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by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted We�re preaching to the choir and it�s time to look past that and venture into the world. Why? It�s easy. The world needs us. People outside the church, need to be reminded of who Christ is. It�s time Christian authors begin to focus on the general market non-Christian reader and start to gently teach a Christian World View.  The world has lost the absolutes of Christ. According to an older Barna poll, 80% of the children growing up in the 1950s and 1960s had attended church. They knew who God was. The coin has flipped and now, 80% have no idea who God is. The children of today, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z need to know Christ and Christian authors can reach them if they approach it in the right manner. Preeminent among Christ�s commands are these three: 1) to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and spirits. 2) to love our neighbors as ourselves  3) to go into the world, teach, and make disciples.  And we can�t do th...

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted This post won�t apply to everyone, but it�s one I feel is necessary to a particular group of authors. Those who are published by small houses.  Let me begin by saying, I work for a small house, and it�s wonderful. We do our best to offer new authors an opportunity at that first published book. Though there are naysayers who advise against publishing with a small house because the sales numbers are small, there are numerous advantages to working with a small publisher. It�s a wonderful way to learn how to work with an editor, seek out and understand the publishing industry, and discover the importance of what a platform is. Yes, a small press does not have the reach into the market the larger houses have, but that doesn�t mean it�s a career killer�not if you do your job. It simply means, a serious author has to work harder at sales. My thought is, you can sign with a large house and have a book that doesn�t sell or you can sign with a small house and h...

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted You are not alone in this venture to become a writer. You don't have the privilege to whine and whimper that writing is hard or no one wants your work. Get over it. You're not alone. I dare say, there isn't a writer alive who hasn't felt the struggle of learning the craft or who hasn't felt the sting of numerous rejections (all in a row). It's part of the process. My Momma used to say, "If it's worth havin, then the work is worth doin." She was, and still is, right. If I find myself whining a tiny bit, my 92-year-old Momma is quick to nip it in the bud. After all, she should know. She's a master quilter and her work is amazing. Her fingers are bent, knuckles swollen from arthritis, but Mom continues to turn out quilt after quilt with masterful skill. She amazes me and when I ask her what prompts her determination to keep on keepin on, she is quick to remind me, God has empowered her with a gift. It's not up to...

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted I�m tired. Really tired. But it�s a good kind of tired. Conference season is over for me. After eleven conferences (and 12k logged miles), some back-to-back, my suitcase is finally emptied and stored in its place. As I climbed the ladder to store the suitcase, I found myself a little sad that it�s done for the year. When I left the last conference in Pennsylvania, I wrapped my arms tight around the director who is also a very dear friend, knowing I wouldn�t see her again for a couple of years. My voice cracked.                �I hate goodbyes!� I choked back tears. �I will miss you sweet friend.� And a long and intentional hug happened. No conference would be complete without faculty. Those folks who work for peanuts, (usually going in the hole financially), but could care less about the money. Their job is to be in service to Christ and His people they are called to serve. What exactly goes ...

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted I�ve been writing seriously for the better part of fifteen years, and I still love to sit at the feet of those who are successful and pick their brains. They offer valuable guidance. When a new writer hands me a manuscript it�s easy to see their passion for the story. The concept is good, and they have an idea where the story should go, but as I begin to read, things start to fall apart. It�s because there is more to writing a novel than just having a story idea. There are mechanics. Important mechanics and it�s very difficult to gently begin pointing out why this story isn�t ready for publication. After all, there�s a protagonist, love, there�s a hint of conflict, and a good ending. Why doesn�t it work? Learning the basics is vital and listening to those who offer guidance is important as well.  Beginning Basics to Get Your Novel on the Right Track 1. An inciting incident : This incident is not the hook that draws your reader into the story rather it...