Blogger: Mary Keeley
Some time ago I posted a list of recommended books on writing here. It isn’t exhaustive and there have been valuable new books written since this blog post. If you’ve been writing for a while, you probably have a library of well-worn copies of craft resources at the ready. But today, let’s take inventory of a writer’s career resources, those people and intangibles that are sometimes overlooked and neglected but that need to be nurtured for good, all-around vitality in your writing career.
Your people network
Writer friends. Writers find it easy to stay connected with writer friends and to meet new writer friends via social media and writers groups. And oh, do we love being together at conferences and anywhere in between. Writers understand the ups and downs and stresses of the writing life, which makes it easy to connect.
This network operates at its best when each one is proactive about celebrating each other’s victories, large or small, and providing encouragement when needed. Not to mention going all out to help promote each other’s books. Besides emailing, try sending a personal card once in a while. I’ve resorted to e-greeting cards for special occasions, because I’m not good about maintaining a stock of printed greeting cards. I know my colleague Wendy Lawton is cringing at this revelation. She is the most gracious sender of beautiful greeting cards. I rationalize it’s the thought that counts.
Beta readers and influencers. Most often, they work for you free of charge. Show your appreciation with a small gift card. If possible, choose gift cards individually to correspond to each one’s personal interests. Then send them a signed copy of your book with an appreciative note when it’s published.
Publishing house team: the VP/publisher, editors, book designer, marketing and public relations teams, production team, and sales reps. Most employees at your publishing house work there, not only for the income, but also because they sincerely want to be a part of producing quality books for readers. Thank-you notes for special efforts and monthly email updates with expressions of appreciation keep them encouraged in their work and enthusiastic about your book. Thank-you gifts of chocolates or pizza (on a date arranged in advance) or something more creative for special occasions make you a popular author with your teams. Treat these as an investment in this career resource rather than an expense.
Your writing environment
Assess your work area and take inventory. If it needs organizing, schedule time to do it. If the arrangement of your desk is awkward, change it as best as you can. Does the ambiance lift your spirit? If not, maybe changing the color of your walls is a good idea. Is the lighting right for you? For example, direct sunlight energizes me, but my office is on the north side of my house. On sunny days when I’m tired or feeling dull of mind, I’ll take my laptop to a room with southern exposure to recharge.
Your writer brain
Your brain is a core career resource, but do you value it this way? Are you nourishing it with God’s direction from daily time in the Bible and other reading? In stimulating conversations with family and friends? Are you giving it frequent breaks just to go out and smell the roses? And are you getting enough sleep regularly?
Your author business
You’re reading this blog, which means you are interested in keeping up with the industry. The pace of change continues to accelerate so continue to research publisher websites and agency and author blogs. Author platform is more important than ever so schedule time daily to work at building it.
How do your career resources shape up? Having taken inventory, which of them need better nurturing? What creative things have you done to express appreciation to your career resource people? Have you read a book on writing recently that you’d recommend to other writers?
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Simultaneous Submissions
Great resource checklist, Mary. May I add a few things?
* Charitable endeavours take us out of ourselves, and help us to see a bigger picture. An hour a week working with at-risk kids puts writer’s block into perspective.
* Community involvement supports where we literally live, and having some hands-on can help bring our settings to life.
* Exercise is vital to keep the writer’s brain and body refreshed. You don’t have to be a fanatic; even a little bit will increase the oxygenation of tissues, and drive the toxins through to where they can be processed and eliminated.
* A vehicle for reinforcing success is helpful. Spend time regularly on something that you’re good at, and that you enjoy., something which brings tangible accomplishment. It gives confidence that will spill over into your writing.
* Break at least one rule or law every day, as writers are supposed to be Bohemian. Keith Richards supplies my all-time favourite quote here – “If you’re going to kick authority in the teeth, you may as well use both feet.” You don’t have to rob a bank (though it’s a great way to eventually meet interesting people and have access to a weight room). You can just as well wear white after Labour Day, or have red wine with the fish course.
* Learn to juggle; yes, literally. It builds focus.
* Smoke several cigars per day (I just had to fit that one in). I find that taking the time to smoke does allow me to step back, and take another look at what I am trying to say. (And now you have something to tell your grandchildren…yes, I actually met a madman who encouraged me to smoke!)
* Cherish your oeuvre, even if it’s not published. It’s a reminder of how far you’ve come.
* Finally, the best resource you have as a writer is the love in your heart…that love which you freely give.
I was with you, Andrew, right up to the cigars. You got that one wrong. It is supposed to say “Eat chocolate. I find that taking the time to eat a bite of chocolate does allow me to step back and take another look at what I am trying to say.”
* Now your post is perfect!
Three cheers for cigars and chocolate… and coffee with extra whipping cream!
Shirlee, thanks…I see the point, but I just couldn’t imagine Ernie passing up a cigar in preference for a Hershey bar.
* And the last time I applied a lighter to chocolate, it really made a mess, and smelled kind of weird.
* “But,” said Mr. Hemingway, sighing into his beard, “I suppose that the sun also rises on those who would forswear that fragrant product of the sun-kissed Caribbean, choosing instead the bitter nut from the green hills of Africa. These are just the musings of an old man and see, I have and have not been right in the past.”
You’re supposed to be eating chocolate continually while you write. Mini chocolate chips popped in one at a time and allowed to melt away. (Dark chocolate is a health food, you know). It’s a staple food, not a treat.
Wear white after Labor Day or before Derby Day? Shivers. I don’t think I can do that.
Thanks for always giving me something to smile about, Andrew!
Thanks for your thoughtful additions, Andrew. But like Shirlee and Lara, I’d nix the cigars and instead reach for the chocolate.
* I have my own desk space at the top of the stairs. But in winter I work in the living room, cozy by the wood stove. Inspiration comes easier while staring into the flames. Unfortunately, Handy Hubby doesn’t take kindly to building a fire in July for the sake of my inspiration. (sigh)
* It’s time to relocate the stuff that gravitates to an unused horizontal surface and send the dust bunnies to vacuum cleaner heaven. Spring clean my desk, spring clean my brain!
Shirlee, how about spring clean the desk, and Spring Break for the brain?
Mary, I also need direct sunlight for physical and mental motivation. When my twelve year old Dell PC finally refused to save my manuscripts or transfer them to The Cloud, my son convinced me to get a laptop. Best decision ever. Now I can move to all sunny spots in and outside of the house and Nathan doesn’t receive anymore hysterical phone calls because an entire chapter has gone missing.
Lara, congratulations on your new investments in your writing career: your laptop and beneficial working ambiance. We have become a mobile society, haven’t we.
Perhaps another resource is the willingness to take risks, for what else, really, is the writing life?
* You don’t have to take up motocross (though I’d recommend it); there are other ways..
– Mix foods that might not seem ‘right’ in combination…if whipped cream and cinnamon improve coffee, what will they do for pizza? (The answer may come as a pleasant surprise.)
– Take reading adventures. Go up to a stranger in a bookstore and say, “I don’t know what to read next. What do you recommend?” Most people will be only too happy to not only tell you, but to take you to the right shelf and put the book in your hands; some may even buy it for you. (And guys, this is a GREAT way to meet women who read…and, all too often, their equally-literate husbands or boyfriends.)
I’m so excited to be attending my first ACFW local meeting in the Dallas area this weekend. I pray I don’t get sick, because I really want to make it there. We’ll be watching a live webinar from Thomas Umstattd on how to build a better website, etc. I hope to start going to the monthly meetings … DiAnn Mills will be speaking there next month. 🙂
I’ll pray that you don’t get sick too, Shelli!
Oh, I pray you do not get sick too. I had the chance to go to the Colorado Springs local chapter 4 years ago, and got terribly sick. I was weeping, telling myself, “I will go, I will go!” but crying, maniacle, mother of three with a laptop was not the impression I wanted to make. So I collapsed into slumber instead…until the boys woke me up, again! So yes, I feel your pain and am praying that you do not get sick as I never got another chance to go. You can do this, Shelli. Take all those nasty herbs my mother is always trying to get me to try. Oil of oregano and some oil thing that you rub on your feet if you want to rob tombs in ancient Egypt. Yuck. But worth a try, no?
Yes, Kristen … in February, I had wanted to go hear Becky Wade speak … and I had a fever that very day from allergy/cold. Ugh. I was so disappointed. Of all days.
Bone broth and plenty of sleep until you leave, Shelli. Have a great time and tell us about it next week.
Okay, Mary. Thank you. If I hear anything new, I’ll be sure to pass it on to y’all.
Oh, Shelli, I hope you feel well enough to make it. I’m hoping to be there, too, if I can find a sitter for my daughter. Would LOVE to see you.
That’d be so awesome, Teresa! 🙂 And I’m not even remotely sick right now … but you know how it is … when you really look forward to something, that’s when it hits you. 😉
It is amazing, but I have made a lot of writer friends, especially on places like this, the books and such blog and facebook and online writing classes and ACFW novel track. That has been a surprise for me since I wrote secretly for years and just attended a yearly conference without really talking to anyone. A blessing for sure.
Well said, Kristen. A network of writer friends in the CBA world is a special blessing. It isn’t prevalent in the ABA market.
I love your list of resources, Mary. I hdn’t thought about scheduling time to spiff up my writing space. I need to do that. 🙂 The other resource that spoke to me was taking time each day to get outside and just enjoy the nature around me to refresh my writer’s brain.
*Great post today!
Thanks, Jeanne. I need to be more deliberate about getting outside daily for a breath of fresh air too. Let’s hold each other accountable.
I went to the Colorado Springs ACFW chapter workshop last week mainly to meet the officers (Hi, Jeanne Takenaka!) and learn how they do things. Now I’m ready to contact the ACFW members in NM and see if we can get a chapter going here. It will be great to get to know other local Christian writers.
It was wonderful to meet you, Carol!!
Carol, I’m not a member of ACFW yet – can’t afford it at the moment – but I will join when funds allow. Don’t think I’ll be able to make meetings, but it’ll be fun to get the newsletter.
* Unless a meeting might be scheduled on West Mesa in Belen…at the airport…
Hi Mary,
Thanks for these great resources. I’ve been thinking about moving my desk to another wall in my office, and after reading your post, I plan to do it this weekend.
I just bought Master Lists for Writers by Bryn Donovan and started looking through it last night. It provides some stimulating ideas for possible directions to take your story. It seems to be a fun resource for everything from names to plot twists.
Jackie, have fun rearranging your office. I find there is something so invigorating about the results. A refreshing change in the working environment and for our brains too.
Hi Mary! The area that needs the most nurturing in my writing career is an inspiring, dedicated writing space. We are currently in a smaller rental house that does not allow me space uniquely for writing. Our “office” also doubles as a spare room with things that don’t fit elsewhere in the small house. I’m going to brainstorm how to better utilize the space we have so I (and my family) know where I “mean business.” 🙂
Good plan, Teresa. Have fun with it.
Thanks, Mary, very insightful and helpful as I continue to prY for Gods direction in writing either a book or Bible study.
Right now I’m focusing on the magazine market.
Blessings to you!!
Denise
Hi Denise. It’s nice to see you here on the Books & Such blog. Publishing magazine articles are a great way to get name recognition. Read your agreements carefully and try to retain the rights of your intellectual property that you might want to use in a book some day.
I appreciate getting feedback from other authors and industry professionals, but I’m cautious.That’s why subscribing to blogs like this one is important. Anyone can tout they are an expert today on the internet. I’m always looking at books to see who published it, and why is the author qualified to give advice. “Story Trumps Structure” by Steven James has been sitting on my shelf for too many weeks. It’s time to dig into it.
Dear Mary,
We are the couple you met at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference last May. We wanted to write a story about dealing with the ambiguous loss of our son to a traumatic brain injury playing football.
You told us to send your our story, and we are finally ready, but we do not have your email address. Could you please send that?
Thanks so much,
Tammy
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I just sold my first piece and the rights to it. I didn’t know!!! Next time I’ll negotiate for the rights. Such a learning curve!
Blessings! ?