I’ve attended a few writers’ conferences, and I have found they are a lot like politics-full of varying opinions.  So far, this is what I’ve learned.

#1. There is no right way to publish.   There are a wide range of options for getting material in print. Here are three.

Local print company                                       Self-publishing                                        Traditional publication
   --face to face interaction                                  --online communication                           --online communication
   --author hires an editor                                    --author hires editor                                --company provides editor
   --prints exactly what you give them           --prints exactly what you upload               --prints after both editor and                              and no changes can be made                     and changes can be made                        author approve the final draft
   --must purchase many copies in bulk           --purchase books as needed;                  --given a few free copies; must   
to reduce price; purchases must be             purchases made anytime                           purchase the rest at slightly 
made within a set time frame                                                                                                 reduced cost; stipulations                                                                                                                                                                                      to when/how long an author may                                                                                                                                                                          make purchases
   --requires a set-up fee; no royalties              --no set-up fee; pays royalties                   --pays the author up-front and                                                                                                                                                                             pays royalties  (Smaller companies                                                                                                                                                                    charge fee then offer a royalty)
--author does all the marketing                       --offers only online marketing                       --offers online marketing, brick and                                                                                                                                                                  mortar store options, and may assist with                                                                                                                                                           media contacts
--anyone can do it                                                 --anyone can do it                                       --unless using small fee-charging                                                                                                                                                                      press, must go through an agent
--the author must build a reputation                   --author-built reputation                               --some notoriety given to author based                                                                                                                                                          on the publisher’s reputation

#2. There is no perfect thing to write. Because humanity is so diverse, there is a market for every kind of written work. Every author will have both fans and haters.

#3. There is no right way to write. Some people have regimented writing schedules while others race through projects whenever the inspiration hits.

#4. There is no perfect marketing strategy, but an author must have one. Some people hit the roads; others pound the keyboard of social media, but to get a work noticed, a strategy must be implemented. That strategy is the author’s responsibility, even if he or she is traditionally published. More often than not, this is the writer’s nemesis.

#5. A good writer has a good community. This should include other writers who support, encourage, and offer criticism that’s helpful for growth. In addition, writers have the need to improve their skills just as any other job requires continuing education, so learning from teachers, speakers, and professionals in the field is a must. Experts who have honed their craft are a big part of the writer’s success. No matter how great a writer may be, he or she will encounter the need for professional help. Editors, formatters, agents, web designers, and accountants are some of the folks a writer may need along the way.  A writer’s community must also include those who take up the slack in the other areas of the writer’s life. Whether it’s a patient spouse who adjusts his or her schedule to accommodate some of the writer’s needs or a great friend who offers a listening ear and a belly laugh, the people in the writer’s private world are part of the writing community.

#6. Writing is not for the faint of heart. When the creative juices are flowing, writing can be an exciting field, but the steps to becoming published include stumbles, missteps, setbacks, and challenges. Rejection and disappointment are part of the package. A writer’s skin has to be thick to take the punches associated with the project. Even good criticism can hurt when someone is talking about a writer’s baby. The dead times where life or sickness or lack of focus seems to hinder the writing process, can be exasperating. Waiting for others, choosing the right path for a project, and experiencing closed doors can be frustrating. Engaging the help of professionals can be expensive. Writing then marketing what’s written is a business; therefore, it takes time, effort, and money just like any other business enterprise. Always, writing is hard work, but those willing to put in the time and energy will reap the fruit of their labors.


#7. Everyone has to start somewhere. Whether it's building a platform, or picking up the pen for the first time, each writer's journey is filled with fresh challenges and new beginnings. The present is a great time to take the next step!

I recently followed #OurDayGodsWay Twitter posts, which offered the following helpful tips.By way of disclaimer, I'm working on these; I've not yet experienced mastery.

#1. God begins the day.  First things first. We need to fellowship with God at the beginning of the day and let Him dictate the agenda for our remaining wakeful hours of time. By starting our day with God, it’s likely we’ll continue to enjoy Him throughout the day. When I spend time with Jesus first thing in the morning, I don’t have that “I’ve got to hurry up with my Bible reading so I can….” feeling. Sharing intimacy with Him sets the tone for my day. I’m more likely to be singing than screaming! When God is not first in my day, He’s likely not center of my world. Therefore, I can clutter up my time with things that are meaningless and unproductive, and I can become easily frustrated. I’ve always said that life is like a paper plate. If it’s soggy and folded in half, then we’ve loaded it up ourselves. God’s agenda is perfectly proportioned to our time. In fact, I have found that I actually accomplish more after spending unhurried time with God.

Tip/Tidbit: @LaDistrictWomen suggests the following: set the clock 10 minutes early and spend those minutes with God. Then, set your phone timer to go off throughout the day as a reminder to keep God #1. Take a moment to connect with Him at each interval.

#2. Put the big rocks in first. Doing the things that are most important, the things that are most unpleasant, and the things that are time consuming can actually free up our time for more enjoyable things. I find that when I deal with the things stressing me, I can actually do a better job on the tasks I need or want to do. For example, if I have writing projects I need to work on, but I also need to deal with a marketing issue, I want to procrastinate on marketing because it is the part of the industry I dislike. But on those rare occasions that I do go ahead and take care of the mechanics of business, then my creative juices flow more easily and I get more accomplished in the time allotted for writing. 

Tip/Tidbit: make a list of the things you need to do but keep putting off. Tackle one of those projects today!

#3. No multitasking.  What!!!???  I used to be under the impression that I most closely resembled Wonder Woman when I was multitasking. I still tend to feel gratified if I get a lot done in a little bit of time. However, statistics show we aren’t truly giving attention to what or who is at hand if we’re doing a juggling act.  My son recently shared a funny video clip about this topic. A person whose was supposedly able to multitask was asked to identify certain objects during an interview. The short version is that when he was distracted, he missed those objects even though they were presented in an incredibly obvious way. We miss meaningful moments with family, delights of nature, and God-speak whispers when our minutes are cluttered.

Tip/Tidbit: Use your minutes wisely. Practice mindfulness (truly paying attention to things and people around you) This is one I will definitely have to work on....sigh....

#4. Break the BUSY habit. So many times in God’s word, the Lord tells us to be still or to stand still or to rest… yet we are usually set on spin cycle, whirling frantically through life. We can get addicted to the adrenaline rush of busy. I am a task-driven person, so this is a real pitfall for me. Unless someone is my “task” (a person I need to visit in the hospital, etc..) it’s hard for me to sit down and be simply BE, but when I make myself SIT!! and truly enjoy the people in my life, I feel so enriched, and “my people” respond positively as well. It’s much easier to navigate through differences with others when good, meaningful and fun moments have been shared. In addition, when I give myself permission to bask in a moment rather than requiring myself to accomplish something, I experience long-term benefits. Those moments of stillness can be a fueling station to replenish me physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  I admit I struggle with this and have, in fact found "relaxing" stressful (So much to do!! So little time!  Why sit?) The result? Burnout. Frustration. Meltdowns. A NON-abundant life. Not the life God intended. Doing REST God's way is part of doing LIFE God's way. 

Tip/Tidbit: Evaluate your agenda. Are you too busy to “BE”? If so, make time for doing nothing but sitting in the quiet with God. I've actually enjoyed a cool breeze and the flight of humming birds this morning, and the peaceful result is incredibly refreshing. Hey! This may become habit-forming!

#5 No deathbed regrets.  Too often there are things people wish they’d done but ran out of life to do. Though bucket lists are common, most often it’s not an incomplete bucket list that causes remorse when someone faces debilitation or pending death. Regrets most often involve failed relationships or lack of spiritual pursuit. Sometimes they lie in fulfilling a purpose or calling. We’ve heard the phrase, “Live life intentional,” and it’s so important that we do. If we don’t make time for the people in our lives and the things that are important, then time can be wasted on the non-essential. Instead of fulfilling a destiny, we devote our time to meaningless pursuits and become entrapped with the mundane. If we don’t purpose to stay connected with God and with people, it's likely we will find ourselves with more distance than we'd like between us and them. If we don't make the time for that heart-yearning, it's likely we'll accomplish what we feel like life demands rather than what our true being would like to be or to do. It's not always about getting the perfect results. It's more about knowing we made the effort. 

Tip/Tidbit: What are your values? Are you living them? Who is important to you? Are you connecting with them?  What do you want to accomplish in life? Are you setting goals to make that happen? Oh…and about that bucket list…Is there something you’d really like to mark a check beside? Get started today living the life you were meant to live.

***To view the these tips in the format that I read them, visit @LaDistrictWomen or @EatThisBook on Twitter. Tweets include pertinent Scripture passages, additional tips, and relevant resources.