The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Focus and Direction

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Gaining focus and direction

Do you have the kind of focus that gives you the direction you need to reach your goals?

Back in April, I heard a presentation by Alan Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company who developed 15 quilt shops (a 9-figure business) in a town with the population of approx. 1800. He presented with such enthusiasm and fun, and I knew immediately I wanted to apply his strategies to my own business.

As an author, you may not aspire to build a business that you’ll one day sell to someone else or pass on to your children. That’s not the goal I have for my business either. But I imagine that, like me, you want your books (and services) to bring in a livable income. If not, that’s okay too. You can skip reading this post. 🙂👍

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Let’s Talk Research

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Doing research for your book

Research. Some writers love it, some don’t, but with nonfiction (and fiction), it is a critical part of your writing.

Readers won’t hesitate to tell you when your facts are wrong. That damages your credibility, and that reader might put down your book the moment they spot an inaccuracy. That same reader may very well never purchase another of your books. All the more reason to ensure your facts are accurate (even in fiction).

“Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you” (Luke the Physician in Luke 1:3).

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Should I Write About My Personal Experience?

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Many people, when first deciding to write a book, land on what they know best: a personal experience. This is exactly where I started. But publishers like originality, and as Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “there is nothing new under the sun” (NKJV).

Carried by Grace, a story of personal experience

My first book dealt with child sexual abuse by a family member. It’s been 10-plus years since I wrote Carried by Grace, but even then there were thousands of books on the topic. That meant my book had to have a unique angle on the topic, which it did: I was the mother of the victim and the book addressed a mother’s healing. (Carried by Grace is available in my bookstore and at Amazon.) At the time, there were no other books to help mothers navigate that journey.

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4 Simple Questions for Decision-Making

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4 simple questions to help you make a decision

Just make a decision!

How many times has someone said that to you?

Many people struggle to make a decision. Should I or shouldn’t I do this? Is this a good idea for my business (or life)? What will my friends think of me if I do this? What if I make a mistake?

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Jeremiah and Words From God

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As I write this (Feb. 28), my daily Bible reading took me to Jeremiah 15.

Wow, if any prophet ever had hard, it was Jeremiah! He is known as the “weeping prophet,” and yes, like us all he got discouraged at times. Chapter 15 is one such point.

A little backstory: Israel and Judah had turned their backs on God so many times that God himself says “You have abandoned me and turned your back on me…I am tired of always giving you another chance” (vs. 6 NLT). Jeremiah constantly warned them that God’s destruction bore down on them.

I imagine that can weigh a person down. And it did.

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The Ghostwriting Process – Part 2

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ghostwriting

This is a continuation of guest blogger Kristin Noland’s post on ghostwriting. If you missed part 1, you’ll want to go back and read it.

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The Ghostwriting Process – Part 1

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This month’s posts are from guest blogger Kristin Noland.

With over 80 manuscripts to her name—including two bestsellers, one a military thriller—Kristin has spent her career helping authors bring their stories to life and position their work for success. From intricate world-building to sharp pacing, intricate plots, and characters who stay with readers long after the last page, she has her clients’ backs.

As a ghostwriter and editor specializing in speculative and crime fiction, she works with authors to strengthen narrative structure, ensuring every plot point builds toward a compelling conclusion; refine style and voice, polishing language to capture her client’s unique storytelling voice; and prepare their books for the marketplace by aligning the manuscript with what agents, publishers, and readers are looking for.

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Crafting Vivid Story Settings

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Crafting vivid story settings is all about making your readers feel like they’re actually there! But how does a writer accomplish that? I do great with dialog, never an issue coming up with things for people to say, but I still struggle with description. I have to work at it (usually in the self-editing stage), so don’t fret if you find yourself on the ship with me.

That said, let’s dive in.

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