Why The Wait?

Timing.

For a person with a deficit in patience, this word, timing, is haunt-worthy. Timing can make my insides quiver so much with anxiety and fear that I won't wait long enough for perfect timing, but that the wait will be too long for me to stay sane.

With the tick of the clock a hair past midnight this last Sunday, I entered the year of my debut as a published author. Timing becomes a magnificent, frightful word as I think of all that needs to be done before my first book hits the shelves. I must time my writing and edits to be ready by deadlines. Working with two different publishers, I pray the timing of each edit and authorly duty lines up in a somewhat manageable way. Timing seems to be a fragile piece of my existence right now.

And I am totally okay with that. This is my dream. This is where I hoped to be at some point in my life. This is it. But mostly, I am okay with the magnitude of timing in my life because I've seen how God has used timing in a most perfect way to get me to this place. I reflected on my recent years, 2013 (when my first manuscript was shopped and rejected) up to the present day, and I wanted to share some things that I've learned during my wait, and maybe it's why I had to wait.

1. My Community was Built. I fell in love with my writer friendships. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but it's the truth. I connected with ladies who knew my heart as a writer, and allowed me into their lives in an authentic, Christ-loving way. I found hope in the writing journey because my friends held my hands and rubbed my back when all seemed lost. And in this, I grew not as a writer, but as a heart. My heart became soft for the needs of others and the value of authenticity in this short, precious life.



2. There was a Pride Monster, and He needed to kill it. Oh, Lord, if ever there was a pride monster, it was me. My gut reaction in every rejection, every criticism, every other person's success was a measurement against them according to me. Yuck. Do you know what the best way to kill a Pride Monster? Starve it. Even though I had my sweet friends and my agent encouraging me along the way, my heart was set on publication and I was not getting that. I wanted it so badly that I turned ugly when it seemed to slip through my fingers with every rejection. And I spiraled and I came up for air to those authentic friendships speaking Truth in love. God knew what He was doing when He built my community, and He knew He would use it to lift me up and tear down my ugly.

3. The Darkest Valley Was Ahead. Everything stood still in 2014. My personal crisis gave me little room for any true focus on my writing success. If anything, it made the effort seem petty. When you go through your days wondering if you'll make it to the next morning without a complete mental breakdown, you can't really dream. My dream in those moments was to crawl out of my skin and run away. This was not about my writing, this was about God's faithfulness to someone who was losing faith--in the person she loved, in the life she constructed, in the heart that was broken. Looking back (I did climb up and out of this valley), I needed this valley walk (or crawl) to happen when it did--without a book on the shelf, without confidence in something that I had accomplished. I needed brokenness to become stronger and know that my strength has nothing to do with me.

These are just three obvious reasons why I waited...why He made me wait (snicker)...I am sure there are more, actually, I can think of more, but I am sure there are more profound reasons for His timing to obliterate my own.

What if things went according to my plan? What would I do without these pieces along my timeline, refining me, preparing me, and growing me? How could I ever think that my plan and my control was adequate?

And as if I needed to be reminded about that fragile thing of timing and how it truly is not my own, even the publication dates of my novels seem to show Who is really in control.  Go over to my extended post on this at my personal blog here, and learn the rest of the story. ;)

Have you ever looked back on your journey, and discovered just how perfect God's timing is? What are some instances that He's used to give you a glimpse at His plan for you?

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Angie Dicken is a mom of four children and lives in the Midwest with her Texas Aggie sweetheart. An ACFW member since 2010, she writes historical, historical romance, and dabbles in contemporary romance. Her debut, The Outlaw's Second Chance from Harlequin Love Inspired Historical releases in September of 2017, and her novel, My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah from Barbour, releases in November 2017. Angie is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. 

Sign up for my news at www.angiedicken.com

Social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dicken.angie, 

Twitter: @angiedicken
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Learning From An Established Brand

A couple of ACFW conferences ago, I went to a workshop led by HCCP editors on branding. Honestly, I had thought my brand was a tagline. A catchy phrase that sums up an author's type of fiction. Some of my first novels were set in different times and cultures, so for a long while, I had figured my brand was, "History where Hearts and Cultures Collide." 

Yikes.

It is SO not that now, ten writing years later. I mean, most of my stories have that theme threaded through them, but as far as branding, that's just a drop in the bucket of what encompasses the brand of Angie Dicken.

What I learned from the workshop, and have been trying to grasp and create my own over the past couple of years, is something not so easily explained in a simple tagline.

The feeling, look, idea an author portrays through their writings and their own personality, is wrapped up in an author's very own brand. It's almost difficult to put into words what a "brand" is, because it's so much more than words.

Recently, I stumbled across a fabulous example of a brand. And it might be an apples to oranges kind of comparison. But none-the-less, it was a perfect little test for this post on brands.

My husband and I were talking about Harlequin. I am writing a proposal for their Love Inspired Historical line, and the topic of their logo came up. It struck me as odd that my husband didn't know that the Harlequin diamond is a play off of the Renaissance character's checkered costume. So I asked my Facebook friends:

And the overwhelming response from non-authors, non-publishing-industry friends was: Romance

I know, the brand of a well-established, humungous publishing house is on a much grander scale

than one author...but still, it is a successful brand marked by an identifiable logo. Harlequin IS romance. Each Harlequin line has a specific brand within itself, too. But they are all encompassed by the cohesive brand of romance.

It's what they are about. It's the feeling you get when you see their name, that immediate connection to romance. And the brand is established in stories that celebrate love.

Imagine being an author and changing the modern public's view of a historical symbol to help symbolize your very own brand? I mean, can you imagine seeing the Tudor rose and thinking Author Angie Dicken instead of it's original tie to the famous, and sometimes infamous, royal family? Dream much? Sure I do.

Okay, that's a little out there.

Seriously though, as an author trying to establish my brand, I need to consider what I am about, what I want to portray, and how memorable I can make my brand.

It takes time, doesn't it? I mean, being established is a huge part of that. There is a sophistication that goes along with this journey toward publication, and then beyond that debut novel to a whole career. Only time will tell. But, a brand should be considered very carefully by an author and go so much deeper than a tagline. It should be in the back of an author's mind as they move on to that next story, that next blog design, that next conference pitch.

As you establish your brand, everything you do as an author should spur the old Shakespeare line in your mind, "To thine own self be true," and you need to remember who you are each step of the way. Everything you are putting out there, are building blocks toward that established brand.


So, can you describe your brand? Do you have one yet? 

Can you think of another author's brand, or a business's brand that comes to mind?

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Angie Dicken is a full-time mom and lives in the Midwest with her Texas Aggie sweetheart. An ACFW member since 2010, she has written six historical novels and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. Angie also spends her time designing one-sheets and drinking good coffee with great friends. Check her personal blog at angiedicken.blogspot.com and connect at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dicken.angie, 

Twitter: @angiedicken

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/agdicken/

Ghosts of Rejections Past: Guest Post by Patricia Beal

**Please welcome back Patricia Beal to the Alley. I had the pleasure of meeting her in person at this year's conference! She is an amazing person and shares some powerful encouragement with us today!-- Angie**

It’s been a month since the ACFW 2015 conference. I spent the first week post conference editing, and by the end of September my agent and I had submitted all we were asked to submit.

Now we wait.

And wait.

I’m horrible at waiting. I can manage to stay positive for about two weeks, but after that the ghosts or rejections past tend to take over, and I start expecting the worst. I take my eyes off Jesus, look at the waves, and sink fast.

Victim of Grace by Robin Jones Gunn

In her book Victim of Grace, author Robin Jones Gunn writes about her journey to publication and her life as an author. She says that the consistent rejection from publishers was demoralizing—an exercise in defeat. She almost quit. Psalm 102:18 kept her going: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.” She was pregnant with her second child when that verse spoke to her heart.  

Here’s the bottom line: Rejection is painful, but God will get you through it if you’ll let Him.

Put your writing out there.

Submit even if rejection hurts.

In the movie “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” famous photographer and womanizer Connor Mead is a Scrooge-like character in dire need of transformation. After ruining his little brother’s wedding weekend, he tries to keep the bride-to-be from running away: “It doesn't mean that you're never going to get hurt, but the pain you feel will never compare to the regret that comes from walking away from love. And from someone who's felt a lot of both, trust me, pain beats regret every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Don't run away. Don't do it.”

Don’t walk away from love. Don’t walk away from writing. Don’t walk away from trusting God’s calling. Pain beats regret. Submit.

And I’ll suggest something even better…

Have a healthier relationship with the pain of rejection.

Remember the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32?

What does God do before blessing Jacob (self-reliant, self-seeking) and naming him Israel (prince, powerful with God)? God touches the hollow of Jacob’s thigh. The hollow of Jacob’s thigh was now out of joint. Jacob would be forever weakened by that injury. God saps strength out of Jacob. He breaks Jacob of Jacob.

God grew him by making him weak. He grew Peter by making him weak (let the devil sift him as wheat). He grew Paul by making him weak (didn’t remove the thorn in the flesh).

What does God tell Paul about the thorn in the flesh? “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” How does Paul respond? “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Our trials are making us weak and loosening us from the shackles of self-reliance that are holding us back.

We don’t have to despair. Cast yourself at His feet and acknowledge that you can’t do this on your own. He already knows. He wants you to know.

Let’s look at rejections in the proper light.

In light of Jacob’s story (and Peter’s and Paul’s), we can conclude that being weakened is good, so the next time we receive an email from an agent or editor, no matter what it says, it's good news. Either our dream is about to come true, or God is about to make us weaker, thereby freeing us from self-reliance more and taking us closer to a yes through His power.

One is more Facebookable than the other (sigh), but it’s all good news.

Here’s what I’m going to do. Before opening the next agent or editor email, I’ll walk away from the computer and get my mind wrapped around God’s truths and methods first. Then I’ll open the email.

Do you want to do the same thing? If yes, commit to it right now.

If you would like to worship with Sara Evans and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW3yMJhhkTI

Do you have a different healthy way of dealing with rejection? What is it? Did you quit at some point? Are you there now? Let us encourage you today.

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Patricia Beal is a Christian author, Army wife, and ballerina. She writes contemporary fiction and is represented by Leslie Stobbe of the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency. She’s a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and then worked as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Army for seven years. She and her husband live in El Paso, Texas, with their two children.

Patricia is very active online and would love to connect with readers.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/patricia.beal.author

Twitter - https://twitter.com/bealpat

Web - www.patriciabeal.com

Is Small the New Big?: Is Boutique Publishing the Model for You

A few months back, Publisher's Weekly and other news outlets discussed the demise of Abingdon Press' fiction line. This is only one in a series of closings that have seemed to rock the Christian fiction world. Combined with the merging of houses, and the fact that a number of houses aren't currently seeking to acquire, it can seem like a discouraging time for authors and publishing hopefuls.

Over the past few years, browsing CFs new releases for LIBRARY JOURNAL, I've noticed in spite of the tumult several new boutique publishers seem to be attempting to carve a niche in the market.

Many successful CBA authors such as Brandilyn Collins and James Scott Bell have turned to the independent market. Yet another market seems to be building steam, leaving writers to ponder whether small is the pathway to publication.

Boutique, or hybrid, seeks to combine the strengths of both traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Small and slow payout rates, far ahead publication dates and diminishing market size are some reasons authors are looking at the small pub model. Some authors are reluctant to take the plunge with indie publishing. First, there is the status that a traditional house still holds in the minds of many. Secondly, a few feel inadequate to handle the marketing involved in self-publishing. Covers and the visual aspect of novels also intimidate writers.

Boutique publishing might be able to offer a third option to those looking for a strong market for their books. Authors like giving feedback, though might not want to handle the editorial process on their own. Small houses keep writers involved throughout the publication journey. For instance, Brown Girl press offers monthly meetings to help its authors grow in their craft. A larger house might not be able to enable such opportunities on a regular basis.

Ebooks are a hurdle that some writers don't enjoy. Self-publishing can feel like a headache. Many small presses offer an alternative. And some offer in-print books as well as digital.

Redbud Press founded by authors Regina Jennings, Lacy Williams, and Erin Taylor Young is poised to market to those interested in inspy romance. Their Timless imprint seeks to publish the backlists of authors published in the traditional market. These are titles that often sit in drawers but with epublishing they can find new life. Their Hometown Romance line ministers to contemporary fans of small-town life. They use a digital-first model. Karen Ball, Rene Gutteridge, Diane Noble, Gayle Roper, Camy Tang, Cheryl Wyatt, and Kathleen Y'Barbo are just some of the authors who have found a new home with Redbud.

Brown Girls Publishing fits a unique niche in the market that isn't fulfilled elsewhere. With African American CF lines closing, some see faith-filled fiction as a place that isn't as diverse as it could be. For more see Mike Duran's "Does Christian Fiction Have a Race Problem?" for some thoughts from agents and others in the industry. Brown Girls Faith was founded by ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray, both published authors. Brown Girls has three main lines: Faith, Teens, and the Jacquelin Thomas line. They are seeking to publish not only African American voices but all ethnicities and so might offer a market for those who have been unable to find a home in CBA.

Mountainview Press is another model. Founded by C. J. Darlington, author of BOUND BY GUILT, the line will be publishing the Jerry B. Jenkin's Operation First Novel winners. Historical author Peter Leavell and Don Brown, author of the Naval Justice series are some authors writing for Mountainview. These presses give help with the marketing process, sending books to publications such as Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and RT Book Reviews.

There are so many more boutique presses available but these are three that have launched in the past several years to give you an example of what the small publishing model might offer you. Many authors have started out with smaller presses and later found themselves gaining traction with the larger houses. Its just one of many paths that could be the right one for you. You never know unless you check it out.

Writing Your Puzzle Piece: Post-ACFW Thoughts

I have to say, over the past six years there has been a constant battle within me around the middle of September. It's that time of year when about 500 ACFW members at all different stages—from best sellers to debut authors to award winners to aspiring writers—gather together to learn, reconnect, and network. And it is absolutely the HIGHLIGHT of my year. It is the sparkle on my timeline. The shiny gem of a dream glittering wildly.

But with the light, comes the creeping darkness...threatening to swallow up the shine, if I let it. It's ushered in by my insecurity, my gloom-n-doom attitude that engulfs my heart when my dream dulls in the wake of others' successes.

Anyone who has attended ACFW will tell you that it is overwhelmingly encouraging. There is little, if any, outward competition among the many writers vying for the precious appointments of editors and agents. It is a special atmosphere which allows you to continue in your dream without worrying about someone sticking their boot in the aisle to trip you up.

So, having gone to this writer's conference over and over again, I beg myself to not allow the darkness to cloud my time. I pray for the confident, optimistic voice to win the battle over the insecure, uncertain, jealousy-tinged rasp fighting in my head. And the thing that drives me crazy, is that no outsider or circumstance really provokes it..it's just the innate flaw of my broken humanity wanting all the glory.

Am I being a little too transparent? Maybe. Maybe you will never look at me the same. But something happened this conference, which transformed my self-speak and blanketed my heart with an overwhelming peace.

I LISTENED.

Not to the voices inside my head. But to the wisdom-speakers that I had the pleasure of fellowshipping with this weekend.

I used to get so caught up in my internal battle, my competitive drive, and my desperate desire for publication to really consider anything said to me. Stubborn, much?? Fortunately, though, the stubborness lessens each year because I surround myself with wonderful friends. And my transparent trait, flaw or not, allows for some amazing encouragement from others.

However, this year something finally clicked the paradigm of my writing identity into a completely different place. Two important ideas from several professionals resonated with me over the course of the weekend. It probably wasn't the first time I have heard them...but again, this year I LISTENED:

1. Don't write for the market. Write the story on your heart. The stories that first gripped my heart to write were not part of the same jigsaw puzzle as the current market. They were stories boxed up in the foreign and exotic section of the puzzle aisle. At one point, I tried writing for the market...I was encouraged to do so by many. And I have that half-written manuscript to prove it. Just didn't have the desire to keep writing it. While there are brilliant authors out there who God has so pressed upon their hearts to write manuscripts FOR the present market...I have yet to find my heart pour out that perfect fit. And what I heard from many people this weekend, finally sunk into my thick skull: Don't  worry about writing for the market. Write the story on your heart. Because readers are smart enough to know when a story is not written from the heart. You know, those books you begin to read, and after the first chapter you want to chuck it across the room?
   
   
    I am finally at a place where I don't want to get published for the sake of being published. It has to be the right time and the right story. Aaaah! I can't believe I just typed that! I used to be SOOO eager to just get my name in print...I'd do just about anything. But now, I want my name in print on something that I LOVE, and that others will LOVE, too. And that might just take a little extra time.
   
   My current story gives me butterflies every time I think of it. I sit and day dream about the scenes I have written, playing them out in my mind over and over like my favorite movie. I am in awe of the truth of God woven in the story, not because I wrote it, but because it was written as worship to Him. I cannot turn my back on the story of my heart just yet.

2. My idea of the journey is nothing compared to God's plan for me. You know, this has been playing out in my life for quite some time, non-writing related. It's a hard lesson to grasp when my world seems to fall apart all around me, and I'm just not quite sure if God even cares. It often feels like I have to take things into my own hands and hope that whatever I do will get God's attention enough that He'll bless my pursuit. And sometimes, I am sure, in His grace, He does bless those efforts. BUT, it's more exciting, and a WHOLE lot more productive, to see the fruits from simply saying “Yes” to God and forfeiting my own effort.
   For example, the first day of conference cast a heavy shadow of doubt upon me. I truly did not know why I was there. I knew my story was a difficult puzzle piece for the market, and I felt like my writing dream was falling apart at the seams of a very tattered, out-dated puzzle box. I wrestled with my envy of watching others hold puzzle pieces of perfect-fits, versus the truth that there was purpose to this pursuit--even for me. After my agent's encouragement to use this weekend as a venture for clarity, and the keynote speaker's amazing story of God showing up in unexpected ways, I realized one very important truth: My idea of the journey is nothing compared to God's plan for me.
   Just because it looks a certain way for one person, does not mean that God isn't creative enough to draw my journey in a completely different, but still perfectly-purposed way.
   And you know what? When I settled into my OWN skin, seeking clarity and trusting the hand of God to provide it, He lavished droplets—like perfect little diamond droplets—of hope upon my path. My path not only found open doors along the way, but my heart fell prostrate to God more than I had let it, recently. And in that, I saw a glimpse of His care...and His nearness even to me.

My pursuit is different than that writer over there, that author down the hall, that crit partner across the table. We each hold a puzzle piece...but not every writer has a piece to the current edition of the puzzle. I might not have the piece of the market-jigsaw-puzzle laid out in front of me just now. And if I do, I haven't found its place, yet. But I am renewed in this journey of carving the edges of my piece, and I hope as the puzzle fills in along the way, God will guide me to the perfect fit down the road.

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Angie Dicken is a full-time mom and lives in the Midwest with her Texas Aggie sweetheart. An ACFW member since 2010, she has written six historical novels and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. Angie also spends her time designing one-sheets and drinking good coffee with great friends. Check her personal blog at angiedicken.blogspot.com and connect at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dicken.angie, 

Twitter: @angiedicken
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/agdicken/

Safeguarding your JOY

 

Some of you have may heard that I’ve been celebrating a personal victory this past week. After four years of writing and pursuing publication I’m getting my moment in the sun. I’ve signed a publishing agreement with WildBlue Press and will be releasing my first of three books this fall! A romantic mystery about grace and second chances called Beauty for Ashes.

After a long road of building friendships, refining my craft, dodging countless rejections, and growing in my passion for story here is it! The CALL. I should be on top of the world, right?

Well, of course I was/am thrilled to be realizing my dream but how many of you know that the world doesn’t exactly freeze in that moment. And that glow you are basking in can dim pretty quickly when say, the sewer drain backs up in your basement, the air conditioner peters out on the hottest day of the year, and the service light illuminates from your dashboard all in the same day… the day after you announced that long awaited triumph. Pfft! The NERVE! Those everyday disasters have absolutely no respect for your big moment! And it sure doesn’t take long for the crap (sometimes literally) to start piling up and little by little, robbing you of your joy.

But the thing I’ve come to realize as a mother constantly navigating the minefield of life is this…

JOY is NOT CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

Do you remember that little jingle we all sang in Sunday School? “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart! I’ve got the…”

We might not have realized it then but that song was preparing us for the truth about joy. Where it’s found. And where it isn’t. Joy isn’t found on our sleeves. Not in that gorgeous new outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks. It’s not found skin deep either. It can’t be nicked away by everyday wear and tear. Bills and stress and the daily grind. (Though that can certainly make us weary.) It’s not even bone deep, only broken under the right angle and pressure. The pain that lances here often lingering and debilitating.

It’s deeper, protected by muscle and tissue, skin and bone, the cage of your ribs like a vault safeguarding your heart. And even there, at the source, it’s nested deep down.

Right there where your Savior resides.

Am I excited that God is going to use my words and give them a stage? Absolutely! Is my joy contingent upon it? Is it contingent upon my success? Not a chance. Because lasting joy is only found in communion with the Giver of your dreams. Not because of what he can do for you, but because of who he is.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Everything else, friends, is just frosting. Now, since I have a notorious sweet tooth, sit down and have some cake with me. Tell me, what are you celebrating in your life?

 

Happy Friday!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

 

Amy Leigh Simpson is the completely exhausted stay-at-home mama to the two wild-child, tow-headed toddler boys, one pretty little princess baby, and the incredibly blessed wife of her hunky hubby.

She writes Romantic Suspense chalked full of grace that is equally inspiring, nail-biting, and hilarious. And a little saucy! Okay fine, a lot saucy. :) She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and now uses her Sports Medicine degree to patch up daily boo-boos. Her greatest ambitions are to create stories that inspire hope, raise up her children to be mighty warriors for Christ, invent an all-dessert diet that works, and make up for years of sleep deprivation. 

She is represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, Inc.

 

Amazon Rankings - What Do They Mean and Who Really Cares Anyway?

About halfway down the page on every Amazon profile is this little-known-number to most readers and many pre-published authors. It's mixed in with all the "boring" book details like ISBN and what-not.

It's a book's Amazon Ranking.

To write a blog post on what goes into making the Amazon ranking is laughable. It is the great secret that no one other than some super secret Amazon agents actually know, but many a blog has been done after analyzing the number to try and figure out what it REALLY means. They probably all have a little bit of truth to them.

But I thought I'd do a highlight for curious minds, because once you ARE published, the number, at least at first until you learn not to really pay TOO much attention to it, will cause you much frustration. Hoping this post will help alleviate some of that!!!

1.) What is a GOOD and BAD Amazon ranking? Obviously, the lower the number the better. And this number can literally change daily by more than 10k points, so it really points mostly to RECENT sales vs long-term sales.

Here is a SUPER general and VERY subjection viewpoint of yours-truly of the OVERALL Amazon sales ranking (does NOT apply to genre rankings, I'll explain why in a minute...)

100 or less - Faint worthy
1,000 or less - Tears-of-joy worthy
10,000 or less - HUGE smile worthy
25,000 or less - Big smile worthy
50,000 or less - Smile worthy
75,000 or less - Corner-of-the-mouth tip worthy
100,000 or less - Shrug of the shoulder worthy
500,000 or less - Frown and heavy sigh worthy
1,000,000 or less - I think I'll skip looking at this stupid number for a while worthy
1,000,001 or more - Oh wait, Amazon ranks my books? I totally forgot--- worthy

2.) I'M IN THE TOP 100 of MY GENRE!!! AHHHH! That's good right? Yes, it's good. Kinda. Sorta. I mean yes, it IS good. But it's all relative. If the category is something obscure that only has like 20 books on all of Amazon and you're #19... that ain't saying a lot, folks. But yes, being ranked in a genre category, especially a BROAD one like "romance" or the like, is a good thing, but could also be a fluke too. If your grandma logged on and bought 20 copies in a day to give to her Bridge club, then chances are you'll make the top 100 of your genre for that day. Then you'll fall pretty fast right back down if sales don't keep at that level.

3.) Why does the number fluctuate so darn much? The thing is, selling ONE BOOK has the power to massively change your sales number. You might be in the millions and sell one book and it'll jump to 100,000... or sell 2 or 3 books in one day and jump to 75k. But then if you don't sell any books the day after, it creeps right back up at a VERY fast rate. The lower your sales ranking, the more books you sell, the less the number fluctuates. While one book might make a huge difference when you aren't selling a lot, selling only one book in a day when your rank is, say, 5,000, will make your book drop quite a bit.

4.) Do I CARE what my Amazon ranking is? It depends. Do you CARE if your book is selling? As a traditional published author, I cared a lot, because it was the only short-term number I could look at to see how well my book was doing. If I did a marketing campaign or blog, being able to see the number and monitor its fluctuation is what helped me to know if my marketing was making a difference or not. With my recently published Indie books, I've barely even looked at the Amazon ranking, because I can monitor my sales in real time on a day-to-day basis.

5.) So when I look at a book and its number is in the millions, it means the book tanked, right? Maybe. Maybe not. All it means is that it's been a little while since the last "sale" of the book -- and by little while I mean, like, a week or even a few days. It bounces up there FAST when there are no sales. This happens a LOT with books that have been out for more than a year, and for me, it happens frequently with my indie-published paperback books (I sell by far a LOT more ebooks than paperbooks because of the price point difference.) So you can't really judge a book's performance on one day's sales rankings. It's the trend that will give you a better idea.  (Basically, if you want to be nosey and see how well a fellow author's book is doing-- or you want to use it as a comparable in a proposal and want to make sure it sold well---pick one that is RECENTLY PUBLISHED-- then check the ranking every day or two for a week or two. Then refer to my rough number guide above! It won't but it might be a good indicator.

6.) How do I track my OWN Amazon sales ranking? I always advise authors to sign up for Amazon's author central. There you'll be able to see your historical sales ranking in chart format (by book, by format) as well as your bookscan sales numbers (by week, from outlets who use Nelson Bookscan, which is NOT all outlets and ONLY counts paperback sales) and also allows you to control your author profile on Amazon. You can sign up if you are a published author at http://authorcentral.amazon.com/.


So what do you think? Clear as mud? Any questions I can answer? Do you ever look at a book's Amazon ranking? If you're published, do you check your ranking regularly or is ignorance bliss?

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and author of Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, A Side of Faith and A Side of Hope. She blogs about finding JOY in the journey of LIFE at http://www.kristaphillips.com. She is represented by Sarah Freese of Wordserve Literary.

The VALUE in VARIETY

When I started writing "seriously" back in 2007, I had this tunnel vision of what I expected to write.

I wanted to write full-length contemporary romance for one of the top-ten Christian publishers.

Nothing less. Nothing more.

Not picky, right?

It's amazing at how much the publishing landscape has changed in the last 8 years since I took that original leap at following my dream of being a published author.

There are SO many more choices and options than there were then, and more and more authors are seeing value in embracing the changing landscape and being on the frontline vs dragging behind, resistant to change.

And I'm not talking just about indie-publishing, even though that is a definite change.

Authors TODAY are looking at a lot more than just writing what they've already written.

Publishers are encouraging novella prequels or sequels to help promote their books and build readership. Authors are seeing value in indie-publishing their backlist or publishing those books-in-the-closet that would never see the light of day otherwise as they aren't considered marketable by traditional publishers. Some authors are choosing to be hybrids (raising my hand!) and others are ditching traditional publishing and going indie with both feet and not looking back. (and quite a few of them are making bank off that decision!) From short-stories to non-fiction to children or YA fiction, there are SO many more options available today.

A few example:

Jody Hedlund's novella Out of the Storm was a prequel published before her newest Lighthouse series was released. It's currently FREE on Kindle and includes a preview to the first book in the series, Love Unexpected.

Katie Ganshert has dipped her toe into indie publishing with her first YA novel, The Gifting!

Susan May Warren recently published 3 of her previously published novellas from her early days in a novella collection called Somewhere, My Love.

And a new trend over the last year that is quickly picking up traction are group novella collections! A great example is a team of indie-authors who published Splash! a collection of contemporary Christian romance novellas by 9 different authors - releasing June 23rd and available for pre-order now! They usually sell the collections for a small price of 99 cents, but the volume of sales on top of the exposure for marketing make this an interesting new idea! I myself am going to be a part of a Christmas collection come this holiday season!

There are so many other examples, but this was just a small sampling.

The point is -- your publishing experience doesn't have to be limited to one thing anymore. In fact, it is looking more and more like it SHOULDN'T be anymore too.

What about you? Have you thought about outside-the-box publishing options? 

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and author of Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, A Side of Faith, and A Side of Hope. She blogs about finding JOY in the journey of LIFE at http://www.kristaphillips.com. She is represented by Sarah Freese of Wordserve Literary.

The Tale of Two Books

Last week, I read two books.

Their names will remain unknown.

I haven't had a lot of reading time lately, but I'm in the middle of writing a book, and was a bit "stuck" on a plot point, and reading a good book tends to help me unstick.

Book One

This book had a plot that seemed really intriguing, but it was an author I didn't know, and my to-be-read pile was large. For some reason, the book triggered in my memory from a sample I'd read. I went to Amazon and it was 99 cents. I figured, maybe it might be just the thing to kick my muse into overdrive.

$1.08 later, I started to read it.

The plot was good.

The prose, most of the time, was pretty decent too.

The characters were....

Eh. They had GREAT potential to be really amazing characters. They had back story that could have been interesting. They had internal and external conflicts. But there was still just something missing. They were FLAT.

Even though they had back story and the MAKINGS of great characters, the execution just wasn't there. The back story didn't really interact with the present story. Some of the big things they had to overcome were ignored until the end and then resolved with a simple, unrealistic discussion. Emotions were barely touched on even though, given the story, you know they HAD to be there.

But the plot was still good-- it was enough to keep me reading. I wanted to find out what happened.

A few hours later, I finished the book. Meh. My muse was still in hiding.

Book Two

The next day, I started to write. And nothing came. You know when you see a bad movie and you really just have to see a good one to help get over it?

That's were I was. Writing was going to be non-existent if I didn't have a good book to balance out the not-so-good one!

So I searched my Kindle and found a book that I'd bought a while back, but hadn't read yet. It was by one of my go-to favorite authors, and I was shocked that I hadn't read it.

I devoured the book in a day.

The storyline was catchy. The characters were unique and raw and deep. They had back story and wow, did they interact with it. The dialogue was snappy and realistic. There was a big black moment, even if it was just a teeny bit cliche, but I was intrigued and could barely put the book down.

Moral of the Story

Two books
Two great, intriguing plots
Only one author I will seek out to read their next book.


So take that story and get a crit partner (a GOOD one, see Mary's post from yesterday!)
Invest in an editor.
Read books/blogs on writing craft.

Listen to beta readers.
Don't use "voice" as an excuse for poor writing. (There. I said it. I might blog on that later just to ruffle a few more feathers!)

Because you want your readers to close your books and think, "Hmmm, I wonder what else they've written!"

Discussion: What methods do you use to improve your craft and make sure you have not only a great story idea, but great writing to compliment it?

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Krista is a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mother, and author of Sandwich, With a Side of Romanceand A Side of Faith. She blogs about finding JOY in the journey of LIFE at http://www.kristaphillips.com. She is represented by Sarah Freese of Wordserve Literary.

Saying GOODBYE to Your Comfort Zone

The other day, my mom and I were having a little chat about book sales (or the prospect of there being a lack-there-of.)

You see, a salesman, I am NOT.

But my mom? Oh my goodness, she could sell a parka to a bear in the middle of July.

She just has this finesee with people, the ability to relate to them and sell them and put herself out there, regardless the consequences. She isn't the "sleezy" salesman type that pressure you... no, it's even worse.

She LOVES you into a sale. Oh yeah. You think she's the best thing since sliced bread and all the sudden your fingers are writing a hefty check for new granite countertops you didn't even know you needed. (Okay, not really, you probably wanted them in the first place but after a chat with my mom, you wouldn't even think of looking elsewhere.)

I.... did not get my mom's "selling" gene.

While I love people and love helping them, my sales pitch is more like, "Here is your price, I understand if you go with someone else though. My feelings won't be hurt."

I've never once held a job in sales... and it's a darn good thing!

Until this whole writing thing....

I SERIOUSLY find myself thinking (and sometimes saying...)... "I hope you like my book... but if you don't want to get it, it's totally okay. I understand."

Way to sell, Krista. Way to sell.

So what does a girl do who HATES selling things, is HORRIBLE at it, but really needs to sell a boat-load of books to keep in this whole publishing thing? Because we all know competition of fierce. ANYONE can write a book and plop it on Amazon now. I should know. I did it last month.

Yes, the first key is to WRITE A GREAT BOOK.

But if you write an awesome book and no one knows about it.... that is helping no one. But the solution isn't always a simple one to find.

So, in assessing my issue, I went to my mother for advice. Sure, she sells and designs kitchens and baths for a living, but that's kinda like books, right? Okay, it isn't, but still, selling is selling and I needed help!

I was giving her examples of some of the things I'd done so far. Things that were fully in my capability, that I felt confident I could do well. I did a blog launch party that went really well. Over 100 comments on my blog and about 4-5 times my normal traffic that day. I posted to a few FB groups about the book, resulting in a few sales. I'd begged on my author page, resulting in a few more sales. I'd linked to it everywhere I could legally link to it, resulting in a few more sales.

But then my sweet loveable mother called me out over my words.... things I felt confident I could do well.

You see, I was planning my marketing around ME. Around my little comfort zone. Around the areas I thought I could do easily that wouldn't make me uncomfortable or have to stretch myself.

I don't remember my mom's exact words, but her message was this.

God has not called you to stay in your comfort zone.

She also went on to pinpoint my biggest reason... that I have a debilitating fear of 1.) failure and 2.) rejection. Those are issues for another blog post though... and maybe some therapy!
 
The bottom line is this, though:

God has called me to write and market my books. To have them published and to be confident not in my own abilities, but in the fact that God can take me OUTSIDE of my abilities, OUTSIDE of my comfort zone, and can do more than I could ever dream.

And... if you know me, I dream BIG.

Here's another thing I've wrestled with in my heart.

I'm a FIRM believer that God has gone before me. It is not in my power to sell the number of books I need to in order to be successful. It just isn't.

But it's in God's power.

HOWEVER....

There is a difference between pressing forward IN THE POWER OF GOD and callasping in the dirt like a stubborn toddler and saying, "I can't do it! YOU do it, God, since you're the one who has all the power!"

Am I the only one who does that sometimes?? Sure, there are definite times when we need to let go and let God. But there are also times we need to cling to God, hop on his back, and go forth in his power and wisdom.

For me, book marketing is DEFINITELY one of those times.

I've done a (sadly) small number of things over the last week to try and get out of my comfort zone in this whole selling thing. Think of it like dipping my toe in the water to test it... then sitting on the side, feet danging, to get used to the cold water.

I can feel God behind me with this amazing grin on his face, ready to push me in if I don't take the leap soon!

Discussion: What about you? Has God taken you out of your comfort zone with your writing career yet? Are you holding back, using God as an excuse?

Take the plunge, y'all.

THIS post is part of my plunge. I was super hesitent to broadcast my struggles so honestly, but my hope is that God can use it to help others throw that towel and dive in.

The water grows on you after a few minutes. Or at least that's what my mom tells me!

Oh, and while you're at it... there's this GREAT novella called A Side of Faith you REALLY should check out. Word has it, the author is a bit kookie but has a side of fun to her.... :-)

Racing Down "The Long and Winding Road" to Publication (with Scenic Stops)

Last Sunday I had a new-to-me experience and one I will not soon forget.


I did my first biking mini-marathon.


Fifteen miles, two friends, and a mini-cheer squad.


The whole experience was absolutely cathartic.


I learned so much about myself and even a bit about my writing along the way.


I doubted I would make the finish line. I thought perhaps I would need to pick up my bike and walk the rest of the way. In my nightmares I imagined myself reaching the finish line just as everyone else was picking up and heading home for the day.


I pictured myself on the side of the road, lying down as pain rippled through my side. Or perhaps I would have a mini-stroke in the heat...or require a triple bypass surgery the next day.


Are you seeing my optimistic side poking through?


Point being none of these things actually happened.


Instead, I had a great time with my friends as we laughed and enjoyed the ride (and complained about those hills). Leaving the local college, we planned to shoot for a 25 mile route next year.


I realized in that moment, God had helped me to endure the race and I could not only reach my dream but shoot even further, setting the bar even higher for next year.


You see, this girl who was always the clichéd last one picked in gym class, the one who got the "D" in volleyball because she couldn't "set" a ball had ingested some serious lies about herself.


"I'm not an athlete."


"I always embarrass myself when it comes to sports."


"You might be able to do it, but I'm not sure I can hack it."


See, for years I was still "that girl." Why? For one simple reason, I continued to believe those lies.


Are you setting your goals too low?


Are you all but giving up in your writing life?


Maybe, you've received some painful contest feedback. You need to hit the reset button.


The topic you wrote about, you were told, will never fly in the Christian market.


Here are some keys to running your marathon as a writer (whether God calls you to be published or not) with props to the Fab Four:


1) "Eight Days a Week"

The key to any race is practice. How are you doing on the day-to-day endurance? Quality is built in a natural way over time. I'll always remember that The Beatles song "Eight Days a Week" was a commentary on how hard they had to work to reach their goals. Their manager told them he would work them eight days a week until they produced a hit. And sure enough, The Beatles produced dozens of them over a decade. Good luck finding an adult over forty in America who hasn't heard of The Beatles. Mastery comes over 10,000 hours or more, according to statistics. That's a lot of persistence.


2) "Help, I need somebody..."

"When I was younger so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in any way. But now those days are gone, I'm not so self-assured. Now I find I need you like I've never done before....won't you please, please, help me."


The more experienced we get in our writing journey, the more we realize how much we need the help of our friends. Not only did my friends run the race with me, they also helped motivate me beforehand. We went on several training rides together. There were times I didn't think I could complete the race, but one of my friends kept encouraging me that I could do it.


In the writing world, I rely on a group of critters that meet at a local Starbucks every other Thursday. We not only read each other's writing and make comments, but we also brainstorm and talk craft. Its invaluable.


There are also wonderful opportunities online to connect with community, the way we as Alleycats have been blessed. ACFW and My Book Therapy are excellent places to meet other believers on the same journey to write for Jesus.


3) "A Hard Day's Night"

"Its been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog. Its been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log..."


Anyone who has ever put themselves out there with their writing in any way can tell you, its hard. And the risks are high.


Like a good workout, the harder you work the better the reward. Mentally, because you know you can do more than you thought you were capable of with God's help. Physically, working on something that fulfills you is a wonderful source of joy. Keep at it!


4) "Free as a Bird"

"Free as a bird, its the next best thing to be free as a bird..."


Living your calling sets you free. If you are called to write, you'll find an immense sense of joy, his pleasure when you pursue it with all your heart.


Are you living caged or are you living a life of freedom, drawing closer to your dreams? No person can squash those dreams if they are truly God-given.


I found such freedom with the wind on my back, gliding down the other end of the hill, after pedaling up it.


5) "Slow Down"

"You better slow down, baby, cause you're moving much too fast..."


Are you in need of rest and refreshment? How's your devotional life looking? Are you getting 7-9 hours of sleep at night? Exercise? Yes, down time will help you to be a better writer.


If we don't take time to slow down and listen to the silence, how can we even be inspired with ideas? God speaks in those still quiet places and shares His truth so we can share it with others.


Is there anything you need to do to take care of yourself physically and mentally to help you grow in your writing?






How about you? What stage of your marathon are you in? Are you just beginning the race and needing lots of practice? Do you need to build endurance for the long haul? Or perhaps you need to slow down and enjoy the scenery a bit, dusting off the "goodness" of the dream God has placed in you?






Julia enjoys writing women's fiction whenever she can find a chair free of smushed peanut butter sandwiches and lego blocks. She is a wife and homeschooling mama of two littles. She also enjoys reviewing and writing for Library Journal and the blog Wonderfully Woven.