Advice for Novelists (Part 37)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

The talented Ms. Higgs shares with us today her response to the question:"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

No question about it: the first line, the first paragraph, the first scene, the first chapter really matter. But when you're writing the first draft, don't get bogged down trying to make those things perfect. Chances are very good you are going to throw out that first chapter!When I begin a novel, I don't know the characters yet and aren't entirely sure of how the story is going to unfold. No matter how much characterization and plotting I do, I still don't know these people until I spend time with them and hear what they have to say. Once I know them better, I often go back and change their dialogue in the early chapters, sometimes overhauling scenes completely. And yes, sometimes throwing out the first chapter. Even the second.

Furthermore, first drafts of first chapters are often bogged down with backstory that belongs many chapters later, as a revelation. All the more reason not to get obsessive about those opening lines and opening pages, because they are bound to change.

I've been known to write the first chapter last, when I know my characters and story intimately. Same thing with opening sentences. So, be encouraged: that amazing opening line may come to you mid-book. In the meantime, just keep writing!

--Liz Curtis Higgs, Best-selling author of Grace in Thine Eyes. Currently writing Here Burns My Candle. Visit her online at her website here.

DragonLight

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
DragonLight
(WaterBrook Press - June 17, 2008)
by
Donita K. Paul


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Donita K. Paul retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy. She says, “I feel blessed to be doing what I like best.”

She mentors all ages, teaching teenagers and weekly adult writing workshops.

“God must have imprinted 'teacher' on me clear down to the bone. I taught in public school, then home schooled my children, and worked in private schools. Now my writing week isn’t very productive unless I include some time with kids.”

Her two grown children make her proud, and her two grandsons make her laugh.

Donita is an award-winning author of the Dragon Keeper Chronicle series including DragonFire and DragonKnight.

When not writing, she is often engaged in mentoring writers of all ages. Donita lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado where she is learning to paint–walls and furniture! Visit her website at www.dragonkeeper.us.



ABOUT THE BOOK
The fantastic land of Amara is recovering from years of war inflicted on its citizens by outside forces–as well as from the spiritual apathy corroding the Amarans’ hearts. With Kale and her father serving as dragon keepers for Paladin, the dragon populace has exploded. It’s a peaceful, exciting time of rebuilding. And yet, an insidious, unseen evil lurks just beneath the surface of the idyllic countryside.

Truth has never been more important, nor so difficult to discern.

As Kale and her father are busy hatching, bonding, and releasing the younger generation of dragons as helpers throughout the kingdom, the light wizard has little time to develop her skills. Her husband, Sir Bardon–despite physical limitations resulting from his bout with the stakes disease–has become a leader, serving on the governing board under Paladin. When Kale and Bardon set aside their daily responsibilities to join meech dragons Regidor and Gilda on a quest to find a hidden meech colony, they encounter sinister forces. Their world is under attack by a secret enemy… can they overcome the ominous peril they can’t even see?

Prepare to experience breathtaking adventure and mind-blowing fantasy as never before in this dazzling, beautifully-crafted conclusion to Donita K. Paul’s popular DragonKeeper Chronicles fantasy series.

If you would like to read the first chapter of DragonLight, go HERE

"DragonLight is a delight, but I wouldn't expect anything less from the marvelous Donita K. Paul. I heartily recommend her books to all ages who love inspirational fantasy and wonderful creatures. Ms Paul not only supplies imagination and talent, she provides heart and soul. Another winner!"
~KATHRYN MACKEL, author of Boost

"Donita K. Paul is amazing! DragonLight has the allegorical depth to satisfy the most discerning adult seeking spiritual depth, yet it is fun enough to fascinate a child. This book will enthrall, uplift, and if allowed, change lives--as we are gently drawn to realize that each of us is flawed and must have patience with other flawed believers."
~HANNAH ALEXANDER, author of Double Blind

What would yours be?

Advice for Novelists (Part 36)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Angela Hunt has written over 100 books (WOW!), so I'm especially interested in her response!

The most valuable lesson I've learned about writing is that the old admonition "write your passion" is more than mere mantra--it's essential to developing your voice as a writer. For years I wrote what I thought the market wanted, but then an editor dared to ask, "What are YOU dying to write?" That question--and the resulting book--gave me the first glimmer of the writer I was supposed to be when I grew up.

--Angela E. Hunt, author of over 100 books including The Elevator, The Fairlawn series, Magdalene, Uncharted. Visit her online at her blog here. And at her website here.

Don't be a writing Diva!

Yeah, Mary!

http://writersdigest.com/article/dont-be-a-writing-diva/

I read this in my copy of WD ... and my jaw dropped when I saw one of my favorite people wrote it. What wise advice ... and totally bloggable!

Advice for Novelists (Part 40)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Camy Tang has a wonderful reply:Never lose sight of Whom you are writing for.

This has recently been on my heart. Since I started writing seriously, I've gone to several writing conferences and always see a few writers who are incredibly focused on pitching to Agent ABC, or getting a seat at Editor XYZ's table, or worried about what Agent MNO will say about their manuscript, or devastated that Editor QRS wasn't interested in their story.

While I can completely relate to their pain, it also bothers me to see someone so focused and worried about their career that they seem to have lost sight of their Audience of One.

God directs our career. God plans our chance meetings with Agent ABC or Editor XYZ. God brings our manuscript to Agent MNO's attention, or closes the door at Editor QRS's publishing house.

I have sometimes been that writer stressing about meeting the right editor at the conference, or worried and impatient that an agent has had my manuscript for at least FOUR WHOLE DAYS and I haven't heard back yet. But God usually manages to give me a swift slap upside the head to remind me to stop trying to direct my own career.

Read the rest here!

--Camy Tang, author of Sushi for One? and Only Uni (both with Zondervan). Visit her at her website here.

Advice for Novelists (Part 35)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Here's Alton Gransky's reply:
Less is more. Sometimes publishers hire me to rewrite a book. The author had a great idea but had trouble bringing the writing up to expectations. I've noticed that all these books have something in common: tons of unneeded words. I can say the same for many of the manuscripts I've read by aspiring writers. My rule is this: If you can get rid of a word without weakening the sentence, then do it. Don't hesitate. Don't waffle over it. Cut it. Squash it. Exorcise it. Evict the little bugger. He's a freeloader who snuck on the train when no one was looking. Do this for the whole book. Perform literary liposuction. When you do, you will be left with what we arrogant writers call "tight writing." Will you do it perfectly? No. Some time ago I was listening to an audio version of one of my books while I tortured myself on the treadmill. I caught myself saying, "Didn't need that word . . . Could have done without the adjective . . . what was I thinking?" So my advice in a word is: cut. I wish I had learned this sooner.


--Alton Gansky is the author of 30 books. He writes full time from his home in the High Desert of Southern California. His latest books are ANGEL (Realms) and ZERO-G (Zondervan). Visit him online: http://www.altongansky.com/ and http://www.altongansky.typepad.com/.

2008 Retailers Choice Awards Winners

Top Christian product picks of Christian retailers, as compiled by Christian Retailing magazine.

CHILDRENʼS FICTION
Tell Me About Heaven
Randy Alcorn
Crossway Books and Bibles

CHILDRENʼS NONFICTION
Faithgirlz!: Everybody Tells Me to Be Myself but I Donʼt Know Who I Am!
Nancy Rue
Zonderkidz/Zondervan

GENERAL FICTION
The Parting
Beverly Lewis
Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Deception
Randy Alcorn
Multnomah Books/The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group

SOCIAL ISSUES
In Defense of Israel
John Hagee
FrontLine/Strang Communications

WOMENʼS FICTION
Sunrise
Karen Kingsbury
Tyndale House Publishers

WOMENʼS NONFICTION
* A New Kind of Normal
Carol Kent
Thomas Nelson Inc.
* Donʼt Bet Against Me!
Deanna Favre with Angela Hunt
Tyndale House Publishers
* Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible
Liz Curtis Higgs
WaterBrook Press/The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group

YOUTH/TEEN
Chosen
Ted Dekker
Thomas Nelson Inc.

Too Transparent?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm too transparent in my writing. As my husband, John, has told me before, "We don't have skeletons in our closet . . . because you put them on the front lawn for everyone to see!"

I was thinking about this the other day in Sunday School class. We were talking about sins and struggles, and I was going to confess a few of my own, but class ended before I had the chance. (Oh Rats!)

Oh, well. I thought. They can read about them in my books.

It's not as if I LIKE sharing all the times when I've really screwed up. I don't. I would like to be perfect, but since I'm not . . . then the least I can do is share how God gets me out of the numerous messes I get myself in. Because, through that, my hope is that others will be able to see Jesus in me.

All these thoughts were swirling around my head as I came across a quote I underlined in a book I'm reading, "The Beloved Disciple" by Beth Moore. Here is what Beth said:

"As [the disciples] watched this man named Jesus, this carpenter's son, and they fellowshipped with Him then witnessed His work, what do you think they saw? Consistency? Versatility? Unwavering passion? Or a lamb as often as a lion? The center of all attention? Or a teacher that became a student of all those around Him? We know they saw absolute authenticity, but how do you imagine they saw it portrayed?

"Don't think for a minute that thinking about such matters is a waste of time. The more we grasp the flesh-and-blood reality of these encounters and try to imagine the intimate details the disciples witnessed in Christ the better! What we're studying isn't religious fiction or simple Christian tradition. Christ walked into people's lives and transformed them." p. 25 (emphasis mine)

So Beth, thank you, for doing a good job summing up how I feel about my writing and my transparency. Christ walked into MY life and transformed it. To show the transformation, I often have to share the "befores" to point people to the changes Christ made. (Thank you, Lord, for all your "afters".)

The flesh-and-blood reality that Jesus uses today is His will, ways, and words lived out in me. And they are encounters I write about, both point-blank in non-fiction or wrapped within a fictional story. (Yes, there is more of ME in those novels than you might think!)

The encounters I share are ones I pray will bring authenticity and transformation in the lives of others as well. Like the glass in a frame, my desire is that when others look at the picture of my life, they will see Jesus through me.

Congratulations to the 2008 ACFW Book of the Year Nominees!

Debut Author

Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
My Soul Cries Out (Sherri Lewis)
Petticoat Ranch (Mary Connealy)


Contemporary Novella (*six finalists due to a tie)

A Cloud Mountain Christmas (Robin Lee Hatcher)
Finally Home (Deb Raney in Missouri Memories anthology)
Mississippi Mud (DiAnn Mills in Sugar And Grits Anthology)
Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky in Big Apple Christmas anthology)
Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover in the Race to the Altar anthology)
Sweet Dreams Drive (Robin Lee Hatcher)


Historical Novella

Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills in Mississippi Memories anthology)
Finishing Touches (Kelly Hake in Missouri Memories anthology)
Love Notes (Mary Davis in Love Letters anthology)
The Spinster & The Cowboy (Lena Nelson Dooley in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)
The Spinster & The Tycoon (Vickie McDonough in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)


Lits (*six finalists due to a tie)

Around the World in 80 Dates (Christa Banister)
One Little Secret (Bottke, Allison)
Renovating Becky Miller (Sharon Hinck)
Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
The Book of Jane (Dayton/Vanderbilt)


Long contemporary

Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)
Like Always (Robert Elmer)
Taming Rafe (Susan May Warren)
When the Nile Runs Red (DiAnn Mills)
Within This Circle (Deb Raney)


Long Historical (*seven finalists due to TWO ties)

Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)
Fancy Pants (Cathy Hake)
Lady of Milkweed Manor (Julie Klassen)
Remember Me (Maureen Lang)
Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky)
Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)


Mystery

Days And Hours (Susan Meissner)
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
Gone With The Groom (Janice Thompson)
Sticks And Stones (Susan Meissner)
Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney)


Short Contemporary

Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight)
The Perfect Blend (Allie Pleiter)
Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y’Barbo)
When Love Comes Home (Arlene James)


Short Contemporary Suspense (*six finalists due to a tie)

Caught Redhanded (Gayle Roper)
Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)
Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti)
Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
See No Evil (Gayle Roper)
Vanished (Margaret Daley)


Short Historical (*six due to a tie)

A Time to Keep (Kelly Hake)
A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman)
Corduroy Road to Love (Lynn Coleman)
Golden Days (Mary Connealy)
To Trust An Outlaw (Rhonda Gibson


Speculative

Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
DragonFire (Donita Paul)
The Restorer (Sharon Hinck)
The Restorer’s Son (Sharon Hinck)
Isle of Swords (Wayne Thomas Batson)


Suspense

Abomination (Colleen Coble)
Black Ice (Linda Hall)
Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
Crimson Eve (Brandilyn Collins)
Ransomed Dreams (Amy Wallace)


Women’s Fiction

A Promise To Remember (Katie Cushman)
Bygones (Kim Sawyer)
Remember to Forget (Deb Raney)
The Oak Leaves (Maureen Lang)
Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Adams)


Young Adult

In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
On The Loose (Jenny B. Jones)
Sara Jane: Liberty’s Torch (Eleanor Clark
Sarah’s Long Ride (Susan P Davis)
Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)


For more info go to http://www.acfw.com/

Advice for Novelists (Part 34)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Author Chris Hopper, says: Read, read, read.

I've learned more about writing after my first book was published than I ever did before. I think that's because I never went to college and I wanted to make sure my craft could be as good as it possibly could once I realized people liked my books. And my thinking was, if I'm critically reading books that I want to emulate, those will be my text books.

I don't just mean passively reading, but actively analyzing; making notes on what works and what doesn't; outlining a book as you read it; studying sentence structure, voice and tone. Read like the author is right there with you. Ask questions. Why did they develop that character like that? What was the thinking behind keeping that piece of the story a secret for so long? Why am I identifying so deeply with this person's emotions?

Read the rest here!

--Christopher Hopper, Author of Rise of The Dibor and The Lion Vrie and recording artist of 9 albums. Visit him online at his website here.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Publishing Doesn't Validate Your Life

I know that there are many, many people like me. When it comes to “wanting to be in the know” we love stuff that’s bloggable, google-able, and repeatable. That’s why I’m introducing (drum-roll please . . .) GUEST BLOGGERS. Once a week, I’m going to introduce you to some of my friends who just happen to be wise and inspiring. They're going to share about their "Real Life" as writers and God-followers.

To show them your welcome, be sure to tell your friends, post your comments, and check out their websites and blogs.

My first guest is Mary DeMuth. Mary’s articles have appeared in places like Marriage Partnership, In Touch, HomeLife, Discipleship Journal.

Mary’s books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005), Sister Freaks (Time Warner, 2005), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), Watching the Tree Limbs, and Wishing on Dandelions (NavPress, both novels releasing in 2006). In 2003, she won the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference’s Pacesetter Award.

This is Mary.

Check her out at:

http://www.relevantprose.com/

and
http://www.relevantblog.blogspot.com/

She’s my kind of girl, and I know you’re going to enjoy her words. I did! (And I have to admit I thought I was the only one who was obsessive about Amazon rankings!)

Publishing Doesn't Validate Your Life
by Mary DeMuth

Someone I respect in the publishing business recently made this statement: Publishing doesn't validate your life. How true.

I have to admit before I was published, I thought that if I reached that nirvana called "published author," I'd have sweet validation. Every day would be smiles and dancing. You know what? I was wrong. Being published is terrific, mind you, but it doesn't bring happiness or validation. Instead, it adds more stress to your life.

Gone are the days when I could write for the sheer joy of it. Always looming is a deadline. And though I pinch myself because I "get" to write, and I feel like I'm doing what I was created to do, I sometimes get lost in the cycle of publicity, sales and marketing.

Maybe I'm the only one (and I'm embarrassed to admit this publicly), but I check my Amazon ratings for the three books I have in print. I know, know, know that these ratings mean very little. I know that a high rank (which is bad) just means that during that hour the book didn't sell. I know that if a band of readers (like a book club) went together and bought ten of my books in one hour, my rating would shoot lower (which is good). But it doesn't mean anything.

Why do I pester myself with such nonsense? After all, publishing doesn't validate my life, right?

It's like this weird endless cycle of neediness. It evolves in incremental steps of if onlys:

1. If only I could be published in a magazine, even if I'm not paid.

2. If only I could be paid to be published in a magazine.

3. If only I could go to a writer's conference and have an agent show an interest in my proposal.

4. If only I could sign with an agent.

5. If only that agent could sell my work.

6. If only I could have more than one contract.

7. If only I could earn out the advance for the book I wrote.

8. If only I could sell enough books so a publisher would want another book from me.

9. If only a publisher would treat a midlist author like me kindly.

10. If only I could make a living at writing.

That's a lot of if onlys!

I remember reading about blocked goals once and it's stuck with me. A blocked goal is a goal that is dependent on other's actions or happenstance. All these if onlys fit, albeit somewhat awkwardly, as blocked goals. I don't have any control over whether I'll get a contract offered. I can't make people buy my books. I can't make my book sell enough to earn back an advance. I can't control the fickleness of this industry.

What I can do is create goals that can't be blocked. Goals like:

1. I will listen to the heartbeat of God and write what He inspires me to write.

2. I will not let writing, by God's strength, overshadow the needs of my family.

3. I will write the best books I can write, always seeking to improve, abounding in humility and teachability.

4. I will be patient when sales wane and trust God's sovereignty.

5. I will promote my books with this motivation: to see the kingdom of God advanced.

6. I will laugh at the unpredictability of this industry and strive to be lighthearted.

7. I will serve others and not let elusive and fleeting fame (if that happens) inflate my head.

8. I will attend conferences, read writing books, and welcome critique.

9. I will serve my readers by praying for them and answering emails when God provides time.

10. I will write for the sheer joy of it, not despising unpublished words.

So, yeah, publishing does not validate me. Sure it feels great to hold my book in my hands. It's lovely when I get a good review. But it's the hand of God on my life that brings me ultimate validation. That God stooped to earth and chose me, a frail, needy girl, stops my heart every time. And by His grace, I will carry on.

Get your Conference Proposal in Shape!

Hey check this out...My Book Therapy(love love love their new sit!) is offering Mini Book Therapy!


One Sheets, First chapter and Pitch…

You get one chance to wow them, to stir their hunger for your book, to see that sparkle in their eyes that tells you they see your story in print…is your conference submission ready?
We at My Book Therapy know how important that conference pitch is – we have sat at the other side of the editor or agent’s table, hands sweating, trying to throw the right amount of energy into our pitch.

And, we have sold those pitches.

Now we want to help you. From now until September, My Book Therapy is offering our summertime “Get in Shape for Conference” Mini Book Therapy fiction editing service, at less than half our usual rate - the hot low prize of $135.

We’ll help your tune up that first chapter, create a powerful one-sheet and hone your pitch so when you walk into that air-conditioned room at your writer’s conference, you don’t freeze on the spot. Instead, you’ll have a sizzling hot best-seller, just waiting to be discovered.

Click here for more information!

Crafting One Sheets

Hello...happy summery Thursday!

Mary DeMuth graciously allowed me to share this with you all...so make sure to stop over at her So You Want To Be Published blog

Crafting Fiction One Sheets
For those of you who are crazy fiction writers like me: it's time to learn how to create a one-sheet. We'll pick up with some examples of nonfiction one sheets tomorrow. Today we're using two examples from novelist D'Ann Mateer (who is a two-time Genesis finalist).First: What is included?

A couple paragraph summary of the book. This is more likely the kind of copy you'd find on the back of a book. It should be punchy, to the point, and invitational to the reader. Your goal is to woo and editor and/or agent enough to make them long to read the story.

Another option is to write your one sentence summary of the book at the top of your one sheet before you get into the nitty gritty of the story. This is that punchy, amazing summary that nutshells your story. For great advice about creating those one-sentence pitches, go to Randy Ingerman's blog here.

Graphics. D'Ann's designs are clean and don't detract from her story. She uses readable fonts and a simple picture.

Bio. You'll want to highlight awards you've won (if applicable...don't make one up!), publishing credits, important affiliations.

A picture of cute you. Please, folks, shell out the cahuna for a professional picture. Do not crop you out of your family. Don't try to be cool and photoshop yourself with impressionist dots. Get an amazing picture, preferrably taken outside, with a photographer who has a killer lens and great lighting.

Your contact information.

No more suspense. Here are D'Ann's examples:

One Thin Ribbon of Road (contemporary women's fiction)
Monkey in the Middle (legal suspense)


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Advice for Novelists (Part 33)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"


Brandt Dodson: "If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

The best advice I can give any writer is to know why you want to write.

The road to publication (and beyond) is often slow and arduous. The challenges will be great - and there are many. Some writers will quit and never touch a pen or keyboard again. But the rest will sojourn on. Why? What separates those who quit from those who persist?

If your goal is not worthy of the effort, you will fail. Why do you write? Do you write to impress someone? To make money? To find fame? Or do you write for another reason?

Why do you write?

Answer that, and you will find the motivation necessary to sustain you on the path to publication.

But what's more, you will have found the clarity of vision that will enrich the lives of your readers long after you are gone.

--Brandt Dodson, author of the Colton Parker series and the just released novel White Soul (Harvest House).

Visit Brandt's website here.


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Not just a novelist...

Many people tend to think of me only as a novelist, but that is far from the truth. I still write articles when editors contact me. (I have a hard time saying "no"!) And I write for publications that I write monthly columns for. I write parenting material, mostly because I'm dealing with that on a daily basis and have this crazy obsession to write about every part of my life. I also blog, which is like therapy. (Hey, thanks for saving me the $150/hr. a therapist would charge!)

Sometimes, people feel bad if they're not publishing novels or other types of books. For many years, God didn't make writing books part of His plan for me. Yet during that time God used me in other types of writing ministry.

My Utmost for His Highest is one of my favorites. Here's a quote from it:

"We have the idea that we can dedicate our gifts to God. However, you cannot dedicate what is not yours. There is actually only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is your right to yourself (see Romans 12:1). If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you—and His experiments always succeed. The one true mark of a saint of God is the inner creativity that flows from being totally surrendered to Jesus Christ." (Oswald Chambers, June 13.)

For YEARS God gave me many other writing assignments that had nothing to do with fiction. You can read about them on my website http://www.triciagoyer.com/ (Under "For Writers.")

What about you? Yes, do whatever God lays on you're heart. After all, His holy experiments ALWAYS succeed!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Advice for Novelists (Part 32)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Here's a publicist's point-of-view on the question: Make sure you're writing something that you love. Be passionate about the story you've been given to share and write it to the best of your ability. Infuse it with the things that you're learning in your own life, and you'll be amazed how much that reaches out to the readers and reviewers. That passion and purpose of writing makes publicizing a book much more straightforward, and your publicist will love you for it!

--Liz Johnson, Publicist, Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing Group


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Check this out:

http://www.acfw.com/blog/2008/07/an-agents-perspective-steve-laube/

This is cool that Steve mentions me in his interview! I remember meeting with Mr. Steven Laube ... oh, at least once a year, showing him my writing, and taking notes on what he said works. But mostly taking notes of what he said didn't work, and why.

I remember when Steve read my proposal for From Dust and Ashes. He sat up in the chair and said, "This is it. This is the one that's going to do it." He was right. I got a contract for that manuscript a few months later. Steve knew because he'd seen my work from the beginning. All of it. Poor Steve!

And every time I see him I say, "Thanks." He cared and he was willing to help a nobody. He's a great guy in my book. And part of the reason I write books is because of Christians like this.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Advice for Novelists (Part 31)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Today we hear from a well respected agent in the industry who has a great perspective to share. Take it away, Rick:

Don’t measure your success by immaterial things. Authors tend to compare, to measure, to quantify. It's a normal thing I suppose, but your ultimate success really can't be measured by bestseller lists or copies sold. Come the Day of Judgment, God won't be asking about the number of appearances you made on the USA Today list. More important is whether you’ve been faithful with the gifts you’ve received—regardless of the results.

Read the rest here!

--Rick Christian, President of the Colorado Springs based literary agency, Alive Communications. Visit Alive's website here for more information.


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends