The Performance Cycle

By DiAnn Mills

The performance cycle can destroy a writer’s passion for communicating through the written word. We writers create in solitary environments. Granted social media invites community from the comforts of our devices, but too often writers fall into the pit of their self-worth dependent on what’s accomplished. Career-focused agenda consumes far too many writers: social media numbers, published articles and books, high-ranking blog posts, invitations to teach and speak, and the list goes on.

The problems fall deep within our views of self-worth. We have goals and expectations, and that’s grand! No one can be successful without developing a sound plan to work smart and strong. But lofty heights do not define who we are.

God will not one day ask me how many books I’ve written or sold in order to enter heaven. He doesn’t keep track of my successes; He keeps track of my obedience.

How to know if we are driven by performance:

1.          We are compulsive in reading reviews and attempt to please all readers.

2.          We are constantly checking our sales and belittling ourselves when the numbers aren’t increasing.

3.          We are driven by the bestseller lists.

4.          We ignore our families and friends.

5.          We establish goals that aren’t realistic.

6.          We experience constant headaches or stomach issues.

7.          We neglect good health and exercise.

8.          We obsess about getting the writing and social media done, done, and done.

9.          We know we aren’t working efficiently or effectively but we can’t seem to stop.

10.      We crave positive feedback and never feel good enough.

11.      We compare our careers with others.

12.      We feel guilty about our miserable lack of progress. There must be something more we can do.

13.      We live with stress.

Once we realize we have a problem, what can we do to eliminate the negative traits and turn them into positive attributes? The following are ways to stop pedaling on the performance cycle treadmill:

1.          Make a list of all the tasks we do well.

2.          Schedule time to rest and relax.

3.          Establish realistic goals that fit our personality.

4.          Understand our strengths and weaknesses. Strive to improve but don’t obsess. 

5.          Reward ourselves for a job well done.

6.          Turn off the computer and refuse to work 16 hours a day.

7.          Accept who we are as writers. No one works exactly the same way, at the same time, or achieves success in the same manner.

8.          Define who we are by our faith in God, not by the world’s definition.

9.          Give back to others either in a writer’s group or mentoring.

10.      Take responsibility for our actions and learn from them.

11.      Embrace challenges as a positive, not a personal war.

Although I strive to incorporate these items into my daily routine, I struggle too. We’re human. When we find ourselves slipping into old habits, we shake off the problem areas and try again.

“There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.” Mother Teresa

Writers are purpose-filled people who want to share carefully formed words with the world in hopes of making it a better place to live. But don’t let the accolades or lack of rule your life.

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her latest book, Burden of Proof has released. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed atwww.diannmills.com.

Lighting a Fire to Your Writing Career

By DiAnn Mills

When writers realize the embers of their careers are dying, stomping out the few remaining flames is not the answer. Instead, effective writers look for new ways to promote themselves that explodes with ingenuity and creativity.

Is your career on the verge of smoldering? Try adding a spark to your marketing and promotion plan with these ideas.

1.   Brainstorm with other writers about your brand and marketing and promotion efforts. I could write several blogs on this topic. In short, brainstorming is the best method I know to expand creativity from the writing process to branding and promotion.

2.   A new professional photo. Invest in a good photographer who will not only create a great new look for media but will also snap a few candid and fun pics that can be used for social networking.

3.   Update your website. Now may be the time to consider an exciting design that uses your brand as the focus. Your website is your calling card. It must reflect you, your writing, and your uniqueness.

4.   Author bio. A writer uses his/her flair for words to enhance a bio that draws readers into your world. Make it personal and professional. Also, develop a shorter version for those times when media has space for two or three sentences.

5.   If you’re social media networking includes only Facebook or Twitter, stretch yourself. Dive into the advantages of Goodreads where a writer can communicate with readers. Take the time to read all the benefits of Goodreads for writers. Pinterest is addictive, and the many uses of images in marketing and promotion are endless. Don’t limit yourself! Are podcasts in your future?

6.   Use Buffer or Hootsuite to organize and simplify your social media posts. This relieves the stress of watching the clock and questioning when followers are online. Analytics provide information critical to posting and content. Other methods are available, but these are my favorites. https://bufferapp.com https://hootsuite.com. 

7.   Is blogging a part of your plan? A successful writer understands a blog is only as good as the subject matter and how the material is presented. This is not about you but what you can offer to readers with your expertise. Use images and make it fun.

8.   Commit to reading blogs and books about marketing and promotion for writers in your genre.

9.   Are you taking care of yourself physically? A writer who’s not healthy or regularly exercising can’t expect the brain and heart to engage to maximum potential.

10.  Are you ensuring each book is written better than the previous one? Are writing challenges met with determination by studying the craft, deepening skills, and evaluating your own work?

11.  Prayer. This should be first. Seek God’s guidance for ways to glorify Him as we seek to entertain, inspire, and encourage readers.

Perhaps one of these eleven ideas have motivated you to add fire to your writing career. Determine today to light a match to one of them. 

How are you igniting a fire in your writing?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Writing in Isolation – What’s an Extrovert to Do?

By Colleen Coble

Hello, my name is Colleen Coble, and I’m a major extrovert. I know you’ve all heard all authors are introverts and huddle in their closets with a laptop while they write, but it’s not true. There are some of us strange creatures around who prefer parties to privacy.

People sometimes ask what is the most challenging part of writing, and for those of us who are extroverts, it’s the solitude. There are weeks when I’m on a tight deadline and don’t leave the house except for church on Sunday. That can take its toll on my mental energy. What’s a girl to do?

Answer: social media! I know, I know, that’s another thing you’ve heard. Social media is the bane of our existence, and it’s something we have to do because our publishers and readers expect it. But I want to challenge you to turn it around and think of it as something beneficial for you as well. You will make great friends and find awesome support online if you change your attitude.

First off, figure out which social media speaks to you the most. Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or Periscope are all valuable to you if you enjoy them. I’ve tried them all, but Facebook is my favorite. I have instant interaction with readers the moment I hop over there.

Second, be yourself. Don’t talk about your books all the time. Reveal who you really are. Put down your mask. What are your interests outside of your books? Mine is health, and I’m always posting articles about how we can use food to make use healthier. My readers all know I’m a health nut, and they often share things of interest with me as well. My characters are likely to eat a gluten-free, sugar-free diet and using essential oils so my books follow my interests as well. And I love coffee and The Walking Dead.

Third, treat your readers as friends. Answer their questions, respond to their comments, and share their posts as well. It’s all about interaction. Encourage them to share their lives with you as well as sharing yours with them.

My readers have given me so much: encouragement on the dark days, laughter, prayers, companionship, and so much more. When those days of tight deadlines fall on my head, I have a host of friends available at my keyboard to keep me company. It’s made solitude much more bearable for this mega-extrovert, but these tips will help you reach your readers as well even if you crave solitude. You can always shut your computer!

I know you’re thinking this takes too much time, but it really doesn’t. That’s an excuse writers use to avoid doing anything on social media because they dread it. If you change your attitude about it and see it as talking with friends, it will seem much less onerous, and I think you’ll find yourself with more friends than you ever thought was possible. I sure have!


So how about you? If you’re an extrovert like me, how do you handle the isolation?
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Best-selling autor Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice and the Booksellers Best. She has more than three million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Coble is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. To keep up with Colleen Coble, visit www.colleencoble.com, become a fan on Facebook (colleencoblebooks) or follow her on Twitter (@colleencoble).

How to Think Like an Agent

By Janet Kobobel Grant 

If you want to connect with an agent, the best way is to think like an agent. Here are four tips:

1.     When we read a query, a proposal, or sample chapters, we look for a reason to say no.

It’s not that we’re inherently curmudgeonly (well, not all of us), but we have heaps of potential projects to look over. That means we have to be exceedingly picky about what we say yes to.

TIP: Presenting your idea or you, as the author, as run-of-the-mill will in not garner you a yes. Tell the agent what makes your idea and you a standout. If you don’t know what that might be, then you’re probably not ready to submit to an agent.

2.     Remember we get paid exactly nothing for reading what you wrote.

An agent receives a commission off of money his or her clients earn. That means every minute we spend on submissions is a minute away from selling something for our clients.

TIP: Use those first few seconds that an agent looks at your query to best advantage by showcasing the most attractive, amazing or unique aspect of your project. That might be a stunning title, your one million faithful blog readers, or an idea that’s about a perennially popular topic or genre with a surprising twist.

3.     Connect with each agent in the way he or she specifies on the agency’s web page or other agency listing.

See #1 and #2. This means emails addressed to “Sir or Madam” are hard for us to take seriously. Such a salutation says you’ll take any agent who shows interest in you.

This means do not phone an agent to spontaneously pitch your project. Such conversations turn into the agent providing a brief history of how submissions work, which might be helpful to you but that agent will not be interested in looking at your project.

TIP: Do your homework before contacting an agent. Know how that person wants to be contacted, what sort of books the agent represents, and some of the agents’ clients. Imagine, if you were an agent, how you would respond if a potential client wrote this in an email: “I’ve read and loved books by these four clients of yours: ____________, __________________, ____________, __________. I think you and I have similar taste in books. For that reason, would you consider looking at title of your manuscript, a genre or category of your project…”

Showing you’ve done some research on who the agent is, aligning yourself with that agent’s sensibilities, and treating the agent like a real person, will have the agent taking special notice of your work.

4.     Remember that part of an agent’s job is to find the next breakout writer.

Yes, we’re busy; yes, we make no money while we’re reading your proposal; yes, we see a lot that isn’t even vaguely what we’re looking for…but we’re looking. We’re always looking. And nothing gives us greater joy than finding.

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Janet Kobobel Grant is founder and president of Books & Such Literary Management, which consists of five agents and more than 250 clients. The agency began in 1996 and represents New York Times best-selling authors; and RITA, Holt Medallion, and Daphne du Maurier Award winners along with a host of other awards. You can find out more about Janet and Books & Such atwww.booksandsuch.com. Janet is active on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JanetGrantLiteraryAgent and on Twitter @JanetKGrant. Each Books & Such agent writes once per week on their blog at http://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/.