Mistakes Learned & Lessons Learned by Emily Wickham

When I embarked on my writing journey 13+ years ago, I didn’t realize where God would guide my steps. I’ve attempted to walk this road with excellence, yet I’ve made mistakes along the way. However, God has grown me through those experiences, and I pray He uses the lessons I’ve learned to help you.

MISTAKE #1: Seeing the Publication Path as a Sprint Rather than a Marathon

Writing is hard work. Building a platform can be even harder work. Then there’s the art of marketing before and after your book is published—a requirement if you desire to sell books. Did I mention that God’s call to write involves hard work? It often requires years, too.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9, KJV).

LESSON #1: Success as a writer includes patience and diligence.

MISTAKE #2: Being Unprepared

I once followed some well-meaning but incorrect advice when I met with a conference faculty member. Instead of taking a book proposal with me, I simply presented a one sheet. It looked fabulous. It got the agent’s attention. But then he wanted to read a writing sample, which I didn’t have. The agent peered at me over the top of his reading glasses while I fumbled for words, quickly concluding our time was complete since I couldn’t produce anything for him to read. And that was that. I’ve never forgotten.

“Go to the ant ... Observe her ways and be wise, which... prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NASB).

LESSON #2: Always be prepared.

MISTAKE #3: Lagging Behind on Conference Requests

About two years ago, a VP and associate publisher expressed interest in two of my manuscripts. She requested proposals for both, and I was thrilled.

I returned home from the conference fully intending to submit my proposals. However, I didn’t sense any urgency because professionals prefer quality submissions over hastily sent material. After revising one proposal, I e-mailed it almost five months later.

Perhaps it would have turned out great except the industry professional I’d met no longer worked for the publisher. I contacted the company directly and explained the situation, but they never replied once they discovered I lack agent representation.

I’ll never know what might have been.

“Be careful how you walk ... making the most of your time” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

LESSON #3: Submit requested materials in a timely manner.

God always helps us when we ask because He cares about our needs. Let’s learn from the past and move forward with the Lord. His timing is perfect, He equips those He calls, and He entrusts us with writing opportunities.

Learn from one writer’s mistakes and the lessons she’s learned. #WritersLife #WritingCommunity via @emilywickhamPH @MaryAFelkins

Note: This article is adapted from a longer version first posted at www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com

EMILY WICKHAM seeks to stir hearts toward Jesus. She writes for Journey Magazine, a LifeWay publication, speaks at ladies’ events, and shares “Devotions for Women” videos on social media. Emily encourages Christian women plus equips Christian writers on her blog, www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com. She is the author of one Bible study, which was translated into Spanish in 2016. Emily, a resident of North Carolina, is Mark’s wife of 29+ years. They are the blessed parents of four children and one daughter-in-love. God’s faithfulness and love inspire Emily on her journey through life as she purposes to exalt Christ through written and spoken words.

Connect with Emily:
Website: www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emilywickham.author
Twitter: www.twitter.com/emilywickhamPH
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/estherstudy
Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilywickham.author

Book Blurb:
Whether you’re a Spanish-speaking sister who longs to grow closer to Christ, or you’re looking for a Spanish Bible study to use for outreach in your community, please consider using Alcanzando la Justicia. It guides women through the book of Esther, challenging them to grow in righteous behavior—to make God-honoring choices each day. Daily prayers, Scripture readings, observation sections, author reflections, and application questions are included. This workbook is designed for individual or group use and contains instructions for following a one month, ten week, or thirty-one week schedule.

See Emily’s website for special offers or purchase her book on Amazon.

What Do I Do Now? By Angela Arndt

Angela Arndt

It’s two weeks after the ACFW writers’ conference. Are you’re still wondering what you need to do?

Here are a few suggestions:

Thank You Notes
Shoot off a couple of quick “thank you for your time” emails to every editor or agent you met.

No. No. No.

Send a hand-written note instead to every editor, an agent or mentor. You can even send a note to the workshop or continuing education instructor. 

Be sure to include specific things from your conversation. List the follow-ups that they suggested and tell them how you going to do them. 

If you really want to stand out, James L Rubart suggested that your thank you note echo your book. My book is set on a bee farm, so I sent a small jar of honey with my handwritten note. Did you meet in the coffee shop where he/she ordered tea? Send them a small box of their fav. Details show that you care.

Business Cards
I know, you took 250 business cards to Conference and came back with 243. Did you get a card from each person you met? Congratulations! You've doubled your sphere of influence.



So what do you do with all those cards? The easiest way to process them is to find an app that will pull the information from business cards and put it directly into your Contacts program. (Both Evernote or CamCard offer this function.) Then, don't forget to Like or Friend them on Facebook.

Like or Follow? Should you “Like” their business profile or send a friend request to their personal profile? The answer to that question is this: how well do you know them?

• Business Page - if they are multi-published authors with followers in the thousands and the only interaction you had with them was to ask them to pass the pepper, you should probably "Like" their business page. 
• Friend Request - if the two of you had a long discussion and he or she said, “Here’s my card, be sure to friend me on Facebook,” feel free to send them a friend request. Most writers wouldn’t mind more friends!

Agent or Editor Follow-Up
If an editor or agent requested a proposal from you: Do. It. Now. Even if your manuscript isn't ready, send it. Just include a deadline in your proposal. Then, be sure to send your manuscript before that date.

These are just a few things I heard in the hallways at my last conference, but I'd love to hear more. What are you doing to help your dream agent remember you or help your manuscript stand out from the hundreds of others?

About the Author

Angela Arndt was a corporate trainer before health issues sidelined her. These days she’s active in her local church, ACFW and is a regular contributor to MBT's Weekly Spark, in addition to being a team member of Seriously Write. She'd love you to join her on her personal website, too.

Angie's current manuscript placed third in the Orange Rose contest and is a finalist in the Maggie Contest. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency and is currently working on a series of novels set in small Southern towns. She and her husband live in the middle of a big wood outside a small town in South Carolina.

My Publishing Journey by Annette O’Hare

Annette O'Hare

Many writers anticipate attending conferences throughout the year. These gatherings offer great opportunities to learn more about the craft of writing, meet agents and editors, and make lifetime friends. For some, like author Annette O’Hare, they even swing open the door to publication. Enjoy! ~ Dawn

My Publishing Journey

I returned from the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in 2014 with my first publishing contract and an agent. It’s true. It really can happen, but in the words of the late great, Paul Harvey, now for the rest of the story.

When I finished writing my first novel, Northern Light, I began looking for a publishing house. This part of the writing process can be very frustrating when you learn most publishers won’t consider a manuscript unless it’s been requested at a conference or submitted by an agent. There are, however, a few small publishing houses that accept manuscripts directly from the author, like my publisher, Pelican Book Group.

After a painless online submission process, I received a request for the entire novel! Then came the part every author dislikes…waiting. Sometime later I heard back from the editor informing me that my novel didn’t fit with their line, but I didn’t give up. I negotiated with the editor and she agreed to take a second look after I made some suggested changes. I resubmitted and was then told that my novel was going to committee! Then, once again, I waited.

Fast forward to September 2014. I’m attending the ACFW conference in St. Louis and who’s on the editor list, Pelican Book Group. I requested an appointment and told the editor the whole story. She assured me she would talk to “her people” and get an answer.

That night after the awards gala I packed to go home following an uneventful conference. I checked my e-mail for my flight information and noticed e-mail from the head editor at Pelican offering me a contract for Northern Light. I started crying.

I called my buddy, Janice Thompson, who was still talking to friends after the gala. I tried telling her my news, but she couldn’t understand me through the tears! She told me to come to her ASAP. I pulled on jeans and a t-shirt and rushed downstairs. Boy did I look silly around all the ladies and gents dressed in gala attire!

When I finally got the words out, Janice and everyone around cheered with me. Janice told me later how she originally thought I had lost a loved one! Another friend, Kathleen Y’Barbo, was with us at the time. She asked if I had an agent. No, of course not. Kathleen disappeared and returned with literary agent extraordinaire, Julie Gwinn, who I’ve been represented by ever since.

My publishing journey may sound like a Cinderella story, but I don’t have a fairy godmother or a magic wand. The truth is, publishing is a long process where you find out you don’t know much of anything! And if it were not for the grace of God I never would have made it through.

In a nutshell, that’s how it happened. Northern Light was released in February 2016, and Julie is working hard to sell my next historical romance. I’m currently writing a historical novella, to be included in a collection with two of my agency mates.

Northern Light

Northern Light

Civil War has robbed Margaret Logan of all she holds dear, including her beloved New Orleans home and her fiancé. When her family moves to the desolate Bolivar Peninsula to manage a lighthouse that is no longer there, all her hopes for a normal future are dashed. Her world is rocked once again when a wounded Yankee soldier washes ashore needing her help. Despite her contempt for the North, Margaret falls in love with Thomas Murphy. As their love blooms, Margaret’s sister is overcome with neurosis, and her mind slowly slips away. Bitterness, psychosis and depression yield a decision fueled by contempt. Will one fatal choice cause Margaret to lose the man she loves and condemn Thomas to death?

  

Annette O’Hare is an inspirational author of historical fiction. She lives close to Houston, Texas with husband, Dan, of thirty years. The O’Hares love saltwater fishing on the Gulf Coast and spending time with family. Annette loves the history and heritage of Texas and that love comes through in her writing. She is a long time member of American Christian Fiction Writers and ACFW Writers On The Storm. It is Annette’s genuine desire to reveal God’s love to her readers and hopefully give them a laugh or two. Annette and Dan are proud parents of two Texas A&M graduates, an exceedingly imaginative high school freshman and two rambunctious, loveable rescue dogs.

You can learn more and connect with Annette at these online sites:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/24LR8OW     

Website: http://www.annetteohare.com

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/V9Qt7U

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annetteohareauthor/       

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnetteOHare  

Quit Tomorrow, Not Today by Ane Mulligan

Ane Mulligan

Gina Holmes appeared on a talk show recently. Her advice to writers was, “Quit Tomorrow not today.” Sage advice and something she and I know a lot about.

I met Gina at a writers conference in 2004. We were both at the beginning of our writing careers. We became critique partners, along with a couple of other writers, and by 2006, we were sure we’d get that call any day.

We'd signed with agents by then, who were sending out our full manuscripts. Every year, we’d tell each other, “This is the year!” But each year would go by without contracts. We were doing everything right. We continued to grow in our craft, attended conferences, and yet ... those coveted contracts were just out of reach.

One year, I went as far as pub board, only to have the slate filled for that quarter. The editor was moving me to the next quarter. Then she retired. And her hard drive was wiped clean. The hard drive with my manuscript on it.

Discouraged? You bet your bippy! But I never thought of quitting. I couldn’t anyway; I’d have exploded. There’re too many stories and voices bubbling up in my head.

The only people who fail are those who quit. If you’re that discouraged, quit tomorrow; but don’t quit today. Instead, today start a new manuscript, write a blog post, plant a garden, write a short story, start a photography journal.

There are a lot of ways to spark your creativity. After all, if you’re a writer, you can’t quit writing. So don’t even think about it. I’m glad I didn’t. When I finally got the call in 2013, I had several manuscripts waiting and ready.

****

Purchase link

While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, bestselling novelist Ane Mulligan has worn many: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), drama director, playwright, humor columnist, and novelist. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction. She firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. President of the award-winning website, Novel Rocket, Ane resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and chef son. You can find Ane on her Southern-fried Fiction website, Google+, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and Pinterest. Her sophomore novel, Chapel Springs Survival, will release Dec 3^rd, 2015.

What Might Happen When You Attend a Writers Conference by Dawn Kinzer

Dawn Kinzer

Like people, writers conferences come in all sizes. I’ve attended smaller, but still awesome, conferences like the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal conference held every spring in the Seattle area. I’ve also enjoyed the benefits of larger gatherings for a number of years.

Some of you might be preparing to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference next week, which will be held in Dallas, Texas. If so, maybe it’s your first time—or perhaps it’s become a yearly event on your calendar.

Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or a conference pro, along with the excitement of what could happen, it’s not surprising that many attendees are also a little nervous about what might happen.

Most of us like to remain in our comfort zones, don’t we? It’s easy to stay with what’s familiar. So, we may opt to play it safe rather than risk failing and feeling disappointed or looking stupid.

But what if we were willing to leave that protected space?

In 2005, I found the courage to travel from Seattle to Nashville for my first ACFW conference. I hadn’t been a part of the organization for long, and the only member I’d had any personal contact with lived in Arizona. We shared interest in a particular story topic and had communicated a bit through e-mail. She was attending the conference and had already committed to sharing a room, so she connected me with an author who was looking for a roomie.

This nervous introvert got off the plane alone, determined to step out of her comfort zone and be intentional about meeting people. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. That trip changed my life.

My roommate turned out to be an outgoing person (as you know, many of us writers are introverts) who not only knew tons of people, but who was willing to take me under her wing and introduce me to her friends and professional acquaintances. I had an amazing time, it was a huge growing experience, and the result was that I attended six national conferences after that one. Those events helped me create close friendships with other writers, taught me to network with professionals in the industry, and gave me a strong foundation for knowing what it takes to make it in the publishing world.

If I’d never ventured into that scary territory, I might have given up on pursuing a writing career.

Instead, I did the following:

• Challenged myself as a writer
• Survived—and even learned to enjoy conference appointments with agents and editors
• Learned how to set up and manage my blogs and websites
• Taught several workshops at local writers conferences
• Left one job to start an editing business

That’s just a small list, but the point is, my life would look completely different now if I hadn’t taken any risks. So, I try to be brave and leave my comfort zone when opportunities arise. I’m not always successful, but I’m getting better!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

You never know what might happen when you attend a writers conference. You might experience some disappointment—but you might also have the time of your life!

Are you attending a conference this coming year? What concerns do you have? What are looking forward to?

Dawn Kinzer is a full-time freelance editor. Her own work has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends, The One Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), A Joyful Heart: Experiencing the Light of His Love (Guideposts), and featured on the radio ministry, The Heartbeat of the Home.

A mother with two married daughters and one grown stepdaughter, she lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. With great joy, they welcomed their first grandchild into the family and are looking forward to another addition in 2016. Some of her favorite things: dark chocolate, popcorn, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theater.

You can learn more and connect with Dawn at these sites:

Author Website

The Garden of Dreams Blog

Faithfully Write Editing

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