WELCOME TO PENS OF PRAISE CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
 
Introductions for new guests.      Pass around the sign-in sheet.
Devotion—Susan Marlene
GRAMMAR TIDBIT—Rebecca McLafferty

LET THE TEACHING BEGIN
PUBLISHING PEPPERED PAGES is our lesson this month.  Susan Marlene will be facilitating.
PROMPT:  Discouragement Turned Blessing
No matter how old you are, no matter if you caused a situation or didn’t, write a piece that you could turn into a devotion, short story, or article! Focus on how you were encouraged in your discouragement!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Let’s Keep In Touch: If you’d like to share a WEB page, blog, or social media address, with Pens writers, please send to susanmarlenewrites@gmail.com so that contact information can be added to the announcement and handouts. You are invited to visit and make a comment! That would be especially nice! 😊 
​
Becky McLafferty writes on Thursdays for “Fill My Cup, Lord” (A FB page.)
Becky McLafferty https://www.beckymclafferty.com/
Susan Marlene  www.susanmarlene.com; 
Susan Fink https://www.facebook.com/susan.l.fink     https://susanlfink.blogspot.com/
Kate Jungwirth https://www.facebook.com/kate.jungwirth.7
Debby Erdmann
https://www.facebook.com/debby.erdmann?fref=pb&hc_location=friends_tab
Mary Janes Farm magazine is looking for articles. Thank you, Kathy Leist!!!
TheFamily.net WEMI  FM
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/recommended-reads/books-for-writers/Thanks, Sue F.
​Write to Publish Conference   http://www.writetopublish.com/ June 17 – 20, 2020
Christian Devotions is looking for devotions. This is not a paid site, but one to give to the Lord and share your message with others!   www.christiandevotions.us
https://www.paperrater.com/ 
Northwestern Christian Writers Conference, http://www.northwesternchristianwritersconference.com/ July 24 – 25, 2020
www.grammarly.com free download          
https://www.loc.gov/about/   Library of Congress website
 
REMEMBER:
Inspired reader = happy reader + excellent take-away = return reader!
God’s abundant blessings to you as you write for His glory!

​Tidbits from author Steven James TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR NOVEL Essential Techniques for Identifying and Solving Manuscript Problems. The book is as entertaining and yes, essential as this man, himself. On the first page, he focuses the reader on “Readers need to know (1) who they’re supposed to cheer for or against, (2) what threats are present, (3) why the story’s outcome matters, and (4) if they can trust you with their time. Discussion time!

On page 330, Steven James said, “Keep in mind the subtlety of every word’s meaning. Discussion time!

Editing jewel from Agent Cyle Young: look over the beginning word used for each of your paragraphs. Change repetitive first paragraph words. Discussion time!

If you take advice from the masters, your pages will be seasoned just right!
How to connect with traditional publishers…by attending writers conferences and being involved online and with publishing to those interested in your genre. Gathering a following of readers from your social media is extremely important. Especially for those who are just starting out. But there is another way to become published that everyone from a seasoned to a new writer can consider and take advantage of. Independent Book Publishers who can also be called self-publisher, book packager, subsidy publisher, custom publisher, or maybe a helpful friend. Possibly you can strike out on your own and become knowledgeable about every level of the publishing journey. As did Becky Melby, who spoke with our group a couple of years ago.

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS OFFER – a variety of services and involvement. Looking over THE CHRISTIAN WRITERS MARKET GUIDE 2019, by Steve Laube will give you a list of what these Indie publishers expect, provide, and even the number of books that they publish per year. There are around 59 of these types of publishers listed in this MARKET GUIDE, and some will publish your book within a month, while others will take longer even up to one year.
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION SERVICES OFFER- book design and illustrations, website design, ebook formatting, etc. and many of them charge a flat fee or a custom fee or by the hour.
NOTE: (Roseanna White – author, Whitefire Publishing (Traditional Publisher), & ROSEANNA WHITE DESIGNS (Independent book publisher.) Also, Bethany Press International is an Independent Publisher—a division of Bethany House.
​WESTBOW PRESS is a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishers.
REDEMPTION PRESS https://redemption-press.com/ Excellent reviews. Quality service.
WESTBOW PRESS https://www.westbowpress.com/ Excellent reviews. Quality service.
RANDY INGERMANSON uses Scrivener to publish online. He is a writer to watch!
BOLD VISION BOOKS Friendswood, Texas -Kathy Leist has information.
SHILO RUN PRESS an Imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc.
 
Notes: Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs using Steven James “readers need to know “ list:

1. Who to cheer on: Elizabeth Kerr. (She shows concern for the approaching riders. The rain stung her cheeks.
2. What threats are present? Conversation confirmed a threat on the way with approaching horsemen. (British dragoons.) Narration, in the form of thought, considered King George’s men’s activities and abuse of anyone supporting Prince Charlie – whom Elizabeth’s allegiance was.
3. Why the story’s outcome matters. This is a story of a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law alone and vulnerable in the world because their husbands died while fighting King George’s men. (Both and only sons for the Mother-in-law in this story.)
4. Can I trust my time with this author? Yes! Liz Curtis Higgs awakened my concern, curiosity, and sympathy while writing with excellence. Her word correct choices and mid-1700s tension and activities naturally bring importance to this gripping start. I know where, when, who, how, and what is happening so I’m not distracted by that nagging – not knowing!