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My 10 Favorite Writing & Publishing Experts (thus far)

Writers have to Start Somewhere. Resources Matter a Great Deal

Writing e-blogs and e-sources abound. A writer must begin to differentiate between the various writing and publishing bloggers and businesses.  I began to acquaint myself with who offers what. Here is what I do. I look for quality and practical use and excellence in content and services. I receive these posts in my email inbox as a way to keep me current and for ease-ablity .  I follow blogs I enjoy because of what they offer me: the writer’s style, topics, and goodies they offer that I can purchase to use in my own writing.  It is in my best interest to peruse these blogs because they offer me substantial information that will keep me on track as a writer. I don’t want to waste my time on rabbit trails. It also helps me with efficient use of time.

My Ten Favorite Writing & Publishing Experts:

  1. Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent at Books &Such–blogs about books, Author, How Do I Decide? Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing (A Field Guide for Authors). www.rachellegardner.com– All about writing well, due diligence, and writing conundrums, some content specific to Christian genre
  2. Joel Friedlander,The Book Designer—practical advice to help Self-Publishers build better books, www.thebookdesigner.com, – All about format, design, and implementation of excellence in book creation, development, & marketing. Author,  A Self-Publisher’s Companion. He has longevity in the book designing field (he knows what is most likely to sell)
  3. Shelley Hitz & Heather Hart, The Writing Coach–training Authors for Success, self-publishing coaches and authors, www.selfpublishing coach, www.trainingauthors.com, www.BodyandSoulPublishing.com – About training authors for success, self-publishing and book marketing know-how, leans toward Christian genre. Author, Self-Publishing Books 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing Your Book in Multiple Formats
  4. Michael Hyatt, Intentional Leadership—leading with purpose, personal productivity, book publishing,and social media. Bestselling Author  Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, www.michaelhyatt.com– All about platform building i.e. personal development, leadership, productivity, platform, and publishing. He has a wide variety of topics and longevity in the author/writing field.
  5. D’Vorah Lansky, Marketing Wizard—book marketing made easy, www.bookmarketingmadeeasy.com, Bestselling Author, “Book Marketing Made Easy” & Book Marketing Made Easy: Simple Strategies for Selling Your Nonfiction Book Online and 21 Ways to Launch a Successful Virtual Book Tour– All about building a business with your book(s) by using effective marketing strategies
  6. Dr. Jeanette Cates, Internet Strategist for Small Business, small business strategist, www.jeanettecates.com, Author, Sell More Books As A Teleseminar Guest: Marketing Your Book 60 Minutes At A Time and several more books on book marketing and online business.
  7. Jeff Goins, On Writing, Ideas, and Making a Difference, blogger, speaker, and author, You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)  www.goinswriter.com
  8. Mary DeMuth, Live Uncaged— Christian speaker, author, and writing coach, www.marydemuth.com, Author,  Spiritual books–The Wall Around Your Heart: How Jesus Heals You When Others Hurt You and  Not Marked: Finding Hope and Healing after Sexual Abuse and many more books
  9. Dan O’Brien, Amalgam Consulting––local author and entrepreneur, Northern California literary and publishing consulting business at http://amalgamconsulting.com/, www.thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com/ Author, Publish Your Dreams and many more books.
  10. Deb Brammer, Discover New Worlds—Christian writer, author, missionary, and blogger (with tips for writers), www.debbrammer.com, Author, nonfiction Edges of Truth: The Mary Weaver Story and other spiritual books and writings.

Writing business blogs (I consistently read) will have specific components and commonalities:

  1. Blogs will contain current information that serve my writing interests
  2. Blogs will offer quality writing materials or services for the novice writer and author packaged in a user-friendly format
  3. Bloggers will share their expertise to teach what will improve your business while also highlighting pitfalls to avoid
  4. Bloggers who create interest through on-going mobility with exposure to new trends, ideas, and writing solutions
  5. Bloggers who respect other people in the writing field and give credit where credit is due
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Encouragement During the Down Times

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I was in the midst of sorrowing, my heart unhappy and sad. An unusual occurrence made the day brighter. I share it with you. From 2008.

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A dried out baby rose in a clear vase sits with several companion blooms in a dark corner. For close to a month they sat on my kitchen counter until I relegated them to the top shelf of a bookcase out of sight. They signified a memory meaningful only to me and were losing some of their beauty.  Once in awhile, I would look at the tiny blossoms, fragile petals in variegated pink hues, the last bouquet from a friend whom had been dear to me.

A glance would transport me back to better days when life seemed to have more promise, more joy.

Over the course of the ensuing months, on occasion I would look at the roses to see if there were any changes or if they should be cast in the awaiting waste basket.  They remained the same, still-life, heads down.  I couldn’t bring myself to toss them out.  I missed my friend, a sliver of sorrow would clutch my heart, and I wished life had given a different outcome.

Then one day as I finished having a lengthy time alone with God and was getting ready to go on with my day, a heaviness in my heart making the day seem dark, when something arrested my attention.  A small whisper came to me, entering into my thoughts, “Go look at the flowers.”  I gathered myself from the place where I sat and entered the room.  The dried roses were there, the same as always.  Nothing had changed.  I walked closer to them, carefully removing the vase off the high shelf as I looked intently at the dried petals.

I noticed some dust particles and a few miniscule webs crisscrossing their delicate heads.

The whisper spoke again and said, “See the one that’s not drooping down?  Look at it.”  Sure enough, there was one rose in the center of the bouquet with its dried blossom looking out and slightly up.  The other roses were drooping in quiet deadness.  “Its name is Hope.”  The thought quickly framed itself in my mind, and I focused on that one uplifted bloom reaching high to elevate its head.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I gently replaced the vase.  “Flowers having names?” the question floated through my thoughts.  “Do you think the Creator names His creations?” I mused to myself as I returned to my tasks.  My spirits lifted, and I felt lighter.  I was encouraged by a dried up little flower that had the good fortune to be named, Hope. Its message became mine. There is always hope. 

Throughout the day I thought about hope, hope during those times when we are in need, and hope when all is right in our lives.

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Today I needed its strength, its reminder.  My eyes searched for it, rested a moment, to see its little face looking up. Reassured, I went on with my day, a small element of peace settling my feelings of discomfort. Yes, it offers me a small blessing in the complicated thoughts of my day.  I am thankful for my little gift, my encourager that helps me refocus when hard moments come my way. I still have my vase of blooms, one move and six years later.

Hope is a sweet blessing who never loses her hope.