The Writing Advice I Needed by Brenda Leyland

 

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from pexels.com

Hard-pressed to choose the one best piece of writing advice I've ever received, I finally gave up trying. Instead, I created this short list of sage words that inspired and shaped my early writing life. Each piece was the best at the time it came to me.

1. For the unsure writer...

Listen to the call within to write. If God has asked you to write, he has also equipped you with everything to get the job done. These words dropped into my heart as I sat listening to Kathleen Gibson during the 2002 Spring WorDshop—my first-ever InScribe event. I recently found them jotted in an old journal and remembered how I drank in the stories Kathleen shared of her own early writing experiences. I had already begun to sense stirrings in my own heart to write. I felt the tug. That's why I signed up for the event. Though for someone who'd never forgotten her aversion to essay writing in school, this almost yearning came as a considerable surprise to me in adulthood. At first I wondered, "Are you sure you're talking to the right person, dear Lord?" 

2. You don't need permission...

You have the right to write. Really? I didn't quite believe it. Surely I needed someone wiser to encourage me along this path. I always thought 'real' writers knew since they were five years old that they wanted to write. That certainly wasn't true in my case. I was glad, therefore, for two fine books I believe providentially crossed my path (the first was suggested to me by my husband's aunt) that addressed the issue: The Right to Write by Julia Cameron and If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland. Both books became well-thumbed staples in my own library. With many statements starred and underlined, and margins filled with notations, I soon considered the authors my writing mentors. Their words reached down from the bookshelf to steady the faltering steps of one timid, aspiring writer.

3. On giving up the habit to put it off...

Stop not writing. No one cares if you write or not, so you’d better. Sit down at your desk and keep your butt in the chair. Write one passage, conversation, and let yourself do it badly. Oh, I loved these words attributed to Anne Lamott (another cherished writing mentor). I loved the twist of that first sentence, the phrase 'stop not writing'. It made me sit up and take notice... made me listen to what she was saying.

4. On getting down the first draft...

Anne Lamott notes that almost all good writing begins with 'sh*tty first drafts'. And believes these dreadful first attempts are necessary to produce quality work. Her cheeky advice released me from the unrealistic tension to get it right the first time. I could, in fact, scribble down those barely formed first thoughts, finally understanding that the Editor/Critic peering over my shoulder should go wait her turn somewhere else. Author Jodie Picoult's sound advice made that clear to me: You can always edit a bad page but you can't edit a blank page.

5.  Creativity begets creativity...

"I learned . . . that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness." Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write, p. 42-43

These words connected at some level and helped me to recognize that, through my own experiences as a young Sunday School teacher years earlier, I didn't have to work up the inspiration or rack my brain for ideas. The more I used my creative juices to make the lessons come alive for my students the more the creative ideas bubbled up. Creativity begets creativity. Use the idea you have and it will call forth the reserves for the next step. What a great reminder for my writing.

6. On establishing your work standard...

Aim to write your best work every time. Although I no longer recall who shared this advice, the words really struck a chord. And they still shape my writing to this day. Whenever I sit down to write I am compelled from within to give it my best effort. No 'sloughing off ' and no saying, well, this is just a blog post or a little article or there's no remuneration for this, so it doesn't really matter if I slapdash this together. No, no, no....

We've all been forewarned that whatever we send out into the world, particularly in cyberspace, is out there. Forever. Ever giving readers a glimpse of who we are and to Whom we belong. And me being a person who longs to reflect heaven's light and beauty in all I do and say, hoping to create little patches of heaven on earth in my corner of the world, this is specially true in my writing.

7. On giving yourself some slack...

Alongside #6 above, this is my own advice to myself: There will be days when I know it isn't my best work, but it's the best I have to give today. Life happens around us, and sometimes we don't have time or energy or we aren't skilled enough at this point to shape our work into something more polished—and sometimes we have deadlines to honour. Although I still don't want to be slipshod about anything I write, I know there will be days 'when good enough is good enough'. And on those days, when I can't quite find the best words to say it, I can at least spell them correctly and with proper grammar in place.

To wind up, here is one more bit of advice that gives me self-confidence to keep writing, whether or not someone leaves a comment (wink): "Confidence is knowing you [or your writing] are not everyone's cup of tea and being okay with it." as shared by @wiseconnector on X

Brenda writes from her desk by the window that overlooks her garden, the sky, and the birds. You can find her 'slice of life' writing on her blog It's (Still) A Beautiful Life. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (under Bren Leyland).

 

Keep track! by Mary Folkerts

 

Reminder to self: (for those days when the blank screen taunts me with its wordless stare).

First of all, don't be so hard on yourself! You may have temporarily forgotten some basic truths, so here they are again. 

It's not uncommon to feel like the wifi has been disconnected and the words have fled your mind. It doesn't mean you should give up and hand in your resignation as a member of the "We Are Writers" club. Keep pushing through. There will be days when the words come easy but also seasons of drought where creativity and fresh ideas are hard to find. 

Okay, but I'm feeling uninspired at the moment, and I need to write something!

I have a deadline looming, and it feels like I'm trying to squeeze grape juice from raisins!

Deep breath! For days such as this, here are a few reminders and tips: 

1. Use your notes app on your iPhone to keep track of ideas as they come to you. Some of your best words come at the most inopportune times, such as in the middle of a church service or just as you're on the edge of sleep. Don't let them slip away; instead, make a quick note of them for another day. Don't count on your memory to store it for you. Many great ideas have been lost in oblivion that way.
2. Spend time reading God's word and in prayer. This alone can blow up any writer's block, for our time with God never leaves us unaffected if we listen and wait for him to speak into our lives. Keep track of the truths He impresses on your heart, for a double blessing is realized as you are renewed and given the words to encourage others! It may be possible that the writing wilderness you're experiencing has to do with the fact that you have not been watering your soul with the promises of God. 
3. Throughout your day, you are constantly encountering people and situations that can be used as illustrations of truths. You need to keep your eyes open for such moments. For example, the time when a bird flew into your window, and you had a front-row seat to what happens when you go through life not paying attention. Again, keep track of these little happenings (refer back to the notes app!) so you can share them with others. 
4. Read other author's work. See how they string words together that fire your imagination. Of course, don't copy their ideas, but their ideas can inspire your own. Use your experiences in life to colour your words. Let your personality come out in your writing.
5. Go back to your documents and read through old words you have written. Congratulate yourself on the well-written piece and learn from the "what was I thinking?" ones. How could you rewrite it to make it better? Or maybe you could shorten or pull out paragraphs to create a new article. Your old written words can inspire new ideas. 
6. Keep track of quotes from well-known authors and speakers that resonate with you. If you use social media, create a sticky statement using the quote (always give credit to whoever the quote belongs to) and a photo you have taken. Use the free version of the Canva app for this. These quotes can also awaken your creative juices to new inspired words.

If you keep track of inspired words and ideas, you have material to prompt your next writing.

If you keep track of the many blessings and ways God continually pours into your life, you have much material ready to be shared. 

Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a Proverbs 31 ministries COMPEL Writers Training member and is involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s personal blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the Small Things https://maryfolkerts.com/  

K is for Keep: 8 Tips to Help Writers Keep Writing ~ by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

Keep your heart with all diligence,

for out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

Definition of keep according to Oxford Languages:

1. have or retain possession of.

2. cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.  

The main difference between unknown writers and successful authors in the inspirational publishing world is that godly writers keep at it until the work God wills us to do is done. 

I wonder how many books the world needed didn’t get put in print because the writer gave up too soon. 

A keep-at-it mind and heartset are necessary for Christians and creatives alike. (I’m targeting my struggling heart here.)

Here are 8 tips to help us keep writing:

1. We don’t have to give up on a project because even if it doesn’t become a book, it can be revised and edited into a series of blog posts or podcasts. 

2. No writing is a waste of time. Sentences, pages, or chapters an editor suggested being killed off can be saved in a separate “darlings” file and used in other projects. 

3. Thanks to self-publishing, we never need to abort a book idea we believe in.  

4. If our favorite project didn’t get published, the work we put into completing the manuscript developed our craft. Often the early ones aren’t the first works to stick. Sometimes they get published later after they’re reworked. Plus, the research we did putting pages together, taught us helpful lessons for life. (I’m finding this to be true regarding my current projects about practices that bless relationships.)

5. Tackling a blank page is like crossing the Red Sea, a writer’s inertia doesn’t recede until we dip our toes in the water. 

6. We must never underestimate the potential of first drafts. Writing rubbish gives us something to turn into rubies.   

7. Let’s find a writing quote, Bible verse, or statistic that inspires us. Maybe we can turn it into a prayer for God’s help too. 

8. When we want to toss our pen, we can Google the following phrase and find lots of inspirational links that help us feel less alone and motivated to keep writing: encouragement for writers who want to give up.

I’m nosey to know which tip spoke to you today. Feel free to add more to this list. (I may or may not be asking for a friend.)

 

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac  

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” 

DREAMS TO SPARE - Sheila Webster

 When I think of dreamers I think of a young boy who wanted to make a difference in the world. To any that knew his limitations they would have thought his dreams were similar to trying to fly to the moon without a spaceship.

He had a tough upbringing, not any advantages, little in the way of education, friendships, or stepping stones.

Often Joshua would tell me what he would do if he was chief of his reserve. He would then edit his dream and say, "At least talk to people about how to be kind to one another and how hard it is for kids like me." A big dream for a young man of no consequence. People would look at all the obstacles he would have to overcome to be anything let alone a person of influence and shake their heads saying it would be a miracle.

Joshua struggled with learning, he struggled with abstract concepts, poetry seemed abstract and he didn't want to do that portion of his English assignments in grade nine or ten. One day however he was on a road trip to and from a funeral. During this road trip he felt the rhythm of the road and begin to put the facts of his life on the page in short sentences. He was surprised to find that what he had written was a form of poetry, raw, gritty and real.

In need of some money to pay some of his expenses his mom helped him put some chapbooks of his writing together to sell at a First Nations Gathering, the rest has become part of his own personal history.

Joshua as a young person has been published in different forms, a shortlisted documentary about a segment of his life, a couple poetry books, and a couple first person essays. He opened at the University of Regina for Library Week last October, has gone on a library tour of south east Saskatchewan last February, spoken at schools and a seniors lodge. He has also achieved his dream of speaking to some foster parents and group home workers. Joshua has been interviewed by CBC twice,

There was no course or seven steps to realizing his dream just a simple prayer and a lot of courage to step out in his fledgling faith to achieve the impossible.

Joshua in Saskatoon receiving a star blanket commissioned by his publisher Siretona Creative's owner Colleen McCubbin - June 2019. (StarBlanket made by Starla Bruneau)

Joshua: A Documentary by Sheila Webster and Emily Duffield can be found on YouTube

Shopping Cart Boy (2018) is currently out of print

Soul Rape/Soul Rage published by Stark Words Press

can still be purchased on Amazon (this is a very poetry graphic book about sexual abuse)

Two of his stories were also published in First Nations Christian Writers by Goldrock Press and one was reprinted by Indian Life.

Parable of Two Gardeners by Ruth L. Snyder

Once upon a time there were two young gardeners. Each gardener received a plot of ground, seeds, essential tools, and a challenge to develop a thriving garden.

The first gardener spent hours planning her garden. She thought about which plants should be placed close to each other to make the best use of symbiosis. She marked dates on her calendar to remind her to accomplish each step of the project. She even researched the best dates for planting according to the cycles of the moon. Finally, the day for planting came. She prepared the soil, marked rows, and planted her seeds.

The second gardener researched the plants she would be growing, tested the soil, and spent time visiting greenhouses, talking with other gardeners. She found a group of gardeners who met monthly and joined them. Finally, she too prepared the soil, marked rows, and planted her seeds.

Gardener One smiled when she saw the first sprouts lifting their heads. She knew her garden would be beautiful and dreamed of the day when it would be featured in the top gardening magazines. At first she spent many hours in the garden every day, but after a while she grew weary of pulling weeds and watering the plants. Before she knew what had happened, the weeds were out of control. Going into her garden became a chore she avoided. She only tended the garden when she felt like it.

Gardener Two cheered when she saw the first sprouts. Every day she visited the garden and spent an hour or more doing something to make it better. She continued to attend the monthly gardener meetings. When pesky insects invaded her garden, she asked for advice from the more seasoned gardeners. On the days she didn't feel like gardening, she thought of all the people who would benefit from her garden and worked anyway.

At harvest time, Gardener One was only able to gather a handful of produce, hardly enough for a couple meals. She decided she wasn't cut out to be a gardener and gave all her gardening tools away. Gardener Two spent days harvesting all the produce. She even invited others to come gather from the bounty of her garden. Her heart filled with joy, and she looked forward to the next growing season.

- + - +

So what advice would I give to new writers? Make writing a daily habit and find a group of writers who will help, encourage, and cheer you on. Planning is great, but actually doing the writing is absolutely necessary. At times it will be easy to write. Other times writing will be the hardest work you've ever done. Do it anyway. When rejections come, cry if you need to, but learn from them. Figure out what you can do differently next time. Cultivate friendships with other writers. Share what you're learning. Ask questions. Celebrate. Use the abilities God has given you and give HIM the glory for each small success along the way.

My Email Dilemma by T.L. Wiens

How many emails do you get a day? I’m swamped with them.

I have several email accounts that serve different purposes. Each one has enough emails in the day to take up all my email reading time.

It was wonderful when I figured out how to stop getting sites like Facebook sending me updates. That really cleaned up my personal email. But I still can’t keep up. Some of the emails to tell me about updates from another site are handy. But when you belong to a few groups here and there, the numbers become staggering. I seldom have a day with less than a hundred emails. I usually have at least 1500 a week.

I love belonging to groups like Inscribe but I have to say, the emails drive me crazy. It seems there are many threads which could be sent directly to the person. I’m glad we like to congratulate each other and let people know we’re reacting to their emails but could this be done on a private level rather than on the listserv?

Then there are the private emails that shouldn’t be on the listserv. If I want to talk to a specific person about a specific matter, I do it privately. It’s not only that it isn’t the right place for such a request, you never know when this request put out for all to see comes across as rude to another reader. I’ve had it happen when I’ve offered something to someone, they’ve ignored my offer and asked another person on the listserv for the very same favour.

Many people say (especially my husband) but you don’t need to read every message. That’s true but how do I know which ones do contain important information? Sometimes the subject of one thread is carried into a second thread.

With so many social media outlets these days and writers being told they must participate in these to be successful, we need to be aware of how we’re impacting our audience. I know for me, there are certain books I won’t read because my email has been flooded by an author.

We need to communicate with each other and our audience. I try to be respectful, aware where I’m sending my emails and how that social media will remind their readers about that message. I weigh the message of my emails and select the address accordingly.

I long for the day when I open my inbox and don't see a four digit number.

Catching the Details By T. L. Wiens

Last week, I discovered the bandages I’d bought made my lips numb when I used my mouth to remove the packaging. Over the weekend, I spent time with my husband’s family observing how people react to similar situations. It’s a habit I developed long before I ever thought about writing.

Writers need to be very observant. Life around you will provide the meat for the bones of the story. Those details will bring your story to life. I find it helpful to jot down these observations and store them in a file just in case my memory fails me. Other times I jot them down at the beginning of the manuscript where I think they’ll fit in so I have them to refer to when the time comes to use them.

We have an abundance of material all around us—make sure your watching and listening even when the keyboard is far from your fingers. Writers don’t get ever get a day off—those days away from the office need to be devoted to research.

Overcoming Common Fears by Steph Beth Nickel

 

PRISTINE PAGES

Have you ever gotten a new journal? It’s beautiful, just awaiting all your wondrous new ideas. But wait! It’s lovely but so . . . so . . . perfect as it is. What if your ideas fall flat? What if your writing isn’t up to par. What if your chicken scratch mars those inviting pages with nothing more than scribbles?

One of the last gifts my dad gave me was a leather bound journal. I actually took it to my writers’ group. I wanted someone else to be the first to write in it. It seemed too magnificent for anything but a perfectly formed idea—or someone else’s initial entry. But no, I took a deep breath and began to write. That early draft for a novel is still forming in my mind—not so much in the journal these days.

That’s what we all have to do: put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and get started. Sometimes that’s the hardest part.

THE BLINKING CURSOR

In the same vein, that blinking cursor torments us as we look at the computer screen.

What should I write next? Will it be any good? Will anyone want to read it?

Recently I read about the connection between mind and hand. I always preferred to write first drafts, even prayer journals, on computer. And then I started something Julia Cameron calls “morning pages.” I have often journaled by hand and am now writing these pages using my favourite pens (Sarasas gel pens). There really is a difference.

If that blinking cursor is giving you grief, try picking up a pen and paper and seeing what happens.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Oft-published professional writer or wet-behind-the-ears newbie? It doesn’t matter. We all have more to learn . . . and that’s okay.

We can only apply what we already know. And if we wait to know everything . . . well, that’s not going to happen and we’re not going to write anything.

Write and learn; learn and write; repeat.

INEXPERIENCE

I have a dear friend who has often been approached and asked if she could do such and such. She may not have had previous experience, but she—like us—has access to the World Wide Web. She researched. She added to her knowledge. And she jumped in with both feet. Now she teaches others what she has learned along the way.

At some point, each writer is inexperienced. The only way to gain the experience is to forge ahead. No writing endeavour is a waste . . . as long as we learn from it.

Keep writing. Soon you’ll be able to say, “Yes, I do have experience in that area.”

REJECTION, REJECTION, AND MORE REJECTION

Thick skin. Tender heart. I believe those two qualities must mark us as writers.

Many moonbeams ago I stapled and rolled all my rejection letters together. I took the roll to church to use as an object lesson for the children. I unrolled it and explained that all those pieces of paper were evidence that I was doing what so many people are afraid to do, pursuing a dream.

Can you see your next rejection letter that way?

And if you get one of those wonderful things known as a personal rejection letter, will you learn from the comments, polish your work, and send it out again?

Let’s overcome fear together.

http://stephbethnickel.com

http://stephseclecticinterests.wordpress.com

Teenage Writer? Whaaa?

If you're a teenager who likes to write, keep at it.  If you have the desire to write, it's because you're a writer.  Only writers want to write. Others may wish they could or would, but they don't want to dig in and do it.  So, stir up the gift that is in you.  Here are five things you can do to fan your talent into flame:

1.  Always jot down your grand ideas.  Don't tell yourself you'll remember such dynamic words or powerful sentences, because you won't.  You'll later spend two hours digging inside your head, only to pull out a few clumps of tangled letters and syllables, while your partner complains that you're too preoccupied to follow the movie you chose to watch together.

2.  Save every single poem, article, story or video game idea.  Create a simple filing system to organize your starts, middles and endings.  File your profound discoveries and your excellent word arrangements.  If you wrote an angry poem because your significant other is overlooking you for someone else, don't throw it out, throw him/her out!   File your poem for later motivation, contemplation, and to remind you he/she was not for you anyway.


3.  Write something every day.  Make a deliberate attempt to write at least a phrase or sentence that is out of the ordinary.  Text it to yourself while you wait for your friend to try on seven pairs of shoes, or for your turn on Xbox.  You may want to journal or blog too.  Your Facebook status or Snapchat don't count unless you intentionally write something other than "tbh, lol or whaaa?"

4.  Pretend you're someone else for a few minutes, someone older or someone from another country, or planet.  It doesn't matter, just someone who isn't you.  Act out that character and make a note of what that person would do or say in a specific situation.  Don't do this during a school exam or parental lecture, unless suspension or being grounded is your idea of fun.

5.  Write with your heart first and then your head, but be sure to use both.  Your heart holds the passion for engaging writing, and your head is needed later for editing.  One without the other creates either a mess of bewildering emotion or a textbook.  Writing with only your heart could provide a possible exception to tip #2's "don't throw it out."

When you're dreaming of an eloquent poem or story, one that squeezes your chest in the delicious presence or agonizing absence of love, please reach for your pen, or keyboard.  The wistful far-away look in your eye is actually a poem or story pleading to be written.  Or if you're inspired by an action-packed narrative filled with the angst and anticipation that video games are made of, don't keep it to yourself.  Share it with the world!  You can do it.  You must do it.  You're a writer!

Reading and Writing Controversy - Bonnie Way

I am a peacemaker.  I avoid conflict, keep my mouth shut in tense situations, change the topic rather than deal with something that could explode.  Whether or not that is helpful in real life is debatable, but as a writer, this tendency is a downfall.  Writing needs conflict.  We read to see how people deal with problems—if they don't have problems, then we'll read something else.

As a reader, I appreciate books which tackle tough topics or show protagonists in difficult situations.  This includes controversial topics.  I think fiction is great medium in which to explore controversial or taboo topics.  A novel is a safe arena in which to explore something that makes us uncomfortable.  After all, it's fiction, right?  So it's not really "real."  It's a way to face something without it becoming personal.  It's like reading a newspaper; we can keep it at arm's length if we wish.

Even though fiction lets us look at controversy in an arms-length, curious sort of way, it also draws us in.  This, I think, is the power of fiction.  In reading, we tend to identify with the protagonist.  We see what they see, feel what they feel, hear what they hear.  So when we have a protagonist who is dealing with something bad—bullying or illegal drugs or an affair or whatever—we also have the chance to get inside their head and understand why.  Why are they drawn to that?  What makes them do it?  And in that understanding, we are less prone to judgement.

There's an old saying about not judging someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.  I grew up in a very conservative Christian home.  We looked down upon anyone who was divorced, because divorce clearly wasn't God's plan for marriage.  It shouldn't happen.  The couple should have tried harder, shouldn't have been so selfish, should have done something better.  Then my parents divorced.  Suddenly, I had a completely different perspective on divorce.  As writers, we have the power to give that new perspective to readers through our writing.

Some of my favourite books deal with controversy.  Angela Hunt is one of my all-time favourite authors, but I passed on several opportunities to review her book The Offering because of the topic.  It deals with surrogacy and IVF, which the Catholic Church forbids.  Somehow, the book still ended up in my mailbox and I read it.  While I still agree with the Catholic Church's position on the topics, I have more sympathy for someone considering either because of the way the characters in the story drew me into their struggles.

Similarly, Nancy Rue and Rebecca St. James tackle the topic of cutting or self-injury in The Merciful Scar.  Before I read that, I had no idea why on earth someone would think that cutting themselves would fix anything.  I wasn't very far into this book before I was crying for Kristen, understanding completely why she wanted to cut.  The Merciful Scar made me think really hard about my own life and about people who face addictions and gave me a lot more sympathy.

As writers, then, I think we should tackle controversial topics.  I think we should write prayerfully and humbly, asking that God can bring truth into our words and help our words bring understanding to our readers.  I think we should read books that deal with controversial topics, as writers to learn how to handle those topics, and as readers to gain sympathy and understanding for the people dealing with those issues. 

The Many Layers of Love by Sandi Somers

This month’s prompt, on love, is one of the broadest prompts I have ever attempted.

Love’s meanings are like a multi-layered cake. We say we love God, we love our spouses, our family members and friends. We love our cats and dogs. We love chocolate, a walk in the morning, a beautiful piece of music. We give and receive love through a touch, a smile, or through spending quality time with others. Especially we think of love in February as we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

As I thought about this prompt, a new layer of meaning emerged for me. I have a daily “morning prayer” as I begin writing. I ask God to infuse my thinking and my words. I pray that God will meet the needs of my readers and encourage them in their faith walk. Now I began praying that God through His Spirit will fill my readers with His love so that they will return His love and be able to love others more deeply. God is faithful and will answer in ways I cannot imagine.

Now over to you. Where does this month’s prompt take you? How is one of love’s layers a touchstone in your writing?

Marketing with Facebook – Not All Business - M. Laycock

I signed up on Facebook when my daughter stopped answering her regular emails. Now I use it more than she does and I confess I have become quite addicted.

When I discovered many authors were using FB as a marketing platform I checked out a number of author pages to see how they were doing it. I decided to do the same and found it was quite easy to set it up.

First, I chose a header banner – I picked a photo I’d taken that I really liked, then selected a photo of myself to insert in the small icon that appears in the lower left corner. I posted a couple of interesting articles I’d read on writing and I was away to the races. The next step was to invite my ‘friends’ to like my author page. This was a little tricky until FB invited me to create a url for the page that linked directly to it. Now it’s easy to put that link into messages and every time a Christian writer asks to be my friend I ask them to like that page.

I began to pick up on some tips from others about what and how to post on the page. Three things seemed to become a refrain:

1. Don’t just make it all about your books – post articles, quotes, tips, funny and inspirational items that you think would be of interest to your fans and other writers.

2. Post links and articles related to the content of you book(s).

3. Let your fans know when exciting things happen in your writing life but share the struggles too.

I love facebook. I love connecting with readers and writers through my page and have found it can be not only fun but inspiring and fulfilling. Sometimes it can lead to unexpected friendships. When I was about to attend Write!Canada last year I wanted to boost my numbers on my author page, knowing the editors and publishers I spoke with would ask about them. So I ran a contest, putting out a notice as the numbers climbed, offering a free book for the 300th person to like the page. I forgot that FB is an international forum so when the winner sent me her snail mail address I was a little shocked. She lives in Tasmania!

I knew it would cost me more to mail the book than the book itself costs, but it was kind of thrilling to know my work would be enjoyed way Downunder. So I sent the book and began following that woman’s status posts. I was delighted to find a funny young mom who often writes about her two delightful kids and we began to correspond. Then one day she posted a question on her page – “anyone ever been to Head-smashed-in-buffalo-jump?” She was coming to Canada and wanted to know about some of the places she’d been reading about. When I discovered she was coming to Alberta I offered a B&B experience in our home and she was thrilled. I can’t wait to meet her and her family.

My decision to use FB as a marketing tool was all about business but it has become much more - it has become a lot of fun.

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Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone and also has two devotional books in print. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan. Marcia's second novel, A Tumbled Stone has just been short listed in the contemporary fiction category of The Word Awards. Abundant Rain, an ebook devotional for writers can be downloaded here. Visit Marcia's website