Angela D. Meyer

Writing, writing during the holidays, Brenda Anderson

Today, we welcome Brenda Anderson, author of life-affirming fiction. She has some great tips to share with us about writing during the holiday season.

When considering writing on this topic, admittedly, I doubted I could do it justice. After all, writing during the holiday season has been very difficult over the years. Yet, I’ve always met my deadlines.

This year I’ve got a few different deadlines. My first draft of my current work-in-progress needs to be completed by the end of November. And then I’ll need it back from my critique partners by the end of December when it goes to my editor. In the meantime, I should begin my next book which has a first draft deadline of April 1. Eek! So, no resting in December.

The question then is, How can I get writing in and make the holidays special? Here are a few suggestions that help me:

Make a To-Do List: Include everything that you’d like to accomplish on this list. Don’t worry about time constraints … yet. And don’t forget to include some R&R and maybe a Hallmark Christmas movie or two to help you wind down.

Check Your Calendar: Don’t forget about church and concerts and sporting events and family celebrations and other time-fillers.

Establish Your Priorities: What absolutely needs to get done? How many words per day? Work? Shopping? Decorating? Cleaning? Cooking? Serving? Wrapping? What’s less important? What can be set aside or done last minute?

Set Specific Goals: I want to write a 70,000+ word first draft by April 1, 2019. If I start on December 1, that gives me eighteen weeks. To write 70,000 words, I would have to average 3889 words per week. Considering I typically type 1000+ words per day, that means I should spend four days per week writing. As I like to reserve weekends for family that gives me one full day each week to focus on other tasks.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected: Unplanned events, problems, list additions always crop up. Go into the holiday season knowing that they will happen, so you’re not completely taken aback when they do show up.

Give Yourself Grace: If you don’t mark off everything on your list, that’s okay! If your goal was a thousand words a day and you “only” wrote 900, that’s still fantastic! Give yourself the grace to say you did your best, and don’t beat yourself up over it. Rather, applaud yourself for what you did accomplish.

Spend Time Praying and in the Word. I’m uncomfortable adding this to the To-Do List as then it becomes something that you just tick off on a box and then it becomes all about religion and not relationship. But if you get nothing else done this season, when you pray and read God’s Word you’ve gotten the most important things done.

Remember What’s Important: It’s so easy getting caught up in the busyness of the holiday season that we forget what it’s all about: Celebrating Jesus Birth! Faith, Family, and Friends are far more important than any item you can cross off on a list, so make them your focus.

Hope you all have a very blessed Christmas!

Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is Past-President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE, the 2016 ACFW Chapter of the Year. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 31 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.

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For the holiday season, enjoy Brenda’s book, Hungry for Home A Different Kind of Christmas Story…

Hungry … Homeless … Heartbroken

After a troubling encounter with a pregnant teen, Sheila Peterson-Brooks hurries from the crisis pregnancy center into the frigid Minnesota winter where she is mugged and left for dead. After a frantic search, Richard, her husband, finds her, and the police quickly nab the mugger …

A hungry, homeless teen.
The brother of the pregnant girl Sheila had just counseled.

The girl pleads for her brother, and Sheila and Richard choose not to press charges. Instead, they open their home to the boy, a move that could cost them their possessions, and their hearts.

And, in the process, teach them the true meaning of home.

Get your copy today on Amazon Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

The Little Things by Catherine Brakefield

The little things are what get a chuckle out of me and inspire me during a crazy day. The wet kiss plastered on my cheek by my three-year-old granddaughter. The toothless grin generated from a full tummy and dry diaper from my three-month-old granddaughter. Then there’s that spontaneous review which not only generates a smile, but truly inspires my day!

Why is a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads so inspiring? Because you, dear readers, are every writer’s employer, and a review is like an unexpected bonus check.

Writers can feel inspired to reach unfathomable heights by our fictional characters. Now don’t call in the psychiatrists just yet, first here me out.

Writers live a unique life. We spend countless hours in what we could label “solitary confinement”. Yes, in our padded world of make-believe, the only voices we hear are those in our imagination of our characters. Strange to say, a writer does not feel alone while in the company of their characters’ antics.

We tap away patiently on our keyboard and pour in the hours, days, and months of research so our fictional novel sings with realism. We want our imaginary characters to walk and talk with vitality, vividness, and validity. Then, like a mother caressing her newborn child, we eagerly await the debut of our new creation to the world.

The writer’s key desire is to make historical and modern-day romances sound like the characters live. That they are sitting in the next room, waiting to hear your questions. Check out Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice; Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. After eighty plus years, people continue to speak about these awesome novels. Talk about imaginary characters coming alive!

A writer knows that they have achieved their ultimate goal in creating a superb novel, through readers communicating their emotional experience to others. Readers can either verbally communicate this to the writer or take time to write their review on Amazon and other search engines.

Would you enjoy preparing for an Easter pageant, pile on the hours in rehearsals for weeks and months, and—then play to an empty auditorium? A writer’s applause comes in the way of reviews. Readers, as I mentioned before, are the writer’s employers, and they convey to the writer if a particular novel has accomplished its goal, by giving out a bonus, telling others about your emotional experience.

Yes, it is the little things in life that inspire us to meet each day with enthusiasm. Our grandchild’s first steps, the antics of make-believe characters, or the finished product of years of work framed in a provoking cover and bound with the author’s prayer.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season

we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 NKJV

Inspiration can come in many forms, but the best is a hug, a kind word,

and for satisfied readers to take time to give out bonuses. God Bless!

Catherine says, “My readers inspire my writing!”

She is the author of three faith-based historical romances; Wilted Dandelions; a four book Destiny series, Swept into Destiny, and Destiny’s Whirlwind scheduled for April 17, 2018 release. She has written two pictorial history books: Images of America: The Lapeer Area, and Images of America: Eastern Lapeer County.
Her short stories have been published in Guidepost Books True Stories of Extraordinary Answers to Prayer, Unexpected Answers and Desires of Your Heart; Baker Books, Revell, The Dog Next Door, Horse of my Heart, and Dogs/Rescue scheduled for October, 2018 publication; CrossRiver Media Publishers, The Benefit Package and Abba’s Promise; Bethany House Publishers, Jesus Talked to me Today.

She enjoys swimming and horseback riding and lives in Addison Township with her husband and their Arabian horses. Her children now grown and married, she and Edward are the blessed recipients of two handsome grandsons and two beautiful granddaughters!

Connect with Catherine on her Website and on Facebook

Releasing April 17th: Destiny’s Whirlwind

Collina McConnell is thrust from adolescence to adulthood shortly before the Spanish-American War erupts when she promises her dying father she will manage their estate in Emerald, Kentucky. But her father dies before disclosing the mystery behind his legacy for Shushan.

Rough Rider Franklin Long offers his help till that fateful day he leaves for Cuba, then a disgruntled in-law and a vindictive lawyer places the McConnell clan in the clutches of life’s tangled web of deception and greed. The words of Esther 8:6 ring in Collina’s thoughts. “How can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people?”

Get your copy today on Amazon

A Wordsowers review by Clarissa Ruth

Destiny’s Whirlwind is a tale of heart and grit straight out of post-Civil War Kentucky. Likable characters face their challenges with faith and courage, but at times enjoy the beauty of a glittering backdrop, sometimes of natural splendor, other times of the shared luxury of wealthy friends. With frequent nods to Scripture and examples of sustaining faith, this novel is overtly Christian in a way that generally does not preach. Though romantic, unexpected twists, engaging drama and a bit of action add extra layers of interest to the tale. From the beginning, the story caught my attention, drawing me into the world through its details: from simple farm life, to the exploits of patriots. At times I struggled to follow the flow of individual conversations or events, as if part of the picture were missing. A more thorough process of writer editing with reader input would cure many a hiccup in the story’s flow. Still, the narrative is strong enough to pull a reader around these issues as the unconventional romance unfolds. Along the way, you may find yourself rooting not only for the hero and heroine, but also for the country in which they, and we, live. Patriotism flavors this book with a vibrant taste of why we can be proud to be Americans.

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher for a fair and honest review.

About our reviewer:

Clarissa Ruth is a storyteller, adventure-loving healer, and an undeserving bride of Jesus Christ. The outdoors may find her star-gazing while whispering a prayer,or weaving a morning dance of praise barefoot on the grass. Indoors, words are her playground. When this world becomes boring, she travels, via her Scriptorium, to Cheled and all the adventures her fantasy world contains. She’s written one of these epic tales down, and more books are to follow. Though writing stories of freedom is her passion, she is lost for words without Jesus.

Connect with Clarissa on her WEBSITE.

Swept into Destiny by Catherine Ulrich Brakefield

Catherine says, “My readers inspire my writing!”

Catherine is the author of three faith-based historical romances; Wilted Dandelions; a four book Destiny series, Swept into Destiny, and Destiny’s Whirlwind scheduled for April 17, 2018 release. She has written two pictorial history books: Images of America: The Lapeer Area, and Images of America: Eastern Lapeer County.

Her short stories have been published in Guidepost Books True Stories of Extraordinary Answers to Prayer, Unexpected Answers and Desires of Your Heart; Baker Books, Revell, Th

e Dog Next Door, Horse of my Heart, and Dogs/Rescue scheduled for October, 2018 publication; CrossRiver Media Publishers, The Benefit Package and Abba’s Promise; Bethany House Publishers, Jesus Talked to me Today.

Connect with Catherine on her Website and on Facebook

Swept into Destiny

One brave decision leads to serious consequences.

Maggie Gatlan is secretly educating the slaves at Spirit Wind Manor. But the manor’s serenity is soon threatened by abolitionist John Brown. A new republic looms ahead with Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, and her countrymen’s anger escalates as secession spreads across the southern states.

With the fires of civil war glowing on the horizon, Maggie is swept into its embers, realizing she is in love with the manor’s hardworking, handsome Irishman Ben McConnell.

Ben joins the Union Army and Maggie is forced to call him her enemy. An unexpected chain of events leads her into choosing where her loyalties lie. Conscience and consequence – did she care more for Ben or for her beloved South?

As the battle between North and South rages, Maggie is torn. Was Ben right? Had this Irish immigrant perceived the truth of what God had predestined for America?

Review by Angela D. Meyer:

Ushered into life around the time of the Civil War, you will experience the joys, heartache, and emotions of the era through the eyes of Maggie Gatlan. Written with great attention to details that bring this time alive, Swept into Destiny will give you a greater understanding into the hearts of those who loved the south and struggled with the reality of the Civil War that tore families apart and divided friend from friend.

Meet, the author, Catherine Brakefield

Why did you choose to write historical novels? I choose to write historical fiction because of my love affair for anything history. During my school years, my attention was American History. I remember thinking of it as America’s love relationship with God and His Savior, Jesus Christ.

I was reared when public schools recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang all stanzas of “My Country ’tis of Thee”. A picture of George Washington kneeling in the snow next to his dapple-grey Thoroughbred hung in our school auditorium. We were taught our founding fathers declared their sovereign pledge to God, and we sang songs in our music classes like “God Bless America” and the “National Anthem.” Through my novels, I hope to give this generation the experience of patriotism I felt while growing up.

Where do you do your research? I start my research reading old history books: Freedom’s Frontier, copyright 1948, Backgrounds of American Freedom copyright 1953, based on The Past Lives Again, copyright 1937. These history books were written before political correctness. I have a better chance of knowing how people thought and felt during America’s earlier years. I interview people who lived or knew someone who lived during the era of my books. I check on their facts and have always found what they told me to be correct.

How do you incorporate your research into your story without making it sound like a history lesson? When I incorporate these facts into my book, I recall my interviewees, their expressions, their chuckles, their tears, and their fears. History is about people, and I want foremost to make sure my readers see those people first and the history that molded their lives and our beloved country in the background, not the foreground.

With this attitude in mind, you never bore your reader. You lift your reader up and plop them right inside your action, sort of like time travel, only your reader becomes the main character, laughing, scared out of their wits, and immersed in the romances of that era.

What is your favorite part about researching a historical novel? My favorite part about researching is the field trips. With Wilted Dandelions, my husband and I traveled the pathway my characters Rachael and Jonathan took through the wind tossed Nebraska plains, the Devil’s Gate of Wyoming, and the steep Red Canyon Mountains of South Pass.

With Swept into Destiny, we traveled to Maryville, Tennessee, where we drank in the mystique of the Smoky Mountains, the wisdom of Mr. Greatheart, and the stamina of the Irish immigrant. I have to admit, I opted out on the swamp experience!

In Into Destiny’s Whirlwind, I felt I had come home. My mother’s people embedded their roots in the rich soil of those blue grass hills where Thoroughbreds thrived and the grit of its people was measured by their determination. And where the Gibson Era continues to inspire and romance a new generation.

Do you have any tips for the author researching a historical novel? Believe Matthew 7:7 “…seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” Seek God’s will for your lives. It might not be what you wanted—“what you what men to do to you, do also to them”—but it will be rewarding. Our forefathers left an imprint of blood upon the stairway leading to heaven for us to follow.

Other books by Catherine

Wilted Dandelions

High-spirited Rachael Rothburn is eager to leave her luxurious life in Buffalo, New York, to share the gospel with Native Americans in the Oregon Territory. But the missionary alliance requires their missionaries to be married and Rachael has no husband or suitors.

When Dr. Jonathan Wheaton, another missionary hopeful, learns about the restriction, he is desperate to find a wife. He offers Rachael a marriage of convenience and she agrees.

After a hasty wedding the pair sets off for the west knowing little about each other. Together they battle raging rivers, hostile Indians, sickness, treacherous mountain trails, and more. But as the seeds of love begin to grow, Jonathan’s jealousy and pride threaten to be an even greater danger than anything they find in the west. Can they overcome the challenges and discover a true and lasting love?

Get your copy of Wilted Dandelions

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Coming April 17th: Destiny’s Whirlwind

Fresh Starts Second Chances

Today we welcome guest Michelle Greenwood as she shares about how writing aided her healing from life’s falls.

I thought my relationship with God was great. I volunteered at church. If the doors opened, I was there. The truth is I became proud, thinking myself better than everyone else because of all the work I did. I know Christianity doesn’t work that way, but I was lost. Despite appearances (the perfect Christian family) my family took a road of destruction.

My oldest son fell fast and hard. His reputation of being a straight arrow was demolished. The media treated his fall as they did Sam Berkowitz’s fall. I drowned in a sea of embarrassment.

Focusing on my son through visits created day to day activity. Then one day, a friend of mine gave me a puppy. She weighed 4 pounds and demanded attention. I could no longer wallow in self-pity I had a baby in need of care.

My son asked me to write daily and I did. I quickly realized I needed God to be able to write positive letters. I decided since I was writing why not share with others. I formed a blog for this purpose.

Initial entries came from Proverbs. Through writing I realized I had fallen into the trap of pride. The letters I sent him contained personal notes as well as what I posted. our relationship improved. It took a few years for him to arrive at the conclusion that his arrogance led to this fall. Today he enjoys a great relationship with God. In prison he is the straight arrow without pride enjoying God’s blessings.

Next, I focused on Psalms. David has always been one of my favorite Bible characters. God calls David a man after His own heart. Writing about David’s words brought awareness of my need to talk to God as a regular person, my BFF if you will. David screwed up all the time, yet David was humble. He brought everything to God. I remembered Prayer is communication between God and me. Prayers are supposed to be specific. Today, when I am in the car by myself, I talk to God as if he is my BFF. I yell, I cry, but most of all, I listen. God has great advice. To hear, I must listen.

The protection and blessings my son now enjoys is due to the prayers of many. One friend told me you have no idea how many people are praying for him. I told her I know people pray, I see the results.

My growth continues. I find myself more mindful of the trap of pride. Currently, my youngest son battles the green-eyed monster. My husband found a niche at church and work. When he speaks, God comes out. Recently we returned to volunteer work.

God is never done with us until we are with Him in heaven. I strive to focus on this fact: Life with Jesus is about #FRESHSTARTS and #SECONDCHANCES. When we fall Jesus is always there.

How has writing helped you heal from the falls of life?

Originally from Midwestern Pennsylvania, Michelle Greenwood is a Christian, wife, mother of two and a (disabled) veteran. Although not yet published, Michelle is busy writing and submitting her work. Her first book is “How to Read the Bible Through Studying John” and she is currently penning her family’s story.

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5 Simple Ways to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy by Paula Zwenger

Ever felt paralyzed by the next step – judging it too far out on a limb? Or sat immobile, convinced no one else has ever faced what you’re facing? A part of you knows these thoughts are irrational. Still negativity holds sway.

Welcome to the world of neophyte writers. Desire burns to spill to paper a story trapped inside. Yet fire extinguishers proliferate like dandelions in springtime, converting your writing sparks to ashes. What to do? Here are tips I try when feeling stifled. Maybe one will work for you.

Write like no one will ever read it. This one I learned during Tosca Lee’s keynote address at the April WordSowers conference. It sounded counter-intuitive. Don’t we write so that someone will read our words? In trying it, I found a release to focus on truth, which lends authenticity to my writing.

Don’t edit as you write. Do set time aside once per week to edit. I’ve only recently begun this practice. Poems and blogs by nature are shorter pieces. They still need editing, but the time commitment is less than a chapter or story requires. This practice may save time and editing costs in the long run. Professional, final editing for longer works is still required.

Set weekly, monthly and annual goals. I first started setting weekly and monthly goals about a year ago. I created an editorial calendar for blogging on the advice of Lee Warren after the 2016 conference. I tried daily goals, but found it discouraging. They took longer to create and were often missed. I’m still warming up to the annual goal idea.

Try one new and different thing within the next three months. When I started writing I’d try new poetic forms as soon as I learned of them (i.e. sonnet, haiku, charita, ballad, villanelle, prose poetry, etc.). Now I focus on one at a time. A different, though related idea on my list is to attend and take part in a poetry reading. You might try writing a poem or reading something out of your favored genre to mix things up.

Celebrate small successes. This is easily neglected if you’re an all-or-nothing personality. If getting the book published is the goal and nothing less counts as success, the wait is long. There are many steps in that process. I recently learned how to schedule blog posts and a subscriber newsletter. My site is new and the subscriber list small, but it will grow and this was a necessary and good accomplishment.

Discouragement can often be a side effect of fear,

but if you take one simple step your path ahead will clear.

Continue with your mission and do not give way to foils.

Remember in the Kingdom to the victor go the spoils (1Chron. 26:27)!

What works for you when you are stuck? Share with your fellow WordSowers in the comments below.

Paula Zwenger is a wife, mother, and grandmother who, upon finding herself an empty nester, tried on the hat of rhyme loving writer. It fitted very well. Her joy manifests completely while taking the ups and downs of life and wrangling them into poetry. She has a passion for creating rhymed treasure hunts with a Catholic flare to celebrate the faith and learn a thing or two along the way. You can find her musings at RhymeLovingWriter and connect with her on Facebook.

Today, we welcome freelance editor Debra Butterfield to our blog. We are highlighting her newest book, 7 Cheat Sheets to Cut Editing Costs. You are sure to use this book over and over! It’s not a long book, but it is packed full of valuable information. Ever wondered what goes into the editing process? Have you ever been a bit daunted by the thought of self-editing your book before initial submission – to your critique group or publishing house? Whether you want to do a better job at self editing or critiquing your writing partner’s book, or just be able to partner better with your publishing house’s editor, this book is for you.

Debra created cheat sheets for Research, POV, Showing vs Telling, Chicago Manual of Style, Punctuation, Creating a Style Sheet, and 10 Things to do before Hiring an Editor. Her writing is to the point and easy to understand. This is one resource you don’t want to pass up.

Purchase your own: Digital Copy ~ Amazon (Print Copy)

Debra Butterfield is the author of 7 Cheat Sheets to Cut Editing Costs, Abba’s Promise, Carried by Grace: a Guide for Mothers of Victims of Sexual Abuse, and Mystery on Maple Hill (a short story ebook). As a freelance editor, she offers book and article editing, proofreading, critique, and coaching services, as well as Scrivener training. Her editorial credits include three award winners: Wilted Dandelions, This I Know, and Bethany’s Calendar. She is a former copywriter for Focus on the Family.

Connect with Debra: Website Facebook Twitter

Interview

What kinds of interesting things have you done in your life? I’ve been aboard C130 airplanes and watched US Marines jump out. It’s tough to beat that! I also lived in Germany from 1987-1991, during which time the Berlin Wall fell and the Gulf War erupted. I saw a lot of amazing places, but there was also danger in being an American in Europe—we learned things like checking our car for bombs whenever we went off base.

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing? When I’m not writing, I’m editing. As a self-employed writer/editor, I battle balancing my time. It can be all work and no play, but that’s not healthy. I enjoy reading and crocheting. When I lived in Colorado, I went hiking. I miss that here in Missouri.

What does your family think of your writing? My parents (now both dead), children, and siblings are very proud of my books. They actively help me market them as well, especially my book Carried by Grace. I’m very fortunate to have them help that way.

Tell us about getting your mind in a creative mode? How do you begin your writing process? There is no “getting in a creative mode.” I sit down and do it. When I’m working on a book, I often reread a portion first to get myself oriented to where I left off. If I want to capture a specific mood for a scene I’m writing, I’ll play instrumental music that fits the mood. The closest I come to getting in a creative mode is to play movie soundtracks while I write because music stimulates my creativity. I think every writer should spend time learning what stimulates her/his creativity.

What motivated you to write on this topic? The same kinds of mistakes pop up in all the manuscripts I edit, so I decided to help writers solve those errors before they send their manuscript to editors or publishers. All writers need professional editing and helping them reduce those costs is what the book is all about. Simple things they can do that make a big difference in the time editors spend doing the work.

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What was the hardest thing about writing the book? The hardest portion of the book was the section on the editing process. I wanted to give writers enough information without overwhelming them with details. I hope by explaining the editing process and giving them a way to determine costs, it empowers writers to move forward with professional editing rather than blindly fearing the costs.

Which part of your book was the most enjoyable to write? Writing the cheat sheets. I do this stuff every day; that made them easy to write. That’s not to say I never reach for my style guides or catch every error when I proofread. But if writers follow this advice, they’ll create stronger stories and cleaner manuscripts, and that translates into saving $$$ in the professional editing process.

What has been your biggest challenge when it comes to self-editing?

~ ~ ~

Our guest today is Paula S. Zwenger. Paula is a wife, mother, and grandmother who, upon finding herself an empty nester, tried on the hat of rhyme loving writer. It fitted very well. Her joy manifests completely while taking the ups and downs of life and wrangling them into poetry. She has a passion for creating rhymed treasure hunts with a Catholic flare to celebrate the faith and learn a thing or two along the way. You can find her musings at RhymeLovingWriter. You can also connect with her on Facebook.

From Paula…I sat in a quiet kitchen one week after our youngest son moved into his college dorm room thinking, “This is it. I’m finally going to do something I’ve talked about for years. I’m going to start writing.”

And I did. For nearly two hours that afternoon, interrupted by numerous side stops to check Facebook or email each time a notification bell dinged, three games of Sudoku plus the daily crossword puzzle online, and two trips to the refrigerator for tea, I wrote. No inkling at all remains of work produced that day, but I was on the path.

In the intervening two years I’ve moved in fits and starts from being a closet poet to a fairly consistent rhyming blogger. The way has been enhanced by on-line writing classes with Metropolitan Community College (MCC), two WordSowers conferences and several monthly meetings, countless hours of internet research, and being part of a writing community. The sheer amount of information available is staggering, but digestible in small bits. Even in these early stages I’ve learned valuable things.

Be not afraid. This is easier said than done some days. Fear of getting things wrong and looking foolish often slows me. But not trying guarantees I won’t succeed and every ‘failure’ holds a lesson.

Speak the words “I’m a writer.” Aloud. This took me a long time. I’d produced two to five pieces of poetry daily for months and created numerous rhymed treasure hunts for family and friends. Yet when people asked what I did I’d stutter, “I’m thinking about writing.” I wasn’t thinking about anything. I was doing it! Because my work hadn’t been sold, or wasn’t in book format, it somehow didn’t count. The first time I actually said the words, I waited for the sky to fall or a gigantic finger to point out my mistake. Guess what? No one blinked or laughed and I’m still breathing. Tada!

Write something every day. This was easy at first because words burst from pen to paper. Eight months later things slowed down. Now once in awhile it feels like work (gasp!), and that’s OK.

There is no one perfect path. Do you write the book first? Start a website? Attend a conference? Join WordSowers? Yes, yes, yes, and yes – in whatever order works for you.

At the most recent WordSowers conference in April, I learned many more great tips. I’m practicing them as I write this post. You can read more about what I learned here.

Finally, because I write in rhyme, I’d like to leave you this little ditty:

If you have tips to share with all, we beg you, don’t be shy.

There’ll never be a better time to tell another why

it’s worth the work and sweat and toil to write the words He sends.

When sown for love of Him who saves – the story never ends.

Do you remember the moment when you

finally called yourself a writer?

Meet Jennifer Slattery, 2017 Wordsowers Conference workshop leader. She will be teaching Avoiding Story Deflators.

Jennifer Slattery is a multi-published author, freelance writer, editor, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, a ministry that seeks to help women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. She writes Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com and is the managing and acquisitions editor for Guiding Light Women’s Fiction, and imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Visit her online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com

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What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. My heart is first and foremost for the writer. I love seeing men and women discover, grab hold of, and live out who they are in Christ and what He’s called them to do. In other words, though I’m looking for strong manuscripts for my women’s fiction imprint, I’m also coming to this conference as a fellow traveler, cheerleader, encourager, and friend.

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop? Who will get the most out of your workshop? Though this workshop is geared toward fiction writers, we’ll be looking at some key components of strong writing. Therefore, writers of all genres should be able to glean helpful information that, if applied, will bring their writing to the next level.

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Can I share two? First, I’d say, if this is something you truly want (to get a publishing contract, article acceptance, or whatever your personal writing goal is), pursue it with perseverance and diligence. Learn as much as you can, and recognize that the more teachable you are, the stronger your writing will be. Also recognize that this is a long, difficult journey, one where many quit along the way. Determine now what you’ll do when (not if) rejections come and the writing becomes difficult. Write this in your journal and pray over this often.

Jennifer’s books are sure to encourage you. Enjoy her most recent release.

Restoring Love

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She’s almost his worst nightmare, and she s also working on restoring something herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband’s incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

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Our next introduction is Anne Rauth. She will be leading the workshop Jesus Would be on Linked In at the 2017 Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference.

An award winning author, Anne received her MBA from the University of Kansas and started her professional career at Hallmark Cards in the Advertising and Hallmark Hall of Fame Division. Currently she works at Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, a safety net clinic in the Kansas county with the lowest healthcare rankings in the state.

PS Don’t try to link with Anne before the conference. Come to her workshop to find out why.

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. Anne Rauth grew up in a small town in Northwest Missouri and can make a post, or any other inanimate object, talk to her. So, if you want to engage in lively “small talk banter”, find her. As the mom of three boys, and wife of almost 25 years to Scott, there’s no shortage of devotional topics to write about; just shortage of time to jot them down. If you must have a conversation starter, ask her about the time she found her oldest son asleep in their claw foot bath tub, and blamed Abbie the Labbie, their family dog.

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop? Who will get the most out of your workshop? Anne’s workshop is “Jesus would be on Linked In”. If you’ve always wanted to “link up” on this social media platform, which has the largest business audience in the world this workshop is for you. You’ll gain a better understanding of Linked In, learn how to get an “All Star Profile” and hear insights about Linked In that Anne has learned along the way.

Anne believes the biggest takeaway from using Linked In is the power of relationship building and how much knowledge you can gain about someone before you meet them.

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Anne encourages writers with her “one word” of the year (it’s hyphenated) to: PRESS-ON. This word was taken from Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” PRESS-ON with your writing while PRESSING IN to Jesus.

Meet Nancy L. Sharp, children’s author and 2017 Wordsowers conference workshop leader.

Children’s Author N. L. Sharp is an educational writing consultant from Fremont, Nebraska. Born in Valentine, graduated from Ponca, with college degrees from both the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she is proud to claim that she is now and always has been a Nebraska writer. She is the author of several published books, including Effie’s Image (a former Nebraska Golden Sower nominee), The Flower Girl / The Ring Bear: A Flip-Over Book(named an iParenting Media Award winner by the Disney Corporation), and the novel Keeping Captain. Sharp is currently working on several other writing projects, including a series of middle-grade novels for children, ages 8-12, and a writing curriculum for elementary and middle-grade students.

Connect with Nancy on her website.

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. Besides being a writer, I am a teacher. One of my greatest joys is to share with others some of the lessons I have been fortunate enough to have experienced on my own personal writing and publishing journey. If anything I have done (or not done, and wished I had) can help others, I am more than eager to share that information with them.

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop and why. Who will get the most out of your workshop? Because I am a children’s writer, anyone who is writing for the children’s market will find my workshop of value. But because I have been published both traditionally (Boyds Mills Press) and as an independent author (with my own publishing house, Prairieland Press) and have had success with both routes (I have had 2 of my books listed on Nebraska’s Golden Sower list–which is the children’s choice award in Nebraska), I think anyone who is trying to better understand the pros and cons of publishing traditionally vs. self-publishing will find my workshop helpful.

Therefore, I think the biggest take-away from my workshop will be to help participants decide what is the best publishing route for them (traditional or self-publishing), regardless of which age writer they are targeting, but especially, if they are writing for children.

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Years ago, I took a Steven Covey class, and I think that his advice to “Begin with the end in mind” is great advice when choosing a publishing route. If you understand exactly what your main goal is in writing and publishing a piece of writing, then the choice of how to publish it (a short story in a magazine, a blog post, a self-published book, publish with a royalty publisher, publish with a work-for-hire publisher, etc.) will be much more easily made.

Check out Nancy’s books!

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Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

Meet Laree Lindburg. Laree will be at the 2017 Wordsowers Writers Conference representing Electric Moon Publishing.

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. My husband and I have five children. Last August, my husband prayerfully took over his father’s business which moved our clan a bit west to a rural area. We now live in the home I grew up in from age eight until eighteen. Other than the aforementioned, one of the more significant changes in my life since moving includes the many opportunities to minister to my in-laws and other relation, whom we now live much closer to. Come visit me and we’ll talk life (and books)!

Connect with Laree and Electric Moon: Website Facebook Twitter

Tell us a little about Electric Moon Publishing. What are some of the ways you can help an author? Emoon acts as a publishing partner for indie authors, ministries, and organizations. The author and eMoon collaborate from writing & editing to cover design & interior layout, and finally publishing & distribution/marketing. With eMoon, the author retains all rights and royalties! As a dovetail to publishing, eMoon has prayerfully begun a speaker’s bureau for powerful voices with solid messages. Ask us for more details–www.emoonpublishing.com or info@emoonpublishing.com.

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer looking to self-publish, what would it be? Take your time. Do not rush. Traditional publishers allow well over a year to produce a book for the masses to consume. Self/indie-published authors need to slow down. Realize you, too, can create as beautiful and desirable a book as a traditional publisher–the support is out there to achieve such a feat. The key is to be diligent, meticulous; as an indie author, you are your last front before print. It rests on your shoulders, but there are a plethora of experts and talented individuals to help, which makes the option quite desirable, especially since you can keep your rights and royalties.

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

Rose Zediker, 2017 Wordsowers Conference workshop leader, will be presenting Put Your Manuscript on a Diet.

Multi-published author and RITA finalist, Rose Ross Zediker, writes contemporary and historical inspirational romances and has hundreds of publishing credits in the Christian magazine genre for children and adults. Her titles have appeared on ECPA bestseller lists and been finalists for the RITA, National Reader’s Choice, Booksellers Best and Book Buyers Best award contests. Rose is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Connect with Rose Blog ~ Inkspirational Messages

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. I like to talk about all aspect of writing, the good (new markets, acceptances) and the bad (cancelled contracts, rejections).

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop? Who will get the most out of your workshop? The greatest take away from my workshop is editors want tight, active writing and the over use of adverbs is ‘telling’ not ‘showing’. Beginning writers and anyone in the revision process will benefit from this information

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Read as many books on the craft of writing and the business side of writing that you can!

Check out Rose’s novella Railroaded into Love, a part of the inspirational novella collection, Lassoed by Marriage.

Railroaded into Love

Montana 1895-Molly is tainted by having an outlaw brother on the run and seems the least likely bride for a pastor of a chapel railroad car. Forced together by duty to family and faith, can they build a life and mission together?

Purchased your copy:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

Wordsowers Christian Writers Group

Inspiring Christian writers to grow, connect, and thrive in their craft.

Browsed by
Author: Angela D. Meyer

Today, we welcome Brenda Anderson, author of life-affirming fiction. She has some great tips to share with us about writing during the holiday season.

For the holiday season, enjoy Brenda’s book, Hungry for Home A Different Kind of Christmas Story…

Like this:

Inspiration can come in many forms, but the best is a hug, a kind word,

and for satisfied readers to take time to give out bonuses. God Bless!