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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » The Writing Life » Page 68

The Writing Life

Encouraging Writers

By Dan Balowon September 4, 2018
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Anyone committed to building a career in writing should spend a good deal of time with others who have a similar desire. Physical proximity to one another is a good thing; but these days, communication and connection can happen using a myriad of tools.

Knowing others experience the same things you do is a core benefit of attending gatherings of writers, either aspiring or experienced, at retreats and conferences. But a cup of coffee or FaceTime once in a while is a good way to keep momentum going.

While one of the purposes of community is for mutual encouragement and support, I fear the true meaning of encouragement is lost if we consider it simply cheering from the sidelines, “You can do this!”

True encouragement is far more than simple cheerleading. The actual meaning of encouragement is to give someone else courage.

The apostle Paul, writing in First Thessalonians 5, verses 8-11, elevates encouragement to a core function of the body of Christ. Comparing Christ followers with those who aren’t, he writes this:

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (NIV, emphasis mine).

While writing is a public expression of your heart and mind, it starts in private. It is in this writing “aloneness” the enemy of the Christian writer’s soul takes aim. Through discouragement, Satan attempts to remove courage from the writer through whatever means necessary. Any writer knows what this is like.

“This is pointless.”

“I don’t have what it takes.”

“I’ll never get this done right.”

Just so you know, the above phrases do not come from the Creator God who made you and sent his Son to die for you. They come from the enemy of your soul and are examples of his prowling about and devouring, seeking to take away whatever courage you have left.

So how do you get courage to continue writing? By giving it to another. It’s one of the many counterintuitive aspects of living the Christian life.

You don’t give courage from your overflowing abundance of it. You encourage from your weakness and hurt. And in return, you are strengthened and encouraged.

I’ll suggest a few actions I believe are consistent with Scripture and mirror how God encourages us as his children:

  • The first and best way to get courage as a writer is to encourage (give-courage) another writer. The “cord of multiple strands” principle still works. This is the driving purpose behind every writers conference or group that gathers regularly. Go to a conference with the express purpose to locate and give courage to a struggling writer.
  • Remind others (and yourself) how God has been faithful in the past and how his promises are always kept. He never fails to follow through.
  • If you find out something has gone badly for a writer you know, either personally or professionally, tell them you will be there for them. (The “I will never leave you or forsake you” principle still works in every human relationship.)
  • Without prompting, send a note or communicate with another author for no other reason than to let them know you are praying for them—and actually do pray for them.
  • Read something another writer wrote and affirm how this is an example of how God is working in their life. Let them know this.

Notice how these suggestions have nothing to do with you being encouraged?

When you focus on others, you will find yourself with a reservoir of courage so vast you will be an unstoppable force for God’s kingdom.

Courage is contagious. You get it by giving it.

 

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Category: Encouragement, The Writing Life

How Authors Make Money

By Bob Hostetleron August 29, 2018
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So, you’ve written a book. Good for you. Now the money will start rolling in, right? Not exactly. There are a number of ways authors make money, but writing a book is only one step in a long and arduous journey. And, though the details vary widely from one author to another (and one book to another), there are six basic ways an author makes money. An advance When you sign a book contract, the …

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Category: Book Business, Money, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Money, The Writing Life

Embedded Writing

By Dan Balowon August 28, 2018
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During World War II, one of the highest profile journalists who wrote about the war for Americans back at the home front was Ernie Pyle. Ernie was one of the first “embedded” journalists in wartime and he lived and wrote while among the soldiers. He focused his stories on individual soldiers and their daily struggles. The troops loved him because he “got it.” The generals and politicians weren’t …

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Category: The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Four Myths about Fame

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 23, 2018
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Being rich and famous solves every problem, right? Let’s give that some thought. 1)  Once I have my first book published, I’ll be famous and the journey will be downhill from there. We’re tackling two myths here. One, once you are published, it’s not likely you’ll be famous, at least not Billy Graham famous. But as a Christian writer, you may become well known and loved in Christian circles. And …

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Category: Awards, Career, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Fame, The Writing Life

The Author’s Life in 39 Easy Steps

By Bob Hostetleron August 22, 2018
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Someday I ought to write a book. Woohoo! I’ve just started writing a book! I deserve some ice cream. I’m so excited, things are going great. Writing is hard. No, writing is cool. I’m having the time of my life. Writing is hard. I should just give up. I’m almost done with my first book. Writing is so fun. I have written 4,000 words! I deserve some ice cream. I just found out …

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Category: Humor, The Writing LifeTag: Humor, The Writing Life

So You Want to Be In Pictures? (The Sequel)

By Dan Balowon August 21, 2018
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To simulate how the book-to-film process really works, I waited five years to write this sequel to my original post on books and films. Experiences with book-to-film connections are a very real box of chocolates for authors ever since the opportunity to connect the two media debuted a hundred years ago. Authors never know what they are going to get. The experience can leave either a good or bad …

Read moreSo You Want to Be In Pictures? (The Sequel)
Category: Book Business, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, movies

The Automatic Writer

By Bob Hostetleron August 15, 2018
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My coffee maker is on a timer. My thermostat is programmed to different temperatures at night and by day. My computer screen even dims to a softer hue as the day progresses. I try to automate everything I can, believing that the fewer tasks I have to remember every day, the more I can focus and achieve. That may or may not be true, but I’m convinced that automation has helped me—and many of my …

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Category: Social Media, Technology, The Writing Life, TrendsTag: Technology, The Writing Life, Time Management

Same Message, Different Reader

By Dan Balowon August 7, 2018
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When a published book is successful (sells well), the publisher and author begin pondering how to be successful again with the next book. Often times, the solution to the repeat-success puzzle in non-fiction is having a similar message but aimed at a different audience. You’ve seen it happen many times, whether you realized it was intentional or not. Examples of branded book lines which have been …

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Category: Book Business, Creativity, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Book Sales, Career, Creativity, Nonfiction, The Writing Life

How Much Time Should I Budget to Write My Book?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 26, 2018
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New authors have a distinct advantage over established authors under deadline: no deadline. As a new author, you may have fiddled with your novel for years. Perhaps you’ve entered contests and incorporated feedback. Maybe you’ve read books about writing and attended conferences. After all this effort, you landed a contract. Congratulations! Now you may have another happy problem: estimating how …

Read moreHow Much Time Should I Budget to Write My Book?
Category: Career, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Deadlines, The Writing Life, Time Management

Two Ways to Think About Your Book

By Dan Balowon July 24, 2018
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Two of the many complexities within book publishing are how often the book buyer and the book reader are different people and how books may sell only in limited locations. Some people read only what someone else buys for them. Some books sell primarily in one city at one retail location. Adults will always be the ones to buy a book for a small child. (A child might latch onto a certain book while …

Read moreTwo Ways to Think About Your Book
Category: Book Business, Marketing, Reading, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Marketing, The Publishing Life
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