Yes! You read that right. I’m writing a book. I have decidedly to follow the wooing of the spirit and sit down to get my devotions published. It’s going to be a big process, so don’t expect to find my devotional in bookstores any time soon! I’m at the very beginning of this process and after attending a writer’s conference, I realize that I have much more work to do than I thought. 🙂

If you are with me on this same journey, I thought I would share the resources I have already gathered on my shelf. As soon as I made this decision, I received an offer to review a new book about platforms. I saw that as a sign that I am on the right track and accepted the offer. Becky’s book, Reach – Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause is all about platforms.

Create the Biggest Possible Audience

Becky Robinson is in the business of helping people sell books and this book confirms it. Becky has laid out the first steps toward finding your audience, creating your brand, finding resources, and focusing on service which will attract readers. These are things you need to do before you even start to write.

Have You Found Peace With Your Past?

Before writing your book, you need to have dealt with your demons. If you haven’t found peace with the events in your life that have caused trauma, you will not be able to tell your story without spilling your anger out on not only those who have hurt you but every reader along the way. You really do not want to air your dirty laundry when you write. You want to gently tell your story and how you found peace.

Allen will walk you through it with this beautifully written, easy-to-read, insightful allegory. It reminded me much of Hind’s Feet in High Places by Hannah Hubbard. However, between the pages, he includes chapters that discuss the story and help you apply the lessons to your own life.
Regardless of whether you want to tell your story or not, this one is a must-read.

The Chunky Method

Are you trying to “find the time to write”? You will never find time to write. You must make it. Treat it like a job. Tell your family they cannot disturb you during that time and then you will make progress. Allie Plieter will give you some guidance in her book, The Chunky Method.

Writing With Community

Most of us likely do not have friends that also write books. It is important to find a community that encourages and shares information with you. There are several out there that I am aware of:

Hope Writers – This group attracts me the most. It is a Christian group and they have tons of online resources. They offer coaching, online courses, and a large community of writers and editors. Once you have taken a course, it will be in your library forever. I have taken a few courses with this group but have never been able to find them in my budget. They do offer some products to the public but of course, the greatest advantage comes with subscribing.

Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild – author of the Left Behind Series has a great online resource with everything you need to write your novel. He is very interactive with his writers. I believe he may only let so many in at a time. His offer is much like the Hope Writers.

Flourish Writers – Much like the above with many courses offered and two levels of intensity at a subscription or yearly fee. This is the one that I joined this year. I like it, but still learning my way around the website.

Greater Writing Communities

Writers’ conferences are the place to find agents, professional editors, and tons of information about the publishing world. It’s an intensive few days of workshops and speakers who will inform and inspire. In addition, you will meet the most amazing writing friends. Conferences have been prohibitive for me with my disabilities. They cost a bundle and if you are like me and need a caregiver, some will charge them for attendance as well.

The pandemic changed a lot of things and conferences were one of them. Many are now offered online at discounted prices and there is no travel cost. Watch from your favorite recliner. Different levels are offered. You may watch live. Add a bit and you get limited time to re-watch workshops. Add a little more access is forever. You really can’t beat that. This was never available before.

I recently attended the She Writes For Him Conference. Amazing! Cool Thing – They were giving away books and one of them was written by my friend Cam Mulineaux. How exciting is that? She writes American historical fiction based on her ancestors.

Writing Clubs

At the conference, I met editors, coaches, and other writers. One of them started her own free weekly writing group. They sometimes have a zoom class and just silently write together. Other times, she brings in informational speakers. Recently, she brought in a podcaster who talked about the importance of authors having a podcast. Then he gave a few tips on getting started.

Did you know: If you write 540 words a day, in a year you will have a 50,000-word novel? This group is based on that fact. The 540 is a free community for writers. We educate, encourage, and equip writers to clearly communicate. I know you’ll love it! Sign up at 540Club.org.

That’s it for now

I may be adding to this list as time goes by. But I’ve got to go apply what I am learning and get busy writing a book! Sign up for the newsletter so you know when my book is ready! Go here for a taste: Devotions For Seasons

Bye For Now;

Mandy

P.S. If you have other suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments!