Reflections from My First Writers Conference

By Laurie Epps

Pictured with Edie Melson

Most of you will recognize the wonderful lady to my right (your left). After attending my first writers conference, I can tell you that there were some things I was, and wasn't prepared for. I knew I'd be meeting industry professionals, but somehow it didn't register that I would also be forging friendships.

Today, I'd like to talk to you about what to expect at a writers conference.

Social Media Monday—Take Your Blog from Good to GREAT!

Competition in the blogosphere is fierce. To stand out above the rest, we must raise our blogging to a new level of excellence.

There are approximately 181 million blogs in existence today. Add to that the additional competition from other social media outlets and you have to be on your game to make it out of the slush pile.

Weekend Worship—Declare Yourself!

No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches. Matthew 6:24

In today’s busy world, trying to stay on track seems to be an unattainable fantasy. We’re pulled from thing to thing—urgency and immediate need pushing away thoughts of priority.

The Bible warns us of trying to do too much at once—in a lot of ways it’s like trying to serve two masters.

Thursday Review—How to Find out Anything

by Lynn H Blackburn

One of these days, there’s going to be a knock on my door.

I’ll see a couple of people in dark suits and sunglasses.

They won’t be smiling.

When I open the door, one of them will flip open a badge.

I’m not sure which agency it will be. My guess is Homeland Security (do they have badges?) or the FBI.

They’ll ask to come in. Tell me they have “some questions.”

Get Ready to Submit, Part 1—Every Writer Needs a Bio

Today I'm starting a new series, Get Ready to Submit. Conference season is upon us and whether you've already attending one and are getting ready to submit requested material or are getting ready to attend and need to get everything in order—this series should help. 

This first post deals with a basic component you'll need, because Every Writer Needs a Bio. 

Social Media Monday—Use the Permalink to Save Time

Most of you know how much I rely on scheduling to help give me a consistent presence on social media. It's one of the ways I keep my time on social media down to only 30 minutes a day. But there are some tricks I’ve developed that you may not have thought of. Today I’m going to share one of the time-saving tips that help me be successful. How to use the permalink to save time.

Weekend Worship—Keep Him Safe

And my God will supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

When our son joined the Marine Corps, I had to face every parent’s biggest fear, that one of my children might die. I knew he’d face deployment in the Middle East—that was why he’d joined—and that I couldn’t keep him safe. This was tough, because keeping him (along with my other two sons) safe had been my goal for a long time. And all things counted, I hadn’t done too bad a job of it.

But facing his deployment made me examine my belief that I’d spent the last 18 years keeping him safe. Could I really claim that? I’d given him the tools to make wise decisions, and I’d been around to prevent some mishaps, but not many. Had I truly equipped him to face what was ahead?