Month: February 2024

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Enjoy the Process, or Enjoy the Book?

I’ve known George (not his real name) for more than 10 years. He is bright, intelligent, and is successful in completing projects … when he wants to complete them. He’s written a weekly blog for over 15 years, and I learned that he has often mentioned to others that he would like to publish them in a book.

One day several years ago, I suggested that he select about 125 of the blogs, edit them, send them to a publisher, and get his book done. That’s when I learned he was a devoted procrastinator. However, George didn’t think it was procrastination; he thought he was spending time perfecting each article. The truth was, he enjoyed the process of writing.

After 13 more months with no progress to show, he finally got tired of his own waiting game and asked me if I would format and publish his book. I was glad to help.

Our editor completed her part within 3 days, and George could not believe his ears when, 5 days later, I told him the book was uploaded and ready to order.

After receiving a box of 20 of his books, he discovered the joy of holding them in his hands and making them available to his friends. His family told me he was thrilled with the product.

Dear reader, have you discovered the joy of being a published author, or are you still enjoying the process stage? Or have you started your manuscript? We at P & L Publishing and Literary Services are available to assist. Contact us by phone or by email on our Get in Touch page. We look forward to hearing from you.

By the way, Happy Leap Day, and don’t forget to …

Write Creatively.

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Write 18 and Sell 3, or Write 2 and Sell Hundreds?

I spoke with a man several years ago who had written 18 books. I was impressed with his productivity and his diligence, until he inadvertently revealed a bit of information he meant to keep hidden: He had sold only 3 books, and feeling dejected, was giving them away.

One of the men in our writers’ guild had written 2 books. But guess what? He had sold over two hundred books within 2 years, and many orders were coming in.

What was the major difference?

The first man didn’t know his audience … if he even had one. He wrote for the love of writing, and there is nothing wrong with that, and just expected people to buy his books. But if a writer wants to sell books ……

The second man had targeted an audience for each book. He wrote both books with that specified group of people in mind. Therefore, it’s accurate to say that he wrote to those people, and his sales verify it.

The following is what an acquaintance said about establishing an audience. “Your target audience is the group of people who would be the most helped or entertained by your book. Your readership might extend past your intended target audience, but the target audience is who you intentionally aim for.”

So, write for the love of writing. Write what you are about passionate about. But also be sure to identify your target audience for each book you write. And make sure you …

Write Creatively.

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What will Readers “Take Home” from Reading Your Book?

As a pastor, I always gave everyone in attendance something to “take home.” Whatever the listener’s background, be it Christian, atheist, philosopher, scientist, mechanic, writer, or whatever, I wanted the listeners to learn something that was meaningful to him or her. Why?

I didn’t like asking people to come back; I wanted them to come back because they desired to hear more. As a result, the attendance in our churches grew substantially.

In the same way, writers must make a lasting impression in the readers’ minds. With thousands of books to choose from, we must give them a reason to want more of our writing. A good, well-written, compelling story will draw the reader back for more. Identify your target audience, and learn to write so that your story will live on in their hearts and minds long after the last page has been turned.

Write Creatively.

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Why do you like to write?

What compels you to write? Is it fun? An obsession? An adventure? An escape? I asked a group of people why they wrote, and here are just a few of their responses.

Writing helps me cope with stress.

Writing allows me to go to anywhere I want to go with no restrictions.

Writing allows me to create other worlds, and kind of live in them.

Writing allows me to safely express my thoughts, worries, and anxieties.

I enjoy writing because I find fiction more interesting than the real world.

I write poetry because it helps me connect to my artistic side.

I write to give people a good story to read.

When one of the men asked me why I liked to write, I told him I write to teach about life. Among other things, that includes topics related to history, science, the Bible, humor, and philosophy.

There are hundreds of reasons people write. Why don’t you interview yourself and find out why you like to write. The answers might help you learn to improve your skill. And as you improve, always …

Write Creatively

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One Last Reminder …

P&L Publishing and Literary Services is offering a $100 discount as a Valentine’s Day special.

If you are writing a book – or are ready to publish one – contact us on our “Get In Touch” or contact page and tell us you read this blog. You’ll be surprised at how little it costs to publish a book and how quickly we can do it for you. Contact us on or before Leap Day (February 29, 2024) to receive this offer. That’s only 5 days from now, so don’t forget.

Feel free to share this blog with your friends. They might be glad you did.

Write Creatively

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Write for a Win-Win

When was the last time you heard someone say, “That’s a Win-Win?” That doesn’t work in baseball, football, basketball, and all the other sports. For a team to win, the other team has to lose, and for some reason people don’t like losing.

Okay, you know that. But how does win-win apply to writing? I’m glad you asked.

The answer is based on understanding. Author, speaker, and mentor Stephen R. Covey said in Habit #5 in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.” Learning to actively understand someone else and his/her point of view is mandatory to effectively communicate our thoughts.

That’s why we must know our target audience. We need to understand their interests, goals, needs, etc. If we understand them, our writing can appeal to them. They will enjoy our writing and we will sell more books. That is a Win-Win.

So invest the time necessary to establish and understand your target audience. You must write YOUR story in a manner that THEY understand and appreciate it.

That is the writers’ Win-Win. So make sure you …

Write Creatively

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You Don’t Know how to Start?

You want to write a book, but you don’t know how to start?

You might need to consider personal time management. Separate tasks or projects under “urgent” – “important” – “necessary” – “desired.” This takes insight, planning, preparation, and promotes efficiency. It also greatly reduces time spent in crisis-management.

Decide what’s needed to accomplish that task. Of all those necessities, which ones are more important? Of those, which ones are mandatory?

Of course, you will have decided on a theme, plot, and story line. You will also need pen & paper, typewriter & paper, or a computer. And it would help if you had a place to write, and time to do it.

However, one of the most important aspects of writing is what I call living your story. Authors who mentally enter the story write with a more balanced emotion, and that gives the story life.

So make your plan. Study your topic, ask for and receive proper mentoring, and pick out a good editor. Why? Editors refine and improve our material by correcting a lot of things we writers miss: errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation. They also ensure that ideas flow logically and smoothly.

But you’ll never write the story or book unless you sit down and just start writing. It won’t write itself.

Please keep these thoughts in mind, and …

Write Creatively

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Don’t be Predictable

It’s important for the author to insert him/herself into the plot; that helps in creating a great story. But don’t let the story be predictable. Ernest Hemingway at times stopped in the middle of a page and walked away for half a day or so to refresh his mind. The noted radioman, Paul Harvey, always had a twist in his narrative called, “The Rest of the Story.” The turn-of-events took his listeners – and readers of his books – by surprise, and left them wanting more.

Unless predictability is your purpose, design the plot with those sudden surprises that will capture your readers’ attention and keep them reading. One of your primary means of doing that is to …

Write Creatively

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A Reminder about the Special Offer

P&L Publishing and Literary Services is offering a $100 discount as a Valentine’s Day special.

If you are writing a book – or are ready to publish one – contact us on our “Get In Touch” or contact page and tell us you read this blog. You’ll be surprised at how little it costs and how quickly we can publish your book. Contact us on or before Leap Day (February 29, 2024) to receive this offer.

This little guy is effectively communicating with its friend. In like manner, share this blog with your friends. They might be glad you did.

Write Creatively

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Experiment with Genre & Style

I wrote for public newspapers in several states from 2001 through 2023. My subject matter included Bible, history, science, nature, travel, and a lot more. But I didn’t write about animals; that wasn’t my forte.

But one day in July of 2013 after relating a dynamic experience to my friend and co-writer about our kitten getting stuck in a glue trap, he suggested that I write about it in my next article. When I told him I don’t write about animals, he paused, took a sip of coffee, and said, “You do now.”

I thought that would be a challenge, but I was wrong. It was the easiest piece I ever wrote because I merely related what happened.

Did I say “merely related”? Well, that wasn’t quite true. Everything I said in the article was accurate, but I painted the word picture in a creative manner. Through well-chosen words, I let the readers “watch” the 3-month-old kitten as it …. Hey, I’ll let you read part of the writeup so you can see what I’m talking about.

Two and a half month old Marvel was playing in the sun-room. He batted his ball, it bounced behind a box, and he pounced after it. A playful kitten disappeared behind the box, but a hissing, crazed, writhing monster erupted from the other side! He had stepped into a glue trap!

He was screaming, thrashing, flipping, running from his phantom attackers, flailing and irrationally bouncing as only a cat can do, running into walls to make matters worse, and getting glue all over himself; but I was finally able to grab him to remove the source of persecution. I paid (got bit) for my efforts, but I didn’t punish him for that error: he was frantically fighting for his life!

When my co-writer saw the responses I received from readers about that story, he said, “You have added another genre to your bag of tools.” That also introduced me to the genre of Creative Nonfiction, which is described as “true stories well-told.”

So, I encourage you readers to experiment with genre and style. Remember The Cat and the Glue Trap, consider looking into and studying about Creative Nonfiction, and …

Write Creatively