Critiques and More

In January 2006 I started a critique group in my home. I handed out guidelines at the first meeting.

Stringent guidelines. The kind with a Lionhearted bite in them, and yet, my whole desire was to help the young authors—wow, did I learn a lot.

My guidelines: Submit ahead of time, take time to critique others and remember, to ‘check your ego at the door. Use the sandwich method. Say something good, give comments about the piece and close with a positive.

However, over the months I found myself repeating the same instructions on each manuscript I edited. “Avoid passive verbs, and words like 'so, just, even, very, and ly.'” Often I reminded the authors to format their work. Almost every MS I wrote “Run spell check and read aloud.”

Finally, I grew wiser. I only looked at content, POV, and take-away. Little by little each author’s work grew stronger and many of the group are published today.

Now there are others outside the critique group who ask for my help, too. I’m upfront with them. “I’ll be glad to read your work. Gotta tell you, I’m dead serious about what I do. I won’t waste your time or mine....”

I don’t want to stifle a wannabe author and never would I intentionally wound anyone. After all, my whole purpose is to help every writer get published—that’s a win-win thing, isn’t it?

What about you, how do you critique for new authors? Or do you?

Thinking, Kat

Learn from Rejection

Lisa, an author on FCW posted: “Ditch the mirror. Often we feel inadequate because we're looking at ourselves, in all of our flawed glory. Instead, we should be looking at God and reflecting his glory (by obeying his call to write/communicate).”

She nailed me. In recent days I realized how personal each rejection felt. I found myself talking to the rejecting editors. “You don’t even know me.” Or “Tell me how you want this article slanted. I can rewrite.” Or “Give me a chance. Try me. You might like me.”

When I stopped with the rhetoric shouted at deaf ears (obviously no one but the Lord and the PC can hear me), and took action, I moved beyond what Lisa calls the ‘self-focus’ to accomplishment.

I’m trying a new tactic—one Steve and Janet Bly shared with me long ago. “Before you send the article, list three to ten possible markets. When the rejection comes, send it out again.” Such good and timeless advice.

Why do I allow rejection to stop me cold or even focus on my feelings of inadequacy?

The times I’ve truly believed my article is good and written well, I’ve submitted it and when rejected submitted it again. Each of these well-written articles have a history—third market bought the article.

I’ve discovered I need a broader market base, but I’m learning from the best and growing daily—well, weekly.
Still learning, Kat

Awe, Writing! The Good Life.

My author friend, Susan, sent an email to me yesterday. The subject line said: Being Accountable. She talked about her Work In Progress (WIP). How she is now accepting God’s timing and she mentioned what she accomplished this past week.

The line that struck a cord in me said:

Just keeping in my mind that I should be reporting in is keeping me on track.

I replied to Susan’s email and her response: “You’re also right about having someone say, ‘how ya doing?’ I belong to a small accountability group and we’re supposed to check in every Tuesday —but if one of doesn’t, the rest don’t either.”

Did you get that? Accountability.

Not every author has an accountability partner or a critique group. Some people are loners and do just fine without a nudge, but for me, posting my goals and accomplishments made a measurable difference in my writing.

Last January I posted how much I wrote, what I sold and what I gave away. When I compared it to the year before, I could see a definite increase in production. That encouraged me. Then I posted my accomplishments online and several authors emailed me saying, “I need to do that for me.”

Unlike my laid-back-pizza-eating-lionhearted photo, being a freelance author is work. Yet when I see my work published I think, “Awe, I’m an author. Such a good life.”

This is Kat saying build some sort of system to track your work, your sales, your blogs, your newsletters, even your encouragement notes. Do it now. You’ll be glad you did.

Late Bloomer-New Career

No one told me about career building when I wrote the church drama, VBS and SS curriculum, or the Women’s Min Bible Studies. Never did I think the weekly bulletins and newsletters might be a step towards new life—I just loved being in the thick of the people and doing ministry.

So after many years alongside my preacher husband, Gary, I felt banned to the pew when he left the ministry. My world felt box like when we moved to another state where I didn’t know anyone.

Then in the spring of 1999, an eye specialist diagnosed me with Fuchs dystrophy. “You are legally blind.” My little world became more confined.

Rear-view vision tells me God used that period of my life for His glory.

That fall someone died that I might see. (What a story.)

A cornea transplant surgery promised me hope of vision, but no one prepared me for the fuzzy world I’d live in. A world filled with pain.

In my battle against the pain and depression, I announced to husband, “I do think I’ll write a novel.” I joined writer’s groups and my little box like world increased in size.

In the summer of 2002, I attended Oregon Christian Writer’s Conference where I paid Cec Murphey to read my manuscript. Cec suggested I shelve the novel and write my life experience stories.

Never in any of this did I see a career possibility—not at my age.

But look at me now. I’m working towards retirement—hopefully in the next few months—and a new career. Fulltime freelance author/speaker. And all the while the Lord had a plan.

Have a good night,

Kat in Omaha

Pleased to be an Author

Last week a District Superintendent qualified the district churches. “We don’t have second-hand churches or less than stellar preachers. We do have many small churches in villages that pay little or nothing. The pastor is bi-vocational—that doesn’t make him or the church less than the mega work in the city.”

I felt like one of those bi-vocational pastors when the discussion of low pay for anthology submissions became a topic of discussion in an online author forum. I proudly reported I’m now published in eight anthologies and have several articles scheduled to release in four more. No, I am not earning a living on my writing yet, but I'm pleased to be published.

One dear soul gave me a dose of reality when she read one of my articles in A Cup of Comfort Book of Prayer. “Your just one of several?” Her frown and tone said, “That’s not a big deal.” But to me it’s a big deal. I had to work hard to arrive at this place in my writing. I’ve been out of school for years—grammar was never my strong point—it took hours of effort to learn the craft of writing and how to ‘please the editors.’

Besides, think about it. I’m only one of several in each anthology, but they are sold in Barnes and Noble, Target, and Walmart. Who knows how God might use one of my stories to touch a life in Kookamonga or right here in Omaha.

Wow, I’m a God called author, paid or not. I feel blessed.

Pleased to be an author in any form, Kat

Where to find me:

Soul Matters for Men; Soul Matters for Mothers; Grace Givers with David Jeremiah; A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers; A Cup of Comfort Book of Prayer; A Rainy Day Book; White Picket Fences; Life Savors for Women

Procrastination can be Expensive

Horrible lesson almost learned: Don’t hesitate, buy early.

Because I’ve only flown 5 times in my life, arranging a flight is scary. Someone helped me in the past. This year our Oregon daughter encouraged me to buy one early.

“I don’t have the time today.”

“Mom, give yourself permission to spend thirty minutes online. Go directly to the website for each of the airlines. You can do this.”

I messed around on the websites that night. Some fees were sky high and a few didn’t have flights where I needed to go. The next day I popped in and looked around again—didn’t buy. Then I asked a co-worker how they arranged their flights.

“Usually Travelocity or Orbitz.”

That night I compared those two. Will they run a special? Maybe I should ask ….I hesitated. Again.

Every where I looked I found United to be the only choice from Omaha to Eugene. So why did I wait?

A week later our Omaha daughter called and connected me with expedia. "Yes, you'll have an actual person to talk me though the purchase." I called and while we were on the phone the tickets went from $405 to $638.

I hung up quick, plugged back into Orbitz where I’d seen a roundtrip fare for $412. You never saw my fingers fly so fast. Phew. Job well done. I received my confirmation, wiped my brow, and thought “Wow, you almost missed this because you hesitated to make a commitment.”

I gotta learn procrastination is a killer and can be expensive.

Sighing, Kat

OVERCOME FEAR OF SPEAKING

AFRAID TO SPEAK

How did I overcome the fear of speaking before people?

Practice. I learned how to speak before others when pushed lovingly by my husband (and the Lord) to fill positions in the church.

My husband entered the ministry 14 years after we were married. While he attended Bible College, I took classes offered for the wives and piano lessons, too. (Training is a big help.)

Although I’m an extrovert, I struggle with shyness. (Well I did at one time and still do if I’m in unfamiliar territory.)

Ministry in small churches is a great way to overcome a lot of self. Forced to lead the music, play the piano and direct the choir—in one church I did all three—taught me to care for others and forget about self.

At one point, I asked a piano instructor, “How do I get over being so nervous. I’m sure I’ll blunder.” He answered, “Why do you think people come to listen for your mistakes? Don’t focus on yourself. Your congregation (audience) is your best friend. Your champion.”

This last fall (a hundred years after those church settings), I spoke in several churches. I felt so inadequate, positive I had nothing new to say. My husband wisely said, “There may be only one person, but that one person has never heard your message before.”

More than once I heard, “The Lord sent you here for me.” I may not be the best speaker, but I’m the one the Lord sent to do that job.

Step outside your comfort zone this week and try something for the sake of others. Then watch God open the hearts of others to receive the message God has placed on your heart.

Have a beautiful week, Kat

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS

What is a simultaneous submission? You write one article and send it to more than one editor.

In the body of your cover letter you mention, “I am sending this submission to another publication.” Or under your signature you note: Simultaneous Submission.

When one editor buys the manuscript, be sure and let the other editor(s) know immediately.

The day I wrote an article for one publication and accidently sent it to another, I felt embarrassed. I quick wrote to Mr. First Sub Editor and apologized. In minutes he replied to my email. “Don’t worry about it. Just let me know if you sell it.”

When Mr. Supposed To Editor did buy the article. I sent that promised email to Mr. First Sub Editor, “Sold.” He replied, “I’ve withdrawn your article from our files.” Two weeks later, the same editor sent me a letter of acceptance for the same article.

I panicked. Did I tell the article as First Rights twice? That’s not legal or moral.

After several emails, we came to a solution: The two SS handouts are not overlapping markets. Mr. Supposed To Editor bought the article and had already sent the payment when the second one wrote his letter of acceptance. Legally he owned the first rights to my article. Mr. First Sub Editor said he was happy to pay for a reprint even though he will publish the story before Mr. Supposed To Editor’s publication date.

If that doesn’t make sense, well, believe me when I say it took me awhile to sort through this problem. I don’t want to repeat it anytime soon.

So how do you avoid the problem above? For me I don’t make it a practice to submit simultaneously.

One simple tip:

When you submit simultaneously log all info in an Excel Spreadsheet or hardcopy file. Change the font type and size, bold it, and color the text name. Then color the editors email addresses in the same color. Your eyes can track the submission easier.

Enjoy your day, Kat