It’s almost time for a New Year—and a new decade! How will your life be better in 2020 and beyond? What choices will you make to do things differently? Most New Year’s resolutions come and go like snowflakes on hot sand. They don’t seem to last. Instead, why not take time to reflect on and reevaluate your life so you can make better choices next year? Here are some ideas to get started: Reflect. Review the past year. What went right? What do you want to improve? Pray. Take time to get away by yourself to think and pray…
Tag: Jackie M. Johnson
This is our archive pageFeeling Defeated? It’s Time for a “Resurrection”
Are you having a bad day? A bad decade? If you’re struggling to find peace, if you feel a certain emptiness, or you’ve misplaced your faith, there is hope. In the midst of your mess, take heart and remember anew that the power of the resurrection is available in your life today. Recently, Christians around the world celebrated Easter. We remember each year the true story of Jesus Christ dying on a Cross and rising from the dead—alive and victorious! He said He would and He did! Christ defeated death so we could live forgiven and free, empowered by the…
A Starry-eyed Kid
One day, my friend, Kim, was teaching her toddler about the American flag. She pointed to the stars on the flag, and told the little girl that each star was for one of the 50 states in our nation—like Arizona, Texas,California, Ohio, Wisconsin, and so on, until she listed all of the states. When Kim finished, her little girl looked up and with wide-eyed innocence said, “Which star is for Baby Jesus?” Thank you, Jackie M. Johnson, for sending us this and sharing it with us! Jackie M. Johnson is an author and blogger. Her books include Power Prayers for Women, the breakup recovery resource When Love Ends…
Trusting God
By Jackie M. Johnson “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Life is full of challenges. You want to lose weight but the pounds stick to you like super glue. A friend needs a new job or is having marital problems. Your niece is wondering if she will ever get married. Our country is divided on political issues. And on it goes. As believers, we are taught early to “trust in the Lord.” But what does that really…
Tips from the Pros: Jackie M. Johnson
Hello from Kevin Thompson in the abnormally warm south! A temperature of 81 in January is hot, even by Floridian standards. Something about high pressure blocking cold fronts from getting here…. Yay! The mosquitoes will be spared! Ugh. Well, it’s time for another edition of Tips from the Pros! And this go ’round, let’s welcome Jackie M. Johnson to the front porch. Hi, Jackie! Glad you could make it. So, tell us, how many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? As an author and blogger, I write books and blog posts (mostly for…
Marketing for Authors: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Greetings from Jackie M. Johnson! As 2014 draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on your marketing efforts over the past year and prepare for the year ahead. Here’s what I like to do. First, I look over my content marketing and social media. I review the analytics on my website, blog and Facebook page and note the pages that were most accessed and the posts that received the most views and “likes.” What worked well? What didn’t?
6 Social Media Trends for Authors and Speakers
Greetings from Jackie M. Johnson! Keeping up to date with the latest social media trends isn’t always easy for busy writers and speakers. Things change quickly in the digital world, and we don’t always make time to read the most recent tech blogs or social media news. Yet, authors are required to “grow our platforms” so we can build our brand, market our books, build community and connect with readers and potential readers—and much of that is accomplished online. So I’ve culled 6 social media trends that may be helpful in your social media strategy.
6 Essentials for a Better Working Relationship with Your Publisher
Greetings from Jackie M. Johnson! Most first time authors seem to focus on the fundamentals: What is a query letter? How can I improve my book proposal? Or, is my manuscript well-written? When your goal is to get published, all of these are important and timely questions to ask. Both new and advanced authors need to hone their skills and produce exceptional content. But that is just the start.
Working with a Literary Agent: 6 Essentials
Greetings from Jackie M. Johnson! Are you working with a literary agent for the first time? Or, are you looking for ways to improve the working relationship you have with your current agent? If so, here are six essential things you need to know. As an author, it is vital to know what your agent does—and what he or she does not do. Knowing this information can help alleviate misunderstandings and create a sense of realistic expectations.
Finding Time to Write: It’s About Choices
Greetings from Jackie M. Johnson! What do Olympic athletes and contestants on reality music competition shows have in common? They both practice their craft intensely. Knowing that swimmers, runners and artists who sing their hearts out practice for hours each day, humbles me; it gives me pause to think about my own dedication to the writing craft. Over the years I’ve written books, articles, blog posts, marketing collateral and other material. Like those athletes and artists, I’ve have to make hard choices. When I am writing a book, I judiciously guard my time. If I didn’t remove distractions and focus,…
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