Inside or Outside the Box?

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We have all heard the phrase: think outside of the box. To jump start creativity, or to achieve our goals, we should think big. Dream big. Imagine big. And that is true, but then again, it is not quite the whole truth.

I'm reading Greater, by Steven Furtick, and it is fabulous! In one of his chapters, Furtick talks about the whole thinking outside the box idea. It's what got me thinking about writing and dreaming big outside the box.

The thing about thinking outside the box is that when you have dreamed big and brainstormed great solutions, you are still in the box with the same problems you had before. You remain frustrated that you can't really attain those outside-the-box-solutions.

• If only you had a critique partner, you could really shape up your writing.
• If only you could go to a writing conference, you could learn all you need to know about writing.
• If only you could get an agent, you could get your book sold to your favorite publishing house.

If only...

Friends, you can still dream. You can still think outside the box, but you must realize that God can't bless you with his greater blessing outside the box until you trust him while you are inside the box with the tools that you already have. How are you being faithful with what you have in front of you?

• For $45 a year (that's less than 2 pennies a day), you could join ACFW and have access to dozens of critiquers.
• Go to the library and check out books on writing. Peruse writing blogs for articles on writing. There is a wealth of material out there to teach you what you need to know!
• Start submitting to agents after you have done what you can to make your story the best it can be.

When you are faithful with little, you will be granted more. (Matthew 25:23) God will provide you a critique partner when you are ready for one. He will supply the money for a conference when you are ready to go. And He will give you an agent when the time is right. 

How are you needing to trust God in your writing life? In your personal life? 

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

Writing Today for Tomorrow's World

"If you had sent this to me three weeks ago, I could have used it.," one editor said.  Gaack! Why didn't I think of doing this article sooner?

This month, many folk have talked about school starting. Come the second or third week of November, they'll talk about Thanksgiving get togethers.  About the second week of December, families will be inundated with Christmas programs, shopping, decorating, and holiday plans.  Writer's don't have the privilege of planning for an occassion one-to-two weeks in advance.

Creative is Crucial

June and July are prime months to send Christmas material to publishers.   While the sun blazes on the garden, we get to imagine crisp snow crunching under tires, pine scent in our living room, Christmas music and lights, wrapped packages, and a house full of guests wrapped around the dinning room table feasting on ham and watching Uncle Joe toss baby Jane to Uncle David--praying he doesn't drop her.  We must wipe the summer sweat from our brow and tap snowy words into our computer. Now that August is here, we need to think of New Year's and Valentine's Day.

Tyranny of Timeliness

For book writers, we get to anticipate reader's swing in interest two to three years down the road.  I finished my midevil Christian fantasy in time for vampires to shove Harry Potter off center stage.  Needless to say, even Christian publishers aren't interested in midevil Christian fantasy unless the writer has previously established himself in that market. Non fiction writers need to anticipate the needs of audiences in advance as well.  Our manuscripts must be ready to impact the readers of tomorrow not from today.

Hope
I don't have a crystal ball.  Nor do I want one.  In my frustration I might ask: how can I get published if I don't know what reader's will want?  Isn't it just luck--being in the right place at the right time--etc? 

Not at all. God will lead you. Chip McGregor, a Christian literary agent, has stated in his conference lectures: "If you writing is well done, it will get published."  Writer's who work to polish their craft will know what to write.  If you have a passion to write, follow through in a way that will get the words published.

Here are some tips: 

1. Plan Ahead:  If you are doing a Christmas piece, make sure it arrives to the publisher in time for him/her to push the manuscript through the ropes and on to publication to reach the readers before Christmas.  Magazine articles should be submitted six months in advance.  I'm not sure how far in advance a book manuscript needs to arrive, maybe someone can comment on that for me.

2. Spit Polished:  Save time by having your manuscript free of grammar errors, content problems, and issues with publisher requirements such as needed word count. Maybe a few steps can be saved and push your manuscript toward timely publication.

3. Respect:  Would you buy a Egg Nog in June?  Probably not.  Items are sold when a customer thinks to buy.  Some manufacturer somewhere thought to produce and market that item at the perfect time you thought to buy it.  Likewise publishers need time to choose manuscript, edit, send contracts, etc. before the published work can be offered to the public.  Check out the websites to determine publisher's needs and requirements.  Editors will respect you for your efforts and remember you.  He or she may not purchase your manuscript this time, but they might in the future.

4. Observe:  Keep an eye on events in the world around you.  Today's events may lead to tomorrow's responses. By staying tuned into what is going on now, you will better know what readers might need in the days to come.

Did your manuscript sell because it arrived on time?  Do you have woes, like me, because it arrived after the cut off time?  Share your experience.