Dear Reader:

This morning’s post is an edited version of an email I just sent to a writing friend. She is new to the idea of writing for publication, and fresh from a writing conference that was full of workshops, contacts, and ideas. My answers to her may be useful, inspirational, or encouraging to others on the same journey.

At least I hope so – DEREK

Dear enthusiastic and overwhelmed writer:

QUERY: First, you asked about query letters, and proposals. Yes, I still write query letters. In fact, the query letter is probably the most important element of the process; because it’s how you first hook an editor’s interest. Even after my first book with Upper Room Books I had to write a query letter to get the ball rolling for the second… and the third, fourth, fifth, and (hopefully) sixth. Then your proposal must sparkle, “wow,” and leave the editors thirsty for more!

PLATFORM: This “platform” idea is interesting, and – to be honest – it’s pretty-much the only reason I do silly things like “tweet”. A writer’s platform must be consistent. In other words, the Derek Maul people run into on facebook, my blog, twitter, my website, my books, and my published articles must be uniquely recognizable. Consequently I pour all of my writing through the same filter, and that is Philippians 4:8-9. The idea is that your platform establishes your “brand.”

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

SPEAKING: The speaking thing was – at first – an accident. My first book made a good splash, and then people started saying, “I’d like to have the writer of GET REAL speak at our conference/retreat/church.” It honestly never occurred to me that writing could lead to speaking. The truth is, sales and royalties don’t generate much income, and I probably make more money talking about my books than writing them! But, every new book generates more opportunity to speak, and every speaking date leads to books sold; so they feed off each other.

TRAVEL: I probably travel out-of-state to speak around six times a year; then do about as many locally. June 14, for example, I’ll be leading a men’s mini-retreat at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa. 3:00-8:00 )This is their flyer). I’ve been invited to speak as far away as California, and as close to home as a mile or two.

AGENT: Ideally, I should have an agent. But I have yet to talk with one that’s interested! Why? Because 10-15% of not much turns out to be even less! Even though I would argue that once the agent hooks me up with more speaking gigs, then more $$ will be generated for the agent to enjoy his/her share. Maybe they don’t want to work that hard? But thus far I’m not enough of a sure thing for an agent to waste the effort!

MINISTRY: In your email you mentioned the word “ministry.” That’s exactly what the writing life has to be. I don’t write and speak to earn money; I earn money so that I can write and speak. In other words, getting paid a few $$ here and there makes it possible to share the encouraging, dynamic, life-charged, hope-filled, promise-saturated, timeless message of the Good News of the Gospel of Love.

I write so that I can invite more people into a better story.
Peace and blessings – DEREK