How Writers Can Turn Their Dream Into a Finished Manuscript: The Power of Measurable Writing Goals

From Edie: Learn how to turn your writing dream into a completed manuscript by setting clear, measurable goals. This practical guide shows writers how to break big projects into achievable daily word counts, stay accountable, and build the momentum needed to finish their book with confidence.

How Writers Can Turn Their Dream Into a Finished Manuscript: The Power of Measurable Writing Goals

by Ginny Cruz, MPA, PT

You carry a dream of writing. Maybe it's a memoir, a devotional, or a novel. No matter the size of your manuscript, if you're going to move from a dream to a completed writing project, you need goals.

10 Time Thieves That Steal a Writer’s Productivity—and How to Take Your Writing Time Back

From Edie: Discover the most common time thieves that steal a writer’s productivity—and practical steps to reclaim your writing time. Learn how to overcome hidden distractions, build better habits, and stay focused so you can write with clarity, purpose, and consistency.

10 Time Thieves That Steal a Writer’s Productivity—and How to Take Your Writing Time Back

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

As writers, one of our most valuable resources is time—especially time to write. We dream about it, plan for it, even run away to find it. Yet it’s often ourselves who stand in the way of having the time we need to write.

Today I’d like to share some hidden—and some not so hidden—time thieves.

A Social Media Advent Calendar for Writers: 25 Creative Christmas Posts to Bless and Engage Your Readers

From Edie: Make December easier and more meaningful with this ready-to-use Social Media Advent Calendar for writers. Discover 25 creative Christmas post ideas designed to bless your readers, spark engagement, and help you connect with your audience throughout the holiday season.

A Social Media Advent Calendar for Writers: 25 Creative Christmas Posts to Bless and Engage Your Readers

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Social media isn’t a favorite thing for a lot writers and speakers. And for many it brings a great deal of stress. But it IS a great way to connect with those we serve. This year, I’d like to offer you a gift—a way to connect with your readers that’s already organized and ready to go. 

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out something that would help you, WITHOUT adding additional stress. And this is what I’ve come up with—a social media advent calendar for writers to use to bless their audience.

How to Use the Writer's Social Media Advent Calendar

• 1. The list below is organized by day. Each day is explained, if needed. You have two choices every day, you can create an image for each post, or you can use the image I provide for each day for all my newsletter subscribers.

• 2. At the end of this post is the link to download the e-booklet You are welcome to download each image and use it as you please. Each image is copyright free and free to use. (All images were created in Canva) 

Social Media Advent Calendar for Writers to Bless Their Readers

December 1

Create an Acrostic with the word PEACE. You can use each letter as the beginning of a word, or a phrase, or you can use the letter somewhere inside the word. The idea is to stretch your creativity and encourage your audience to do the same! (The image to the left is what I created for day one. I'm including and the one for December 2 so you can see what you'll get when you subscribe)

I came up with this one: 

Perfectly

Encouraged

After 

Christ

Empowers.

December 2

This is a Challenge. Ask your followers to Create a Christmas Bucket List. I’ve found in years past that when the holiday season was finished I had regrets—things I’d wished I’d taken time to do. To combat this, I began creating a Christmas Bucket List to help me stay on track. The things I include are

• Ask God to give me the eyes to see a miracle this holiday season
• Take time to go Christmas caroling
• Give me the opportunity to bless a stranger
• Go ice skatingContemplate a starry night and how it must have been in Bethlehem

December 3

This or That: Real or Artificial Greenery? This is the chanced to get your audience to participate. People have strong feelings about certain parts of the holidays, for some it’s whether the tree and greenery is real or artificial!

December 4

What day do you decorate and what day do you take the décor down? This is another question that people are very opinionated about! 

December 5

Gift Exchange Ideas. I always have several gift exchange parties during the holidays. Many of them have limits on how much can be spent. So asking my followers for good ideas is a great way to get something unusual.

December 6

Share a Funny/Happy Christmas Pet Story. Most people either have pets, used to have a pet or know someone who has a pet. And our furry friends usually give us some great stories—some funny and some precious—to share during the holiday. 

December 7

Favorite Christmas Movie. We all have them—a movie or TV special that we must see during the holidays. Ask your followers to chime on with theirs and maybe we’ll all discover some new viewing favorites!

December 8

Favorite Place to Visit During the Holidays. There is a certain street in a neighborhood nearby that we always make sure to visit because the Christmas lights are always so beautiful. I have a friend who visits a certain town, and another who absolutely loves the beach at Christmas. 

December 9

This or That: White Lights or Colored Lights? Here’s another opportunity to let your audience chime in with their preferences. Here in our family, we’re a house divided—Kirk loves colored lights and I’m partial to white lights. So we have TWO Christmas trees—and now we’re both happy!

December 10

Favorite Christmas Craft. You knew I’d have to squeeze this one in. I love knitting, crocheting and crafting in general. Every year I try to come up with a Christmas craft that allows me to share my creativity. One year I took light bulb ornaments, used a paint pen to add the year and a Bible verse and tied the ornament with a ribbon. I kept these in a box by the front door and everyone who came to the house got to choose one to take home.

December 11

Share an old picture from a Christmas Past. We all have them. Photos from Christmas past. Some are cute and some include 80s hair and ugly sweaters (back when we thought the sweaters were pretty). Now’s the time to share!

December 12

Favorite Gift Given/Received. We all remember those special gifts that made a lasting impression. Share yours and ask your audience to share theirs.

December 13

Favorite Christmas Carol. Music is an integral part of the holidays for most of us. Kirk and I got married on December 19 and I had a flutist play What Child is This during the ceremony. So every time we hear that carol, we’re transported to that precious day!

December 14

Share your tradition(s). What absolutely has to happen every year? Is it a food, a gathering, a certain ornament or all of the above? Share your traditions, ask your audience to do the same and we might all begin making new traditions!

December 15

Challenge: Give Back at Christmas. I have friend who purchases several $5 gift cards and takes one day to hand them out to strangers. Others fill shoeboxes or serve food at a soup kitchen. This is a great time to show the love of God so let’s spur each other on with new ideas.

December 16

This or That: Gift Card or Gift. Here’s another hot button topic. Some people are offended by gift cards, others adore them. (I fall in the adore-receiving-them-camp.) This will be another way to get the conversation humming on your social media feed.

December 17

Favorite Dessert. What’s yours? Gingerbread, chocolate chip cookies, pie or something more adventurous. This year our local critique group discovered we all have a different recipe for something called Christmas Crack. So we’ve planned a party around that theme. We’re all bring our version ready-made and a copy of the recipe to share. I’m putting together an ebook of all our recipes and we’ll have a fun keepsake to remember our precious friendships.

December 18

Conversation Ideas for Family Gatherings. We all have them and sometimes they can be awkward. Here’s an opportunity to get some ideas for conversation starters to keep the verbal ball from injuring someone! 

December 19

Favorite Holiday Drink. Kirk loves hot chocolate and wassil. I’m a fan of coffee flavored drinks. Do you have favorite beverage that enhances a quiet holiday evening at home or with friends?

December 20

Focus on the Reason for the Season. We’re in the home stretch and many of your online friends will be weary of the chaos and superficiality that creeps in. So help them redirect their focus by sharing what you do to remember why it’s called CHRISTmas!

December 21

Memories of Childhood Christmas. What do you remember from your childhood Christmas’s? Now’s the time to wax nostalgic and encourage your online friends to do the same. 

December 22

Funny Christmas Catastrophe. We all have them, the year something went wrong on Christmas. Ours is a humdinger. One year we bought our 16-year-old son his dream car—an old model Jeep. Kirk went to pick it up on Christmas Eve after the boys went to bed and it died on the way home. Instead of a car in the driveway, all our son got was a box of keys and the long wait while we had the engine replaced after the mechanic got back to work.

December 23

Favorite Christmas Eve Tradition. For me, it wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without a candlelight service at church. Before kids we attended the midnight service, now we opt for the one earlier in the day. 

December 24

What does Jesus mean to you at Christmas? In my opinion, this is the opportunity to share our hearts with those we may never meet in person. By talking about what Jesus means to me, I have the ability to introduce someone to my Savior. When we share our hearts honestly, we encourage and empower others to do the same. Who knows, this one question might break the internet—in a GOOD way!

December 25

Merry Christmas! This one is all yours. I didn’t include an image because I want you to send this one yourself. 

So here it is, my gift to you. Please know that each of you is a loved and treasure part of my community. I adore doing life with you!

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Social Media Idea e-Booklet to download!

TWEETABLE

A Social Media Advent Calendar for Writers: 25 Creative Christmas Posts to Bless and Engage Your Readers from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Edie uses the truths God has taught her as an author, photographer, and blogger to encourage others. She’s learned to embrace the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. As a sought-after speaker, she’s empowered and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others call on God’s strength during challenging times, often using creativity to empower this connection. She also knows the necessity of Soul Care and leads retreats, conferences, and workshops on ways to use creativity to help strengthen our connection with God. 

She and husband Kirk have been married 43+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found with their big black dog hiking the mountains.

How Writers Should Respond to Their Royalty Statements: Encouragement, Wisdom, and Practical Next Steps

From Edie: Learn how to respond with wisdom, gratitude, and faith when your royalty statement arrives—whether the numbers make you sigh or celebrate. This practical and encouraging guide helps writers view their sales through God’s perspective and outlines meaningful next steps for your writing journey.

How Writers Should Respond to Their Royalty Statements: Encouragement, Wisdom, and Practical Next Steps

by Lori Hatcher

You’ve opened your latest royalty statement. Are you sighing or celebrating? 

Every writer I know holds their breath when the much awaited/much dreaded royalty statement appears in their mailbox. Will it show phenomenal book sales or pitiful ones? Will we find a check with lots of zeroes or a sales report with lots of zeroes? Will our book have (finally) earned out its advance or is it selling slowly, ten books at a time?

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers Part 1: How to Strengthen Your Manuscript One Step at a Time

From Edie: Learn the first essential step in effective self-editing: letting your manuscript rest so you can return with clarity, distance, and fresh eyes. In this opening article of The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Henry McLaughlin explains why cooling off your draft—and rereading it in print—helps you spot issues, strengthen your story, and prepare for deeper revisions.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers Part 1: How to Strengthen Your Manuscript One Step at a Time

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Part of my call as a writer is to help others through coaching, mentoring, teaching, and editing. One thing I’ve learned in my writing and in helping other writers is the vital importance of learning to self-edit. Someone said, and I can’t remember whom, “The heart of writing is re-writing.”

I’m not saying all you have to do is self-edit your work and you’re ready for publication. But, knowing how to self-edit your work effectively goes a long way to getting you there. At some point, you will need to submit your work to an outside editor or go through the editing process with a publishing house. Being able to self-edit helps these next steps go smoothly.

How Writers Can Stay Creative in Unproductive Seasons: 15 Ways to Renew Your Mind, Faith, and Writing Life

From Edie: Discover practical and faith-centered ways to stay creative when your writing feels stalled. These 15 strategies will help you renew your mind, refresh your creativity, and navigate unproductive seasons with hope, rest, and spiritual renewal.

How Writers Can Stay Creative in Unproductive Seasons: 15 Ways to Renew Your Mind, Faith, and Writing Life

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers often face rejection, deadlines, and doubt. We may say we trust God with our writing, but when a season feels barren, that trust can be tested. November’s image of bleak fields after harvest is not a picture of discouragement but a reminder of God’s promise of renewal. 

We’ve planted words, nurtured them with prayer and edits, and released them to our readers. Sometimes a new contract doesn’t come, or fresh ideas seem as bare as empty fields. But those fields are resting, just like we need to breathe new life into our minds and bodies. The farmer trusts God for spring to plant new growth, and we writers can trust God to rejuvenation our hearts, minds, and creativity for the next project.

Dipping the Quill Deeper: One Mile / Six Hundred Words at a Time

From Edie: Discover how a simple walking routine led to a powerful writing lesson about consistency. In this inspiring reflection, Eva Marie Everson shows how small, steady steps—one mile or six hundred words at a time—can transform both your fitness and your writing life, leading to real progress and finished pages.

Dipping the Quill Deeper: One Mile / Six Hundred Words at a Time

by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor

Several months ago, I met two of my out-of-state cousins who were in town for lunch. For reference, allow me to tell you a couple of things about us:

1. We, the three of us, are about the same age.
2. They are both stunning.

As it often happens during luncheons or dinners with those we love, someone (not me) said to the server, “Will you take a photo of us, please?”