Social Media Image—An Opener of Doors

A lot of what I try to do through this site and through teaching is to be an opener of doors. Others helped me get where I am today as a writer. I'd be pretty ungrateful if I wasn't willing to do that for others. 

I believe most of you who read my blog do the same thing. You take what you learn and help those who aren't yet where you are. Take time today to thank someone who opened a door for you.

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

Remind Yourself of These Things Every Time You Sit Down to Write

By +EdieMelson  @EdieMelson

So often writers struggle more against the head-game part of the journey than any other. Today I’d like to share a list of things to help. So remind yourself of these things every time you sit down to write. 

You're welcome to use/share this graphic online, just be sure to link back to this site.

These are the things I hold onto when the doubts creep in. What would you add to the list?

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

TWEETABLES

To keep the doubts away, remind yourself of these 13 things every time you sit downto write – @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

When the doubts about your writing creep in @EdieMelson hasa list to keep the doubts at bay (Click to Tweet)

Writing IS Hard—No Kidding!

By +EdieMelson  @EdieMelson

True confession time.

Writing is both the thing I love best and the thing I hate most.

When the words flow, it’s heaven on earth. When they stutter to a halt, the opposite is true. And the truth is, both of these circumstances are a regular part of the writer’s life.

We write when we feel like, and when we don’t; when we’re inspired, and when we’re not. Most of all we write because we have to. Putting words on paper is life to some of us and an addiction without a recovery group.

Don’t Slip into these 4 Characteristics of a Lazy Writer

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

With this title, you might think I’m going to be focusing on time management.

You’d be wrong.

The kind of laziness I’m referring to has to do with the use of your brain—not your time.

If you’ve followed this blog for long, you know I’m passionate about excellence in writing. And I don’t mind helping those who are willing to work to achieve it. I’ll patiently spend hours helping beginners learn the craft, but I have very little tolerance for those who insist on shortcuts and shoddy work . . . and then whine because they’ve been rejected.

Why bring this up? Because I wish someone had pointed out these pitfalls when I was just starting out.

Indie Tuesday— Getting in the Write Zone: Simple Strategies for Creating Productive Writing Time

Jessica Keller @AuthorKeller here: I first met author Kristen Ethridge because our books debuted in the same month. We’ve been kindred ever since. Not only did we launch into the trade publishing world at the same time, but we both decided to dive head first into indie publishing right next to each other too. Like me, Kristen juggles a full-time job, kids, a writing career and managing her household (did I mention she makes AMAZING dinners?) so we often commiserate about how to find writing time. Today she’s agreed to stop by and offer pointers for getting in the write zone: simple strategies for creating productive writing time.

Getting in the Write Zone:

Simple Strategies for Creating Productive Writing Time

by Kristen Ethridge @KristenEthridge

 

When Jessica asked me to join her here, I jumped at the opportunity because there’s so much great information and conversation on this blog.

Social Media Monday—You Must NOT use BlogSpot or WordPress—Major Blogging Myths Debunked!

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I’m on a lot of writer lists, and I read a lot of really questionable advice from well-meaning folks. But this past month I read some advice that just about set my hair on fire. 

The person giving the questionable advice stated that no one should ever use BlogSpot or WordPress in their blog address. They said that if someone did, it would be almost impossible to break into the highest levels of SEO discoverability. They went on to say the reason for this is that there are millions of Blogger (BlogSpot) and WordPress blogs, so SEO doesn't consider them professional, no matter how often the site is update.

Weekend Worship—The Writer’s Walk of Faith

For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7

As writers, we have chosen to follow a difficult path. I remember, after a particularly hard week, my husband remarked that he wished I’d chosen another career, something simple—like becoming a movie star. 

His comparison was more appropriate than he realized. Success, for both career choices appears, from the outside at least, to rely on being popular with a lot of people. Reaching the top seems to come and go with the whims of an unknown audience. We struggle and strive for numbers—likes on our Facebook pages, followers on Twitter, and ultimately sales numbers. We seek to please our readers, our publishers, even other writers. 

We are word people, caged and captured by the expectation of numbers.(Click to Tweet) 

But when we have chosen this path at God’s calling, our focus needs to be somewhere other than those who will read our words. Our audience is an audience of One, and it is to Him and Him alone that we owe our allegiance. He will dictate, with wisdom far beyond our own, who will read our words and the reach they will have. And I for one, am well pleased to leave my destiny in His capable hands. 

So today I encourage you to seek out the joy of your audience, because I know He is well pleased by your obedience to follow His call. Let Him lavish you with praise and protect you from worry. Leave the numbers to Him and concentrate only on the words.