Amazing writers who will keep me and my team reading all weekend, I have some great- probably more than you ever wanted to know- info for you today. I'll get to it in just a minute.
First, for the "I'm not interested in all this book stuff" -people, I have a little funny for you.
This was a conversation that took place this week in my kitchen. I know it's sad for the writers to be on strike out in Hollywood but seriously, the shows could continue with just a little input from us moms- don't you think?
Jackson: "Mom, I think I have commitment issues."
Me: "Son, you're in high school."
Jackson: "I know but I just can't seem to like the same girl for very long."
Me: "And the problem with that is?"
Jackson: "I mean I liked this one girl but then I started thinking she's a very freaky girl."
Me (In my stellar rocker voice): "The kind you don't bring home to mothahhhhh(mother) ."
Jackson: "What are you singing?"
Me: "That song you just quoted- (once again in my bad mamma jamma voice)- She's a very freaky girl now, the kind you don't bring home to mothahhhhh (mother). She's a super freak, super freak- she's super freaky yowwwwwwahhhhh."
Jackson: "Wasn't that song like from the 50's?"
Me: "The FIFTIES!!! How old do you think I am?"
My body language now reflects the fact that I'm about to bust out with some break dance moves that are so past the fifties!
Jackson: "It's okay mom- don't feel bad you're from the Kennedy era."
Me: "I am so not the Kennedy era dude! I am 38 years old for Pete's sake. I wasn't even around in the Kennedy era."
And then the sad thing is I had to google "Kennedy" to make sure. Sigh---
____________________________________________________________
Okay- back to the "so you want to write a book" discussions.
I have a wealth of insights for you today through a few friends who know the in's and out's of the Christian Publishing world.
First- I want to tell you about a discussion I had with the one of the Vice-Presidents from Harvest House Publishers. I asked her the question several of you have asked, "What kind of books are publishers looking for today?"
Barb told me that most publishers are looking for authors who are living their lives and experiencing the message they want to write about. She encourages authors to address your passion. Chances are you are not alone in your passion. Find a niche where enough other people are interested in what you are eager to address and that's your book.
Great advice. I would add that you have to be very interested in what you are writing about to keep it interesting to your reader. If you get bored writing it, chances are they will get bored reading it. My goal whenever I write anything is to have a highlight worthy statement on every page. If I re-read a page and there is nothing on it that would motivate me to get up and grab a highlighter--- I rewrite the page.
Now, you will want to take the time to go look at three people's insights posted on their blogs for the answers to most of the rest of the questions you all asked.
Marybeth Whalen- Mom of six and author does a Q&A about balacing motherhood and writing.
Lisa Whittle- Addresses how she got published with a top publisher with no platform.
Mary DeMuth- A widely regarded author of both fiction and non-fiction. She's just developed a blog with tons of great information, from writing query letters to book proposals and much more.
Now, for those of you dedicated enough to make it to the end of this loooong post. If you'll leave a comment today about something you learned from visiting one of their sites, I'll register you to win a copy of Marybeth Whalen's book, "For the Write Reason, 31 publishers, agents, and authors tell their story about publishing." It's not only a great book chocked full of information--- like how to write a book proposal that will catch a publisher's attention- but it also has a Bible Study that any budding writer should go through.
Happy Writing~ I'm off to play in the light dusting of snow we got last night. Pray I don't break a hip or something. I'm old you know. Like from the Kennedy era.
First, for the "I'm not interested in all this book stuff" -people, I have a little funny for you.
This was a conversation that took place this week in my kitchen. I know it's sad for the writers to be on strike out in Hollywood but seriously, the shows could continue with just a little input from us moms- don't you think?
Jackson: "Mom, I think I have commitment issues."
Me: "Son, you're in high school."
Jackson: "I know but I just can't seem to like the same girl for very long."
Me: "And the problem with that is?"
Jackson: "I mean I liked this one girl but then I started thinking she's a very freaky girl."
Me (In my stellar rocker voice): "The kind you don't bring home to mothahhhhh(mother) ."
Jackson: "What are you singing?"
Me: "That song you just quoted- (once again in my bad mamma jamma voice)- She's a very freaky girl now, the kind you don't bring home to mothahhhhh (mother). She's a super freak, super freak- she's super freaky yowwwwwwahhhhh."
Jackson: "Wasn't that song like from the 50's?"
Me: "The FIFTIES!!! How old do you think I am?"
My body language now reflects the fact that I'm about to bust out with some break dance moves that are so past the fifties!
Jackson: "It's okay mom- don't feel bad you're from the Kennedy era."
Me: "I am so not the Kennedy era dude! I am 38 years old for Pete's sake. I wasn't even around in the Kennedy era."
And then the sad thing is I had to google "Kennedy" to make sure. Sigh---
____________________________________________________________
Okay- back to the "so you want to write a book" discussions.
I have a wealth of insights for you today through a few friends who know the in's and out's of the Christian Publishing world.
First- I want to tell you about a discussion I had with the one of the Vice-Presidents from Harvest House Publishers. I asked her the question several of you have asked, "What kind of books are publishers looking for today?"
Barb told me that most publishers are looking for authors who are living their lives and experiencing the message they want to write about. She encourages authors to address your passion. Chances are you are not alone in your passion. Find a niche where enough other people are interested in what you are eager to address and that's your book.
Great advice. I would add that you have to be very interested in what you are writing about to keep it interesting to your reader. If you get bored writing it, chances are they will get bored reading it. My goal whenever I write anything is to have a highlight worthy statement on every page. If I re-read a page and there is nothing on it that would motivate me to get up and grab a highlighter--- I rewrite the page.
Now, you will want to take the time to go look at three people's insights posted on their blogs for the answers to most of the rest of the questions you all asked.
Marybeth Whalen- Mom of six and author does a Q&A about balacing motherhood and writing.
Lisa Whittle- Addresses how she got published with a top publisher with no platform.
Mary DeMuth- A widely regarded author of both fiction and non-fiction. She's just developed a blog with tons of great information, from writing query letters to book proposals and much more.
Now, for those of you dedicated enough to make it to the end of this loooong post. If you'll leave a comment today about something you learned from visiting one of their sites, I'll register you to win a copy of Marybeth Whalen's book, "For the Write Reason, 31 publishers, agents, and authors tell their story about publishing." It's not only a great book chocked full of information--- like how to write a book proposal that will catch a publisher's attention- but it also has a Bible Study that any budding writer should go through.
Happy Writing~ I'm off to play in the light dusting of snow we got last night. Pray I don't break a hip or something. I'm old you know. Like from the Kennedy era.
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