I’ve received more than a few requests over the past weeks on how to write an eBook.

The printing and publishing business is changing–and fast! Yesterday as I was watching the movie The Help, I was reminded just how far our culture has come with putting words on a page.

Not only are we allowed to write about all things including race or sex, but we have religious freedoms as well. As a Christian and as a writer I believe we have a responsibility to seek and speak the truth. Clearly one is much harder than the other.

My favorite verse (pertaining to writing) in the Bible is from 1 Chronicles 16:24 and Psalm 96:3 that says,

“Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does” (NLT)

Since I recently self published my own eBook, I thought I’d share 8 tips on how to write an eBook and get it published.

Tip #1 – Start With an Outline. Open Microsoft Word and start typing your ideas for chapter titles. This will get the juices flowing. Over time you can expand and actually start writing certain chapters, or copy and paste them where you think they’d fit better. An outline is supposed to be messy. Sometimes I sit on a book title and/or outline of a book for a year (sometimes even years) before I get the inspiration and courage to follow through.

Tip #2 – Follow Through. If you say you’re going to do something then you need to do it. Write and keep writing. Write until you get sick to your stomach or feel weak in the fingers. Write until you break a pencil and your heart. Write until the words don’t stop flowing and you feel at peace. Write when you know your schedule is too busy and write when you’re procrastinating. Write when you’re wanting everything to be perfect and write when everything is a mess. The writing process, as ugly (or clean) as it may be, is part of the fun. You have to start somewhere. Never despise small beginnings.

Tip #3 – Search Amazon. Most eBooks are sold on Amazon. Start searching titles to see if yours is unique or if there are over hundreds with the same title. Keep keyword searches in mind. For instance, if you want to write about relationships like I did, keep your title relevant to keywords or phrases regarding relationships. This makes it easier for people who have never heard of you to search and find your new book.

Tip #4 – Set a Budget. There are plenty of people who are willing to take your money. Want to know how much I paid to self publish my eBook? I paid $269. Not $2,699 or $20 but $269. I paid $200 for editing and $69 for graphic design including the picture I bought off Shutterstock.com. This is not the time to start skimping or refuse to hire a professional. If you want to sell many copies than it needs to act and mimic other books that are professional (see: not self published). Let’s face it–there are many ugly and hideously cheap looking covers and words out there just waiting to bombard you. Make sure yours stands out. Take the time to get it right the first time. You only have one chance for your book cover to make a first impression. Also the first few sentences of the first paragraph of the first chapter are very important, and so on and so forth!

Tip #5 – Don’t Do it all Yourself. I want like to clarify that I did not upload Loves Me Not, my eBook, to Amazon, Smashwords, or Barnes and Noble. Since MagGregor Literary Agency represents me, and this is a service they provide for their authors–I went for it! This is also one of the reasons why I switched agents and literary agencies because as an author I want to make sure I am staying current with the trends. I also know my limits when it comes to formatting and technology and this is definitely something I did not want to attempt myself. That said, maybe you are gifted and maybe you don’t have an agency who will do it for you. Ask around. Hire someone if need be–otherwise here are the uploading and formatting requirements for Amazon and Smashwords. If that doesn’t help you can always Wiki the answer.

Tip #6 – Pricing Matters. You don’t want to price your book too high or too low. Did you know that Amazon takes 65% of books sold between $0.99-$1.99 and 30% between $2.99-$9.99? If you’ve never published with a traditional publisher you might not know how many pages would equal a certain dollar amount. I wouldn’t recommend self publishing an eBook for more than $4.99. An eBook is meant to be easily accessible, downloadable, and purchasable. You want to add value to your name, brand, website, etc–not ask for too much from people. See below for pricing and word count suggestions:

+ $0.99 – 5,000 words or less (for instance a Chapter, a teaser, a booklet, or a giveaway for your blog/website)

+ $1.99 – 5,000-10,000 words

+ $2.99 – 10,000-20,000 words

+ $3.99 – 20-000-30,000 words

+ $4.99 – 30,000-40,000 (plus) words

Tip #7 – Marketing Matters. Just because there are lots of crappy eBooks out there doesn’t mean if you follow these tips and make the most presentable, most professional eBook known to man are you guaranteed to sell a ton of copies. The great thing with eBooks is they never go out of print! Times have changed and sometimes it can take a book a while to catch on. With traditional publishing, they have sales reps who sell mass quantities (wholesale), that juice up your stats. When my first book, Faithbook of Jesus, released on March 8, 2010 the entire print run of 5,000 copies had already sold out. This is not the same with eBooks. There are no “limited” quantities or numbers of print runs. Please don’t be discouraged if your book doesn’t sell well in the first week or weeks. My literary agent, Amanda Luedeke just released her first eBook, The Extroverted Writer and in it she gives all sorts of amazing tips on how to market yourself (not just for eBook only authors, but for all authors). I suggest you buy a copy for yourself. She also said if you sell 400-500 copies in a month or the first few months you’re doing alright.

Tip #8 – Celebrate with friends, family, and food. It can be so easy to get caught up in the lonely life of a writer. Don’t neglect your family and friends. When you take the time, money, and effort to get that eBook out there–it’s time to celebrate and never look back! You can market all you want, but at the end of the day the people you’re living with mean (and should matter) the most. Even if that means sacrificing some key marketing time or writing one last article. If you’re a writer who wants to be around for the long haul you’ll quickly learn that it’s a marathon not a sprint. I tried that and got burnt out. Don’t get burnt out! Have fun and remember to enjoy the process and smell an iPad

[Photo: ktoth(.), Flickr]

The post How to Write an eBook appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

[Guest post by Amanda Luedeke - Meet my literary agent! She is not only talented but a fellow millennial. I am so excited to not only introduce you to her, but her new book The Extroverted Writer. If you are needing marketing/platform help, this eBook is for you. Leave a comment below to win a free copy.]

When people find out I’m a literary agent, they almost always tell me about a book idea they have.

I work with authors to sell their books to publishing houses. If it’s not a book idea, it’s a manuscript they’re working on–or the story idea that just won’t leave them alone.

This happens so much that many in the publishing business will joke,

“Everyone has a book inside them.”

While many may talk about their book ideas or publishing aspirations, few are actually doing anything about them.

It’s the dream that easily gets eaten by life and kids and spouses and commitments and, yes, television and movies and all of those forms of entertainment that soak up our time.

But I say it’s time to put an end to the cycle.

It’s time to pursue that story idea or nonfiction book or personal memoir you’ve been dying to write.

And for those of you who have written, but are sitting on your manuscript, keeping it locked away, it’s time to show it to friends, family, and maybe even some industry professionals. It’s time to get it looked at in case the words help others. In case you’re sitting on something that God wants to use.

And for those of you who have written and are trying to make a go at publishing, it’s time to get serious about pursuing the writing dream.

It’s time to make this a priority.

It’s time to listen to that voice inside that is telling you to go for it.

I’m 29 years old—fairly young for a literary agent. My story of following my writing dream goes something like this…

I’ve always liked to write. So despite disapproving looks from some of my elders, I pursued it in college and graduated with a BA in Professional Writing. Most with this kind of degree don’t do much with it. They end up working in banks or insurance offices or for lawyers. Shortly after college, I wasn’t much different. I waitressed for a year and a half while I desperately searched for a “real” job.

During this time I felt God calling me to be an admissions counselor. So, for that year and a half, I applied to every such opening I stumbled upon, and eventually, I was hired at my alma mater.

I loved being an admissions counselor, so when the school closed nine months after I took the job, I felt lost and confused.

How could God put such a desire in my heart only to take it away?

It just so happened that during those few months on the job, I met Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, who was working at the school as a visiting professor. After the school closed, I took a job at a local marketing firm, but I also began to do work for Chip.For the next three years, I maintained my full time marketing job while also working part time for Chip.

And in fall of 2011, I went full time as an agent.

The funny thing is that being an agent is very similar to being an admissions counselor. Except now I work with books and authors instead of students and their parents. And what’s even better is my writing degree–that little degree that had felt like a hobby–is being put to good use.

I followed my heart. I followed my love for writing and then my passion for admissions.

I did what I felt God wanted me to do. And now I’m privileged to work as an agent in an art industry that I love.

I want to challenge you to follow your dream—follow that desire that God has placed on your life.

And if that desire involves getting your author career going (whether you’re planning to epublish, self-publish, or traditionally publish), maybe I can give you a head start.

I wrote a book about building an author platform. As I said before, my background is in marketing, and so I love helping writers think through brand-building and promotions and all that good stuff. I love it because it’s the nuts and bolts behind whether a book and an author career will be a success. It’s the one controllable element amidst a bunch of randomness.

For anyone ready to take that next step in their publishing career, I’m giving away one free copy of my book, The Extroverted Writer: An Author’s Guide to Marketing and Building a Platform. This book is for the published and unpublished…pro’s and newbies alike. In it, I talk about author websites and blogs and Facebook and Twitter and other devices that can be used to build a platform and get noticed.

To enter to win, simply leave a comment below, telling a bit about how YOU plan to take the next step toward your writing dream.

A winner will be chosen at random on April 19.

The book will be gifted in the form of a Smashwords download coupon.

Amanda Luedeke is a literary agent with MacGregor Literary. Every Thursday, she posts about growing your author platform. You can follow her on Twitter @amandaluedeke or join her Facebook group to stay current with her wheelings and dealings as an agent. Her author marketing book, The Extroverted Writer, is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

[Photo credit: bingbing via photopin cc]

The post Pursuing the Writing Dream appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

10 tips How to start an online magazine.

When I started blogging on xanga, I wasn’t sure what I was doing, which is why I only posted 3-5 times.

When I started a blogspot account, I had no idea it would merge with Google and then no longer be considered the “cool” place to be (see: WordPress.org).

But.

My growth exploded on blogspot. I posted over 400 devotionals, and it’s also where I found my calling–writing devotionals and articles that encourage and spur others forward (Hebrews 10:24). My blog is also the place where my writing turned from hobby to business, and then to an online ministry.

I realized if I was serious about writing that I would have to get serious about my blog too.

Recently, I stumbled upon a new blog trend–the online magazine.

In 2012 I hosted 78 guest bloggers and found myself drawn towards telling other people’s stories more than my own. It also gave me a much-needed break from the hamster wheel of writing, publishing, and promoting my two (going on three) books.

Recently, I have contributed to or encouraged by a few good online magazines (see below), that I decided to widen the scope of my blog into a more appealing and inviting format for new writers–the online magazine.

StartMarriageRight.com
ProdigalMagazine.com
GoodWomenProject.com
iBelieve.com
RelevantMagazine.com
DeeperStory.com
SheLovesMagazine.com

Hopefully these 10 tips below will help you better understand how to expand your influence while giving new writers the chance to share their story as well.

Tip #1. Launch a self-hosted WordPress blog in 20 minutes.

Michael Hyatt, former Chairman & CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, created a step-by-step video that I highly recommend watching and following. I recommend using his affiliate link to go through Bluehost.com (the #1 recommended WordPress hosted site). A year’s worth of hosting will run you about $60 (give or take).

Tip #2. Buy a WordPress Premium Theme.

If you google “wordpress premium themes” it displays over 34 million hits. Premium themes can run you between $39-109. It is well worth the investment and allows you to fully customize your site. Expert tip: Make sure to buy a responsive layout, which includes a mobile version that is compatible on any SmartPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc. Girly Tip: Want a cute or girly theme for WordPress? Try BluChic.com.

Tip #3. Decide Which Widgets To Add.

There are a few essential widgets every blog or online magazine should have: Social Media buttons (including Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and/or Instagram), Categories (there should be 3-6 in total), ans Subscription or Newsletter Sign ups. Expert Tip: Use MailChimp.com for all sign-ups including the HTML code to put inside a text widget. If you already use FeedBurner you can simply transfer them over to MailChimp (google a tutorial if you need too).

Tip #4. Where To Find Good Stock Photos.

A photo really is worth a thousand words, but is it worth that much money? Chances are if you’re blogging you’re poor (hey!) and don’t have the time and/or money to search for expensive photos. Expert Tip: Search CreativeCommons for FREE photos (or CreationSwap.com for more “churchy” photos), and don’t forget to give photo credit in the blog (*see below). If you prefer buying your stock photos try: ShutterStock.com or iStockphoto.com.

If you’re terrible at PhotoShop like me, consider buying a year subscription to PicMonkey.com for about $30 bucks. You can create Facebook banners, add text, and create photo collages. The best 10-step tutorial on how to use PicMonkey.com is on Mary DeMuth’s site.

Tip #5. Use Your Browser Bookmarks.

Your bookmarks are your friend. I love Firefox because it has a Bookmarks Toolbar. I have: BibleGateway, Gmail, Google Docs, My site (including WordPress Login page), Hootsuite, Twitter, Facebook, Creative Commons, Pinterest, PicMonkey, MailChimp.com, and more. Expert Tip: Bookmark every site you use to make a blog–that way you won’t forget when creating your blog.

Tip #6. Decide Which Plugins To Use.

To keep your site running smoothly and efficiently, don’t install more than 10 or so plugins. Activate these plugins: Akismet, JetPack by WordPress.com, WordPress SEO, and Social Media Widget. Expert Tip: Learn how to use WordPress SEO. It keeps you from using more than one keyword in your title, post, picture, etc. It might be frustrating at first, but once you see the green light you know you’ve got it. (Don’t be afraid to ask others for help or google around until you find a tutorial).

Tip #7. Ask Others To Guest Post

It’s okay to ask other people you know and love you to guest post. It gives other like-minded writers the chance to share their story. However, I have noticed that sites can quickly become a click or closed off to new members. Obviously certain sites can’t respond to all new inquiries because of size or volume. Expert Tip: Stay open and inviting by creating monthly themes in advance and placing writing requirements for submissions.

Tip #8. Advertise on Blogs or Online Magazines.

This requires a 150×150 or 300×250 logo. Create one in PicMonkey (like I did). Don’t be afraid to ask, bargain, or beg. Also this can later become a badge for people who post on your site. A great example of this is (in)courage.me. Every time they accept submissions they send you a sweet little button to post on your site to let others know that you guest posted for them!

Tip #9. Check Your Stats Weekly.

Chart your progress of how many stats you currently have to what you would like to have. Maybe there’s a keyword people keep typing in to find your site. Consider turning that word or phrase into a monthly series, individual post–or ask someone else to write on the topic if you’re not comfortable. Expert Tip: Use Google Analytics or JetPack (a WordPress plugin) to track weekly stats.

P.s. It’s okay to cry if your stats and/or comments aren’t where you’d like them to be. Every author needs encouragement to know they’re on the right back. (Hugs).

Tip #10. Pick Daily, Weekly, or Monthly Themes.

If your website is all about bananas you probably shouldn’t pick apples as your theme. For instance, I try to pick themes most 20/30-somethings would be comfortable reading and talking about. You might feel like you’re the only one, or you may feel like you’re one of many–but the key is to stay consistent.

p.s. Here are my monthly themes since May 2012:

PAST Monthly Themes

May – What’s Your Story?
June – On Friendship
July – Pre Engagement Questions
August & September – I Survived My 20s
October & November – I Love My Body
December – Dating Do’s and Don’ts
January – On Writing
February – Coping With Anxiety & Depression

UPCOMING Monthly Themes

March – On Living Together
April – On Pursuing Dreams
May – On Broken Relationships & Breakups
June & July – On Forgiveness
August – Missions & The Church

If you have any tips to add or questions please contact me.

*[Photo: Maria Reyes, Creative Commons]

The post How to Start An Online Magazine appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

I like sharing other people’s stories.
Even more than my own.

Last year in a short time frame (April to December) I had over seventy-eight people share their story.

That’s why I turned DevotionalDiva.com into an online magazine.
For you and for those who have yet to share their story.

New people energize me.

Every time I get an email from someone, asking to share their story I get a jilt. My blood starts pumping–and I am truly alive. My missions statement is Hebrews 10:24. My desire is to spur you forward.

Celebrating The Switch.

I decided what better way to celebrate the switch from a plain ole’ blog to an online magazine is to giveaway the books of authors who have become my friends and those I truly admire.

I’m giving away 24 books.

All you have to email me at renee [at] devotionaldiva [dot] com and tell me which one you want. I’ll mail it to you for free, all you have to do is pay for postage. Media Mail is about $3. Out of each person who emails me I’ll assign a number and two lucky people will win: NICHOLAS SPARKS and CHUCK NORRIS AUTOGRAPH.

Sound fair?

I couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate!

Books I’m Giving Away

1. True Woman 101, Divine Design by Mary A. Kassian & Nancy Leigh DeMoss (3 copies)
2. 31 Days to a Happy Husband by Arlene Pellicane
3. LOL With God by Pam Farrell & Dawn Wilson
4. She’s Got Issues by Nicole Unice
5. A Year of Bind Dates by Megan Carson
6. More Than Enchanting by Jo Saxton
7. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
8. Angry Conversations With God by Susan E. Isaacs
9. The Circle Maker (book and DVD) by Mark Batterson
10. Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos
11. Night of the Living Dead by Matt Mikalatos
12. mY Generation by Josh Riebock
13. Heroes and Monsters by Josh Riebock
14. Wrecked by Jeff Goins
15. The Sacred Search (including The Couples Conversation Guide) by Gary Thomas (2 copies each)
16. The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice
17. Coffeehouse Theology by Ed Cyzewski
18. We Can’t Go Home Again by Max Dubinsky
19. Why Holiness Matters by Tyler Braun
20. The Anxious Christian by Rhett Smith
21. Real: Owning Your Christian Faith by Dan Darling (still available)
22. The Story Of Your Life by Matthew West & Angela Thomas (still available)
23. Walking With God by John Ortberg
24. Survival Guide for Young Women by Holly Wagner & Nicole Reyes

Want to WRITE for DevotionalDiva.com?

I encourage you to jump on the new Devotional Diva online magazine and check it out today! If you would like to share your story please click here.

Want to ADVERTISE on DevotionalDiva.com?

If you would like to ADVERTISE on my blog, I have three spots (350×250) on a monthly basis (very reasonably priced). Please send me an email if you’re interested.

The post Celebrating Change appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

I can’t believe I’ve been working on Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me for over ten years. It’s been through four re-writes and two publishers, and the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild when I was 19.

I remember when my friend in DTS (discipleship training program), Ericka said,

“God told me to tell you to write your second book on suffering.”

And when my previous publisher contracted it–I thought “thank you God!” When they canceled it, the verse I got was from Isaiah 43:19, which says “See! I am doing a NEW THING.”

Sometimes, like Abraham–God just wants to test your faith.

Do you believe He can do the ONE THING He promised in your life?
Even when He takes it away?
Even when He kills the dream almost immediately after granting it?

YES.

YES.

YES.

I believe SO strong in the message of this book that I seriously cannot wait for you to hold a copy in your hands and be healed from your unforgiveness.

It’s a prison that no man need enter.

As Corrie Ten Boom said, “there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Do you believe that?
I know I do because I’ve lived it.

Also, I cannot wait for you to read my very FIRST eBook entitled “Loves Me Not.”

It’s a follow up to Not Another Dating Book, which turns one year old this month. Loves Me Not is specifically for those who have experienced a breakup or heartbreak. I write candidly and share my own sorrow to encourage those who are hurt and broken. It will release mid-May before Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me that releases in July with Harvest House Publishers.

The post Two NEW Books appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

I wasn’t going to post this week since I started working on my fourth manuscript, but was delighted to hear from Jeff Goins.

This month’s series on writing was all about helping new authors learn to Start Writing Now #StartWritingNow.

Also, if you missed the series, I posted an easy way to view all of them on Pinterest.

I hope this month’s series has been encouraging–and I wanted to say thanks again to all those who contributed. You are a blessing to me.

Here is my recent interview with Jeff Goins on the subject of writing.

“What would you say are the five most important tips to starting a writing business?”

Don’t start a writing business. Start writing, because you love it. Find a way to help people. Don’t expect to just get paid to do what you love. Look for opportunities to add value to others’ lives; that’s what people are willing to pay for. Become a student of good marketing — whether you like it or not. Establish a personal, memorable brand. And “personal” and “memorable” are not defined by you; they’re defined by your readers. Until they’re opening up to you and remembering what you say, you haven’t arrived. Build a permission asset (i.e. a newsletter, blog, or some way to communicate directly with readers). Always give more than you take and find ways to keep building trust over time.

I think it’s important to view it as a craft, a skill that you build over time and with care. Then–and only then–you can use it wisely and well as a business or a ministry.

A better question is, “How much enduring art can a new writer create in the first few years?” Good art gets rewarded; bad art gets critiqued.”

Jeff Goins loves compelling stories, worthy causes, and Pez candy. He’s been writing for most of my life, but only recently started calling myself a writer and actually believing it. He is the author of Wrecked: When A Broken World Slams Into Your Comfortable Life , and you can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, or his blog.

The post On Writing: Interview with Jeff Goins appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

[Guest Post by Allison Vesterfelt] – A few years ago I quit my job because I wanted to write a book.

A book.

I write it that way because that’s how I saw it in my mind. So much drama, so much mystery. Writing a book (you have to say it that way if you want to understand) was going to be the best thing I had ever done in my life.

Quitting my job happened because someone asked me this question:

“What would you do with your life if you didn’t have to worry about money?”

My answer to the question was, obviously, that I would travel across the country and write a book (sorry, I’ll stop doing that now) about the experience.

So with a little urging from friends, and a rearranging of priorities, I sold everything I owned and set off to visit all 50 states and write about it.

The whole time, the idea of writing was so glorified in my mind. 

I pictured myself living this care-free life of whimsy, sitting in cafes, staring longingly into space as brilliant ideas just flowed into my brain. I imagined how interesting characters, with fascinating stories, would just wander in and out of my life each day. I saw myself doing a lot of smiling and laughing.

So imagine my surprise when the whole thing turned out to be kind of well… mundane.

And those were the good days.

See the problem with the “what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money?” question was that, while it was great for motivating a person to re-examine her priorities, it was not great for getting a person to live in reality.

Because the truth is, people do have to worry about money.

Yes, even writers.

Even writers who are working on books.

And it can be really, really tough to make a living as a writer.

The first thing that shocked me was that you can’t just snap your fingers and get a book deal (astounding, I know).

So even if you want to write a book really bad (really really bad) that doesn’t mean that you’re ready. You might be still developing skills, or developing your idea, or developing your platform. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever write a book, it just means you might not get a book deal the instant you want one. I had to wait five years.

And so while aspiring authors are waiting to write their books, what do they do?

I found out really quickly that I had to creative if I was going to make a living as a writer:

I searched Craigslist on writing.

I wrote copy for advertisements.

I helped people write content for their websites.

I worked on a couple of ghostwriting projects.

And after a few years of writing gimmicky ads for weight-loss programs and pamphlets for neon sign repair, I realized this was not going to be as glamorous as I had hoped. And oh, by the way, still no luck on that book deal.

The worst part about all of it was that I wasn’t really making that much money.

I was barely (barely) paying my bills. And I wasn’t even doing it all with writing. I was substitute teaching a couple days each week, and taking on just about anything besides lawn-mowing that anyone would pass my way. I kept at it, even when it was difficult, but some days I really wanted to quit. And I’m glad I did, because I learned a lot.

One thing I learned is that there is a difference between artist and producers.

Artists (writers) like me tend to not be great producers. By that I mean that we’re great at making things beautiful, but we’re really not that great at convincing people to buy them.

I feel really lucky that during this whole process I met my husband, who happens to be a great producer, and he was able to help me market myself in a way that got me better, higher-paying writing jobs.

He was also able to help me land my book deal.

But since I get that not everyone has a situation like mine, my advice would be this: If you’re not a producer, you have to either find someone who is, and ask for help, or you’re going to have to stretch yourself to become one.

The other thing I learned is that, if glamour is what you’re looking for, writing isn’t it.

If you’re in the profession for the glamour, you might as well just quit.

Because even once I got my first book contract, I still spent early mornings sitting at my in-law’s kitchen table over Christmas break pounding out 1000-4000 words at a time, words that I wasn’t sure were even good. There were some moments of inspiration, sure, but most moments are spent questioning yourself and your craft, and feeling awful because you aren’t sure how this whole thing is going to come together.

This is all part of the process, and it’s not glamorous.

It’s 5am.

It’s pajamas and messy buns.

It’s tears sometimes because you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck.

But yes, I believe you can make it work, if you’re committed and creative and keep at it.

Sometimes you have to work at Starbucks in the meantime, but you learn that you’re not too good to make lattes, and you might even get some interesting stories out of the deal. And for all the grief you’ve experienced, and the disappointment, and the days where you think, “this will never work” you also start to see lives changed.

And if you make it that far…

You can be sure you’re in it for the right reasons.

Allison is a writer, managing editor of Prodigal Magazine and author of Packing Light: Thoughts on Living Life with Less Baggage (Moody, 2013). She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband darrell. You can follow her daily on Twitter or Facebook.

[Picture: maluni, Flickr]

The post On Writing: Can You Still Pay The Rent (and Utilities)? appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

Here are a few tips on how to start journaling daily.

First, watch the video and then read the tips!

1. Start with, “Dear God” instead of “Dear Journal” or “Dear Diary.”

As I said in the video, life is busy and there isn’t a lot of time to write fluffy things or draw hearts and rainbows in your journal. Use your journal instead to be intentional during your quiet time or devotional time with God.

2. Journaling Brings Healing

I didn’t start out to be a writer or published author. In fact, I wanted to be a high school math teacher (algebra). It’s kind of cool to look back and see God’s fingerprints through the pages or my journal. Through journaling I was able to establish my relationship with God, discover my love for words, and my passion to find healing in its pages.

3. Find what works for you and be consistent

As I also said in the video–maybe journaling isn’t your thing. Then find what works for you and try repeating it every day for a month! Maybe it’s sitting down at an empty park or a crowded Starbucks. It’s not always easy to add a new routine, but if you can be consistent for about 30 days then it becomes a permanent habit.

Question: What is it that you need healing from and how can you be consistent daily in prayer and/or journaling to find what God is trying to say to you?

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I’m asking you to share tips on how to start writing now through Thursday the 24th.

As a full time writer and published author of three books, I know what it takes to get published.

I also know that I didn’t get to be published without the help of writing mentors, encouraging family members, and online friends. I’ve also had the privilege of launching new and promising writers myself. Some old. Some new.

My favorite part about being in the writing and publishing business is being able to pass along wisdom.

Because no writer is an island.

This is where you come in! I am looking for YOUR writing tips.

+Maybe you have a cure all for writers block, but need help building your tribe.
+Maybe you’re a good sales & marketer, but need help writing articles.
+Maybe you’re a blogger looking to publish a book, but need help growing your platform.
+Maybe you have an idea for an eBook, but need help with self-publishing.
+Maybe you’re a long time author, but need a new challenge.
+Maybe you want to set up your writing as a business, but need help with your taxes.

Start Writing Now Synchroblog Details

During the next thirty days:

Write a blog post sharing practical tips on how to start writing now. This could include success stories on how you grew your platform, published an article, sold your first manuscript–or whatever you feel would be most beneficial to spur others forward in the writing process.

+Link to the synchroblog landing page at the end of your post: http://www.devotionaldiva.com/2013/01/start-writing-now-synchroblog.
+Post your link at Start Writing Now Synchroblog during the next 30 days.
+Tweet and Facebook your post with the #StartWritingNow tag.
+Include this image with your post: 545 pixels or 250 pixels width.

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I was going to originally post 10 generic tips below, and THEN I was immediately put to the test with my car.

My car that has faithfully lasted me for the past 7+ years.

My car that is already paid off.

The car that Marc and I weren’t expecting to trade in for at least another year.

After boldly declaring on social media last week that tax time is my favorite time of the year–we heard it. That ugly sound that tells you something is once again wrong with your car. The car that you thought would last forever.

The verse I believe God gave me as a promise for 2013 is Isaiah 45:3 that says,

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places,so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

And then on the 2nd of January I read this in my new devotional, The Quiet Places with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

 Untold Riches

…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.–Ephesians 3:16

Deep inside the earth are vast riches still waiting to be found. Some expects estimate that six billion dollars’ worth of sunken treasure lies undiscovered, scattered across the darkened ocean depths of the globe…Yet God’s riches go deeper still. The Bible talks about the “riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience” (Rom. 2:4), the “riches of his glory” (9:23), and the “riches of grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” (Eph. 1:7-8). Yet unlike the riches on the ocean’s floor…the gold in God’s mine can never be emptied. It is limitless. Inexhaustable.

Whatever your need, whatever the deficit, the riches of God are always more than what’s required.

Meet “Treasure” my new car. I STILL believe that even after real life, setbacks, and money issues being put to the test–God provides through his secret storehouse.

It may not happen right away.

It may feel like you’re being set back, but God is always there to supply your every need.

Without further ado, I give you 15 tips that I not only recommend, BUT HAVE LIVED PERSONALLY for the past three years as a full time author.

May you truly be encouraged to start your own writing business NOW!

15 Tips To Start Your Own Writing Business

This is your year to start your own writing business. I can feel it.

How do I know?

If you don’t–someone else will.

Never in a million years did I think I would become a writer–and a full time one at that.

Add profitable and business in the same sentence as writer and I may start screaming.

“IT IS POSSIBLE to become a great writer and make money. I know this because I have done it.”

See, I told you I’d yell.

So how does one go about combining passion for writing with making money? Here are 15 tips to start your own writing business now!

1. Open A P.O. Box – This is the first thing I did. It only cost me $40/per year and it was the best decision I ever made.

2. Get a Writing Mentor or Three – This may not be the easiest thing to do, but with social media there are always more seasoned writers than you who would be willing to share what they know with you.

3. Perfect Your Book Proposal – For those of you wanting to write a book, it’s important to have a P.O. Box so when you ask those including mentors, editors, or whomever–can ship it back to you with edits.

4. Start an E-mail List – Publishers want to know you have a fan base of thousands who are willing to buy what you’re writing. In my opinion, the best way to start is with Mail Chimp because it’s free and easy to use for beginners. Plus they require a P.O. Box. See how starting a writing business starts with the little things?

5. Launch your website – This goes without saying. If you want to become a profitable writer you HAVE to have a website and/or blog. I recommend Bluhost.com and no, I don’t get paid to say that either.

6. Open a Fictitious Business Name – Also called a “dba” or doing business as–mine is Devotional Diva and it only cost me $40 to register with the county clerk’s office.

7. File Your Trademark – It costs around $500-$1,000 or so. I decided to make Devotional Diva my registered trademark because I didn’t anyone else infringing on my brand name. Also, the best decision I ever made because I’ve already had to enforce it!

8. Open a Business Checking/Savings/Credit card – Take the certified piece of paper with your fictitious business name and open your first business checking account with your bank of choice. If you choose to use your name then skip #5 and just open a business checking under your name.

9. Keep Good Records – I use Microsoft Excel to track my income from articles, speaking engagements, book royalties, book advances, and consulting gigs. I thoroughly recommend finding what works for you and be consistent.

10. Start Writing Stuff Off – Tax time is now my favorite time of the year. Why? Because as a self-employed person I get to write a ton of stuff off like new books from Amazon, gas to events, traveling to conferences like Story Chicago, a new Mac products like my iPad and iMac I bought and have written all three books on it. AND I’m not done yet. Although I’m NOT a tax professional, I go to one. Things I also write off include: a portion of our mortgage for rent for my “office” including a portion of ALL utilities, my car, insurance, giving to charities, advertising, website, legal & professional services, office expenses, supplies, travel, meals & entertainment, promotion, research, dues, and my phone. Circle and star this one. This will come in handy every year.

11. Hire a Tax Guy or Girl – I have an amazing tax guy I see every year to help me maximize my write offs, and because I trust him I know my business is in good hands. It’s worth it to pay a little extra come tax time to make sure you’re setting up your business correctly!

12. Get a Sellers Permit – If you do have a book or books to sell–or will someday–you’ll need to register for a sellers permit. Every year you will pay taxes on the books you sell separately from filing your taxes (see #7 and #9).

13. Get a Free Square – If you have an iPhone or Android (Smart Phone), it’s a great tool to sell books. They only take a small percentage each transaction versus carrying or paying a monthly balance. People never carry cash so if you’re going to be speaking or doing events you need this to help grow your platform.

14. Track the Books you Sell – I’ll say this again–it pays to keep good records. At the end of the year it might be a hassle to put everything together, but it’s WORTH IT–trust me.

If this list seems scary to you or too easy–it’s both.

I feel like I just gave away all my secrets, but really I just combined all the past jobs I’ve had from working at a collections agency and helping them with record keeping. Also from being home schooled and a self starter.

Last but not least…

15. Profit Takes Time – It took me two years to become a profitable business. I had a LOT to learn and I thank God every year I do taxes for another year of ministry. Profitable or not–setting up your own writing business takes time.

BONUS TIP – Join Massage Envy because the moment you quit your job you’re going to have all kinds of emotional problems to work out wondering if you made the right decision. I know I did. Plus it will help when you sit incorrectly hunched over your computer all day hoping to make a name for yourself. Just trust me and ask God to provide. I joined 3 years ago and it’s helped me tremendously!

After reading this list–I now declare that you have no more excuses. Start your own writing business now!

[Photo: KisforCalligraphy, Flickr]

Thanks for joining–and let’s encourage one another how to start writing now!

[Photo: BobLoco, Creative Commons]

The post Start Writing Now Synchroblog appeared first on Devotional Diva®.

“You want whom to come speak at your church, and you’re willing to pay how much to get this person there?”

Each time the phone would ring I knew exactly who they were asking for and why.

My only problem?

Said Christian celebrity wouldn’t speak for less than a certain amount and a certain-sized church.

I didn’t have the heart to tell Mr. Small Town Pastor he couldn’t afford said celebrity Christian to come speak at his church.

No matter how touching a story–and there’s always a story–churches across America are looking for ways to reach out to their community. I know this because I booked 300+ events at churches, faith based institutions, and ministries nationwide.

But I have news for you.

Not one of the events I booked over a two-year span included 20-somethings.

Why?

My friends Darrell Allison Vesterfelt of Prodigal Magazine and myself would like to introduce Quarter Life Conference.

We are a FREE online conference for 20 & 30-somethings. Where you can get a chance to grab some face-time with some influential thinkers.

Each quarter we will introduce a new topic including relationships, the church, career, and social justice paired with high quality speakers and sponsors.

On March 21, we kick off our first topic of Relationships with guest speakers Dr. Gary Chapman, Bill & Pam Farrel, and more. Click HERE for more information or visit us at http://quarterlifeconference.

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Also new this month! I’m so excited to announce a new feature I’ve added on the right-hand side of my website.

The first are the monthly themes for January through July when Forgiving Others Forgiving Me releases with Harvest House Publishers.

If you would like to guest blog for March-July, please email me (renee at devotionaldiva dot com) and let me know. Posts should be no longer than 700 words and include a 3-4 sentence bio, and a picture of yourself to share.

March – On Living Together

April – On Pursuing Dreams

May – On Broken Relationships & Breakups

June & July – On Forgiveness 

Starting this month, I am also excited to announce monthly columnists on my blog.

After hosting SEVENTY-EIGHT, yes 78 guest bloggers since April of 2011–I decided it was time to add a few monthly columnists on the topics of daily devotionals, relationships, health & body, and events.

Please welcome Wendy van Eyck of ilovedevotionals.com, Rebekah Snyder of beyondwaiting.com and Jaimie Bowman of jaimiebowman.com.

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February’s theme is Coping with Anxiety and Depression, and during the week of Valentine’s I will host five guest bloggers on The Gray Areas of Dating.

I have always struggled with anxiety, and I look forward to finally coming clean and talking about it with other guest bloggers who are brave enough to share along with me. I hope you’ll join and find the freedom and healing you need. Or maybe just the realization that you’re not the only one will encourage you to keep fighting and thriving!

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