Do It Scared!


This could be your best year ever.

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Brendan zip-lining through the Santa Cruz Mountains at Mount Hermon

According to Michael Hyatt, leadership mentor and best-selling author of Living Forward, if you wait until you aren’t scared, it won’t happen.

What is “it”?

The possibilities for your life. And 2017 could be the year that turns it around.

We’ve been working on taking our lives forward with intentional purpose (if you have missed my Take Your Life Forward guide, sign up my email list and I’ll gladly send you a FREE copy), and I’m thrilled to offer you some tips and resources that can make that happen.

One of the things I love about Michael Hyatt is how helpful he’s been at teaching people to be purposeful with their lives.

That’s why when he offers a webinar, I jump at the chance to participate.

As always, Michael shares valuable information.Whether you buy his books or products or not, you can be certain he will teach you important truths and lead you well. (Can you imagine how much MORE valuable his books and products are than his free advice? Yep. They are that valuable!)

Today I offer some tips from his recent webinar titled 7 Steps for Taking Control of 2017: How to Leverage Goal Setting to Design the Life You Want. And while I can recap here, I highly recommend buying his book, Living Forward,and signing up for the actual course here.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”      Wayne Gretzky

The above quote has already been a reminder to me this week to press into things that I am afraid to do or think I can’t manage. That alone has been valuable insight passed on by Michael. Here are a few others:

  • Clarify your priorities.
  • Make sure your goals are written, specific, measurable, and with deadlines.
  • Goals should push us a little outside our comfort zone so we continue to grow.
  • Everyone feels fear, uncertainty and doubt-those feelings show we are on the right track.
  • We must have a compelling reason to accomplish the goal.
  • Don’t focus on too many goals at once – start with a few and work toward more.
  • Chunk our goals into small, bite size pieces that start easy.
  • Track your progress so you are motivated to keep going or readjust.

These are just the basics.

For the full benefit of Michael’s instruction check out his website and sign up for his course at Best Year EverBest Year Ever, and/or get his book, Living Forward to make 2017 the year that living forward began with turning fear to opportunity.

What would you like to accomplish this year that has made you afraid in the past?

Finding an Agent


After a few trusted author sources recommended I find an agent, I began the search last month.

I printed a list of recommended literary agencies DSC_0001off Michael Hyatt’s website, and proceeded to examine each agency website. Thoroughly. Even though I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for. I pray as I search, so I guess I’m waiting for a sense of “rightness” that settles with me.  Something that makes me feel I’d like to work with these people, and hopefully, perhaps they’d feel the same about me.

I already “found” one such agency and sent a proposal according to their guidelines. Side note here: according to numerous sources, it appears that people actually disregard agent/publisher guidelines. Seriously? That seems to me to be the quickest way to rejection. Why go to so much work and then blow off the submission guidelines? I don’t get it. Ok, off my box.

So I submitted my query/proposal, but realistically the chance that said agency will want me seems pretty slim. Probability-wise. It could happen (oh God let it be so!), but I’m not holding my breath. Therefore, I’m on the hunt for back-ups. Following that advice from other professionals seemed like a good plan.

Unfortunately, I had never heard of most of the authors represented on every single site. 

At first that made me feel like some illiterate, ignorant dolt. Are you kidding me? I write (as an amateur yes, but still…), and I read extensively, so how is it I don’t have any idea who most of America’s current authors are? But then I found it strangely encouraging realizing how many published authors are out there. So many, in fact, that I, in no way, can keep up. Good for me in the sense that it’s okay if not everyone knows who I am or follows me on Twitter.

Some agencies represent vast numbers of authors, many whom I did recognize and have read. Famous people that I think everyone must have heard of. Authors whose books have consistently made bestseller lists. Other agencies have lists of authors who aren’t published yet, don’t have websites or seem (at least to me) to still be in the amateur writer category, if you get what I mean.

At the end of the day, my confusion (and confession) was this:

Do I want an agency like the first one I mentioned? Or a better question is would they want me? If they’ve managed to get all these great authors published, I want them on my side, right? But they’re a little intimidating with their bestseller author lists. Would I even stand a chance?

Or, do I want an agency like the second one described? If many of their authors are yet unpublished (exactly where I am) or mediocre writers (I hope I’m not), can I rely on them to represent me? Or am I simply delighted that there’s a chance for us amateur writers to find an agent?

There you have it.

Dilemma of the day. Anyone have any thoughts?

How to Make Your Writing Goals SMART


Last year one of my goals was to open a Twitter account.  IMG_4050

On December 31, 2011 I posted my first tweet. I don’t think I would have done that if I had only thought or even said to myself that I should start tweeting. I knew it was something that would help my writing career; social networking builds platform, right? But without a clear, specific, measurable goal, I would have gone on thinking about something I should do, but probably wouldn’t have done it or at least not for a long time.

This week I met another goal!

I submitted my first proposal to an agency. Again, while I knew it was the next step, and headed in that direction, it took a specific, measurable goal to accomplish it. My writer friend encouraged me to submit it within a few days of us talking or wait until after the holidays. That specific deadline challenged me in the best way to take care of something on my writing list in a timely matter. Without a measurable goal, you know the story…I’d probably be sitting here working in short bursts of “shoulds”. Instead, I have a proposal sitting in an agent’s office. (Thank you Sherry!)

But how do I make my goals S.M.A.R.T?

Most of us self-motivators have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals, introduced by Paul J. Meyer in Attitude is Everything.  These goals are: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.  Let’s see how we can convert some “shoulds” into SMART goals.

Instead try: By the end of this year, I will open a Twitter account and post my first tweet.

This is a specific, measurable and time-bound goal because I listed a particular action to be accomplished within a set time period.  At first, a Twitter account didn’t seem attainable because I’m not very accomplished with technology, but as it didn’t require a degree or special class, I could attain it by simply checking into it. The goal became more relevant as I blogged and wrote more to build a platform.

  • I should learn my craft.

Instead try: I will attend at least one writing conference this year and practice writing by turning out 1,000 words per day. Or I will subscribe to Writer’s Digest and read each issue to learn my craft; and I will practice by writing 500 words per day.

You can see that naming an action like attending a course or subscribing to and reading a magazine and actually writing a specified number of words each day is specific, measurable, relevant and time-bound. Attainable may depend on your finances or time so adjust as your resources allow. If you need to work an extra three hours per month to save money for a conference, that can be an additional goal.

  • I should work on my novel.

Instead try: On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I will spend two hours writing my novel. Or, I will edit my novel from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. every morning until its finished.

  • I should look for an agent.

Instead try: By (fill in date), I will choose five agents from the list on Michael Hyatt’s website.

  • I should submit a proposal to said agent.

Instead try: By Friday of this week I will submit my proposal to the first agent of five on my list. After three weeks, if I have not heard anything, I will submit to the next agent. (Make sure these agents accept simultaneous submissions.)

 

I think you get the idea. Make it specific, doable and with a deadline.

Happy writing!

What ways have you made goal setting work for you? Has this post been helpful? I’d love to hear from you!

Throwing Out a Lifeline


There is so much great information out there!

Sometimes abundant good advice can be hard to sort through. I don’t know about you, but my mailbox is loaded with tips on writing, grammar, blogging and marketing. It’s easy to feel saturated and a bit bloated by it all–a little like you may have felt yesterday after Thanksgiving dinner!We love it all, but can’t eat like that every day.

That’s why I try to pass along the advice that I find particularly helpful at various points in my writing journey. I’ve told you about some wonderful books, Everything by Mary DeMuth and Wonderstruck by Margret Feinberg, for example. And Michael Hyatt’s book Platform has been encouraging and helpful in building mine!

But today I wanted to pass on to all my writer friends one of the blogs that has been especially helpful in the area of writing fiction. I’ve not only read it, but actually put it into practice! The tools are easy to understand and broken down into simple instructions. I hope you will find it as helpful as I have. You can find The Fiction Writer’s Guide to Writing Fiction on Nick Thacker’s site: http://www.livehacked.com/books-products/

Happy Writing!

 

 

 

Published: To Be or Not to Be


Are you ready to be published?

That is the question I asked myself after listening to an interview by Michael Hyatt with literary agent Rachelle Gardner earlier this week. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve been working my tail off the past year and a half learning the craft and doing everything every agent, author and publisher has told me (or written for the masses). I want to be published. I’ve been working toward that goal. Not just so I can say I’m published, but because I long to inspire, help and encourage others with my struggles and the victories I’ve experienced because of God’s hand in my life.

But Rachelle made a very good point.

Being a writer is one thing, being a published author is quite another. Getting published opens a world of marketing and networking and business.That world is about producing a commodity and making it sell-able. It’s about promoting your writing, and being open about your experiences. Am I ready for that world?

Questions need to be asked.

Is this a hobby? Or a career? As I prepare to launch a speaking ministry to complement my writing, what am I getting myself into?

I’m taking a deep breath and proceeding with caution–and determination. Yes, I want this. Am I ready? I hope I will be when the door flings open and the lights spot me. Until then, I look at today. Be present. Be teachable. Be a writer.

Is writing a hobby or something more? Where do you see your writing going? Are you ready?

How to Become a Professional Writer


“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”

Richard Bach

This quote caught my attention earlier this week.

My apologies to you whose blog I “stole” it from because I didn’t make a note of where I saw it when I copied it down and now, can I remember where it was?? Of course not! This is the life of reading so many words from too many places; and getting old. There’s a lesson here about citing sources, I’m sure. Thank you unnamed author. May you be justly rewarded in some fantastic way! (If you are that blogger, and read my blog as well, would you be so kind as to let me know so we can settle up?)

My response to the quote above was, “Wow! Really? Then there is hope for this amateur writer because I will not quit!”

Seriously, the quote may seem facetious, but it holds a simplistic truth. Sometimes, all it takes to succeed is us not giving up. I think of my daughter, Ashley, who recently ran a half marathon in Vancouver, Canada. It was her first, and she didn’t quit. She crossed the finish line (in a relatively decent time even) and became a marathon runner. Still, she had put in training time.

While the simple theory of the quote encouraged me, I also considered all I’ve been doing to become a professional writer. Nearly a year and a half ago, I finally decided to take writing seriously and began doing everything I was told.

Here’s my list:

  1. Take writing seriously. I know I already wrote that, but that is how important the step was for me. I had to choose to write for real. Not just say it, or dabble in it, or read a lot and dream about it.
  1. Learn to write well. In high school and college I was told I had a gift for writing. For some crazy reason, I believed that meant everything I wrote and sent out for publication would be snapped up with a grateful “Thank you for gracing us with your wonderful work.” After a dozen rejection letters, I felt crushed and indignant. Then I decided I must not be any good after all. When I humbly accepted that I had things to learn about writing, my writing improved. Imagine that! I’m still learning. We can always learn something new or perfect what we already know. Mt Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference has been invaluable.
  1. Write. Seems like a no brainer, but honestly I can spend a lot of time doing “writing” tasks without typing a word. 10,000 words or hours or something… Bottom line: we need to put in a lot of hours actually writing.
  1. Build a platform. What’s a platform?? Honestly, this has been the hardest part for me. First to understand the need, then to be genuine about it and finally to simply put in the time to learn the technology and make connections. I’m currently reading Michael Hyatt’s book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. I’ve already learned so much in just a few chapters! (Like now I know that I’m supposed to write a disclaimer–according to FTC rules–saying I’m not being compensated for mentioning Michael’s book or Mt. Hermon. I list them simply because I think they’re so helpful.)
  1. Learn to write fabulous book proposals. So my book is done and in the final stages of editing, but how’s someone going to hear about it unless I can pitch it well to an agent or publisher? Guess what? I’m reading a book about that too.

It seems like a lot of work because it is.

I’m fortunate to be able to work full time (ha! I use that term loosely) on my writing, but it’s still a challenge to spend so many hours doing something without being paid and think of it as a “job.” Explaining to people what I do for a “living,” that I write…for nothing, presents a challenge in my mind. But I’m trying to see it as an investment. As in a startup company. Like a professional. One day it will all pay off.

What’s your list? How have you turned pro by not giving up?
 

What Is Most Important?


What is most important to you?

My husband and I have been working on a Life Plan we were introduced to on Michael Hyatt’s website. We took a few days and went away to plan our lives…specifically our marriage and family goals. Our time away was very productive; we prayed a lot, talked a lot and took pages of notes. We thought figuring out what was most important to us would be easy, but actually the activity challenged us with some great questions:

  • Do I live according to my values, or do I say I value something but live in a way that doesn’t show it?
  • Where do I fit into what’s important to me?
  • What place should work have on my list–do I work simply to live or do I love what I do?
  • Are relationships or tasks more important?

These are just a few of the discussion topics that came up. All of it was so valuable to us.

An interesting thing happened when I returned home.

I noticed that even though I didn’t talk much about my writing priorities, when I settled back into writing mode the path ahead held more clarity than it had previously. Mentally, I had a plan mapped out that was previously vague. What a pleasant surprise! Jumping back in felt exciting and productive. I knew where I was headed, simply as a result of spending time working out those questions.

We’re still at it.

My husband and I still have planning to do, but we feel more purposeful about our daily lives since our time away. We believe what God says about a man making plans, but God directing his steps (Proverbs 16:9). I’m confident that the plans ahead will be fabulous.

What is important to you? Do you have a life plan? How do you set goals?

Brand Yourself


I think I’ve finally grabbed hold of the message.

This past year of writing, I’ve wrestled with all the usual writer issues like:

  • Keeping my butt in the chair (distractions at home with family…need I say more?)
  • Putting actual (and many) words on a page–or computer screen now that I’ve succumbed to technology
  • Believing I have something worthwhile to say
  • Learning how to craft my words into something enjoyable and inspirational to read
  • Publishing…to e-book or not to e-book; that is the question

But the one element that’s kept me in a headlock is platform. I’ve taken classes, read articles and looked at author websites. Voices of various publishers echo in my head “You have good content, but you need a platform.” A platform shows why people should listen to you. Your brand showcases your expertise.

Branding–Like a cowboy with a searing hot iron on a cow’s rump??

Okay, I’m teasing. I understand what branding in the marketing world really means. A previous job as an editor/writer for a Christian ministry brought me into direct contact with the concept of branding as we toyed with various ‘looks’ for the author/speaker who was my boss. But the concept, while understood, felt vague when I attempted to apply it to myself.

Then, this week I read something that Regal editor, Kim Bangs, was quoted as saying. It grabbed me.

Brand yourself, not your writing.

Thank you, Kim!! I’m sure you’ve said it before, even to me at Mount Hermon, or at least in your workshops, but I finally get it. It finally makes sense to think about my passion, my ministry, and what God has for me to say to help the world. Like an umbrella, my unique brand will cover all my writing and speaking.

So I’ve been searching for the meaning to life this week.

The meaning for my life at least, and the purpose for my writing. Who am I? What am I all about? What do I give to others?

I’ve been collecting what people say about me through comments on my blog or remembering when someone felt encouraged by something I’ve said to them. That means I need to listen and accept compliments they offer.

I’ve considered what gets me fired up. I love to see people grow from one place in their lives to the next especially when I’m allowed the privilege of  helping them move along by encouraging or instructing them, or being a champion on their behalf!

Platform is about you.

Or me. It encompasses who we are in relation to others’ needs. I’m finally seeing the point.

So, what is your life about? What’s your passion? Your platform?

I’m looking forward to reading Michael Hyatt’s book now that I’m finding myself and my purpose in writing. Understanding is a good place to start, but now I want to apply all I can.

If you see something that might help me grasp my brand and platform, please feel free to share a comment. Likewise, if you would like my input, I’d be happy to check out your writing too.

Happy branding.