Novel Rocket: Proverbs 31 for Writers

Are you a writer? Be inspired by today's post on Novel Rocket: Click the link to read!

 Novel Rocket: Proverbs 31 for Writers: The Writer Who Fears the Lord  A Thematic Paraphrase of Proverbs  31:10-31 by Linore Rose Burkard [Note: Proverbs 31 speaks tradi...

For Writers

Something For Writers

Have you seen this?

For my writer friends, my agent, Chip MacGregor, is a featured speaker at an upcoming writing seminar in Nashville, TN. Chip works out of Oregon, so having him in Tennessee is pretty nifty for those of us closer to the midwest and eastern seaboard.  He's a treasure of information (and humorous, to boot). Unfortunately, my husband and I are already booked for a seminar that day, but if you're a writer, pay attention to the special discount you can get on this already reasonably priced venue. (And be warned that as of this writing, there were only EIGHT spots left, not ten, as it says below.)
Follow the link (the headline) to find out the whole scoop. 

Discount on the Nashville Writers University…

Posted: 13 Feb 2013 11:41 AM PST

I just discovered there are ten spots left in the writing seminar we’re doing in Nashville on Saturday, Feb 23. You can find out all the details about it here: http://nashvilleuniversity.eventbrite.com

The cost is normally $199, but if you write to me today or tomorrow, the people in charge told me they’ll discount the price to $149. If you’ve been on the fence, I hope that encourages you to join us. Would love to fill the seats. Thanks!

-Chip

Something Else for Writers 

I've been reading the books of Proverbs and Psalms, one chapter of each a day, and it's great to be back in these rich books of wisdom.  Proverbs 31  is something I turn to often, however. It's a challenging and inspiring reminder of what I'm called to be, do, and embody as a woman of God. 

As I read this chapter recently, I wondered how I might apply its teachings for women into my life as a writer. The following is the result.  Feel free to send this on to other women-writers you know who may find it inspiring.

The Woman-Writer Who Fears the Lord

[A thematic paraphrase of Proverbs 31:10-31]

An excellent writer who can find?

She is far more valuable than a hack.

 The heart of her readers trusts in her,

And will profit from spending time in her books.

 She does readers good, and not harm

With everything she pens.

She seeks knowledge, tools and methods,

And writes with willing hands.

She scours the world-wide web like a researcher of old,

And gathers her facts and data.

She works at all hours if need be,

To provide for the needs of her readers,

As well as for her agent or editor.

She considers a story idea and writes it,

And plants the seeds of her thoughts into rich fields of fiction.

She dresses herself for success,

And keeps herself healthy so she can both work and network.

She sees that her work brings profit,

And stays alert to new ideas, even at night.

She seats herself before a keyboard or paper,

And purposely puts her hand to writing.

She shares her tricks of the trade with students,

And makes herself available for unpublished writers. 

She worries not about the trashy books in the market,

She knows that her own work will satisfy a soul.

She carves out space in which to write,

She designs a comfortable and lovely "office" for her own use.

Her readers are discerning and wise,

They occupy the highest offices and respectable posts.

  

She crafts fine stories or articles and sells them,

She delivers manuscripts to magazines, agents and publishers.

Capability and dependability are her clothing,

And she laughs at the thought of failure.

She opens her mouth with wisdom to help other writers,

And teaching, with kindness, is on her tongue.

She looks well to the state of her manuscripts and projects,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her readers rise up and call her blessed;

Her publisher also, and he praises her:

"Many writers have done excellently,

but you surpass them all."

Writing to please the market, and banking on worldly success is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord and writes what He inspires, is to be praised.

Let her be the first to enjoy her works,

And let her reputation and book sales skyrocket in the market.

Linore Rose Burkard

Inspirational Romance to Warm the Soul

©Linore Burkard 2013

 

The Success Secret

We've been talking about setting and reaching goals here at Woman of Faith, so today I wanted to share some principles that work for all walks of life, even though I wrote them specifically for writers. As a workshop leader with Greater Harvest Workshops here in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, I know from experience that discouragement is a big snafu for writers.  (I've adapted the article slightly for you who are readers but not writers.)

The Success "Secret"

Sometimes newer writers feel like success (in the form of publication) is out of their reach, no matter what they do. Successful authors, they think, must know a secret or two they are simply unaware of. Why else aren't they published by now? (Perhaps there's an area of your life that feels unattainable even though you see other people reaching that goal, benchmark, or weight level. It seems that other people can get there, but not you, no matter how hard you try.)

If you feel like that, beware. 

While success sometimes is a matter of being in the right place at the right time or a result of who you know, more often it is a result of things completely within your grasp: Perseverance and hard work.

Perseverance can get you in the right place at the right time, and hard work will help you meet the people you need to know, or gain the skills necessary to reach your goal.

Colin Powell said, "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

Before you start to feel that life is unfair or that all of your time spent writing and editing your work (or dieting, or studying, or whatever) is fruitless, ask yourself if you have prepared sufficiently, done the work that is necessary, and learned from your failures. 

If you aren't published in book length fiction and that is your goal, then it stands to reason that your work is not done. (Even when you get published, your work is not done.) Before snagging that first contract, however, it is doubly important that you prepare--and keep preparing.  Work hard--and keep working hard.

Many people fail simply because they stop trying. 

 "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance."

Samuel Johnson

Learn from your failures, which, for writers, is a rejection letter or a critique. (Some criticism will not be accurate, but learning to find the grain of truth in it can be very, very helpful. Even your enemies can help you in this area--they are the first ones to spot your weaknesses, so their criticism will often contain a grain of truth that you've been blind to.)

Only the Lord knows the right time, the right publisher or the right agent for you. And every time you get a rejection, you can accept that it was not the right place, time, or publisher for you or your work. The key is to find the right one, or for your agent to do so. This takes time and patience.

It may be hard to keep believing that success will happen because it hasn't happened, yet. It's difficult to persevere in the face of rejection. But this is precisely what you must do. This is the time to lean on your God and remember that HE is the one who has called you to do this thing called writing (or whatever thing he has called you to do. Whether it is writing a book or being a homemaker and mother and wife, do it as to the Lord!) Your (publishing) success will come in His time and in His way.

In the meantime, remember that you write not because you may get published,
not to impress an agent or editor,
not to show your family or friends that you can,
but to serve the LORD; to steward the resources of creativity and imagination that He has entrusted to your care.  When you remember that it is GOD you serve, the outcome of your efforts is His concern, not merely yours. Serving God means that you are always a success so long as you are faithful. And that goes for everyone, no matter their walk of life.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  Psalms 37:5

What is your comfort when you've received a rejection or setback? Do you have a favorite verse you fall back on? Please share it with us. As always, any comment will enter you in the current book giveaway.