Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible
exception of wrestling alligators. Olin Miller
It is hard, but it is possible. So, here are some resources to wrestle those alligators.
And click here for some of my "Jim Shorts" newspaper columns on writing.
Agents
• "Finding an Agent" by my agent, Janet Grant
Here are two agencies I can whole-heartedly recommend:
• The Books & Such Agency
• The Steve Laube Agency
Warnings about those I can't:
• Preditors and Editors
• Seven questions to ask a prospective agent
• Writer beware
Articles
• Atomic-powered titles
• Becoming a persuasive person
• 'Crossing over' with the cross
• Freelancing offers freedom "real job" can't
• From Stage to Page: Turning Messages into Manuscripts (my notes)
• Grammar tools
• How to break into a publisher's office
• How to succeed as a writer—in one picture
• Interview with The Wittenburg Door
• Interview with InspireWriters.com
• Interview with writing magazine
• The ministry of writing (twenty-five rejection-proof markets)
• Million to one chance for million-seller
• Seven habits of purpose-driven writers
• Spreading the Word with wit
• Ten great things about being a writer
• Top ten column-writing secrets revealed
• Why do you write? An interview with an IWU student
• Writing effective book proposals
• Writing online
Books
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• Communicate to Change Lives: Biblical and Behaviorial Principles for Persuasive Communication
"I laughed, I gulped, and I learned as I read Jim's book. As a writer, speaker, and teacher of writing,
Jim knows what he is talking about. Best of all, he knows how to put the teaching at a level that we can easily
grasp and apply. Here's the book that will help you to change lives."
Roger Palms,
Writer, teacher, speaker, former editor of Decision Magazine
Browse
 Interview on BlogTalk Radio
concerning Communicating to Change Lives
• Read about the
book and seminar by the same name
• Read an excerpt: Using Psychological Appeals
Buy
• Order from amazon.com
• Order from Wesleyan Publishing House
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Writers on Writing: Top Christian Authors Share Their Secrets for Getting Published
I was privileged to serve as editor of this "who's who" of Christian authors such as Jerry Left Behind
Jenkins, Liz Curtis Higgs and twenty more. A very practical "how to" book on writing.
"Here's a terrific smorgasbord about different aspects of the writing business. Whether you want to write magazine
articles, devotionals, fiction or nonfiction, humor or screenplays, you will gain a taste of what it takes from
someone who practices this particular discipline." Terry Whalin, best-selling author
Browse
• Seven habits of highly effective writers
Buy
• Order from Wesleyan Publishing House
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Writing with Banana Peels: Principles, Practices and Pratfalls of Writing Humor
"A milk-out-the-nose funny book for both writers and readers,"
Rhonda Rhea,
author of Amusing Grace and The Purse-uit of Holiness.
Jim had so much fun teaching "Writing Humor" at Taylor University, that he compiled all his notes (and some of
his funniest columns) into a book:
Writing with Banana Peels: Principles, Practices, and Pratfalls of Writing Humor.
Browse
• Table of contents, endorsements
• Read an excerpt
Buy
• Paper back $14.95
• [Coming soon to Kindle]
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• A Complete Guide to Writing for Publication
• More writing books
Conferences
Some of the very practical reasons to attend a conference are to . . .
a) meet editors face to face (I've never sold a book simply on the basis of a proposal alone. All fourteen of
royalty books were pitched at conferences or the result of a conference).
b) get feedback from editors and professional writers (Citique groups are good—to a limit, but most are
amateurs critiquing amateurs. Sorry if that sounds snobbish, but this is a business and profession.)
c) get the tools you need to succeed in your craft (lectures, books, networking).
Imagine if a repairperson
pulled up to your house and his/her truck was completely empty of tools? Call the police!
d) network. That is so important. I can follow each book and each conference keynote back to meeting key people.
I tell writers, the three secrets to getting published are 1. network, 2. network, and 3. network.
There's a word for writers who don't attend conferences: unpublished.
American Christian Writers Conferences
They are held through the U.S. and are an affordable way to get an overview of
Christian publishing.
• Click for conference details
Conferences I can heartily recommend with lots of editors
• Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference (NC)
• Colorado Christian Writers' Conference
• Florida Christian Writers' Conference
• Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers' Conference
• Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference (CA)
• Write-To-Publish (IL)
Editorial services
I served for six years as a full-time editor with Wesleyan Publishing House and am currently freelance editing
for such publishers as ACW Press, Group Publishing and Wesleyan Publishing House.
My writing and editing have earned four Evangelical Press Association awards, a Campus Life "Book of the Year,"
an Amy Award (for writing in the secular press), a Christian Retailers Choice Award, plus 24 books and
over two thousand articles in print.
I charge $5 per page (250 words) for editing and $15 per page (250 words) for re-writing or ghosting.
Email me your manuscript as a Word document attachment to:
jim@jameswatkins.com.
Encouragement
• 1 Corinthians 12 for writers
• David and the giant editors
• Keeping your dream alive
• Quips and quotes of encouragement
• The Word Girls [off site]
Journalism
• FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting.
• FeatureWriting.net: great links and info
• Journalist Express
• Poynter: Everything You Need To Be a Better Journalist
• RevWriter: on issues in ministry and writing
Legal issues
• Know your rights
• Legal Guide for Bloggers
• U.S. Copyright office
Magazines
• Editor and Publisher
• HumorWriters.org
•: Smashing.com
• The Spirit-led Writer
• Writers' Digest and it's Top 101 Sites for Writers
• Writers Weekly: Great scam warnings!
Manuscript critiquing
I'd love to give you some practical advice as well as help in finding potential markets.
I charge $50 to critique an article, book chapter or book proposal up to 2,000 words (that also includes a list
of potential markets). I also charge $5 per page (250 words)
for editing; $15 per page for rewriting or "ghosting."
Why pay me to critique your manuscript? Four Evangelical Press Awards, a Campus Life "Book of the Year,"
an Amy Award (for writing in the secular press), a Christian Retailers Choice Award, plus 24 books and
over two thousand articles in print, but most of all I'm a kind critiquer.
I've also edited several books for ACW Press, Group Publishing and Wesleyan Publishing House as a freelance
editor.
Email me your manuscript as a Word document attachment to:
jim@jameswatkins.com.
And click for a free self-critique sheet
Publishers
• Christian publishers
Self-publishing
Warnings
Many self-publishing companies offer extremely low prices, but then nickel and dime you with additional charges. Click for warnings:
• Self-publishers and piranhas
Recommendation
There's only one I recommend with all prices clearly marked and all packages including full-color, custom-designed
cover, editing, ISBN number and bar code:
• ACW Press
Writers' resources
• 100 useful Web tools
for writers
• AskOxford: The Word on Words
• John Vonhof's writing resources [a huge, helpful site!]
Legal stuff and dire warnings
Copyright © James Watkins. All text and graphics on my sites, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted © in my name,
James N. Watkins, and are protected by United States copyright law and international copyright law under the Berne
Convention. Please visit the press room for information on reprinting any text or
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