressive—was completely intuitive. No matter how many dishes she had on the stove, or in the oven, she always knew when one needed a pinch of salt, an addition of bacon fat or to be plucked—perfectly done—from the oven.
But with all her skill, she always found a way to include me and make me a vital part of the process. She could have gotten the meals on the table much faster without my childish help, but I know she enjoyed our time together as much as me. I’m certain of this because I did the same thing with my boys. I included them, not because I needed their help, but because I wanted to spend time with them and maybe teach them something in the process.
God does the same thing with us. He doesn’t need our help or our resources, but he includes us because we’re precious to him.
And, just maybe, we’ll learn something in the process.

Social Media Image—The Power of Words

Oh the power of words—to hurt, to heal, to help.
When have the words of someone else helped you? 

"Be silent or let thy words be worth more than silence." -PythagorasShare 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

Life Lessons—What's in a Name?

by Reba J Hoffman, Ph.D

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting a local writer’s group. I went to the sign-in table, promptly wrote a name on a visitor’s name tag and plastered it onto my denim jacket. A member of the writing group who’s also an editor immediately noticed I didn’t use my own name.
Okay… besides the fact that I’m not tall with gorgeous red hair and dozens of best-selling suspense novels, how did this person know I was not award winning author Brandilyn Collins? Oh wait. That’s for another blog post.
I spent a couple of hours with this lovely group of writers. Yesterday I was in my office (the café at Barnes and Noble) editing my manuscript. I needed a break and began walking around the store browsing the stacks of books.
I looked up and saw this editor walking toward me. When I approached to swap howdies with her, I called her by name. She stopped dead in her tracks. She couldn’t believe I remembered her name. That really impressed her.
We chatted for a few minutes, during which time I made a reference to her being an editor. Again, she was stunned.
“There were so many people there. I can’t believe you remembered that about me.”
It made such an impact on her because I remembered her name and what she did for a living.
Dear precious writers, now read this! What’s in a name? E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G!
I’ve heard people say they’re just not good with names. I’ve been guilty of saying that myself. Yet, remembering someone’s name and using it when referring to them is the ONE most critical thing you as a writer can do to get readers to keep buying your books.
And, free of charge, I’m going to tell you why you have such trouble remembering names. It’s quite simple, really. Ready?
When you’re being introduced to someone, you’re not listening for their name. You should be, but you’re not. You’re listening for your name. That’s mindboggling if you think about it. I mean, we know our own name. Most often, the person introducing us knows our name and will get it right. We need to know the other person’s name and yet, we’re tuned in to hear our own.
So, all you have to do is change your focus. Make a concerted effort to listen for the other person’s name. Make a note of it. Say it out loud in a, “nice to meet you, Robin,” statement. That way, you’ve heard it, said it and confirmed it with them. You’ll remember it. Not to mention dazzle your readers and make them stick with you for life!
Remember what’s in a name. Many times, their name is all they have. Honor people by using their name. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give to them… and yourself. And it’s completely free!

Have you had a situation where someone surprisingly called you by name? Or you called them by name? Share it here!
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.

A Good Friend of Mine I Never Met—The True Value of Social Media

by Edie Melson
A casual remark caused me to stop and think.I was chatting with a group of writers at a recent meeting and a random comment stopped me in my tracks.
“I learned that from a good friend of mine I never met.”
I held up my hand for everyone’s attention and asked the speaker to repeat what she’d just said. She gave me an odd look, but complied. The rest of the group mirrored her puzzled expression. I had to laugh before I explained.
“That statement is so commonplace we don’t even register the paradox within it.” As I continued to explain they began to see the irony.
Part of the My Book Therapy Core Team - representing
four different states, SC, MN, IA, COIt really wasn’t so long ago that a close friend was defined as someone we’d spent actual, physical time with. As a society, we bonded person to person.
Now we still spend actual time with people, but we don’t have to be in the physical proximity of someone to become close friends.
That odd statement is at the core of what makes social media valuable. It gives us the opportunity to connect—on a meaningful level—with people that may never sit in the same room as us.
I’m in no way advocating we forego gathering together, but I do think it’s good to broaden our horizons and reach out online.
More of the MBT Team, 3 more states
PA, FL, IARight now I can name at least six people that I consider close friends and I’ve never even been in the same state with them, much less the same room. These are people I pray for regularly and who pray for me. We exchange regular texts, instant messages and social media messages.
More than that, many of my online friends have become advocates for the things I write. They share notices about my books and articles, and I do the same for them. We do it because we’re friends and because we believe in each other’s work.
So I’m curious, how many of you have good friends that you’ve never met? I’d love to hear your stories of how you met and how you’ve contributed to each other’s lives.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,
Edie
TweetablesA good friend of mine I've never met - the true value of social media. (Click to Tweet)
I love social media because of the relationships it brings. (Click to Tweet)

Business Basics for Today’s Writer—Learn the CORRECT Way to Use Quotation Marks

by Edie Melson


I don’t do this often, but sometimes my inner editor just can’t take it anymore. So today I’m letting her loose with a personal rant about quotation marks. And we're begging you all to take a few moments, and learn the correct way to use quotation marks.
HINT: Quotations marks are not to EVER be used for emphasis—more on that later.
Quotation Mark Basics
Usage OneQuotation marks are used to denote the spoken words in a dialogue. They are not used for an internal dialogue (thoughts).
When you are writing dialogue, the punctuation marks go inside the quotation marks.
Example:“It’s a beautiful day outside,” said Tammie.
I’m not going to give you all the ins and outs of correctly formatting dialogue because I’ve already done that on the post, FictionTechniques for Non-fiction Writers—Write Dialogue Correctly. 
Usage TwoQuotation marks are used within a sentence to denote a word-for-word phrase taken from somewhere else. This is used primarily in research writing.
Example:As Susan always reminded us, “pretty is as pretty does.”
Usage ThreeQuotation marks are used for titles of shorter works. Longer works are denoted by italics. How do you tell the difference? Here’s a good rule of thumb. If it’s the piece of a whole, use quotes.
Example:A song would be in quotes, but the album would be in italics.
Usage FourQuotation marks can be used to express irony.
Example:My dog Jake was really “sad” when I dropped raw hamburger on the kitchen floor.
Needless to say, he was thrilled when I dropped raw hamburger on the kitchen floor.
INCORRECT USAGE The fourth usage for quotation marks has led to a lot of misuse—that of placing quotes around a word the author wants to emphasize.
I once saw the following sign:

“FREE”Writers Workshop“ALL” writers welcome
The person who put up the sign wanted to emphasize the words FREE and ALL. What they were doing was telling those who read the sign that the workshop wasn’t free and there were some writers who wouldn’t be welcome. YIKES!
I also see this a lot in blogging. 
Here’s an example:“Wisdom” is the word I’ve chosen to celebrate this coming year.
What the blogger above is actually saying is that the word for the coming year is anything “but” wisdom. (Did you catch the mistake in this sentence too?)
The correct way to emphasize a word is to put it in italics. You can also use all caps and/or bolding.
Example:Wisdom is the word I’ve chosen to celebrate this coming year.

What the blogger above is actually saying is that the words for the coming year is anything but wisdom.
This post may seem like nitpicking, but truthfully our knowledge about craft says a lot about our commitment to professionalism. 
I remind writers that this is a great time to have chosen writing as a career. BUT that also means there's lots of competition out there. Anything you can do to prove your excellence will help you to stand out in the crowd—in a good way. 
Because really, do you want something you wrote to end up on one of my favorite blogs, The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks? 


Do you have a quotation mark question? Or have you seen a funny misusage of quotes? Share them in the comments section below.
And don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie

Tweetables
Remember, quotation marks should NOT be used for emphasis! (Click to Tweet)

Stop quotation mark abuse! Learn how to use them correctly. (Click to Tweet)