Lynette Eason has sold millions of copies of her novels. Millions. She knows how to write fiction that sells.

Over the course of four days and nine workshops and a one-on-one with Lynette, ten individuals will gain the tools to write great fiction at Weekend with the Writers

Limited to only ten participants, this (and more) is what’s happening over four days. Jan 11th-14th, 2023. Grab your spot while there’s still one left. 

Lynette Eason

What’s included?

• Lodging – OCEAN FRONT ROOM In Myrtle beach at the Grand Cayman Resort (8 miles from the airport)
• All meals (except 1) and snacks (Prepared by a professional chef!)
• (kitchen available if you need to prep special foods)
• One page critique of first 2500 words (submitted ahead of time)
• Nine In-depth workshops designed around YOUR work
• Assignments that will be “checked” with immediate feedback.
• One 30 minute 1-on-1 with Lynette with the potential for more (She IS leading the ENTIRE weekend!)
• Comprehensive workbook that will be yours to keep
• Swag Bag
• Private Facebook Group

Check out www.weekendwiththewriters.org for more Information.

I’d love to see you there! —Lynette Eason

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If you’ve never had the opportunity to attend a writers workshop by best-selling author and storyteller Steven James, you’ve missed out.

We can fix that for you.

We’re bringing Steven to Lexington for the Serious Writer Tour Stop. Join us on May 26th!

But first, enjoy this sneak peek into his great wit and wisdom.

Why did you decide to become a writer?

Ever since my uncle told me stories when I was a kid I’ve been in love with stories and storytelling.

I started out telling my uncle’s stories to the kids at camp to bore them to sleep—and I was good at that!

Then one night a kid stayed awake and said, “Do you have any more stories?” And I had used up all of my uncle’s stories and had to come up with one of my own.

That was the night I felt like I had become a storyteller.

From there, over the years, I ended up penning my stories, and now telling stories is my life.

I think having a passion to be a storyteller is vital to doing this for a living.

What has been one of the most surprising parts of your writing journey?

Enjoying the research.

I never thought I’d be into that part of the gig, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know amazing people and discover fascinating facts that I’ve been able to weave into my stories.

What’s one of the funniest experiences you’ve had as a writer?

I don’t know that it was hilarious, but it struck me as humorous.

A lady came up to me at a conference and said, “You are one of my biggest fans!” And I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I just smiled and she reiterated, “No, no, no you are! You are my biggest fan!”

And so I said, “In that case, I’m glad to finally meet you.”

If you could only give one bit of advice to someone considering entering the writer’s world, what would it be?

Don’t publish your work too early.

With self-publishing these days, people are rushing to get their books in print and, while they might have good ideas, in almost every case they are publishing them too early before the story is as finely tuned as it should be.

If you were moving to a tiny island for a year, what three books would you take with you?

A book on how to build rafts out of palm trees, one on how to make food out of sand, and the Bible.

What’s one of the biggest mistakes writers make?

Outlining.

Writers need to learn to listen to the story and let it take shape without “plotting it out” or following some formula or template for it—unless you want to write formulaic stories, that is.

Not my cup of tea. I’d rather write original, groundbreaking stories than cookie-cutter ones.

Want to learn more from Steven?

Come to the Serious Writer Tour Stop in Lexington, SC on May 26, 2018.

Steven will be joined by authors Michelle Medlock Adams and Bethany Jett.

Don’t miss it. Register today.

Check out Steven James’ Website and His Books on Amazon

The post The Writing Wit and Wisdom of Author Steven James appeared first on Lex Word Weavers.

Have you ever wondered if you should enter writing contests?

I won my literary agent through a contest.

Seriously.

I entered a writing contest at the Blueridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference.

I won.

This piqued the interest of the brand-new website, AlmostAnAuthor.com.

Their founder, Cyle Young, contacted me and offered me a monthly column.

Shortly after, I entered another writing contest sponsored by AlmostAnAuthor.com.

I won.

Cyle Young now knew I could at least write well enough to win two contests.

When Hartline Literary Agency offered Cyle a job as an agent, guess who he contacted about representation?

Me.

So, yes, I won my agent through a writing contest. (Or actually two.)

If I hadn’t entered Blueridge’s contest, I wouldn’t have caught Cyle’s eye as fast.

I’m thankful I took the risk and entered. All I risked was a little money and my ego if I didn’t win, and it changed my life.

I’ve entered contests I didn’t win, too. And I haven’t won a book contract yet, but that’s coming.

I don’t enter to wallpaper my office with critical acclaim or shout to the world that I’m a great writer.

I enter because God often uses them to open doors. 

Try it yourself. See what doors God may open for you.

[Note: Yes, there was a Writing Contest that had a May 1st Deadline, but that’s long over. But you can find other contests. Seek and you will find. Enter and you may win.]

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9 Ways I Invest in Myself as a Writer

1. Write every day.

I endeavor to write 500 words every day. This habit helps me get past the idea that I have to feel like writing to write. I don’t have to write. I choose to write. If I want to develop as a writer, I must practice. On days I feel less than inspired, I journal my thoughts or respond to a prompt.

2. Attend workshops.

Since I joined Word Weavers International, I’ve gone to two writers’ workshops. Both helped me add to my writer’s toolbox and encouraged me to keep pressing forward as a writer.

3. Participate in a writer’s group.

I’m part of two writers’ groups. Word Weavers critiques help me hone my skill. The other group is an accountability group.

4. Submit my writing for publication.

I took this brave step of submitting my writing for publication after a year of waiting. I decided to submit my writing to face my fear not unlike diving into the deep end of the pool for the first time.

5. Post for my blog.

When I write for my blog, I develop my writer’s voice and focus on my audience.

6. Edit old writing.

One reason I edit writing is to make my writing better. Another reason is so I can see how I’ve developed as a writer.

7. Read books on writing.

There are books for every style of writing as well as books on grammar. When I come across another question I have about how to use a comma, I head to my books.

8. Read books (not specifically on writing).

Reading, in general, helps me learn how published authors write. When I read, it’s like being tutored by the best.

9. Buy writers’ tools.

A new pen or journal is a writer’s tool on the low tech side. Apps like Scrivener and Microsoft Word are techie. Getting the right tools don’t make a writer better. But even a great chef does better with his favorite tools.

Invest in yourself now by registering to attend the Lexington Word Weavers Blogging & Social Media Workshop on April 1, 2017.

Check out the link below for more information and to register: 

Blogging & Social Media Workshop

Lexington Word Weavers member Cheryl Simpson writes real stories from her real life — a life made whole through the gospel.

Check out her blog @ Realing In Life

What are some ways you invest in yourself as a writer? Share in the comments below. 

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Want to improve your blog devotions?

We do, so we asked Gail Purath.

A military wife for 22 years, a missionary to Budapest for 5 years, Gail is a wife, mother, grandmother and author of 1-Minute Bible Love Notes. 

Bible Love Notes has 18,000 subscribers, 140,000 monthly page views, 230,000 followers on Facebook, 30,000 on Pinterest, 5000 on Twitter, and 1800 on Instagram.

Here’s what Gail has to say about writing better blog devotions:

12 Tips for Better Blog Devotions:

The internet is not the library https://avigeneric.com/../. People don’t come in, check the card catalog, pull a book off the shelf and take it home for a long read. Unfortunately, many blog writers are still writing as if that were the case.

1. Pray

Writing is important ministry.

2. Edit

Rewriting is often more important than writing!

• Make sure your content is well arranged and understandable.
• Make sure your grammar and punctuation are correct.
• Stay on point–cut unnecessary words/explanations and don’t take side trips from your message.

To read more of this post, click this link: 12 Tips for Better Blog Devotions

To learn more from Gail Purath about Blogging & Social Media, don’t miss our one-day workshop on April 1st:

Lexington Word Weavers
Blogging and Social Media Workshop

Word Weavers Members – $25

Non-Members – $35

Here’s what’s in store for you:

#1: Great Content – Learn how to craft a blog post that could go viral.

Discover proven strategies to get more subscribers for your blog or website.

Find out how social media can draw readers to your blog, website or books.

#2: Networking – Meet and network with other bloggers during our Blog Hop Meet & Greet.

#3: Critique – Register to receive a professional critique of a blog post.

#4: Fun – Enjoy the fellowship and fun with other writers.

For more information and to register, click HERE.

12 Tips For Writing Better Blog Devotions #AmWriting #Devotions #LexWW
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Writers are a Strange Lot

by Lori Hatcher

My husband puts up with a lot.

He’ll be the first to tell you that living with a writer is, shall we say, different. He knows writers are a strange lot.

We can be physically present but mentally light years (or centuries) away.

While it may appear that we’re talking to ourselves, if you ask us, we’ll deny it.

“Oh no, I’m not talking to myself. It’s the characters in my head who are talking. I’m just moderating the discussion.” Uh, yeah, I think there’s medication for that.

My husband knows I’m always collecting material, and no one is exempt. My friends, family, and even my dental patients occasionally show up in one of my devotions or blog posts. Even difficult people (whose names have been changed, of course), can be material for the next inspiration. One of my author friends has a t-shirt that says, Be nice to me or I’ll kill you in my next book.

I can’t wear that shirt because I’m a non-fiction writer. My t-shirt would say, I’ll tell you how to kill the character in your next book in five easy steps. Uh, yeah, I think there’s jail time for that.

Writers ask for strange gifts for their birthdays and Christmas. Money to go toward the next writers’ conference. Another journal. An Amazon gift card so they can buy their writer friends’ latest books. One year I asked my husband for a three-day personal retreat at The Cove in Asheville. “Who would you like to go with?” he asked.

“No one,” I responded. “That would spoil all the fun.” Besides, I carry my friends in my head, remember?

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I don’t know how many times I’ve been in the middle of a crisis, and in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, oh boy, this is going to make a killer blog post. My husband’s used to it. I was sharing something the Lord’s been teaching me during his recent unemployment. “Have you written about it yet?” he asked.

“Not yet,” I replied, “but I will.” And I will. It’s how writers process things. How we make sense of what doesn’t make sense. How we filter life through our fingers.

And then there’s our house. Bookshelves aren’t the most stylish piece of furniture, but there must be a minimum one in every room. When they get full, we add new ones. My husband knows not to ever suggest I get rid of any of my books. The one (and only) time he did, I stared at him, aghast, as if he’d suggested I dump a puppy on the side of the interstate.

Oh, and did I mention the Post-It notes everywhere? And the scraps of paper with weird notes like God is like an editor—He has the final say or Research how long it takes a person to die of thirst.

My husband has learned to fall asleep to the sound of my fingers on the keyboard and to stay asleep when I switch on the light at three a.m. because a sudden inspiration has seized me. He keeps a mental Rolodex of my writer friends he’s never met. They have names like Edie from Blue Ridge and Cindy from Boot Camp. When Betty the Editor or Eddie the Publisher calls, he knows to come get me immediately.

But living with a writer has its upside, too. My husband always knows where to find me (chained to my desk). I write a great Christmas letter (unless I’m on deadline, and then it might be a Fourth of July letter). I supply him with a plethora of useless information (please put me on Jeopardy), and I can spell (and define) just about any word he throws at me.

Quirks and idiosyncrasies notwithstanding, after almost 32 years, I think he’s going to keep me.

What about you? What are some of the quirky things you do as a writer? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of two devotional books, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women and Joy in the Journey – Encouragement for Homeschooling Moms. A blogger, writing instructor, and women’s ministry speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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We can’t expect to improve as writers and bloggers if we aren’t constantly learning. 

If writing is one of our gifts, then we owe it to God and to our readers (present and future) to invest time improving our writing and blogging skills.

This is a good application of the parable of the talents. God expects us to diligently use whatever gifts He gives us.

I try each week to learn more about writing and blogging, and there are a plethora of sites that I like.

I recommend these for blogging . . . Keep Reading

Better Blogging Through Self-Education #LexWW #Blogging
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