According to the internet, 81% of Americans would like to write a book someday (and we all know the internet never lies). I was NEVER one of those people. I had no desire to write a book and absolutely no desire to write a novel.
The Lord loves to change our plans, doesn’t He?
Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to write a book, but I am going to ask you to talk about books—mine and others. Here’s the scoop…
Consistency Works
About twenty years ago, I saw a major change in my walk with Jesus because of a single change in my devotional life. I began journaling. (Don’t worry. You don’t have to journal.)
About ten years ago, I saw a dramatic improvement in my writing skill because of a single change in my writing habit. I wrote a devotional every day. (I stopped doing that when the book deadlines got overwhelming!) 🙄
About five years ago, I saw a significant change in blog reach because of a simple commitment to my readers. I post every Friday.
Success—at anything we do—is about consistency. So, in order to make our BFF Team successful, I hope you’re willing to work with me to become more consistent in our efforts.
Working at Consistency
I believe I mentioned the weekly activity reports to both our existing and new BFFs early in August, but I’d like to revisit this fun new idea and begin implementing it this week!
Angie, Renee, and I chatted about the details last Tuesday, and finalized the Google Doc you’ll be filling out each week. (Thanks to Angie for her work on that document!) Here’s how the Google Doc works:
- Each week, you’ll fill out a quick Google form called, MESU’S BFF WEEKLY ACTIVITY SHEET. (Click on the title, and you’ll be redirected to the form.) You’ll probably want to bookmark it in your web browser—maybe even on your bookmark bar for easy access.
- Fill out the required fields (your name and email address)
- Complete any other fields that apply to your weekly BFF activity! There are spaces for those of you who are active on Social Media (like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest). There are spaces for those who share through word-of-mouth. You can fill in a field if you’ve prayed for me, or maybe you left one of my bookmarks with a friend. Maybe you shared a Scripture verse with a friend—that counts too!
- Then, click “Submit,” and you’re entered into the weekly drawing!
- All weekly forms must be submitted by Sunday at 6pm ET, and the winner will be announced in our Monday BFF Newsletter, delivered to everyone’s inbox.
What Do You Share EVERY Week?
Afraid you’ll run out of great things to share? You and me, both—I ask the Lord that same question each time I sit down to write a blog post! Why share anything if it’s not meaningful, right?
Angie and Renee are AMAZING and have taken care of that for us! Here’s what to look for:
- Coordinator Angie creates our Monday’s Newsletter, and she’s added a new section called, “This Week’s Share Suggestion.” In it she’ll provide ideas that our BFF team can promote my books and other great biblical fiction. If you have an idea to share, please contact Angie (aearndt at gmail dot com), and she’ll include your suggestion in this section of our team newsletter!
- Coordinator Renee has a passion for social media, and has a vision for consistent Friday sharing. Here’s her idea in her own words:
“We’re all Biblical Fiction Fans, right? But doesn’t that ultimately mean that we’re fans of the Bible and the God Scripture reveals? So, let’s proclaim Him to the Social Media World! Every Friday we’ll flood Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest with posts to encourage each other with Scripture or direct attention to a God-honoring novel. I’ll post a graphic and/or click-to-tweet in the Facebook group so you can share right from there. You can also come up with your own ideas and share them with us. Let’s make hashtag #BFF known as Biblical Fiction Friday far and wide!”
Of course, these are only suggestions, and you need not feel compelled to use either of these items. If you have other ideas on how to share, please post on the Facebook group or contact Angie Arndt (aearndt@gmail.com) or Renee Smith (reneeasmith61@yahoo.com).
Angie, Renee, and I will probably remind you to fill out the WEEKLY ACTIVITY SHEET occasionally, but we don’t want to nag. We want to make your experience as a BFF fun and encouraging.
Why A Weekly Activity Sheet?
As most of you know, The Pharaoh’s Daughter will be published by a different publisher than my previous four novels. The folks at Waterbrook/Multnomah have been uh-ma-zing to work with, and—as you can tell by the book cover—they have done a fantastic job with the story so far.
Marketing is a tricky business, and we’re always looking for ways to get the word out more effectively. My BFF Team was a HUGE plus when WB/Mult. asked me to join their team. They’re excited about y’all! 😉
The Weekly Activity Sheet is a way the marketing dept. at WB/Mult. and I can measure the effectiveness of our group marketing efforts. As the release draws nearer, Amy Haddock (Marketing Director) may offer a few suggestions on specific direction for us. I’ll let you know if/when that happens. For now, she’s offered to make some bound copies of my ARCs available for contest prizes when they become available. (An ARC is an “Advanced Reader Copy”—The Pharaoh’s Daughter in raw form, still has typos, grammar issues, etc.)
You’ve all heard, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, believe me…it takes a whole city to publish a book! And you’re part of my hometown now, y’all! 😉
One Last Thing…
In my monthly newsletter (if you don’t already get it, please sign up on my website—on the right-hand column) that arrives in your inbox on the 1st of each month, I list prayer requests. Those are general, public issues that I share with the world.
As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we’re all called to pray. However, I believe some are given a special calling to intercession. I also have a private team of prayer warriors who pray for my immediate and personal issues. Some are BFF members. Some are close friends. If you are an intercessor who feels called to join my prayer team, please email me privately at: mesu at mesuandrews dot com. (I’ve spelled it so the robots don’t spam me.)
If you’re currently a member of the prayer team and would like to have your name removed, just let me know, and I’ll take care of that too.
Thanks so much for being a part of our team! I’m looking forward to encouraging you and being encouraged by you!
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:1-4
