Are you an author looking for ways to amplify your voice and those of like-minded authors? Here are a few that involve minimal time on your part.
Join Goodreads here. You can be open (post a photo and detailed bio), or reclusive (post your first name and a picture of your friend’s dog in sunglasses, and set your profile to “private”).
Here’s an example of an award-winning novelist whose book reviews range from one to five stars. Read more “Amplifying Our Voices”
What are your New Year’s Resolutions as a writer? What? You didn’t make any? Well, here are some suggestions for 2020 especially and specifically for writers that Christian Authors Community & Services highly recommends.
One of the main problems/challenges that writers face is procrastination. Admit it. We keep putting off writing for one reason or another, but what it boils down to is that we find something we think is more important to do than writing that article or finishing that chapter.
I have such a problem with desk lasagna, I have this article out of my archives numerous times to help me get better organized. And the problem keeps reappearing. Go figure. I wrote this article for the Chamber of Commerce newsletter way back in 2009 then updated it as a LinkedIn article in 2016.So here is a glimpse back in time to 2016:
I kept putting off writing this last week because I thought I had just too much on my plate to take time for it. I thought other things were more important. Well, I just sent my new book, When Christians Hurt Christians, off to the proofreader’s so I don’t have any more excuses to set things aside, or on top of everything else.
What concerns you today? Bills? Health? Your new manuscript? Whatever worries you may have, God is with you.
I worried that my manuscript was not good enough. I had reason to worry. It was horrible! Like most first drafts mine needed work. However, mine needed an entire rewrite.
I love the Word of God and my manuscript was filled with Scripture. God provided an editor to help me. I asked him to be hard on my writing.
“Are you sure, Cherrilynn?”
“Absolutely, I can take it. I was the only female on a flight crew in the Navy, I have thick skin.”
“As long as you don’t take my critique and edits personally,” he cleared his throat.
“My first impression, if I wanted to read that much Scripture I would open my Bible.”
Our conversation lasted over an hour as he expressed that I needed more stories and needed to write in the present tense. As a new author, I asked many questions. Read more “Worrier or Warrior?”
By Cherrilynn Bisbano
I froze with fear, overlooking paradise.
While serving at Barbers Point Naval Air Station Hawaii, my best friends Vicky and Steve decided to climb the Stairway to Heaven or Haʻikū Ladder.
“Come with us, Cherrilynn,” Steve said.
“You can climb 3,922 steps. Our fellow Radiomen did it every day during the Second World War,” Vicky said.
We were off duty and wanted a challenge, so we donned our hiking boots and drove to the Haiku Radio station.
Upon arrival, the clerk handed each of us a waiver.
Without hesitation, Vicky and Steve signed it.
“Did you even read this waiver?” I said.
The paper shook as I held it.
“It states that they take no responsibility if we fall and die.”
“We got your back, Cherrilynn. We won’t let anything happen to you,” Steve said.
I signed my waiver. “Let’s go.”
The climb was arduous but the scenery breathtaking.
About two hours into our hike Steve announced, “We’re at the scariest part.”
In front of us was a ladder with a thousand-foot drop on either side.
“Wow, that is scary,” Vicky said.
We inspected at the metal structure for durability.
“I’ll wait here. You two go ahead,” I said.
“You came this far. We won’t go without you.” Steve said as he sipped his water.
“Cherrilynn, I’ve seen you get through scarier things than this.” Vicky put her hand on my shoulder. “Remember when our engine flamed out during a mission?”
I remembered, and the thought didn’t help.
“Why don’t you go first, Cherrilynn, and we’ll follow?” Steve said.
I took a deep breath, placed my hands on the ladder, and climbed five of the ten rungs.
I paused.
“Don’t look down!” Vicky said.
“Too late.” The trees whirled a thousand feet below me.
“Cherrilynn, are you ok?” Steve’s voice thickened with concern.
“No, my legs won’t move.”
Steve climbed the first two steps.
“Don’t touch me!” I began to cry.
“Cherrilynn, do you trust me?” Steve touched my foot.
“Yes, but I’m scared. What if we fall?”
By the time I finished my sentence, Steve was directly behind me, his hands on the rungs above mine.
“Let’s move together and get you to level ground.”
As we climbed, I gripped the ladder. I feared my friend would fall to his death if I moved too fast.
“I got your back.” Steve kept whispering in my ear.
“You’re almost there,” Vicky said.
Steve stepped onto the plateau and pulled me to safety.
“We made it!” Steve and I threw our hands up in victory.
“Thank you, Steve. You did have my back.”
Difficult and scary times are inevitable, especially for writers. We experience writer’s block, rejection, loneliness, and self-doubt. We fret as we wonder if our manuscript, article, or blog post is well written, and we freeze before we hit the send button. We agonize over social media numbers, less than five-star reviews, and wonder if anyone knows we exist.
Where can we turn for strength, peace, and encouragement?
“… but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 NIV
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends…” John 15:15 ESV
Jesus! He is the one who gave Peter the courage to walk on water and was there to help when Peter began to sink. He is the one who healed the blind, gave living water to a promiscuous woman, and his touch resurrected a child from the dead.
The Creator of the universe desires to help us scale any mountain and overcome any fear. He calls us to write and trust him for the outcome. When we fear, worry, or doubt, we don’t live in his promises.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 ESV
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5 ESV
We all have times of we lean on our own understanding. Will you join me and claim the promises of God? Commit the above verses to memory. You can do it.
Then you can confidently answer the question,
Who’s got your back?
When has God given you peace, power, or indescribable joy on your writing journey? Join the conversation.
Cherrilynn Bisbano is an author, a book proposal writer, and a vendor partner for AuthorsCommunity.net. She is also Leadership Certified: Christian Leaders Institute.