Being Not So Perfect

I'm an Assisting Minister. That means I lead worship through liturgy, response, Psalm and prayer. 

That also means I'm up front and in full view.

That means when I blow it, cover up is not an option.

You guessed it. I blew it today. In fact I blew it so badly that we had to start the liturgy over. Then I started laughing. Not because the first time was so funny . . .

Or the second . . .

But by the time my mind kept repeating the liturgy from a couple of weeks ago over and over again, it was just down right ridiculous!

I can even read music. Or so I thought. :-D

For whatever reason--hmm, I think I know the reason.

Let's just say for a moment that ministers get put on the pedestal a bit too quickly. Then how about I mention that on this tad bit higher spot, it's easy for some people to think only ministers can do such and such correctly.

Well, today I proved that opinion entirely wrong. 

Did you notice that I called it an opinion?

Extremely important word usage here because God doesn't place anyone higher than another. We silly, peevish, selfish human beings do that all by our little selves. We form opinions that lead to beliefs that have nothing to do with reality.

Today I couldn't help flushing from toe to head (in that order) until my cheeks felt as if I stood in front of a roaring fire. I haven't blushed that hard in I don't know how long! I rarely blush as a matter of fact. I'm too used to doing what I do. I'm good at what I do. And sometimes, sometimes, people think I'm a little bit higher than someone else.

You know what?

So glad you asked ;-)

I like being not so perfect. It gives other people the chance to realize that they can do what I do too. It takes that wobbly pedestal away. Being not so perfect allows other people the freedom to realize that you don't have to be perfect or say the right words or even sing the right song to be useful to God.

Blushing is good now and again. It brings me right back down to earth when I get a little too far off the ground. I kind of like being not so perfect.

Angie

Please come visit this not so perfect vessel over at God Uses Broken Vessels too.

Leave an inheritance

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.[Proverbs 13:22, NIV]

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. [Ecc 7:11, NIV]

The Bible has a great deal to say about leaving an inheritance. If you type the word in to a search engine in the NIV version you get literally HUNDREDS of hits on the word.

As I was doing my daily reading recently I came across the word "inheritance" and it quickened in my spirit that this word could also mean a legacy.

What will my kids have when I die financially, spiritually, emotionally? What will the world remember about me?

And how does that line up to the gifting and call that God has placed on my life.

It is hard to believe some days but God planned on us being born.

In America we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. There is a great deal of planning that goes in to making a meal of that size. Groceries must be bought. Homes must be cleaned.

What if you made that meal and no one showed up? Or what if everyone showed up but there was no Turkey?

That is what we do to God all the time. We either don't bother to come with our gifts and talents to sit at His table of provision OR we show up but don't bring all of our gifts with us [like the Turkey] and so the plan is incomplete.

There is someone here that God sent you to reach. Maybe many people. But until we focus on God and His giftings there will be an incomplete picture.

So as you're sitting with family, whether this week or next month, consider whether you're showing up in God's family.

What you do is leaving an inheritance to your kids. You're modeling to them the kind of person you'd like them to be.

What is your legacy?

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.

Family Dinners

We've been enjoying family dinners on Sunday nights for several years now. Our adult and college age kids come home and bring friends. We just take a short time to connect.

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with the amount of people I feed on any given Sunday. But on nights like tonight, I sure missed them.

Unusual circumstances had us short several people. It was still a lovely dinner and conversation time. But it's amazing how I've grown accustomed to this tradition.

I love when they are all here. Then I love the quiet when they all leave. I sit and rest in the satisfaction of a full stomach and a full heart.

Some of the meals that help me feed an accordion style meal (one that expands or contracts) to meet the number of mouths are:

Spaghetti

Stroganoff

Stews

Soups

Casseroles

Stir Fry of any kind

Lasagnas of any kind

Chili

Salads with all sorts of toppings

and breakfast for dinner :-)

All these and more. I just add more frozen vegies and none are the wiser, lol.

One of the reasons I pick from a list like this is that I've gotten so good over the years at expanding to feed just one more friend.

Another is that I've learned to start with simple basic recipes and build on them. 

So here's a trick for Potato/Cheese Soup.

First, buy Bear Creek Potato/Cheese Soup. Add water. Yep, that's all, lol. 

Second, add broccoli to your hearts content. Yep, that's all.

Round out the meal with low fat crescents or crackers and sliced cheese with sliced fresh apples dipped in caramel sauce.

Dinner for 9 was on the table in less than 45 minutes and that was only because 2 were late.

But, alas, 3 called to cancel. And 2 called to join. Quick, do the math. Dinner ended up for 7.

No stress. I just took plates off the table and went on with the meal. Now I have left overs for another meal with no effort except the microwave.

I'm thinking it was a pretty good evening with a simple meal and loved ones. 

I'm also thinking that this is one way to celebrate the rest God commands for Sabbath. Good, simple food served around a table connecting with our loved ones and friends. 

Angie

PS Visit me over at God Uses Broken Vessels for my daily blog and interesting book reviews. 

Meet Margaret Daley, author of Forsaken Canyon

by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

Molly: Today my guest is Margaret Daley, a friend as well as an award-winning author, and she is going to tell us about her newest novel, Forsaken Canyon. I understand it was set in northern New Mexico. So Margaret, what inspired the storyline for Forsaken Canyon?

Margaret: When I wrote Buried Secrets, Zach’s cousin jumped off the page and demanded his own book. So Forsaken Canyon was born. It is Hawke Lonechief’s story. But you don’t have to have read Buried Secrets to enjoy Forsaken Canyon.

Molly: All your books are great. Can you tell us a little about Forsaken Canyon?

Margaret: The back blurb reads: “I’ll arrest you.” So threatens the tribal chief of police if Kit Sinclair dares enter Desolation Canyon alone. Hawke Lonechief insists Kt’s too dangerous. He lost his wife to the treacherous canyon. He knows the ancient ruins Kit seeks aren’t worth her life. But Kit is sure all that hiking and searching will help put her traumatic past behind her. When she risks Hawke’s wrath by going alone, he finally agrees to lead her. On his terms. Impossible. Because someone else is following their every move. Watching them grow closer to danger with every step…

Molly: Have you actually done all these adventurous things your characters do in the series that includes Heart of the Amazon, Buried Secrets and Forsaken Canyon?

Margaret: I wouldn’t be alive if I had, but I have been in several jungles, caves and the barren, harsh terrain of the Southwest. I’ve hiked in canyons and the mountains. I’m trudged through a hot, humid rain forest. But best of all I have a vivid imagination! I live through my characters.

Molly: What was your most daring vacation/recreation?

Margaret: Rio de Janeiro where I couldn’t speak the language and ended up in some perilous situations, where I nearly drowned in the Atlantic Ocean and where I swam in shark infested waters. (I wondered why the man was in the crow’s nest with a rifle pointed at the ocean. I didn’t ask about it until I swam back from the island.)

Then there was the time I came up out of the tube in London into the middle of a riot that was about to explode into violence. Now that was scary.

Molly: Wow! How are you able to integrate the suspense element into your inspirational stories?

Margaret: It’s a natural. I love to read romantic suspense and adventures. I love a good puzzle. What better place to have faith than in a story where you’re running for your life (or something similar). We tend to turn to our faith when our life gets tough.

Molly: Why do you write for Steeple Hill?

Margaret: What I like about Steeple Hill is that I have been able to write inspirational romances and romantic suspense novels. I like changing back and forth between the two types of books. Yes, I have written longer books. I try never to say never. We don’t know what the future holds.

Molly: What other kinds of books have you written?

Margaret: I never thought I would write a non-fiction book and yet I just finished part of one. I am one of five authors of a book called The Overcomers, written by five Christian authors who have dealt with a learning disability in their life. It should be out next year in 2009.

Molly: I feel I must mention that I am one of the five Christian authors who wrote The Overcomers with Margaret. Yep, I am a dyslexic—more about The Overcomers later.
What is so amazing about Margaret is that despite the problems she just mentioned, she has sold fifty-eight novels.
Margaret’s romantic suspense novel, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. This year she is a finalist in the Short Contemporary and Short Contemporary Suspense categories for Heart of the Family and Vanished.
Visit Margaret’s website and read excerpts from these books
at http://www.margaretdaley.com.
Thanks for coming Margaret, and come back and visit us again real soon.
Next month, Mae Nunn will be visiting us. Mae is also a Steeple Hill author.
See you then.
Molly

A Christian Excuse

Tuesdays with Tiffany
By Tiffany Colter


Philippians 4: 13 " I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Look at this verse above. This verse has been twisted and warped and quoted and memorized. Today I want to apply it. I want to look at it as it pertains to writers.

The life of a writer can be excruciating with all of the rejection, perfection and trying again. We pour months of our life in to a manuscript that may only get a 15 second glance from an acquisitions editor or other designated gatekeeper. So this verse is very encouraging. It says God strengthens us.

Recently the ACFW was talking about how a person knows they're called to write. Every writer who serves Jesus will ask that. When we feel overwhelmed or rejected we'll ask again and again "Did you actually call me to do this?"

I was thinking about that and I remembered a few other people in the Bible who had it a little tougher than me.

Samuel was taken from his mom to live in a church where the priest [Eli] was not living the faith. So he was in an abusive church. He was hungry for God's presence and trying to grow in faith while having no example [other than the mom he saw once a year]. Then he spoke over Saul who ended up being rejected by God. He was only trying to do what God said and look at the mess he made.

Sometimes I feel like Samuel. I'm trying to pursue writing but no one in my family is really in to the writing thing. My step-mom who lives 1,200 miles away is a voracious reader of fiction but, like Hannah with Samuel, our rare visits don't allow me a chance to really talk about craft.

How about Jeremiah? He has that great verse in Jeremiah 29:11 where God says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

But, did you read first in Jeremiah 20 where Jeremiah was beaten? God was reassuring Jeremiah because the prophet had gone through of the ringer.

Sometimes I feel like Jeremiah. I see what is going on around me. Everything is falling apart. The industry is slowing down. Things aren't selling. I need to know what is going on. Why was I called when there is so much destruction? So God reassures me! Like Jeremiah God says "I'm still protecting you."

And then there is Isaiah. He lived through the death of a righteous king. When a king died the future of the prophet was uncertain. King Uzziah died and Isaiah faced an uncertain future, but God was reassuring. When Isaiah was worried-God appeared. Isaiah 6:1,8 "1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Sometimes I feel like Isaiah. I have an uncertain future in this writing thing. Sometimes I work hard with no results and sometimes a project comes easily and sells just as easily. I never know what result I'll have until I try.

And then there was Paul who endured beatings, stonings and loss of all he'd ever wanted to win others to Christ.

We need to pursue God, no matter the result. We need to do EVERYTHING as unto God. We need to pursue perfection and trust God for the results. If we are giving God our best He says He'll keep us on the right path and lead us to a wonderful future [no matter what we feel based on what we see around us.]

So is our lack of publication due to a lack of preparation on our part or a lack of God's call? Are we working to improve or looking for escape? Are we inspired to pursue our dream no matter the cost?

Or is the statement "maybe I'm not called" nothing more than a Christian Excuse?

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.

Exhaustion

A week's worth of prep and financial management classes have left me exhausted. But we leave right from Seattle (where I'm at now as I write) to go pick up furniture from a graduating college kiddo. We drove out here from Montana to go to these classes and take back the furniture.

UGH! I'd say I've never been so tired, but I have.

It's really hard to keep writing towards my goal of finishing Insanity Rules by Nov. 30th. I just realized the two biggest hurdles. They are that I've been in the wrong side of my brain and exhaustion.

So as I prepare this post, I've stopped trying to up my word count on the book and determined the smartest thing for me to do is sleep. I won't get much, and that's why calling it good is the best decision.

I have to say thought, it's hard to let go of writing. It's the first time all week that I've been in a quiet place. But it has to be. My creativity dried up and needs to be refreshed. So refresh I will.

And in the morning, after the last business meeting, I'll try writing in the truck.

I'll keep trying. How about you?

Are you at a point to realize you may need to switch gears?

How will you do that?

Angie

Turning A Single Sentence Into Several Scenes

Posted by Eileen Astels

I received a critique back earlier this week and one of my wonderful critique partners pointed out that the contents of one of my sentences would be better shown with the use of several scenes, than told in that single grouping of words.

Here it is:

"He had a lot to learn with only being a Pastor for five months, but he could learn a whole lot faster without the popular dramatic intros that Emmanuel's members were prone to give."

The fact that this is one long sentence, with a repetitive factor as well, should have been enough to call my attention to it. It's not very well written, I admit. In fact, another wonderful crit partner of mine narrowed in on this mess as well, and suggested altering it to the following.

"Having been a pastor for only five months, he had a lot to learn. But he could learn a whole lot faster without the slow intros that Emmanuel’s members were prone to give."

This is a definite improvement. Yes. But I like the idea of showing this information, too. Partly because I need to add word count, but also because it provides the base for scenes with conflict, action, and even humor. By converting this information into scenes that will also move the story forward, I can accomplish several things.

1) Reveal the POV character, his emotions and conflicts more fully.
2) Provide concrete evidence of what he deals with.
3) Introduce several more important characters in an entertaining and useful way.
4) Allow the reader to draw their own conclusions about these parishioners without first being told of his own impression.

So, have you ever turned a single sentence in that first draft into a set of scenes? Will you try to now? It reminds me a little of the snowflake concept, only caught a little later than intended. I'd best get working on those scenes now.

Until next time, may your writing shine and come naturally to you!

Blessings,

Eileen

Do you follow me?

Tuesdays with Tiffany
By Tiffany Colter

I remember when I was younger [as in during the 80s] the expression "Do you follow me?" was synonymous with "Do you understand?".

With the advent of social networking sights this expression has a whole new meaning.

There has been a recent influx of chatter about twitter [yes, I love that alliteration!!]. It seemed to all explode at once. I heard one person talk about it [Michael Hyatt of Thomas Nelson] in a blog that was not related to Twitter. I decided that since I respect Michael Hyatt on other things, maybe I should check this out.

Within less than 5 days I had literally 10 articles [as well as an entire discussion on the ACFW member loop] on this topic. It seems people are all starting to do this.

After only 2 weeks I guess you'd call me an expert. Laugh. While not that, I have already begun to see a marketing benefit to this program. I'd encourage you to consider the following:

1. I tried it first as a time management/accountability tool. That didn't work after the first day because as soon as I scratched it off of my to-do list I was on to my next project [without letting Twitter know]
2. Then I realized the true value was to point out things of interest to others. This has actually served me well. As I stumble upon articles that interest me I can quickly put out a tweet that says "If you're interested in Regency headdress check out this article..." Since you have about 100 characters or so you can't copy and paste a giant URL. I go to www.tinyurl.com and change it to a short one and post it. It is one more way I can provide information to people who might be able to use it.
3. Trisha Goyer mentioned on her blog about Twitter that she keeps her finger on the pulse of the CBA by following certain people on Twitter. I think that is brilliant.

So what do you think? Twitter, friend or foe? Has anything I said changed your mind? Do you have other ideas of ways to benefit others by using this social network version of flash fiction?

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.

A Writer Needs A Little Inspiration Too

People ask where writers get their ideas. I get them from life. My mind goes off into a line of questions. Usually started by something that strikes me with a special beauty or wonder.

I could be driving down the road on a drizzly day and be struck with awe at the small rainbow dancing in the field as I go up a hill. The rainbow stretches from one hillside to another, but hangs low over the tall grass. And I wonder, what would it be like if I could feel and touch a rainbow.

My cat curls up beside me. He's all damp from the rain, but fluffy and soft. I wonder, why did God create cats? Are they purely for my pleasure? Then I wonder if cats have a sense of humor and we don't speak cat so we don't know what their laughter would sound like?

I lose weight, I gain weight. I wonder how it is that my body was made that way. What will it look like transformed in heaven? Will our spirits be contained in some sort of heavenly styled body? Will I still be brunette so people will recognize me? Will I know the people I love on sight?

This is the stuff of inspiration. To follow our random thoughts and play with them. That's the fun part of writing. Playing with ideas.

The hard part is taking those ideas and creating some sort of cohesive book with them.

I'm finding inspiration from listening to other people's stories about their life experiences. Then they all get blended into a mish-mash of ingredients. The rough draft is the mixing of the batter. The story bakes as we expand and develop on a second pass through. Then we frost the cake by polishing what we've written.

But the ideas, they come from what we see and do and then playing with those things that stick out. Rolling them around as if we are rolling out sugar cookies. We cut them out and take the scraps and try again.

Ideas. They come from playing with everyday curious moments until they weave together into a story. Each curious moment another piece of a huge puzzle that we can't leave until it's finished.

So now you know where writers get their ideas.

Angie
PS Please visit me over at God uses broken vessels and Writing by Faith.

Interview With Jill Elizabeth Nelson

by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

Today I am interviewing Jill Elizabeth Nelson, my good friend, critique partner and fantastic mystery author. Her second book in the To Catch a Thief series, Reluctant Runaway, won an award this year. Tell us about it.

Jill: In May, I was surprised and pleased to hear from Romance Reviews Today, a prominent site on the web that majors on reviewing any type of romance genre book. Their site voted Reluctant Runaway the Best Inspirational Novel of 2007. A link to their Perfect 10 review, as well as many other features like a monthly contest for a signed book, opportunities to purchase my books, and excerpts, are found on my web site: http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com.

M: Congratulations! Give us an overview of the book.

J: Reluctant Runaway opens four months after the traumatic events of the first book, and Desiree Jacobs is very much in charge of her museum security company since the murder of her father in the previous book. As always, the story opens with a caper, and Desi strikes out across a narrow beam in the dark, ten stories above the ground.

The plot heats up with Desi and her steady date, FBI agent Tony Lucano, locking horns over her risky lifestyle—but hey, what about his? And then crisis strikes her best friend, plus a museum secured by Desi’s company is robbed of priceless ancient Indian artifacts, and so it’s off to the high desert country of New Mexico to defend her company, help her friend, and save a missing woman. And Tony’s right on her heels. But when the horrifying purpose for the stolen artifacts comes to light, can they even save themselves?

Each book in the To Catch a Thief series is complete in itself, but the same main characters and some of the secondary characters carry over throughout Reluctant Burglar, Reluctant Runaway, and Reluctant Smuggler. The books should be available in any bookstore or through any on-line book outlet.

M: Tell us a little about your publication journey.

J: Since the sixth grade when I penned—er, penciled my first tale of mystery, my writer’s journey has taken me in many different directions. I’ve worn the hats of journalist, columnist, essayist, poet, short-story teller and book reviewer. My current chapeau is the one I’ve coveted all along—novelist.

The dream of becoming a published novelist has come to life and died an unsung death several times. As I look back, I see that I wasn’t ready for the fulfillment until, in the Lord’s grand plan, it happened.

In the year 2000, after writing little or nothing creative while I was raising four young children, a storyline grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I wrote the book and started seeking fellowship with other writers. Since I live in a small rural community with little access to other writers, on-line writers groups like American Christian Fiction Writers have been my lifeline.

After several years of persevering and writing more manuscripts, I got The Call about the contract offer during a writers’ conference that was themed, interestingly enough, “Answer the Call.” Oh, my yes, God’s got a sense of humor.

M: How do you balance your writing time with your other responsibilities?

J: In the same way that other people go home from their day job and do woodworking or crocheting to relax, I go home to write. It’s what I do. It’s not who I am, because my identity is found in God, not some outside activity. But writing is a divine assignment, a fire in my bones, so I fit it in whenever, wherever.

I’ve had to make hard choices to cut out a few things from my schedule. I do still need to be a wife and mom, even though my kids are grown. That’s non-negotiable, but you’d be surprised what you don’t miss if you just say no.

M: Thanks for sharing with us, Jill. You are a great writer and a wonderful friend. Come back soon. And remember, to find Jill’s book on the internet, write Jill Elizabeth Nelson in the search slot.
Next month, author Margaret Daley will pay us a visit. Margaret writers Christian suspense novels for Steeple Hill.

Interview With Jill Elizabeth Nelson

by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

Today I am interviewing Jill Elizabeth Nelson, my good friend, critique partner and fantastic mystery author. Her second book in the To Catch a Thief series, Reluctant Runaway, won an award this year. Tell us about it.

Jill: In May, I was surprised and pleased to hear from Romance Reviews Today, a prominent site on the web that majors on reviewing any type of romance genre book. Their site voted Reluctant Runaway the Best Inspirational Novel of 2007. A link to their Perfect 10 review, as well as many other features like a monthly contest for a signed book, opportunities to purchase my books, and excerpts, are found on my web site: http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com.

M: Congratulations! Give us an overview of the book.

J: Reluctant Runaway opens four months after the traumatic events of the first book, and Desiree Jacobs is very much in charge of her museum security company since the murder of her father in the previous book. As always, the story opens with a caper, and Desi strikes out across a narrow beam in the dark, ten stories above the ground.

The plot heats up with Desi and her steady date, FBI agent Tony Lucano, locking horns over her risky lifestyle—but hey, what about his? And then crisis strikes her best friend, plus a museum secured by Desi’s company is robbed of priceless ancient Indian artifacts, and so it’s off to the high desert country of New Mexico to defend her company, help her friend, and save a missing woman. And Tony’s right on her heels. But when the horrifying purpose for the stolen artifacts comes to light, can they even save themselves?

Each book in the To Catch a Thief series is complete in itself, but the same main characters and some of the secondary characters carry over throughout Reluctant Burglar, Reluctant Runaway, and Reluctant Smuggler. The books should be available in any bookstore or through any on-line book outlet.

M: Tell us a little about your publication journey.

J: Since the sixth grade when I penned—er, penciled my first tale of mystery, my writer’s journey has taken me in many different directions. I’ve worn the hats of journalist, columnist, essayist, poet, short-story teller and book reviewer. My current chapeau is the one I’ve coveted all along—novelist.

The dream of becoming a published novelist has come to life and died an unsung death several times. As I look back, I see that I wasn’t ready for the fulfillment until, in the Lord’s grand plan, it happened.

In the year 2000, after writing little or nothing creative while I was raising four young children, a storyline grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I wrote the book and started seeking fellowship with other writers. Since I live in a small rural community with little access to other writers, on-line writers groups like American Christian Fiction Writers have been my lifeline.

After several years of persevering and writing more manuscripts, I got The Call about the contract offer during a writers’ conference that was themed, interestingly enough, “Answer the Call.” Oh, my yes, God’s got a sense of humor.

M: How do you balance your writing time with your other responsibilities?

J: In the same way that other people go home from their day job and do woodworking or crocheting to relax, I go home to write. It’s what I do. It’s not who I am, because my identity is found in God, not some outside activity. But writing is a divine assignment, a fire in my bones, so I fit it in whenever, wherever.

I’ve had to make hard choices to cut out a few things from my schedule. I do still need to be a wife and mom, even though my kids are grown. That’s non-negotiable, but you’d be surprised what you don’t miss if you just say no.

M: Thanks for sharing with us, Jill. You are a great writer and a wonderful friend. Come back soon. And remember, to find Jill’s book on the internet, write Jill Elizabeth Nelson in the search slot.

Expectations of your readers

Tuesdays with Tiffany
By Tiffany Colter

You have a certain expectation when you read this blog, don't you? I am a writing career coach who teaches on craft, marketing and the writer's life.

If I suddenly wrote a blog that told you how to make a pumpkin pie you might find it interesting...but it wouldn't reach your expectations.

If you paid money to hear me speak and instead of teaching on ways to grow as a writer I told you about my flight, how they lost my luggage and the shuttle to the hotel-would you leave satisfied?

The same is true for your readers. When they read your book they have a certain expectation of your level of craft, the topic, genre and tone. The more books you write, the stronger that expectation. Your readers will feel betrayed if you don't meet expectations.

Likewise, don't build up expectations for a heart stopping thriller when you're going to write a literary novel.

Knowing your reader, setting expectations and delivering on those promises will help build loyal readers who will market future books for you with their recommendations.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.

Good Dinner and Good Conversation

Tonight I was given a gift. A gift of friends and family that loved my cooking and expressed it with gusto! They loved each other and showed it. Our table was full and so was my heart.

We had lots to talk about and plans to make. Ideas and laughter flowed freely.

Oh how I'd missed having my kids together. That they brought their friends was even sweeter. They were proud to bring a friend to have a home cooked meal.

They joy was almost too big to hold.

One young man will be going into the Navy Seal training. Another young woman moved out on her own last summer and needed a hot meal to break up long work days. Another young man was just happy to be a part of the group and build friends. Two more young men were so excited for the Chicken Lasagna because they'd had this dish before. (I think they have ESP for when I make it, lol.) Of course, we passed around my new little grandson to eager arms!

Each person had a different reason for being there. It's a lot like writing genres. We're there for the same meal, but we experience it from a different filter.

The biggest surprise of all was that 5 of the people who came were unexpected blessings. The sheer bliss they displayed during dinner will carry me for the next week!

Next week, we travel next door for a Thanksgiving meal made by two bachelors. They want to host Family Dinner.

That means I'll get to rest and enjoy the meal without the preparation. Hmm, I think I lucked out on this one.

Unexpected blessings come in plain wrappings. A small baby, a new friend and especially someone who loves my cooking!

What makes your heart full?

What unexpected blessing happened recently?


Angie