by Cyndy Nelson
It has been one year since I joined Kathy Ide and her great group of editors. Kathy's vision of mentoring editors and seeing a ministry come to fruition has proven to be a definite fulfillment in my case.
Finding Your Own Niche
I remembered Grandma using the old crank telephone when everyone else had rotary dial phones, and like her, I was content to let the high-tech world pass me by. But Mother kept nagging me, so in 2003, I went online for the first time in my life with a machine I didn't know how to use.
I started out in a Christian chat room. On a message board, I started telling my stories and posting farm news reports. I listened to the noon reports for commodity prices and anything that had happened in the world that might affect food prices. If the commodity prices for a particular meat product were low, I knew there would be low prices in the supermarkets one month later. Some people on the site found the information interestingly odd; others found it helpful for their budgets.
One lady directed me to a Christian writers' site, where I observed and participated in the site's activities. The first short story I submitted won editor awards and was published in the site's anthologies, along with several other stories. I found another niche and became a judge for those writing contests, gaining more experience for my writing/editing career.
The success I had achieved spurred me on to write a book. With the tips I received from Kathy Ide and others in this network, I was able to overcome some of the mistakes new writers make. Publish America published my book in 2006. It was presented to the public on January 1, 2007. My first royalty check came three weeks later. Now my book is selling in six countries and has been translated into the French language.
From Volunteer Writing/Editing to Paid Jobs
Through MeLissa Houdmann, I have learned much about writing/editing for Web content. This is extremely useful information in today's world. If you get the chance to take her Web content writing course, do so. I highly recommend it. This experience enabled me to get hired by an online business writing and editing papers and book reviews for college students and government offices.
From a Writing Business to an Editing Business
People started asking me to edit their book manuscripts, and like many of you, I did them for free. My confidence grew after learning from many of the questions and answers on the PEN's loop. I started my own editing company with homebound-with-disabilities editors, and we have edited the projects of ten new writers. I write the book proposal, cover letter, and e-query, and make a list of potential publishers that may be interested in the author's manuscript. Nine of the ten authors we have worked with have signed book contracts.
From Writing and Editing to Traveling
It never occurred to me when I started submitting manuscripts that the need to travel would arise. I now travel to promote the editing business, to garner more work for my editors, and to promote my book.
From Business to Ministry
A couple who is reorganizing a nonprofit organization want my editing business to profit from the contacts they have with other authors, publishers, and TV station owners. They asked me what needs I had with the business. I spoke of my concern for some of my editors' medical needs and living arrangements. The organization has offered their grant writer, free of charge, to fill out the needed papers.
God is doing a new thing in all of our lives and opening many doors. I owe it all to Mother's nagging me to get aboard the high-tech train. And to God, who led me to the PEN to learn and hone the skills I didn't realize I had until I tried. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord," says Psalm 37:23 (KJV), and those steps led me to The Christian PEN.
Note: One of the many benefits of joining the Christian PEN as a contributing member is our quarterly e-newsletter, PEN POINTS, chock full of leads, articles, news, and tips.
Contributing members may submit articles for the newsletter, which can include links to their Web sites and/or e-mail addresses.
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"My First Year in the PEN"
from the March 2007 issue of PEN Points, the quarterly e-newsletter of The Christian PEN
by Cyndy Nelson
