How Christian Writers Can Handle Criticism with Love: The Fruit of the Spirit in Publishing

From Edie: Lynn Blackburn shares how Christian writers can handle criticism, negative reviews, and difficult readers with love while remaining faithful to God's calling and the Fruit of the Spirit.

How Christian Writers Can Handle Criticism with Love: The Fruit of the Spirit in Publishing

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnBlackburn

Fruit Under Pressure - Deadlines, reviews, comparison, the silence after you hit send. Over the next nine months, we'll explore what it looks like to live out the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit as we navigate the pressure system of publishing. 

LOVE

Let’s start with something I no longer apologize for: I don’t read my reviews. 

I learned a long time ago that one-stars have far too much power over me to be healthy. I admire authors who take their one-star reviews and turn them into comedy gold, but I’m not that author. I have a system that allows me to navigate this tender space in a way that keeps me healthy.

But y’all…

In the past few months, I’ve realized that there’s a flaw in my system. 

My email. 

You can't unsee an email. You can't un-know it. 

Why Some Character Deaths Break Readers' Hearts—and Others Don't

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer helps writers discover why some character deaths leave readers heartbroken while others fall flat. Learn how to write meaningful loss that creates lasting emotional impact.

Why Some Character Deaths Break Readers' Hearts—and Others Don't

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Because sometimes the character isn't the problem.

Let's talk about character deaths for a minute.

Writers remove characters from stories all the time, and honestly, the temptation is real. If a character is creating complications, tangling relationships, or making the plot harder to manage, sending them off can feel like a clean solution.

The Writers Conference Survival Guide Part 2: What to Do After a Writers Conference

From Edie: What should you do after a writers conference? Learn how to follow up with editors, submit requested material, and maximize your publishing opportunities.

The Writers Conference Survival Guide Part 2: What to Do After a Writers Conference
by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

Wonder of wonders, miracles of miracles, you attended a writers conference and met with an editor about your project.

At the end of your 15-minute meeting, the editor handed you his or her business card. “Send me the proposal. I’d like to take a look at that.”

Now What?

• Follow through. If an editor tells you to send in your project, do it! These industry professionals are busy people and only offer to look at a project if they truly have an interest. Editors report that only a small percentage of writers actually email their manuscript to the editor who requested it.

• Make changes. If an editor recommended that you make changes or restructure the order of your chapters, do it. Industry professionals only offer suggestions if they see potential in the writer and the writing. Following your meeting, do the rewrites right away, while the editor’s suggestions are fresh in your memory.

• In the subject line of your email, type the words ‘requested material.’ In the body of the email, remind the editor that you met at the writer’s conference. Editors receive lots and lots of emails and attend lots and lots of conferences, so make their job easier by helping the editor remember where the two of you crossed paths.

• Include a note in your email that says, ‘Thank you for your suggestions to improve my writing. I followed your advice and appreciated your time to reconsider the new and improved version.”

• Keep a record of when you sent the email, to whom, and what was included.

• Get to work on your next project while you wait for the acquisitions editor to get back to you. The industry standard is to allow three months for a response.

When To Connect

• At the three-month mark, if you have not heard anything regarding your submission, forward your initial email including the attached proposal to the editor with a note that says, “I’m checking to see if you’ve had an opportunity to look at this requested project.”

• Editors do their best to keep up with demands on their time but occasionally challenges ranging from an abundance of work to do to job changes to restructuring to mergers interrupt our carefully planned calendars. Once, a year later, I received an envelope (back in the day when we mailed proposals) with a note from the editor, “Cleaning off my desk, I found your proposal. It’s been so long I’m sure you found another publishing home.”

• If you haven’t heard back after two check-ins, that’s an Indiana No, and time to move on.

Typically, you will hear back from the editor after sending your requested project. Hopefully, you receive a contract to work together. And when the editor likes that project, talk about how you can help market this first collaboration, and other ideas that might make your editor’s eyes light up.

Keep attending writers’ conferences. The networking is important for your work, and staying up on industry trends is vital to your career.

For You

Polish your writing with these Quick Guides to Writing Well

After submitting your work, take a break and read a great novel series like the Marc Wayne adventure romance series

TWEETABLE

The Writers Conference Survival Guide Part 2: What to Do After a Writers Conference from @PeggySueWells on @EDieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Don't Miss the Rest of This Series on The Writers Conference Survival Guide!

Part 1: How to Prepare for Editor and Agent Appointments

Part 2: What to Do After a Writers Conference

Action and adventure, romantic suspense, military romance, and cozy mystery are the page-turning novels by P.S. Wells including Chasing Sunrise, Homeless for the Holidays, and The Patent. How to live better, easier, and simpler is the focus of her nonfiction including The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make.

PeggySue is a frequent guest with media including Focus On The Family, Family Life Today, and Christian Product Expo. She regularly teaches at conferences including Write To Publish, Taylor University Writers Conference, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Collaborator on multiple titles including books with Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Shemane Nugent, Pat Palau, and Pam Farrel, PeggySue is a writing coach. When not writing, she parasails, skydives, snorkels, scuba dives, rides horses, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. Founder of SingleMomCircle.com, connect with PS Wells at WWW.PEGGYSUEWELLS.COM, on Facebook at PeggySue Wells, and LinkedIn at LINKEDIN.COM/IN/PEGGYSUEWELLS

How to Use ChatGPT to Repurpose Your Content and Generate Fresh Article Ideas

From Edie: Ginny Cruz shares how to use ChatGPT to repurpose your existing content, generate fresh article ideas, and save time while keeping your unique writing voice.

How to Use ChatGPT to Repurpose Your Content and Generate Fresh Article Ideas

by Ginny Cruz

Have you ever wanted a personal assistant who can take your previously written content and offer ideas for new articles? ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot program, can be your personal idea generator, giving you more article titles than you can handle.

Jesus, the Word of God: He Speaks to Us as We Follow Him

From Edie: Audrey Frank shares how Jesus meets writers in the ordinary, speaks through everyday faithfulness, and transforms our writing into a calling that honors Him.

Jesus, the Word of God: He Speaks to us as we Follow Him

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!” They left their nets immediately and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20 NET).

The Word of God speaks to writers as they follow Him.

Why God Calls Us to Write: Understanding the Harvest of Faithful Writing

From Edie: Tim Suddeth shares why God calls us to write, how faithful writing produces an eternal harvest, and why success is measured by obedience—not recognition.

Why God Calls Us to Write: Understanding the Harvest of Faithful Writing

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

For the last few months, we’ve been looking at the similarities between growing a garden and writing. We started with finding the right seeds/ideas, preparing the plot, tending the garden, and today I want us to look at our purpose for gardening and writing—the harvest. 

Whenever I sit down to write for The Write Conversation, I realize I’m targeting a wide range of writers: published and closet writers; fiction and nonfiction; those who write flash fiction and short devotions and those who write novels and sci-fi sagas; those with books in bookstores and those who write for periodicals and bloggers and podcasters. Writers who scratch on paper, key peckers, and voice-to-text users. Some of us write daily no matter what, while others write when the spirit moves or they get around to it. (BTW I have a round-to-it in my desk that I got at Chimney Rock years ago).

Social Media and AI for Writers: How the T.H.I.N.K. Filter Builds Trust

From Edie: Learn how writers can use social media and AI wisely with the T.H.I.N.K. Filter to build trust, strengthen their online presence, and serve readers well.

Social Media and AI for Writers: How the T.H.I.N.K. Filter Builds Trust

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Social media has changed dramatically over the past few years.

When I first began using social media, the biggest challenge was figuring out which platforms to join and how often to post. Today, writers face an entirely different landscape. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can generate posts in seconds. Algorithms change without warning. Feeds are crowded with recycled content, clickbait, and opinions presented as facts. This new world can feel like everyone is talking, but very few people are actually saying anything worthwhile.

In a world overflowing with content, one thing has become more valuable than ever—trust.