Building a platform or building a nervous breakdown.

I talked with a young writer today that was completely discouraged. 

"I'm supposed to write, I'm supposed to build a platform and promote myself as a speaker.  I'm supposed to contribute to other blogs so mine will increase in numbers and somewhere in the middle of all this I'm supposed to be centered and take care of my family.  I need finances to keep writing and I may have to take a job.  I'm overwhelmed and heartbroken."

Most people have an image of a writer sitting in a cabin in the woods, listening to nature, sipping a cup of coffee and plunking out a best selling novel.  Of course, he has servants to do the cleaning, his mailbox is stuffed with checks and when he's done with this novel he will return to a life of fun and games with his family.

Actually if we think about it for a moment, we have fantasies about every job position.  It's rare that we look at a job and think it's unappealing unless it's on the cable show Dirty jobs where the star is trying out chimney sweeping or pig farming.  We tend to see every job as one that has beautiful people working effortlessly while making millions.  Rarely do we see positions where the boss looks like a big green monster to his employees. 

Writing is hard work.  It's not a dream job unless you love books and love writing and can't wait to put your ideas on paper.  It's not a dream job if you don't find your soul lifting every time you write a phrase that hangs in the air and tickles your heart like a child watching twinkle lights for the first time.  It's not a dream job unless you can't imagine yourself doing anything else and hate every moment you are away from the computer.

So what can you do to control the chaos and illuminate the feelings of wonder?

Imagine that you a successful executive.  You have all the power to make every decision and you are in total control.  You can make the employee schedule and you can decide how much marketing will be done.  Give yourself permission to take a day off and to be nice to your grandmother. 

I think we get off track when we are so bent on being published - right now....that we put our publisher's in the seat as an imaginary CEO that's always looking negatively at our work.  We let that image drive us to frustration trying to put everything in place all at once.  If we retain the right to make a writing plan and work hard to execute that plan....we will gain respect and one day we will be published.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Feature This by LouAnn Edwards

The first reason not to write feature stories is you’d rather be doing something else, like having your eyebrows ripped out by the roots. I resisted the idea at first. The roll-your-eyes brat inside me said “I can’t believe I have to do this” like the sixth grader who’s been told for the next five months in PE they’ll be learning the Fox Trot. I simply stomped my middle school foot, crossed my arms and pouted under the basketball hoop muttering, “I don’t wanna!!”

In spite of a disparaging attitude, my first two attempts at interviewing went well. So, when a co-worker approached me about doing a profile for the company newsletter I readily agreed. After all, how hard could it be? Big mistake.

Margaret Johnson the “Fun With Watercolors” instructor was waiting for me at the historic art museum with twelve of her students. All I had to do was grab a few paint class trivia stories, and I’d be free. I hopped up on what looked to be some sort of antique heater apparatus, got out my notebook and fired off my first question.

“ Margaret, what do you like best about teaching art?”

“Well”, she cautiously began, “please call me Marge. Let’s see… I don’t know. “

Great. Now what? “Well, can you tell me what your class has been working on?” I tried again.

“Well, we’re working on mixing colors. You see, the six tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary and a secondary, our neutral achromatic colors are black, white and gray, a triad uses colors at the points of an equilateral triangle, of course a double split compliment, also called tetradic uses two pairs of compliments…”

I was trying to decipher one word of useable quotes when I felt something hot. I jumped down from my perch, where I was sitting on a blaze from what must have been a working steam heater. Yikes! I’m supposed to be getting quotes that burn through the page, not burn through my pants. There had to be an easier way. I had completely flubbed this interview, and didn’t have a clue how to salvage it.

I knew I needed help. But where? I remembered reading about a successful writer who’s talent thrived after taking a graduate level writing class at Harvard. That’s what I needed! It was the thrill of having a professional analyze “your baby.” And if you happen to give birth to an eleven-pound screamer only a mother could love, you just take the course again. Of course, not being sought out by Harvard, I would have to use my imagination and just pretend I was in the class.

Using complex visualization techniques (laying in a hammock with a cold drink) I imagined the somber scene of a graduate school classroom with a stern looking professor at the front of the room clutching my feature story. He was tall, white haired and pointed his finger in my direction.

“Miss Edwards. How did you lose control of this interview?” he said frowning.

“Ah..I dunno.” (I never was good at thinking on my feet in class).

“Well I suggest you figure it out!

I squirmed in my seat, with a furtive glance at the clock.

“You see,” he continued, “You’re writing with action, emotion, feeling…have you been thinking about that, Miss Edwards?”

“Um hum.” Well, actually no. I’ve been thinking about what kind of tan the girl next to me has… it’s so real looking. I wonder if it’s from the sun, a tanning bed, or that new spray on stuff….”

“Well,” I nervously continued, “I think next time I’ll get control, and I won’t sit on any heaters, and…”
“STOP!” He yelled. I think he even slammed a stick on the desk, but I’m not sure-. “ What is your take away here?”
“Ah…don’t sit on antique heaters?”
At this point Professor Picky decides he has a sick headache and he should have listened to his mother and gone into the dry cleaning business with his cousin Earl. Dry cleaners don’t have days like this. He dismisses us all in a fury. Mental note: strike out visualization.
In the meantime my limited expertise is still in demand. My neighbor says she has an “in” with some exciting new subjects for me to interview--Elmer the worm harvester, and a new group at the retirement home called the “Ladies of Seizure.” I can hardly wait.


LouAnn - I love this piece!  I'm still laughing!

God loves you and you are called to write,

Debbie

Writing is like a....

Men may not understand this, but writing for me is like "birthing a baby". My latest book seemed to take over my life. For the last month I have been totally consumed. I've spent every waking moment on those last details. Even when I did take time to go out with my family, my mind was on the book.

Now that it's finished, I can finally relax - at least for a few days until another idea grips my mind and I'm off and running again.

For all of you that wonder if you are truly a writer....ask yourself a very important question. "Could I be happy if I put my pen down and never wrote again?"

If you can answer yes to that question, you do not have the soul of a writer. But, if you feel sad even asking the question, if tears fill your eyes thinking about the ideas that will die in your head, if you think you have six fingers and one of them is an ink pen - you are a writer and you need to keep at it!

Writers are a strange breed. We are constantly thinking about our next project and all the wonderful ideas we can bring to others. We worry about mental pictures and sentence structure. We agonize over words and change things like he ran to he bolted - to he galloped - to he shuffled and back to he ran. We sit at the supper table and write notes on the paper napkin. We can't find time to clean the closet but our notes for our next book are filed and catalogued.

With all our eccentricities - the world needs us. They need our imagination, our insight and our light to help them find a way out of their problems.

So....Get busy. Find a little time today to put some ideas on paper. Get out there and change the world with your writing!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Follow me to a mini writer's conference

Mary Nichelson is an editor with a wonderful blog. This week she published what I would consider a mini writer's conference. She interviewed 8 writers and posted their comments. I've just finished reading it and it's wonderful.

If you need a little encouragement for your writing - check out the following link. And while you are there, be sure and add Mary's World to your favorites list.

http://marysworld411.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-christian-fiction-101.html

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

What the world needs now.....

I hope every writer - new or old - understands the emergency we face today!


Your political differences aren't the issue. Your calling to be a Christian writer is the all consuming issue.

Humans crave information. Humans will become anxious and in some cases depressed if they don't have access to "answers" or explanations about their fears.

This country is in turmoil. Millions of people are frightened and frustrated. They need information. They need to hear from you.

The English statesman Robert Bulwer-Lytton said, "The pen is mightier than the sword".

But what about these other quotes?

The pen is the tongue of the mind. Horace

The strokes of the pen need deliberation as much as the sword needs swiftness. Julia Ward Howe

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write. William Makepeace Thackeray

In a mood of faith and hope my work goes on. A ream of fresh paper lies on my desk waiting for the next book. I am a writer and I take up my pen to write. Pearl S. Buck

Whether or not you agree with the writings of these people is not the issue. The fact that they are writing should be as important to you as your faith.

People need information. If God has given you a talent you must use it. It is your duty and should be your passion to join the ranks of others that are writing. If you are new and not sure about the publishing industry - start a blog. Get involved. We must share the good news and promote the strength of America and her freedoms. Don't sit on the sidelines and watch the news - get involved and WRITE!

Will it be hard? You bet it will. I'm on a deadline for two books. I have three blogs that I've committed to presenting 90% original material. I don't just search the net and comment - I actually write content. I have another blog that I contribute to. It's hard to feel like I have enough time in the day to sit down with my family much less get outdoors.

Your commitment doesn't need to be that involved - but you must commit to some time. If you don't set aside time to write and actually produce copy that can be shared - you will never reach your goals.

The sad side to letting time get away from you, is that the people around you will be struggling without the insight you could provide. I will pray for you and for all Americans, but in the meantime - write!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Wanted Christian Writers

This post will be very small. Please go to my main blog http://www.family-tracks.blogspot.com/ and read today's post.

Washington is attacking our freedoms at an alarming rate. This country is depending on writers with integrity and Christian values to sound the alarm and to be part of the non-violent revolution to take back our Christian nation.

You have thoughts, ideas and plans that can help us all. Please, spend time in prayer, spend time in research and then write, write, write.

I encourage you to read my family tracks blog and use any of the research included there. I know when you see the facts spelled out and you go to the government website, you too will feel the urgency to get involved. Please share this blog and others with as many people as you can.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Getting Serious with LouAnn Edwards

Lou Ann Edwards is a wonderful writer. She also has a bio that will leave you saying "WOW!" She has agreed to be a contributor to our blog and give all of you a little humorous lift to your work. Check out her bio in the side bar and hold on to your side.


Get Serious!

by

LouAnn Edwards

Follow your dreams--that’s what new writers are supposed to do. I’ve read all the latest books on the subject and I’m ready to begin my first important assignment —getting serious. No more tinkering around with restaurant napkins or putting brilliant quips on deposit slips at stoplights. According to the million or so writing experts out there, we fledgling artists must take four essential steps on the ladder to byline stardom.

Demand Cooperation: This is the first step in gaining the respect of your family. I wasted no time. I lined up all the offspring in the kitchen to make my announcement.

“All right you guys, from now on I demand respect for my profession as a soon to be published writer. I’m taking my writing seriously and it’s time you did too.”

“Mom, you write on airsick bags.”

“Hey, that was just once, Mr. Smarty pants, and I couldn’t hold the sentence till we landed. From now on, people are going to be paying me lots of money for what I write.”

“I need a note for not doing my homework” the 10 year old offered.

“That will be 10 cents a word” I fired off.

Envision Yourself A Writer: Speak the language of success the experts say. Practice saying “writer like” phrases. I practiced my favorite line over and over in front of the mirror. When the attacks on my time came, I was ready.

Can you chair the committee on the “Fun with Fudge” fundraiser? Nope! I’m on deadline.
Bake Viennese Stuffed Cabbage for the scouts potluck? Sorry…. I’m on deadline.
Unfortunately, I decided to try it out on my dad. At 82, between his lack of hearing and a staticy cell phone, communication is a little bit of a challenge.

“Dad?”

“Hello, hello? Is someone there?”

“Dad, I’m calling to tell you that I’m running a little late today. I’m a writer now. I’m on deadline.”

”On what? I wouldn’t trust any of those new drugs.”

Well maybe I’m just not saying it to the right people. Next week will get better.

Get Organized: One author says the key to good organization is owning the right equipment. An absolute must on the list of essentials is a telephone headset. All the published professionals wear them. It makes sense to me. After all, how would I interview important big shots typing with a phone between my teeth?

I’m really excited about this one. I can feel just like the clerks at Old Navy and Burger King drive thrus –only I don’t have to wear low-rise khakis or saddle up to a deep fryer. I wonder if they come in the new spring colors?

Network: Writers are a friendly bunch they tell us. Hobnob with the success stories and learn their secrets. But why stop at other writers? Why not go straight to editors and publishers? I checked the back of some books and magazines and jotted down the e-mail address of someone I’ll call Joan. Joan is the editor of a famous national magazine, and I figured she’d be just tickled to network with a friendly new contact like me.

Dear Joan:

Wow! I’m a writer too. Have you heard of me? Oops, my mistake! I haven’t been published yet.

Any ideas for that yet Joan? No pressure, but I’m sending you my favorite thirty stories I just completed which would be perfect for your magazine. What was the name of it again? Ha ha, just kidding, Joan. I’m a humor writer, can you tell? I’ll bet you’re just splitting your panty hose with laughter about now.

Hey, maybe your people could pay my way to New York, and we could talk about it. Let me know!
Your great new friend,

Louann


I never heard back from Joan. So much for networking. But, I have a few hundred more editors to contact. Besides, by the time I get finished at the office supply store loading up on a laptop, printer, headset phone, file cabinet, envelopes, stamps and a “writer at work” sign I’ll bet I have good news waiting in my mailbox.

If nothing else, maybe another kid needs a note.


I Love it, LouAnn!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie