A Publishing Playlist by Barbara M. Britton

We've heard of creating playlists of songs to help us with mood while we're writing, but have you ever considered what your personal playlist might look like for your writing experience? Author Barbara Britton shares hers based on what she's learned. -- Sandy

Barbara: I was asked to speak recently about what I learned after publishing my first novel. Now, that could be an all day event, but I only had eight minutes. Since I love to listen to music and even create playlists for my books, I decided to highlight three songs that relay some of my author knowledge.

The first song I would belt out is “You Gotta Have Friends.” Writing a novel is not for the faint of heart. It took me nine years to get published and my path was filled with over 200 rejections over four manuscripts. I needed my writing buddies to encourage me to keep going, and I needed their keen eyes on my words. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Find fellow writers to take the publishing journey with you. Once your book gets the green light, you will need these same friends to shout out your book to the world.

My second song on the playlist would be “Money, Money, Money.” Most people think authors make a lot of money, but that isn’t the case. Writers who indie-publish have to open their own wallets to pay for the costs of publishing (editing, formatting, cover design). Even writers with traditional publishers will need to crack their piggy banks to cover the cost of bookmarks, swag, and mailings.

I spoke at a career day at a local school about my job as an author. The students were shocked that I didn’t receive a paycheck every two weeks. Most writers are paid quarterly, and some are paid every six months. Writers will need some venture capital to cover initial author expenses. Make sure to save that “safe driving” bonus or that refund from Uncle Sam.

Song number three on my author playlist would be “One is The Loneliest Number.” When I launched my debut novel last fall, nobody knew me, or knew how I crafted my stories. I had to reach out to readers who liked Biblical fiction and start to build a readership. But what was I going to offer my readers once they had finished my debut? I needed to have another book for my readers to enjoy.

Writers need to keep writing, but that can be difficult once the promotion potato lands on your plate with the speaking engagement salad, and the social media muffin. Carving out time for creativity needs to be a priority.

By the time I sold my debut novel, Providence, I had almost finished my second book. At the time, I didn’t think the two-year slog of query letters and pitching was a blessing, but now, looking back, I am glad for the delay. God’s timing was perfect for me, especially since I didn’t know I would be battling cancer when I was doing the galley for my first book. Having Building Benjamin waiting in the wings to offer my publisher took a lot of pressure off of me to get my sophomore novel written.

Publishing a book is hard work, but I feel blessed to be a Christian fiction author. Let’s add “To God Be The Glory” to our playlist.

If you’re an author, what song would you add?

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Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb kicked off her Tribes of Israel series in October with the release of “Providence: Hannah’s Journey.” Naomi’s journey, “Building Benjamin” is out now. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America.

Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot.

Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.

As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.

Connect with Barb on her website, Twitter, facebook and Goodreads.

Purchase on Amazon, B&N

God’s Time Clock by Barbara Britton

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a firm believer in God's perfect timing. Today, debut author Barbara Britton shares her experience with that perfect timing. -- Sandy

Barbara: In October, my debut novel released. It wasn’t the first novel that I wrote, it was my fourth. I had amassed over two-hundred rejections by the time Providence: Hannah’s Journey sold. Did I get discouraged along my nine year journey to publication? Of course, who wouldn’t? I had heard stories of how someone’s first book—a NaNoWriMo novel no less--got repped and published in a very nice deal. What about my stories? With every story of overnight success, there are countless stories of authors writing five, ten, or many more years, and remaining pre-published. It can be discouraging until a writer remembers who created life’s time clock.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” The Biblical writer goes on to list activities. I like to list in my mind, a time to be published. I believe in God’s sovereignty and provision, and when I truly thought about it, I knew that I would not be published one day sooner, or one day later than God ordained.

Now, this doesn’t mean you can sit back and not write, or not learn about the business. We need to be diligent with the gifts God has given us, and trust in His timing. When I received my release date for Providence, I was discouraged because I had a fall release and I would have preferred a spring release. I know, petty right? But then I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I realized a spring release would be a disaster. I couldn’t launch a book during six weeks of radiation therapy. God’s timing was, and is, perfect. He knows the story of my life better than I do. He knows the big picture. He holds my future (Now the hymn is playing in my head).

We never know how God is going to use others in bringing about our “time.” I thought I would submit my work to agents, receive a request for a full, get “The Call” from a literary agent for representation, and away to editor submissions and publication I would go. I heard this was the way to get published. Right? Wrong. Everyone’s journey is unique. My path to publication started with an e-mail from a writer I knew who wondered if I was doing Pitch Wars. I had never heard of Pitch Wars. It sounded scary. Little did I know that Pitch Wars is a mentoring program for pre-published writers. I was chosen to be mentored, and my mentor “just happened” to take on an alternate who was an acquiring editor for Pelican Book Group—a Christian Fiction publisher. The rest they say is….a God thing.

Pray that God will open your eyes to His timing. We think we have it all figured out, but He will orchestrate your best journey. In His, and your, perfect season.

Care to share your experience with God's perfect timing---whether it's writing related on something else?

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Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb kicks off her Tribes of Israel series in October with the release of “Providence: Hannah’s Journey.” Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America.