Seeing the Finish Line and Starting a New Race...

Usually in the middle of the old one.

I have a couple of projects on the go at any one time. Thinking up ideas for new books while researching others and writing another one. I one time thought I should only work on one thing at a time, but soon found that was impossible. I come up with ideas in the strangest places.

Like Church for instance. My current WIP (work in progress) started out as an idea when I was watching an extreme moto cross event. I started to wonder what it would take for a Christian to be that sold out to God. Xtreme Xianity was born.

So what does that have to do with Church? I was listening to a sermon that had nothing to do with this idea when i suddenly had the outline for this book in my head. I wrote it down, mainly because I've come to realize that my mind will also forget about it until I am in the middle of something else.

This book looks at the lives of biblical characters and what it was about them, their attitude, faith and actions that made them extreme followers of God. I hesitate to say Christian because some of these people are Old Testament people.

It has been a remarkable journey writing this book. There are the obvious ones, like Abraham and faith, Paul and commitment, or David and attitude. But there are ones that most of us would never consider.

People like Anna and Simeon. Only mentioned in Luke, but a shining example to us of their devotion. Consider the unconditional love of Hosea or the perseverance of Jeremiah. We often associate patience with Job, but when you examine his life, it is his hope that stands out.

So in the midst of writing this book, I am editing my first novel, Free and putting the finishing touches to The Bible School Dropout's Guide to Dispensationalism, which I'm sure will be a best seller...

While I am doing this I get this idea: Do I have enough of the summaries and charts I designed during the past few years to create a book of just these charts for designer Bible studies. The Bible School Dropout's Book of Charts was born.

During this time, I received some questions about a failed family calendar that was suppose to be completed the year before. The person who was responsible for putting it together bailed and I ended up with a family tree project. So I released four titles while still working on Xtreme Xianity. Not to mention my study guide for Genesis 1-11, now working on chapter five.

So now i am almost done the draft for Xtreme just in time to get ready for Nanowrimo... National Novel Writing Month - only 41 days away. There is still the study guide for Genesis 1-11 and the next project on the horizon after that...

ah the writing life.. and i still have my day job.

Coming Home

Oops. my bad....

I offer my sincere apologies to the blog-chain members of Christian Writers. I was unplugged for the weekend and it occurred to me I was suppose to do something. That something was participating in September's chain and my day was Labor Day, September 5.

"Let me see that baby!" were the first words my wife and I heard as we came home for the first time with our daughter. She was a bright and gurgly six-month old and we were arriving home for her first Christmas with the family.

It wasn't fun traveling at Christmas time with a family in tow. It was 40 below. We had lots of luggage and a baby to check through and carry on. There was a delay while the plane was de-iced. That made us late for our connecting flight to Sault Ste. Marie. The airline was ice enough to hold the flight long enough for use to get on.

It was quite interesting racing through the airport 20 some odd gates to get to our plane. It had already been boarded and the attendant was waiting for us. She grabbed some of our stuff and escorted us out to the plane. It wasn't a nice comfortable jet, but a turbo prop that carried about 30 passengers.

Well, almost all of us got on. Our luggage didn't make it until the next day.

We came through the gates and before we could say anything, my parents had ripped baby Kimberly out of our arms and were awing and oohing over her. It was only after a few minutes had passed that they realized we were there too.

Well, Christmas came off well, We collected our luggage. Two sets of grandparents spoiled our daughter. Two Christmas dinners to chow down on. And the discovery our family would soon grow again. A bet that earned me a chinese dinner.

It was at that point we started to discuss the idea of moving back home. When there was just the two of us it was more important to be together, to get our careers off the ground, make our place together. But with children to consider, we had to weigh that against what would be best for our family. We decided thqt it was more important for our children to get to know their roots. Shortly after our visit home we decided to move back.

In our Christian walk, It also important have a place we call home. A local Assembly where we can grow and exercise our gifts. A place where we can fellowship and worship with like minded people. A place to put down roots. A place to come home to.

You can follow the chain by clicking on the link to the right. The next couple of bloggers are;

*

9/8: Michele Archer, http://mlarcher.webs.com/apps/blog/" target="_blank">M. L. Archer Writer

*

9/9: Brian Jones, http://andeluvia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Andeluvia

Preparing for a new adventure.

Well here I go, attempting to do something new. A blog chain. Starting in September members of Christian Writers (http//:christianwriters.com) will start a blog chain. Members decide what topic to cover and then sign up to take days for the month.

I admit I am intrigued by how this works. I was going to take September 19. That is the date of my wedding anniversary. But it was already taken. So my turn will be on September 5. Labor Day.
The topic for the month is Coming home. So it will be interesting to see what transpires.

I am also in the home stretch of my current project, Xtreme Xianity. I had one of those writers' moments when I thought mm.. what if I approached being a follower of God the way an Extreme athlete approaches his sport?

It has been a wonderful and soul searching journey as I studied the lives of biblical characters and what made them stand out for God. I will be posting more on a later date.

Since I can't just work on one project alone. I am also working on a study in Genesis 1-11. The project is too big to put into one study guide, so the finished work will be four guides. I have my work cut out for me over the next year or so.

In His Grip
Steve

Playing Catch up

Wow! talk about neglect and procrastination. Almost a year has past since I last visited my own blog. but then, I think I am the only one who actually reads it.

But then it has been a busy year with four more books released. I don't know, I have this thing about working on only one project at a time. I am working on two more and am already planning to participate in Nanowrimo again this year (http://www.nanowrimo.org/) Pssst. It's only 64 days away.

Thanks to Nano I wrote my first novel. I like it. I hope others will too.

It was a learning experience for me as I had never seriously considered writing fiction, much less a novel. But I've done both and learned that I could do it. Although there are similarities with writing fiction and non-fiction, the creative process is very different.

With non-fiction, you have a thesis, you research your subject and develop an outline and go to work. With fiction, you have an idea. Well, it's more than that. For me it was like I was recording the events and thoughts of my characters. They were telling me their story. I was the scribe.

My fiction writing friends tell me that sounds about right.

So check it out. You can even read a free e-book preview @ smashwords.com

Ciao

"They" never told me it would be like this...

When I started on my publishing odyssey, i never really thought much on the what-to-do-after-I-get-published. As a self-publisher, i am the marketer, promoter, author, and pr person all rolled into one.

So now I am thinking of ways to promote myself and my books. I started with creating a website. I was able to start with a free hosting service, but when I went to register my official site name, I was stopped because the site insists I am an American and won't allow my to change my information so it won't reject my credit card!

So my site is now up and running... http://bibleschooldropout.web.office.live.com. Hopefully, if i ever get my info corrected, I can set up a more simple name.. like bibleschooldropout.com, or .biz. or .net. or...

Secondly, after reading some of my friends marketing ideas I created bookmarks to hand out. Why not? Most people have business cards to advertise. I'm a writer, so I'll use bookmarks. They have pictures of my covers and my web address. Now all I need is more ink for my printer...

Give-aways seem like a good idea as well. So I've done that, and am planning on some more. Check out my website for details...

Publicity and marketing also means pictures. Now I don't like having my picture taken, much less post it everywhere for people to see. It is fortunate that I have a photographer friend who will cut me a deal. Maybe I can Photoshop it so I don't look so....

And then there is my friend who owns a bookstore. He is going to let me hold a book signing at his shop at the start of the Christmas shopping rush. Now I have to think about ordering stock, publicity and all that stuff...

Just tonight, I learned of another way of promoting my books. It's called a blog tour. Now that sounds interesting. However, I can't even keep up with my own blog. I wonder how I'll do keeping up others...

And I haven't even quit my day job yet...

Come by and visit my website. There is a reason I made it a link.

It's a Book! or two or three or four....

Well, it's about time! Two years plus invested in prayer, research, writing, reading, red ink, rewriting, more red ink, more rewriting. They have finally arrived! Or have they?

The Bible School Dropout's Bigger and Better Guide to Bible Study came first. Because of the material left over from this book, along came The Bible School Dropout's Guide to More Bible Study. So while I shopped around for a publisher to take my baby out into the world, the second book was completed.

Part of the second book included a bonus section called B.I.B.L.E - Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. It consisted of 6 lessons covering how you can build God's Word into your life. I thought "Hmmm... I wonder." And in quick order The Bible School Dropout's Guide to Building the Word of God in My Life came into being.

During 2009 and into this year, I studied Hebrews. Of course, I was using the Bible study method I outlined in my first two books. As the study was drawing to a close, I thought "Hmmm... I wonder." You guessed it! The Bible School Dropout's Guide to Hebrews came together rather quickly.

Did I plan it this way? Not on your life. I have a lot of ideas for future projects and a goal to continue publishing. But I did not think I would be releasing four titles at one time! My mind was spinning as I worked from one to the other, polishing and working to get them to a place where I was confident enough to let them go.

There I was, all pleased and happy. They were released. Then... oops. I noticed a wrong reference in two of them. OK. So i halt production, and correct them. Whew! At least nobody bought them and then emailed me.

Do I think these books are perfect? No. If the goal was perfection, then I still would be ordering proofs and tweaking. They may never have gotten published if I was waiting for them to be absolutely perfect.

What I did accomplish was the satisfaction of reaching a goal. The satisfaction of reaching that finish line called published.

However, I also know that I can't sit back and wait for the royalties to come in. I have to switch to a marketer and promoter, thinking how I can get my children in front of people and find them good homes

I also have ideas which are yelling at me to be put on paper. I am currently completing the draft of my next project, a doctrinal study guide. I am also researching another book idea. My book study this year is Genesis. Well, that would make at least four guides. "Hmmmm... I wonder..."

False Labor

Way back in the dark ages, college, my creative writing professor said that getting a book published is like being pregnant; it takes about nine months.

Most writers would say it takes longer than that. You have an idea that you gestate into a full blown manuscript, and then you have to work to get it published. Whether or not you go traditional route or self-publish, the process is pretty much the same.

But what he didn't tell you was the false labor that also accompanies the publishing process. You work hard to reach that goal of seeing your book in print. You submit your manuscript and get a proof back in your hands.

And there is it, in your hands, a copy of what your book will look like when you approve it and send it out into the world. Then you open it..

Crap!!! mistakes and typos. I knew I was in trouble when I noticed on the copyright notice Yahoo was spelled with 3 o's. I can't even blame my copy editor or typsetter because I am the copy editor and typesetter! Out comes the red pen and I pour over the manuscript. It's bleeding ink, but I'm satisfied I have corrected the mistakes.

Off goes the revised manuscript. Order another proof and I wait, again.

Crap!! More mistakes. Start the process all over again. make the corrections revise the manuscript, upload it and order a new proof

Well hopefully the third time will be the charm. I'm running out of red ink.