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A brand new set of writing prompts for your September writing.
The blank page can be intimidating. With writing prompts, you have the benefit of beginning your writing session each day with a theme, topic, or focus. The goal is that, as you write according to the prompt, you can be led into writing what you need to write.
You wouldn’t think it but it’s true you can’t quote extensive passages from the Bible even if the gospel is free! Every now and then over the course of my editing Christian books and coaching Christian authors, I have been asked about what are the restrictions on quoting Scripture. Here’s my nice and neat answer. I hope it helps.
If you want to land a publishing contract with a traditional publisher (one that pays an advance and royalties) and you are a new author/writer just starting out (building your platform, writing a book, and such), writers conferences are some of the best investments you can make into your career.
I’ve been asked by writers, creatives, and other content creators, how do I shut out distractions and get work done. Distractions can be a big hindrance for many of us whose livelihood depends on our focused brains producing great things people around the world can engage in. So, a few things are needed for me to do it successfully.
We each have a story. All of our stories are valuable. Our stories connect us to each other. This happens because within each of us is the entire human condition. In other words at the basis our humanity, we desire to be seen, loved, accepted, known, and heard—and all that for who we really are not for who others want us to be.
When choosing to write your own story, the reader's expectations and needs need to be kept front and center. People come to books for help or entertainment to make life easier to bear. If they feel more confused upon looking into a book, they will disengage. That's the last thing we want. Therefore, I don’t often tell writers to write their story without recommending that they thoughtfully consider three things…
Writer, you speak, preach, teach, prophesy, inform, entertain, help, heal, strengthen, and encourage people through the words you write. Writing has the power of death and life. As a kingdom writer, you bring life and light to dead and dark places through the soul-saving words you write.
On March 8-9, 2019, at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando, Florida, I had the honor and privilege of being a speaker at the Becoming Women’s Conference, hosted by one of my dear and long-time authors, Michelle McClain-Walters. Michelle invited me to come and speak to the women about how to amplify the voice that God has given them through writing.
I published my own book. It’s a unique and beautiful resource for writers called Pray Hear Write: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Breakthrough in Your Writing. I began writing it as an answer to questions I’ve been asked—by both publishing peers and authors—about how I come up with good book ideas and come to know the right way to structure a book that really grabs a reader.
This time of year is when many people are thinking of all the folks they know and what special gift may fill their heart with cheer. For family and friends of writers, there are some things you just can’t get wrong. But just in case you need some inspiration, I am going to share a few of my favorite bookish wearables, writables, and a few other things.
A quick-reference guide to common word count ranges so you can know what to aim for depending on the genre you are writing in
If you rolled your eyes at the title of this post, this may not be for you. LOL! For those who may have said this aloud when given this charge or may have felt a sinking feeling in their heart while attending another workshop about building an author platform, then keep reading. You are not the only one who has felt this way, but there is too good a reason why you shouldn’t.
As an editor, it would seem like self-sabotage for me to tell you to edit yourself. But that’s not quite the case. As a writer, I can say that self-editing does not take the place of hiring a professional editor, but what it does do is this…
With the holiday season upon us, so many are facing difficulties of various kinds. It’s not quite Hallmark in everyone’s life. But I believe there are still things we can look up about. I shared this in a writer’s group I’m a part of and thought I’d share it here too. I was inspired by a beautiful sermon I heard at church this week, by a conversation I had with a sweet writer, and of course my own life.
I hope you are encouraged.
It was 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 8 that I realized I had worked through my company’s first full year in business—November 4, 2018. It’s been that kind of year.
Do you have a book that you need to write or finish writing before the end of the year? (Remember that 2018 New Year's Resolution?) November may be the month to push and get it done because November is National Novel Writing Month or #nanowrimo AND National Nonfiction Writing Month, AKA #NaNonFiWriMo or #WNFIM.
Finding the right literary agent or publisher who publishes what you write and who shares a similar set of beliefs can be a challenge. It's not that you need to agree on everything, but you do want to feel connected, like-minded, and equally yoked on the things that matter most as you fulfill the assignment God has called you to.
When I was an acquisitions editor, I would see creative and weird names authors would use to identify themselves online. They didn’t make themselves easy to find, and their online branding didn’t make a good case for why I should consider publishing them.
One thing that surprises new authors when working with an editor is how much work they still may have to do after an edit. There are several reasons this happens
