Writer, Do Not Be Afraid

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

After this the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward (Genesis 15:1).

For years, I carried hope around in my wallet. It was a slip of paper, an ad carefully torn from the back of a magazine, with the words, “So you want to write a book?”

Writer, Who Told You That?

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Remember the old cliché́ from childhood: sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?

Not true. Words and names can actually do much more lasting damage. Cuts and bruises heal. Words and names create self-images that linger and poison for years. They can become prophecies we fulfill whether we want to or not.

Do You Want a Drill Bit or a Hole?

guest post by Alton Gansky

Years ago Discover magazine ran an article about Amory Lovins (as told to Cal Fussman). Haven’t heard of him? Neither had I, but he’s made a name for himself by having innovative ideas about energy, oil, and the like. He’s a physicist, economist, inventor, automobile designer, and several other things to make mortals like me feel like gross underachievers.

In the article he discusses ways to deal with the world’s energy problems, but that’s not why I mention him. Although I found his thoughts interesting, I found his way of thinking even more so.

He made a point by describing a man who walks into a hardware store to buy a drill bit. Lovins asks, “What does the man really want?”

Thursday Review—One Word

by Lynn H. Blackburn

I’m sure many of you have heard of the idea of choosing One Word for the New Year.

What’s Holding You Back?

So often, when I tell people I’m a writer, they’ll look at me, sigh and tell me how they want to write . . . if only.

By now I've heard just about every excuse in the book—and truth be told—used a lot of them myself. 

The truth of the matter is that everybody has an excuse NOT to follow their dream. We're all busy. We're all dealing with crazy family issues of one type or another. None of us have enough money to make it easy to do it. The list goes on and on.

But really, the important point is why you SHOULD follow your dream. Life's too short and too precious to waste time doing things we're NOT passionate about. Okay, very few have the luxury of ONLY doing what they're passionate about, but even that is just another excuse.

The Scoop on the Dreaded Fifteen Minute Appointment

I've had several people ask me what to expect when they have a fifteen minute appointment with an industry professional. Many even wonder if they should take advantage of an appointment. My answer? ABSOLUTELY. Even if you don’t have something to pitch, an editor, agent or even well known author can give you valuable insights to help you focus your career goals.

Let me give you some idea of why professionals agree to be part of the faculty.

They want to help you. By and large, those on the faculty at writers conferences are there because they have a heart for helping new writers. They know what it’s like to sit on your side of the table. Others have helped them achieve their goals and now they want to give back by helping someone else.

They’re looking for new writers. The market is constantly changing and there is always room for new writers. Recently I had someone ask me why a publisher is looking for new writers if the book market is shrinking.

• First, it’s not shrinking—it’s changing.
• Second, writers come and go.
• Third, every choir needs more than one voice for each section. It’s the blend that makes the music beautiful.

Now, onto who you should speak with at a conference.

Editor (for books or magazines)—these professionals are a good choice for two reasons.

• One—you have a project that fits their line and want to pitch it.
• Two—they know the market and can give you an idea of their opinion about where it’s headed.
• Three—they can give you input on an idea you have.
• Four—they can give you career advice.

Agent—these are good for the same reasons above.

• One—you have a project that fits who they rep.
• Two—they know the market and can give you an idea of their opinion about where it’s headed.
• Three—they can also give you input on an idea you have.
• Four—they can give you career advice.

Published Writer—these professionals can do a lot of the same things. They can also:

• Commiserate about challenges you’re facing as a writer.
• Give you advice on where a particular project might fit or who in the industry might be looking for something similar.
• Give you encouragement.

You’ll sometimes find other industry folks at a conference, such as marketing professionals, speakers, publicists, etc.

I encourage you to make your appointments and try not to be nervous. They are there to help, not tear you down. And a lot of good things can come from those appointments—way beyond career stuff. I’ve made friends, gotten validation that I’m not really crazy and had the opportunity to be prayed for and to pray for others.

Now it’s your turn. Do you have any questions or, if you’ve been to a writers conference, any advice?

And . . . don’t forget to join the conversation!

Thursday Review—Booklife, Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer

Today I'd like to welcome back regular guest blogger, Renee' Cassidy. She's found a new writing book to love and I just can't wait to share it with you.

Booklife, Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21^st Century Writer,

By Jeff Vandermeer

I couldn’t put this book down until every page was flipped!

This complete eco-system for authors brilliantly guides the reader through both the public and private lives of an author. A rare find, Booklife is an easy first time read and reference all in one.

 

The book is divided into two main parts—the private and public life.

Public Life

In this section structure and technology is unraveled into a clear concise manner. From goal setting to creating your platform, the how-to as well as the pros and cons about the myriad avenues for creating a public presence are made simple. Effective ways to get involved and manage that public life are also suggested.

The communications chapter is an indispensible read, providing everything from public relations and tools, to long term maintenance of your life as an author. The public relations opportunities and aspects were followed by even greater information. Long term insights were outlined in chapter three and provide the reader with marketing in terms of branding and perception. Positive survival skills are suggested at the end this book’s section.

The Gut-check

This section was a beautiful segue-way from the public to the private way of life. It challenges the reader to search for balance between hectic public demands and the quiet demands of creativity. The sounds of white and dark noise are highlighted in this section and suggestions for effective ways to manage multitasking skills are suggested,

Private Life

Back to basics

This section sums up the second part of Booklife, the private life. It is the summation of a writer’s education—from classes and conferences to writing books.  How to live your writer’s life effectively start with inspiration, mastery of the craft and ways to manage distraction.  How to retest your work and resources are available in this section. There were insightful tips within this section on how to schedule your time to handling rejection.  My favorite part of this section deals with the Permission to fail with a WOW factor line that hit home to me.

“ to be great, we must attempt so much that we not only are in danger of forever failing, but we do fail,  and in that failure create something greater than if we had set our sights lower." 

This book is for every writer who dares to build a successful career and covers every imaginable topic in a writer’s life from creating the project to promotions. It is a brilliant 300+ page navigation system that leads a writer through all of the faucets of a successful career of being an author-not just a writer. Jeff Vandermeer covers each topic in reader friendly language. He has the ability to organize his explanations in a way that helps the writer embrace technology—while keeping the basics of a writer’s craft.

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Renee

Renee Cassidy is an experienced freelance writer and photographer. In 2006 she won the Writer's Digest Short Story Contest and has gone on to write for multiple publications. With a degree in marketing she brings her varied experience to the benefit of her clients.

She has two grown children and currently lives with the two men in her life - Fritz, her German Shephered and Australian Cash, her quarter horse.