When Writers Unite

I spent this past weekend at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Dallas, Texas. It's always fun to get together with other writers who understand all the quirks and craziness of being a creative.

As writers, we spend a lot of our time alone with our computers. Escaping the deadlines, edits, and marketing, to get dressed up with your friends is a blast.

Here's a photo of me with our amazing group of Oklahoma ACFW writers. I don't know what I would do without the encouragement and support I get from this group of women.

With young kids, it's a sacrifice to spend a few days away from home (and a big shout out to my husband for keeping the boys!), but the time is replenishing and recharging for me. It's a time when I can dream and pray about what's to come in my writing career, and I'm so thankful for that.

All the writers at the conference are also readers, so it's great to see authors we admire. This year, I got the honor of seeing Francine Rivers receive the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award.

What author would you love to meet?  

Julie Jarnagin is a multi-published author of inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new releases and free books: www.JulieJarnagin.com/connect

Upcoming release: Sweet Christmas Kisses 2 takes you from the Smoky Mountains to Florida's sun-drenched beaches, from the Italian Alps to Paris, France, and even to a quirky little town in Arizona. The Sweet Christmas Kisses 2 bundle features all-new, stand-alone stories that are sure to make you laugh, sometimes bring tears to your eyes, but always put you in the Christmas spirit. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, RaeAnne Thayne.

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#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter by Karen Rock

#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter by Karen Rock

Yesterday, while on Twitter, I came across the hashtag, #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter and clicked on it. The stream of tweets using this hashtag had me laughing, groaning and nodding in agreement so often, I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you. I hope you agree and laugh, groan and nod along with me, too J

#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter :

  

1.       “Three dollars is a lot to pay for just an ebook.” - @FebruaryGrace

2.       “Now you just need to get it turned into a movie.” -@LaurenDeStefano

3.       “I would never have guessed that you were a writer. You’re so normal.” @HRuthMiller

4.       “I have a great idea for a book you should write. You write it and we'll split the profits 50-50.” - @tiffanyreisz

5.       “Oh. It’s one of THOSE books.” @ColleenHouck

6.       “I don’t read fiction. I only read important things.” -@shirleymccann

7.       “Oh, you’re a writer? Me too! I mean, I haven’t typed it out, but it’s all, y’know, there in my head.”- @EvilMarguerite

8.       “You write romance? Have you ever thought of writing a real book?” - @McCarthySusanne

9.       “Will you send me a free copy?” - @AuthorAngelaS

10.   “So, I want to write a book, too. Will you help me?” - @emeraldbarnes

11.   “Have I read anything of yours?”- I’ve never met you before. How would I know?! @JLArmentrout

12.   “I should try and get published in England. It’s obviously easier there.”- @HolSmale

13.   “So when do you think you are going to finish your book?” x 10 - @BookCountry

14.   “Writing romance is easy, right? I think I should try it. I need some money.” @ashposton

15.   “Self-published, so you’re not really published yet then?”- @chadh1234

16.   “People can buy it? Seriously? In a real book store?” - @KathyReinhart

17.   “It must be lovely working from home. You can combine writing with housework and childcare.” -@Joannechocolat

18.   “I better be careful or you’ll put me in your book!” No. You’re not that interesting. - @OfficiallyAlly

19.   “I had to give it one star because it had way too many five stars.” - @emberian

20.   “I know you’ve sold a ton of books but I found a misspelling in chapter 3.” - @kennbivins

And here’s the one I tweeted:

“So? Are you still writing or working now?” hehe. Would you believe it was retweeted 216 times and favorited over 300 times at the time I’m writing this?

The hashtag “TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter has been a top trending topic today (hitting number 2 worldwide as I write this!) for good reason. Although writing is solitary work, it’s a universal experience and one we should share more often! It’s been a treat to read these tweets from other authors as it helps me feel less alone- (although technically I do have my puppy, Zoey, here for company, which counts, right?)

As writers, it’s important to take advantage and join in on experiences like this, whether it’s online or in person with conferences, chapter meetings or just phone chats with other writers. There can be a lot of negative in our profession, whether it’s sales numbers, snarky reviews, publisher rejections or eight page revision letters. (okay- maybe that’s just my experience J) However, interacting with one another is the positive food we need to keep going and embrace, rightfully so, our profession with joy.

As Steven King said in “On Writing” – “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”

Hugs to all my fellow authors and readers out there! You make the world’s heart beat. Let's make our own list of #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter! Please share any interesting comments people have made to you about writing :) Thanks!

RWA...Okay! by Ginny Baird

The day this blog publishes, I’ll be finishing up my time at RWA 2015. RWA stands for Romance Writers of America. It’s a professional organization that supports those who write romance as well as the genre in general. I’ve been a member for several years now and have learned so much from my fellow authors. There’s no group more capable of sharing and caring than a bunch of romance writers!

Each year, RWA hosts an annual conference in some enticing location. This year’s event is being held in New York City. I look forward to attending the informative workshops on romance publishing and marketing, but most of all I’m excited about meeting many folks in person that I’ve only connected with online. One wonderful thing about the Internet is it provides a way for people living far apart to connect with each other. I’ve been fortunate to meet many other writers this way, including the very talented ladies of this writing cooperative, Sweet Romance Reads. I’ll be rooming with two of them, and sharing meals and meetings with others during my five days in New York. What fun!

This photo is of me signing books in Atlanta at RWA 2013.

On the final night of the conference, a group of us will also attend the famed Rita Awards, a celebration honoring the recipients of the genre’s highest award for excellence in romance fiction. One winner will be chosen in each category (such as novella or historical fiction), and it’s such a joy to see the winners bubbling over with excitement.

The morning this blog posts, the excitement will be over and I’ll be packing my bags for a quick twenty-four-hour visit with my two daughters who live in Brooklyn: a definite highlight of my trip! Then it will be off on a full day’s train ride that will carry me home. Have you ever attended a professional conference? If so, what was it like, and what part of it did you enjoy most? I look forward to reading your responses when I return and will award a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card to one person who shares their experiences, or comments on mine at RWA 2015! The winner will be selected on Tuesday.

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Ginny Baird writes contemporary romance novels and novellas. Her newest sweet romance release is My Best Friend’s Bride, now available at Amazon, iBooks, Kobo and B&N. Want to keep up with news from Sweet Romance Reads authors? Sign up for the SRR newsletter today. Like chatting about Sweet Romance? Join the authors of Sweet Romance Reads in our cyber Café!