After a Writing Conference: 11 Things Every Writer Should Do Next

From Edie: Julie Lavender shares what to do after a writing conference with 10 practical follow-up steps to build connections, submit your work, and keep your writing moving forward.

After a Writing Conference: 11 Things Every Writer Should Do Next

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

A Writer’s Post-Conference Pondering

If you attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, you’re now three months post-conference. Or maybe you attended another stellar conference offering in the Christian community in spring or early summer. 

If you’re like me, when I’m there at a conference, my plans for my post-conference time seem literary-grand. “I’m going to do this when I get back home … and this .. and that. I’ll turn in this manuscript and write that devotion and read that how-to book. 

How Christian Writers Can Trust God with Their Writing Journey

From Edie: Author Heidi Gray McGill teaches us how Christian writers can trust God with their writing journey, surrender the results, overcome comparison, and faithfully follow His calling.

How Christian Writers Can Trust God with Their Writing Journey

by Heidi Gray McGill @HeidiGrayMcGill

What you bring to the room matters less than who sent you there.

How to Start Writing Again After Rejection, Failure, or Disappointment

From Edie: Learn how to start writing again after rejection, failure, or disappointment with practical steps to rebuild confidence, find courage, and move forward.

How to Start Writing Again After Rejection, Failure, or Disappointment

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Writing takes courage.

We don't always talk about that part of this business. We talk about learning the craft, finding an agent, building a platform, marketing our books, and meeting deadlines.

How to Back Up Your Manuscript: The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Every Writer Should Use

From Edie: Ginny Cruz teach writers the 3-2-1 backup strategy every writer should use to protect manuscripts from corrupted files, computer crashes, theft, and other disasters.

How to Back Up Your Manuscript: The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Every Writer Should Use

by Ginny Cruz

Many years ago, I plopped down at my computer to work on my book manuscript. I clicked on the thumb drive file to begin, and it would not open. The pop-up message informed me the file was corrupted. Sadly, that was my only copy of my book’s manuscript. Gone.

Jesus, the Word of God: Boundaries as Blessings

From Edie: Audrey Frank shares how God can use boundaries, rejection, delays, and interruptions in your writing life for your good—and how trusting His counsel can change your perspective.

Jesus, the Word of God: Boundaries as Blessings

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me (Psalm 16:5-7).

A boundary is a way of saying “no.”

I used to watch our youngest son fly down the driveway on his scooter, so enamored with the thrill of speed that he forgot again and again to stop before dashing into the street. I tried putting cones up, and he crashed through them. I tied a rope from a tree to the mailbox. He bent the tree. I finally put myself there, squaring up my feet and blowing a whistle when he got close. It took only three blasts to startle him into trained attention.

When Your Writing Career Feels Stuck: What to Do When Other Writers Are Moving Ahead

From Edie: Feeling stuck in your writing career? Discover how to stop comparing your journey to other writers and find purpose and progress in the waiting.

When Your Writing Career Feels Stuck: What to Do When Other Writers Are Moving Ahead

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I don’t think there are many (actually any) people who read this blog who think publishing is easy. But within that difficulty, there’s a particular kind of hard that comes with watching someone else get the thing you’ve been praying for.

Especially when that someone is a friend.

We really are happy for them. We celebrate when they sign with an agent. We cheer when they announce their first book contract. We whole heartedly share their cover reveal and buy their book.

And we mean every bit of it.

Why Publishers Reject Books: 5 Reasons That Have Nothing to Do with Your Writing

From Edie: A.C. Williams shares five reasons publishers reject books that have nothing to do with writing quality, from marketability and audience to production costs and timelines.

Why Publishers Reject Books: 5 Reasons That Have Nothing to Do with Your Writing

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Are you ever frustrated with publishers?

It’s okay. You can be honest. How can publishers keep putting out the same kinds of books over and over? Don’t they understand how many fresh, new authors are producing compelling, original stories? It’s easy to take rejection personally, and the more you pitch to different publishers, the more it feels like none of them are grasping your vision, your capacity, or your potential.