American Idol's Life Lessons on Rejection

Are you watching American Idol? I DVD it and then zoom through it. A few weeks ago, as the judges whittled the hopefuls down to twenty-four, there was something Ellen DeGeneres said that stuck with me. She was talking to the annoying girl-with-glasses who wouldn't go home.

(Just to quality that...I didn't mean girl-with-glasses was annoying because she wears glasses. I wear glasses. She was just annoying.)

It's a little long...you can click it off when you're tired of listening to her begging.



Anyway...Ellen said to her, "This is just one 'no' in your life. You will get many 'no's. It doesn't mean it's 'the' no."

Those words just resonated with me. That's a writers' life! Lots and lots of no's. I'm heading over to a writers' conference tonight and teaching a workshop tomorrow. I'm going to reference Ellen's wise lesson about getting no's. Rejection is part of the package when you are trying a creative endeavor.

By contrast, look at this young woman's attitude about rejection. AWESOME!!!





I worry about people like girl-with-glasses. She may be incredibly talented, but there's an extra quality that she is going to need if she ever wants to get anywhere with her music. It's called: perseverance.

Interview with Philip Yancey by Amy Sondova

This interview was written by Amy Sondova and originally posted on her blog, Backseat Writer. Amy graciously gave us permission to re-post this.


Philip Yancey is a lot of things—a “writer’s writer” who has received awards, accolades, and praise for his books. He is also the editor-at-large for Christianity Today. His vulnerable and personal writings have touched the lives of over 15 million people. To be sure, Philip Yancey is gargantuan in the writing world.



But that’s not why I asked Philip Yancey to do a Take 5. I asked him to do a Take 5 because I am one of the 15 million whose lives have been touched. Yes, I remember the moment I first laid my eyes on a Philip Yancey book.

It was 1997 and I was a troubled 17 year-old girl struggling with depression, anxiety, cutting, and of course, issues of faith. The Jesus I Never Knew stared at me from our living room coffee table. Literally, stared at me! Intrigued by the cover (who says you can’t judge a book by its cover?), I picked up the book and began reading.

The Jesus I never knew became the Jesus I started to know in a whole new way. So I read more of Yancey’s books—Soul Survivor, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, Disappointment With God, and many more including another favorite, Reaching For the Invisible God.

Yancey managed to reach into the heart of a very confused teenage girl. His honest reflections on faith helped a young woman cling to her own faith in the midst of heartache. And the fact he answered my e-mail and agreed to do this Take 5 made my dream of interviewing Philip Yancey a reality. Thank you, Philip—for everything!

On Backseat Writer, we write a lot about music and books. So what music are you currently listening to and/or what books are you currently reading?

My music answer is always the same: old fogy that I am, I only listen to classical music. I did a three-year project of digitizing all my albums and (yes) reel-to-reel tapes, so I can order up “Symphonies” or “String Quartets” or any individual composer and then music plays all day in the background. I’m afraid that when I hear about the GRAMMY Awards I haven’t heard of two-thirds of contemporary musicians. Oh well, somebody’s got to support the classics.

My next book is a kind of memoir, so I’ve been reading almost nothing but memoirs for the last year or so. I must have read at least 100, simply to study the form and see how it’s done. Some are juicy, some are boring. I’m gradually preparing to make the transition from an essay writer to one who works with narrative and dialog–that’s my hope anyway.

On average, how long does it talk for you to write a book? How much research goes into a Philip Yancey book?

It would take about a year if I did nothing else. I travel quite a bit, and do other projects on the side, so it ends up taking 1.5 or two years. I figure the ratio breaks down like this: 40% preparation (including research, interviewing, outlining, all those writing-avoidance tactics); 20% composing (all the paranoia and psychosis occur here); 40% cleaning up what I wrote (I began my career as an editor, so I truly value this editing process.) While doing my book on Prayer, for example, I spent about six months in libraries before writing a word.

With all your success, how do you keep stay humble?

I play golf. Seriously, though, nothing that happens on the outside helps when you face that blank page or blank computer screen. Writing is the most humbling act I know. Nothing that has happened with prior books offers any guarantee that my current or next book will work, will connect with anyone, will show that I’ve lost whatever spark I may have had. Writing is a lonely, demanding craft, and the longer I do it the worse I feel, in a way, because I recognize more mistakes as I make them. My job is to produce the best book I can; the publisher and readers determine what happens to that book, and that world seems very far apart from how I spend my time.

Young writers often make foolish mistakes. What is a mistake I should avoid?

Writing should come with a label, “Do not practice this alone.” Starting out with an ideal of self-expression is suicidal. Writing is communication, connection. And when you begin, it’s best to find a supportive community, or writers’ group, who can point out what you’re doing wrong (feedback you need) while encouraging you to keep going (feedback you need more). Otherwise, you’ll likely give up.

How does your writing affect your relationship with God? (The reason I ask is this—I feel so close to God when I’m writing or taking pictures, the act itself turns into worship.)

God doesn’t seem to give me great words or great thoughts. Rather, prayer helps remove the distractions that interfere with mental focus–the most crucial ingredient in writing. “Cast all your anxieties upon him, because he cares for you,” the Bible says. That takes on stark reality in the composing process. I have anxieties bubbling up–over deadlines, creativity, finances, a million other things–and they can prove paralyzing. I bundle them up and present them to God. Then I trust God with the result. I hear later from people who have touched by my words, but in the process I simply commit them to God as an act of faith. God knows better how to use my words than I do, and I trust God with that part of the process.

For more information on Philip Yancey, visit him online at PhilipYancey.com. Also, I recommend you buy every book he’s ever written, but that’s merely my opinion.

New Cover is Here: The Waiting!

It's official! Here's the new cover for The Waiting, book #2 in the "Lancaster County Secrets" series, which will release October 1st.



Covers are far more complex than you might think. I'm grateful to my publisher, Revell, for putting so much care into getting details right. The model is wearing a cap that is true to Lancaster-style prayer caps--it has a heart shape in the back. The model's hair color is important in this story, too. The main character, Jorie King, has coppery colored hair. The fence was my brilliant editor's idea--it acts as a metaphor for the reader. The reader is crossing into another world.

Titles are a challenge, too. The Waiting was chosen because when we meet Jorie (whom you'll love!), she is at a point where her life is on hold. This story is set in 1965, and Jorie is waiting for Ben Zook to return from serving as a Conscientious Objector in Vietnam. She's waiting for Ben to settle down and join the church. She's waiting to marry him.

Until the past collides with Jorie's tenuous future.

On other title news, I found out this morning that Book #3 in the "Lancaster County Secrets" series will be officially titled The Search. That book will be available in January 2011 (though it will probably start trickling into stores in December).

Tomorrow's blog will be an interview with author Philip Yancey, graciously shared by Amy Sondova from her fascinating blog, Backseat Writer. Tune in tomorrow!

Losing the Big "L"

Ii was asked to speak to a group this morning about the question, "What was your day of freedom from shomething that held you back?"

I thought I'd share with you part of my answer - an excerpt from my book, Mom NEEDS Chocolate, about adopting a winning attitude.

"When I was in high school, I was always second best. Number two position on the tennis team, red ribbon in the science fair, vice president of the student body; and I finished one tenth of a point behind my best friend's GPA.

I couldn't actually win anything. I was afraid that if I really tried, I would fail and be humiliated. Far from living large, I was living lukewarm. Not hot, nearly cold. I just couldn't - or wouldn't - put out that extra effort to achieve.

But a funny thing hapened about eight years after high school. I had kids. My viewpoint began to change. The passive little girl who'd always accepted her lot in life as second best got, well, fired up.

I wanted - no, demanded - the very best for my kids. I intended for them to reach for the stars and be all they could possibly be.

Second best wasn't good enough. Not for them, and not for me.

Philippians 4:13 lit a spark that blazed in my soul. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Was it true? The verse didn't say some things, it said all things. I finally had a creed, a powerful truth to cling to, the spur I needed to give me confidence to lead by example in going for the gold in pursuing my life goals and encouraging my children that they could, too.

I'd been blessed with a natural affinity for the written word and always dreamed of being a writer. So I dared to try. I now write Christian magazine articles and books with the single goal of expanding God's kingdom. "

Fear was my limiter. My jailer. My oppressor.

So how about you, dear friend? Would you share with me your day of emancipation?

Secret Agent Writer

What is it about calling ourselves a writer that makes the liver quiver and face turn the color of ripe tomatoes?

Last weekend, while visiting an out-of-town church where I had just done a speaking presentation the day before, I was approached by a doe-eyed, 30-something woman in a crowded room.

"Hi. I'm Ellen."

"Hi, Ellen, I'm Debbie."

"I know who you are. And I know what you do."

"What I do?" The way she said it made me wonder which of my secret vices she was privy to.

"Yes. I want to ask you a question." Ellen's eyes darted covertly around the room. She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "I ... I'm going to a writer's workshop in a few weeks and want to know how I should prepare."

"Oh, really? So you're a writer, too?" My voice mirrored my enthusiasm in meeting a kindred spirit.

Ellen's face flushed and she raised both hands as if fending off a blow. "Shhh." She glanced nervously around and whispered, "Nobody knows. And I don't want them to."

I had to smile. I remembered all too well my early writing days when I, too, was a secret agent writer, fearful of being judged and found wanting. Fearful that by exerting my meager literary skills, people would deem me cheeky, impudent, unaware of my limited abilities.

I didn't tell anyone until after my third magazine article was published - not even my own mother. (Perhaps that had something to do with her always correcting my grammar, even as an adult.) It was a good year into my secretive career before I stopped correcting people who called me a writer.

"Oh, no - I'm not a real writer. I'm just a story-teller."

It's a process to admit - even to yourself - that you're a writer. We're not sure what the term actually encompasses and we're hesitant to label ourselves with so austere a title. But I've come to realize that being a writer has less to do with external justification (whether we're published or not) and more to do with internal fortitude.

If you can't not write, honey, you're a writer. Admit it. Accept it. Embrace it.

(Be sure to check out the excellent chapter about dealing with preparing for writer's conferences in Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers, beginning on page 207.)

It's a gift!

A few nuggets of wisdom from highly successful inspirational writers:

"If you're a new writer, just starting out on this incredible journey, face the fact that it easily can be a one-step forward, two-steps backward adventure.

Fortify yourself with plenty of prayer, patience, and perseverance - unless you're the exception, you'll eventually need a lion's share of each. Be prepared to deal with the bitter as well as the sweet. But don't let the frustrations and disappointments ever overshadow your joy in and your apprciation for tthe git you've been given.

And don't forget that it is a gift. Nothing more, nothing less."
~ BJ Hoff, best-selling author

" I used to compartmentalize my writing from my Christian life. I wrote secular romances with sex and profanity, and because I was publishing everything I wrote, I told myself God was blessing it. But He wasn't.

God never blesses sin, and my writing was not only sinful, I believe it led others into sin. After 32 books published, the Lord orchestrated things in my life to draw me back to Him. I finally realized that He wants every area of our lives. He had given me the gift of writing so that I could glorify Him, but I was using that gift to do just the opposite.

I got down on my knees and repented and told the Lord I didn't want to write anything else that didn't glorify Him. Since that time, He has blessed my work immensely. I wish I'd committed my writing to Him years earlier."
~ Terri Blackstock, best-selling author

Doused by the Newest iWave

So have you heard the news?

No doubt you're quite aware of Apple's brand spankin' new iPad. But what you may not know is that publishing biz folks think this new gizmo is about to set the industry back on its heels like nothing since the printing press.

Why the big hooha? Well, it's a bit complicated and I do recommend you read the blazing insider blogs burning up cyberspace as we speak, but basically Apple is breaking new ground not only in attempting to usurp Amazon's world's largest bookseller status, but in completely altering the economics of eBooks for both publishers and authors for all time to come.

In my opinion, the economics needed to be shaken up. So this is not a bad thing.

Amazon has been lording its eBook czar-ship with a heavy hand in limiting Kindle books at $9.99, despite publishers fighting for $12.99 or $14.99 for hard copies that sell for $24.99. As authors, we're acutely aware of the paltry royalties we earn on the $24.99 book sale; the pittance we receive for the eBook won't buy a twin pack of ink.

And I've been irritated with Amazon anyway for years of threatening to drop self-published and small press-published books created outside of their own profit-lined walls. Greedy, greedy, greedy.

And then there's the Macmillan thing. Scary, that. Last week, Amazon, apparently miffed over recent faltering negotions with the prestigious publishing house, Macmillan, up and pulled every single Macmillan book not only from Amazon.com, but free sample chapters that had been downloaded from Amazon onto Kindles suddenly disappeared into thin air.

Poof. Gone. How'd they do that?

Can we really control the eBooks we purchase ... or not? Could they, too, be sucked into an electronic black hole one day?

So from my POV (that of an author watching her dwindling royalties sail into the sunset), I'm a little relieved that someone is making waves. I just hope the waves don't eVolve into the perfect storm and capsize those of us in dingy's trying to stay afloat.