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A detoured sheep drawn by Savannah Wilkes

Write a fun story using the two sheep photos. You can add your story to the comments here, or on WordSowers facebook page. 

Happy Dreams drawn by Savannah Wilkes
Robert McKee says, “A STORY must build to a final action beyond which the audience cannot imagine another.”
When you finish your story for the newspaper, an article for magazine or a novel, all problems are resolved.
“We’re supposed to be better writers than they.The audience wants to be taken to the limit, to where all questions are answered, all emotions satisfied—the end of the line.”  McKee suggests, “The audience’s emotional involvement is held by the glue of empathy.”
Story on Amazon

There is no word count needed–be creative.

Remember, even a short story needs a beginning,
a middle and an ending. Have fun and send your stories to lionheartedkat@cox.net

 

June 12, 2014—Janet Nitsick presents:
Are you writing God’s Way
How do authors determine if the path they are traveling is their way or God’s way? Janet will share her insights and tips and participants will assess their own journeys through fun-analytical handouts and discussions.
Janet Syas Nitsick, lives in Springfield, Nebraska. She is the author of Seasons of the Soul, the story of life with her two autistic sons, Lockets and Lanterns, and historical western romantic anthology, Bride by Arrangement.

Interview by the Lionhearted Kat:

When I received word Janet Nitsick planned to hold a book event at Divine Truth, I dumped my plans for the day and drove west. When I walked in I saw this delightful lady in her elegant dress and hat. What a fun afternoon sitting and visiting with her.
Janet’s book Seasons of the Soul is a heart touching story about being the parent of two autistic sons. While we visited that day, Janet shared even more about the challenges of their family life, their travels and how God has blessed them because of their sons.

In years past I kept in touch with writers on TWV2. I posted, asked questions and learned from the well-seasoned authors that served as moderators.

Many of you know Sally Stuart published The Christian Writer’s Market Guide for years. Then a few years ago she sold her business to Jerry Jenkins. Side note: In my opinion, the market guide is a must for every author.
One day on TWV2 Sally posed the question: If an editor rejects a manuscript with a form rejection, is it OK to ask them to explain why?
My response: A month ago I sent two articles to an Adult SS handout editor. The same day the editor rejected both of them with a form letter stating, “These do not fit our needs.”
I replied by email. First I thanked him for the quick response and then I wrote, “I realize my articles didn’t fit your needs. Do you have a particular topic you are seeking? A hole that needs to be filled?”
Next day the editor replied, “Need Easter story for next year.”
Every Author Needs One
I found an old article I’d written years before and never submitted. Sent it. Sold it. Celebrated.
What did I learn? Form rejection letters say nothing more than ‘can’t use that manuscript at this particular time.’ They don’t say your writing is junk or the article isn’t good. I became bolder after such a great response to my email and have continued to write for this editor—more than once I’ve asked, “What hole do you have that needs filled?”

A few years ago I received a note from Jeannette Littleton, “Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers will be released April 10th with your two stories.”

Then the Publisher’s Assistant wrote, “We need your help. Every author is paid to help market.”
Lord, we could use the money, but I don’t know how to market. In the past, you placed someone in my world that wanted to use his or her spiritual gifts. Please, Father, give me that person now.
A few moments later, I heard the answer. “You have more expertise than you think. Hire yourself. You knock, I’ll open.”
“Is that you, Lord?”

“You said you planned to ditch your fears. Get serious about my plans for you. Spend more time talking to me about your needs and allow me the honor and glory.”

I prayed on the way to work. I felt giddy when I arrived at the office. My non-believing co-workers laughed at me when I announced, “I just hired myself as my promotional manager.”
The laughter ceased when I ditched my fear and marched to the cubicle of our company social committee chairperson.
“Nanci, I have two stories in this Cup of Comfort anthology,” I handed her my copy. “Is it possible the social committee will host a book signing?”
Five Devotions by Kat
Five Devotions by Kat
My stories in Cup of Comfort unleashed a dynamo in action. Every day I spent more time in prayer–kneeology production. Every day another door opened. My co-workers saw God in action.
One day I announced, “I have scheduled 6 book signings, 4 newspaper interviews, and 2 radio interviews.” An hour later I reported, “A patient just called about her bill and guess what? She is in marketing. She gave me tons of leads.”
Later, Peg, the host of my first book signing called. Before we hung up she said, “I have a degree in marketing, lets meet. I’ll coach and you’ll sell.”
What have I learned?
  • Pay your dues. I didn’t miraculously have the ‘know how’. I spent three years in study on FCW, Wordsowers, TWV2, and HACWN. I set goals, journaled praises, and wrote daily. I attended writer’s conferences, studied grammar, asked questions and accepted critiques.
  • Pray. “Kneeology” is promised production. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Ephesians 4:6 (NIV).
  • Pitch your product. In the past, I mumbled to my co-workers about my sales. Now I email my progress to friends and family. I have also become more vocal about my freelance status. I hand out my business card or a flier I just happen to have in my purse. My card says freelance author, but I know God calls me Freelance Missionary.
  • Praise Him. Allow the Lord to receive the glory. Being vocal about the answers to prayer has been an ongoing witness to others.
Follow my lead, hire yourself, tackle new ideas and brainstorm often. Then when you look in the mirror say, “Look out world. I’m a dedicated go-getter with my bosses highest good in mind. I might be untrained, but I’m willing and I have a great attitude.”
My stories in “Cup of Comfort” helped build my marketing skills. Who knows with the continual writing and the promise of another book coming out, I might end up on Oprah or Joyce Meyer. With the Lord, all things are possible.

To finish the story: Yes, I published in each Cup of Comfort until the publisher decided not to publish another one.

My stories have been published in many more anthologies also. What I learned with marketing Cup of Comfort became my stepping stone into real sales. I’m still an inspired go-getter.

When developing your online presence, it is important to be professional if you want to be taken seriously. Here are a few tips ensure you are putting your best foot forward.
  1. When you create your online ID make sure they are the same on all sites. It’s easier to find you and establishes a stronger presence. Use similar colors and publicity picture on every site. This creates a cohesiveness for your brand.
  2. Update all profiles for all social media sites you are on. DO NOT leave them blank. Put contact information into each one. You are leaving bread trail for people to follow back to you.
  3. Have your pictures taken professionally. If a friend takes your pictures, make sure they are professional quality.
  4. Be active if you are on social media sites. An inactive site is worse than not having an account on that site. So, don’t bite off more than you can chew. You don’t have to post, share or Tweet every hour, as long as you post regularly. You can schedule your posts if you choose. There are various sites you can use for this.
  5. Keep it simple. An uncluttered website is more inviting to linger on.
  6. Write an interesting bio. Make sure it shows your personality while remaining professional. Write it in 3rd person to give it a more professional tone. If you like, you can write two with one more casual.
  7. If you use pictures on your blog posts, give the appropriate attribution. Just as you wouldn’t want someone to use your writing without permission, don’t use someone’s photo without permission. You can’t just grab any picture you see out there and use it. Check the rules of the sight you go to for permissions necessary.
  8. Have a way for people to keep up with you. Make it easy to find the links on your website. At the very least, you need to have a newsletter for people to sign up for. But many people would rather just follow you on Facebook or Twitter.
  9. Make your blog stand out. Templates are great for beginners, but if are able, upload your own picture. Some of the pictures provided with the templates get used in multiple places and start looking like worn out repeats. If you upload your own picture, google the size necessary for the particular social media site. Otherwise, the pictures may look stretched out or out of proportion. Fotoflexer is on online editor that is easy to use without downloading any software.
  10. As you post, remember how you want people to see you. For instance, I care a lot about politics, but rarely post about them, because that is not my “banner”.  Represent yourself intentionally the way you want people to see your brand. Some things I will post to my personal Facebook profile, but not to my fan page.
In everything you do to build your platform, do it right. Don’t just make do. Google it. Ask a friend. Watch a tutorial. Pay someone to do it for you. At the end of the day, you may just attract someone’s attention because your presence stands out from the rest.
What have you seen other bloggers do that scream 
“unprofessional” to you?
With the new changes on our blog, I’m a bit delayed getting the final part of this series out to you. But here it is.

Now that you have designed your newsletter and linked your freebie, you’re ready to send it out into the world.

Design the Mail Chimp sign up forms.

Slide #1
From the dashboard, click on the Lists button (#1).
When this screen comes up, click on the “Signup Forms” button (#2)







Slide #2
When this screen opens,
click on the General Forms button.

Slide #3
This screen is where you will design the look of your sign up form.
 
From the drop down menu (#1) you can choose which form to design: sign up,  confirmation, unsubscribe, etc. The bottom half of the page has all the design elements you need. Under build it, you will choose which fields you want. Under design it, you will choose the colors and overall look. If you need more explanation after exploring this portion, go HERE.

Once it is designed and you’re ready to share the sign up form, the box labeled #2 has the link you can share to take people to your form.

~ ~ ~

If you want to embed the form onto your website, go back to the screen shown in slide #2 and click on Embedded Forms.

Slide #4
This screen will come up. In the #1 line, type in the title of the form as you want it to show up. Then copy and paste the code from box #2 to the location you want your sign up form.
If you want to integrate a sign up form into your Facebook page. Go HERE.
 
~ ~ ~
slide 5
Send it. Go back to the campaign tab and choose your campaign (slide 5).
From the design screen below (slide 6) if you have done all the steps, choose the confirm button at the bottom of the screen. From here you can preview the newsletter as well as send a test email to verify the newsletter comes through looking just the way you want it. Test all the links.You are only allowed a few test emails, so be sure you are ready with all your content and buttons. For tips on sending out your test email, go HERE.
slide 6

With the free service, you will have to check back for new subscribers to send out the welcome edition to them. If you have a paid service you can use an auto-respond and not worry about it.

 
If you have any questions, feel free to leave it in the comments below. Or visit the wonderful tutorials that Mail Chimp provides.

Give yourself a pat on the back. You now have a newsletter and can start building your email list.

I hope you’ve started to design your newsletter and worked on your incentive for sign ups. If you missed last week’s post, catch it HERE. Today, we’ll pick up where we left off after we hear from Jeanie.  

Jeanie is a fellow Wordsower and newly published author with a story appearing in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen. Released February 4, 2014. Every week, she shares her journey experience of building a platform. 

Connect with Jeanie: website (you can sign up for her newsletter here as well) Facebook



Jeanie tell us about your WIP: King Elyon. The first chapter is one of your freebies and the book is the reason you’re building your platform. Tell us what your book is about. 

Orphaned twins Asher and Zadok slave in a nightmare world ruled by the brutal Overlord. A mysterious Voice in the night propels the teens on a daring escape. Pursued by vicious Watchers and other savage creatures, the brothers seek out the forbidden Wise Woman. Her startling revelations point them toward refuge with King Elyon, the powerful ruler of Galya.

Along the way lies and deceptions drive the brothers apart. With danger pressing on every side, each must decided who to trust. Will their journey lead to freedom…or destruction?
Who is your audience? 
I originally envisioned King Elyon for 5th-6th graders. Based on input I received from several authors, I have expanded it to a young adult fantasy novel applicable for both the CBA and ABA markets. I’m writing it as an alternative to the Harry Potter and Twilight type books.
Why this book? 
I’m praying that people who don’t know God will be drawn to him through it. At the same time, I shy away from being “preachy.”
You are going the indie route with self-publishing. Why not look for a traditional publisher? 
Julie Christensen’s self-publishing class struck a chord with me. The market is changing. Bookstores are closing.  A traditional publisher may be less likely to publish my work, given the wide range of established authors they already have. Self-publishing gets manuscripts to market quicker, and I have more control over my content.
  
Are you looking forward to Lee’s presentation at our monthly meeting next week? 
Lee has years of experience in the market, both as an author and as an editor, so I’m eager to hear what he’s sharing. I hope he touches on the editing aspect of self-publishing. I’ve seen self-published books that would have been great had they been edited. Even the most beautiful gems need to be cut and polished to make them shine.
How-to Link your freebie to your newsletter. 
1. Have your document in PDF form. 

2. Open the text box where you want the link to your freebie to appear.  Within the text in your text box, highlight the word(s) you want to link your document to. 


3. Click on the link button.


4. When this box appears, click on the arrow for the drop down menu. Choose “file”.

5. When the file manager box appears you can now upload the PDF document you have ready. Click on browse for a file then upload. For future issues, if you already have the file uploaded, you can choose “files” on the bar across the top and choose it from there. 


6. Once you have chosen the file you want uploaded, this box will appear. Click “insert”. Your document is now inserted into your text. 


7. At the top right of the design frame click on the preview and test button. On the drop down menu, click on “enter preview mode” (NOT send test email). From here you can make sure it looks right and test the links. 


I do not recommend sending a test email until you go back and check all your text, pictures and design. You can preview and test links at any time through the design process.

Next week, we will cover sign up forms, scheduling your newsletter and sending out a test email. 

If you have any questions, please leave them below. 
Jeanie is leading the charge on building your platform.  Let’s touch base with her and see how it’s going with her newsletter.
Jeanie is a fellow Wordsower and newly published author with a story appearing in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen. Released February 4, 2014. Every week, she shares her journey experience of building a platform.

Connect with Jeanie: website (you can sign up for her newsletter here as well) Facebook

After you figured out how to work with Mail Chimp, how long did it take you to put your newsletter together?
4.3 seconds. In my dreams.
Here again I turned it into a horrific process. I came up with an overload of ideas unrelated to anything. I’d write a segment, then delete it. Rewrite. Delete it again. Days of furious writing wound up in my computer’s dungeon.
Instead of one Spring story, I wrote four. I agonized over what to offer as a sign-up incentive.
I didn’t want to take 5-10 minutes to choose a template (which can be reused for subsequent campaigns). Heck no! Instead I spent hours creating my own plain-Jane one. Bad idea for someone whose artistic skills are limited to drawing stick figures.
What should have been a few hours work turned into 2 weeks.
How did you decide on what to offer in your newsletter? 
I looked at other authors’ newsletters. Took advice from experienced writers. Prayer interspersed with hair-pulling sessions.
What kind of signup response have you had?
My mom and I comprised my first list. (Thanks Mom. You’re fabulous!) So even though I don’t have a huge following yet, I’m excited to see people signing up every week.
Is there anything you will do differently next time?
Absolutely. My first newsletter is such a homely baby even this momma can’t pretend any differently.
My next edition is brighter, bolder, and easier to read. I used a MailChimp templates. In about 30 minutes I finished the basics of the Summer newsletter (including finding the pictures). It looks sooooo much better.
Plus, I’ve chosen the perfect gift card for the next drawing.
Any advice for those who are just starting to consider a newsletter?
Don’t panic. Keep calm and write on.
Read other author’s newsletters to see what you like about them. Utilize the things that resonate with you…and I’m not talking plagiarism here. Check out their sites to get an overall feeling for what you want in yours.
People are inundated with online invitations daily. Offer an incentive for them to join you.
Think your content through, but don’t second (and third…and fourth…) guess yourself.
Ask for help. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.

Now it’s your turn – let’s get started. 

You’ve decided on the content. What’s next?

1. Choose your service and set up an account.

Since I use Mail Chimp, all illustrations for this article will be from that service.

2. Get familiar with what your service has to offer.

Let’s start at Mail Chimp’s dashboard. The two icons you need to know about for this post are the campaigns and lists icons.

3. Create a list:

Lists are the groups of people who sign up to receive your newsletter. You can have multiple lists. For example. Here it shows my two lists. One is for my RSS driven campaign, sending my blog posts to my readers by email. The second list is my quarterly newsletter.

Click the list icon on the dashboard and you will be sent to this page. To create your list, click on the create a list button in the top right hand corner of the list page. The instructions will walk you through this.
Once you have a list and you click on that list on the lists page, you will be able to manage your subscribers.

4. Create a campaign: 

Campaigns are the batch of newsletters you send out via emails. For each edition of your newsletter you have to create a new campaign. If you send out welcome editions in between your scheduled newsletter, you have to create a new campaign.
Click the campaign icon on the dashboard and you will be sent to this page. To create your campaign, click on the create a campaign button in the top right hand corner. At the bottom of the next screen in the black band, you will see  the buttons to click on to guide you through the process.
Once you have a campaign, if you click on one of the campaigns you can see all of the stats. How many people opened your newsletter. How many clicked through for what you are giving them.

5. Choose your recipients 

Once you click on the create a campaign button, the first thing you will be asked to do is to choose the recipients. You will have a choice between the different lists you have created.
If you notice the buttons along the bottom in the black band, you will be able to tell which stage of designing your campaign you are in. The great thing? Until you hit the send button at the very end, you can change anything or scrap it all and start over. So, relax and have a little fun.
The first campaign you want to set up will be the welcome edition of your newsletter. The reason you want to have this ready is so that when you have new subscribers you can send this out to them ASAP even if you are between regular campaigns. If you wait, they may not remember they signed up and quickly unsubscribe. You will be able to resend this same welcome edition as many times as you want, only changing the recipient. More on that next week.
In the next few steps you will be plugging in all that wonderful content you have decided to include. My instructions today are fairly simple, but Mail Chimp has some great tutorials if you need more information. Take advantage of them. Or feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to answer the question.

6. Set up the campaign.

That is when you name the campaign and choose a few social media options if you want them – let it post to FB and Twitter are two. I didn’t like the way those posts looked, but it may work for you.

7. Choose your template to work with.

Nose around and see what you like. Once you have a design you like, you can save the template to use in the future to make it simpler. I’m going to walk you through the Basic template choice. I like this selection because you have greater freedom to personalize it. However, as you read in Jeanie’s Q & A, she prefers the pre-designed template. Find what works for you and go for it.

8: Design your newsletter.

When you click on Basic you will go to this screen next:
Have fun and play around. Click and drag the boxes on the right into the sections on the left. Click the edit button to add content. In the top right hand corner you can click on the preview button at any time. DO NOT test at this stage. In the free service you only get a few tests and you want to save those for just before you actually send the campaign.
Next week we will pick up with the “confirm” stage of the design. But you want to have everything in place before we get there. So between now and then, be working on the steps we have covered so far.
About the freebie. You want to give people a reason to sign up for your newsletter, that’s why you offer something free just for signing up (sent with your welcome edition). Work on your freebie. Make sure it looks professional. Next week we’ll talk about how to link your freebie to your newsletter.
We will also cover designing your sign up form and where/how to share those. Scheduling and putting it out there.
Of course, don’t feel like you have to wait on us. Step into the adventure and forge ahead if you are so inclined.
If you have any questions, be sure and leave them in the comments below.
See you next week.
You’ve decided to embark on building a platform. You know a blog is important and you are in process of getting that set up and deciding what to blog about. But are you ready for company to drop by?
As you design your website/blog, there is an important factor you don’t want to forget. Getting permission from your readers to contact them in the future. This is how you build an audience that will want to buy your books.
Building a mailing list is the best way to get that  permission. But people won’t just give you their email address for no reason. You have to give them something in return. Enter the newsletter.
Never fear, services like Mail Chimp (which is free up to 2000 subscribers) make it easy to design and mail out newsletters to your audience.
To get you thinking, here are a few things to remember as you put together your newsletter:
  • Have a welcome edition subscribers will get right away, or they may forget that they subscribed to you, then opt out once you send the next issue.
  • It doesn’t have to be weekly to be effective. Just enough to keep your name in front of them. I send mine quarterly.
  • Be consistent and follow through on promise of delivery.
  • Give them something free right up front to encourage them to sign up.
  • A collection of devotionals you have put together in a PDF format for them to download. A free short story. A free ebook (PDF download) of some sort of “how to” advice. A collection of your own poetry. ETC.
We will be writing more details next week about the newsletter. Our Google+ Hangout in April will cover newsletters, as well. Until then:
Brainstorm ideas for what to  write about offer as an incentive to sign up.
Look at those newsletters you have signed up for and see what others are doing.
Sign up for an account with Mail Chimp. Nose around and get familiar with it.
Check out these resources (sign up for their newsletters):
Michael Hyatt * Jeff Goins * Tim Grahl

Before we go, let’s ask Jeanie about her newsletter experience. 
 
Jeanie is a fellow Wordsower and newly published author with a story appearing in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen. Released February 4, 2014. Every week, she shares her journey experience of building a platform. 

Connect with Jeanie on her website or on Facebook .

How did you first feel at the thought of starting a newsletter?
Confused. “How often should I send one out? What would I include? Can’t I just hide in the corner with my Hershey bar?”
Reluctant. “Do I really need to do this?”
Overwhelmed. “I don’t understand the technical aspects of getting it to people. Where do I even start?”
What benefits are you looking for with your newsletter? Instead of screaming into the vast virtual world, “Hey, look at me,” my heart is to give people hope and encouragement. I want to engage people by offering them things they can use. For example, my first newsletter came out March 20th. In it I shared:
  • 3 different organizing methods to speed up Spring cleaning
  • A 4-in-1 story, “Perspectives.”
  • A fun interactive editing/voting opportunity.
  • A drawing for a $20 Visa gift card.
Did you run into any roadblocks along the way? Yes, an epic battle with Evil MailChimp. Actually, it’s a wonderful email marketing service…once it’s mastered. MailChimp and I wrestled like God and Jacob. Except for my nose getting out of joint, I came away fairly unscathed. I bogged down watching tutorial after tutorial, but the monkey’s off my back.
How easy/hard was it to start? I made it harder than it should have been. I was convinced that it would be a drawn-out, painful process. So I turned it into one.
What is the link for people to sign up for your newsletter? Go to www.jeaniejacobson.com Sign up before March 31st to be eligible for the Visa gift card drawing. (Cha-Ching)
 
Are you struggling with what to write about on your blog? If you’re anything like me, these are some of the thoughts going through your head:

Why would anyone listen to what I have to say?
There are already so many bloggers out there.
I’m not an expert in anything.

Let’s catch up with our resident beginner (fast becoming experienced) and ask her a few questions about blogging content.
Jeanie is a fellow Wordsower and newly published author with a story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen.

Here on Jeanie’s Perspective, she shares the process of building her platform. Connect with Jeanie on her website or on Facebook.

What do you blog about? Do you have an area you stick with or do you blog about whatever is on your mind at the moment?
Recently I started blogging about the oddest or most challenging event of my week. I format it like this:
1) Share a true, usually quirky, event. Like when I hid from the nativity scene in my front yard, or cooked a possum.
2) Apply a nugget of truth, lay my soul bare, and ask who else might be struggling in that area.
3) Give encouragement through a related scripture.
Do you have a tag line/mission statement?
I thought “Truth Through Fiction” would be an awesome tag line. So did about a thousand other people who are already using it. My blog’s focus is hope, humor, and encouragement. I want people to know God’s crazy in love with them, ala John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Do you ever doubt your choice for your blog topic? 
Pretty much every time I sit down to write it. The rule of thumb is “narrow your focus to broaden your audience.” I know it, but haven’t accomplished it yet. Last week I learned of an author who writes Amish science-fiction. Seriously. Now that’snarrowing your focus.
In order to determine what to blog about,
it helps to know 4 things.
Know your mission/purpose. Some people like to write a mission statement. If you don’t want something long and involved, try a tag line. Can you put in one sentence what the purpose is behind your writing?
For me, my tagline is “stories of surrender, transformation, and hope”. In other words, through each story I write (and each blog post) I want to encourage women in their faith walk. I think this tag line expresses that. Here are some questions to ask as you think about what your purpose is.
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
Is there a pattern of what God is doing in your life?
What is your personal life message?
What is your personal life verse?
 
Know your audience. Its common to want to include everyone. But the funny thing is, the more specific you get, the broader appeal your message actually has. When you have a very specific audience in mind, it is easier to get personal with them. Ask yourself:
What is their age range?
What is their gender?
What are their interest?
What are their talents /abilities?
What life issue/problem are you going to help them solve/answer?
What is their life circumstance (married, single, kids or no, working, retired, etc)?
What is it about their life that gets them interested in what you write?
Is your reader fellow writers or just readers?
 
 
Know yourself. You are the heartbeat of your writing. It’s how you shine through and stand out from everyone else. People are attracted to YOU, not just the WHAT you write.
What is your personality?
What is your passion?
What do you enjoy writing about?
What do you like to do?
What appeals to you to learn about?
What is your writing style? Don’t try to be someone else.
You are the heartbeat of your writing. 
 
Know what you know. People like to know you’re for real. And whether you outright state it or not, when you know something, it comes through. Your expert status shows. Ask yourself a few questions to shine some light on these areas.
What do you do in your spare time?
What are your talents and abilities?
When do people listen best to you?
What do people ask for your help with?
What is your degree in if you have one?
What are your experiences?
What topics “flow” out of you?
Do you see any common themes in these 4 areas? Take a minute and make some notes.
If you’re still struggling, ask those who love you to share their perspective. Write a few sample blog posts and run them by fellow writers. Then, if you’re still not sure, just START. As you blog, your spot-on-topic will rise to the surface. Don’t be paralyzed by fear or indecision.
Are you ready to get started? Did you get any aha moments as you went through these questions? 
If you have already started your blog, tell me what you blog about. 
Jill’s Workshop: 
Blogging: Creating content that will build your readership 

Wordsowers Conference February 28-March 1 
Add some God colors to your world (Click to Tweet)


Jill Hart first attended a WordSowers monthly meeting at Parables in January 2006. I remember the meeting well. The regulars talked about developing a critique group but not one of us felt confident enough to get our feet wet. In November a couple WordSowers asked Mark Littleton of Heart of America Christian Writers Network to help us. He turned to me and said, “Kat, you do it. You know enough.”

On that cold winter evening with Jill in attendance, she said, “I sure wish I could find a critique group.” That night I jumped in and got my feet wet. The next month the WordSowers first critique group came together. Wow, Jill has come a long way since then.
Lionhearted Kat: What do you remember about those beginning days of writing, Jill?
Jill: I remember being terrified. I thought you would all kick me out of that first meeting because I wasn’t a “real” writer. I was shaking in my boots!  You all helped me find the confidence to push forward and gave me a place to go to ask questions and get help. Oh, what a blessing WordSowers has been in my life!

Lionhearted Kat: You were already blogging at that time, right? Why did you decide you need to attend WordSowers and a critique group?
Jill:  I had started writing little devotionals and articles to post on my website in 2001. But, I only wrote them to have fresh content for my website, not because I enjoyed writing or thought that I was good at it.
I had a conversation with a writer friend in 2005 and she helped me see that the next logical step with CWAHM was a print book. So, I began trying to learn how to go about “real” writing and stumbled across WordSowers. The writing group gave me a safe place to learn, grow and network as a writer.

Lionhearted Kat: Let’s go back to before WordSowers.—what prompted you to build a business online and what do you wish you knew before you started—especially the writing aspect?
Jill:  When I began CWAHM I had know idea that writing would even be involved. I put the website together as I was learning HTML and web design, never thinking that people would actually see it. God had other plans. J
If I could go back, I was be more purposeful. I would definitely have some type of business plan in place and I would have tried to figure out what types of things I was going to need before jumping in head-first. I think, however, that had I done things that way, I would have never ever gotten started. I was have been too intimidated, too afraid of failing, and I think God knew that. He is so gracious to us and knows just what we need.
Learn how to blog: create, re-purpose and find content. 
At the Wordsowers Writers Conference. (Click to Tweet)



Lionhearted Kat: How did you come up with the title to your latest book: “Do Life Different.”

Jill: Do Life Different has really been the theme of my life over the last couple of years. So many of my friends think my life is so weird – working from home, writing, speaking – it’s not the typical Midwestern life.
And I find that my spiritual walk has that same flavor to it. We have to be a bit weird to live for Christ, we have to “Do Life Different” to stand out from the crowd.
Lionhearted Kat: In your info about your workshop you said mentioned blogging helping your audience finding new content, repurposing content, run more contests and more. What do you want your workshop attendees to learn from your presentation?
Jill:  I really would like people to walk away from the session with a sense of purpose and direction for their blogs. So many writers are told to blog, but they aren’t really sure what to do once they have the blog set up – how to engage their readers.
We’ll walk through the ins and outs of blogging for writers – what it means, why you should do it, and how to keep from spinning your wheels.
 On a personal note:
Lionhearted Kat: Who is your favorite author and what hits home with you when you read one of their books?
Jill: My favorite author is Liz Curtis Higgs. She amazes me with her imagery and her ability to make eternal truths easy to understand. Liz writes both fiction and non-fiction, she doesn’t let genre or subject matter stop her. I love that she blazes her own trail and writes what God lays on her heart.
Lionhearted Kat: Author Emily Dickenson said, “I dwell in possibility.” How does that thought pertain to you?
Jill: Dreaming is my favorite thing! It seems I’m always trying to come up with something new or a fresh way to do things. One of the best things about running an online business and doing all my own web work is the ability to do whatever I want, to some degree. I love the freedom of working at home and working for myself. And I love that I go wherever God leads me even if it doesn’t necessarily fit with where I’ve been.
Lionhearted Kat: Share about your family life, how do you balance your writing/speaking schedule with your life as wife and mother?
Jill: Oh, the balancing act. This is certainly where the pressure sets in. I think I’m constantly evaluating and re-evaluating what I spend my time on. I’ve learned over the last 15 years that success isn’t what the world claims it is. There are more important things that money and making a name for myself. Building a relationship with the Lord must come before all else and my family second. Anything else is a bonus.
I’m learning that I can never truly be balanced, I can simply be flexible. So, I wake up each day and set about doing what God has asked of me for that day.
Lionhearted Kat: Your children are growing up, how do you see your life changing in the near future?
Jill: I can’t believe how big my kids are already! Where does the time go? My daughter is 12 and my son turns 9 in a few weeks.  I honestly think that my kids need me more now than they did when they were small. They needed me to be present physically when they were little, but now they need me to be all-in emotionally and mentally as well. They are turning into young adults and it is a pleasure to walk through this journey with them.
While I have more time to work and write now that they are in school during the day, I’m much stricter with myself about not working evening or weekends. It does happen on occasion if I’m on deadline, but not often.
 Lionhearted Kat: How can we pray for you between now and the conference?
Jill: I would love your prayers and I prepare both my heart and mind for speaking. That God will guide me to cover the topics that people truly want and need.
Lee Warren is a freelance writer and editor from Omaha, Nebraska, and one of the founders of WordSowers Christian Writers. He has written six non-fiction books and hundreds of articles for various newspapers and magazines. He has also edited more than 50 books that are currently in print.
I met Lee at the first meeting of Omaha writers, before we chose the name WordSowers. For several years Lee served on the Steering Committee for WordSowers—he enjoys helping new authors find their voice. He is on staff for CLASSeminars, A Christian Writers Conference held in New Mexico and has presented dozens of writers workshops over the past few years.

Interview Questions:

Lionhearted Kat: When we met you worked at a bank. When did you decide you wanted to write?
Lee:My parents divorced when I was eight years old, so my dad came to get me on Saturdays to spend time with him. He was a painter (the kind who paints houses) and he owned his own shop, so we would often stop by there on Saturday afternoons. While he was busy, I often gravitated toward his big manual typewriter on his desk. I’d scroll a piece of paper into it and begin copying liner notes from albums, articles from newspapers, etc., sometimes picking up a story where it left off. I didn’t know it at the time, but the writing bug was planted in me back then.
During my teen years, I wrote poetry to deal with my emotions. As an introvert, the written page was my only safe place. During my twenties, I wrote songs to deal with my emotions. I became a Christian in my mid-twenties and a few years later got online, where I landed a singles column with Christianity Today Online.
And then in my thirties, I received a flyer for a Christian writers conference in Kansas City. I was intrigued so I registered and attended. For the first time in my life, I was among kindred spirits – creative types who expressed themselves with the written word. That’s when I really knew I wanted to write.
Lionhearted Kat: Before you started writing fulltime, you drove to Kansas City to attend a monthly writers group or critique group. It’s a long drive to Kansas City, how often did you go and how did that dedication help you as a writer?
Lee:The Kansas City conference above I mentioned took place in 1998. For a few years, they had annual conferences, but then the network changed hands and the new directors changed the conferences to scaled down versions that occurred quarterly. For the next few years I drove to Kansas City and attended nearly every one of them. I ended up building a relationship with an editor I met at one of those quarterly conferences and I still write for him to this day, even though he has changed publications.
Being around other writers on a consistent basis – writers who were serious about pursuing publication – really fueled my creative juices. Everybody is busy. Everybody has family issues, and church issues, and various other issues. But being around writers who were writing in spite of all that made me want to do it as well.
Lionhearted Kat: Were you involved in a critique group during the beginning years of your writing journey? If so, how did it help? Or if not, why not?
Lee:Being introverted I never had a big desire to be part of a face to face critique group. Takes too much out of me and too often those groups are not structured. They become social gatherings rather than critique groups. I did participate in a couple of them though – one with a few other writers here in Omaha. We would meet at Barnes and Noble monthly. The other one was not face to face. It was an online ACFW critique group. I was part of that for maybe a year.
I benefited more from going to writing workshops at conferences – especially ones that were dedicated to the craft. I took one workshop in which novelist Nancy Moser taught about the importance of showing rather than telling and that helped me a great deal. I took another one with novelist Angela Hunt about structuring a novel. It was gold. I sat in on workshops in which professional editors tore stories apart and then put them back together again. Andy Scheer, who used to be the editor at Moody and is currently an agent, taught one such workshop and I attended it several times. Again, it was pure gold.
Lionhearted Kat: You’ve given dozens of workshops over the years. Is there one workshop you enjoy presenting more than others–why?
Lee:I teach one called “Article Writing 101” that I really enjoy because part way through, I can see people’s faces begin to light up. They come to the class not really knowing how to structure an article and once they learn some basic journalistic techniques, then they feel equipped to give it a shot. I love that.
Lionhearted Kat: Your Contemplating Redemption is one of my favorite blog sites. One of your recent posts tickled my funny bone. I so related to your “Losing My Technological Touch.” What prompted this so true post and how do you think people older than you will keep up with the every changing technology?
Lee:The site you are referring to is my author website. But you picked up on the tagline: Contemplating Redemption. Most of my writing is steeped in redemption of one sort or another, so that’s the theme for my author website.
As a writer who is just trying to make ends meet every month, I have taken on a lot of different type of work. I love to edit, so I became an editor. I love to encourage writers, so I became a writing coach. I knew more than the average bear when it came to setting up blogs, so I began setting up blogs for writers. But somewhere along the way, I bit off more than I could chew and I found myself drowning in technology.
I think the moment of truth came about a year ago with I tried to set up an e-book for an author on Amazon.com and I lost a ton of time on the project. Learning to format the e-book wasn’t bad, but the layout afterward was a nightmare for me. The text somehow flowed into a hidden boundary. A horizontal line just appeared on the bottom of every other page and I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it. Then the author told me he had a bunch of photos to insert. I was in over my head and I admitted it to the author.
I just learned to stick to what I can do well and then hire someone to do the rest. And that’s probably my advice for people who are older than me. Jump in, give it a try, but if you find yourself getting too frustrated or in way over your head, find someone who can do it for you.
On a Personal Note:
Lionhearted Kat: You are big into sports, watch them and write about them. You also interview many sports celebrities—often on the fly—in a few minutes. What do you enjoy most about talking with those in the sports world? Is there one interview you haven’t done and hope to in the future? 
Lee:I love talking to the athlete who doesn’t have a big name, but who is working hard behind the scenes either to excel on the field, or to excel in his or her faith.
I interviewed a baseball pitcher named John Wasdin in 2006, I believe. He was pitching for the Texas Rangers and was near the end of his career. Not many people knew who he was, but he found a way to stay in the game because of his work ethic, willingness to adapt, and continuing to tweak his game. Those players are called journeymen.
We were in the Rangers clubhouse in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. I introduced myself as a sportswriter for a Christian publication and he pulled a seat up to his locker, inviting me to sit down. That doesn’t happen often. During that interview, I learned that he had witnessed to a Triple-A player when he was in Triple-A himself and that player became a Christian. Wasdin made a commitment to disciple him, but after he got called back to the big leagues, that made face to face discipleship impossible. So he committed to discipling that player on the phone every night after their games were over.
Digging for and finding a story like that is invigorating for me as a journalist. They are inspiring and faith building. Journalists live for the “get.” They want to get the story nobody else knows about. I feel that way too, but I want to get the journeyman story because the odds are stacked against him.
Even in a story like this, redemption is always lurking.

Lionhearted Kat: In the past you mentioned how you enjoy Jan Karon books. Is there another author you enjoy—one of those that the minute their latest book is off the press you gotta have it? What is it about the author that drives you to read their work?
Lee:I’m a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. His characters are often flawed, wounded, imperfect people who are just looking for another chance at love. That resonates with me, given that I’m 47 and never married. And there’s that redemption theme again.
I also love Richard Ford. His Bascombe trilogy about a sportswriter named Frank Bascombe is something to savor. He does something with a male protagonist that many in modern literature are unwilling to do – he explores the protagonist’s emotions as he struggles through his disappointments. I love that. As a man who is willing to explore my own emotions, I feel like I have a friend in Bascombe.
Lionhearted Kat: Last fall you participated in the National Novel Writing Month. How did you manage your daily schedule and producing a novel that fast? Where did you write most of your work, in a recliner or in a coffee shop?
Lee:I wrote that novel exclusively at night in restaurants, coffee shops, and bookstores. I got into a rhythm most nights, writing 1,666 words (the average you need to hit the 50,000-word goal) in two and half hours. That’s doable for anybody if you’ll turn off the TV. I was dead tired most nights by the time I finished, but it was a satisfied tired.
Lionhearted Kat: Because you are involved in other conferences, you are able to travel to other states. If you had the opportunity right now to travel, where would you go and why?
Lee:I’m assuming you mean traveling to the conference of my choice? If so, I would go to Mount Hermon. It’s probably the premier conference in the CBA and I’ve never had a chance to go. If you mean non-conference related traveling, I would love to travel to see the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments in New York, Paris, London, and Melbourne.
Lionhearted Kat: I know as a fulltime author you face struggles in receiving payments on time and also, you’ve had some physical issues. Is there a specific need you’d like us to pray about for you or your family between now and the conference?
Lee:I don’t really want to get specific, but you have named all three of my primary struggles as a full-time freelancer – finances, health, and family concerns. I would love it if you would pray about all three of those areas of my life.
Interviewed by The Lionhearted Kat, one of the Leadership Team of WordSowers Christian Writers Group and the author of Capsules of Hope: Survival Guide forCaregivers. She is published in seventeen compilations and has written numerous magazine articles. After the death of her husband she wrote From theEyes of  joyful Widow.