Organize and Save Data

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

“Don’t forget your business cards.” It’s common advice for writers going to conferences. For many years I’ve been going to different conferences, meeting new people and exchanging business cards with them. I’ve learned to ask some editors early during the event bccause often they have brought a limited number of cards and I’m able to snag one of those few cards. Other editors and faculty have forgotten to bring any cards. For these professionals, often I pull out my notebook and write down their name, email and phone number plus other information such as their company. I’ve given the other person my information but I’ve also received their information and it is a real exchange rather than one way from me. 

There is great value in exchanging cards with others during the event. Creating your business cards and carrying them with you is a good first step. In this article, I want to give you some additional information to make those cards valuable and useful to you. If you only collect the cards and do nothing else, then the information piles into your desk and you can’t use it.

From attending different events through the years, I’ve got piles of these business cards. I show a couple of those stacks in the image with this article. Recently I returned home from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. During the event, I exchanged business cards with authors and also collected their one-sheets about their books. For a number of authors who gave me parts of their books, I entered their email and other data from their material into my computer. Then I reached out to them and requested their submission. From a number of them I received responses. For several of them, I’ve already processed their submission and even sent a contract offer from my publication board.

It’s been several weeks since the conference and I had a stack of business cards that I had not processed. Last week I added the information to the address book in my computer and I reached out to each of them via email. My email reminded them of our connection at the conference and gave several free writing resources such as subscribing to this blog. Also I gave them some detailed information about Morgan James Publishing and encouraged their submission. Finally some of these people had profiles on LinkedIn. I found their profiles and sent them a request to connect on LinkedIn. 

Because this data is in my address book and LinkedIn, I can easily follow-up and reconnect with them. Some of my opportunity to reconnect is based on what information they included on their business card. Some authors only had their email while others included their phone number, mailing address and even the homepage of their website. As I created their entry in my address book, I added as much of this information as I could gather. Through the years, I’ve tried card scanners and other tools but often I return to the old fashion one: type it into my computer. 

The organization and capture of this author data is important. Your need for this information might be years in the future. You want to organize it in a way which you can easily access. If you have the information in your address book, you can search using the location or other details. It’s impossible to do such a search if it is still tucked into your desk in a stack of cards.

Because you have captured the business card data, you never know when you might need it. Here’s a couple of specific examples from my work. When I’m writing a new book, I will create a list of possible people to write endorsements or blurbs for the book. A number of the people on my list, I have not contacted in many years. LinkedIn is the first place I turn. Many people in the publishing community change jobs and locations but take their LinkedIn account with them. The email or other contact information will still work even if they have changed companies.

When I was writing my biography of Billy Graham, I thought Luis Palau would be a well-known person to write the foreword for my book. I’d written a biography about Luis Palau but that book was published years ago and I had not reconnected in some time. I looked in my address book for Luis and in the notes found the cell phone number for his son, Kevin Palau, who I had never met or spoken with. Most people do not change their cell phone numbers. I called it and immediately was connected and worked out the foreword for my book.  These connections are important but only valuable if you save the information or data in a way you can easily access it. 

Also my address book came in handy for my work on the Billy Graham audiobook. From listening to audiobooks, I know sometimes the audiobook will have something different from a simple reading of the text. The most iconic song that I know related to Billy Graham is the hymn Just As I Am played at the end of a crusade when people walk forward. With a simple Google search, I found a version of The Gaithers singing this hymn. I clipped out a few seconds of the recording but I needed permission to use it. Years earlier I worked for Howard Books and met Gloria Gaither. We exchanged business cards. I sent a simple email, telling her about my biography, sending my audio clip and asked for royalty-free permission. Within 24 hours, I received the permission. 

If you listen to this audio sample, you will hear each chapter begins with a few seconds of the hymn and it is scattered throughout the audiobook. It would not have happened if I had not exchanged busines cards, then saved the data in a format I could easily use. 

If you don’t have the data in a way to access it, you can’t reconnect. How are you organizing and using the connection data from your business cards? Let me know in the comments below and I look forward to learning from you. 

Tweetable:

After attending a conference, this prolific author and editor organizes then uses the business card data. Read the stories and details here.  (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another new podcast recording launched: 

Precious and I spoke on the Becoming Precious Podcast about Shattering Publishing Illusions: The Grit to Take 100 Percent Responsibility. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4v0cKIB 

During my years in publishing, I’ve reviewed thousands of submissions and spoken with many authors about their plans and dreams for their book. I’ve found many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. From my experience, many aspects of the details of publishing are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Deadline Driven

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Early on in my writing life, I learned the importance of meeting a deadline. Through my writing for newspapers, I learned how to compose my stories at the typewriter and give my writing to an editor in a timely fashion. More than almost any other type of writing, newspapers have strict deadlines. At 7 am, we would have story meetings, get our assignments then deliver our writing to the city editor on or before 11 am.  The editor worked on my story, handed it to typesetting and my story rolled off the printing press at 3 pm. This simple pattern was repeated each day including the weekends. If you missed a deadline, your story did not get published. 

When I moved into the magazine world as an editor, I discovered a different deadline pattern. The deadline depended on the publication schedule but in general it was monthly deadlines. In general, book publishing has longer deadlines but they still exist. At one publisher, we had weekly schedule meetings with our spreadsheets. During these sessions, we gave updates about the authors and if they were meeting their production deadlines. If authors were late, then we had to delay or change their release date and other production details. While the author didn't realize it, his manuscript is needed within the publishing house to write the back cover copy, the words for the catalog, press release and other media materials. If the manuscript wasn’t available or comes in late, sometimes these elements are skipped or inaccurate. The author wonders how this happened but they missed their internal deadline and actually caused these errors.

During my years working with book authors, I noticed many of them (even some bestselling authors) turn in their manuscripts late. They have little or no understanding of how that late submissions affects the chain of production events for the release of their book (and could affect their sales).

Here’s a simple way for writers to standout to their editor or literary agent: always meet or beat your deadline. As an editor, I’ve heard almost every possible author excuse why they need an extension or could not meet their deadline. I understand life happens. Also I understand as a writer, you have to choose to meet the deadline. Years ago, I accepted a tight book deadline even though I had a full-time day job. To meet that deadline, I worked at my computer all night and skipped going to bed. I met that deadline, prepared for work and went into the office. It’s an example of the type of choices you might have to make to meet a deadline.

If you meet the deadlines (even the unreasonable ones), you will become someone dependable for that publishing professional.  If your manuscript is projected to be 60,000 words, then break that deadline into something manageable like 1,500 words, then add it to your writing schedule. If you are consistent writing these words then you will meet and exceed your deadline. You will become a deadline driven writer. 

Today I have a number of deadlines. I will spell them out and put different benchmarks in my phone reminders. You can use another method but this works for me. It's how I write these articles each week about The Writing Life. It’s how I contribute to other blogs and podcasts. We live in a world abundant with opportunity. Each of us have to determine which opportunities to seize and which ones to ignore.

What techniques to you use to meet your deadlines? Are you deadline driven? If not, how can you change and move in this direction? Let me know in the comments below. I look forward to learning from you. 

Tweetable:

Becoming deadline driven is a simple way for every writer to standout. This prolific author and editor gives some examples and ideas in this article.  (ClickToTweet)

My Writing In Other Places:

With these articles, I encourage you to publish your work beyond your blog in other places. Below are three articles which were published in other online locations than this blog. I haven’t added this feature for a couple of months yet I have continued to write each month on each of these websites. Find your opportunities to get your work into some other websites through guest blogging.

I wrote about the importance of follow-up for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference blog called Follow up After A Writing Conference.

Every writer needs persistence and I wrote about this quality for Writers on the Move in an article called Persist For The Right Fit.

Book proposal creation is one of my areas of speciality. Each month I write about proposals for Almost An Author. My latest story is Write a Standout Proposal. 

As I’ve worked in the publishing world for years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations and dreams for their books. I’ve found many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help and take actions no matter what the publisher does for your book. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. Click the link to learn more details. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

When Writers Don't Respond

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

It happens quite often with writers: I reach out to them--even with a publishing contract--and they do not respond. I could be calling or emailing them and encouraging their submission or any number of other publishing details. Instead of a response, I get nothing.  In case you don’t know, I’m an acquisitions editor at a New York publishing house, Morgan James Publishing. We have a 21-year track record with over 6,000 published books, 29 New York Times bestsellers and over 200 times on the Well Street Journal or USA Today bestseller list. This bestselling detail is important because it shows that MJP is not just making books but selling books. 

From my many years in publishing, when an author gets a book publishing contract from Morgan James, that event is a huge cause for celebration--even if they don’t sign it. Silence or no response from the author is not what I expect.

Morgan James is not a self-publisher but one of the top independent publishers (10 times on a list from Publishers Weekly). In fact, we receive over 5,000 submissions every year and only publish about 150 books a year. Behind the scenes, there is a detailed team approach procedure that I have to use to reach the opportunity to offer an author a publishing contract. I’ve worked for this company doing this work for the last 14 years. Despite emailing and calling these authors about their contract, they do not respond.

In this article I want to give some of my speculation reasons then a consistent pattern that I've seen from my years in publishing. First some possible reasons why the author didn’t respond via email, phone or text:

--the author was traveling or on vacation and away from their computer

--this author is working on other publishing paths such as finding a literary agent or crafting a book proposal or pitch for a traditional publisher. Each of these paths take time and could be a reason for a delayed response.

--the author doesn’t have the financial resources to work with Morgan James. While I understand this concern, I also know there are many possible creative ways for the author to get these resources like Publishizer (follow this link to learn more and explore).

If I have sent the author a publishing contract, I will follow-up multiple times and still I receive silence for a response. Through the years, I’ve learned the longer the author does not respond (even a short email or call), the less likely they will publish with Morgan James Publishing. Over the years, it has happened a few times but overall I know the silence is heading in the direction of “no thank you” (even if all I receive is silence).

Because of my years in publishing, I understand the different options and paths. If you want to increase your understanding, I encourage you to get this free Ebook, The Babylon Blueprint for Authors (follow the link). This book has many marketing ideas and strategies along with 40+ pages comparing traditional, self-publishing and independent or hybrid publishing. 

If you are in one of these situations where you have not responded. I encourage you to communicate with the editor or agent--even if you send a short email. The development and continuation of your relationship is important. You may need this relationship in the days ahead--even if you can’t see it now. For my part as the editor, I will continue to follow-up and reach out to these silent authors. I can’t control their response but I can do my part in the process. I encourage you to do your part.

What reasons am I missing that writers do not respond to an offer to publish their book? Let me know in the comments. I look forward to reading them and learning some new perspectives.

Tweetable:

Sometimes when writers receive a New York publishing contract, they do not respond. This editor gives some ideas and encourages maintaining your relationship. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week three new podcast recordings launched: 

Ali Alhajji and I spoke on the Reading the World Podcast about Publishing Myths: Why Being Published Is Not the Same as Being Read. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3Sv0QIZ

Imma and I spoke on the Beyond the Draft Podcast about The Truth About Publishing Nobody Else Will Tell You. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4xGergJ 

Noah May (@noahspodcasts)and I spoke on the Southern Reads Podcast about Publishing Myths. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4oFfsRZ

Throughout my many years in publishing, I’ve co-authored over a dozen books and reviewed thousands of submissions (no exaggeration). As a part of the process of working with these authors, I speak with them about their dreams and plans. Many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the details of publishing are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Listen, then Make Adjustments

 

 By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Throughout my day as an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, I receive a wide variety of email. As an author, I also get another set of emails. Also I’m speaking with authors on the phone and listening to their responses. 

Sometimes in this process, I learn some elements of my online presence which need adjustment. Recently one author introduced me to another author. In her email response, the new author mentioned she followed the link to my bio from my email and signed up for my newsletter. When I read this line, I asked myself, “Which newsletter?” 

During the last year, my newsletter has gone through many changes and adjustments. For over 20 years, I used a shopping cart for my newsletter which closed and involved a detailed behind-the-scene change to my online presence. 

Because of her comment, I took another look at this bio and in particular where this person could sign up for my newsletter. I saw she was using the wrong form and the wrong newsletter. Through many emails to new authors, I often refer to this link but it had been years since I made adjustments to that page. With this new insight, I made the effort and eliminated the wrong form and replaced it with the right one. My change came because of one person’s short feedback. If you haven’t subscribed to my weekly A Publishing Insight newsletter, I encourage you to follow this link and subscribe or forward it on to other writers. 

Throughout your day, are you listening to the feedback and making adjustments? It’s part of how we grow and improve as writers and communicators.

Here’s another recent example, I looked at this author’s blog post and encouraged him to use this article as the start of a personal experience story for a print magazine. Many authors don’t consider how to get more exposure and mileage from their writing. One of the easy ways for every writer is creating a personal experience article which many different publications are using. This author liked my idea and mentioned he was going to submit to two different publications. 

Because of my magazine writing experience, I knew these two publications each had large circulations. If a publication has a large circulation, they receive many submissions and overall it is more difficult for a new writer to grab attention and get published in them. You are entering a large competition for the editor’s attention and go ahead. 

I reached to my bookshelf and pulled out the 2026 Christian Writers Market Guide. It is important to have the latest edition of this guide because much of the information changes from year to year. When you pitch a magazine editor, you want to make sure you are following their current guidelines and use the current editor’s name. The guide has a topical index for magazines. The personal experience section listed 46 publications looking for these types of articles. The magazines with large circulation are in this section. I suggested the author select a couple of other publications with strong circulations (over 100,000 readers) yet lesser submissions and competition. 

Here’s several other actions before you submit to these publications:

--read their writer’s guidelines (which can normally be found online and will tell you the specific needs of the publication. If you pitch toward one of these needs, you will have a greater chance ot attention and possible success.

--read some of the publication’s articles online. Who are their readers and notice their audience. If you want target this audience with your pitch and article, you once again have a higher chance of publication.

--look for a theme list. In some cases, the editor has created a theme list for different issues in a year. From my magazine editor experience, I know how rare it is to receive a pitch tied to the theme list. In fact, I’ve had to call and email authors to gather enough submissions for a particular theme issue.

--tell the editor that you are submitting simultaneously. Some publications take a long time to respond. Other times the editor will say he doesn’t need a 1,200 word article but would love to have one which is 750 words. Then I submit the 750 word article.

With each pitch to a publication, you are building your relationship and credential with that editor. If you are a book author, I encourage you to use your personal experience stories in your book (or that you have in your life) then turn those into magazine articles. You will likely reach more readers through your print articles than any book will reach (thousands). At the end of your article, you can include a once sentence statement like: Terry Whalin is the author of 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed In general these magazine bios are short and may or may not include a website link to your book. Every author needs the repeated exposure to readers about their book. We’ve learned readers need to hear about your book as many as two dozen times before they buy your book. Every author has to create many different ways to tell readers about your books. 

I told these stories to highlight our need as authors to listen to feedback from others and make adjustments. What steps are you taking? These actions are not difficult and can be learned but are skills you can use over and over with your writing life. Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

As a writer, you need to listen to feedback from others then make adjustments. In this article, this prolific author and editor gives the specifics for you. (ClickToTweet)

Through my years in publishing, I’ve written for over 50 publications and more than 60 books with traditional publishers. Several of my books have sold 60,000 to 100,000 copies. I’ve also written different types of books such as biography, children’s books, how to/ self-help, co-authored and devotional books. From speaking with different authors about their books, I find many unrealistic expectations. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote  10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Social Media Is Not For Everyone

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As an editor working for a New York publishing company and an author, I understand the importance of social media and why those numbers are important to the process. It’s why I’ve invested lots of personal time and energy into building, maintaining and working my social media.

Publishers ask authors about their social media numbers. Often I hear writers say that social media doesn’t sell books. That selling might not be visible to you but I understand why publishers are asking for the numbers. These book professionals know that someone has to hear or see your book at least a dozen times before they purchase the book. Your social media activity is part of this exposure process. You aren’t posting “Buy my book.” Instead you are highlighting the benefits for the reader who buys your book. Those benefits will be different for each author and their type of book. 

Some authors have written a riveting story which could be something you read on the beach or another vacation place. Others have crafted a personal story about their lives with insights and lessons for other. Another author has written an adventure for middle grade readers while others craft their words into a 32 page picture book. While there are many different types of books, the author needs to focus on the specific benefits of their book. What aspects will readers gain from reading your book? Keep a running list of these benefits because they will be the aspects you will highlight on social media and in your blog posts and your newsletter articles. 

As an example of the important stories or benefits, I point you to my Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist. Through reading about the life of Billy Graham, the reader gains insights and examples for their own life. When this book released several years ago, I recorded over 50 radio interviews. For a sample, I listed several of them here but I continue to use these interviews on social media to highlight the benefits and life of Mr. Graham. 

No matter what type of promotion you do for your book (including social media), it is important to understand and talk about the reader benefits for your book. 

As an editor, I speak with authors about their social media presence. For my colleagues on the publication board at Morgan James Publishing, I gather the author’s online presence and social media links. If the author has large numbers then terrific but we are looking to see if the author has started this process. If they have a start, then we can help them build their online presence. We can not teach an author how to fill out their LinkedIN or X/Twitter profile.

During these author conversations, I hear words of protest about social media.

--It’s time consuming.

--It takes away time from their writing.

--It’s ineffective.

--etc.

One of my authors researched the social media presence of several bestselling authors in their category. They mentioned that several of these authors had limited or no social media presence. I understand the time and energy it takes to build such a presence. As an author, I’ve been active on social media and building my numbers for years. Part of the reason I do it is to be an example for my authors for their own actions. Also I do it because I know my actions are selling books.

While I didn’t look into these specific bestselling authors with no social media presence. I suspect someone on their team is using something else to market and promote these authors and their books. The publisher could be running online ads or an active booking podcasts and radio programs. Or the publisher could have hired a publicist to gather book reviews. There are many ways beyond social media to promote your book. If you need more ideas, I recommend JohnKremer's 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. 

I understand the dangers and time suck nature of social media. I’ve read others suggest authors have to be everywhere. You don’t. Instead I recommend you consider the social media platforms your readers use then become active on those particular platforms. About a year ago, I noticed one of my author friends was no longer on X or Twitter. When I asked about it, she said, “My readers are not on X so I cancelled my account and stopped posting there.” The response made perfect sense.

A large social media presence is not for everyone but a choice. I encourage you to understand where your readers are active and build on those sites. Limit your time and monitor it. Also there are social media experts who for a regular fee will do your social media for you. Each of us are on different paths to reach our readers. The key for every author is to be aware, choose a path, then develop your own system and method to repeatedly reach these readers.

Whether you use social media or not, you have to show the literary agent and publisher that you have connections to readers. These connections can be your regular newsletter, your personal speaking events or any number of other ways. Many years ago I learned that publishers make beautiful books and get them into bookstores. But what moves those books out of the bookstore and into the hands of readers (sells) is the author’s activity. Without your involvement as an author, those books in the bookstores are returned to the publisher then often destroyed which is a shame.

I want to end this article on a positive note about social media. It's an important tool to keep up with my friends and their activities. As I post articles from others on social, I read them and grow in my own insights and knowledge of the world of bookselling. Often I don’t get a lot of feedback for the years I’ve been active on social media. Just when I consider pulling back on my activity, someone will comment on something. These comments show me that while people may or may not comment, they are reading it. Your consistency and persistence is important. The rent for success comes due every single day. How can you standout from others? 

Are you limiting your social media presence? How are you touching readers and highlighting the benefits from your books? Let me know in the comments.

Tweetable:

While social media is not for everyone, this prolific author and editor encourages authors to build something somewhere to reach readers. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

I’m currently working for my third publisher as an acquisitions editor. Without exaggeration, I’ve spoken with hundreds of authors about their books and plans. Over and over, I find many authors have an unrealistic expectation for what will happen when their book gets published. I know much of the publishing process is outside of anything that an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS, which is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Roll With The Punches

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Our lives are filled with changes. These events happen in our lives whether we plan for them or not. From these articles about the writing life, it’s easy to see that I’m someone who loves routine. The publishing world and other parts of our world are in constant motion and change. When you get an unexpected punch (as in the above photo), do you roll with it?

Last week I traveled to Asheville, North Carolina for The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. It’s a large event and throughout the time, I had interesting conversations with people. These days I don’t travel as much as in the past. From my home in Southern California, it was a long haul to attend and involved changing planes in Chicago. On schedule I arrived and got to the conference and settled into my room.

Throughout the event, I met remarkable writers. Each one had a story which was tied to their writing. The event contained many “God moments.” Like each of these events, the final day arrived. I packed my suitcases and headed to the airport. On the way home, I was changing planes at the Dallas airport. My plane from Asheville to Dallas had a mechanical issue which delayed our arrival.  After landing as my airplane was landing and going to our gate, I would see my connecting flight in a different terminal was beginning to board. 

Several passengers on my first flight graciously let me off to hurry toward my connecting flight. I moved as rapidly as I could to reach my gate. When I arrived at my gate, the plane was still there but the airline had closed the door and no one was around to assist me. In the face of this situation, I rolled with the punches. I needed to go to the airline help desk to rebook my flight which was located several gates ahead. 

When I spoke with the help desk airline person, I learned my bags were on the flight that I missed. They booked me into a local hotel then I was on the first Saturday flight to Orange County. I found the hotel airport shuttle, registered for my room and grabbed a few hours sleep before returning to the airport. I could have been upset (a choice) but instead I rolled with it.

Writers have to face changes with flexibility. For example, in these articles, I’ve written about the price of paper for books has increased 70 to 80% since 2020. This small detail is affecting the retail price of books as well as the length of novels. During the conference, I met a number of fiction writers with manuscripts which were 90,000 to 100,000 words. Because of the increased price of paper, our preferred word length is closer to 80,000 words. Are you flexible and willing to do the editorial trimming to get your story in alignment with the expectations of the marketplace? I hope so. Your flexibility and willingness to adapt to curent market conditions is an important skill for every writer.

What actions are you taking to handle a sudden change? Let me know in the comments how you've learned to roll with the punches. 

Tweetable:

Change is a constant part of our lives in publishing. This prolific author and editor gives the details of how he had to roll with the punches and encourages us to do likewise. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcast recording launched: 

Dalene Bickel (@DaleneBickel) and I had an eye-opening conversation about the traditional publishing world on the Ink & Impact for Christian Writers Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/43aCgPM 

As I’ve worked in the publishing world for years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations and dreams for their books. I’ve found many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help and take actions no matter what the publisher does for your book. You can get decades of insights into 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

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Reset Your Writing Life

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As writers we are creatures of habit and routine. Everyone is wired this way. Most of these days I write in my home office on my desktop computer. Today I’m writing on my AlphaSmart 3000 in a hotel room near Asheville, North Carolina. Yesterday I traveled across the United States to arrive for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. The faculty meets later today. This blog post didn’t get written before my travels but following my regular pattern I wanted to get this written for you to consider for your writing life. Admittedly this article is different from my location but also related to the topic: reset. 

Several years ago, I wrote about working oon my physical weight. The men in my family have been known as big for generations. They use big as another word for being overweight or fat. In The Writing Life, I wrote about making radical choices to change my weight. I dropped over 30 pounds and I’m glad to report I’ve managed to keep that weight off. Every meal and day is a battle and a choice in this area. I’ve eliminated carbs and sugar from the bulk of my diet. It’s not 100% but much of it.

A key part of my weight loss routine is to monitor my weight and keep accountable with my wife and a few close friends on how it is going. I understand it takes consistent action on my choices to stay the course.

In the last few weeks, my weight has been creeping upward. It was less than 10 pounds but something I did not want to ignore. As a key step in my reset, I talked it over with my wife and chose to reset my eating pattern.

For example, I learned tomatoes have sugar content. I love tomato bisque soup but learned it has 20 grams of sugar in it. In my reset I’ve returned to my basic foods of protein and vegetables. This reset has been a hard choice for me but necessary. Right before this trip I got on my scale again and my weight had dropped back to my original goal. The challenge on the road is to continue to choose wisely every day.

I give you these personal details because I want to bridge these choices to our writing life. Take an honest look at your writing life. What steps do you need to take for a writing reset?

For your writing reset, what steps do you need to take for your growth as a writer? Maybe you have been writing books and need to write in a different area such as magazines.

I encourage you to schedule a trip to a writer’s conference (follow this link for some ideas). Make a point to explore a new area of writing. Many years ago, I was surprised to see a bestselling novelist at a conference with her daughter. I learned these two women wanted to write for children. It was an area they knew nothing about but wanted to explore through the faculty at this conference.

Or maybe your writing reset involves meeting some new people and forming new relationships. If you go to a conference, then you have this opportunity. Of course, you need to create and carry your business cards. Then during your conversations exchange them with whoever you meet. 

For example, this morning on the way to breakfast, I met a pastor It was the final day of his conference. We ate together and my limited Spanish got huge workout. We exchanged stories and information. It is what we do at these events, and the Lord uses it in ways we can’t see or understand. With this pastor, I got his mailing address but not his email or phone. As other people were leaving the conference, I found someone who had this person’s phone and email address. I added it to my phone and reached out to him in follow up.

How will your writing be used in the days ahead? Do you have the right connection? What steps can you actively take to act and build that connection? Like my weight, there are many choices but you can choose to have a writing reset and move in a new direction. Let me know what choices you are going to make in the comments.

 What does a writing reset look like for you? None of it is easy or simple but can be done and you can do it--if you don't quit.

Tweetable:

Does your writing life need a reset? This prolific author and editor made a reset in his life and gives the details for you to follow here.  (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA