Stamp Out SPAM

Anyone who surfs the Internet knows I'm not talking about that strange meat in a can. Unwanted, intrusive advertising fills our email folders, blog comments, and other social media outlets.

As we find ways to stamp out SPAM, spammers are getting more creative. They've discovered a way to slip by our safeguards. For the past couple of months, I've seen what look like genuine comments on my blog and my friends' blogs. If you're anything like me, I visit those who comment for the first time. The innocuous comment leads me straight to a commercial site. Bah humbug!

A lot of people hate the captchas, but they help keep spammers at bay. I'd rather take a few moments to fill one in than have the blogger forced to moderate comments.

Writers:  Have you experienced problems with spammers? How do you handle them?

Readers: How do you keep a lid on junk mail, while keeping the emails you want?

Photo Credit:  kveselyte

Social Media Resource Report

Social Media Resource Report

The book tables at The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference yielded a social media title that I HAD to pick up. Michelle Campbell-Scott wrote,"Goodreads for Authors: How to Promote Your Books With Goodreads." 

I haven't finished the book yet, but it's user friendly. At the end of each chapter, she has a summary for those who are in a hurry to get tips. The author gives statistics, showing Goodreads as a premier location for authors to reach readers. For the techy challenged, like me, it gives step-by-step directions with lots of illustrations.

I'm up to the chapter on Goodreads Giveaways. Since I'm planning to do one soon, I can't wait to see her suggestions and detailed instructions.

This book will remain on my shelf as a handy reference guide to Goodreads. I hope the author will follow-up with books on other social media sites.

By the way, the cashier at the conference asked me about Goodreads. After a brief conversation, she dashed over to the table and picked up the last copy of this book. How's that for word-of-mouth advertising?

Faith, Flexibility, and Flip-Flops

A pastor once said, "When you go on the mission field, you need faith, flexibility, and flip-flops." That saying burrowed itself into my heart. Here's what it means to me:

1.  Faith - When I take God at His word, I open the door for His direction and intervention in my life. A particular situation has been plaguing me the past month or so. At some point, I had one of those "duh" moments. Had I even prayed about the situation? Now, I'm on the alert for the answer.

2.  Flexibility - As a new author, I'm learning the value of flexibility. If I refuse to consider an alternate way of doing things, I risk becoming stagnant. So, I joined LinkedIn, Google+, and other social media. I'm taking the first step and exploring new methods of getting the word out about my book.

3.  Flip-Flops - While I'm not a big fan of this trend, they make me think of protective footwear. Shoes keep our feet away from sharp objects, germs, and other harmful elements. As a believer, my spiritual feet are protected by the Gospel of peace.

As I tread through this world, I want to leave a lasting footprint that honors my Lord. Whether it's writing or any other endeavor, I want people to see that "I've been with Jesus."

Writers & Readers: Nuggets can stick in our minds and affect our actions. What sayings inspire you? 

Photo Credit:  chopstix00

Short Break

Due to the death of my beloved friend, who was more like a sister, there will be no post today on  Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

Perhaps I'll be able to write about this in the future, but right now - it hurts too much.

Stay Hydrated

The summer heat takes a toll on my flowers and veggies. If I'm not diligent to water them, I find droopy plants. The New Guinea Impatiens are particularly sensitive to dry conditions. So, every morning, I fill my watering can and give them a generous drink.

If it's particularly hot, I'll repeat the process in the early evening. They cannot produce the blooms I love or the veggies I crave without proper nourishment.

Writing is a lot like gardening. If I want the words to flow, there must be resources to sustain the process. Here are some of the things I do to keep my writing garden watered:

1)  I pay attention to my relationship with the Lord and with others. This requires spending quality time and giving of myself.

2)  All writing and no living sucks the life out of my creativity. I give myself permission to rest and have fun.

3)  I write Christian Speculative Fiction. It's important for me to read about new developments that will affect our future. This often gives me ideas for plots and characters.

These simple things help prevent the dreaded writer's block and keep my writing garden producing stories and devotionals for readers.

Writers:  How do you nurture your creativity?

Readers: How do you stay motivated with your work and hobbies?

Photo Credit:  techny57

Ready, Set, Surf!

I've got my notebook, pen, and a snack. Let's see what I can find today on the Internet.

1.  For all you Civil War buffs, check out Diane Estrella's review of Beth Harlow's book, The Journal: Lost Memoirs from the Civil War.

2.  Sharon KirkClifton gives us 10 steps to writing great book reviews.

     

3.  AusJenny clues us in on ways authors can lose readers.

Now that my notebook is full, my hand has writer's cramp, and I need a glass of milk to wash down my snack, it's time to head back to home base.

Writers & Readers: Do you write book reviews? What tips do you have to offer?

Photo Credit:  adamci

Another First For Me!

Woohoo! I've been invited to participate in an Author Panel/Book Signing.

Where:  At the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference at Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia Biblical University) in Langhorne, PA.

Date:     Thursday, August 1, 2013

Time:     7:30 P.M.

The night meetings at the Conference are open to the public. Check out the Conference website at: http://www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia

Writers and Readers: Have you ever participated in/attended a book signing? Do you have any tips for me?

My Travels Around the Net

I fired up my computer, grabbed my mouse, and took off for parts unknown on the Internet. Here are some of the gems I discovered:

1.  Edie Melson talks about working with photos. Graphics make blog posts more attractive to readers. She gives some great tips, as well as websites, to help you produce quality pictures.

2.  Marsha Hubler is doing a series on tips for the Fiction Genre. She will be teaching at both the Montrose Christian Writers Conference and The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. I'm looking forward to meeting her.

3.  Rhonda Schrock gives a word of encouragement to writers. She blogs about faith and family with humor and grace.

It's time to power down and continue my travels another day.

P.S. The link is embedded in each name. :)

Writers & Readers: How do you manage to visit blogs? Do you hit them all in one trip or do you spread your visits throughout the week?

Photo Credit:  Kolobsek

The Desires of My Heart

Photo: Courtesy of Helping Hands Press

For 8 years, the desire of my heart has been to see The Moses Conspiracy published. One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 37:4 (KJV): "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

On March 16, 2013, it was published as an e-book. As of May 17, 2013, it became available in print. Earlier in the week, I received my proof copy. I could use all kinds of adjectives to describe my feelings, but the overall response was gratitude to my Heavenly Father, who gave me the desires of my heart.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Writers & Readers: What are the desires of your heart?

 

My Travels on the Internet

I admit it. The Internet fascinates me with its wide variety of information. As an author, it's an opportunity to learn more about my craft, what's going on in the industry, and how to get my book noticed.

Subscribing to various blogs, webzines, and websites brings these treasures to my email inbox. I click on a link, and I zoom through cyberspace to a distant location. Here are some of my fun picks for this week:

1) My first stop was at Carrie Fancett Pagels and friends' blog, Overcoming With God.Teresa Mathews did a 5-Star Review of my book, The Moses Conspiracy. They also did a giveaway, so I hung out with them quite a bit during the course of the week.

2)  Amber Schamel is writing a blog series on, "What Happened to the Apostles?"

It made me glad I live during this time in history in the United States!

3)  Yay! The new issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine is live.  There are many great features, including an interview with Kathi Macias, a devotional by Nancy Mosher, and a guest post by Linda Glaz and Normandie Fischer.

Whew, time to head back to home base. What interesting places have you visited on the Net this week?

Photo Credit:  Kolobsek

Bumps in the Road

Photo Credit:  Mzacha

When we travel, many things have to be factored into our plans. How long will we be away? What days will we be traveling? We check weather forecasts, so we'll be better prepared for road conditions and pack the right clothes.

Unfortunately, our plans don't always work out. We decided to leave at 7:00 P.M. to avoid the rush hour at both the beginning and end of our journey. Well, we escaped the rush hour, but ran smack-dab into...THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE. Yes, folks, it's a sad tale. Our trip went from 3 1/2 stress-free hours to a 5-hour marathon.

The writing life is often likened to a journey. We can plan and make goals, but things can happen to derail them. How we respond to these challenges determines whether they'll become steppingstones to success or be our downfall.

After praying for safety, we stayed alert and rode out the challenges. As we hit bumps in the writing road, we can give up or make adjustments.

Setbacks are permanent only if we allow them to stop our forward movement.

Writers: How do you handle the disappointments of the writing life?

Readers: How do keep life's bumps from ruining your day?

Friday Round-Up - #240

Zoe McCarthy gives 5 steps to recharge your creativity. What are some of the methods that work for you?

Photo Credit:  tijmen

Second Chances

Photo Credit: chchiseOO

Recently, my mother received a gift card to a restaurant chain. Our previous visit left us disappointed, so we were not excited at the prospect of going again.

We were pleasantly surprised by the excellent meal and great service. It changed our attitude toward the restaurant, and we'll be going back again in the near future.

Books are like a good meal to a reader. Even when a novel disappoints me, I take into account several things:

1) Is this one of the author's early works? Perhaps they've improved in their craft since then.

2) If the writing is less than adequate, does the story make up for the deficit?

3) Perhaps the story doesn't resonate with me. I'll check the author's other titles to see if they're more to my liking.

If restaurants deserve a second chance, why not give an author another opportunity to grab your interest?

Writers: Do you find yourself editing other author's books as you read? Please tell us how you turn off the internal editor and just enjoy the story.

Readers: Does a dynamite storyline make up for less than stellar writing? Please share.

Friday Round-Up - #239

Back in the early 1990's, there were few resources for writers. An author had to attend a formal school or dig through the library for help. Today, we have the Internet and access not only to information, but also to a supportive writing community.

Here are some websites and groups I've discovered:

American Christian Fiction Writers - ACFW for short. http://www.acfw.com - This organization is devoted to providing educational opportunities, critique groups, and an annual conference. They also have a loop where writers can discuss all aspects of writing, a prayer request loop, and a fiction finder. The annual Genesis Contest for unpublished writers is one of the premier contests available to those in the fiction community.

Writing Blogs - I could write a post with just links to great blogs. Here are a few of my favorites:

Jean Fischer - http://jeanfischer.wordpress.com - Jean is a freelance writer, and formerly worked as an editor for Golden Books. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry.

Edie Melson - http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com - I recently discovered Edie's blog. She has great tips on Social Media and other aspects of writing.

Jeff Goins - http://www.goinswriter.com - Jeff gives valuable information on how to expand your blogging platform. I always enjoy his posts.

Magazines -

Christian Fiction Online Magazine -  http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com - Bonnie Calhoun is the editor. Numerous authors contribute to this topnotch magazine.

Writers: What are some of your favorite writing websites/blogs/magazines?

Readers/Bloggers:  What subjects do you like to see on blogs?

Photo Credit:  blary54

 

Neatnik or Organized Chaotic?

You've heard of personalities like sanguine, melancholy, and phlegmatic. You're about to enter the world of organization styles.

When I'm working on multiple projects, my desk becomes a nightmare. Unfortunately, that's become the norm around here. It's not that I don't try to organize. I make files, lists, lists for my lists, lots of piles, and I even have one of those multi-pocket plastic bins on the wall.

Of course, I must have those articles handy. Oh, and don't forget the CD player and a stack of CD's. Mail that needs attention sits in another pile. Items I need for a meeting or interview are listed separately from my daily to-do list and my things-I-must-do-but-not-today list. Yeah, you get the picture.

When I analyzed the problem, I discovered something. While my desk isn't visually pleasing, it functions. Deadlines are met, tasks get done, and I know where everything is located. So, why am I aiming for a magazine-like setting? All I'm doing is adding unnecessary stress to my life.

Writers:  Do you function better if you're a neatnik or an organized chaotic? Why?

Readers: Do you have stacks of books on your nightstand or are they catalogued and shelved in perfect order? Descriptions would be most enjoyed by all. :)

Photo Credit:  giselaroyo