Best Author Characteristics

While we wait for our next blog host to show up--she's coming next week--I'll give you a list of best-author characteristics given to me at a workshop at the Evangelical Press Association Convention last week by the Loyola Press Senior Editor and author of The Soul Tells a Story, Vinita Wright.

Best-Author Characteristics

1. Willing to learn what the editorial process is and how best to participate in it

2. Meets deadlines

3. Responsive to editor

4. Has a worthwhile and fresh message

5. Openness: really tells the editor what she thinks and feels; the editor feels she knows the writer's opinion and won't voice a different one to someone else in the company (magazine/book publisher)

6. Understands that, even though she's accomplished in some areas, there's always more to learn

7. Listens to and does her best to process the editor's suggestions and instructions

8. Argues with the editor when she really thinks she's right; has thought out reasons for wanting to go her own way in specific situations.

9. Understands that being a good speaker, teacher, or pastor does not automatically translate into being a good writer

10. Enjoys brainstorming with the editor about the ideas in the book/article and ways to organize and present them

11. When upset, processes emotions before responding to the editor

12. Respects the job the editor is obligated to; respects her editorial opinion even though she doesn't always agree with you

The Soul Tells the Story synopsis: There is a reason artists tend to feel a sense of the sacred in their work. It's the same reason those on the path of spiritual formation find that creative exercises lead them into a deeper, more authentic experience with God. Creative work is soul work, and soul work is always creative work. Feeding one while neglecting the other will leave you restless and unsatisfied. Nurturing them both will lead you to new places of self-discovery and God-discovery. "I believe that spirituality and creativity are intricately connected, yet they are rarely nurtured and talked about that way," contends Vinita Hampton Wright. In these pages she leads you through the process and practice of integrating the worlds of Christian spirituality and creativity. You will find both inspiration and practical help for

• embracing the life that chooses you
• understanding the spiritual process of creativity
• facing the self you have to deal with
• comprehending the relationship of sexuality to both art and soul
• developing a supportive community for your work
• thriving as a creative person in the real world

The Soul Tells a Story helps you to turn frustrated longings into satisfying growth.

Signing Off: Blogging Wrap-up - Robin W.

I want to thank you all for the privilege of hosting WOTH Writer's Blog. It was such an exciting opportunity to meet all of you, especially those serving cross-culturally. Even though this is the last post, please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding your blog. I would love to continue to help you further develop your blog.

EMAIL: webster@iteams.org

I am going to refer back to my first post, and ask the question: “Why are you blogging?”

No matter the answer, you have a blog; therefore, you want the readers. Why else post? You are posting to share. Blogging is a community, a big community with many MANY different “sub-communities.”

IF you desire the readers--GET INVOLVED. Read other blogs, comment, build relationships. Find blogs similar towards yours, and encourage their writing.

Jamie Jo, a fellow blogger said, “Comments are a blogger's paycheck.” How true! I know that I often post to start discussion through comments.

QUESTION: But how do I get people to comment and be interested?

ANSWER: Through simple comment etiquette. If someone comments on your blog check-out theirs and post a comment. If they don't have a blog, respond to their comment. First thanking them for the comment and then responding to their comment.

The length of the response is easily judged by the length of their comment. In most cases I try to give the responder a little more than what they commented.

For example: If someone simply said, “Great post, loved it.”

I would say, “Thank you so much for commenting and reading. I really appreciate the comment, it is such an encouragement.”

A COMMENT IGNORED IS TEN COMMENTS LOST.

Conclusion and Self-check:

My former housemate, a fellow-blogger, and I were talking about blogging. Why do we blog? Is it pride or desire for attention. Of course! Blogging can be very affirming, and answer all of our immediate needs. I quickly learned that for me blogging is secondary to the needs of family and ministry.

Although I know a few people who use their blog for ministry, they are not the majority. No, for me I blog for my friends and family back home. Yes I am ministering to them, but mostly I blog because people back home can feel more intimately involved in my life and I can share my love forwriting ---> a win, win situation.

However, blogging can quickly get-out-of-hand because it feeds right into our sin-nature. Our blog highlights us as individuals, and as we all slowly gain more and more readers, we need to continuously ask ourselves these questions: “Why am I blogging?”; “Is blogging taking me away from my first priorities?”; and “On a value scale, can I live without my blog?”.

In Job 34:5-6a it states: “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; Should I lie concerning my right?” Job lost all his rights in birth.

Be careful of pride or self-righteousness in our own works and blog.

Signing-off from Jordan, Robin W

Special thanks to:

Cindy B (editor of WOTH)

Kinzi (my mommy blogger)

Lisa B (my housemate and encourager)

Brooke W (my editor)

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Robin on her article, "Loving Arabs without Losing Myself," published in the new issue of the WOTH onlineMagazine, May/June '11!

The Finer Details: Making Your Blog Beautifully YOURS - Robin W.

“NEVER judge a book by its cover” ...well throw-away the key because I am guilty.

Often I pick a type of book, and then sort through them by looking for the most interesting; however, when it comes down to option A or option B, what is the deciding factor? The cover. How else should I shift through the thousands of books out there? You can tell so much by a cover. Is it a photo? Is it a painting? Is it pretty? Is it different?

Blogs are similar. There are thousands of cooking, travel, motherhood, faith, and just everyday life blogs out there. READERS automatically think: What makes this blog different, why should I read this blog?

Other than family, supporters, and friends—how do you gain readers or meet like-minded people? Well I am here to tell you there are few things you can do to make your blog originally yours.

simple changes, made personal:
1. Header
If a photo could express a million words, what photo would you pick? A family picture, desert landscape, a flower, a car? If a photo defined your blog...What would you pick? Your header matters. A cool website that helps you to edit photos and add text: http://www.photobucket.com/. Sign up for an account, and upload. After uploading your photos, click edit, and it will redirect you to many different features to edit photos. You can add the title of your blog, brighten up the colors, auto-fix red eye, and do many other very cool things. Photobucket is easy to use and helpful in enhancing photos. [Note: also helpful for newsletters]

Some examples of headers I have done in the past are:

How to do this? Gray Scale the photo [EXCEPT SIGN], add text.

How to do this? Fresno photo (makes it look painted), add text.

How to do this? Combine different photos, add text.

2. Widgets/Sidebar
Next to your post, what do people see? What is post important to you? There are many things you can add to your sidebar to improve travel on your blog. For me, most of my readers are subscription-based, so the first thing you will see is: "Email Subscriptions." I recommend email subscribing because it enhances the regularity of an everyday reader. They receive an email with your post as soon as it is posted. This might lower the amount of clicks on your blog directly, but it delivers posts directly to their email box. One downside is: the email often un-formats your pictures within the post.

Other sidebar/widget recommendations:
1. Photos : I have 4 photos in my side bar. One of myself, and then my three little brothers. Put a family photo in your side bar! Why? First-time reader's shouldn't have to search in your "About Me" to find your picture.

2. Archives/Search : Let people browse your old posts; make it easier by adding either archives or a search bar or BOTH. Very helpful.

3. Categories : Start to categorize your posts as you post, making it easy for readers to find the kind of post they want to read. Then add the categories widget to your sidebar.

4. Comments : This widget highlights the reader! Whenever a comment is posted--theirs or yours--it is added to the sidebar; thus, making it easy to see if someone replied to their comment.

Stay-tuned for the: EPIC Ending of this 4-part series.

Blessings from Jordan,
Robin W

[Security Blurb: Worried about who will see your blog, yet still want readers? What I did was block search engines, screen comments, and post in a different time zone. Simple things to change and helps avoid unwanted readers. Simply go under settings and change your privacy, time/date, and comments. For an individual step-by-step walk-through please email me or comment below. WARNING: WILL LOSE A LARGE READER-BASE, only do this if necessary.]