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Tag: Chicken Soup for the Soul

courtesy of David Castillo Dominici@freedigitalphotos.netWe all know about New Year’s resolutions.

A new year equals a fresh start…until want-power overtakes will-power.

I want one last slice of cheesecake before starting my diet.
I want one more couch potato day before hitting the gym.
I want to read one more novel before I work on mine.

Here at Wordsowers we’re turning our writing dreams into reality.
courtesy Feelart @ freedigitalphotos.net
And this is your invitation to join us.
Will 2015 be the year your work emerges from the hidden depths of your computer into the light of publication?
From critiques groups to our annual writers conference, we at Wordsowers are determined to help each other.
I can attest to that. Because of the help, encouragement, and critique I’ve received, Chicken Soup for the Soul purchased five of my stories, James Stuart Bell included me in his Bethany House compilation, Heaven Touching Earth, and I finished the first draft of my novel.
And that’s in the last 18 months.
Could I have done it on my own? Absolutely not.  Is Wordsowers ready to help you? Absolutely.

Please don’t let intimidation keep you from your writing dreams. Connect with us here or on our Facebook page.

Plus, sign up for our free monthly newsletter and get help delivered straight to your inbox. It’s easy–the button is on the right side of this page, near the top.

We’d love to hear your writing plans for this year. Please share them in the comments below.

A tidbit from the Lionhearted Kat:

In a panel discussions the topic of payment for anthology submissions came up. Many writers responded with, “I don’t have time to submit something when I’ll only receive $50.”

By the end of the emails that flew back and forth, I felt like a less-than-good-writer because I submitted to low-paying venues.
Truth is, I like writing for Cup of Comfort, Love is a Verb, Rainy Days, Picket Fences, Angels, Miracles and Heavenly Encounters, and Chicken Soup: Finding My Faith. My work is published in fourteen or is it seventeen anthologies now?No, I don’t earn a living on those stories, but God honors all work.
Last week a District Superintendent qualified the district churches. “We don’t have second-hand churches or less than stellar preachers. We do have many small churches in villages that pay little or nothing. The pastor is bi-vocational—that doesn’t make him or the church less than the mega work in the city.”
The same is true with authors. We may not make big bucks on an anthology, but our words are in print and we will never know what needy soul will read our story—the right story for their need.
Years ago I taught my daughter, Patty, “Don’t take financial advice from poor people.”
The same holds true for building your platform. Be cautious when taking advice. Be extra cautious when paying for advice. There ARE legitimate places to spend money, but Bill Gates could go broke buying all the courses offered.
Photo courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee @ freedigitalphotos.net
We need to make sure the experts we’re following are the real deal.
Dynamic Duo Jeff Goins and Tim Grahl go together like peanut butter and jelly. But more helpful and not as calorie-laden.
Jeff’s an author and uber successful blogger with a following of 100,000. He’s about “writing, marketing, creative business ideas, and making a difference in the world.”
Tim’s the Founder of Out:think, and author of  Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book. The tagline at outthinkgroup reads, “We help authors build their platforms, connect with readers, and sell more books.”
My current budget for writing is $0, but I sign up for their free emails, books, courses, and webinars.
They whet my appetite for the awesome material they’re selling, but I still get a free mini-feast from their sampler platter. For example:
I’ve learned the #1 most effective book sales tool is (drum roll please)
Grow your email list.
(Mine’s jeaniej@cox.net if you feel a sudden irresistible compulsion to sign up.)
Tim Grahl gives this platform building advice:
  • Focus on the few things that work really well, instead of spreading yourself thin across a dozen platforms
  • Develop a system to figure out what is working and what isn’t, so you can keep doing the former and stop doing the latter
  • Connect with other authors and influencers who can help you quickly grow your platform
  • Create content that will attract new readers
Jeff and Tim both give away a good deal of free material. They’re worth checking out.
Now on to
Jeanie’s Super-Secret Newbie No-No’s
Photo courtesy of graur razvan ionut @ freedigitalphotos.net
To recap what we’ve learned so far:
Week 1- Exclamation marks scream, “Newbie!”
Week 2- Annihilate Adverbs.

This week- Eradicate empty words.Really justskip them. I’m very serious.

The exception is dialogue. Sometimes.

Most new writers don’t realize that editors keep Godzilla on retainer. When a submission arrives with words like
                                    “just”
                                         “really”
                                                “very”
they text him. Godzilla arrives, eradicates your manuscript with a blazing blast of fire, and collects his fee.
Play it safe and pull out the empty words yourself.

Read Grammar Nazi David Williamson’s great post on the subject to protect your work…and possibly Tokyo.
Like Mothra says, “Only you can prevent foreign fires.”

Last weekend I hosted a workshop at Bible Truth Ministries church. I shared tips about getting into print from a new writer’s perspective. My writing journey began 13 months ago, and so far I’ve sold stories for three books, two for Chicken Soup for the Soul, plus a Bethany House compilation.
If I can do it, so can you.
Since we all need to move forward, my Current Lofty Goal (AKA something I need to do, but put off)
Make my website “prettier.”
How about you? What are you working toward? I’d love to hear.