Why We Shouldn’t Despair Over Lack of Interaction on Blog Posts by Dawn Kinzer

Dawn Kinzer

You spent considerable time coming up with a thought-provoking idea for a blog post, then more time writing and re-writing the piece until you were satisfied it was worthy of national attention.

The day came when the article went live for all the world to see, and then . . .

Nada. No comments. No feedback. Nothing.

And you pondered the results. 

Did anyone read the words I so masterfully assembled? Did I touch anyone? Encourage even one person?

You’re not alone!

But, don’t despair! No or few comments doesn’t mean we bombed! Nor does it signify that what we wrote didn’t inspire, challenge, or move people.

Here are three reasons why we can believe it:

1. Although readers may have LOVED the article, they may be unable to share something personal or unwilling to put their thoughts out there with the possibility of being judged.

2. Some readers don’t comment because they believe they have nothing profound to say in response, and they don’t want to come across as being silly or shallow.

3. Technical problems may hinder some from commenting. Did you know that Blogger/Google no longer allows anonymous comments? So, unless a reader has an account with Google, he’s unable to post on a blog hosted by Blogger. (However, if the settings on the blog allow “anyone,” including “anonymous” readers to leave a message, the comment may be accepted.)

The pros say if you want to generate comments, write something controversial to spark discussion. But, here’s the thing. Seriously Write isn’t a controversial blog. Our goal has never been to stir up arguments. Our mission is to equip and encourage writers. And reality? Although Seriously Write has a large following, we have a quiet audience. More often than not, we experience more dialogue on our Facebook profiles where our team daily links the articles than on the blog, itself.

There’s another thing we need to remember. Unless a blog is completely deleted, our articles are available for readers ongoing—for years!

In 2012, our Seriously Write hostess, Annette Irby, shared her article, “Nuance: Are You Really Saying What You Mean?” The post has received only four comments, but it’s been viewed over 14,500 times!

On my personal blog, an article I posted in 2011, “Brothers and Sisters,” continues to hold the top rank in views. Yet, it has yet to receive one comment!

So, take heart, dear writers . . . and write on.

And don’t forget to leave a comment below!  (wink)

When have you been let down by lack of response to a blog article you labored over? How did you handle that discouragement?

Hope’s Design

Hope's Design

In 1904, Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country, and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope doesn’t have much choice but to give in to her parents’ wishes that she move far away and live with her cousin indefinitely.

Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift. Instead, he devotes much of his days to helping his younger sibling rebuild a farm inherited from a great-uncle. Only his brother is aware that Ben spends his spare time in a studio on their property.

In the small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, Hope and Ben can’t help but be thrown together. But as feelings for each other deepen, tension thickens over how talent should be used. Their mutual passion for art brings them together, but will it also drive them apart?

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals and magazines. She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton, and Hope’s Design is the second. Rebecca’s Song will be released in 2018.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

You can connect and learn more about Dawn and her work by visiting these online sites: Author Website, Dawn’s Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Sign up on her website to receive her newsletter, and you’ll receive Dawn’s short story, Maggie’s Miracle (PDF format) as a gift.

Hope Changes Everything by Dawn Kinzer

Hope Changes Everything

Fridays at Seriously Write are devoted to sharing personal journeys to publication and offering encouragement to new and experienced writers. But today, I want to turn the tables and focus on our readers. I’m talking about offering hope.

Almost everything we do in our lives stems from hope.

There wouldn’t be any point to starting a diet if we didn’t have hope it would work and we’d lose weight.

Would we make a trip to the mall to shop for a new outfit if we had no hope of finding something we’d like?

Without any hope of getting a certain job, would we spend time and energy sending a resume and pursuing an interview?

However, it goes much deeper than those things, doesn’t it?

People who have hope have a reason to get up in the morning. They believe during challenging times, painful circumstances will change. Their finances will turn around, the sick will feel better, and broken relationships will be healed.

Most recently, thousands had their lives turned upside down by Hurricane Harvey. The devastation we witnessed on the news from our comfortable living rooms was difficult to watch. The number of people who were reaching out to help, risking their own safety, humbled me. It also made me feel guilty for having grumbled about the ongoing hot temperatures and draught that Seattle experienced over the summer.

When people have hope, they expect a rainbow to someday follow the storm.

But what happens when no matter how hard they try, things still don’t go right? When they’re hit with one horrible blow after another, and there just doesn’t seem to be a way out of their hurtful or messy situation?

They lose heart. They give up. Without hope, people die. If not physically, they die inside.

As Christians, we know all about hope. It’s what helps us deal with dark days, insurmountable obstacles, and heartbreak. We have hope because we know what we experience on earth is temporary. We know there is more beyond our life here.

It may not take much to restore a desire in someone to keep going, to try again. But who’s going to light that spark?

Perhaps it means providing physical needs—funds, items for survival, shelter, or even opportunities that will help them move forward. But, hope can even be ignited by something as simple as an encouraging note, an offered prayer, or a shared cup of coffee and a listening ear.

As Christian writers, I believe we have the ability—and maybe even the responsibility—to inspire hope with our written words.

Will you be someone who kindles hope in those around you?

Remember . . . hope changes everything.

How can you offer hope to someone this week?

Hope’s Design

Hope's Design

In 1904, Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country, and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope doesn’t have much choice but to give in to her parents’ wishes that she move far away and live with her cousin indefinitely.

Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift. Instead, he devotes much of his days to helping his younger sibling rebuild a farm inherited from a great-uncle. Only his brother is aware that Ben spends his spare time in a studio on their property.

In the small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, Hope and Ben can’t help but be thrown together. But as feelings for each other deepen, tension thickens over how talent should be used. Their mutual passion for art brings them together, but will it also drive them apart?

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals and magazines. She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Her personal blog, The Garden of Dreams, focuses on encouraging women to find purpose and pursue their dreams in the different seasons of their lives. Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton, and Hope’s Design is the second. Rebecca’s Song will be released in 2018.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

You can connect and learn more about Dawn and her work by visiting these online sites: Author Website, Dawn’s Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Sign up on her website to receive her newsletter, and you’ll receive Dawn’s short story, Maggie’s Miracle (PDF format) as a gift.

Confessions of a Writer by Dawn Kinzer

Dawn Kinzer

When asked why we write, how often do we respond because I can’t not write? That’s a valid reason. Many of us probably feel that way. We have a need to fulfill that creative part of our DNA. Of course, many of us also hunger to make a difference in someone’s life, and we hope our written words can somehow do just that.

But, I’ve recently recognized another purpose for me laboring over my stories. I’ll confess . . .

No—wait! Let me give you some backstory first.

The other day, one of my daughters called me, and the tone of her voice relayed she was close to tears. A friend had just confided in her that she didn’t know what to do. Her little girl—the same age as my granddaughter—had come home from a weekend visit with her father and his girlfriend with possible signs of sexual abuse. The mother had taken the toddler to a doctor, and with his report, had taken the father to court. But without more proof of what was going on, the mother was ordered to allow the father to continue seeing the child.

My daughter wanted to comfort her friend, but was also emotionally caught up in the horrific possibility of what the child might encounter during the visit.

“Mom, how did you do it? How did you listen to people’s stories and not fall apart?”

You see, I worked for a number of years as an advocate and support counselor for victims of sexual assault. Countless hours of training helped me learn how to separate myself from the pain I was hearing, while still caring for the women and girls who suffered.

I had to separate myself. With a personality profile of INFJ (Myer’s Briggs), it’s easy for me to take on another person’s pain as my own.  I couldn’t do that—be sucked into the experience to that degree—and be of any help.  Instead of drowning in pain along with those who had been abused, I had to remain in the lifeboat.

I’ll confess … I’m a closet control freak. I’m also a fixer. Without reminding myself of boundary issues—and the possibility of someone actually learning an important life skill—I’d be too quick to jump in and try to make everything better.

If I could, I’d control situations around me and make the world easier—happier—for everyone. The friend who has financial struggles would find long-term relief and no longer need to apply for food stamps. The mom who has to watch her little boy deal with cancer again would see her boy healed. A family member who has mental health issues would seek help. Broken relationships would be healed.

Sometimes not having control frustrates me, and not being able to fix things makes me sad. Sure, I’m able to pray, offer encouragement, and even take action to help lighten the burdens they carry, but I’m not able to free them completely.

Of course, when I write and create stories that have internal and external conflict, I take my characters on journeys where they face challenges and struggle. I pray that readers see themselves in my characters, as well as potential to grow and change. I remind them that God truly does want the best for them, even when it doesn’t always feel like it. My desire is that people feel inspired and filled with renewed hope.

One of the reasons I write? Regardless of what I put my characters through, I have the freedom and ability to control the outcome of a story. In a world filled with so much heartbreak, I can still share God’s constant love and desire to heal the wounded, and I can always give my characters a happily-ever-after.

What are some of the reasons you feel compelled to write? Have any surprised you?

Hope’s Design

Hope's Design

In 1904, Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country, and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope doesn’t have much choice but to give in to her parents’ wishes that she move far away and live with her cousin indefinitely.

Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift. Instead, he devotes much of his days to helping his younger sibling rebuild a farm inherited from a great-uncle. Only his brother is aware that Ben spends his spare time in a studio on their property.

In the small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, Hope and Ben can’t help but be thrown together. But as feelings for each other deepen, tension thickens over how talent should be used. Their mutual passion for art brings them together, but will it also drive them apart?

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends, The One Year Life Verse Devotional,  A Joyful Heart: Experiencing the Light of His Love, and featured numerous times on the radio ministry, The Heartbeat of the Home.  She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Her personal blog, The Garden of Dreams, focuses on encouraging women to find purpose and pursue their dreams in the different seasons of their lives. Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton, and Hope’s Design is the second.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

You can connect and learn more about Dawn and her work by visiting these online sites: Author Website, Dawn’s Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Six Things I’ve Learned About the Writing Journey by Dawn Kinzer

Dawn Kinzer

As we move into a new year, I hope to grow in writing skills and in knowledge about all the moving parts in the publishing industry. We can’t know too much, can we? 

Today I’m sharing six things I’ve learned about the writing journey itself, and I hope you’ll find my words encouraging.

1. It’s important to do what feels right for us.

I once thought that I’d never self-publish. As they say . . . never say never. I’ve now become an indie author, and although that decision has brought some challenges, the rewards are many. Some of us may choose traditional publishing. Some may choose indie-publishing. Others may want to live in both worlds as a hybrid. Regardless, there are decisions to make in terms of platform, marketing, website formats, blogs, social media, etc.  

2. It’s not a race.

It doesn’t matter if critique partners are published before us. It doesn’t matter if so-and-so has released twenty books to our one. That one book published at the right time can impact lives. So, are we writing to fill up bookshelves? Or are we writing to touch people’s hearts and minds?

3. It’s never too late, and we’re never too old.

I sat at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference five years ago wondering if it was too late for me. Talented writers half my age were signing contracts with publisher and agents, and the door hadn’t opened up for me yet. I came home from that conference filled with anxiety and a drive to work faster and push harder. 

But, I don’t believe that’s what God wants for any of us. Thankfully, with a little time, and God’s help, I chilled out and began to relax with the process. I recently turned sixty (yikes!), and I feel like I’m just getting started.

By the way, did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t publish Little House in the Big Woods until she was sixty-four? Frank McCourt published his first book, Angela’s Ashes, when he was sixty-six, and he went on to win the Pulitzer, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the L.A. Times Book Award.

4. We shouldn’t forget to enjoy the journey.

I don’t personally know what it’s like to write for the secular market, but in a field that is so competitive, Christian writers are still generous with their time, knowledge, and encouragement. The friendships I’ve made with other writers have been and continue to be priceless. That alone has made this journey so worth accepting the struggles and disappointments that come with it.

5. We’ll never arrive.

What do I mean by that? One of the things I love about writing is that it will always be challenging. I don’t think we’ll ever arrive at the point where we’re unable to gain additional knowledge and skills. There will always be more things to learn and more ways to improve what we do.

6. Through writing, we’re given opportunities to make a difference, and with God’s help, we can even change lives.

From my perspective—that’s pretty exciting! 

What have you learned while on your own journey?

Hope’s Design

Hope’s Design

In 1904, Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country, and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope doesn’t have much choice but to give in to her parents’ wishes that she move far away and live with her cousin indefinitely.

Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift. Instead, he devotes much of his days to helping his younger sibling rebuild a farm inherited from a great-uncle. Only his brother is aware that Ben spends his spare time in a studio on their property.

In the small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, Hope and Ben can’t help but be thrown together. But as feelings for each other deepen, tension thickens over how talent should be used. Their mutual passion for art brings them together, but will it also drive them apart?

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends, The One Year Life Verse Devotional,  A Joyful Heart: Experiencing the Light of His Love, and featured numerous times on the radio ministry, The Heartbeat of the Home.  She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Her personal blog, The Garden of Dreams, focuses on encouraging women to find purpose and pursue their dreams in the different seasons of their lives. Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton, and Hope’s Design is the second.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

You can connect and learn more about Dawn and her work by visiting these online sites: Author Website, Dawn’s Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.