Happy Monday,

I am thrilled to see so many new people this week. In tracking my blog hits we had one of our bigger weeks for new people last week. [You ARE tracking your blog traffic, aren't you?] I’m excited to see so many new faces.

I received an invitation to be a part of the Carnival of Christian Writers Blog Carnival this month. It was wonderful to be INVITED rather than asking. No matter how many times I receive an unsolicited invitation I still get excited, and humbled. If you’d like to read a few of the other people included in the blog carnival follow this link. If you’re from the carnival, welcome. I hope you’ll peruse the other postings here.

Today I want to share something with you that occurred to me last night. It was 1:40am and I was brushing my teeth to go to bed. I had just received a really sweet email from someone who recently discovered our blog. I was thinking how best to answer that person’s question and suddenly my fertile writer’s mind started running.

As many of you know, I do public speaking as well as coaching writers. One thing I hear nearly every time I am with a group of writers is

“I would BUT…”

This is always followed by a list of reasons why achieving their dream is impossible, or at least improbable.

The reason this popped in my brain last night is I had been discussing exactly this topic with my 4 girls before they went to bed. At church yesterday my pastor was teaching on a familiar verse from Matthew 7:7-8. That verse says “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.” The point our pastor made was the need for perseverance. I was explaining to my girls that, whatever we do, we really need to be willing to push through the difficult times. My girls [who are now 9, 7, 7 and 5] have seen some difficult times these last 3 years as those of you who read my series of blogs “How I got here” know.

As I was telling my girls about the need to work hard and never give up, I started to look at my own work.

I became successful once I found my reason to work. Then “I would BUT…” was transformed to-

I will because…

Wow. That hit me between the eyes last night. Suddenly the fatigue that I was feeling last night was gone and this thought came.

“Until your reason to succeed is more precious to you than your excuse to fail you’ll never move forward.”

You MUST have a why, then you’ll find a how.

Maybe your kids want to go to camp and the only way you’ll be able to afford it is by selling one more article.

Or you might have a powerful story that won’t let go of you no matter what you’re doing.

Or you might have clients that are relying on you to finish their project.

Whatever your WHY is, until it is stronger than the excuses you’ll never move forward. You’ll never make progress.

So look at your WHY, find your HOW, and push through the wall of BUT.

I’ll see you tomorrow. I have writing to do now.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

I’ve learned something about myself-I have a short attention span.

I never would have believed that. In fact, I am able to sit for hours at a time doing nothing but researching. It is nothing for me to work for 6-7 straight hours.

But what I learned is I can only do that for a short period of time before I become bored with something and have to change it around.

This is good because it is going to help you build an effective business.

I realized that when I work on my writing I work best by working on multiple projects at various stages of development simultaneously. If I focus on a single thing for too long it becomes stale.

Are you the same way? Or is your attention span shorter? Do you need to change what you’re doing every 30-40 minutes?

How can you use this personality trait to build your business as a writer [which, of course, includes marketing]?

Make your daily calendar reflect your God-given personality. If you need to change your activities every 30 minutes don’t block out 4 hours of writing time in the afternoon, then yell at yourself because you got bored after 45 minutes. Set a timer for 35 minutes and when it beeps set it for 15 more. During that 15 minutes surf the net to research for your story, reply to one email, go make a sandwich or change the laundry. Then when the timer sounds a second time reset it for 35 minutes and go back to writing.

If you are like me and can focus for hours at a time but once your concentration breaks you’re a goner [that is gone-er] then set the timer for 2-3 hours [or even 4]. Do NOT turn on the internet at all [and if you have wi-fi resist the temptation to double click ] and when that timer beeps quit [for a break or the day].

Instead of trying to make your personality conform to some predetermined “success formula” work the way that works best for you.

Just make sure you’re taking time to work.

I’ll see all of you Monday and hope to have some exciting new things to share. I have some interest in the writer’s retreat weekend so if it is something you’d like to participate in [or know more about] let me know.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany “When will this snow ever end” Colter

Hello everyone.

As promised today I’m going to tell you about my visit with ACFW Ohio last Saturday.

I had such a wonderful time. The day started with a healthy dumping of 8 inches of snow up here outside of Toledo, OH. So my husband drove with me [the kids were at Grandma's] down to a Columbus suburb where there was a great group of people. [Look at us. Don't we look happy? I'm the short lady on the far right, standing wearing nearly all black.]

I spoke on the topic of Executing your dream. Really it was all about looking at your writing as a business and taking steps to build that business. I was really excited to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. After I finished teaching I got to spend a bit of time talking with some people in the group [although not as much as I would have liked because I needed to get back to Toledo to see my four girls sing in the Easter Performance] and I got some wonderful feedback.

I want to thank ACFW Ohio for their hospitality and willingness to take an afternoon to focus on building their writing business. It was a privilege to spend a Saturday afternoon with them.

I was reminded again of the importance of having a group of fellow writers to support you. Whether you are just starting out, or are multi-published, the writing life can be a lonely place at times. It is important to find a group of people that you can meet with face to face to build your writing.

So on your goals for building your writing business, who will be your support system? Likely friends and family will be there.

But who else?

Do you have other writers to talk to? Are there people who you can share the trials of the writing life with that will FULLY understand why you’re so excited when you get a rejection letter WITH A REAL SIGNATURE! Will they understand the process or simply say “Aren’t you published yet?”

I would encourage you to not just jump in with any writer’s group. I’ve seen some that were so poisonous that it was worse to be associated with them than it was to be associated with no one. Find a group that will build you up. Make sure that you can see each other on a regular basis [even if regular ends up being annually]. You need those friends.

And before I sign off today I want to let you know about the possibility of a writer’s retreat. I am considering doing a very intimate writing retreat this summer. It would be in a small town about 15 minutes north of Toledo, OH. There would be room for 6 people to come. I will be teaching and mentoring at the event [as well as coordinating it].

The weekend would include:
A double occupancy stay in a bed and breakfast [we'd be the only guests there]
All meals from Friday night through Breakfast Sunday morning-as well as some snacks[Saturday I plan a meal at Hathaway House in Blissfield, MI www.HathawayHouse.com the cost of the meal is included in the registration]
A 20 minute chair massage [to relax stiff writing muscles]
More than 1 1/2 days of focus on building your writing business from Craft, to marketing, to platform development.
The entire Writing Career Coach Library [By June expected to be 6 lessons with a retail value of $110]
And I will be walking each of you through the lessons personally to help you craft a customized marketing plan, time management plan, and help you research markets to work on building a platform.

After the weekend you should have a plan for the next six-twelve months to build your writing business.

The cost would be $225-$275 depending on what rates I can negotiate and would include EVERYTHING [except transportation there]. If I have enough interest I’ll book 2 or 3 weekends during the summer. I will spend the entire weekend at the retreat working individually and in small groups teaching and helping you each craft your own Writing Business Plan.

Email me at Tiffany@WritingCareerCoach.com to find out more or if you’d like to participate. We will figure out dates that will work for everyone.

I look forward to seeing more of you at writing events. If your writing group would like to speak to me about coming and speaking to your group-email me at the address above.

So, as we wrap up the first quarter of 2008 in just a few days, look over your goals and see how far you are. Where did you plan to be.

Make adjustments and I’ll see you tomorrow.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

What in the world do I mean by that?

My pastor likes to say “If you want something done, give it to someone who is busy.”

I’ve noticed at times when I’m extremely busy I can get far more done than I can when I have a good deal of time.

Many writers learn this when they start writing full time. They plan on writing a novel in a month. Back when they were working full-time they never had time to write. OHHH but now, now they will have 7 hours each day to commit fully to writing.

Well, after they read this email. And have a cup of coffee with the neighbor. Oh my, I didn’t realize how dusty this cabinet was. I need to throw the roast in the crockpot. The school bus is here already. “Kids get your homework done.” Hi honey, how was work. I need to wash up these dishes.

Where did the day go?

I know, this sounds more like a time management lesson than “do it bored” but here is what I meant by that.

Many of these activities we do because we get bored. We check an email because we’re lonely. We read another blog so we can connect with someone else. We read and read but never write.

I find it is because, after a while, I get bored with my characters. I love them to death; they’re a part of me, but I’ve read the story too much. I’m blind to the initial excitement.

That is where the work of writing begins. That is when you sit down and say “This isn’t a whim. I WANT to be published.” When you’ve given all you think you have to a story, but you know there is more, you have to get up and dig deeper in to the characters.

The willingness, and ability, to continue to write when the excitement is gone. That is what separates the haves [or wills] from the won’ts.

Tomorrow I’m going to post about my great trip to Columbus, OH to speak to ACFW’s Ohio group. I also have a photo of all of us. I hope you’ll come over and tell someone to join us.

Your coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Happy Monday,

I hope you all had a great weekend. I celebrated Easter by going Saturday to visit a group from ACFW Ohio [photos and blog coming this week where I share details.], I saw my 4 daughters perform in the church service Saturday night, and I got to visit with family on Sunday.

It was a busy but fun weekend.

On the topic of business, one thing I hear from many people when they are explaining why they cannot use blogs to build their business is their lack of time. I talked about this briefly on Saturday. One person, however, had a great idea. She works on a blog with a couple of others. They share the blogging responsibility. While this might not be an option for everyone, it may be an option for some of you.

I thought about this idea as I traveled the two hours home from my speaking event. The benefits to working together can be very obvious. You do not shoulder the full responsibility of writing blog content every day. You also have the added bonus of having multiple groups of people as interested members of your blog. What I mean is if you and a friend each blog you have your own spheres of influence from which to build your readership.

Of course, there are potential drawbacks. You both have to be 100% committed to blogging. One of the easiest thing for a new blogger to do is to quit blogging. You must both be committed to the success of the venture.

Second, you must both agree on the content and topic [or responsibility] of the bloggers. Will there be one person who always posts content [even the content of others?] or will each person post on their day? What about links? If you will have links to products [like books on Amazon] how will profits be divided.

I have to admit, I started thinking of some great ways to work with others I knew in the industry to build a blog together. [And my mind is still churning on it] but I’d like to hear from some of you. What do you think of this way to create an effective blog?

And the person who put this idea in my head was Cindy Thomson and you can visit her blog at: http://favoritepastimes.blogspot.com/

See you tomorrow

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

What is the single most exhausting part of any business?

Inaction.

I’ll explain. Many of you surely have a long list of things to do as part of your business. You have emails to return, marketing to do, articles to write, books on craft to read, research on writer’s conferences, writer’s clubs.

And then you’d also like to have time to write.

Simply reading through the list you’re beginning to remember things you still need to do, but haven’t yet done.

What I have found as a business owner is that I can get so wrapped up in my to-do list that I am exhausted thinking of what needs to be done. Rather than sitting down for an hour and pushing through that deadline-I keep thinking about it. I let the weight of the deadline exhaust me to the point that I don’t even touch the project.

That was my day yesterday. I truly had many things to get done. I had to take 2 daughters to ballet, run to the grocery, meet with the manager where I teach, teach for 2 1/2 hrs, get my hair cut, and homeschool the girls.

But when the day was over, in fact as this week is almost over, I think “What did I do productive to build my business.”

Oh I did plenty. I wrote my to-do list. Considered the implications of the survey I just ran, worried about how I was going to get a project done that’s looming on my desk, I remembered those 13 submissions I’m judging for the Genesis Writing Contest are waiting for my full attention. I scratched out notes on how to revise a proposal I’m working on, I cleaned the kitchen.

And by the time the kids went to bed at 9:30 I was thoroughly EXHAUSTED. I still had to put up the blog [something that I truly give a great deal of time and effort to writing], answer a few pressing questions, and encourage a friend going through a tough time.

But what did I really accomplish?

Not as much as I should.

So look at your own schedule and decide what you’re going to get done. Then don’t think about it-DO IT.

You’ll find it really wasn’t as exhausting as you’d thought it would be.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Hello,

I’d like to tell you about a book I read last week that has completely changed the way I look at my characters. For those of you who write NF -stick around. There is something here for you too.

I’ve learned about the book “Winner Take All” by T. Davis Bunn.

I am sure this book is a few years old as I borrowed the book on tape from the Library. For those of you who write fiction, it is worth finding the book on tape and listening to it. He creates scenes that you don’t only see but you FEEL in your soul.

When I go to my grandma’s house I have certain emotions and memories tied to the place. There are things others never understand about that 3 bedroom ranch an hour from Cleveland, OH. But If they were to see the memories tied up in the place [or even the feeling I have for the sights and smells] they would understand why that home is so comforting to me. I can smell the lingering smell of Grandpa’s pipe [now packed away]. I can look at the room I slept in as a teenager visiting for spring break. I can taste the swirled cinnamon bread on Sunday morning [bought from buehlers] and laugh about the time we all thought my brother Seth, at the time 9, had dug through the loaf to get a coveted end piece. I remember going fishing at the park down the road, swimming at the pool across town, and bowling with grandpa.

I want my reader to have those kinds of strong emotions when I introduce them to my characters. That is why, when I read Winner Take All, I read and studied the writing. I urge you to look at how he creates characters. Don’t imitate it. But let his wording flavor your writing-or just influence it.

For you Non-Fiction Writers, use the descriptions he creates to describe where you are when you interview a subject for an article or when you describe a historical event. Use elements of fiction to help the reader experience the place you’re talking about, to understand the person they’re reading about.

Grab hold of your reader.

You need to have a great platform but without a great book to promote-it won’t give your book the success you long for.

See you tomorrow, Your Coach for the Journey. Tiffany Colter

Hello,

As I told you yesterday, we’re going to focus a bit on resources to help our business. I do want to take today’s blog to issue a caution.

There are two reasons for inactivity: You know too little or you know too much.

When I was in sales my trainer used to say “Ignorance on fire is better than knowledge on Ice.” That is very true in many respects. The less you know, the fewer excuses you have for not accomplishing what you’d like to do.

However, there is something to be said for knowledge. If that weren’t the case I wouldn’t spend hours every single week studying and writing for this blog. I know that the surest way to your dreams is to stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before you.

So while you’re taking time to read blogs and study the industry, take time to DO it too. DO the industry. Write stories, send queries, collect rejection letters.

It’s all a part of the process of growing as a writer.

Do not make the mistake of learning so much that you are always waiting for the perfect time.

Now is the perfect time, go out and reach your dreams.

Your coach for the journey, Tiffany Colter

Happy Monday,

This week we’re going to step back from Marketing a bit to focus on business development. I’d love some of you to give your input.

I’d like to share with you a few places to help you with your craft. The first is the ACFW E-Zine “Afictionado”.

I write the feature bi-monthly and I also write the Monthly Marketing Column. This month’s was just released and there is a great deal to learn from it. They have information on how to improve your craft, they have features, and information on writing from a number of different genres. You can now subscribe to it. Go check out the e-zine.

I’d also like to point you to the Writer…Interrupted blog. For those of us who are super busy [and trying to write between the various interruptions] this is a great blog.

Finally, If you’re looking for information simply on business development then go to www.terrydean.org, I have learned many things about building my online business through his website. This is useful for writers as we plan using the internet to market our books.

And, I’ve told you about Chip MacGregor’s blog [he's a literary agent]. You can ask questions and he’ll answer many of them. That is one great thing about his blog.

I’d like for you to share some of the great blog’s you visit regularly. And if you have a blog, leave the link in the comment section but ONLY if you’ll share the topic of your general blog [like my is Writing Career Coach on Marketing fiction and non-fiction or building up your writing business.] Please do not simply market a product, share MEANINGFUL links. I’d love to come check them out and let others know about the interests of some of their co-readers.

I’ll see you tomorrow.
Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Announcement:

I will be speaking to the Ohio ACFW group on Saturday, March 22 at 2pm.

The topic will be “Executing your Dream.”

There is no fee to come but they do need a count. You can RSVP to the President at ACFW Ohio Sharon Lavy. at sharon @ lavyturf (dot) com [remove the spaces and make the word dot and actual dot).

The event will be in Westerville, OH 43082 [A western suburb of Columbus, OH]

They will be giving away the book “The First Five Pages”

I hope to see some of you there!!

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter