Unless something really, really, really unusual happens to you.
Or you're a lifelong reader.
If you want to be a writer but you HATE reading, complete the following steps (in order):
- Quit your day job.
- Buy a sailboat.
- Spend your (few) remaining days globe-trotting. If you're lucky, a publisher might find you before the sharks do. Or the Brobdingnagians.
Don't laugh. They exist. Just ask Jack Black.
Nothing unusual has ever happened to me (unless you count getting bit by a squirrel, which was a harrowing experience I'd rather not discuss with anyone over the age of accountability). However, I LOVE to read. And write. Although my family didn't always own a TV, I can't remember a time before books.
But I can't just write a book. I need practice. Experience (preferably paid). Real-life opportunities to hone my craft.
Enter Focus on the Family.
Focus on the Family offers some great opportunities for Christian writers to practice their skills, gain experience, and collect a paycheck. Check out the links below for submission guidelines to three of their magazines:
Clubhouse Magazine
Clubhouse Jr. Magazine
Thriving Family Magazine
I began writing book reviews for Thriving Family last year. As a Christian school teacher, I regularly used Thriving Family Book Reviews to see if a book was appropriate before recommending it to my middle school students. For those of you who aren't familiar with Thriving Family, this service is similar to FOTF's PluggedIn.
When some of the books I used in class weren't reviewed online, I sent an unsolicited review to Thriving Family. To my delight, it was accepted and posted. Now I am assigned reviews on a monthly basis. I love writing them. Receiving a check in the mail every few months is just a bonus.
I would say it helps with the groceries, but I used December's check to adopt a second Newfoundland dog. Now I have a boy and a girl. Neither are fixed (yet). Not sure what I was thinking there...
Today I took another step towards publication: I signed up for Focus on the Family's Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr magazines. Each 12-issue subscription cost $19.99. After tax, I spent less than the cost of a full tank of gas (unless you own a scooter). But having access to these magazines means that I will be able tailor my submissions to their audience and have a higher chance of getting published.
I do have two long-term projects on the go: a picture book and a YA novel. I'd be happy if either was published by the end of the 1000 days.
Until tomorrow or whenever I write next ... live life to the fullest! Unless it's cold. Then you should curl up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. And a cinnamon roll (if you're lucky).
My Thriving Family Book Reviews:
Our two Newfies, Sam & Kia.
Don't be fooled by their cuteness. Sam snores something awful.
Don't be fooled by their cuteness. Sam snores something awful.
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