by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Do our priorities stop us from moving forward or do they propel us to success? Writers who juggle life and achieve little success with their commitments and goals often abandon their calling. The answer lies in understanding principles for organizing our lives.
A Christ-Writer's Top 10 Priorities
1. Our relationship with the Author of creation must come first, or we’ll never experience peace or be fully satisfied with our lives.
2. Second should be our family. These are the people entrusted to our love and care. Life is about relationships, not how many books we’ve written or how many times we’ve hit the bestseller list. What counts is leaving a living legacy by showing our loved ones how much they mean to us through our faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Third is our day job. Writers often look forward to when they can write full-time. Before a writer makes that leap, ask these questions:
- Can I write outstanding manuscripts with the pressure of knowing that if the story doesn’t sell, my family won’t eat?
- Can I afford to buy medical insurance for my family without the benefits of a full-time position?
- Will I earn as much or more through writing than what my day job provides?
4. The fourth priority is our friends and our commitment to them. Ignoring friendships for the sake of reaching any goal is selfish. Balance is the key. Sometimes we need a non-writing friend to keep us sane.
5. Fifth comes our writing. Find the right time to write. This includes every aspect of working as a writer. Consider your schedule and responsibilities, then reserve a time. My pastor says, “Obey immediately.” That doesn’t mean we shake off our obligations until after we finish our blog. Our time may be at 4:00 a.m. before the household rises and begins the day. It may be after everyone goes to bed. It may be during a coffee break at work or brown bagging lunch so we can write at our desks.
6. Because writers are in the limelight, we must always look and act professionally. Whenever I walk to the mailbox, I look my best. Laugh if you must but think about neighbors or those driving by our houses or the UPS driver who all know we’re writers. Develop good habits that ensure we present ourselves appropriately. Our dress, makeup (if you’re a woman), and up-to-date hairstyle mean we’ve left an excellent impression.
7. Business cards are our introduction. Just as we greet others with a smile, so should our business card. Keep the card simple with your name and contact information and a professional photo.
8. Platforms are an important marketing tool. When we discover ours are weak, we explore expert assistance. We must have a website that expresses our genre and brand.
9. Post regularly on social media. Learn them and reach out to others. Choose which platforms work best to promote our brand and genre. But realize social media is about them, not us. Our social media platforms are not about selling books but about establishing relationships in which we help others according to our expertise.
10. Develop speaking abilities and techniques through professional organizations, or a college class. At first, we may be speaking for coffee and cookies, but we’re building a resumè. Create a blog in which the posts offer something to readers—and collect email addresses.
We are the ones who have accepted the challenge of reaching others through the power of the written word. Readers are waiting for us to pen the next word … and the next. Where will it take you?
TWEETABLE
She is the former director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson. Connect here: DIANNMILLS.COM
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