Great Little Tool for Self-Editing

In college, I took a class where we had to write a paper each week. We were allowed one “free” typo; after that, our grade would drop. I quickly learned that if I wanted an “A,” I had to have someone else edit it. I simply couldn’t catch all of my own typos, because I tended to see what I meant to write. I’m sure you can relate.

I still absolutely believe in the importance of having other people edit my work, but what about all those times I just want to send an email, update my Facebook status, or write a quick blog post?

I don’t always have the luxury of having someone else read my material first. I’m not sure about you, but there’ve been several times I’ve opted not to write a blog post (like this one) because it wasn’t worth the trouble.

I’ve discovered an app that is helping me in situations just like that: NaturalReader.  After downloading the software, I can simply click “Add New,” copy and paste my material, and have it read back to me (I can even slow down the reading speed). I find myself catching so many more typos than ever before.

I’m not saying this is a fool-proof system; I probably let a typo or two slip into this post. But it does take my errors from “bonehead” to merely “tolerable.” This in turn has increased my willingness to write new blog posts (again, like this one).

Give it a try and tell me what you think!

How My Lack of Platform Helped Me Get Published

(This post originally appeared on Chip MacGregor’s blog. BTW: If you are interested in learning more about writing and publishing, I strongly encourage you to follow his blog!)

It was every hopeful author’s dream. I had just finished pitching my book idea in front of seven other hopeful authors and (more to the point) an acquisitions editor. As we all stood up to leave, he discreetly handed me his card and said “Let’s talk.” Long story short, I am now a published author.

I have, in fact, shortened the story so much as to be deceptive. When he and I talked at lunch the next day, he didn’t even look at the proposal I had spent three months perfecting. First, he wanted me to address several issues. Six grueling months later, I sent him the revised proposal. To my delight, he loved it. But he wanted me to completely rework my sample chapters, which took another five months. Finally he believed it was ready to be presented to the publication committee.

As you may know, publishers are looking for three things in a proposal: 1) a great concept, 2) great writing, and 3) a great platform. But, as my editor said, they’re willing to over look one of those three if the other two make up for it. I had no platform, so my editor kept pushing me to refine and improve my concept and writing.

There were many points in the process that I wanted to give up. Two years is a long time to spend on three chapters. But because I didn’t have a platform to fall back on, I didn’t have a choice. And now, having seen too many mediocre books from well-known personalities, I’m glad I didn’t have a platform to lean on. I know myself – if I could have gotten away with less effort, I would have.

By the way, I’ve also seen a lot of authors fall back on “I can always self-publish.” I’m NOT saying that self-publishing is necessarily an easy way out. It’s probably the harder path because you’re the only one holding yourself to a higher standard. I’m simply saying that if you view self-publishing as a back-up plan, your quality will likely suffer.

In the end, the publication committee caught my editor’s vision and decided to take a chance on an unknown author. But my point isn’t that anyone can be published if they work hard enough. There are no guarantees (even a great platform isn’t a guarantee). My point is that a lack of platform can be a blessing. It can drive us to write at the highest level we’re capable of. And that should be our goal, shouldn’t it?

What do you think? Is your lack of a platform a blessing or a curse? Is self-publishing an easy way out?

How My Lack of Platform Helped Me Get Published

It was every hopeful author’s dream. I had just finished pitching my book idea in front of seven other hopeful authors and (more to the point) an acquisitions editor. As we all stood up to leave, he discreetly handed me his card and said “Let’s talk.” Long story short, I am now a published author.

I have, in fact, shortened the story so much as to be deceptive. When he and I talked at lunch the next day, he didn’t even look at the proposal I had spent three months perfecting. First, he wanted me to address several issues. Six grueling months later, I sent him the revised proposal. To my delight, he loved it. But he wanted me to completely rework my sample chapters, which took another five months. Finally he believed it was ready to be presented to the publication committee.

As you may know, publishers are looking for three things in a proposal: 1) a great concept, 2) great writing, and 3) a great platform. But, as my editor said, they’re willing to over look one of those three if the other two make up for it. I had no platform, so my editor kept pushing me to refine and improve my concept and writing.

There were many points in the process that I wanted to give up. Two years is a long time to spend on three chapters. But because I didn’t have a platform to fall back on, I didn’t have a choice. And now, having seen too many mediocre books from well-known personalities, I’m glad I didn’t have a platform to lean on. I know myself; if I could have gotten away with less effort, I would have.

By the way, I’ve also seen a lot of authors fall back on “I can always self-publish.” I’m NOT saying that self-publishing is necessarily an easy way out. It’s probably the harder path because you’re the only one holding yourself to a higher standard. I’m simply saying that if you view self-publishing as back-up plan, your quality will likely suffer.

In the end, the publication committee caught my editor’s vision and decided to take a chance on an unknown author. Now, almost a year and half later, my book is on the shelves and now I’m doing the hard work of promoting it.

My point here isn’t that anyone can be published if they work hard enough. There are no guarantees (even a great platform isn’t a guarantee). My point is that a lack of platform can be a blessing. It can drive us to write at the highest level we’re capable of. And that should be our goal, shouldn’t it?

What do you think? Is your lack of a platform a blessing or a curse? Is self-publishing an easy way out?

Why I Write…

Yesterday I joined the Northwest Christian Writers Association to help me write and publish my books. This morning I got an email from them “reminding” me about the scholarship opportunity for their conference in May. All I had to do was to tell (in 300 words or less) why I write. Oh, and it was due today.

So here is what I cranked out in the 20 minutes between when I finished the sermon and when I had to clock in at Starbucks. Not bad, considering.

I write for the same reason I preach: I have the arrogance to believe that I have something to say that someone else needs to hear!

As a kid, we got to meet several fighter pilots-in-training and I remember just how cocky they were. But my mom made an interesting observation: In order to do the sort of things they had to do, they needed to be cocky enough to think they could do them. In the same way, being an author means you need to have enough confidence in your message to put in the “blood, sweat, and tears” and then throw treasured creation out into the public.

I believe in what I am writing. I believe that my book “Radically Normal: A Book for Frustrated Christians about Glorifying God and Enjoying Life” will make it, not because I believe in myself, but because believe in its message. I believe that God will use it to help millions of Christians enjoy him and his gifts more than they thought possible. This message deserves my attention and effort.

At the same time, I know I could be self-deluded; thousands of authors have been convinced they were sitting on the next best-seller, only to face disappointment after disappointment. I might soon join that group, but I will not stop until I have exhausted all my options, which is why I look forward to the conference in May!