Give Books for Christmas

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What better way to support your fellow writers than to buy their books as Christmas gifts? Not everyone likes to read just for fun, but everyone needs information. As you make your Christmas gift list, think books first.

I’ve made a sample Christmas list below. Click the link in each listing to access reviews on my book review blog. If you decide to purchase a book, I’d appreciate it if you would click through to Amazon from my blog post so that I can get credit for the sale.

For those who like non-fiction Christian content (or for “seekers”):

For fiction fans:

For political junkies:

For writer friends;

I welcome additions to this list from my readers. To suggest books, just comment on this post. Be sure to include a link to the author’s site or to a listing of the author’s work on Amazon.

 

Getting Your Book Published 101

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Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference was superb again this year! Most writers go to conferences because they want to write and publish a book. The Indy conference organizers (Wesleyan Publishing House) provided the usual workshops and private appointments. But, they went the extra mile by providing each conferee with a free guide to publication, Keith Drury’s new A Brief Guide for Writers. Read on to find out how you can enter a drawing for a free copy.

Author Keith Drury is Associate Professor of Religion and Philsophy at Wesley Seminary (Indiana Wesleyan University). Don’t let the professor label scare you. He is a down-to-earth person and a great writing teacher.

Publisher’s book description: “Practical help for writers who want to move ‘the ideas swirling about in my head’ to a final manuscript that will get published. Packed with dozens of tips and hints, this book gives step-by-step instructions on preparing a manuscript so it will shine and be noticed by editors and publishers. This veteran author offers advice on where to get ideas, how to organize them, and then how to turn ideas into a worthy book or article.

Brief Guide for Writers demystifies the publishing business for beginning writers, explaining each step of the process including making an outline, preparing the proposal, signing a contract, checking galleys, and revising future editions of your book. A sample style sheet is included so you will know what publishers want and expect. Written in an easy-to-understand conversational style, this book is a primer for someone who has a book or article idea and needs the information and the motivation to get those ideas into a manuscript that will become a published work.”

The book lives up to its description. It is available from Triangle Publishing. You can also get Brief Guide for Writers on Amazon.com.

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Brief Guide Giveaway: I have a copy to give away to one lucky reader. Here’s how to enter the drawing: please e-mail me at [email protected] with enter book giveaway in the subject line. Please also give your name somewhere in the e-mail. Deadline for entries is Saturday, November 26, 2011, 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. I’ll draw one name and contact the winner for mailing address (U.S. addresses only). I’ll ship the book via medial mail as soon as I can.

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Bonus: Wesleyan writer, editor, pastor, Jim Watkins also shares his expertise on book publishing on his blog: http://www.jameswatkins.com/bookwriting.htm

Legal Stuff: I received this book free with conference registration at Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Three Ways to Have a WordPress Website

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Thinking about a website or blog? WordPress is the way to go. I’ve used Blogger, WordPress, and several other sitebuilders, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the rest just don’t measure up to WordPress.

The idea for this post came to me in a workshop entitled “Websites that Work,” given by Nansy Grill at Southeastern Christian Writers Conference last month. Her entire session dealt with how to set up a WordPress blog that could also be used as a website.

There are three ways to set up your WordPress site. You can start with option #1 and use that until you build your confidence. You can “graduate” to option #2 or skip to #3 if you feel brave.

Option 1, Free Site with WordPress: Costs only your time and effort. See my how-to article on setting up your free WordPress site here. Note that, with WordPress.com, you cannot have advertising on your site. Hosting, design, and domain name are all free with this plan.

Option 2, Use Domain Mapping and Your Own Domain Name: The URL for your free WordPress site/blog will end with “wordpress.com.” For example, see the site I built for my music club, http://pmgmartin.wordpress.com/. If I want the name of the club as the URL without the WordPress.com ending, I must buy a domain name. I would pay WordPress for the domain mapping service that would allow my URL to show instead of WordPress URL. See the WordPress support page on how to do this. I’ll pay WordPress $17 per year if I get the domain name from WordPress or $12 if I get it elsewhere. The cost of the domain name registration varies with the registrar. Check out Namecheap.com for their pricing. I’d be getting hosting free this way, but I still can’t have advertising.

Option 3, Self-hosted WordPress Site: With this plan, I buy my domain name, download WordPress from http://wordpress.org, and purchase hosting from a company that offers WordPress hosting services. My site, http://emilyakin.com, is done this way. See the quick-start guide on WordPress.org for more details. I pay for my domain name and hosting. Free themes (designs) are available, but I may choose to pay for a theme. Total cost depends on the choices I make. Cost of hosting could be as little as $80 a year plus domain name cost. Advertising can be used on self-hosted WordPress, so it is possible to offset some of the cost that way.

In a future post, I will share my “adventures” with self-hosted WordPress. Meanwhile, if you have questions or if you have a WordPress site, please let us know by commenting on this post.

Fall Favorites Link Roundup

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Fall is harvest time. Look what I’ve gleaned from the Web for our quarterly link roundup.

Inspiration

Susan J. Reinhardt on “The Care and Feeding of Writers”

Self-publishing

Jerry Jenkins, “My Quarrel with Self-publishing”

Rachelle Gardner, “Will Self-pub Sales Affect Your Future?”

Social Networking

Andrea Merrell, “To Tweet or Not to Tweet”

Building a Platform

Erin McPherson, “Platform 101 for Regular Not-Famous People Like Me”

Technology Frustration

Ethan Waldman, “How to Reduce Technology Frustration and Write Distraction-Free”

Online Writing Opportunities

Neither of these is a paying market, but, if you need to get your name out there, perhaps one of these would work for you.

The Christian Pulse

Christian Devotions

Subscribers, if you have found good articles on any of these subjects, please share them with us by commenting on this post.

Three Ways to Blog When You’re Running on Empty

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How do you keep blogging when you’re out of time and out of ideas? Whether you post once a week or once a month, there will be times when you struggle to meet your deadline. I found that, no matter how much I planned and worked ahead, I sometimes ran out of material. Often, I had the ideas, but I didn’t have the time to properly develop and write. Try one of these three ideas when you’re running on empty.

  • Recycle old posts. First, look for posts that feature outdated information. For example, I recently revamped a post on networking with online writers’ groups. I recommended the same groups, but one of them had changed ownership and/or operating procedures. I changed those few details, removed the old post, and published it again. Also, if your blog is more than a year old, you probably have a number of subscribers for whom this will be new information.
  • Compile a link roundup. I follow a number of blogs related to writing and the publishing industry. When I come across an article that covers the same topics I write about on Blog4Writers, I bookmark it. Once a quarter, I post a link roundup using the best of my bookmarked articles. My readers really like the roundups.
  • Use guest posts. No time to write? Get someone else to write for you. I have swapped content with The Write Life Newsletter on occasion and with Dianne E. Butts About Writing. This helps my traffic as well as theirs because our subscriber groups are entirely different. Another source of content is Faithwriters online group. Members offer free articles on Faithwriters.com that can be used as guest posts.

Subscribers, if you have other ways of filling the content void, please share them with us by commenting on this post. Note that, with my new design, some people have had trouble with the comment process. Please email me at [email protected] if you have trouble.

Three Things I Learned from Sally Stuart

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Sally Stuart at Southeastern Christian Writers Conference 2011

Sally Stuart literally wrote the book on marketing for Christian writers. I’ve heard her speak in person twice, the most recent instance being Southeastern Christian Writers Conference, October 14-15, 2011. In her keynote addresses, Sally concentrated on selling your work and publishing industry trends.

She made three statements that I had heard her make before. She repeats these statements because she knows we don’t always get it the first time we hear it.

The market guide is published every year because there are numerous changes in the listings. Time and again, newbies ask if they can’t get by with an old market guide. They’re so much cheaper, you know? “I wouldn’t do a new book every year unless there were enough changes to warrant a new book,” Sally said. It’s crucial that you have the latest information when querying and submitting your work. A writer without a current market guide is like a lumberjack with a dull saw.

Your work must be crafted for the market if you expect to get published. “Many writers write first and then try to market,” said Stuart. You’re more likely to get your work published if you research the markets first. Then you can write with your prospective reader in mind. Editors know their readers, and they only buy work they think their readers will like, no matter how great the writing is.

Everyone wants to write on assignment. Well—I thought I was the only person who wanted to write on assignment! What a great way to write. My editor would give me a topic, a word count, a deadline, and suggestions on how to approach the topic. No more scrounging around in the market guide trying to figure out who would want my work. No more queries or submitting work on speculation. It truly never occurred to me until Sally mentioned it that probably every writer wants the same thing. I’ll still dream about writing on assignment. But, I’ll have to accept the fact that I must get a lot more work published before that happens for me.

Subscribers, have you heard Sally speak? What did you learn from the Christian market’s authority on marketing? Please comment on this post and tell us about it.

Guest Post: A Parable for Writers

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This article was offered by Gwen Plauche through Faithwriters.com’s free article service.

A man was preparing to go on an extended trip. He sent a text to three of his employees to come to his office.

To the first employee arriving in his office he handed an agreement from a publisher to write a series of books. To the next employee, he gave a contract to supply a monthly column and to the third employee arriving in his office he assigned the duty to keep his blog updated.

The first employee excitedly worked daily on the project. Unfortunately the book contract fell through. However, his energy for the project was contagious and after many submissions, a new deal was inked. The new publisher also asked for an additional series with a generous advance attached.

The second employee also went right to work writing the column with attention to detail. Ahead of schedule, he decided to carefully review the contract and found that he was able to sell reprinted articles to other publications. He invested many hours researching possibilities and found that many of the newer publications did not pay for published submissions. Not one to get discouraged, he continued to submit appropriately chosen articles with full passion for the project and carefully followed up on all the submissions. One of the new publishers was so pleased with the reader response to the monthly column that they proposed an anthology that would be published by year end.

The third employee looked at the blog with disdain. I really should be writing a book! Why am I wasting my time blogging for my absentee boss? He reviewed the previously posts on the blog and matched the word count and frequency as he blogged. He was surprised how easy of a task it turned out to be and used the rest of his time on his personal business. Well, I have completed my assignment!

At the end of his extended absence, the boss returned and called the three employees to his office to recap the events of the past year.

True to form, the first employee to his office was the one who had the book assignment. As he entered the office, the boss embraced him and said, “I do not even need to ask how you did. I have been following your tweets and Facebook posts. Sit down and tell me all about it! I am so proud of you; you have represented me well!”

About then, the second employee joined them in the office. “Welcome,” the boss said as he warmly greeted his entrance. “Look what I picked up at the airport during my last layover as he showcased the newly published anthology of the articles published in his absence. You are a genius; great work! Just think where we can take this in the next year!”

The third employee slipped in the room and took a seat across the office, hoping to be unnoticed, but all eyes were on him. The employee squirmed. Silence in return. The boss opened his laptop and logged in. Typing his blog address he began to speak. “Well, I have been watching the blog.” No response from the employee. The boss continued, “And I have to say, it was pretty boring.”

The employee sat up a bit straighter and answered, “But sir, I know you are a perfectionist and well known in the publishing world. I just did not want to do anything that was not up to your standards,” he said as he slumped back down in the chair.

“So you basically did nothing?”

“Not exactly, sir. I continued your blog as instructed. I even matched your previous word count and tried to keep the topics very similar.”

“I never imagined you to be so lazy! The very least you could do is use your own creativity and stretch a little bit. I gave you a vehicle that would get your writing out there, but you did not even use it to grow. You could have networked with other writers and at least entered a writing contest or two. I hate to tell you this, but I will not be able to trust you with this again. In fact, I will gladly assign this to my first employee who ran circles around you during this same time, yet accomplished ten times as much. I will accept from you your immediate resignation.”

“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away” Matthew 25:29 (NLT).

Copyright information:

Written by Gwen Plauche. Blog: http://www.GwenPlauche.com. Copyright 2011, Gwen Plauche. You have permission to reprint in its entirety only provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission. All other rights reserved.

Networking with Online Writers’ Groups

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Networking, getting to know editors and other writers, is absolutely necessary for getting your work published. The more contacts you have, the more likely you will get a lead on a market that fits your work. In my last online marketing class, one of the students lived in a northwestern state, far from any writers’ conference or writers’ groups. Her only opportunity for networking was the Internet. So, what are the options?

CWFI: Christian Writers Fellowship International (CWFI) Yahoo group was established by Sandy Brooks for subscribers to Cross & Quill. After the magazine ceased publication, the group was opened to non-subscribers. Weekly discussions are based on a Question of the Week, moderated by Donna Clark Goodrich. Overt promotion is discouraged on the group, but members are encouraged to report publishing successes. Apply for membership in the group at the link above.

CWGI: You must fill out an application form for Christian Writers Group International (CWGI), also a Yahoo group. There is no fee, so this is a much larger group. The last time I checked there were about 800 members worldwide. Discussions are made more interesting by input from members in places like Australia and South Africa.

TWV1: the Writers’ View 1 is for “advanced and professional writers in the Christian market. Topics are advanced and explore the entire publishing process.” Owned by Mary DeMuth, this group requires a membership application and there are a number of panelists covering a wide variety of genres.

TWV2: The Writer’s View 2 is “for beginning/intermediate Christian writers serious about taking their writing to the next level.” Membership application required for this one, too. You must choose which TWV you want to participate in, because you are not allowed to participate in both. Mary also owns this group, but the list of panelists is different.

ACFW: The groups mentioned in this blog are ones that I have participated in or investigated for myself. If you are a fiction writer, check out American Christian Fiction Writers. Member benefits include forums that might be helpful to you.

These groups not only help you improve your writing, but they help you get to know people who can introduce you to others in the industry. I invite comments on this post from people who have participated in other writers’ groups.

Book Review: Polishing the PUGS

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Before I became a writer, I thought PUGS were dogs. But now, thanks to author Kathy Ide, I know that PUGS is a mnemonic device for Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling.

How should I describe Polishing the PUGS? It is the CliffsNotes of style books for writers seeking to get their work published. As an editor, Kathy Ide has been on the front lines correcting PUGS errors for years. She has compiled the most common mistakes writers make into one easy-to-use resource, and it’s available in CD format or as a book.

Are commas a problem for you? Go to the table of contents, find the “Commas” chapter, and get a quick punctuation lesson. Because The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard for book publishers, Kathy gives the Chicago rules first. The Associated Press Style Manual is the standard for newspapers and magazines. She provides AP Style rules that disagree with Chicago in a text box on the same page.

In the front matter, you’ll find a list of the style/reference books used by professional publishers. Don’t miss the “Ten Reasons to Polish Your PUGS” article, either. Read it and take it to heart. Your PUGS must be polished if you want to be published!

This is the second edition. Although I had the first edition, I knew I didn’t want to be without the new one because of changes in the style manuals themselves. AP Style changes occur constantly, and they publish a new book annually. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, was published in 2010.

If you don’t have Polishing the PUGS, you need to get one for yourself. Consider giving it as a gift to other aspiring writers. Visit Kathy’s Web site for more information and to buy the book. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Kathy offers online classes through The Christian PEN, a professional support organization for those who do proofreading and editing work for the public and for publishing companies. See details about the classes here.

Free Stuff for Writers

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Don’t you get excited when you find good stuff for free? Makes you want to tell somebody, doesn’t it? Well, I found all these things recently, and I want to share them with you.

Handout on social media marketing: Offered by Terry Whalin here.

E-book on blogging from Bob Baker and BookBaby.com: Blogging 101: a guide to promoting your writing in the blogosphere, download here.

Free handout from my article writing workshop: Print Resources for Writers, download here.

Susan Driscoll’s Get Published: Ask a question and get free e-book.

Free digital photos: See Terms page for conditions of use. (Includes required attribution for photographer), Freeditialphotos.net.

Free e-book on self-publishing: “Hidden Hazards” offered by Believer’s Press.

Free handout: “Inner Guts: How an extreme makeover of our hearts enlivens, deepens, and betters our prose” by Mary DeMuth here.

If you know of other free resources for writers, please comment on this post and share the link.