The age-old question, “I’ve covered everything under the sun! What else is there to write a blog post about?” trips us up regularly.
See if any of the suggestions below prompt new ideas for you.
Make a list of your message’s foundational points. Cover one point per blog post.
Make a list of FAQ from your audience or readers. Answer one question per blog post.
What about themost common challenges your audience/ readers face? You guessed it! Address one challenge per blog post and help them overcome it.
Write a bulleted list of helpful, insider tips or DIY instructions related to your message.
Share how God called youto your ministry and invite readers to share their stories with you via a return email or a comment on the social media post you create to promote this blog post.
Share how you knew this ministry idea was from God and not from last night’s pizza. 🙂
What’s going on in the news that ties into your primary message?
Have a new project coming up?Share the behind-the-scenes activity.
Which new book have you reador heard about recently? Why might that be a good fit for your readers?
What’s the history of your favorite holiday? How can you tie that into your message?
Share a gift idea for those you serve (that their loved one might give them).
What startling or just released statistic relates to your message and your audience?
Book launch coming up? Invite readers to support you as book launch team members or ask them to post just once.
Been to a conference lately? What was the most valuable info you learned?
Conference–who wasthe most interestingperson you met, and why?
Conference–who wasthe best presenterand what made them the best one?
Conference–what’syour overall opinion of it and would you suggest your audience attend?
Conference–does the conference aboveoffer scholarships and if so, how does that process work?
What else can you tell your audience about the conference mentioned above or any other conference?
Write a long “roundup” blog post highlighting all the other blog posts you’ve written on that same topic. Be sure to share the link to each article as you highlight it!
Share book reviews you’ve written, explaining what you did (and did not) like about the book.
Writea blog postlisting your favorite blogs about your topic.
Writea blog postlisting your favorite podcasts about your topic.
Explain your research process for books, projects, or courses.
Share a list of quotes that apply to your topic.
Share a heartwarming story about your child or grandchild that ties into your topic.
Share your favorite writing or speaking tools, platforms, or resources, and why they’re your favorite.
Share three common mythsrelated to your topic and explain why they’re not true.
Share your daily schedule and invite readers to share theirs.
Share how you manage your time and invite readers to share their schedule.
Share your process to find the perfect title for your books or products.
Share your primary goal(s) when posting on social media.
Explain what a blog tour is and how your readers can be part of one.
Make a list of the influencers you follow and why.
Describe how you hope your message impacts your audience.
Whew! That’s a lot of ideas! Praying more than one is helpful. 🙂
There are some thrilling moments in book publication that make all the back work (sometimes YEARS of edits!) pale by comparison: cover reveal, box opening, autographing! Then the first rush is over, the book is launched, and the next big thrill is winning an award.
Award-winning books are truly authored.
Whatever we feel about Celebrity Books (where the sales value is based on the person’s platform in another arena – sports, music, acting, social media), award judging is done on the value of the text and pictures.
Award-winning books are simply published.
They do not have to come from The Big Five publishers (or Four if someone bought someone out this week). Smaller publishers and self-published books are considered for their merit, not the publisher’s name on the spine.
Award-winning books are publisher endorsements.
Awards not only honor us as an authors but the publisher for having the faith to publish us. It also tells the publisher we are working past the launch to promote the book. Great points when pitching the next book to the same publisher.
Award-winning books are attention-getters.
It is boring on social media to promote a book after the initial launch. An award allows a second (or third or fourth!) chance to keep the title in people’s minds. A new award mentioned on Amazon or Goodreads can boost ratings. Translation: book sales!
Award-winning books are reputation builders.
The next book proposal includes all the awards for the previous titles. This tells any publisher we are keeping the book in the public view long after the launch. With just one award we can say, “Award-winning author”!
Award-winning books are validation.
Libraries and bookstores will take a second (or third) look at a book judges have considered worthy of an award. Awards are a way to work around the “must have a review” or “must be from a big publisher” hurdles!
Award-winning books are a bonus for older titles.
Many awards have added categories for previously published books, realizing that older books deserve recognition. An award brings the book to the attention of the publisher and public once more and can boost sales of backlists.
So what awards?
Publishers may put a book up for reviews and awards, but most of the time, it is up to the author. And, yes, there is a fee. I never pay over $75 – the usual cost is under $50. Check the award out carefully – look at the list of past winners. Check to see if there are costs to the winners beyond the entry fee. Scan other authors’ titles to see what award they received and ask them if there are any doubts.
National Awards
This is the list of BIG awards that will come up by googling “Book Awards.” Beyond that are many awards based on subject matter, format, or writing style. STEM, SEL, disability, underrepresented authors, and topics have specific awards.
Categories of Awards
Scroll the entire list of categories. An environmental book is better positioned to win in the “nature” category than a “general picture book.”
Conference Awards
Sometimes these are open only to attendees, but with a narrower genre focus. A Christian conference award can be a real boost! There may also be a category for unpublished writing.
State Awards
Many awards are limited to authors from a particular state on topics of interest to that region, but they are worth checking, particularly if the sponsoring group is connected to a library or reading association.
And the winner is…
MULTI-AWARD-WINNING author (really!) Robin Curriehas sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Robin is pleased to report that How to Dress a Dinosaur has only 181 words and 6 awards!
I never attended summer camp as a kid. Don’t feel sorry for me, as, back then, it was something I didn’t really want to do, for different reasons.
I have always been more of an inside person instead of an outside person, especially during the summer. It may be TMI, but I have been an extreme sweater (not of the cashmere variety). My mother says I used to sweat in my crib in the wintertime, and, even now, any amount of time outdoors in summer makes me look like I have taken a shower in my clothes. Spending copious amounts of time in the heat of summer doing sports and games has never been attractive to me.
You would never tell it by looking at me now, but I was a very picky eater as a child. Unless the camp kitchen offered peanut butter, french fries, or flavored rice at every meal, I would have starved (although I could have lived off fat stores for a day or two). Only the tater tots could have saved me, unless there was a food fight.
When my sons were growing up, I experienced summer camp by serving as a counselor when they went to church camp. It was both fun and maddening at the same time, as most things are when you are herding 10 to 12 boys to different activities on a big campground. Did I mention it happened in the HEAT OF SUMMER?
Several years ago, I discovered writers conferences, most of which happen in the summer months, and I realized these events give me the summer camp experience I missed at writers conferences, without all the sweat and bugs.
At writers conferences, you are in a confined space with a group of people for a set amount of time. Thankfully, nearly all the activities are inside with good air conditioning, so that’s a plus.
When you are with like-minded people, you tend to form bonds rather quickly. I have developed many close friendships in very little time at these events, and I know these pals and I have each other’s back no matter how many miles separate us. My sons formed such relationships during their camp experiences, so I have continued the family tradition.
Similar to summer camp, meals are cafeteria-style communal experiences at writers conferences. There’s something special about loading that tray with goodies and finding friends to talk and laugh with over lemonade and cookies. Tater tots are even occasionally served, but I have yet to see anyone throw them at a writers event.
Did you miss out on summer camp like me as a kid? Sign up for a writers conference! You will hear wonderful speakers, get valuable instruction, and make lifelong friends. Oh, and there are tater tots, too!
Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate—all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.
I’m binging on the superhero series The Punisher. Not because I am a comic book junkie, but because I like this series’ emphasis on mental health and how trauma can affect our lives.
In the season one finale there is a powerful scene where The Punisher, Frank Castle, locks eyes with a former military buddy and best friend after he was tortured by their colonel turned bad guy.
After a brief, subtle stare, the Punisher breaks free from his shackles, quickly kills the Colonel while the friend watches. A lot happens on screen without a single word being spoken. Still, the audience understands everything that is happening.
The writers of the show masterfully use subtext via action and pauses to tell a powerful story of revenge and friendship. In screenwriting, there are a few ways to tell a story without explaining everything.
Action
Dialogue
Inaudibles
Subtext
Movies and TV are the ultimate examples of showing versus telling! On-screen the audience can see all of the action, settings, and emotions. We can also hear the dialogue and audible cues (crying, sighs, and screams.)
However, all of these can take up a lot of space in a screenplay. A common “rule” is to not have huge boxes of dialogue. Dialogue blocks are a form of information overload and they clutter up a screenplay.
They can also bore a reader and the audience by telling them everything they want or need to know. Generally, dialogue should be no more than a few sentences long, so this forces a writer to show more than tell and to use subtext.
Subtext
If you are a fiction writer, then you probably understand that subtext is important to the storytelling process. Because in screenwriting, subtext leaves more white space on the page and it adds layers to your narrative.
“The underlying personality of a dramatic character as implied or indicated by a script or text.”
In screenwriting, subtext is the unspoken words, emotions, or desires. Although screenwriting is a visual art form, there are emotional and soul elements that cannot always be expressed in words, which invites the audience into our stories.
“Text means the sensory surface of a work of art. Subtext is the life under that surface—thoughts and feelings both known and unknown, hidden by behavior.”
Robert McKee
Writers know to avoid “on-the-nose dialogue.” On-the-nose is when what is said states the obvious or tells the exact thoughts or feelings of the character without action or subtext.
Another use of subtext is the underlying meaning behind a scene in a movie. The adage is, “If the scene is really about what the scene is about, then you’re screwed.” Subtext gives every scene in your screenplay more depth.
Think of two star-crossed lovers who cannot put their feelings into words, their avoidance or lack of interaction can imply what words can’t.
On the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy, a young doctor, Simone, struggled with her feelings for her roommate, but couldn’t tell him because she was getting married. Everyone could see in her eyes, whenever the two were around one another, her feelings for him were strong. It was no surprise when she left her groom at the altar for her roommate. By then, the audience wanted her to do this. The subtext in the previous scenes built the anticipation of this unlikely couple.
Sure, we see this dynamic play out in many movies and TV shows, because subtext is crucial to visual storytelling.
Seven tips on writing subtext into your screenplays from Masterclass.
Study subtext in film and novels.
Get into your character’s head.
Write the subtext in your notes.
Apply the iceberg theory.
Practice with hypothetical characters.
Think about a real-life event that could contain subtext.
Edit out unnecessary dialogue.
The best screenwriters have mastered the art of subtext, but all writers need to use this technique to tell the clearest and leanest story. It is a chance to practice “show don’t tell.”
And this dynamic goes beyond what the audience sees or perceives. Subtext keeps writers from telling actors what to do or how to act. It is the actor’s job to bring the character and their emotions out.
Subtext lets more action out than simply telling everything that is happening in a scene or character. Keep it on the stage, not on the page. Movies let the action out!
Act it Out
By now, I hope you know there is a lot more to the movie-making process, than just writing a screenplay. As I recently shared with a fellow writer, this is a business and everyone has a specific part in the business. You do your part and get out of the way.
Only a finished movie can bring our words alive, amateurs fill pages with lots of unnecessary words, imagery, and dialogue. Leave room for everybody in the movie-making process to do their job.
Writers write
Directors direct
Actors act
A few years ago, I had a writer friend, who also worked as an actor in Atlanta, tell me that actors hate being told how to act. So, limit parentheticals and acting cues, and let the actor bring the character to life; it is their job.
Subtext helps everyone do their job. Writing is a process that needs to be paced. Writers cannot dump a bunch of information, regardless of its function: dialogue, action, and descriptions can all be expressed through subtext.
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJohnson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
Memorial Day ushers in a new season in our northern state. The blossoms on the apple trees have finished their fashion show and the buttercups appear along the fence row. The foliage of the hostas are rising to fullness and the weather welcomes sunshiny days. Our cold-starved land embraces the warmth.
What season are you in? Are you cultivating the soil of your writing or are you stalled in a barrenness of words?
Writing is like life in the ebb and flow of seasons. Imagine winter as a time of hunkering down to maintain routines and learn better processes. Spring represents digging into new projects. Summer is a time to weed out that which isn’t growing, and fall is the time of harvest. We could be in winter, spring, or summer for years, when we’re in a hurry to see the fruit of our labor. What does a writer do when it feels all is in delay?
Exercise:
Look at the acrostic ABIDE for an answer to waiting.
Allow God to have time to produce what is needed. He “The God who started this great work in you (will) keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish.” Philippians 1:6 (MSG).
Be all-in for the season you are in. Instead of wishing your life away, embrace where you are. “Work from the heart for your real Master,” Colossians 3:23-24 (MSG).
Invest in your writing life. Conferences, critique groups, and counselors who mentor writers can all increase your confidence in the craft. “Take good counsel.” Proverbs 15:22 (MSG).
Dig into God’s Word and let it saturate your words. He will equip you for the job He’s given. “Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (MSG).
Experience the joy of living in fellowship with the Lord. As you dwell in Him, He will infuse you with His words. “Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us.” Psalm 89:15-17 (MSG).
When we abide with the Lord, He brings peace and purpose to our writing, and everything else falls into place in due season. May you bask in the light of His presence!
How will you live in the present as you look to the future?
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum,Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.
Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.
Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.
Raising Kids for Tomorrow’s World: 12 Keys to Preserving the Faith, co-authored with my husband, Stan Schuermann, released in 2022. Our twenty-four-year ministry with parents and young families led us to this project. Key topics are drawn from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, a unique section of Scripture that leads parents to discover essentials for building a culture of faith in the home.
In I Thessalonians 2:1-14, Paul shares with readers how he pastored and parented his spiritual children. Imagine Paul sitting in your living room. What would you ask him? With tender words, he answers questions about parenting we would love to ask.
Works of both historic and contemporary authors, pastors, and theologians are woven throughout thirty-six short chapters. Every chapter includes questions for reflection and discussion as well as ideas for application. Perfect for individual daily reading and small group discussions.
Why do you write?
Whether the work is a devotional book for adults or a children’s book about a girl who wants to be a journalist, I write in order to inform, encourage, and inspire.
Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
All of my books are very different from one another but all flow from my desire to encourage readers.
How long have you been writing?
A very long time! As a young teen I wrote poetry, though none was worth a mention. I envisioned myself as a writer one day, but it would be decades before I began writing in earnest.
And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?
I signed my first book contract in 2007 for When the Water Runs: Growing Up With Alaska, released in 2008. This creative nonfiction work details my mother’s childhood, growing up in northern Alaska in an Eskimo village and mining camp. The contract process went quickly because I chose to go with a hybrid publisher to expedite the process. My mother experienced health issues at the time and I wanted her to voice the audiobook while she was able. This turned out to be a good choice as a few months later, she would not have been able to do it. The audiobook is a treasure for our family and others who have listened to it. I wrote the book in her voice, as if she were sitting in your living room sharing her stories.
After the publisher closed their doors, When the Water Runs was re-published by a small traditional publisher in 2019. My other three books were also traditionally published with small houses.
Which of your books is your favorite?
This is a difficult question because my books are all so different and I write what God puts on my heart at the time. When the Water Runs will always have a unique place since it is my mother’s story.
Raising Kids for Tomorrow’s World is the most recent and the most applicable for today’s families. It is also the first book co-authored with my husband. We loved writing together and have two more projects outlined.
My new “favorite” is my current work in progress, Farmhouse Devotions, recently contracted with Bold Vision Books.
How long does it take you to write a book?
My books for adult readers took over a year to write, including edits and revisions.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I am an early riser and most of my writing energy occurs in the morning. I often wake up very early and my brain starts going. That is my cue to get up, make the coffee, do my Bible study, and get busy—even if it’s 3:30 in the morning. (I may be toast by 10:00 a.m. but I will have some writing under my belt.)
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
Giving When the Water Runs book talks and signing books with my mother by my side provided me with sweet lasting memories. Not long after, she began her journey with Alzheimer’s disease so I will forever be grateful for those times.
Recognition is one of the best emotional boosts for a writer and I have welcomed several writing awards in the past two years. Most recently, Raising Kids received the Bronze Medal in the Illumination Awards and a second place Selah award for General Nonfiction category. Validation of our work inspires us to keep going.
What has been your darkest moment(s)?
In my writing journey, receiving notification that my publisher closed their doors. I experienced this disappointment twice.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
Most writers quickly learn rejection is part of the process and I experienced many. The “best” rejections are those coming with some feedback so I can improve my manuscript. I appreciate editors and agents who take the time.
Where do you get your ideas?
Some ideas fell into my lap such as my mother’s stories about early Alaska. My middle grade novel, A Boy Called Preacher, is inspired by my father’s childhood on a wheat farm in Kansas.
Raising Kids was born out of a ministry to Christian parents and a thorough study of I Thessalonians 2.
My current work-in-progress is Farmhouse Devotions, a sixty-day devotional book inspired by our family farm and the experience of building a 1920s style farmhouse. From the antique church doors to the wildlife to the prairie flowers, the ideas flow easily. I find myself loving the country more and more each day.
Who is your favorite author to read?
I have always been a reader, so I find it difficult to name one favorite. As I craft my first devotional book, I’m drawn to the writings of C.S. Lewis, Elisabeth Elliot, and Charles Spurgeon and could flag nearly every page of Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
Engage with a quality critique group early on.
Know why you write and what motivates you.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
Giving up too soon! (My first book published when I was 56 years old.)
Another one is believing we can do it alone. We have to invest in our writing just as we would any worthy endeavor. Study the craft, join critique groups, attend conferences and learn from those in the publishing world.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
First and foremost, produce unique, stand-out writing. Seek critiques from fellow writers. Take a risk and submit polished work to writing contests. If you are able, attend writing conferences, either in person or virtually.
**Write for the right reasons and don’t give up!
Cheryl Schuermann worked for many years as a literacy consultant and curriculum trainer in schools across the United States. She wrote and conducted dozens of workshops and presented at numerous literacy conferences. For over two decades, Cheryl and her husband Stan have mentored and taught groups of parents in their local church. They have four married sons and thirteen grandchildren, ages 8-20.
Cheryl is the author of four traditionally published books and is an anthology contributor. She is currently writing her fifth book, Farmhouse Devotions. Her memberships include Word Weavers International, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), CAN/CIPA, and Serious Writer. In addition to writing, Cheryl facilitates a caregiver support group in her community.
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Substack with G. M. Baker
G.M. “Mark” Baker, shares information about the traditional publishing industry presented by Elle Griffin, a Substack author, who has gained a following by serializing her novel. After discussing the benefits of Substack as a platform, Mark shares his Substack site, with a peek at his dashboard where he explains different features. If you’ve been wondering about Substack, then this is the episode for you!
Watch the May 23rd Replay
G. M. Baker is trying to revive the serious popular novel, the kind of story that finds the truth of the human condition in action, adventure, romance, and even magic. He is the author of the historical novel series Cuthbert’s People (The Wistful and the Good, St. Agnes and the Selkie, The Needle of Avocation) and the literary fairy-tale Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight. He writes the newsletter, Stories All the Way Down, which examines serious popular fiction in theory and practice. Subscribe at https://storiesallthewaydown.com.
Benefits & Drawbacks of Bookbub Featured Deals with Brenda S. Anderson
Brenda shares her positive experiences as an independent author with Bookbub’s Featured Deals. After explaining the basic difference between a Bookbub ad and their Featured Deals opportunity, she explains the application process. Brenda also mentions drawbacks, like the possibility of more negative reviews. If you have questions about Bookbub, then check out this week’s replay
Watch the May 30th replay.
Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic, gritty, life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live music and theater, walking the shores of Lake Superior, and sharing hot cocoa with friends and family. She lives near Minneapolis with her retired husband.
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
Recently, I had a bad fall off my bike, it was the first time in years I had fallen while biking on the road. I forgot how terrible the sting of asphalt on the flesh is. Although I was able to quickly get up, fix my bike, and get back on the road to finish my ride; I have felt embarrassed since the fall.
Maybe it was embarrassment or pride, but I didn’t want to go see my doctor and decided to let a few friends know about my painful experience. No one likes having to ask for help for whatever reason. Take your pick from.
We don’t want to be a burden
We don’t want to be seen as vulnerable
We make assumptions
After my car accident in college, there were a lot of things I couldn’t do and some I didn’t know that I couldn’t do. Of course, I didn’t want to ask for help, especially for basic things like feeding myself or using the bathroom in an actual bathroom.
It wasn’t until I fell off the toilet that I realized just how helpless I was. Even one nurse couldn’t help me. Nope. It took two nurses cramming into the bathroom to get me up and back to my bed.
I don’t know about you, but I consider using the restroom a private matter and I hadn’t needed help using it since I was a toddler. Back then, I also didn’t know I needed help.
“As to diseases, make a habit of two things – to help, or at least, to do no harm.”
Hippocrates (Greek physician)
Helpless
Living with a disability for the past 26+ years has taught me that it is okay to need and ask for help. Regardless of who you are, though, in time you will need some form of help. When I began the process of returning to work after my accident, I learned about the Americans with disability Act’s provisions for disabled persons.
Under the ADA persons with disabilities can ask for reasonable accommodations to help them do their job, ask for equipment or devices to help them do the job, and request modified work schedules to help disabled persons perform at their best.
Still, for me and many others, it can be hard to ask for help. But, if we swallow our pride there are many benefits to asking for help according to Restless.co/UK.
Asking for help can boost happiness and improve connection with others.
Seeking help is important for health.
Asking for help encourages healthy relationships.
Asking for help can boost confidence and self-esteem
Asking for help can increase productivity
Since falling off of my bicycle, I have been struggling to prepare for an annual writer’s conference I attend, so I decided to reach out to a few writer friends for help and advice. Being hurt both slowed me down and reminded me of the importance of asking for help.
Thanks to the help from my writer friends, I have been able to get everything I needed done to prepare for the conference. I have learned in the past decade that writers enjoy helping other writers because they know we are better together!
Better Together?
It is important to understand we are better together because that is when and how we can help each other. Even if you don’t have a disability, at some point in life will humble you and you will have to ask for help.
By the time you read this, I’ll be attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference to get help learning more about the craft, networking, and helping other writers who are attending for the first time.
No writer starts at the top of the writing chain; we each must endure the pitfalls of the writing journey. It is important to network with other writers. Below are five ways writers helping other writers helps you from Writers in the Storm.
Read and review
Beta reading
Critique groups
Blogging
Social Media
If you are attending a writer’s conference this year, please keep in mind it is more than just an opportunity to see friends and socialize, it is an opportunity to get the help you need and to help others get the help they need.
We are all on the writing journey together, just at different stages of the journey. Serious writers attend writing conferences because they understand it is okay to ask for help!
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJohnson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
For bloggers and writers who wish to create a credible online presence, selecting an appropriate website template is essential. For this reason, your equipment should include more than a pen and wild imagination. It is time to get a well-designed website to draw in more visitors and keep them interested. Let us find out how to choose the best ready-made solution and highlight your writing talent.
How to Create a Website Blog & Writer’s Site Using a Website Template?
Step 1: Establish Your Goals
It takes more than just having an excellent concept to make it happen. You must have a thorough knowledge of the subject matter and objectives. Additionally, think about issues that the site addresses for your prospective readers. The framework and essential components of the online project will be determined at this stage.
Consequently, you must define the following aspects:
Your line of work (showcasing your writing portfolio, attracting new readers, selling booking, providing valuable content, and so on);
The persona of your readers;
Project objectives;
Problems of the audience you can fix using an online project.
Step 2: Imagine Your Perfect Design
Creating a website with blog or writer’s site is not only about how they appear. Eye-catching sliders or an original homepage design will not always work. Convenience and functionality are key factors in web design.
For this reason, this stage presents some tricky scenarios. For instance, what definitely works for an ordinary business card is probably not the best option for our goals. While selecting a website template, take into account the following fundamental factors:
Format, layout, and design of the header and footer;
Logo placement;
Content width;
Navigation;
Color schemes;
Typography.
The majority of contemporary tools typically allow extensive customization. It means that any of the aforementioned points can be altered and modified.
You can always get inspired by other blog website ideas. Look through successful online projects of successful writers and bloggers and your niche. Then, it will take you nothing to take note of all elements, including layouts, fonts, and overall user experience.
Step 3: Pay Attention to Ease of Use
The process may be completely handled for you by modern web development technologies. However, with blog writing templates, you need to take care of the website’s content, media files, forms, and other components. Of course, it is possible to pay a freelancer to complete all the tasks, but that would incur additional costs.
So, choosing a website template with a basic content editing tool is a smart idea. The majority of platforms often have drag-and-drop editors. Using them, it is relatively easy to alter elements without specialized coding knowledge.
Step 4: Analyze the Features
For non-techies, ready-made solutions are undoubtedly a fantastic option. Users anticipate them to be adaptable with a range of options to allow for personalizing the site. For this reason, you can always opt for an excellent choice with all the necessary built-in widgets and add-ons. When it comes to writers and bloggers, these are:
Social media integration and newsletter subscription;
Author bio and photos;
Testimonials.
Step 5: Choose a Trustworthy Website Template Provider
What to look for in a dependable provider of ready-made solutions?
The number of templates. The better a provider is, the more templates they have.
Reviews and comments from users. Individuals discuss their experiences and point out both positive and negative aspects of their purchase.
The availability of customer support. It indicates that a supplier is prepared to address any problem.
A Few Words in Conclusion
A crucial step in developing your online profile as a blogger or writer is choosing appropriate blog website templates. Select an appropriate variant that complements your brand and effectively presents your work. Make sure to take into account factors like functionality, design, navigation, and customization capabilities. Remember that there are multiple premium and free blog templates WordPress to grab. Thanks for reading!
Nancy P. Howard has been working as a journalist at the online magazine in London for a year. She is also a professional writer in such topics as blogging, IT, and digital marketing. She loves travelling, photography and is always welcome to meet new people.
Today I’m talking with Sci-Fi YA author and fellow columnist here on Almost an Author, Sophia Hanson, about microfiction. I reached out to her after noticing her microfiction on Instagram. I have a love-hate relationship with microfiction. Fitting a piece of writing into the limited perimeters is hard enough, but toss in a time constraint and it requires some major flexing of those writing muscles!
DJS: Was the month-long Instagram challenge the first time you’d tried microfiction?
SH: I’d tried microfiction once or twice in response to Instagram contests. Cassandra Hamm holds prompt contests quarterly. They are tons of fun. I’d never done a month-long challenge before, but wanted to push myself to do the next hard thing. Thirty-one days of posting new content to prompts was definitely out of my comfort zone, and I decided to learn how to include images in the posts. I learned about Canva, tagging, and writing even when I didn’t feel inspired.
DJS: What was the hardest thing about producing microfiction?
SH: Including a whole idea/world within those fifty words, but sometimes it was just as hard to land on fifty, not forty-seven or forty-nine.
DJS: I can certainly agree with that! The exacting word count of microfiction had left me blinking at my computer screen a time or two.
In what ways did writing microfiction affect and benefit your writing?
SH: I love learning how to write tight, and I love writing to prompts. It’s a great challenge, especially when you’ve been working on a larger piece, because it helps to reset your brain and refresh those creative juices.
DJS: If someone wants to try out writing microfiction, what is your best advice before they start?
SH: I totally recommend following hashtags like #50wordfiction, #50wordstories, etc. on Instagram. It’s a great learning lab and you’ll find out about the various prompt contests there.
DJS: After the challenge, Sophia made use of her work in a unique way. She printed and bound her Thirty-One Days in October and gave it out as gifts, like a book of poetry! Now that’s a wonderful and clever idea. I’d love to get such a gift, wouldn’t you?
Sophia Hansen is an organic author—using no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides in her writing unless absolutely convenient. She’s lived on a tiny island in Alaska, the bustling cities of New York and Boston, and now resides in the Southeast where she writes between fresh(ish) cups of coffee and slices of bacon. After 30+ years of marriage, seven children, and numerous pets, Sophia can still fit into her high school earrings.
Water’s Break, Sophia’s debut YA Sci-Fi novel is scheduled to be published by Enclave Escape in January 2024.
Find out more about Sophia and her writing at her website, SophiaLHansen
Sophia is a flash fiction author, and is also an editor with Havok Publishing. You can find some of her stories in the Havok archives and anthologies at GoHavok. She writes the A3 genre column for Sci-Fi/Fantasy.
Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.
“The publisher will never use my title.” Or “It doesn’t matter what I call my book because the publisher will change it.” Writers often make these statements but they are not true from my decades of publishing experience. Repeatedly, if the author has an excellent title, then these words will make it through the publishing process. The best publishing is a consensus building and team approach if you want the best title for your published book. I’ve been in meetings inside publishing houses where a white board is filled with possible titles for a book. Representatives from marketing, editorial and sales are in this room for brainstorming the title of a book. The one person who is not in that room is the one who has the most information about the content of the book—the author. The only way this author is represented in the room is through their book proposal. Yes this business plan document is important and something every author needs to create for their book—even if they self-publish.
Every author needs to put a lot of energy into finding the best “working” title for their book. If you do, then your proposed title could be the published title for your book.
Here are some basic guidelines:
The main title should be three to five words long. It has to fit the spine of a book and most books are spine out. Select short, punchy and active words.
Test the title with friends and relatives to get their feedback and reaction. You can even brainstorm titles with a group of friends. In your proposal have a main title but also include a section with other possible titles.
Check the title on Amazon (the largest online book catalog). Do other books use the same words? You can’t copyright a title and often other books use the same words. Possibly the title was used years ago and that book is out of print. Or your research may restart your title search to the beginning.
Create several possible subtitles for your book (particularly nonfiction). The subtitle highlights a benefit for the reader. For example, Book Proposals That Sell (title), 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success (reader benefit).
Pour the right effort into your title and you will be rewarded with your working title becoming the name of the printed book in the bookstores.
We writers are good with words, but we may not be so good with images. For those of us who feel graphically challenged, creating blog post images, social media memes, and promotional images can feel daunting.
I freely admit that graphic design is not my strong suit. I am not a visual thinker like so many others seem to be. Thus, when it comes to adding graphics to my blog, social media posts, or promotional stuff, I feel out of my element.
Therefore, I was happy to discover this helpful volume, graphic design for non-designers by Tony Seddon and Jane Waterhouse. It provides clear explanations of the basic components of good graphic design, such as grouping, alignment, fonts, colors, and white space.
Why do writers need to know graphic design?
As attention spans decrease, our modern world relies more and more on images to convey information. No matter how great our writing, if we don’t have attention-grabbing images, potential readers may never stop to look at our work.
Perhaps you think you don’t need to learn good design yourself. After all, Canva and other graphics apps offer tons of pre-made designs for you to modify for your use. Who needs to learn design when it can be done for you?
Sure, pre-made templates are great, but I still think it’s important for us to get a basic grasp of good design, so we can adapt those canned designs intelligently and confidentially.
What does the book offer?
The book provides a primer of the basic principles of design, each clearly explained and illustrated. For a non-artsy person like me, the book is very helpful because each chapter illustrates the concepts being taught with plenty of visual examples. (How could you have a book on graphic design that isn’t full of graphics, right?)
I particularly appreciate the examples in the book that show some element of an advertisement or poster evolving from lack of design to good design.
This book was published in 2009, so some of the technology mentioned is a bit dated, but the rules of good design haven’t changed. The first section on equipment is mostly old-school. You can skip over it and focus on the rest of the book that explains design concepts followed by a host of example projects that show those principles in action.
Super helpful sample projects
The final section of the book offers a wide variety of sample projects. Some examples are business designs such as store signs, menus, and business cards. Other example projects are more promotional focused, such as posters, flyers, and brochures.
Each project lists the major design decisions that are needed to produce a good-looking product.
One example I find particularly interesting is the design of a humble form. The intro to this project states:
“Forms are generally rather dull. Nobody likes the task of completing a form … However, if a form is well designed, simple to navigate through, and easy to use, the task is far less onerous.”
Good design principles help you fill out forms better. Who knew?
How else can good design take your work to the next level?
Do you need this book?
I am not suggesting that you should run out and buy this exact book. There are plenty of other graphic design books available, and I’m sure some of them are helpful for beginners like me.
However, I do recommend that all writers study at least one book on the subject. Good graphic design is an important skill that everyone in the twenty-first century should master.
Happy designing!
Lisa E. Betz is an engineer-turned-mystery-writer, entertaining speaker, and unconventional soul. She inspires others to become their best selves, living with authenticity, and purpose, and she infuses her novels with unconventional characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her Livia Aemilia Mysteries, set in first-century Rome, have won several awards, including the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021).
She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in her novels. Lisa directs church dramas, hikes the beautiful Pennsylvania woods, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes. Visit lisaebetz.com.
I recently attended a conference where one of the speakers talked about how, because of cultural and societal shifts, different generations may converse using the same words, but not realize that the definitions of the words have changed. Basically, we’re using the same vocabulary, but different dictionaries.
Imagine anyone from our current world saying, “My mouse needs a battery and my streaming service has been freezing.” We know exactly what they mean. Someone from a hundred (or even fifty) years ago would likely ask, “What kind of rodent did you train to eat batteries and how could a river/creek/stream freeze?”
To narrow the historical divide a bit, a Boomer or Gen-Xer probably has a different definition of words such as marriage, gender, or furry than a Millennial or Gen-Zer. I know we’ve run into this when talking to our grandkids. We’ve had to ask lots of questions and have them define terms to be sure we’re talking about the same thing. Even emojis may have meanings ascribed to them that are not what you think. 😉
What does this have to do with writing romance?
Everything. Because words matter.
As writers, we need to remember dialogue comes from inside the character. This means that character’s past experiences, their hurts, talents, flaws, everything in them will color how they view life, what they think about things, and what they say.
A man who grew up on a Wyoming cattle ranch will think about a grilled steak differently than a guy from Manhattan’s Upper East Side. But what a fun twist would it be if the cowboy really knew about wine, too? If he had an amazing palate and could pair any food with the perfect wine it could be his super-power.
A woman whose father walked out on her and her mother may be slower to trust men than the gal who grew up with a bunch of brothers and a dad who took her out for donuts every Saturday. For the first woman, it would be a huge step to agree to a second date with a man who accidentally stood her up the first time (due to a misunderstanding). Her agreement would probably be timid, an “Okay, maybe, I guess.” While the second woman would be more able to shrug off the unintended rejection and accept with more enthusiasm. “Sure, let’s try again.”
Dialogue should sound organic and natural to the character.
But don’t fall into the trap of having a character from the South drop their g’s or use exaggerated accents on the page. It be distractin’. Doncha know? Instead, use speech patterns and idioms to create the conversational style you want.
When I wrote a novel set in Tennessee, I consulted several websites listing Southern expressions. Some I used, and some I tweaked for my purposes. One of my favorites, and one that’s often cited as making a reader laugh out loud was, “Well, butter my backside and call me a biscuit.” The actual saying I found was, “Butter my butt and call me a biscuit.” I thought my character would rather refer to her backside, and it kept the alliteration of the b’s, so I changed it to suit my character and my story.
Used wisely, dialogue and word choice can deepen your story and create characters who come alive in the mind of the reader.
Carrie Padgett lives in Central California, close to Yosemite, but far from Hollywood, the beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge. She believes in faith, families, fun, and happily ever afters. She writes contemporary fiction with romance. She recently signed a contract with Sunrise Publishing to co-write a romance novel with New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck that will be published in 2022. Carrie and her husband live in the country with their high-maintenance cat and laid-back dog, within driving distance of their six grandchildren.
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Do More by Doing Less with Charissa Brim
Does social media frustrate you? Establishing, growing, and maintaining a vibrant social media presence can be a daunting task. Join us as social media manager Charissa Brim shares her three key approaches (professional, sustainable, and strategic) and practical tips for growing and connecting with your audience.
Watch the May 2nd Replay
With a BA in Communication Studies & MA in International Tourism, Charissa Brim loves exploring the spaces around us, between us & within us. Charissa helps others find their voice through her work as a copywriter, social media manager, & advocate. Balancing inspiration & strategy, Charissa supports creatives curating an authentic & rewarding online presence.
Offer Hope with Inspirational Writing
Julie Lavender shares practical tips for writing inspirational articles, profiles, and devotionals. An inspirational piece is often faith-based, but Julie’s tips also apply to general market. As a long-time writer for her local newspaper, other writing credits on a variety of topics, and interviews of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. If you aspire to write articles that offer hope, check this week’s replay.
Watch the May 9th Replay
Julie Lavender, author of Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime (Zeitgeist/Penguin Random House) and 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell/Baker), looks forward to a mom’s devo releasing this year and two picture books in the next two years from End Game Press and its imprint. You can connect with Julie on social media or at Julie Lavender Writes.
Come Write with Us
Brandy Brow leads us in another writing session with a look at the creative brain versus editor brain and fun creative exercises to stimulate creativity. If you feel your writing is not what it should be sure to check out his week’s replay for great ideas and a writing prompt or two.
Watch the May 16th Replay
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
I heard it every conference. “Build your platform!” Along with the dreaded social media, writers in sessions kept telling us to be consistent with a blog.
But I didn’t read blogs anymore. No one I knew kept up with an RSS blog feed. What did the younger generation do? Looking around at my friends, they listened to podcasts.
As a musician and songwriter, I had the recording equipment and the tech knowhow in GarageBand. So I began to brainstorm and research.
What could I do on a podcast that supported and supplemented my writing career?
An author friend also got excited about the podcast, and so we began Brew & Ink, a story podcast where we wrote a chapter and gave the audience choices which influenced the next chapter. It was fun, and we also generated eBooks we could give away for email addresses.
I also started a ministry podcast, Kingdom Over Coffee.
Over time, these podcasts have been great tools for networking and platform building, many in ways I didn’t expect. A side note: Kingdom Over Coffee has grown far more the past couple years. Brew & Ink is on hold for a while (my friend has had to step away for personal reasons), although we have almost 3,000 on our email list from that podcast alone.
If you’re an author, you should podcast.
Yes, there are a ton of them, but the market continues to grow, especially internationally as more and more people get access to internet and smart phones. You don’t need a huge audience, anyway, just enough to connect with others on a shared interest.
Things I experienced from podcasting (and why you should, too):
Be a better speaker. Listening to my own voice was awful. I said “um” way too much. In a world where we have to be more comfortable speaking in front of a camera, even as authors, this is a valuable skill.
More networking. At first, I had friends on my podcast. I interviewed other authors or pastors I knew, depending on the podcast. Once I was consistent, guests started suggesting people outside of my circle. I’ve interviewed directors of Christian films, persecuted missionaries, and authors on the NYT bestsellers list.
A way to be generous. I picked a topic (or topics) I loved to talk about and gave away information about it in conversation form. It’s free to listen to a podcast, and I can help promote my guests and their current projects.
People get to hear my voice. Writing can and should have personality. We should write with our voice. But much of communication is nonverbal, so I can relate more of my personality, quirks, and meaning (and sarcasm!) through my voice, even more through sound and video, if your podcast is also on YouTube.
A reason to email my lists. Got a new podcast coming out? Now I have a free thing to share with my email list. Those emails can also have other information about me as an author, but an interesting podcast episode is a great reason to contact your email list.
You can get started way easier than you think.
If you have a computer or a decent phone, you can start quickly. Good equipment is cheaper and more accessible than ever. Come up with a topic you’re fascinated by that is also broad enough to have numerous conversations and guests. Or perhaps you’ll have a partner or friend on the podcast every week and continue to have discussions on that topic.
Find a couple podcasts you enjoy listening to and explore what you like about them. Come up with a title for your own, have fun, and start engaging with people and guests about interesting and impactful subjects. Podcasting is a great way to build an audience by being kind and generous. Start today!
Britt Mooney loves to live and tell great stories with God. A pastor, podcaster, and author, Britt lives in Suwanee GA on adventure with his amazing wife, Becca, their three creative kids, and a dog.
Relationships can be tricky, and this one is one of my worst. I try to make it work, yet the other participant doesn’t always work well with my efforts. Have you ever had a relationship like this? The frustration! The irritation! Since I’m married, you might think I’m speaking about my husband, but no. It’s not him. That’s another article entirely.
What is causing me this trouble?
It’s technology! As someone of seasoned age, I haven’t been raised with technology like younger people. When I began my journey toward publication, I didn’t know how to use social media or have a website. It took several months to build my knowledge base to get things up and running.
Gone are the days of sending in a manuscript written in cursive through the post office. We must jump into the technology age and use all these things to help us succeed. Social media, websites, and editor submissions all require technology. We’ve mastered many difficult things in our lives, and we can do this!
Some great ways to learn include using Google, YouTube, writers’ groups online, and family members under the age of twenty or so. Many local libraries offer classes on computers. Don’t be afraid to ask them if they offer courses for your specific need when using technology.
Your ideas deserve to be out there.
Don’t let fear of technology keep you from moving forward in your efforts to become a successful author.
Jill Chapman resides in Southern Indiana with her husband of forty-four years. They enjoy their country lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren. Her life centers around her family and her yellow lab, Indy. She is an avid movie watcher, loves Mexican food, and enjoys watercolor painting. Jill says her life is like a good plate of nachos, a tiny kick of spice, and a whole lotta cheese.
If you’re feeling uninspired and like nothing you write seems good anymore, you likely got a case of writer’s fatigue. Everyone gets tired and feels a lack of inspiration now and then, but those who specifically pursue creative pursuits, like writing, can struggle with this even more.
Luckily, if you’ve got writer’s fatigue or writer’s block, it’s not permanent, and you are not alone. Every single day there are writers like yourself battling with blocks that interrupt their work, and every day writers overcome these blocks thanks to a little help and guidance.
Writer’s block might not feel the same for everyone, however, and its treatment may vary from person to person. But often, it’s simply a matter of taking a step back and finding ways to inspire your creativity again.
The Dreaded Writer’s Block: What is it? And Why Does it Happen?
Writer’s block is usually something that stems from some creative burnout or just burnout in general. You can’t easily ignore it. If anything, pay attention to it. It’s usually an indication that you are pushing yourself too hard or there is some other issue going on that needs to be addressed.
In most cases, there are five types of blockages or issues — one or more of which could be contributing to your burnout or writer’s fatigue. These include:
Mental blocks associated with thoughts or beliefs that are hindering you.
Scarcity blocks, which stem from having a lack of resources needed to succeed.
Emotional blocks, which develop in response to fears, emotional responses, or past trauma.
Procedural blocks that come from unhelpful habits and poor workflow.
Attentional blocks, which are the result of things in your life that are distracting you and pulling your focus.
Once you can identify what blocks or issues are contributing to your burnout or writer’s block, then you can take the steps necessary to fix those issues.
Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block By Tapping Into Your Creativity
While there are a variety of methods to treat burnout, all of them typically center around recharging your creativity or finding new inspiration.
If you are throwing all of your creative juices into your writing only, you will most likely feel blocked. You probably spend too much time writing and not enough time on “brain breaks.” Not all of your time should be spent staring at a screen, typing.
So, picking up another creative hobby can help you find ways to enjoy being creative again, and over time, you might find yourself feeling more inspired to write again. You could pick up painting, for example, or photography. Maybe try your hand at playing an instrument or throw yourself into learning to bake. Whatever it is, just make sure it doesn’t involve sitting in front of your computer.
2. Try Journaling
Picking up a journal and taking note of the things around you and in your life that you find inspiring can help you overcome your blocks.
For example, you can sit outside and make a note of the beauty of nature or do some people-watching and jot down the things about humans or humanity that you find inspiring. You can also turn your journal into more of a scrapbook of things that inspire you.
Your journal also doesn’t haven’t to be conventional. It doesn’t even have to feature writing if you don’t want it. You can use it as a scrapbook and feature photographs or objects that inspire you — like a piece of nature or a place that makes you happy.
3. Do Some Brainstorming Activities
Brainstorming is an excellent way to jumpstart creativity so you can find your way back to your writing again. Many companies use brainstorming sessions to help their employees get their creative juices flowing. Just because you potentially work from home as a writer doesn’t mean you can’t have your own brainstorming sessions with yourself.
You can start by simply thinking of a topic and coming up with questions or ideas you have about it on a piece of paper. There are also numerous online tools you can use for digital brainstorming and creating mind maps.
The ideas you are brainstorming don’t necessarily have to be about the things you are writing about. You can brainstorm about anything, even silly topics. The idea is to simply exercise your brain in a new way that can help you feel inspired again.
4. Build Your Creative Network
Sometimes the issue of writer’s block stems from isolation. Writers who work from home or spend a significant time on their own may be especially familiar with this concept. It can be incredibly helpful to get out and network with other creatives like yourself to help you feel the drive to write again and get past your blocks.
You can simply go out and socialize more, or you can seek out specific groups and meetups geared towards creatives, like meetups for writers, painting groups, or even a book club. It ultimately doesn’t matter what kind of socializing you are doing; it’s just about getting out and having that human connection with others to avoid the isolation that could be contributing to your writer’s block.
Final Thoughts
Writer’s block can sometimes feel like an impossible feat to overcome. But experiencing one doesn’t make you any less of a writer. There are so many others who have felt the same way and still eventually overcame their blocks. Sometimes you just need to step away from your writing and find other things and activities you enjoy to help you find inspiration again.
Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.
This 3-part series focuses on growing your author platform in 2023, specifically, via an online community such as a private Facebook group. Note that each article applies to any group, online or offline.
You’ll be surprised how valuable serving your audience in Christ’s name can be to both you and your audience.
It’s easy to feel we’re simply delivering the message God’s given us and letting it fall upon the ground where it may, as in The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13.
But in a group where members join because they want your message, it’s a bit different. You can offer your knowledge without hesitation or equivocation, knowing it will fall upon good soil. Your readers, listeners, or visitors want your message, and want to apply it. That frees you to communicate with more confidence, creativity, and boldness than you may have previously communicated. To answer a question and receive a heartfelt thanks in minutes is more than gratifying. It energizes your soul!
Let’s explore six specific ways serving your audience in Christ’s name directly benefits you.
Benefit #1: Promising to show up regularly will pull you out of your writer’s cave mentally, physically, or both. The more that thought makes you squirm in your chair, the more necessary it is you do it. Your audience–and mine–needs us to engage with them. And though we may not realize it yet, we need to engage with them, too, as a Christian communicator and as a human being.
Benefit #2: By definition, such a group gathers like-minded people together. Both parties are blessed. As you and I show up to serve our audience, they show up to learn from us.
In that back-and-forth process, they serve us by asking additional questions, requesting further clarification, sharing insights we haven’t experienced, and by talking amongst themselves, which confirms our point was understood (or not).
#3: As members apply your message (which is really God’s message in you) their lives begin to change. They’ll mention that to those they know, some of whom are also in your target audience. Thus, your community grows, and in some cases, your expertise is recognized even outside the group.
#4: Some both serve and promote their products or services in their group.
#5: Whatever your preferred method of serving, it fits a group: in-person, online, via posts on your social media only, short or long videos offering short or long content or training…and so on.
#6: All of the five options above refine your message. How so? No matter how often you’ve sat in your office reviewing your content in your mind, there’s no substitute for discussing it over and over (and over).
As new members join, they’ll ask the same questions “old-timers” asked when they joined, giving you yet another opportunity to share your applicable answer. Over time, this polishes your message in ways that delivering it once, such as in your book or speaking presentation, never will.
The result? Your message becomes deeper, richer, and more on point. You’ll share it more succinctly, with new, clearer examples than before. You’ll notice patterns previously unseen, and the organization of it will become a visual in your mind, ready to be drawn upon instantly.
Those benefits will make you a better communicator, which in turn will make you a more interesting interview guest. And dare I say it? That gives you an opportunity to grow your audience even further while also–if Christ allows–selling more books.
No wonder so many successful Christian authors host a private Facebook group!
(This concludes this short series.)
Patricia Durgin is an Online Marketing Coach and Facebook Live Expert. She trains Christian writers and speakers exclusively, helping them develop their messaging, marketing funnels, conversational emails, and Facebook Live programs. Patricia hosted 505 (60-minute) Facebook Live programs from 2018-2020. That program is on indefinite hiatus. She’s also a regular faculty member at Christian writers and speakers conferences around the country.
People seem to be taking sides on AI and feeling strongly about it. Recently we had an AI adventure in the home office.
My husband works for the local arboretum plotting and interpreting data gathered from trees – sap flow, and seasonal correlations. He loves charts. Recently he had to find a formula for interpreting certain data. He researched, found one, applied it, and got an answer. One of the other team members got a slightly different answer by using an AI program. They reviewed all the data and determined the human had the more accurate answer! Ha! Take that AI Know-it -all!
So I took another pass at AI technology, using ChatGPT. Remember my last attempt was to get a story or rhyming story of a spin on The Three Pigs. It was not a publishable success! So what if I wrote the story but let AI do the Twitter pitch and back cover synopsis, which I admit I find tedious.
I gave AI:
Twitter book pitch – Frank grandson of the Big Bad Wolf is tired of turnips and wants to eat grandchildren of the original Three Little Pigs
And in seconds received:
Title: Frank the Grandson of the Big Bad Wolf
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Twitter Pitch:
Frank, the grandson of the Big Bad Wolf, is tired of his boring diet of turnips. He dreams of devouring the succulent grandchildren of the original Three Little Pigs. Join Frank on his adventure to capture the pigs and satisfy his hunger. Will the pigs outsmart Frank or will they end up in his belly?
Turnip burgers and turnip tacos! Frank has had it! Grandpa Wolf howls about his scorched tail, but why not risk putting some bacon on the table? There is no hot pot in the Three Pig’s fireplace but little grandpiglets wait to cure Frank’s ham hock hankering. #pbpitch
I should note I got NO teeny little hearts on mine, either!
Using the pitch AI wrote I asked for a back cover blurb:
Title: Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Blurb:
Frank Grandwolf is tired of eating turnip egg rolls, but his dreams of devouring delicious pork chops seem impossible. Until one day, he sets his sights on the Brick House, where he believes he’ll find the succulent grandpiglets waiting for him. But to his surprise, the clever grandpiglets have set a trap for him. Will Frank Grandwolf fall for their trap, or will he learn the value of friendship and share a meal with his new companions?
This delightful picture book teaches children the importance of being kind to others and shows that sometimes, the greatest friendships can be found in the most unexpected places.
The hashtags were better this time, but I am not sure the point of the book (if there is one!) is kindness and friendship. It might just be a funny story!
Turnip burgers, turnip tacos, turnip dumplings. Ever since the Original Three Pigs and Big Bad Wolf met, both families have been strictly vegan. Now Frank the youngest wolf cub has a ham hock hankering. He drops safely down the Three Pigs’ chimney, but the grandpiglets know how to make Frank lose his taste for spareribs.
The other thing I struggle with is writing reviews! So using the back matter AI developed I asked for a review of the book that is technically NOT YET WRITTEN.
Title: Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs
Author: [Insert author name]
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Target Age Group: 4-8 years old
Review:
“Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs” is a delightful picture book that is sure to capture the imagination of young readers. The story is beautifully told and the illustrations are charming, making it a joy to read.
The book teaches children the importance of friendship and kindness, as Frank Grandwolf learns the value of sharing a meal with his new companions. The story is also full of suspense and surprises, keeping children engaged from beginning to end.
The book’s message of friendship and cooperation is an important one for young readers, and the way it is presented in the context of a fun and exciting story is a real strength.
Overall, “Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs” is a wonderful addition to any library or classroom. It is a perfect bedtime story and is sure to become a favorite for children and parents alike.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
4 out of 5??!! And who did the “charming illustrations”? That is the update on the AI world, and I going to work on those pigs – I want 5 stars!
Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is pleased to report that How to Dress a Dinosaur has many 5-star reviews from humans!
“Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.”
This phrase has become quite popular over the last few years. You’ll find it on plaques, pillows, bumper stickers, and maybe even a blanket or throw. We Christians love to slap a good saying on everything, don’t we?
I have been thinking about this pearl of wisdom lately in relation to my writing. If waiting means being in the hallway, I have been living there longer than a misbehaving elementary school child being punished. I am currently in that “in-between” phase, waiting for the next project to come to fruition. Like that unruly child, I tend to get restless in the hallway. I want things to happen NOW! Even the microwave moves too slowly for me sometimes.
I have realized there are different types of hallways. Some are long and dark, like a with little visible light. I think of hospital hallways that are long but bright, with an abundance of florescent light. Other hallways are rather short, not more than a hop, skip, and a jump from one end to the other.
My office at work is located in a unique hallway. It is carpeted and forms an endless square, winding around and around. I, along with some of my co-workers, use this space as an indoor walking track, getting in our steps when the weather is extreme. A visitor to our campus stopped me in this hallway a few months ago and asked, “How do I get out of this place? I’ve been circling for an hour!” Join the club, buddy, figuratively and literally.
There have been times in my life I have been in that long, dark hallway. I waited a loooonnnnng time to be a published writer—I epitomized the term “ALMOST AN AUTHOR” for what seemed like ages. Other times, I have been in that short hallway, with only a minimal wait between projects and publications.
Now, I seem to be in that circle/square that winds around and around. Anyone else experience that? You put yourself and your work out there, and you wait and wait and wait and wait and . . .
It’s not an easy place to be, but there is one thing to do—like me and my colleagues, keep walking. When I am having a bad day at work, I take a little walk around that hallway and clear my head. When I have worked hard, writing or whatever, and need a break, I walk. When I get discouraged about the next step, I walk and, as the old song says, “have a little talk with Jesus.”
If you are currently in the hallway, anticipating the next project that seems like it is never going to come, stay close to Him. Pray and vent, but don’t forget to praise. We are all waiting on something—wanna hang out with me in the hallway? It’s not so bad . . . for now.
Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate—all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.
For some reason, most writers are curious about writing screenplays. And they come to me with many questions about the craft below are just a few questions I am routinely asked.
How long should my script be?
How do you write the dialogue?
What is the correct script format?
First things first, scripts and screenplays are different arts.
“A ‘script’ is the written document version of a visual art form and is used across multiple mediums, while a ‘screenplay’ refers to a script specifically for movies or television. When you read a script, it could be for a play, movie, television show, comic book, or video game, while a screenplay is specific to movies and tv shows. Each script has its own formatting rules to help you tell what type of script it is; whether it’s a screenplay, teleplay, stage play, or something else.”
Writers ask about format a lot because they’ve been taught and know the format and technicalities of both nonfiction and novel writing. Writers know, depending on the genre they write, there are specific formats publishers, editors and agents follow. And they correctly assume that screenplays have guidelines for formatting. So this month I will look at screenplay format and some of the differences between it and what most writers are used to.
Screenplay Format
All writing categories have specific formats and guidelines writers know to follow. Knowing the correct way to write and present their writing helps separate amateurs from professionals.
And this is why we all study the craft, no one wants to look like an amateur even though we are all at some point. Before I continue I want to emphasize there’s a difference between format and formula. The format is a guide for our narratives. Formulas are rigid, not fluid, and can hinder our writing.
Screenwriter and writing coach Scott Myers explains,
“Screenplays are stories, not formulas— if you go in with formula, you come out with formula.”
Knowing the correct format will help you guide the audience or reader through your story most clearly and quickly. Of course, there are plenty of screenwriting programs to help writers write screenplays, but still, writers need to know basic formatting for screenplays.
With that said below are the main components of a screenplay writers need to know from the Scriptlab.
Slug Lines: These are the scene headings in a screenplay, a key difference is slug lines also include both the time of day and whether a location is inside or outside.
Subheader: These headers indicate movement from locale to locale with and a specific location.
Action lines: These are the short description lines beneath the slug lines that describe what we are seeing. They should be in the present tense with an active voice.
Dialogue: In film, dialogue should be snappy and get to the point. Occasionally a monologue is warranted in film, but rarely. Keep in mind that the best dialogue contains subtext, or the unwritten meaning behind the words. sing (V.O.), (O.S.), or (O.C.) next to a character name is a way to tell the reader there is a provision or special circumstance to the following dialogue.
Wrylies (parentheticals): These are short emotional or delivery directions for the actor regarding that specific line.
Transitions: There is an implied transition from one scene to another as indicated whenever there’s a new slug line. Adding “Cut to:” isn’t necessary and only takes up much-needed space in your screenplay.
A few things I wanted to add are, most writers know the importance of white space in the writing. When giving a scene description under the slug line, limit the description to one or two lines. Also, keep dialogue short. Make scene transitions brief and use parentheticals scarcely.
Not only do actors not want to be told how to act, but brevity also helps keep a page from being cluttered with too much information that will more than likely only slow a reader down. Screenplay readers have a lot of screenplays to read and you don’t want to make their job any harder by filling a page with too much information that will only slow them down. White space allows our eyes to take a break.
Take a Break
The best writers understand the importance of leaving room for the audience’s imagination. We’ve all experienced information overload when reading. If not, please understand too much information can confuse a reader and will slow the story down. Imagine going on a road trip and hitting the brakes every time you see a landmark. The trip will both exhaust you and take forever, perhaps even ruin the trip altogether for you. White space gives the reader a break from all the action and visuals, it’s the old adage, “less is more.” Below are a few types of information overload a writer can unknowingly put into their screenplays.
Excessive exposition
Unnecessary actors instructions
Artsy camera angles
Unnecessary dialogue
Leaving subtext in your dialogue and not using acting instructions, allows the actors to act. Limiting camera angles allows the director to direct, and limiting exposition allows the set designer to create the perfect imaginary world, none of which are necessary in proper screenplay format.
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJohnson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
“I’m going on a trip and I’m going to take an alarm clock,” Susie said.
“I’m going on a trip and I’m going to take an alarm clock and a blanket,” Paula replied.
We worked our way through the alphabet filling our imaginary suitcase with elephants, pandas and a tricycle. The idea of each one sent us into a fit of giggles. Who could imagine the most outrageous item to take on our journey?
A writer has an idea bag at their disposal. It may be packed on a whim or stored away for a rainy day.
Where do we come up with ideas?
Exercise:
Ideas are generated by nuggets. What may feel like a useless bag of rocks for one project may turn into a treasure chest of gold for another. Try the following brainstorming tips.
Turn a popular song into a series of questions. What ideas come out of seeing the song from a different slant?
Read a poem backward. Start with the last line and move up. What happens to the thought process?
Google a business or hobby. Have you ever looked at life from an entrepreneur’s point of view?
Use a Thesaurus to follow the trail between words. Isn’t language amazing?
Use your Concordance to look up Scripture. What do you learn about the Author of words?
Use Bible passages to look at sentence positioning. Does one jump out at you in a new way?
Observe people in a mall or airport. How would you develop a story around questions you might ask about their destination, appearance or companions?
What thought starters are in your imaginary suitcase?
Maybe you’ve started a composition book or a computer file with whimsical sayings. Maybe you’ve toyed with them while daydreaming. What do they say to you? Why do they tickle your fancy?
Look at two verses that say almost the same thing—or do they?
“All things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 NIV
“For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37 NKJV
“For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37 NIV
How does a different translation change your approach to what it says?
The next time you are looking for that illusive word, remember God loves the art of communication. Ask Him for a nudge in the right direction and you’ll come up with a fresh angle for your WIP.
Your Bible is a treasure chest of words!
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum,Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.
Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.
Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Increase Productivity with Flexible Time Blobs and Time Blocking
In this episode of Writers Chat, Patricia Tiffany Morris offers a fresh take on time blocking for increased productivity and mindful planning as we track the writing life. Whether you’re more creative right-brain oriented or organized left-brain focused, why fight with either side? We can discover greater peace when we allow ourselves to work in harmony with flexible yet orderly blocks of time.
Watch the April 18th Replay
Patricia Tiffany Morris is dedicated to bringing order to her life and making space for creativity. She invents geeky ways to wrangle the battling tendencies of her left and right brain endeavors. An award-winning artist, writer, and as an illustrator, tech enthusiast, and font creator, she uses color and mindful planning to increase her daily productivity and find time for a wide variety of pursuits. You can connect with Patricia on social media or at PatriciaTiffanyMorris.com
I Forgot But God Didn’t
Those who know Pam Halter usually equate her with fairies, dragons, and children’s books. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, there was a time when Pam totally forgot she wanted to be a writer! In this episode of Writers Chat, Pam shares how God brought her back to what He had planned for her all along. If you need encouraging on your writing journey check out the replay.
Watch the April 25th replay.
Pam Halter is a children’s, middle grade, and YA author, but has fallen in love with writing short stories. When she’s not writing, she enjoys quilting, sewing, crafting, cooking, gardening, reading, Bible study, playing the piano, going down the shore (as they say in NJ,) and walking long country roads where she has discovered fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes. It’s also the perfect way for her to enjoy God’s creation while praying and praising Him. You can connect with Pam on social media or at PamHalter.com
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
After a few years of procrastinating, I recently decided to start working on my author’s newsletter again. However, because it had been years since I last attempted to create a newsletter, I have forgotten most of the information I had learned about putting together a quality newsletter and how to implement sending it to my subscribers.
So I decided to reach out to my writing mentor and other writing friends in the writing community for help. If I have learned anything over the last decade being part of the writers’ community it is this, writers like to help other writers if possible.
After my accident, I depended on both the medical community and the brain injury community to help guide me on my recovery journey. I wasn’t aware of how my brain injury affected my health. I didn’t expect the setbacks I would face. The community of doctors and therapists and survivors all pushed, encouraged and helped me get better.
Below are some ways support groups help TBI survivors recover after injuries from everyday (health.com).
Support groups help people feel less isolated
Support groups provide practical knowledge, resources, and networking
Support groups answer questions doctors can’t
Support groups provide comfort for families and caregivers
Support groups help survivors regain a sense of identity
I have experienced similar support over the last few years with my peers in the writing community. Whenever I get stuck or lost in the process, I know there is a listening ear somewhere for me to turn to for help. And because of them my writing has improved over the past 10 years, it only happened because community matters.
Community Matters
Webster defines community as, “A unified body of individuals: such as: people with common interests living in a particular area; a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society.”
Community is important to the growth and success of society. It brings people together for many reasons: encouragement, entertainment, and enlightenment. Community helps us grow together. We each have a place to contribute within our communities.
Other writers have different goals, styles, purposes, and voices we each belong to a creative community that graciously helps one another. Below are a few benefits of the writing community from Leap Forward Publishing
You can share your work and get feedback.
Bounce ideas off of one another.
Motivate and encourage one another.
Promote each other’s work.
Share writing tips and information about writing and the publishing process.
Network and make connections.
Whether you are just starting out on your writing journey or a seasoned published writer you have a place in the writing community! There are countless resources for growing in the craft and there are also many opportunities to help others who are struggling in their pursuit of publication. The most important thing to remember is that community works together for the greater good.
Community Works
After my accident, I spent 11 months of my life either in the hospital, in rehab, or going to outpatient therapy. It was during that time that I had to listen carefully to my doctors, therapists, psychologists, and other brain injury survivors.
I can still remember waking up in rehab that first morning and having a nurse push me to a breakfast room for non-ambulatory (unable to walk) patients. At that point, I still didn’t believe my health was that bad. I didn’t want anyone to help me.
It wasn’t until I felt milk and cereal seeping out of my mouth and into my lap that I realized I really was paralyzed! My new reality only depressed me more. My friends and family were powerless to help me. It was then that I began going to talk with the neuropsychologist on staff. The neuropsychologist gave me so many words of wisdom: “Healing takes time, we all need help at some point, and when in doubt—wait it out.”
That is how a community is supposed to work. The writing community is just as kind and helpful. Below are a few more ways the writing community helps one another from medium.com
Fellowship
Advice
Accountability
Networking
Community is a group effort. One of the hardest things to do in life is to ask for help, when hours younger I was self-sufficient until I had my accident. Pride and youth blind us all. After beating the odds and surviving my accident, pride made me feel indestructible. But the truth is, none of us are perfect.
As writers, we can become so focused on our goals and careers that we don’t see our mistakes or where we need to improve. But if we plug into the community, others are willing to help us and that is why community matters!
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJohnson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
Note from Donna Jo: The topic of critique pet peeves came up during a conversation in my weekly writing group. One of my critique partners, Andra Loy, pointed out how misunderstanding passive voice can trip up writers. It seems to be a common issue, so I asked her to explain it in a blog post to share here. Andra is a prepublished novelist, award winning author, English teacher, and fabulous critique partner.
Writing communities and critique groups are lifesavers. If no one had shared what they’d learned with me, I’d still be at the Run, Dick, Run stage with my writing. But advice, passed along and along, can become like the game of Telephone (or Post Office, whatever you called it as a kid). By the end, the “rule” is nothing like what it started as, and then it becomes as pernicious as gossip.
Here’s how the game plays out. Take, for instance, the following advice:
ACTIVE VOICE IS BETTER THAN PASSIVE VOICE.
Strong verbs help us avoid adverbs and show agency for our characters. Passivity is a bad thing. Great advice.
Kyle, a professional editor, tells Lisa to avoid passive voice.
Lisa nods. Grammar was her favorite topic in high school. Passive voice is when the subject isn’t doing the action.Lisa finds a clear example to help her remember.
The leaf is blown by the wind across the road.
The leaf —the subject of the sentence—isn’t actually doing anything. Passive leaves let the invisible wind do all the work.
Lisa tells Barb to avoid passive voice. Barb scratches her head and tries to remember her English classes. Back in seventh grade, she was busy passing notes and not listening. To explain, Lisa says, “Like in the sentence, The leaf is blown by the wind across the road.”Barb gets it now. She goes through her manuscript and finds all the sentences with this construction and replaces them. The wind now blows all her leaves.
Barb passes the reminder on to Alex. “No passive voice.” Alex nods. He’s heard of passive voice. His English teacher went through his essay on ancient weaving techniques and crossed out all his “to be” verbs. Good thing he remembers the list: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. He opens his manuscript. The first sentences are “Brian found Valerie in the library. She was reading War and Peace.” Alex deletes the passive WAS and writes, Brian found Valerie in the library. She read War and Peace.
Now we have a big problem. “Was reading” is not passive voice. It’s one of the verb tenses. The very valid, needed verb tense, past continuous/past progressive, indicates that action is in progress. It’s a huge clue to setting the scene and helping the reader figure out the TIMING of the action. Unfortunately, it uses the “to be” verb together with the -ing form of the main verb so we often sweep it up into the Passive Trash Bag.
If Valerie read War and Peace after Brian finds her, he’s going to have to wait a very long time. If she’s in the process of reading it, then he interrupts her and our plot may continue.
Not every case of “to be” indicates passive voice. Purging a manuscript of every “to be” verb deprives readers of the verb tense clues that orientate them to ongoing action, the timing of action, and the setting.
Of course, overuse of anything is to be cautioned against.
Now that was passive voice.
Andra Loy writes YA fantasy and speculative fiction for adults. She teaches English in the Czech Republic, where she was locked inside an abandoned train only once. Andra also won the ACFW Genesis Award once, which was much less traumatizing. You can find out more about Andra at andraloy.com.
