From Contract to Shelf: My Book’s Story in Statuses and Pictures
I thought I'd take the time to reflect on the one year gestation period of my "baby." Special thanks to Facebook and my overactive status updates! Couldn't have posted this without you! December 2010: My anthology partners contact me to see if I want to resubmit our novella to Barbour now that Barbour was open to stories other than Christmas. I reluctantly say yes, knowing that if my story was contracted, I'd have to cut 36,000 words. January 2011: I determine to get on a good schedule with my historical WIP, but cryptic facebook message sent to my phone from Lynette Sowell (while in a pet store shopping for my son's belated Christmas present, a snake,) gives me pause... Since I didn't have internet access, I couldn't check my email like the message asked me to. After a couple of fb messages via cell phone, I get Lynette's number and call her, ...
Maximizing Your Time
Chances are that you know whether you are a morning person or a night owl, but are you maximizing your time by putting your peak hours to their best use? Many of us juggle household management with work and the business and creative aspects of maintaining a writing career. Working with and not against your own preferences can make the difference between seized opportunities and wasted time. For example, my husband makes a point of doing his most important tasks first thing in the morning, whether it’s paying bills or scheduling meetings, and he reserves the evenings for low-stress chores. I like to allow the mornings for household maintenance, meaning anything I can do on autopilot! Afternoons and evenings are my best time for heavy mental lifting, and so I do all my writing and blogging when my mind feels sharp and my creativity and energy are at their peak. If you ...
Why Be a Writing Mentor?
Why Mentor? Aren’t there plenty of Christian authors out there? The market is tightening. Won’t the new authors take publication away from you? I’ve heard both of those questions from more than one author. My answer is always: There aren’t enough Christian authors our there, and no, they won’t take publication chances from me. If we look at our writing as a mission as well as a business, then we have to understand that God knows what He has planned for our future. And He keeps bringing new authors to me to mentor. I don’t go out and seek them. (And these days, I’m bombarded by people who want my help.) I prayerfully seek God about whether to mentor a person. There aren’t many times when He says no. Whether authors write for the Christian market or another one, I aim to help them develop the talents God placed in them in their ...
So You Think You Have Nothing To Say?
Tomorrow I drive an hour and a half to my first speaking engagement. I knew this day would come. The day when I couldn't just hide behind my computer screen. The day when I would have to take my writing on the road and share everything I've learned as a writer so far. And sell books. Problem is I'm an introvert at heart. Yes, those who've met me at a conference might want to argue this point, but I'm not one to crave the spotlight or get up and speak to a group, though I am capable and have been known to do both. Yes, even sometimes I confuse myself with my introvert-extrovert tendencies! I guess I don't mind speaking when I'm passionate about the topic. And writing is one thing I'm passionate about, but WHAT could I possible speak on? As a creative writing teacher to grade schoolers and teens, I ...
How Do You Define Book Launch Success?
Last weekend I had the official book launch of Cherry Blossom Capers. Just like many women dream about and plan their wedding, many authors do the same for their book launch. I'm no exception. I've been waiting for this day and planning for years! Even before the book sold I knew what I would do for my launch. A Mystery party! I first heard about the idea from author Christy Barritt and thought it was fabulous, so I stored it in the back of my mind . Then when my book sold and as the days to my launch approached, I started planning and writing the script which featured characters in my book. A lot goes into planning a mystery party, so I won't go into that here, but what I want to explore is what is the definition of book launch success? Is it the number of books sold? (If so ...
Keeping Track of Business Expenses
Bookkeeping is an essential part of the business of writing, especially identifying and tracking expenses. Business expenses are considered an operating cost. The more legitimate business expenses that we can document, the lower our tax payments will be. Ordinary and Necessary Expenses for Writers: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that our writing expenses be ordinary and necessary in order for them to be acceptable. An ordinary expense is defined as common and accepted in our profession. A necessary expense means we need to spend this money in order to operate the business. The expenses must not be considered extravagant. They must be an essential part of doing business as a writer. It is important to differentiate between personal expenses and business expenses. Writers are able to realize some unique deductions which may be considered personal for other taxpayers. For example, a book on the history of California used for researching my fiction ...
Dealing with a Launch Party that Feels Out of Control
Last night, my nine year old daughter came out of her bed to tell me something. Which isn't uncommon with my little bed time procrastinator, but this time she had a silly smile on her face and told me she heard my book on the radio. At first I didn't believe her, but her smile was genuine and I had been blitzing the media like crazy, so why shouldn't the local Christian radio station announce my launch party? Then it hit me. The local Christian radio station just announced my launch party! Another media hit! I'm still in awe that my little novella and mystery party is getting so much media attention. (Yes, to me TWO media hits equal so much media attention!) The other morning I was on the local news talk show plugging my mystery party I'm having Sunday. It was a fun experience despite my obvious I-don't-know-where-to-look-because-no-one-briefed-me-on-the-camera eye fiasco. (And I JUST ...
Industry
From Contract to Shelf: My Book’s Story in Statuses and Pictures
I thought I’d take the time to reflect on the one year gestation period of...
So You Think You Have Nothing To Say?
Tomorrow I drive an hour and a half to my first speaking engagement. I knew this...
Read More Posts From Industry
Writing Mom and Dad Interviews
Author Allie Pleiter on Grit or Grace?
Like most writing moms, I feel like the world lines up to steal my writing time some...
Interview with Writing Mom Roma Downey and Giveaway
I had the privilege to interview Roma Downey and ask her questions about her life...
Read More Posts From Writing Mom and Dad Interviews
Blog
From Contract to Shelf: My Book’s Story in Statuses and Pictures
I thought I’d take the time to reflect on the one year gestation period of my “baby.” Special thanks to Facebook and my overactive status updates! Couldn’t have posted this without you! December 2010: My anthology partners contact me to see if I want to resubmit our novella to Barbour now that Barbour was open to stories other... [Read more of this review]
Maximizing Your Time
Chances are that you know whether you are a morning person or a night owl, but are you maximizing your time by putting your peak hours to their best use? Many of us juggle household management with work and the business and creative aspects of maintaining a writing career. Working with and not against your own preferences can make the difference between... [Read more of this review]
Lumpy Writing
“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ Isaiah 45:9 NLT Her fingers quiver as she types the web address. One more writing contest,... [Read more of this review]
Why Be a Writing Mentor?
Why Mentor? Aren’t there plenty of Christian authors out there? The market is tightening. Won’t the new authors take publication away from you? I’ve heard both of those questions from more than one author. My answer is always: There aren’t enough Christian authors our there, and no, they won’t take publication chances from me. If we look at... [Read more of this review]
The Pomodoro Technique®: Productivity for Writers, One Tomato at a Time
Like most writers, I’m constantly busy. If you’re serious about writing, there’s a never-ending to-do list: blog, read, review, draft, edit, absorb, learn, redraft. But there are times when ‘busy’ turns into ‘overwhelming.’ When I’m trying to complete a big freelance project and write a first draft at the same time, for example. The... [Read more of this review]
So You Think You Have Nothing To Say?
Tomorrow I drive an hour and a half to my first speaking engagement. I knew this day would come. The day when I couldn’t just hide behind my computer screen. The day when I would have to take my writing on the road and share everything I’ve learned as a writer so far. And sell books. Problem is I’m an introvert at heart. Yes, those... [Read more of this review]
Writing With a New Job
Not so long ago I posted about the interuption of hunting for a new job. Naturally, there comes another shock to your daily routine when the new job is found. If you’re like me, it’s difficult to maintain any kind of writing routine when your real world is suddenly derailed and put upon a new track. What’s the newly employed part-time... [Read more of this review]
Foster Care: A Life Changing Interruption
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~James 1:27 (NLT) I was late turning in my article this month. I mean really late. My mind has been in many other places. I cannot believe we are over half way through January! Things have been neglected.... [Read more of this review]
Author Allie Pleiter on Grit or Grace?
Like most writing moms, I feel like the world lines up to steal my writing time some days. Some weeks. Some months. Being the “dig my heels in and fight” kind of person I am, I resist surrendering my goals over to an interfering world. I’ve been known to joke that persistence is my spiritual gift, even though it’s not on the official list... [Read more of this review]
Organizing: Strategizing Your Writing Career
Let’s be clear about two things: * Strategy is hard work. * Strategy pays off massively. Strategy is hard work because it will never really end. If you’re going to succeed in your writing career, you will need to be continually refining your Strategy. Having a sound strategy doesn’t guarantee you’ll be successful, but it... [Read more of this review]
Author Betsy St. Amant
Tell us a little about your family and your call to write. I’m married to a super hunky fireman, and we have a three year old daughter I dub “Little Miss” She keeps me busy and inspired and humble and daily reminds me of God’s grace and unconditional love toward me. How did you get your first “writing break?” My agent sold... [Read more of this review]
How Do You Define Book Launch Success?
Last weekend I had the official book launch of Cherry Blossom Capers. Just like many women dream about and plan their wedding, many authors do the same for their book launch. I’m no exception. I’ve been waiting for this day and planning for years! Even before the book sold I knew what I would do for my launch. A Mystery party! I first heard... [Read more of this review]
Interview with Writing Mom Roma Downey and Giveaway
I had the privilege to interview Roma Downey and ask her questions about her life as a busy professional and mom and about her faith. Roma Downey is an actress, author, and producer. Born and raised in Ireland, Roma is This summer, she was on the Hallmark Channel starring in the TV movie “Keeping up with the Randalls.” Last year she was... [Read more of this review]
Roma Downey’s Little Angels Giveaway
Discover the joy of learning and friendship with a heavenly new collection! From Executive Producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) and Writer Phil Lollar (“Adventures in Odyssey”) comes the much-anticipated faith-based educational series, LITTLE ANGELS, soaring onto DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Review: Little... [Read more of this review]
Keeping Track of Business Expenses
Bookkeeping is an essential part of the business of writing, especially identifying and tracking expenses. Business expenses are considered an operating cost. The more legitimate business expenses that we can document, the lower our tax payments will be. Ordinary and Necessary Expenses for Writers: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that... [Read more of this review]
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