Karis Waters's Blog

Today, as I look ahead to the New Year, I’m also celebrating another big milestone.

Today, I turn 30.

And while I’m definitely feeling a wee bit old, I’m also feeling tremendously thankful. For the health and energy to pursue my dreams. For long-time faithful friends and a family I adore. For the privilege of serving in a church community where people are making life-transforming decisions to follow Jesus every week.

I’m thankful for cherished dreams coming true (I love you, Remmington), like marriage, starting my dream business, living overseas for almost 3 years, and traveling to over 25 countries doing missions work.

Even in this last year in my business alone, I’m thankful for tremendous growth and opportunities.

In 2017, I…

Edited 450,000 words (give or take)
Helped 50 clients, and countless others, find breakthrough in their writing craft and career
Launched an active Facebook group community with almost 50 amazing women
Broke 2,500 Twitter followers
Got to see many of my clients’ books go into print
Was a top-three finalist for the AWSA Fiction Editor of the Year award and Merit Award winner
Saw a editing client’s novel be a top-three finalist for the Realm Awards science-fiction Book of the Year award
Hired a business coach
More than doubled my sales from last year

I’ve worked really hard and God’s really blessed me, but that’s nothing to sneeze at, that’s for sure!

I’ve learned a few things in the last 30 years, too. I’ve learned to take Jesus more seriously and myself WAAAAYYY less seriously! I’ve learned that tough times don’t last forever, but the memories of God’s faithfulness sure do. I’ve learned that there’s just no pleasing some people, so I might as well live authentically and focus on being the best person God made me to be.

I’ve learned to look at others less, and focus on who I am more. I’ve learned the importance of feeding my soul and taking care of myself, so I can effectively serve others. I’ve learned it’s okay (and necessary!) to say no to a good thing to make room for something better, and that when you see one dream come true, you can always dream a new dream that’s even bigger and more amazing.

So here’s to bigger dreams, bigger wins, more cherished memories with incredible people, and more days of walking step-by-step with Jesus.

Here’s to an even better 2018, and to my next 30 years!

 

Special thanks to my fabulous photographer, Gina Dreher. 

Writing is an awfully expensive journey, isn’t it? Let’s keep it uber real here today, friend. Honest with each other over a cup of my favorite peach tea. The author’s road is a hard one. Been there, got the t-shirt.

Your laptop is not exactly cheap. Add to that a word processing program, office supplies, craft books, writing courses/coaching, conference fees (often $500+ per conference), and editing costs (quality editors charge in the thousands for this time-intensive venture). If you’re an indie or self-published author, you’re also footing the bill for proofreading, formatting, cover design (which can be hundreds of dollars), ISBN numbers, and the list goes on. That’s not even counting the countless hours, blood, sweat, and tears that go into putting out even one novel.

It’s not cheap. I get that.

And it shouldn’t be.

Stories change lives. They change your readers’ lives. And, let’s face it, writing powerful stories changes your life, too. Sometimes even more than your readers. 

Yet, you’re still telling yourself a very disturbing story. You’ve already invested a tremendous amount of time and energy – and your heart, to be honest – into your story. You may have already invested financial resources into your writing as well.

But you’re still telling yourself the same misleading story. “I can’t afford an editor. Or a writing coach. Or to go to that conference. Or to buy that craft book.”

I. Can’t.

Do you hear yourself?

Why are you telling yourself you can’t do it? Why are you telling yourself such a misleading narrative? I’m going to get real honest with you, sister, and I want you to get really gut-level honest with yourself. You can’t…or you won’t?

Most of the time when we say we “can’t” do something, we actually mean we’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary, to do whatever it takes, to make it happen. 

It’s not about the numbers. The dollar signs. The financial cost. Really, it’s not. It doesn’t matter if it’s $50, $500, $5,000 or even $5, the root hesitation is the same. It’s about believing you are worth the investment. That investing in your personal growth, your writing journey, is worth the sacrifice.

I know what you’re saying. “Katie, you haven’t seen my bank account.” No, I haven’t. But I have been in the position of not knowing where my next meal is coming from. Of sitting on the floor, leaning against the fridge, and crying because I didn’t have the money to pay my bills that month.

And God has always been faithful to provide.

A couple months ago, I strongly felt that I needed to invest in a business coaching program to show me how to wisely steward this profession I firmly believe he has called me into. But I’d just gotten married. I live(d) in a tiny studio apartment. I was still paying off debt, so I didn’t want to gain any more. My husband had gone through three job transitions and worked 2-3 jobs for almost six months just to make the bills.

Let’s be real. We were broke newlyweds.

I kept telling myself that defeating narrative. “I can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on a business coaching program. There’s no way.” 

Then, I listened to a webinar challenging me to change my “I can’t” attitude to “What can I do to make this happen?” I had assumed it wasn’t possible, so I hadn’t even bothered to ask God to specifically provide or run the numbers.

To my shock, the money was there. I could pay that amount to the government in taxes, or I could reinvest it in my business. My business actually could afford it. Barely. Not comfortably. But what had seemed impossible just an hour or two previous could now become a reality.

But I still wasn’t sure. Even if I could make it happen, should I?

So, I prayed. I asked God to provide the funds in the next 24 hours (before the early-bird pricing for the course closed) if He wanted me to invest in my personal and business growth. And I put out a special offer combining my services and charged the exact amount of the course.

You know what happened. A couple hours later, a previous client took my offer. 

I paid for the coaching program out of pocket. I saved thousands of dollars in taxes. And I’m already seeing tremendous breakthrough in my mindset and business savvy in just the first week of the course!

Now, you might be thinking, “That’s nice for you, but I can’t just wish money into existence (even if it does, technically, grow on trees).”

I agree. It takes much more than wishing. It takes intentional action. It takes a commitment to invest in yourself and your writing career. It takes long-term vision, out-of-the-box problem solving and a willingness to do what it takes to make the impossible your reality.

Did you know the average American spends over $1,000 a year on coffee? And nearly that amount just on Christmas gifts or Halloween candy? How much have you spent this year just in late fees? Create a plan. Be intentional. Make it happen.

Are you ready to change your “I can’t” into “What can I do to make this happen?” Are you willing to tell yourself a different narrative, yell “plot twist,” and change the direction of your story?

Yeah? So am I. Let’s take this journey together.

It’s my privilege to welcome Lisa to my blog today. I’ve known her for several years now and have watched her journey through difficult circumstances to find her bold, unique voice that is at once compassionate and compelling. Who better to share her story of discovering her authentic voice than this beautiful woman who has fought for it so hard? 

I spent ten years trying to brand myself.

If I wasn’t thinking about my personal brand as a writer, maker, and coach, I was working at digital agencies large and small that specialized in branding, reading up on the subject, teaching on it, and writing about it. For two and a half years I even ran a boutique branding agency that worked exclusively with creative entrepreneurs. I watched dozens of writers, artists, coaches, healers, and the like wrestle deeply with how to “show up” in their marketplace.

By the time I dissolved my agency this past July and completely eliminated every trace of my ten-year-old brand online, I knew a lot about branding. But, truth be told, I was no closer to understanding or conveying my own brand.

I felt the truth of that deep down in my soul. And it felt like failure. 

How I possibly could have missed “the point” so badly when I focused so hard for so long on this critical aspect of marketing? Nothing seems more cruel than to chase something with your heart and soul, only to realize you’ve come up empty-handed.

I can say now that with a clearer head and a lot of time to consider the matter, I think I’ve finally wrapped my head around the core of this elusive topic. It only took me a decade, three fast-paced corporate jobs, four businesses of my own, and a ton of heartache—followed by a period of totally giving up on the whole thing—for me to find my groove.

And here’s what I discovered in the wake of branding suicide.

You won’t find your brand when you’re looking for it. Ever. Your brand will always find you when you least expect.

Slowly but surely, as you follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit working through the passions and curiosities of your creative heart, your brand will begin to come out of you in the form of your work, your words, your social media posts, your friendships.

You are the sum of your brand. Unless you deliberately suppress your every desire, gift, and project, your brand can’t help but leak out of you. The question is, are you willing to let it show up in its own sweet time?

Great brands are like cats. They won’t come when they’re called, no matter how loud you yell.

The harder you try to “figure out” your brand, the less energy you actually spend on your work and on being creative with colleagues, friends, and your audience.

When you re-direct that frantic seeking energy into the only thing that really matters—the real creative work God has called you to do, today—you will begin to see the patterns of The Real You show up over time.

So will everyone else.

Someone smart once said that your brand is a combination of what you say about yourself and your work, and what others say about you (and it). Somewhere in the nexus of these two, your brand will emerge.

You won’t have to sweat your 30-second intro, or craft your website bio a dozen times over before you feel satisfied. It will just come.

Why? Because your brand is coming out of what you actually do, how you actually live, who you actually are. Not out of an artificial, pre-determination persona or self-presentation that (frankly) you and I have no business making about ourselves in the grand scheme of God’s plan. Which brings us to the root of the matter. Are you ready for this one?

What we’re really dealing with here is control.

Branding, in most instances, is treated as an attempt to control an outcome or an impression.

 If you’re anything like me, you have probably noticed that controlling or managing your image or doesn’t really work. Just when you decide to write “these kinds of books” for “that audience,” a stubborn idea will pop up—and persist—that has nothing to do with the niche you’ve picked.

Just when you’ve decided to focus in writing and not paint anymore or make jewelry, you will find yourself in a manic five-day creative spurt that involves beads, wire, and all the canvases you can get your hands on.

Just when you’ve finished your website redesign, a fan will say something to you at a conference that completely rocks your perspective on your work, and sends you into a 36-hour frenzy of digital reinvention.

If you’re not ready for these twists and turns, if you’re resisting them because “that’s not how a brand is supposed to happen,” you’ll end up tired and exhausted. Maybe even disillusioned, too.

The remedy for all this, I’m discovering, is commit to radical being, not perfect branding.

 The most powerful creative brands out there—whether for individual authors or artists, or corporates like artistic collectives or publishing houses—come directly out of whom the person or persons being branded already are, not whom they hope to become.

We cannot control the path God has for us anymore than we can control the sun rising, or the weather forecast on vacation. Our job in shaping a brand that communicates that path is not to pre-determine, steer or influence what others think about it, but to live that path God gave us as authentically as possible and share it in real time, with real people.

But that brings us, of course, to messy things like opening up, being truly vulnerable, sharing our struggles, admitting our pain, and reaching out to others who may be feeling the same way.

That also brings us to equally messy things like getting into the studio and just making more things, and sharing them freely with others, and letting their actual reactions inform us of whom we are rather than what we conjure up in our heads. Let’s face it: “being” (as opposed to “branding”) is harder. It’s scarier. A lot less glamorous.

But, as I’m discovering in my post-branding life, being is where you real brand emerges.

My brand now feels more closely aligned to who I am than ever—and people whose opinion I care about have said the same thing to me, independently. It’s felt a lot more natural than hours of sitting around, playing with words on a website or designing memes in Canva (though you can absolutely do those things, and I still do too—purely because I enjoy it).

This kinder, more intuitive branding process has only become possible as I have gotten radically clear on the “real me,” stopped playing the part that experts, clients, or friends have told me I “ought to” play, and let my path organically emerge.

For me, that means being an unapologetic hyphenate with no single title anyone can slap on my work. It also means following my interests into brand-new genres and fields of study that may not “look” like a traditional author’s career.

Branding has its place, but only as a reflection of whom we really are, not whom we hope to become.

So get down to the business of writing and making whatever moves you. And don’t forget to share it liberally.

Your brand will meet you there.

[image error]Lisa Maria is a traveling writer, maker, and coach helping sensitive, goal-oriented women who struggle to realize their creative dreams heal their artistic blocks so they can set their ideas free. Connect with her online at: https://thatfierydance.com/

Your author brand is nothing more than your authentic story. 

Let’s set aside all the fancy talk of platforms and networking, fonts and social media strategies, logos and websites, brand archetypes and all the “expert advice.” Because none of that matters until you know your story.

You probably think your story is your book. Your words on the page. And you’d be partially correct. But that’s not your whole story. 

Your story is the experiences and struggles that inspired you to write your book. Your story is all the late nights and early mornings typing away while your kids slept. Your story is the hidden wounds you work through with your characters and the message in your heart you’re desperate for people to know.

You’re living your story right now. 

And the story that you’re living is just as important – if not more – than the story you’re telling in your books or novels.

Logos, fonts, graphic design – what we think of as “branding,” isn’t the hard part. In fact, when it comes to branding, simpler is almost always better. What’s really hard is owning up to your authentic story.

Your story must be authentic.

It must. There’s no way around it. Believe me. If there were, I would have found it. I’m naturally an introverted person who tends to be very private about my thoughts and feelings. I don’t like to admit to my mistakes. I cringe to think of showing everyone the oh-so-normal, all-too-real truth about my creative life. I shrink from telling the stories of the failures and the tears shed and my own painful ignorance.

It’s pretty messy, to be honest. Often I feel discouraged. Often I feel like I’m just throwing spaghetti at a wall and watching it splatter, hoping something will eventually stick.

But the messy is part of my story too. The hard and the hurtful, the doubts and defeats as well as the joys and victories. Without authenticity, you only have half a story. And everyone knows it.

When you know your story, then we can look at your brand. Because a brand is nothing more than a visual representation of you,  a visual way to tell your story.

So. What’s your story? 

 

Not sure where to start? Feeling lost and discouraged? Talk to me. Please. Don’t try and do this on your own. I can help you tell your story with clarity and confidence, whether on the page or through your author brand. 

Want to know more? Check back on Fridays this month for more posts on creating your author brand! 

 

People live at the heart of your story.

You may think your book is about you. And it absolutely is. Your unique voice breathes life into a story that only you can tell.

But it’s not JUST about you.

It takes a village of beta readers, critique partners, writing coaches, editors, agents, proofreaders, graphic designers, and publishers to get your book onto a shelf and into the hands of the readers who will connect with your story.

It takes a village of beta readers, critique partners, writing coaches, editors, agents, proofreaders, graphic designers, and publishers to get your book onto a shelf and into the hands of the readers who will connect with your story.

I’ve been sharing with you this month how critical it is for today’s writer to embrace writing in community and abandon the out-dated vision of the solitary writer pecking away at a typewriter (or computer) in the aesthetic quiet of their home office.

It’s just not reality.

Craft and industry advice, as well as feedback, from experienced industry professionals is absolutely critical for your career growth as a writer. Can I just say that again? Let this soak in.

Craft and industry advice, as well as feedback, from experienced industry professionals is absolutely critical for your career growth as a writer.

Are you really being challenged as a writer and professional if you’re only interacting with writers at your skill and experience level or below? Do you feel confused by conflicting feedback from friends, family, or peers who may not even be familiar with your genre or the industry?

Recently a serious issue came up related to my responsibilities as managing editor of Crosshair Press, an indie publisher specializing in adventure stories that ask life’s tough questions. It was a sticky situation we’d never encountered before, and myself and the Crosshair team weren’t sure the best way to respond.

So, what did I do? Call my mom? Phone a friend? Of course, not. The Crosshair Press team is so grateful to call many key industry leaders our friends and mentors. I called literary agent Steve Laube and explained our situation, and he very kindly took the time to share his experiences and recommend a professional course of action. Many other writing craft and industry mentors have also made invaluable contributions to my craft and career.

Many writing craft and industry mentors have made invaluable contributions to my craft and career.

Multi-published author, editor, and Writer’s Digest contributor Jeff Gerke offered CP insider advice when we launched, as well as giving me a recommendation blurb after reading a book I’d edited for a client (he had seen a previous version of the manuscript). Kregel Publications managing editor Steve Barclift took me under his wing as a clueless 19-year-old writer and has been a friend and mentor ever since.

As a young writer, I completed the CWG Apprenticeship and Journeyman courses under the mentorship of respected literary agent Les Stobbe and romantic suspense author DiAnn Mills. These courses proved to be an incredibly valuable part of my writing journey and inspired my own 8-week Fiction Fundamentals writing mentorship course. 

I could go on, but I think you get my point. Receiving feedback and advice from industry professionals is one of the best ways you can invest in yourself and your writing career.

Receiving feedback and advice from industry professionals is one of the best ways you can invest in yourself and your writing career. 

What’s this got to do with you? First, don’t isolate yourself. Find a community and invest in other people. More on this in my blog post, “An Introvert’s Guide to Networking.” Second, invest in a writing coach or mentor.

A writing coach can do more for your craft and your career than a dozen writing conferences or a library full of how-to-write books. A writing coach pinpoints problem areas, makes suggestions for growth that are specific to you and your situation, guides you through the complicated web that is the book industry, and becomes your No. 1 fan and encourager!

A writing coach pinpoints problem areas, makes suggestions for growth that are specific to you and your situation, guides you through the complicated web that is the book industry, and becomes your No. 1 fan and encourager! 

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the abundance of writing resources, feedback, and “should-do” lists. It’s your writing coach’s job to sort through the noise and make recommendations that are relevant to you.

Please, please, please. Don’t try to take this journey on your own. Don’t believe the lie that you don’t need anyone else to guide you. Save yourself the time and trouble and learn from someone else’s experiences. Don’t believe me?

Here’s what award-winning author and speaker Laura VanArendonk Baugh had to say:

“Katie is that most valuable of assets for a writer: a good listener who asks on-point questions. She’s keen on structure and knows how to save an author time and money with a little pithy planning. If you’re not sure if your idea is solid or if your plot arc is supported, invest a little time in a consult before you invest dozens or hundreds of hours in your work. It’s worth it.” 

I became a developmental editor and writing coach because I love empowering passionate, career-oriented writers to achieve their goals and develop to their full potential. I’m invested in helping authors tell their story with clarity and confidence.

[image error]If you’re dedicated to craft and passionate about story, if you know you can’t go any further on your own and are ready to rise to the challenge, connect with me. I’d love to talk with you about your story and writing journey. Book a writing coaching session today. Let’s trouble-shoot your craft and plan for success.

Still not sure? I so firmly believe in the power of writing coaching to transform your craft and career that both of my August specials focus on coaching and mentoring. My Back-to-School special gives you an unlimited 50% discount on writing coaching sessions when you enroll in my Fiction Fundamentals writing mentoring program.

I’m also offering a Buy-One-Get-One-50%-Off special on all writing coaching sessions booked in August (regardless of the actual appointment date). Just enter discount code BOGO50 when you book your second coaching appointment.

You’ll learn how to construct a powerful story, create characters your readers will love, trouble-shoot common problems I encounter as an editor, interact professionally in a very competitive industry, and get other people excited about your story! 

Remember, you don’t have to take this journey on your own. In fact, it’s so much better to journey with other writers and industry professionals. The writing journey is hard and filled with ups and downs and easy pitfalls.

Let’s journey on together, shall we?

 

Who has been a coach or mentor to you in your writing journey? What contributions did they make? I’d love to know! Reply in the comments. 

 

What’s a word that will make almost any introverted writer shudder? Networking. Or perhaps its cousin, platform.

Ugh. I have to talk to people? Can’t I just hide in my back bedroom and create such an enthralling novel that everyone will buy it on the merit of craft alone (without the unpleasantness of social interaction with strangers)?

 Nope. Sorry. Maybe that’s the way the industry worked once upon a time, but not anymore. Networking, building platform, and mingling at writers’ conferences and book events are a part of life for any successful author in today’s market.

Wait. Don’t panic. It’s not as hard as you think.

This past week I participated in the Realm Makers conference for speculative fiction writers. Though I was attending as a representative of indie publisher Crosshair Press, where I serve as managing editor, I also had the privilege of attending YA author Mary Weber’s session on networking.

Her best bit of advice? Make friends.

Yup. That’s it. Be a friend. Not a fake I’m-talking-to-you-because-I-want-something-from-you type of friend. People want to be seen, not used, and industry professionals can spot that a mile away. But a real friend who actually cares.

Be the person who brings that agent a glass of water in between endless appointments. Be the person who tells other people about your friends’ books, and introduces people who are both awesome and need to know each other. Be the person who encourages other writers when they’re discouraged.

At Realm Makers I didn’t learn much about building a platform or networking in a conventional sense. But I made connections with some pretty fabulous people. Sometimes I was helping someone else. Sometimes they were helping me. But we are all on this journey together.

That’s what community is really all about. That’s how you find your tribe. That’s how you find the people from all strata of the industry who will champion you and your book.

Networking is nothing more than making friends, loving people, and letting them support you in return.

You know what true community looks like? It’s getting a hug from Sean and Suzanne Kuhn (a.k.a. SuzieQ, one of the top marketers in the industry) and hearing, “We love you and believe in you.” It’s top literary agent Steve Laube approaching me at the chocolate fountain and razzing me about the fact every time he sees me I’m eating. (Hey! What can I say? I love food. Especially chocolate-covered strawberries).

It’s one of the conference emcee finding out I’m suffering from a tension headache so bad I’m almost in tears, and sitting me down  for an impromptu 30-minute back massage. Community is sitting down with one of the top editors at the conference and asking about her son’s health (my husband had similar health struggles in junior high and high school).

I could go on and on, but you get my point.

Networking isn’t about being the most charming, vivacious person in the room. It’s about being the person who genuinely cares. Community isn’t about being the most out-going person in the room. It’s about being the one person who asks, “How is your writing going?” and really wants to know. It’s giving generously and looking to invest first in others.

We can’t all be extroverts. We can’t all be the most popular person in the room or charm everyone into buying our books (though we can certainly learn and work at it!). Not everyone can know just the right words to say and spit them out at the appropriate time. We can’t all talk to people for hours on end.

But we can all care. We can all be a good friend. We can all build community. And at the end of the day, that’s really the key to effective networking.

When people think of writers, they don’t really think of community.

More often, the stereotype of the solitary author skipping meals and pounding away at a keyboard in some attic comes to mind instead! (And let’s be real, that stereotype exists for a reason. It happens. *deadline* *cough*).

But the creative process doesn’t happen in a vacuum. At some point, preferably sooner rather than later, you’ll need to get feedback on your work. You’ll need people to encourage you, fangirl over your book, and tell you the truth about your story (even when it hurts). It takes a village to raise a child, and your book baby is no different.

Local writing communities

I’m a bit of an oddball writer in that my creative process has always happened in the context of community. My first stories were a collaborative effort with two writer friends (which became my Kenan romantic suspense series, co-authored with Carrie Lemke) in high school and college. My best friend is a multi-published author, so I grew up reading her stories and going to my first writing conferences with her.

It’s not always easy finding compatible writing groups in your local community. My friend, Amy Williams, and myself once visited a group we now semi-affectionately call the Ent-Moot. We were the only writers under 50, and definitely the only writers of speculative fiction. When we revealed that Amy had written a 150,000 word space opera novel (which became the ) to collective gasps, we decided we should probably seek critique partners elsewhere.

We eventually organized several area writing friends into our own critique group. We hosted writing weekends out at Amy’s 100-year-old farmhouse in the country, did flash fiction writing challenges that included fortunes from fortune cookies, critiqued each others’ work, and generally just encouraged each other. Four women out of that critique group went on to found Crosshair Press.

Writing conference communities

Writing conferences can be fantastic places to connect with other writers! Yes, they’re intimidating. Yes, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people and information. Don’t let them scare you! If you go into them strategically, even shy, introverted writers can make the most of the experience.

I was a clueless 19-year-old homeschooled kid when I went to my first writing conference. Shy, slightly (but adorably, or so I’m told) awkward, and a total bookworm. I ended up at a conference table with Frank Peretti. Talk about intimidating! And yes, I did end up in a hallway in tears at one point, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. In fact, two industry leaders we met at that conference have become wonderful friends and mentors 10+ years later!

Next week I will head to the Realm Makers conference in Reno, keynoted by NYT Best-Selling Author Ted Dekker, in my role as an editor and co-founder of indie publisher Crosshair Press. Realm Makers is the premier conference for Christian writers of speculative fiction, and is one of the most creative and inclusive writing communities I’ve found to date. Christian or not, if you write speculative fiction this is the place to be!

And may I just say that the awards banquet/cosplay party at the end is truly epic?

Realm Makers also has a fabulous Facebook group, the Realm Makers consortium, where writers can find betas readers and critique partners, ask questions, bounce ideas off other spec fiction writers, and just generally nerd out!

Social Media Communities

I’ve only really invested in social media writing communities in the last couple years, and it’s been a wonderful and insightful experience.

Facebook author pages and writing groups can be a great way to connect with your fans, share updates, and easily include buy links to your website and books. For many years I hated Twitter, but I’m a relatively recent convert and have discovered it’s a great way to meet new friends and glean from top professionals in the industry. Twitter is the great equalizer, giving you a chance to pick the brain of folks you might only meet at a writing conference or special event. Thanks to the internet, you can now talk to a top agent at home in your yoga pants!

Twitter hashtag challenges and communities can be a great way to get involved in the vibrant writing communities on Twitter. #Ontheporch is a fabulous community dedicated to inspiring and encouraging writers. Hashtag challenges like #1lineWed, #authorconfession or #WIPjoy give you prompts to share tidbits about your books and convert new fans.

Instagram can also be a great tool for connecting with readers, but there is a bit of a learning curve since it’s VERY visually-oriented. Make sure you have a specific, consistent theme to your images and that they are beautiful and high-quality. Some authors have found success staging pictures of books and posting them using the #Bookstagram hashtag.

The key to effective social media communities is to remember they are social communities. Don’t be that person only posting buy links. Ask questions. Interact. Share other peoples’ posts. It’s not a make-sales-quick marketing gimmick. 

Prioritize Community

It’s tempting (and let’s be real, much less scary) to try and make the writing journey on our own. After all, if we don’t open ourselves up to community — and critique — we won’t have to deal with our writing insecurities!

Please hear me.

Writing in community is absolutely essential for developing a strong story and a sustainable writing career.

Not only will you expand you readership and glean valuable insights from other authors, a writing community will pick you up after that first rejection, lend a listening ear to talk through that knotty plot problem, and celebrate wildly with you when your book baby finally grows up and goes out into the world!

Don’t wait. Take the next step and find your tribe today.

Creative writers often jokingly refer to the strangeness of the writing experience in terms of a mental illness. Multiple personalities (Characters that talk back? Say, whaaat?), obsessive behavior, the “tortured artist” stereotype, all the feels, etc.

But there’s a darker underbelly beneath all the joking.

The sensitive, artistic personality types who tend to express their deep thoughts and feelings through writing often trend toward depression and anxiety. 

This is by no means true of all writers and artists (thankfully!), and the scientific community is divided on whether a link actually exists. However, I’ve certainly seen anecdotal evidence of many creative writers struggling, not to mention dealing with anxiety and depression myself.

Creative writers look at the world a different way. They feel things others don’t feel, and often feel them much more deeply than the rest of the population. Writers (especially of the speculative genres) often feel torn between two worlds: the world of their imagination, full of magic and possibility, and the harsh reality of the world in which they live. They can often feel alone and misunderstood.

It’s this marvelous, imaginative quality that creates such engaging and heart-felt stories that impact people and cultures for generations. Yet, this same quality can isolate a creative writer from the very people whose hearts they are touching. 

If this is you, don’t despair. You are not alone.

You are wonderful. You are creative. You are inspirational. Your story has meaning and purpose. Remember, even the most wonderful, memorable stories have dark moments.

If this is you, we are here for you. I’m not afraid to speak for myself, and speak for the creative writer community: you are not alone. It’s easy to become discouraged, disheartened, or isolated. But there’s good news. You have hope, and the power to walk strong no matter if your path is light, dark, or a nice dappled in-between.

Are you ready? Here are a few tips that have helped me.

Practice self-care. I’m convinced the starving artist stereotype came about because one to many creatives got caught up in a project and forgot to eat. Take care of yourself. Eat well. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Use calming techniques like meditation and yoga to de-stress.
Practice community. Spend time with people who refresh and encourage you. Recently, I spent eight hours talking with my best friend at a coffeeshop about life, business, and our personal struggles. It was so unbelievably refreshing. Take the time, even if you don’t feel like you have it. Even if there aren’t local writers groups near you, get plugged into an online community. Twitter hashtags like #ontheporch can be great for connecting with other writers. Sometimes there’s nothing like talking with someone who truly understands the struggles of a writer’s life.
Give to others. The reality of anxiety and depression is that it’s very easy to become inward-focused. But healing and hope never comes from within us. Invest in someone else. Send an encouraging note. Help them around the house. Not only does it make someone else’s day bright, but serving others out of your own dark place lends perspective.
Seek help. There is no shame in asking for help. It is the mark of a mature person when they recognize their need and reach out. For me, an important part of my daily routine is Bible study and going to church. Spending time with Jesus reminds me that I don’t have to control everything. Friends and family members who have struggled with depression and anxiety, even to the point of suicide, finally found healing when they reached out for professional help, as well as taking the steps mentioned above. There can be physiological reasons for the way you feel.
Remember it’s a journey. Every person has both easy days and hard days, but I believe we can choose to have a good day, regardless. Some days will come easy. Some will be incredibly hard. What matters is how we respond. Do we choose to feel sorry for ourselves, or do we choose to make someone else’s life better? Do we give up, or do we choose to take the next step, and the next?

If you know someone who is struggling with depression and/or anxiety, or some other form of mental illness, reach out. If you find yourself in a dark place, seek help. Why?

The world needs your story. All of it. Not just the words you write, but also the story you live. 

I was a 19-year-old kid who didn’t know much of anything when I went to my first writing conference. In fact, I was mainly going because I’d enjoyed writing stories with friends in high school, and I wanted an excuse to hang out with my best friend.

They say public speaking is people’s most common fear, even more than dying. So I suppose it’s not surprising that most writers fear pitching to agents and editors more than any other aspect of the writing and publishing process.

Oh. And then there’s the bit where a disproportionate number of writers are shy introverts. That certainly doesn’t help.

But don’t despair! You can learn how to give a killer presentation and make the best possible impression on agents and editors. You can learn how to communicate naturally and professionally, even when you’re shaking in your shoes. And I’m here to help you do it.

Where to start?

Know your story. Nobody knows your story better than you. But it’s amazing how many writers cannot answer basic questions about their book like plot, theme, or message. Take a lesson from Einstein and remember: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Remember they don’t know your story.  You may have spent the last 20 years getting to know your characters and developing their world and backstory. The agent or editor you’re presenting to has had the last two minutes. Avoid using terminology that will be unfamiliar, and stick to short and sweet explanations. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
Get to the point. Most editors and agents have waded through a frankly astonishing number of pitches or queries to get to yours. Don’t be boring. Don’t waste their time. Don’t give them a reason to look away or zone out. They’re people too, so make it easy for them to stay engaged.
Be professional. If it’s an in-person or video pitch, adhere to the conference dress code (when in doubt, go business casual). Have your materials organized neatly. Be on time or early. Avoid asking the editor personal questions or getting sidetracked on a hot-button topic. An agent or editor is looking for an author they want to work with for the next five to ten years, if not more. Would you want to work with you that long? Be honest in your evaluation.
Do your research. One of the most common reasons for rejection is because a manuscript either does not fit what the agent or publisher is looking for, or is not presented in accordance to the guidelines set out by the agent/publisher. Most agents/publishers have clear guidelines on their websites. There is no excuse. Don’t waste both of your time with a story that doesn’t fit or is poorly presented.
Listen to their feedback and apply it. If a busy agent/editor takes the time to give you feedback on your book and presentation, thank them, and go home and apply it. Then bring your story back next year and show them how much you learned!
Resist the urge to be memorable. This may seem counter-intuitive, but too many authors resort to gimmicks or inflammatory statements attempting to be memorable. Agents/editors might remember you, but it won’t be favorably! Let your professional demeanor and your story speak for you. It’s the best way to stand out from the crowd.
Present your best product. Use beta readers and critique groups. Hire a professional editor. Polish your first chapter until it gleams. Proofread obsessively for typos and grammar errors. Make sure your one-sheet and synopsis are clean, clear, and visually appealing.
Present your platform. This is a word that gets tossed around a lot, but really it’s the industry’s way of defining influence and connections. Agents/editors want to know if you have a blog following, if you’re on social media, if you have a website. Never underestimate the power of influence and a pre-made audience.
Remember you share a common love. You both love books. You both love amazing stories. You both want you to succeed. It’s easy to villainize an editor who turns down your book baby, but remember they want you to succeed. Treat them kindly and respectfully, and they will do the same.

If you found these tips helpful, keep an eye on my blog and social media sites. I’m releasing an exciting new resource for writers in June! My pitch toolkit will include one-sheet and synopsis templates and tips, more practical suggestions on impressing editors from my experience as an editor with Crosshair Press, and an option for a phone or video call to practice your pitch.

You can pitch with confidence. You can make an agent or editor fall in love with your story. And I can help you get there.

If you’d like to be notified of new blog posts and resources coming out, sign up for my mailing list by emailing me at morford.katie@gmail.com and put OPT IN in the subject line.

Keep writing!