BROADCASTS.com

If you live in Canada, consider joining us next month for the Inscribe Christian Writers Conference here:\xa0http://inscribe.org/fall-conference/

I will be the keynote speaker and will be leading a couple workshops.

And all of you can enjoy this interview I recorded with Inscribe President, Ruth L. Snyder.

\xa0

Ruth:\xa0I\u2019m looking forward to having you come to our conference in September. To help our members get to know you, please tell us about your growing up years.

Shelley:\xa0I\u2019m a person that learned to be adaptable because we moved so many times. I grew up as a PK \u2013 a pastor\u2019s kid, going to church, and attending all the events \u2014 youth camp, conferences. I was saved and baptized at the age of seven. Typically, we think of salvation as a turning point where everything is going to be great. The Bible says that in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, \u201cI, Jesus, have overcome this world.\u201d The next year my Grandma was murdered. There was a lot of trauma, and yet God is so good. He doesn\u2019t waste anything, and a lot of what I\u2019ve been through is what I share in my books today.

Ruth:\xa0How does your faith influence what you do?

Shelley:\xa0It influences everything I do. I practiced as a physiotherapist for twelve years. My husband and I also served in Belize for two years. I worked as a volunteer physiotherapist and my husband worked with youth. When we came back, we knew we wanted to have the freedom to minister again. In 2011 I quit my job and God showed me that author coaching was what He wanted me to do. I thought I would limit my income and influence if I only ministered to Christian authors. However, God convicted me and showed me that\u2019s what He wanted me to do, so I made that change. Now I serve primarily Christian authors. Anyone is welcome, as long as they know I\u2019m going to pray and share Scriptures. God has planted that seed of prayer and encouragement and I integrate it into what I do. I have seen amazing fruit in my writing community.

Ruth:\xa0When did you first call yourself a writer?

Shelley:\xa0I never dreamed of writing a book. We moved during my junior year of high school, and my new English teacher gave me a \u201cC\u201d. She taught me how to write and set me up for success. I was a speaker before I became a writer. It wasn\u2019t until 2008 that I published my first book. My husband is a competitive runner. We hang out with people who win world championships. I\u2019m a slow runner. I don\u2019t know if I will ever win an award, but I\u2019m still a runner. God has shown me, \u201cShelley, you\u2019re a writer!\u201d

Ruth:\xa0You\u2019ve published over 40 books. How has your writing process changed from your first book to your most recent,\xa0Broken Crayons Still Color?

Shelley:\xa0My first book was a compilation of articles I had already published. Anything you practice improves. I have developed systems, which are basically checklists or certain ways I do things. It makes things run better and faster. I also have a team now. With\xa0Broken Crayons Still Color, I wanted it to be my best work. I had a beta group that gave me feedback, along with my professional editor. I also included coloring pages, discussion questions, journaling prompts, videos with fill-in-the-blank viewer\u2019s guides, and a leader\u2019s guide.

Ruth:\xa0As a writing coach, what do you find writers struggle with the m

ost?\xa0

Shelley:\xa0In the beginning I thought writers just needed the step-by-step. What I found is that so many writers struggle with mindset. If you\u2019re dealing with self-doubt, self-sabotage, fear, shame\u2014some of these biggies\u2014it becomes a big obstacle. I encourage Christian writers to have a prayer team, because Satan is going to want to stop you. It\u2019s also really important to have some kind of writing community to support you. That spiritual battle can be one of the biggest obstacles you face.

Ruth:\xa0Is there any other advice you would give to a writer j

ust starting out?\xa0

Shelley:\xa0It\u2019s easy to get in a \u201cDo\u201d mode. Focus on creating with God; He has the best ideas. Develop systems that work for you, but also learn from others who have gone before you. Have a notebook where you write down what you\u2019ve done. Use the tools that are available to batch writing blog posts or develop/schedule social media posts.

Ruth:\xa0That leads us into our VIP Day and conference. Could you give us a taste of what you\u2019ll be sharing?

During the VIP Day I will be teaching low cost ways to bring in sales that are automated. I love working smarter, not harder. We are going to create a blue print and go through each step of what it will look like for you, individually.

During conference we will be talking about writing in community\u2014the power of having a prayer team, and how having a beta group can really help you in creating a quality book that will reach your audience. We\u2019ll discuss getting book reviews and the mindset you need to work on so that you\u2019re not paralyzed in your writing.

Join us here:\xa0http://inscribe.org/fall-conference/

\xa0