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| Melinda Viergever Inman |
Play
the Writing Game on Your Toes
In the early days of Title IX, I attended a small high
school working to establish an equal number of sports for girls as we had for
boys. As a result, girls now had more options available. I had grown up playing
softball and running track, but now I added basketball.
I’m sure my early efforts weren’t pretty. Until that point,
most of us had only played basketball in gym or pick-up games. Some were quite
proficient, but most were like me, relatively new to this sport. The drills
were grueling—all sorts of running and movement exercises that constantly had
us on our toes.
Our coach informed us that when we were on our toes, we
could quickly shift position to follow the ball’s movement or to defend against
an opponent. And so, we drilled: zigzag patterns, up and down the court,
shuffling from side to side, all while up on our toes. I remember being
drenched with sweat and gasping for air when we completed these drills.
But they were essential, because remaining on our toes wasn’t
natural. Not only did we tend to stand with flat feet, thus slowing us down if
we had to suddenly change position, but emotionally we were flat-footed as
well. We weren’t anticipating the next move of our opponent.
To be ready to shift position immediately, we had to remain
on our toes.
This sports lesson, as often happens with lessons learned on
playing fields or courts, bestowed a lifelong knowledge that still helps me
today in the writing world. We have to play this writing game on our toes.
The publishing industry is constantly in flux. When I began
writing fiction about a decade ago, everything about publishing was different.
Agents were required, but doors were shutting to not only
them, but also to publishers. The average author made around $10,000 annually,
because our product was scarce. Then “self-publishing” meant you had paid a
vanity press to publish your words, and now you had a car trunk and a garage
full of hardcover books to peddle.
Enter Amazon. About eighteen months ago, the number of books
offered (e-book and paperback) surged to 12,000,000, but it has now fallen by
75% to 3,000,000. According to Data
Guy, the average author now makes about $1400 annually if they're
self-published and $875 a year if traditionally published. Our product is no
longer scarce.
We cannot play this game flat-footed. We must constantly
anticipate changes and adjust our methods and our marketing. We have to know
about “funnel books” and keyword search engine optimization tactics for our
titles. We need to work on our craft, for even writing has changed. Stories now
contain little prologuing or backstory. Plot is driven by dialogue and action.
Jane Austen herself might not be published today were she competing in this
market.
To play on our toes, we remain true to ourselves and to the
voice and message God has given us. We listen to the inner nudging of the Holy
Spirit. We keep abreast of our industry, mentally anticipating these changes,
adjusting our techniques, and finding new ways to bring our stories to light,
rather than remaining flat-footed. We cannot be afraid.
When Joshua took over from Moses, he had to play the game in
a new way. The people were no longer journeying across the desert, but into the
Promised Land, much as we hope to enter the publishing equivalent. In
Deuteronomy 31-32 as Joshua “practiced” for the transition and in Joshua 1 as
he began to “play the game” as the new leader, the Lord repeatedly reminded him
to stay on his toes (be strong; be courageous) and not to be afraid.
This is good advice for us, too. For the Lord is with us,
wherever we go.
Love
takes action: The Creator God establishes the cosmos and shapes a man. Adam
rises from the dust. Envious, the powerful angel Lucifer despises him.
Oblivious to the threat, Adam is captivated by his strong, intuitive wife Eve.
In the Garden of Eden, they enjoy abundant food, gorgeous vistas, and
intriguing challenges, including their budding love and passion. They have it
all!
But
Lucifer’s deceptive brilliance tricks them into disobeying God. They eat the
one forbidden fruit. Their innocence is shattered. Their unity with one another
and with God is destroyed. Death will follow. Lucifer’s jealousy threatens
mankind’s tenuous beginning. But God is merciful. What astonishing promise does
He make? How will Adam and Eve survive—broken, shattered, and separated from God?
Melinda Viergever Inman was
raised in a storytelling family. There her roots were sunk. During years of
relocation, tragedy struck. Wounded and heartbroken, Melinda forsook her roots
and ran from herself and from God. A journey of trial and heartache brought her
home again. A prodigal now returned, she writes with passion, illustrating
God's love for wounded people as He makes beauty from ashes. Fallen is her second novel; Refuge, the sequel, is her first.
Melinda shepherds women in prison ministry and writes inspirational material at
http://melindainman.com/blog/. With her family she is involved with Mission
India/RIMI, rescuing orphans and providing theological and job training for
impoverished students.
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