The Mixed Emotions of the Writing Life

My very first published book is starting to hit bookstore shelves around the country. Amazon reviews are beginning to roll in. And my insides are flipping out with all kinds of acrobatics maneuvers—so many that I think my stomach will be ready for the Olympic gymnastic tryouts.

From time to time, friends ask me, “How does all of this make you feel?”

My first answer to that question is, “I’m incredibly thrilled!” After all, I’ve spent years and years working hard, improving my craft, writing book after book, and chasing after publication. And now I’m at the point in my writing career where I’m seeing a lifelong dream come true.

But then my second answer to that question is, “I’m scared too.” I can’t help but wonder what people are really thinking as they read my book, if they’re just telling me they like it to be nice, or if some aren’t saying anything because they can’t find something positive.

Excitement and nervousness do the cha-cha-cha across my mind and through my heart. One minute I’m pulled in one direction with giddy anticipation, and the next I’m stepping back, wanting to protect myself from the negative that is just a twirl away.

In the debut dance, there’s also the self-consciousness that comes from stepping into the spotlight. When it’s our time to take a turn on the dance floor, we can’t cower in the corner any longer. We have to get out, let the light shine on us, and feel the heat. And for those of us writers who are used to a relatively unobtrusive lifestyle, the attention feels slightly uncomfortable.

On the one hand I’m pleased to have the newspaper write up a flattering article about me, to have my dog’s vet office send me a card of congratulations, and to get stopped for a handshake at the store. But on the other hand, I also want to stay the normal, busy mom of five, because I’m just an ordinary person with an ordinary life.

And finally, in the mixed emotions of debuting, I'm filled with deep appreciation for all of those who want to help make this debut successful. I love hearing from friends who’ve made a point of buying my book simply because they want to encourage me. But on the other hand, worry lingers in the back of my mind, nagging me with questions like, “Will I earn out my advance?” “Will my publisher be glad they took a chance on me?” “Will I have respectable sales figures?”

What I’m realizing is that no matter where we’re at in our writing careers, there will always be mixed emotions. Maybe it’s the high of getting a request from one agent, but the cold shoulder from another. It could be the pain of a harsh critique one week, but a contest final the next. Perhaps it’s the excitement of garnering interest from a publisher, but then the agony of having to wait for months to hear back.

We have to resolve ourselves to the fact that the writing journey is always going to have dips in the road. It’s a bumpy ride--before and after publication. If we can adjust our perspective and realize it’s not all smooth sailing, we’ll be better prepared, more realistic, and develop the stamina to keep going through the ups and the downs.

Through it all, I remind myself of how blessed I am to have the gift of being able to weave stories. Not everyone gets to do something they absolutely love.

What about you? Have you experienced the mixed emotions that come with the writing life? I’ve shared my feelings openly. Now I’d love to hear yours.

P.S. If you'd like the chance to win a copy of The Preacher's Bride, make sure you head over to Trivia Question #4 and leave a comment!

How to Plan a Successful Debut Book Party

This past Saturday was my big debut book party for The Preacher’s Bride. A launch party is usually a once-in-a-life-time event for an author. It’s typically something we do with our first book as a way to celebrate with our community the monumental occasion of getting a book published.

There really is no right or wrong way to have a debut party. I’ve heard of authors having simple signings with cookies and punch all the way to themed parties with full-fledged dinners, at anywhere from a library to a restaurant to a rodeo. I’m realizing that it doesn’t matter so much WHAT an author does, as much as HOW she does it.

I certainly don’t claim to be the expert on planning parties (I’m actually horrible at it!). But I can still share a few things I learned through my experience about how to make the event more successful.


Thanks to my friend Kim Anderson
for taking all of the pictures!

 1. Set the date early enough.

I set the date for my party a week before the official release. But first I made sure that my publisher could guarantee that my books would be available. In fact, my publicist was the one who initially suggested the earlier date for the party—if not a week early, then on the date of release or very close to it. We want the party to be the start of all the excitement, a place for people to come get our books early before they’ve had the chance to purchase it elsewhere.

2. Find a supportive location, preferably one that will help with promotion.

I decided to have my party at a bookstore simply to save myself the logistics of having to sell the books myself (which involves a whole other set of complicated details). Since my small town only has two bookstores, I approached the family-owned Christian bookstore that I’ve shopped at for years. They printed up posters, had bag-stuffer announcements, sent out Facebook and email invitations to everyone on their mailing list, and had a special display for my book on the front counter. They went the extra mile to help me!

3. Send out personal invitations and announcements.

I gave my publicist at Bethany House the information regarding the party, and she designed and printed up invitation cards for me. Then my daughters helped me address them, stuff them in envelopes, and send them out to friends. In hindsight, I’m able to see that those I personally invited made up the bulk of who came to the party--the friends most excited for me and wanting to help me celebrate. If an author can only do ONE thing to announce their party, I’d say the personal invitations are the most important.

4. If possible, get community support.

My local newspaper interviewed me and published it the week before my party. They actually gave me a full page in the Sunday paper and announced the book party. The article sparked community interest and some of the people I met at the party came as a direct result. We also put up posters about the book signing around town. Blogging friend Janel Gradowski saw the poster at a coffee shop and recognized me from blogging. She came to the party and we had the chance to meet.


Thanks to my friend Molly Black
for bring the Petit Fours!

 5. Make it more than just a book signing.


I wanted my book launch to be more than just a book signing. I provided refreshments and a couple of my friends brought food and stayed to help. I also put together two gift baskets each filled with other Bethany House books, notepads, pens, etc. My daughters stood by the doors and handed out slips of paper to everyone who entered the store, encouraging them to sign up for the drawing to win a basket. People hung out, chatted, ate, and enjoyed being together.

Overall, my book party was a wonderful time of celebrating with friends and the community. I didn’t keep count of how many people came or exactly how many books sold. I realized as the morning progressed that the sales and the numbers didn’t matter a whole lot to me. What made the party a success to me personally was feeling the love and support from so many local friends and community members.

And isn’t that what writing is all about anyway? Connecting with others? Whether through blogging or through our stories or in real life, we find fulfillment when we genuinely interact and encourage each other.

How important do you think a launch party is for an author? Have you had one or will you? What other things do you think are important in making launch parties successful?

P.S. This week is the final countdown to the release of The Preacher's Bride! Make sure you don't miss out on the final giveaway. Answer Trivia Question #4 to enter the drawing!

The Preacher's Bride Book Giveaway: Trivia Question #4

To save herself from deadly danger, Elizabeth is forced to spy on John by stealing his papers. (Hint: Look at the cover of the book for a clue to the answer).

A. True

B. False

Leave your answer (just an A or B is fine) in a comment along with your EMAIL address. Everyone with the correct answer will be entered into this week's drawing for a free copy of The Preacher's Bride.

Deadline: Thursday evening Sept. 30, 2010 at 10:00 pm EDT. I'll announce the winner on Friday morning. If you tweet this post or put a link on facebook, let me know in a comment, and you'll qualify for an extra entry.

How To Make The Unlikable More Digestible

What I Learned About Life & Writing From . . . Zucchini

How many kids actually like zucchini? For that matter, how many adults like it? It’s one of those healthy green vegetables that doesn’t have a whole lot of taste, and the texture is somewhat stiff and dry—except when it’s over-cooked and turns mushy and slippery.

Usually, zucchini grows so fast, you can’t keep up with giving it away. But not for us this year. We didn’t get a single one in our tiny plot. Fortunately, I have a dear friend who grows an enormous garden, and she took pity on me and gave me fresh produce—including zucchini.

My kids looked at the dark green squash on the counter and said, “Ewww.”

"But what about all the yummy things I’ve made in the past?" I asked. "Breads, muffins, and cake?"

My oldest just shrugged. "I still don’t like zucchini.”

One night when they were all gone swimming, I decided I really needed to do something with the zucchini before it turned moldy. So, I whipped up a couple loaves of good ol’ zucchini bread. When the kids returned from the pool, the sweet aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg greeted them.

Of course they all rushed into the kitchen, saw the loaves cooling on the counter, and clamored for slices. With a smile, I cut steaming pieces for each of them. And my smile grew only bigger as they tasted their bread and oohed and aahed through each bite.

“I thought you didn’t like zucchini.” I teased my oldest as he stuffed the last of his piece into his mouth.

He grinned. “I still don’t. But I guess the bread’s alright.”

Sometimes we’re better able to digest unlikable things when they’re mixed with other more pleasant ingredients. Or when they’re shredded up and nearly invisible. We get a dose of the healthy without even realizing it.

Isn’t that true in life? Criticism or discipline or difficult feedback is much more palatable when it’s served with a mixture of the positive. It’s easier to swallow and digest the hard things life brings when it’s stirred together with encouragement and love.

And isn’t the same principle true on so many levels with writing? My critique partner is a model example of how to give affirming feedback. Her smiley faces and compliments make the tough comments easier to take.

Even within our stories, we’re wise to shred up the less digestible aspects: primarily the back-story and narration. As our plots unfold, we’re tempted to drop in chunks of information or large glaring paragraphs that explain our characters' motivations or past history.

Yes, we need to get the explanations in somewhere or the story won’t make sense and the characters won’t be as well-rounded. But how can we slip in the information without it being noticeable? In other words, how do we mix in the zucchini aspects of our stories so that the reader will hardly see or taste it?

First we need to know how much “zucchini” we really need. Our readers don’t need as much as we think they do. The large majority of back-story is for us, the writers. It helps us shape our characters into living and breathing beings. We only need to give readers enough to keep them from being confused. In fact, don't you think readers like to piece the story together like a puzzle, coming to a wonderful ah-hah moment, rather than having us hand everything to them all nice and neat?

Second, we need to add in the “zucchini” aspects of the story slowly and smoothly. For the most part we should try not to stop the flow of the story to explain things. This includes scenes where our characters sit in front of a mirror or window and contemplate their lives. Usually such scenes are static with the purpose of filling in the reader. And we risk bringing the story to a halt.

Instead, we have to write the story—the present story. If we look for ways to shred up the narration and back-story and blend it in, often the reader will hardly know it’s there. A sentence here, a small paragraph there. Sometimes insinuations through dialog and in the way our characters act can tell much more about them than words. After all, actions speak louder than words.

What about you? How are you serving your zucchini? Are you learning how to mix criticism within the sweet taste of the positive? And are you careful how much back-story and narration you’re slipping into your stories so that your reader will hardly know it’s there?

P.S. The winner of this week's The Preacher's Bride giveaway is: Beth Sorensen. Congratulations!! I'll be doing ONE more giveaway next week during the final countdown to the official RELEASE DATE! So come back to play again!

The Differences Between Hobby & Professional Writers

I spent the past weekend surrounded by over 600 writers at a conference. I’m sure if I asked any one of those writers whether they considered themselves a professional writer or a hobby writer, they’d have unanimously claimed the title of “professional.” In fact, not many writers I know would consider themselves hobby writers. And yet, are we, who don the title of “professional” distinguishing ourselves enough from hobby writers?

What are key differences between hobby and professional writers?

Here are a few of my thoughts on the differences. I’d love to hear yours—so make sure you let me know in the comments!

Motivation: Hobby writers may dream of publication, but their ambitions for it are less defined. Professional writers usually have the long term goal of making money from their writing.

Pleasure: Hobby writers put pen to paper for the pure pleasure of it. Professional writers hopefully enjoy the writing process, but they don’t let feelings alone dictate their process. They write even when every word must be wrenched from the brain.

Inspiration: Hobby writers are satisfied to open their notebooks whenever inspiration strikes. But career writers sit down in front of the keyboard even when they must drag the muse kicking and screaming back from vacation.

Work Time: Hobby writers are at liberty to let other life events or the busyness of activities step in the way of the story. They can stare out the window, sip tea, or surf the net instead of tapping away at the keyboard. Professionals, however, protect their work time, make it a priority, and devote concerted effort to it.

Standards: Hobby writers are working to please themselves. If the quality of the work suits them, then that’s what matters. Professional writers adhere to high standards, learn how the publishing industry works, and realize that books are for readers and not just for themselves.

Investment: Hobby writers don’t need to invest in taking their writing to the next level. But professionals look for ways to grow by putting time and money toward continuing education and even outside consultation.

Image: Hobby writers can wear bikinis on their blogs and belch out the alphabet on twitter. Professional writers intentionally work at creating an image and concern themselves with long term impressions.

Final thoughts on hobby and professional writers.

Sometimes even professional writers need breaks. From time to time we all need an extended vacation from our jobs—and that includes writing. I had a long writing hiatus during the years when I was busy having all my babies. If we need a break, we should give ourselves permission. And yet I urge us to all make sure those “breaks” are valid and not stemming from lack of diligence.

Not everyone who starts off as a professional writer will stay one. Let’s face it, not all of us pursuing a writing career are going to stick with it. That’s the same with any job choice we might make. Perhaps we learn that we don’t like writing for publication as much as we thought we would. Or maybe we find another pursuit more to our gifting and liking. However, I urge us to consider the motivation for quitting before we do. If discouragement is our main reason, then we need to remind ourselves that discouragement must give birth to perseverance before perseverance can give birth to publication.

When we act like professionals, others in the industry will take us more seriously. Agents and editors can usually tell when an author has done the work to grow and has learned about the industry. And they’ll be much more impressed by an author who’s written more than one book. As James Scott Bell says in The Art of War For Writers, “Publishers and agents invest in careers. They want to know that you can do this over and over again.”

Are there any other key differences between hobby and professional writers? Which are you? And if you’re a professional, are you acting like one? Do others see it?

P.S. Remember to answer this week's easy question about The Preacher's Bride to be entered into the drawing to win a copy! Trivia Question #3.

Is a Writer’s Conference Worth the Money?

Cindy Wilson, Wendy Miller, Me, Heather Sunseri

I just spent several days in Indianapolis at a national fiction writer’s conference. This is only the second writing conference I’ve gone to in my writing career. In fact, in all my years of writing, I hadn’t attended one until last year (after I had an agent and book contract).

How important are writer’s conferences, really? The costs are incredibly high for the pauper writing population. When figuring in conference fees, transportation, and hotel, we can easily spend $1000. Are there enough benefits to justify that kind of cost?

Like everything on this blog, I can only share my opinions based on what I’ve been learning. So make sure to chime in with your thoughts in the comments!

Benefits of a Writer’s Conference:

*Networking with other writers. The relationships we form with other writers are invaluable. They could lead to critique buddies, blogging partners, champions for our books. At the very least, the friends we form will encourage us, challenge us, and enlighten us. And if we already have friends, then it’s the chance to meet new people and broaden our scope and presence. Published authors can use the time to build their name and promote their books among the writing community.

*Learning more about the business. While rubbing shoulders with hundreds of other authors, we get to learn more about industry advancements and happenings. We learn new lingo, see who’s important, and see how it’s all done from the best. I had the chance to ask other published authors for their advice on book signings—what worked and what didn’t for them. And since I have a book release party this Saturday, I soaked in every bit of information I could.

*Growing through workshops and seminars. Often seminars are led by best-selling authors, agents, or editors. We get to ask specific questions and might even have the opportunity for one on one time. During the conference I just attended, I had the privilege of learning from James Scott Bell the author of my favorite writing craft books.

*Connecting with industry professionals. A conference is one of the only places where writers can schedule meetings with agents and editors, pitch their work, and have the chance to get a foot in the door—especially with those closed to queries. They learn our names, see that we’re taking our writing seriously enough to attend a conference, and perhaps might ask to see more of our work.

But are the benefits really worth the money?

In a day an age when we can do and see almost anything we want online, is a conference really worth the money and effort? After all, we can network with other writers through blogging, twitter, and facebook. With a little effort we can form critique groups, find encouragement, and broaden our online presence. Do we really need to go to a conference for it?

And same with learning about the business and growing as writers. We can rub shoulders with agents on twitter, read industry blogs, and stay up with daily changes. We can buy books about everything from writing scenes to marketing our work. Do we really need to spend hundreds of dollars to do that when we can do it from the ease and comfort from our desk chairs?

With webinars, online conferences, a plethora of blogs about writing, and all the information a click away for free, the internet has definitely changed the need for writer’s conferences. In fact, conferences can often have an “overwhelming” feel to them. Despite the camaraderie, invigoration, and fun, there’s an underlying fear and slight depression that comes from knowing we’re all striving after the same thing and that not everyone is going to get a gold medal.


Even so, I still think a writer’s conference adds something valuable to a writer’s career that can’t be gained anywhere else. As much as I love the internet and the friendships I’ve made online, there’s nothing that beats real life, face to face communication and relating. And to me, that’s what writing conferences are all about—REAL CONNECTIONS.

I think every writer should eventually give a conference a try. But there’s no hurry—especially when we’re young in our writing careers. I waited until I was at a place in my writing career where I was ready to meet agents and industry professionals. Before that I put the money toward other things like fiction-writing help books and freelance edits.


What about you? What are other benefits to writer’s conferences? And do you think the benefits are really worth the money?

P.S. If you're interested in entering this week's drawing for a free copy of The Preacher's Bride, all you need to do is answer a simple question! Go here: Trivia Question #3

The Preacher's Bride Book Giveaway: Trivia Question #3

What kind of danger haunts the main characters of The Preacher's Bride?

A. A gigantic water snake slithers out of a tsunami and squeezes to death anyone it catches.

B. A tribe of man-eating Vikings is attacking their town, and they must hide in underground tunnels to escape the danger.

C. The King's men spread vicious rumors, bodily intimidate, brutally harm, and unfairly imprison anyone who dares to defy them--especially bold preachers.


Leave your answer (just an A,B, or C is fine) in a comment along with your email address. Everyone with the correct answer will be entered into this week's drawing for a free copy of The Preacher's Bride. (Hint: The answer is somewhere on my website!)

Deadline: Thursday evening Sept. 24, 2010 at 10:00 pm EDT. I'll announce the winner on Friday morning. If you tweet this post or put a link on facebook, let me know in a comment, and you'll qualify for an extra entry.

And THE WINNER of this week's drawing is: Beth Sorenson! Congratulations, Beth! And thanks to everyone else for playing along!! Come back next week for ONE more chance to win a copy!

Fancy is Not Always Better

What I Learned About Life & Writing From . . . Birthday Cakes

This year, for the first time, I bought a birthday cake for one of my children. (I know, gasp!) In the past, I’ve always asked my children what kind of cake they’d like on their special day. I’ve made cakes that were supposed to resemble dogs, horses, fish, teddy bears, hamsters, pizzas, and even snakes.

Most of the time, surprisingly, the cakes turned out fairly well—except for once when I couldn’t get the frosting red enough and the fire truck ended up pink. Oh, and the time our dog jumped on the counter and ate a leg off the frog cake. Or when I didn’t get the dress big enough to fit the Barbie in the center . . . Okay, so maybe my homemade cakes weren’t ever perfect. But the great thing about kids is that they don’t care.

After years and years of making such unique, creative cakes for each of my children, when my seven year old asked for a Batman cake this year, I scratched my head. How in the world would I ever make a Batman-shaped cake? I considered steering him toward something else—like a tiger or football field cake. Those I could do (thanks to FamilyFun.com).

But then I had a brilliant idea. What if I bought a Batman cake instead of making one? Since I was particularly busy with rewrites on Book 2 and marketing The Preacher’s Bride, maybe I could make an exception just this once.

So first, I checked with my little guy and made sure he wouldn’t be devastated if we had a store-bought cake instead of one lovingly and painstakingly created by his very own dear mother. And to my surprise he jumped up and down with excitement. All that mattered was the Batman.

Second, I made sure my husband was okay with me spending $18.99 on a measly 9 by 13 cake. He assured me that he didn’t mind, so I placed the order. When my son saw it for the first time, he adored it—mostly because it had Batman on a motorcycle coming out of the Bat Cave.

In fact, everyone loved the generic cake as much as they’d always loved the special cakes I’d created. And it got me thinking that sometimes it’s okay to use the simple, even generic things in both writing and life, that fancy is not always better.

In life, I’m learning I don’t need to strive so hard to be “the perfect mom” as if such a thing even exists. It’s okay at this busy stage in my life to use boxed brownies and canned soup. It’s fine to wash light clothes with darks. It won’t hurt to use paper plates and make pizza a staple meal.

Sometimes in life we have to give ourselves permission to make things easy and less complicated for ourselves, to know what works for us, and to stop chasing after someone else’s ideal for who we should be.

And in writing, I’m learning I don’t have need to chase after lavish prose either. I hesitate to even bring up the issue, because I think most of us struggle with using too many stereotypes and clichés in our writing. But, I think it’s also possible for us to fall into the trap of thinking all generic writing is wrong.

The fact is, most readers are like my son. In all his seven years, he never noticed the flaws in my creative cakes, and most readers don’t pay too much attention to our flaws either (unless they’re glaring!). They don’t need our stories packaged in fancy prose, astounding similes, and beautiful images. Sometimes when we’re trying to decorate our writing too much, we risk the possibility of overwhelming or confusing our readers and pulling them out of the story.

In other words, it’s okay not to strive SO hard for each and every word. We don’t necessarily need to get rid of every “was,” every adverb, or every repetitive word. Sometimes we get caught up in trying to make the words of our story so perfect, we forget the reader really cares most about the story itself. (That’s not to say we shouldn’t strive to have our stories polished, because we should.)

Robert McKee in his book Story says this: “If you cannot tell a story, all those beautiful images and subtleties of dialogue that you spent months and months perfecting waste the paper they’re written on.”

The point is that cake is cake—even when it’s store-bought. And a good story is a good story—even if it’s not a creative masterpiece. So focus on the story. When we give our readers something delicious, they won’t care how it’s packaged or where it comes from.

What do you think? Do you sometimes use simple, generic things in life? What about in your writing? Do you add too much prose and worry too much about your words at the expense of the story?

P.S. The winner of this week's book giveaway is:  Jeanette Levellie. Congratulations! Thanks to everyone who played along and left a comment! Come back next week for another chance to win The Preacher's Bride!

Which Social Media is Most Effective in Reaching Readers?

More of the population is using social media than ever before. For authors social media is an excellent way to meet and mingle with readers. In fact, compared with book signings or other traditional ways of meeting readers, social media is easier, more immediate, and ongoing.

We get to interact from the convenience of our homes in between loads of laundry while we sit in our pj's. (Not that I’ve ever done that, mind you!) We can instantly meet a variety of people all over the world. And then with a little bit of effort, we can continue to “see” those people around cyberland.

In addition to the convenience for authors, social media benefits readers too. As a reader, I love getting an inside glimpse into the personal lives of my favorite authors. I’m always fascinated to hear about their writing process. And I’m thrilled when they take a minute to interact with me personally.

Social media is a fun and beneficial way for both readers and writers to mingle—at least that’s been my experience so far. But where’s the best place to hang out? On blogs? Facebook? Twitter? Yes, there are others, like MySpace or LinkedIn. But the top three current hot spots seem to be blogs, facebook, and twitter.

Between the three most popular, is one more effective than another in reaching out to readers? After all, we don’t want to spin our wheels and waste effort. We want to make wise use of our limited time and go to the places that will help us the most.

As I’ve traversed the hallways of various social media sites I’ve come to the conclusion the sites will only be as effective as we make them. Each one has pros and cons. But ultimately, the success or failure depends on how well we use them.

Blogging:

The Key to Using Effectively: Writing quality posts and visiting AND commenting on other blogs
Pros: More in depth communication, deeper sharing, learning more about others
Cons: Can take quite a bit of time to not only write posts but also visit other blogs, which can subsequently lead to blogger-burnout

Facebook:

The Key to Using Effectively: Sharing personally AND being interested in the personal lives of others
Pros: Quick way to stay in touch with others, especially about the non-writing aspects of life
Cons: Not the best place to advertise for our writing accomplishments (I recommend establishing a separate a Facebook Page geared more specifically toward our books and writing. See this post.)

Twitter:

The Key to Using Effectively: Making it mostly about socializing, encouraging, & building community
Pros: Easy way to chit-chat; quick way to post helpful links; unprecedented opportunities to meet business experts (agents, authors, social media experts)
Cons: Tweets come and go very quickly which makes it difficult to keep up with everyone (having a way to organize followers into lists can help)

I suggest a combination of all three. I try to mingle off and on throughout cyberland. I know there are some who have all three inter-connected so that blogs will automatically post to twitter and facebook, and so that their tweets will post onto facebook or vice-versa. This may save time and work to some extent.

But . . . I’m convinced that the most effective way to use all three is in the personal factor. The more personal we can be with those on our sites, the more we’ll benefit.

Here’s the thing, I know several authors who ONLY use one social media, like Facebook. They don’t blog or tweet. And yet, they do an excellent job of interacting with their readers—making a point of responding to each reader who leaves a comment. They’re using social media to personally connect and that’s the key.

Could they reach out to more readers if they branched out into other social media? Maybe. Could they extend their online presence? Probably. But by using one and doing it effectively, they’re accomplishing more than if they used ALL of the social media and only plugged their books.

My suggestion? Jump in and try new social media. Watch what others are doing. See what works and what doesn’t. Learn how to make the most out of each site. Don’t be shy. Step out of your comfort zone. Participate. And most of all, be personal.

What social media do you like the best and why? What are the pros and cons for you?

P.S. If you'd like a chance to win a copy of The Preacher's Bride, make sure you head over to the trivia question of the week and leave a comment there!

The Preacher's Bride Book Giveaway: Trivia Question #2

What are the occupations of the Hero & Heroine in The Preacher's Bride?

A. He's a tinker (tinsmith); she's his housekeeper

B. He's a grave digger; she's a belly dancer

C. He's an astronaut; she's a neurosurgeon

Leave your answer (just an A,B, or C is fine) in a comment along with your email address. Everyone with the correct answer will be entered into this week's drawing for a free copy of The Preacher's Bride. (Hint: The answer is somewhere on my website!)

Deadline: Thursday evening Sept. 16, 2010 at 10:00 pm EDT. I'll announce the winner on Friday morning. If you tweet this post or put a link on facebook, let me know in a comment, and you'll qualify for an extra entry.

Congratulations to this week's winner: Jeanette Levellie! Thanks to everyone for playing along! Come back next week for another chance to win!

Are Writing Routines Important to Success?

With the start of a new school year, I couldn’t keep from looking at the calendar and having a near panic-attack. During the month of September, in addition to the usual work of teaching, mothering, and managing my busy household, I’m attending a national writer’s conference, getting ready for my first book-signing, preparing for my debut launch party, writing up interviews, and starting other marketing efforts.

With everything going on, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would ever get anything done. And when would I have time for the additional edits I’m sure to get from my publisher on Book 2? And how would I find time to continue researching Book 3?

As I pondered the upcoming month, I decided to sit down and write up a weekly schedule. Then I could see exactly where I’d have free time and how much. Once I did that, I was able to find pockets here and there most days when I’d have time to devote to my writing.

How important are writing routines in helping us strive toward success? Does it really make all that much difference whether we plan out our days and weeks, or can we work at writing in a hit-or-miss fashion and still achieve the same results?

I love what James Scott Bell says in The Art of War for Writers: “A goal is just a dream unless it has legs.” Not everyone thrives in a structured routine, but I think the more specific and intentional we are with our writing goals, the more likely we are to seeing our dreams come true. In other words, we need to give our goals “legs.”

What are some of the ways we can get specific in developing writing routines? Here are just a few of my ideas. I’d love to hear yours too.

1. Make a plan.

When I’m in the process of writing my first drafts, I give myself daily word count goals. I keep track of how many words I write a day in a notebook, challenging myself to 800 to 1000 words. When I’m editing, I usually give myself the goal of one chapter a day. When I’m researching, I give myself a daily time schedule—like, reading and researching for three hours every day.

Not everyone can or wants a daily word count or editing goal or hourly research quotas. Some people would just dry up and wilt under the structure. But . . . if we don’t give ourselves any tangible goals or deadlines to help us get to our destination, we risk wandering off the path, getting lost or distracted, or even taking much longer than necessary.

So, my advice is to come up with some kind of “map,” something that can keep us on track—whether that’s clocking in a certain number of minutes a day, weekly word counts, or monthly deadlines.

2. Stick to the plan.

When I make my plan, I let my family know. My husband and kids then ask me, “Have you met your word count yet today, Mom?” Even my four year old daughter “types” on her Barbie laptop and does her “word count.” Their questions not only give me accountability, but when my goals are tangible, it’s easier for them to support and understand what I’m doing.

And likewise, when I stick to my plan and take it seriously, day after day, my family has grown to accept that it’s part of my life. I try really hard not to let other activities interfere with the time that I set aside specifically for writing.

3. Challenge the plan.

For some of us, it’s all too easy to get into a comfortable routine. We grow complacent with our word counts, complacent with our methods, and perhaps even too busy to learn more. Before I delve into my next book project, I want to look at the areas where I need to grow, and I want to challenge myself to try new things, push myself to write with more diligence, and be even more productive.

~Summary: We need to have a long term vision for our writing and dream big dreams. But then we need to give those dreams momentum, get them moving forward, and keep them on track . . . and that’s where a writing routine of some kind can help. The routine can guide us and prod us until we finally reach our destination.

Do you have a writing routine of some kind? How does it help you stay on track? Do you think most writers can benefit from some kind of routine?

P.S. Don't forget to answer this week's Trivia Question for a chance to win The Preacher's Bride! I'll announce the winner on Friday.

When It Looks Like We’re Headed for a Crash

What I Learned About Life & Writing From . . . a Bike Ride

Have you ever had to sit back and watch helplessly as someone you loved raced full speed toward disaster?

Last weekend, our family went on a bike ride through the winding trails and quiet streets of our town until we reached our destination: Pizza Sam’s. Hungry and happy we squeezed around a booth and devoured two large pizzas.

As we headed out of the little restaurant, I cautioned my seven year old son about the first hill we needed to ride down. “Make sure you keep your hands on the brakes,” I said, helping him strap on his helmet.

He nodded and hoisted himself onto his bike. He’d just learned to ride without training wheels earlier in the summer. For most of the ride there, he’d meandered behind the other children, taking his time, enjoying the scenery and eager to chat with me—especially since he didn’t have to compete with any of his siblings to be heard. As the second youngest of five children, he’s always been content to follow the others and go at his own easy pace.

But . . . he’s also not always good about thinking through the consequences of an action before doing it—like the time he climbed onto the top shelf in his bedroom to get some Legos, but then ended up pulling the shelves out of the walls, nearly getting a concussion, and destroying all the Lego creations that had been displayed on the shelves.

So, as we poised at the top of the long hill watching the big kids flying down on their bikes, I said again, this time louder, “Keep your hands on the brakes. Don’t let yourself go too fast.”

Off he went. Down, down, down . . . faster and faster and faster.

“Slow down,” I yelled.

His handle bars began to wobble and the bike began to weave. “I can’t stop!” came his terrified cry. All too quickly his bike veered toward a cement median with a tree in the middle.

I could only hold my breath and watch in absolute horror. I couldn’t say anything, couldn’t do anything. But my heart screamed and my pulse hammered.

The situation reminded me of life and how sometimes we start down a path, confident, watching those ahead of us making it, even looking like they’re having fun. But at some point during our ride, we begin to teeter precariously. We veer off course and it looks like we’re headed for a crash.

Maybe it’s like that with marriage or parenting or a career choice or other life situations. We see others succeeding and enjoying their ride, but somehow we’re wobbling, frightened, headed for a cement wall and a big tree.

Same with the writing life. There are times when we feel like we’re on crash-and-burn course—nothing good seems to be happening, and we experience more scrapes and tumbles than anything. I’ve had times like that, even recently, where I can’t help but wonder why I’m pedaling so hard, why I’m putting so much effort into writing, rewriting, marketing, blogging, etc. I’ve even been known to say on a few occasions, “I can’t do this anymore. It’s just too hard.”

It’s at times like that, I tell myself I made a commitment. I can’t quit when things get tough. In a modern throw-away culture, it’s easy to get into the mentality that when we don’t like it, or when something’s broken, or when we get tired of it, we can just give up, toss it aside, and move on to something better.

Commitment is an all-too forgotten ideal and one that fluctuates depending upon our need for it. But it’s something I’m clinging to. I’m hanging on tight against the odds, staying committed, and praying I can finish strong—in my writing and life.

My son didn’t let go of his bike. He clung to the handle bars, even as his bike careened over the cement median, skidded past the tree, and bounced out into the street. Through the crazy ride he hung on and landed on his two feet on the other side.

My heart didn’t resume normal beating for quite some time, and I made sure I hugged my little guy extra hard for a day or two. It was actually nothing short of a miracle that he came away unscathed. The fact is, most of the time life batters and bruises us and leaves us reeling and hurting.

Don’t give up when things get rough. Stay committed. Pray hard. Believe in miracles.

Have you ever been on a bumpy ride with writing or life? What do you do when you’re tempted to give up? And what do you think--is "commitment" a nearly forgotten word in today's culture?

P.S. The winner of this week's drawing for a free copy of The Preacher's Bride is: Lisa Golden! Thanks, everyone, for playing along! Come back on Monday for another trivia question and another chance to win!

The Great Facebook Debate: Personal Account or Page?

For the longest time I resisted the idea of starting a professional facebook Page. I already had a Personal Account. Why in the world would I need another thing to keep track of?

In Facebook World, most people sign up for a Personal Account. This is the usual, initial sign-up where we add “friends.” We can choose to accept or ignore “friend requests.” We can control who we allow onto our account and our privacy settings. Some of us may reserve facebook for only those people we’ve met in real life, old school buddies, long lost relatives, etc. Others of us pretty much accept anyone onto our account.

A professional facebook Page, on the other hand, is slightly different from a personal account. In “old” facebook terminology, the page was called a “Fan Page.” Thankfully, facebook dropped the “Fan” part and now it’s simply called a “Page.” Anyone can come to our “Page” and “Like” us there. It’s open to the public.

So, yes, I now have a Personal Account AND a Page. Both are free and easy to set up. I debated long and hard about the decision. After talking with my web designer, Kelli Standish, about the entire issue, I decided to give the Page a try. And now that I have, I’m glad I did. Here are a few of the reasons why I chose to open a Page.

1. Personal accounts have a friend limit. Currently the limit is 5000. My personal account rocketed to over 1000 in less than a year during my pre-publication days. After publication it’s possible that eventually I won’t have room to add anyone to my personal account.

2. We can get off to a good start. I’ve found it slightly awkward when others decide to start their Page and then ask me to stop following their personal account to follow their page. I’d rather steer most people toward my Author Page right from the start, especially readers.

3. I can keep my personal account more personal. Like most of you, I’ve connected with tons of real-life friends and family on my personal account. I don’t want to overwhelm them with stuff about my book and writing. Occasionally I share news about my writing with friends and family, but only because I’m really excited, not because I’m trying to promote myself.

4. I can direct new contacts to my Author Page. I still get quite a few requests for friendships from people I don’t know—probably because facebook recommended me to them because we have 300 friends in common (or something like that!). I always accept friends that I know through blogging or twitter or some other way. But for those who are complete strangers, I can now suggest they join my Author Page.

5. The Author Page can be more purposeful for my writing career. My Page says right on it, “The official reader page of Author, Jody Hedlund.” Those who "Like" the Page know what they’re signing up for. They expect that I’ll share information about my books, my blog posts, and my writing life. Of course I want to be as personal there as possible. But no one is going to roll their eyes when I post information about my book because that’s what the page is for.

6. Most importantly, I have a place for readers. I want a place that’s easily accessible. I don’t want anyone to have to wait until I get around to “accepting” their friend request in order to connect with me. With the Author Page, readers can immediately come, get the latest news, and join in the conversation.

Personal Account or Professional Page? The debate still rages. Ultimately every author needs to do what works best for them. Hopefully, I’ve given you something to think about as you make the decision for yourself! For a couple other opinions on the matter visit Writer Unboxed: To Have or Not Have a Facebook Page and Using Facebook to Amplify Your Reach (by Jane Friedman).

So, what are your thoughts? Do you have a Page and if so why did you choose it? And if you’ve opted NOT to have a Page and are sticking with a personal account, what led you to that decision?

P.S. Don't miss this week's chance to win a copy of The Preacher's Bride! Click here to answer an easy trivia question and get your name in the drawing!

The Preacher's Bride Book Giveaway: Trivia Question #1

What is the setting and the time period of The Preacher's Bride?

A. An Amish community in modern day America.

B. Among the Puritans of the 1600's in England, during a time of great unrest and conflict.

C. In the southern states during the Civil War in America.


Leave your answer (just an A,B, or C is fine) in a comment along with your email address. Everyone with the correct answer will be entered into this week's drawing for a free copy of The Preacher's Bride. (Hint: The answer is somewhere on my website!)

Deadline: Thursday evening Sept. 9, 2010 at 10:00 pm EDT. I'll announce the winner on Friday morning. If you tweet this post or put a link on facebook, let me know in a comment, and you'll qualify for an extra entry.

The Winner: This week's winner is Lisa Golden!  Thanks to EVERYONE for playing along!! I had a lot of fun doing this! Come back next Monday for another trivia question and another chance to win.

*For the drawing, I printed out the list of comments, chopped them into slips (and made sure to give those who tweeted or posted to facebook an extra slip!). Then my husband drew out the winning slip!

7 Ways Authors Can Market Without the Internet

Marketing has been on my mind a lot lately. With the release of my book only weeks away, I can’t put off the fact that the time has finally come to make concerted efforts at promoting my book.

In previous posts, we’ve talked about online marketing and what that entails. On my News and Events Page I’ve listed the various online interviews, guest posts, and giveaways that I’m doing. Yes, an online presence is incredibly helpful and important for today’s authors.

But what about traditional marketing efforts? What—if anything—can writers do to market their books through other outlets besides the internet?

Some of you have asked me that question, so I thought I’d share a few of the other things I’ve been up to outside of cyberland. Just so everyone knows, I’m NOT fond of promoting my own book. I’d much rather give it away. In other words, I’m not the exemplary marketing role model. But hopefully you can draw ideas from what I’m doing, or at the very least, encouragement—if an inept salesperson like me can make efforts, anyone can.

1. Develop visuals for myself and my book. This includes professionally designed business cards (my web designer made mine to match my website) and bookmarks (my Bethany House publicist designed mine but there are other places that do this inexpensively). (See the slideshow in the sidebar if you'd like to take a look at an example of both.) In addition, my publicist also developed a recipe card for my book. It has an old recipe used in the book as well as a modern equivalent. It’s just one more thing I can hand out to people to help them visualize and get excited about my book.

2. Put together a packet of introductory material. My publicist suggested I make a packet that included: my business card, a letter of introduction, a bookmark or sheet with the picture of my book, and a little bit about the book. I even have extra covers of my book to use as folders for storing the information.

3. Make contact with local businesses. I made a list of places I’d like to go or people I want to call. Then, armed with business cards, bookmarks, or my packets of introductory material, I’ve begun the process of visiting places in my community and introducing myself—libraries, bookstores, churches, radio stations, etc.

4. Give away free books to key connections. My publisher sends out ARCs and Influencer copies. But as part of my contract, I also get author copies that I can use however I want. I’m reserving some copies to personally deliver to influential community members, but also to some of the friends I’ve made at the places I buy my clothes, get my hair styled, etc.

5. Advertise in local publications. Bethany House has already taken care of sending out blurbs about my book to many places—like schools, alumni magazines, newspapers in past cities I’ve lived in, etc. But I’m doing more local, smaller scale advertising. For example, I wrote up announcements for the local business group association and for my church newsletter.

6. Plan a Book Release Party. I contacted the locally owned bookstore that I’ve shopped at for years and the owner graciously agreed to let me have a party there. I’m sending invitations to friends as well as putting up posters around town. During the party, I’ll have food and drinks, and also drawings for gift baskets I’ve assembled. My hope with the party is two-fold: I want to celebrate with friends as well as start some hometown buzz about the book.

7. Arrange Book Signings. There are pros and cons of book signings. Many of us hear that book signings just don’t draw crowds the way they used to. Even big name authors struggle to get decent turn outs. Even so, I’m giving book signings a try, and so far have a couple on the calendar. I’ll make sure to blog about my experience!

Bonus: I'm renting billboards around the state like in the above picture. Isn't it just lovely?! (Hopefully you know I'm just kidding!)

So, there you have it. So far, the above list wraps up my non-internet marketing efforts. Fortunately my publishing house does an incredible job sending out ARCs for advance reviews, making sure my book is in major book catalogs, as well as in major bookstores, among many other things.

All that to say, my measly marketing attempts pale in comparison to what my publisher is doing. Their efforts will make all the world of difference in getting my book in the public eye in a way I could never hope to accomplish on my own.

What are some other ways authors can market their books without using the internet? What have you seen other authors do (or have you done)? I’d love more ideas! And if you don’t have any ideas, tell me what you think of book signings. Are they losing their effectiveness in today’s internet culture?

P.S. Make sure you answer this week’s Trivia Question #1 for a chance to win a free copy of The Preacher’s Bride!

Help For Climbing the Difficult Hills

What I Learned About Life & Writing From . . . Climbing Sand Dunes

Have you ever faced a situation that looked impossible? Too stressful, too much work, too big to handle? You may have stared at the problem or task and couldn't even figure out where to start. It was just too overwhelming.

I’ve felt that way often. Sometimes I think my wonderful writer's imagination gets the best of me and I blow the situation out of proportion—I see a mountain to climb, when really it’s only a hill. For example, recently, as I looked ahead to the fall schedule, the start of a new school year, and all that I have going on, I panicked. I thought to myself, “My days are going to be so busy, how am I going to get any writing time at all?”

I was seeing a mountain and my mom had to remind me that it was really just a hill. She said something like, “Yes, it looks impossible. But you’ve always managed every year. You’ll get into a routine, and you’ll find a way to make it work.”

Last week, my family and I went to Sleeping Bear Dunes in northwestern Michigan. We hiked on sandy trails through the dunes, viewed the majesty of the steep cliffs overlooking Lake Michigan, dipped into the crystal clear waters. And last but not least, we climbed the BIG dune (that's half  of the hill in the above picture).

From far away, the dune doesn’t look all that big or steep. It’s not much more than a really long hill. But up close, from the bottom, we couldn’t see the top, and it appeared much longer and harder to climb—more like a mountain.

There were several things that helped me in my efforts to climb the dune, things that can help all of us as we tackle the hills we face in our writing and life.

Put one foot in front of the other.

As I climbed the dune, my feet sank into the soft, hot sand. The more steps I took, the more my muscles burned and my lungs stung. But I didn’t look up and I didn’t look down. Instead I focused on making my feet move forward, one foot in front of the other.

I found the same principle to be true in finishing my rewrites on Book #2 this week. When I first got my rewrites back from my publisher over a month ago, they looked like a mountain. But once I started making the changes, I took it one scene at a time. I challenged myself to complete one chapter a day. I pushed myself through the burning pain and kept going until I finally reached the summit.

Whether it’s finishing a book, a project, or an obligation—whatever it is, we need the self-discipline, determination, and will-power to keep moving steadily upward.

Go at my own pace.

My older children practically ran up the dune. I could blame my much slower pace on my four year old whose hand I was holding. But . . . I admit, I just don’t have the exuberant energy of a teenager anymore. In fact, I was quite content to dilly-dally with my youngest.

It’s easy for us to get discouraged with where we’re at, especially in the writing journey. We see others bounding ahead of us and wonder why we can’t keep up. There may even be times when we look behind us and secretly pat ourselves on the back because we’ve made it further than others.

What I’m learning is that we can’t compare our position on the hill with others ahead or behind us. We’re all in different places, moving at different speeds. There are some who have more energy and time to devote to the climb. And others who truly enjoy a more leisurely pace.

Remember that reaching the top is NOT impossible.

There were plenty of others who made it to the top of the dunes, some who were much older than me, and even two and three year olds. I figured if they could do it, surely I could too. The important thing was believing in myself and reminding myself that I could reach the summit eventually--if I just kept moving forward. I didn’t have to be the best athlete or strongest climber to make it.

Likewise, with our writing journeys or the problems we’re facing, we need to remind ourselves that we don’t have to be the best or most brilliant to make it to the top. James Scott Bell in Plot & Structure says this: "The Truth is that craft can be taught and that you, with diligence and practice and patience, can improve your writing. . . The main difference between successful writers and unsuccessful writers is persistence."

Sure, genius and talent can possibly make the climb quicker. But with steady, determined steps, the rest of us can keep on moving toward the top too.

What about you? What kind of hills are you climbing lately in writing or life? Have you been tempted to give up? What helps you in your efforts to keep going?

The Difficulty of Debuting

The official countdown has begun! My debut book releases in exactly one month! To celebrate this dream come true, each Monday morning in September I’ll post a trivia question about The Preacher’s Bride in the sidebar. And then on Friday mornings, I’ll announce the weekly winner. So come back Monday to play for prizes!

Also, I’ll be posting “first sighting” pictures into a slide show in my sidebar. Throughout the month, as the book begins to show up in various places, I'd love to hear where you first see it. So send me a picture of you with your first sight of my book (whether it arrives in the mail at home or you see it on the shelf at the store!). I’ve posted my first sight! Last week my editor sent me a book HOT off the press, and I couldn’t resist giving it a big kiss!

For the past couple of months I’ve already started making efforts to market my book. I’ve been contacting bookstore owners and managers, librarians, local press, churches, etc. In the process, I’ve been learning just how difficult debuting is. Yes, it’s an exciting time, but it’s also a humbling process. Here are just a few of the lessons I’m learning:

Most non-writers don’t care who your publisher is.

Even though I have the privilege of being published with a large, traditional publishing house—Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing—I’m finding that the average non-writer doesn’t really care or know that much about publishing houses.

In other words, most people lump me together with all the other authors they know, including those who’ve self-published. They don’t realize the difference nor do they care by which method my book came into print. A book is a book. Especially when we’re new and unknown.

Most average non-writers don’t know author names.

The average non-writer doesn’t pay a whole lot of attention to author names, unless we’re a household name like Rowling. For example, I received a really sweet personal email from a best-selling Amish fiction writer, Beverly Lewis (she also writes for Bethany House). I was super excited to get the email from her—she told me she’d seen the cover of my book and thought it was stunning. When I mentioned the email to my family, two of my daughters’ friends were visiting, and they didn’t know who Beverly Lewis was.

Of course, I was shocked. I thought everyone knew Beverly Lewis. But I have to remember that I eat, sleep, and breathe the world of fiction. The average person doesn’t pay attention to author names.

The nameless factor can be a benefit to a debut author because that means people will pick up our book regardless of not knowing us. But it’s also humbling to realize that if popular authors have to struggle with anonymity, it’s even harder for new authors trying to break in.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about helping a debut author.

Let’s face it, the average person doesn't pay much attention to publishers and author names. But even those who do pay attention aren’t always enthusiastic either—especially about debut authors.

With the growth of self-publishing and subsidy press, I'm learning that bookstore owners, librarians, and the media are often bombarded with requests for help in promotion. When I first approached my local library to introduce myself, they were nice, but they didn’t make any promises about getting my book in their system. They told me that they get a lot of requests from self-published authors to carry their books and that it takes time, effort, and money to add books.

Same is true of the bookstores I visited. They get requests for book-signings mostly from local self-published authors, so they tend to have a cautious approach. Because I’m a debut author, I probably won’t draw an enormous crowd to their store and so there’s really not a huge benefit to them in hosting me. A signing could end up being more of an inconvenience to them than a help.

~Summary: Because literally anyone can type up words and get them published, the market is oversatured, especially with debut authors (including self-published) all needing to promote their books. With so many authors vying for the public eye, the uniqueness that once accompanied the title and role of being a published author is fading.

I believe it's more important than ever before for writers to belong to a community who can truly understand how difficult the journey is and subsequently how monumental publication is. The rest of the world may not "get it," but all of us who've written a book know how much sweat and blood go into each page, the sacrifices we make, and the hours and hours of laboring to reach the end.

Publication might become commonplace, but the act of writing a book will always be special.

So, what do you think? Have you come across non-writers who don't know or care much about publisher or author names? With the rise of self-publishing, is the specialness of publication fading for everyone, including traditionally published?