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Hey Friends –
What is the #1 question you are asked?
Maybe it’s how you balance your current season of life with ease, have amazing well-behaved children, carve out time to exercise everyday, or write inspiring blog posts.
For me, I often get asked about my journey from addiction to freedom. Typically when others find out that I’m a former cocaine addict, turned passionate Jesus follower, they ask me how in the world I overcame my crazy former life, and want to know the details of my transformation. I love every opportunity to share how God turned my life upside down and gave me a new life in Him!
However, now that I have a video driven Bible study releasing Spring 2014 (Red Hot Faith), I receive a ton of e-mails and phone calls about my journey to publication. The new #1 question I’m asked is how to pursue getting a book/Bible study published.
In case you are prayerfully considering publication, or know someone who is, here are a few of my recommendations –
1. Pray
Y’all know my passion for prayer, and if you’ve been following my blog, you’ve witnessed first hand how God has answered prayer every step of the way.
(Quick Red Hot Faith prayer recap: here, here, & here).
As my mentor Mary often shares, “Prayer is the key that opens all the treasures of heaven.”
If you sense God moving you forward in publication, pray fervently, ask others to pray, and keep praying! 🙂
2. Attend Writing/Speaking Conferences
I’ve found one of the best ways to network and connect with other writers, publishers, and editors is to attend writing/speaking/leadership conferences.
I was just reading Chad Allen’s blog (one I highly recommend!), and he was sharing an insightful interview with literary agent Chris Ferebee. Although they were talking about representation with an agent (versus publication), I identified with Chris’ answer. When asked by Chad Allen, “If an author wanted to pursue your representation, what should s/he do?”, Chris replied…
I hate to say it, but this comes back to doing the hard work. Most agents receive hundreds and hundreds of unsolicited calls, proposals and submissions; the “slush” pile. Some agents religiously review these, but most do not because there just isn’t time. But I cannot tell you how seriously I take the recommendations of my friends, clients and colleagues in the industry. As you do the work of building a platform, connecting with others, developing your craft, you’ll start to meet people further down the path that will be willing to make introductions to their agent, editor, etc. This will get you in the door far faster than a hundred cold calls.
How do you meet these people? One of the best ways I’ve found to connect with others is at conferences. In fact, that’s how I met my agent (Wendy Lawton from Books and Such Literary Agency). We were having breakfast together, and she offered to represent me. Thank You, God!
Jen & Cindy
I was sharing this same information with my friend Jen Ferguson. Jen lives in Texas, and while we shared guacamole, I encouraged Jen to come to Michigan to attend one of my favorite conferences, Carol Kent’s Speak Up Conference.(If you’ve not heard me rave about the Speak Up Conference, you can review my thoughts here).
I was telling Jen how at the Speak Up Conference, you have the opportunity to meet 1:1 (at no additional cost) with representatives from publishing houses, such as:
- Revell
- Zondervan
- Discovery House
- Kregel
- Somersault
- Blue Water Ink
- Credo
- NavPress
- Bold Vision
Long story….Jen prayerfully considered, came to the Speak Up Conference last year, and…. well, I’ll let her tell you the rest of her story tomorrow – but it’s so exciting!!!
PLUS – You won’t want to miss this! I’m having a GIGANTIC giveaway here tomorrow! I’ll give you a sneak peek…you could win an encouraging phone call by Carol Kent plus so much more! Woo Hoo!
Do you have dreams for publication? What have you found helpful? What lessons have you learned? We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks so much for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God’s richest blessings to you!
