Blogger: Mary Keeley
Yesterday a PW Daily article reported that “adult book sales fell in the first half of 2016” compared to the same time period last year, 2.8 percent to be exact. Sounds like more discouraging news, doesn’t it. But as I read further into the article, not all book formats and segments were down. Way at the end of the article the writer commented that among other publishing categories, religion sales were up 10.4 percent. That is worth celebrating.
You can read the article here. The negative approach reminded me that it’s time to celebrate what is doing well. Writing is a life-long learning process. Just ask veteran authors and they will tell you. Call it the Writing-LLL course. I’m devoting today’s post to celebrating Christian writers.
I celebrate you writers, published and yet to be published, who have persevered seemingly endless winters of rejections, revisions, starting over, stalled careers, yet you continue marching forward because you are confident that if you persist in learning from them, spring will eventually arrive.
I celebrate you for writing and re-writing first drafts and receiving constructive feedback from contest judges and critique partners with a teachable spirit, because you’re all about improving your book. It’s good practice for the time an editor will expect that attitude from you. And then for digging into the second draft: the wordsmithing, the chopping, the smoothing, the polishing.
I celebrate writer critique partners who care enough about each other to be honest. Multiple sets of eyes catch things others miss while deep into their work. Iron sharpening iron.
I celebrate writers for persevering on the other bullet points of your author job description:
- Identify who your book-buying readers are because you know if you don’t get this right early on, you’ll pay in poor sales later.
- Explore social media to find out where your readers hang out; invest time to nurture author-reader relationships with them; and comment on author and industry blogs because you’ve learned it increases your name recognition and germinates relationships with new readers.
- Balance your writing time with growing your author platform.
- Keep up with trends in the industry through articles like the one above, author
Take a short break from your work today to celebrate the large and small successes you’ve had this year. Let it refresh your soul and your gratitude as we approach Thanksgiving next week.
Share a writing success or a career milestone, major or minor, that you have had this year. How do you celebrate your successes?
TWEETABLES:
Christian writers, take time to celebrate each little success. Let it refresh your writing soul. Click to Tweet.
Make a list of your minor and major writing successes the year as you prepare for Thanksgiving. Click to Tweet.
Your Artist Self and Your Business Self
Bless you, Mary, for pointing us at the positive. May your cup of gratitude overflow this Thanksgiving.
*This year’s celebrated moment? My 10 year old grandson is an aspiring writer (he’s written two stories that he copied into blank bound books–“published” by his school librarian and available for other students to check out). He knows about my WIP, and I explained how a book proposal works. I showed him my one-sheet, and he jumped up from his chair, “That’s genius, Grandma!”
*I think he was giving me credit for the whole one-sheet concept, but even so, the memory always makes me grin.
That’s so exciting!! It’s so neat when we see our kids (and grandkids) cultivating a passion for words. I got some great feedback on my 9 year old daughter’s writing at school and it did my wordy heart such good.
Such bliss for a grandma. As a fellow grandma I know how special this is to you, Shirlee. Yes, grateful hearts this Thanksgiving.
I can celebrate successful branding this year. I went to two conferences and at each, people identified me as “the Brave girl”. This was huge because I worked hard to transition my blog from focusing on my own story of being widowed and dealing with several other major losses to being more reader focused. When people I didn’t know came up to say hi and let me know they’ve been challenged and encouraged, I felt affirmed that I’d finally found my sweet spot.
Ooh, that’s a major success, Becky. Congratulations!
Great post, Mary! Celebrating successes and achievements – even in a small and private way, like taking a bit longer over coffee – is so important. I think Jesus’ story of the woman who lost a shekel and celebrated its recovery was, in part, intended to remind us of this.
* That said, while the job of writing another MS (or even collating what I have) is probably beyond me now, I do take note of the small things – like, say, right now, keeping upright and focused enough to write this comment.
* It never occurred to me in earlier years that something so seemingly minor would become quite an accomplishment, but strange things happen in life, and perspectives can change if you’re not wedded to your old ones. With those new perspectives can come new horizons, and, yes, even new hopes.
Well said.
Thanks, Jennifer…and congratulations on the massive progress in word count. It IS a big deal.
Amen, Andrew. And don’t forget to celebrate the blessing you are to us in this blog community.
Mary, thank you so much. And I do celebrate the meaning this community has given my life, every day. You, the staff of Books and Such, and all of the wonderful people here have given me a home, a hope, and a purpose.
Mary, thank you for this encouraging post. The successes have been smaller than I’d hoped for this year. But, one success for me is learning more about how to deepen my writing in ways I never knew to do so before. I’m thankful for the mentor who’s helping me in this area of writing.
*I would say one other success has been in the blogging arena. I’ve seen my following begin to grow, and I’m enjoying meeting new people as they stop by.
*Baby steps, right? 🙂
And, I realized as the comment was being published that it had the wrong link for my name. Oy.
*Can we all say, “Still waking up?” 😉
Jeanne, congratulations on our growing blog following. I remember your commenting a while ago that it wasn’t growing as fast as you’d like so this is a real, quantifiable cause for celebration.
🙂
That is so great! As a “small blogger” myself, I know how encouraging and exciting to see those little bits of growth happening!
That’s good news about religious books, Mary. One hopes most of that increase is in Christian books, not an alternative.
.
Successes have been hard to come by this year. By this time last year I had sold 80 books. This year only 40. I will celebrate those 40, in that most of them were not to relatives and people I know, but were on-line purchases. And, I’ll celebrate that I’m actually making reasonably good progress on my w-i-p, despite the busyness of the year, and the busyness of the season we are already making preparations for.
David, those 40 non-family/friend book purchasers definitely are cause for celebration. They are potential word-of-mouth promoters.
I think my biggest writing success has been making so much progress on my novel. This time last year I had roughly 12,000 words. Now I’m a few words shy of 55,000. That might not seem like a big deal, but seeing as how we threw an international move into the mix and I got a day job at the same time, I’m over the moon about it and am feeling encouraged that I just might actually finish this thing.
You’ll finish it, Jennifer. 🙂 Keep going.
<3 Thank you.
Jennifer, congratulations on your progress, especially in the midst of your very busy year. How will you take time to celebrate this success?
Thank you, Mary!
I’m thinking a few naps when I’m off work next week will do nicely. 😀
Jennifer, that is definitely cause for celebration! You just walked through two of life’s biggest stressors. AND you wrote over 40,000 more words. WAY TO GO!
Thank you so much!
In the discouragement and despair, my sight goes blind in seeing the goodness of the Lord.
This year, I completed my first full-length novel. That was a huge thing for me, given that I’d read enough blogs about procrastination plus starting but not finishing. Yet when I was done, I started fussing about it’s quality.
Success two – Got a short story into an anthology. I tried this last year and was told I needed to polish my writing. The sales from the anthology are going into donation, but it’s a huge step still.
Success three – I’m NaNoWriMoing. I’m very far behind though.
Success four, and perhaps the best of them all. Encouragement from those who have been in this journey before me. Being a part of B&S community, learning from Steve Laube’s blog, getting tips from authors, real authors.
It’s a good year.
All I need is to learn the business of writing.
PS: I’m thinking we should do a shout-out to those who have helped us on this community. A childish suggestion, I know.
I’ll do a shout-out to YOU, Michael. Your bright and faith-filled presence here has been a blessing – I think I may say, for everyone here. I know I am not alone in looking forward to your comments; they are always gracious, insightful, encouraging, and ever in Jesus’ service. Knowing you through this community is a privilege.
Ah, Andrew.
You definitely top my list of shout-outs. You words, suggestions, comments have been a great source of uplifting as well as broadening my intellect. I really really would fancy a chance of a one-on-one interview where I can milk from the juice.
Thanking God for putting you here.
Michael, I’m both honoured and humbled; thank you.
Love this, Mary. Writers work hard and it’s good to see that acknowledged. –We appreciate B & S part in this, too. Thanks for encouraging us.
-This year I joined two local author guilds, one Christian, one secular. I also started three new books in the religious genre, one is aimed at Nones and Atheists, like a open door to create interest.
-On a side note, I am learning Scrivener and Lead Pages and am hoping to start podcasting soon. I have written 30/60 15-20 minute podcasts, which are
devoted to themes found in Christian living. These last three had been shelved for over a year while I entered into a caregiving role with my folks.
-Thanks for this opportunity to talk about my projects. Appreciated everybody here.
Podcasting is one of the best things I ever did! I’ve found it a great way to connect with my readers and let them get to know me differently. Best of luck!
Yes, writers work hard on both the creative and business sides of their career. And often they have full-time jobs and families to care for as well. You have much to celebrate this year, Norma. Your dedication will pay off.
I had some very encouraging experiences on my recent marathon through the Southwest.
I can’t say exactly what it was, but I will say God opened a few doors that didn’t know we’re there.
One thing I’ve come to realize this past year is the old adage, “good is the enemy of best”, is very true.
I’m not content with “good” if I know I have it in me to pursue “best”, even if it means more work, and more waiting.
When doors open that you can’t quite share about … that’s reason for celebration. 🙂
Jennifer, you have many writing successes to celebrate this year, and you mentioned an important contributing ingredient: to continue to do the work, and yes, the waiting too, in the pursuit of “best.”
Dear Jennifer, when I open the dictionary and look for the definition of ‘best’, I see only your picture, and that’s sufficient.
Happy Thanksgiving, Mary and everyone. At first, no major success jumped out at me. But when you rake back all the leaves, you see the new growth. Like–
*I finished my second novel in a series, and it’s polished. My proposal is polished, as far as it depends on me.
*I’ve read through my first novel, and I’m going back to polish it more–the more you read, the more you see.
*my biopsy came back cancer-free
*my daughter made a 93 on her English paper
*I’ve made a new friend in England on Instagram, and I just love her. She’s like an older sister to me, and she sent me a picture of a real telegram from her parents … It’s very special to her, as her parents are with the Lord.
How do I celebrate? I cry all the way home. 🙂
It’s more like praising all the way home, Shelli. I anticipate your comments on B&S.
And congrats on the biopsy result.
Michael, thank you … yes … praising all the way home. Definitely. And you are so sweet to say you anticipate my comments. So encouraging. My girls and I are all on Instagram … the only social media we all three are on … and my oldest said this morning that when she woke up, I hadn’t posted a picture yet and she couldn’t wait to see what I’d post. Talk about a blessing … 🙂
Cancer free…FAR OUT!!!!! Like, DUDE! I am doing a SnOoPyDaNcE!
Ha ha! Yes, me too. It was a couple months ago … but let me tell you … after what we went through with my daughter having cancer … I got a slight glimpse into PTSD. Slight, mind you, but still. The shock and fear you relive in an instant. 🙂 Thank you, Andrew.
Those are all WONDERFUL things to celebrate!! And Cancer free??? WOOT to the WOOT up in here!!!! And hooray for new friends!
Yes!! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving, Shelli. Congratulations on your hard work resulting in a ready proposal and polished manuscripts. I celebrate with you on your list of successes this year, especially on your cancer-free biopsy.
Shelli, you truly have much to celebrate. I love seeing all that God is doing in and through you, my friend!
Aww. Thank you, Jeanne. I love walking this journey with you. 🙂
Shelli, you are a blessing.
Shelii, you are a TEXAS-SIZED blessing. We all love you so very, very much.
Thank you, Norma. You are, as well. 🙂 And Andrew, you are a blessing, too. And I love that you always include Texas with me. I’m so crazy about y’all. 🙂
Those stats aren’t surprising. When times get rough more people tend to look to God for help. I’m praying that in the current political turmoil more people will do that, and the things all of us write will help them do so.
Amen, Janet. Thanks for reminding us of our highest purpose and goal.
This year brought three milestones worth celebrating.
After being told by a former fiction editor at a large traditional house that I would have to self-publish to keep rights for supporting mission, I did everything necessary to become a licensed business. Not for the faint of heart and not what I ever planned, but ya gotta go where the mission sends you. There was lots of paperwork in our county, which is not new-business friendly. The celebration for finally jumping through the last hoop was a fast-food meal after picking up the license for Cerrillo Press at the courthouse.
*I learned how to create and maintain my author sites as my own webmaster. It was a bit messy to start, but now it’s a blast. No celebration needed; creating content and playing with the websites are rewards enough.
*Finally, my first novel went on sale digitally Nov 12 and will be on sale as a paperback on Nov. 20. Finding Roseanna White as my cover designer for this and the next five or more novels in the series is one of the best parts of bringing the book to market. Her artwork is gorgeous, and working with her is a delight. Finding great people to work with is worth celebrating, too.
Carol, I have been privileged to follow you on this journey, and I have celebrated the successes. I am very, very proud to call you friend.
Right back at you, Andrew. You’re a blessing to us all.
Carol, thank you. If there is one thing I have learned that I would pass on, it is that pain is not only weakness leaving the body; it is also selfishness being forced from the soul.
Yet another Andrew quote to add to my files! I’m about to start a Pinterest page with quotes and scripture overlaid on many of the landscape and nature photos that I’ve taken over the years. May I use this one?
My dear Carol…you can use this or any quote. Pain and heartache are ultimately transfiguring, and transfiguration is the property of the Almighty.
Congratulations, Carol! 🙂
Thanks, Shelli, and congratulations on number 2 and your proposal! Now we pray for it finding the right publishing home.
Wow, you are having a momentous year, Carol. You are an inspiration to many. This is another cause for celebration.
All the folks here have helped me learn so much of what I needed to know! This blog and the “family” who visit regularly are worth celebrating as well.
Awww, Carol. You’ve had some huge successes this year. Congratulations!
Thanks, Jeanne! It was so good meeting you in person at the conference where my journey toward Cerrillo Press started. Hope to see you again this spring.
I am celebrating each step on the writing journey and I would not change a thing because I’m learning and making friends along the way. Publication will just be the tip of the iceberg of blessings I’ve received since I started writing for Him.
Shelia, “I would not change a thing’ resonates with me. My health went tango uniform, and my career ended…but measured against that is the story of Bella The Miracle Dog, a Toto-like terrier whom my wife spotted in a flooded ditch on July 5, 2013. Her back had been deliberately broken, and she was discarded and left to die.
* Today she is learning to walk again (her spinal cord wasn’t completely severed), and is the terror of the Pit Bulls who make up the main population of our sanctuary for the abused and rejected.
* Had my life gone the way I thought it would, Bella would have died in hopelessness. I would not change a thing.
You are such an inspiration Andrew. Thank you and your wife for saving Bella. I’m so glad she’s recovering.
Shelia, thank you. Bell is the true inspiration; I have been working with her for three years to get her back legs under her control, and she can now walk, with a bit of lateral support. That her spine was totally sundered makes it hard for her, and I am trying to figure out a way to make a ‘corset’ that will help her keep upright.
* Her spirit is unimpaired, as the nipped noses of curious Pit Bulls (and a 170-lb Rottweiler) testify.
And if God reaches out His hand to Bella, He’s gonna need triple-antibiotic and Band-Aids.
Sheik, if you can possibly attend a Christian writers conference you should do that. Your learning and friends will increase enormously.
I agree Janet. I’ve attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Writer’s Conference for the past two years and hope to return next spring. That’s where I signed with Mary. 🙂 I also try to attend the ACFW conference annually. Joining the Middle Tenn. ACFW has also been a blessing.
This is so refreshing, Mary, to hear good news instead of negative about the CBA! Thanks for sharing this!