Author Archive
A Self-publishing Success Story
August 31st, 2009 by Barb Lilland“What I really want is to walk down the street and have someone come up to me and say, ‘I read your book in one sitting. I could not put it down.’ ‘” –Lynn Ruth Miller, How I became self-published
As writers, isn’t that what we really want? Sure, a Pulitzer would be lovely, and we’d throw a party if our name appeared on the New York Times Bestseller lists, but ultimately, isn’t it really about impacting another life through our words? In her blog, Miss Miller talks about how she couldn’t win the bookstore war (in competition with the big publishers), but she could win the readership war.
A great story, a compelling cover, strong marketing and publicity, and a savvy approach to online markets allows writers to get their message to their audience in a way that seemed an uphill battle a decade ago. Her self-publishing success story is both informative and uplifting for any writer hoping to touch lives through the pages of a book.
People who looked at this item also looked at...
Related items
Relevant Writing for Today’s World
May 18th, 2009 by Barb LillandAnyone remember Y2K? The doom-and-gloom, the warnings, and the survivalist mentality swept the nation in the prelude to January 1, 2000. My husband and I were given several books on the subject and told the books could “save our lives.” I’ve kept them on our shelves for the sole purpose of showing my kids a slice of our nation’s history. (For the sake of complete disclosure, I will admit that we added a few more bottles of water to our stash and the pantry was well stocked on New Year’s Eve.) By January 2nd of that year, a lot of authors, radio show hosts, pastors, publishers, and teachers must have felt just a wee bit of disappointment that their labor was for naught. And the embarrassment? Well, that had to have been painful, too.
David Kinnaman and Greg Lyons, authors of UnChristian: What New Generation Really Believes, state that young intellectuals view Christians as judgmental, uninformed, and out-of-touch with reality.
How can we, as a publishing community, begin to change that perception? As believers, how do we communicate important issues of the day without losing our relevance or our credibility?
- Know the facts before you rush to write about the latest scare. Global warming is a perfect example: half the experts say the earth is warming; the other half note a cooling trend. If this is a topic you are passionate about, be prepared for the possibility that time and weather render your book obsolete.
- Avoid a critical, judgmental attitude in your writing. We face a world of broken, wounded souls who need a sensitive, compassionate approach. Too often we write from our heads instead of our hearts, and fail to offer God’s grace to those in need.
- Be cautious about making predictions. Here’s a quote from one of my Y2K gems: “I predict that y2k will not be moderate by any definition…a percentage of people will die from cold, another percentage from hunger, and a larger percentage will die from crime and disease…fleeing anarchical conditions in the cities.” Predictions, particularly those that incite fear, often do little to enhance the credibility of the author.
- Make sure your premise is grounded in Biblical principles. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness…it is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere.” (James 3:17, TLB) Are the truths you have written communicated in a way that is straightforward and sincere? Can readers find those same truths echoed in the pages of the Bible?
The printed word is a powerful vehicle for communicating the Gospel in a way that is relevant, trustworthy, and effective. Let’s use it to be a voice for truth in a society desperate for a new way to live.
People who looked at this item also looked at...
Related items
Join the forum discussion on this post - (3) Posts
Writers and Editors: A Team Effort
April 9th, 2009 by Barb LillandA number of authors have likened the writing process to an artist working on canvas…you begin with a God-inspired vision, a story, a message, and your first tremulous thoughts give the vision substance. Slowly, often painfully, words fill the blankness of the page as the story unfolds. If, like an artist, the work itself is so personal, so fragile, what, then, is the role of the editor?
The Essential Perspective
Annie Dillard, author of An American Childhood, says that just as an artist covers his tracks as he begins to add layer upon layer of paint to canvas, so a writer needs to learn to “cover his tracks”–discarding what distracts from the vision and polishing the essentials. When the solitary experience of writing the manuscript is complete, the editor plays a key role by offering perspective, advice, and the time-tested ability to examine the vision from an outsider’s viewpoint. Stand close to a masterpiece and you see colors, brush strokes, marks of the artists’ tools; take several steps back, and the vision reveals itself.
The Support System
Allowing editorial professionals to come alongside you, the writer, provides critical feedback and offers you the chance to polish your manuscript to its literary best before it is seen by the intended audience. For those of you wondering exactly what happens when you hand your manuscript over to the editor, let me say that it must feel similar to when your newborn is whisked off by the nurse for his first bath-it must be done, but wait, I’m not ready to let go…what if it’s painful…when will I see him again?! Or the first time an artist reveals his latest painting-what if it is no good? Maybe it’s not ready to be seen…this is terrifying! Be assured that many authors begin this stage with trepidation, only to discover an editorial process that is both enjoyable and tremendously beneficial. In the end, the writer has gained a polished manuscript ready for publication, and along the way has mastered new skills for giving substance to the next story.
People who looked at this item also looked at...
Related items
Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts
Suffering has always been intimately linked with creativity. Limitations force us to yield, to abandon ourselves to our Creator God. And when we do, His creativity flows!
—
Recently Commented