As some of you have so aptly stately, you wanted to write and discovered you had to become an entrepreneur to succeed. I have even considered that some business courses would not have hurt me as I was in college "learning to think." What are some of the things you have had to learn and what obstacles are you discovering. Please check out our sister network for writer entrepreneurs. We hope you will make both networks part of your social networking routine. We are continuing to look for ways to meet your needs.The new network is www.theWEnet.ning.com

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  • You should seek an agent who handles Christian material. This is not about reading between the lines. there are definite parameters for christian material that won,t within the mainstream market. there are also requirements for the Christian market that must be met. we have members of WAENet who write for that market. Are you also a member of the Christian writer,s group?
    • Hi, yes. I am a member of Christian writer's group. 

      1.Deborah, is that it? If an agent does not stipulate that they publish Christian, do not query them, period.

      2. I saw your ACT program, and wonder if it would make any sense for me to participate( obviously, I would learn a great deal, but I wonder about the logistics, ex. is everything over the internet?  and the differences in the S.African publishing world?

  • It's a great idea, Deborah! I'm always up for an event.  I'm in Burlington, Vt and come South on occasion, especially when invited.  There's a great place that could host a writer's week-end workshop up here as well.

    Lori--I think a blog is a great way to publicize your book, but I would make less a deal about the book itself until you have plans for its publication (I recommend self-publishing and could help you with that) and focus in the meantime on the ideas.  

    Definitely use the "how-to" segments as isolated snippets. They can act like a movie trailer to get people interested to view the whole package. Just keep re-writing the message of the book in blog essays and then rewrite those to submit as articles to ezines, print magazines and newspapers.

    Invite yourself to contribute variations of that message to other blog sites as a guest blogger.  Keep re-working the ideas over and over.  Your voice will get stronger, your message louder and your audience (platform) will materialize.

    http://kipdemoll.com

    http//artisanbuildersworkshop.com

    http//solsticespirit.com

    Home
    • Let me know about the location. We are looking toward writers events in the future. My family on my father's side is originally from Burlington and Barre. How long have you lived there? 

  • Hi Deborah,

    Thank you for the speedy reply. Your guidance definitely helps!

    To answer your questions:

    a) I do not have close relations to the people I would be seeking endorsement from, but was a member and leader in their church. So I take it to mean then, that I should leave the asking, until advised by an agent.

    1) Yes, I have a book proposal, which I developed using your BPwiz programme offered on this site.Some of the writers here even had a query critique service, where we posted query letters to assist each other.(It helped, but also caused a bit of procrastination and re-evaluation)

    http://www.waenetwork.com/group/writers/forum/topics/query-critique...

    2) The subject of my book: 

    Panties, Pennies, Pride and the Prince is a modern gospel parable of female restoration from adulterous fantasies, into the arms of her Redeemer. Through Christ’s unconditional love, a self reliant and disillusioned super saint becomes a sinner, saved by His free gift of grace.

     It is my story, but would appeal to a greater market because of it's all encompassing themes which are highlighted here and there through well known people's lives. Ex.. I'm of no importance/fame, but people might want to read about how they influenced/affected my life.

    At first I was trying to convince through my query, why it would be purchased by 'Tom, Dick, and Harry'...then I was advised, to reveal more of myself, which I did in a revised version. I'm still in two minds. (As writers we do feel, our stories can impact the entire global population, I'm battling with realistically convincing the agent)

    Thank you for your time!

     (To compliment and encourage you, YOUR site is one of two which I frequent,and find MOST helpful.)

     

    • Thank you for the compliment. Do you think your book would fit within the christian publishing parameters? This would not be a crossover book because of your references to religion and Jesus. It is just a fact that redemption stories that have direct references to Christianity will be categorized as such. If your book is written as more of a healing and recovery perspective from a life of self destruction then it would be categorized differently. These things are not random. There are considerations that publishers make when determining where the book will be on the shelves. I recommend that you do not focus on your sense of mission to" impact the entire global population." Think more about who will directly benefit from your book. Sometimes books are like stones thrown into a lake that ripple outward. People make the mistake of focusing on the bigger picture first.  

    • Thank you for the reply. I appreciate the dialogue tremendously!

      I am pursuing the Christian market, and assume that they would benefit most.

      Do I then allow for the agent to read between the lines, make his own conclusions based on his knowledge ex. 1.yes Christian but 2.  it might appeal to seekers. 

      Meaning I don't tell him/her, I focus only on Christian publishing parameters, and if it goes crossover, then that's an extra?

  • Thanks for the invite, Deborah,

    I started with a blog several years ago, just to get my pen moving again on a regular basis.  The essays have taken on a life of their own and eventually formed the skeleton for my first real book.  Each blog entry eventually got announced on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in and other sites and people began to follow.  I regularly post comments on other blogs and groups, join networks like this and keep adding words to build creativity. 

    I maintain a website that offers a regularly changing variety of contributions (perhaps too much) for reading, viewing and listening.  At the risk of becoming over-whelming, there is something that should hold the eye of many different people.  A sign-up is easy to be included in announcements of events and presentations.

    One of the best eye-catchers is a stream of Tweets that don't promote anything, just words of wisdom that brighten dreary days, bring in a little sunshine and get retweeted to spread the name that makes people curious.  I get turned-off by the "gurus" who bombard us daily (sometimes hourly) with their "amazing" offerings and "Life-changing" insights, and simply offer a phrase that might bring a smile.  If it resonates, I trust, you (like me) will follow up when you are ready to learn some more.

    I do have the good fortune to be able to croon some orginal songs which is a unique way to combine an evening of acoustic music with a book-signing and a chance to share some love.  These events seem to be the most successful, inspiring and just plain fun for everyone.

    Just a few ideas and the important thing is to keep busy, keep experimenting, keep being brave enough to try and it's amazing how unexpected doors open (I've now played at New York's famous Bitter End 5 times).

     

     

     

     

    • Where do you live, Kip? Maybe we will have a WAENet meetup some time and can use your talents. How is that for an idea? We should have an open mike and book night for WAENet. Parteeeee

    • Thanks Kip, I do feel inspired to go on. I do have some questions though, when blogging, it is like you say, often the essays develop stories of their own. I would love to know:

      1)if it is unwise to talk about your book on the blog or twitter, if the book is not yet with a publisher? Meaning it exists, but no one has signed up with it. ie. Act confident about your message, but dont tell of your attempt to get an agent?

      2) If i wanted to start sharing content from the book ie. how to tips, do I keep these seperate from the book?

      In a nutshell, I write because I am. Only two years ago, put my heart to actually write for public, and enjoy blogging, but don't know of the pitfalls I should avoid?

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