Want to Always Be Productive? Heed My Top 10 List of What NOT To Do for Writers and Writing

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Everywhere a writer turns we're hit with things we should do, things we have to do, and things we must do. The lists seems endless and can lead to frustration, discouragement, and burnout. 

To combat this, I spend some time taking an honest look at all the things on my plate. When I've done this, I inevitably find that just like piling on too much at a family potluck, my plate is overloaded.

It’s funny, but the worst offenders always turn out to be the things I really shouldn’t have added in the first place—things others have said I should do. So today I’m sharing what I discovered. And by the way, discovering these was painful for me too!

Writing a Meaningful Book Review

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

Book reviews. They’re the lifeblood of the reader—and the author. Authors need them to push them up into the Amazon eye, while readers want to know about the book. Is it worth their time, money, and effort to purchase and read? Both are valid needs and equally important. But how do we pen a useful book review? You may ask, “Is it useful?” And the response is yes. There’s a difference between an author-written book review and a useful book review. 

The Writing Conference is Over, Where Do I Begin?

by Ginny Cruz, MPA, PT

You are back home after an exhilarating writers' conference. Colorful business cards from new friends litter your desk. A ton of class notes await your review. And if you are like me, your head spins with all the to-dos. Where do I begin?

Having attended many writers' conferences, most recently the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, where I met many first-time conference attendees, God whispered that I should share some encouragement this month on how to move forward after a conference. Because, let's face it, all those ideas sounded doable while you sipped coffee and chatted with fellow writers. But when you are alone at your desk, it can be hard to know where to start.

Spiritual Practices for Writers: The Practice of Proclaiming for Writers

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5-6, ESV).

Like the slow start of a rollercoaster groaning up the first rise, the mint man's voice began. Basal and resonant, it clicked, rolled, and climbed until it reached a crescendo and flew high and sweet through the air.

Eeeeeeeeeeee-yeppp! Naaaaaaaaaa-a'nahhhhh!

Squeals of laughter rang out as my two little boys clamored to put on their slippers and run into the street to catch the mint man. His humble cart was laden with fresh, fragrant bunches of emerald-green mint. We could not have tea without it.

The mint man was one of a long line of proclaimers. He nobly listed more than ten generations of proclaimers, ending with a twinkle as he proudly introduced his successor, a little boy who followed shyly behind. The mint man's houseful of daughters did not break the ancestral chain—instead, the oldest gave him a grandson to carry on the tradition.

We never lacked mint, thanks to our faithful proclaimer.

Is Finding Your Writing Comfort Zone Truly Necessary?

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

Virginia Woolf famously declared that a woman needs a room of her own if she’s to write fiction. I’m discovering the truth in that statement. My wife recently cut back on her work, which means she’s at home more. A good thing. But her mother and our son are already at our house most of the time. And with construction going on behind our house, it’s difficult to find the quiet time I need to concentrate on writing.

So, I’m venturing away from home these days to find a place where I can work comfortably. I didn’t realize it would be so difficult. I thought I’d only need a chair and a table. An outlet for the laptop. Maybe Wi-Fi. A nearby bathroom is a must. It’s the middle of summer here in South Carolina, so air conditioning is mandatory. Food, snacks, and drinks are important if I’m to write for longer than fifteen minutes. 

How does a comp title help a self-published book’s marketing plan?

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

You already know you’ve written the best book ever, but the most difficult step is to get everyone else to realize that it’s the best book ever. So how do you do it? How can you convince someone to read your book? That’s the tricky part.

So far in this series on self-publishing, we’ve talked about setting your goals, understanding your legal rights as a self-published author, ISBNs, and distribution channels (Links to all the posts are at the bottom). This month, we’re going to focus on an element of self-publishing that may not even be on your radar: Market Research.

Adventuring in Utah Gave Me Insight into Important Writing Truths: Part 2 Take it Slow and Don’t Grab the Reins

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

This month, we’re continuing my 5-part series on Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks. Last week we were in Zion National Park. This month, we’re in Bryce Canyon. (Links to previous posts at the bottom)

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the world’s largest collection of hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock carved by water, ice, and gravity. The hoodoos are everywhere, and they create a landscape unlike anything I’ve ever seen!

When we arrived at Bryce Canyon, we took the Queen’s Garden trail to the Navajo Loop. The Queen’s Garden Trail takes you to the canyon floor, and while it is the less steep route down, it still requires some careful walking in order to maintain control. 

There were several areas where we had to lean back as we walked, take short steps, and keep our eyes focused on the trail. When we reached the bottom, we walked around a bit before joining the Navajo Loop trail for the hike back to the top. And that’s when the fun really began. Because the Navajo Loop is mostly steep switchbacks that keep going … and going … and going…