So, there are no guidelines that 'would be hopeful' can obtain ~ unless writer throws out their own style, to match someone else's, in hopes of being accepted into that group. And, that could even be a good thing, if only that group were a 'for real' publisher. But, what really happens is authors sell their soul to be accepted by a group of writer wanna be's.

As it is with many, one's dream of writing is not all that different from self-defeating teen-age dream of, one day, winning Miss America pageant; only with more substance. If you are fixed on becoming famous by world's methods, go right ahead and let world keep kicking you in pants. As Christians, when we follow majority, we lose sight of why we are writing and end up inviting our own defeat.

However, if you are inspired by Holy unction, you will write whether you ever become famous or not. And, when God inspires you to write, there are souls waiting for that message. If you ever get a glimpse into importance, significance, and magnitude of that, you will share your writings whether you ever get paid or not ... and you will stop welcoming criticism. Our accuser's name is Satan.

Also, when God inspires a writing, it doesn't really belong to you. So, when 'represented to be' Christian (Christ like) people holler about copyrights, I start to lose respect for them. It is one thing for another to claim and or make a profit off your works. It is another to threaten and sue when someone has paid such a compliment as to share your writing with others it might, also, minister to. The same goes for all forms of Christian ministry. For however many ways God opens doors, seed He gives can and should be multiplied again, and again.

It is God's job to determine how many times one's seed gets multiplied. Our part is to be available, faithful, and obedient to share that which He blesses us with. And, more you share, more God gives you to share. Also, better you will get at it! Then, as it works in with God's timing and you are spiritually prepared for what comes next, God will open more doors ~ then more.

If your calling leads in direction of publishing, publishers will find you. For others, writing may have helped develop confidence in being a better speaker. Whatever your path in life is to be, He who calls you will also do it. His yoke is easy and that takes pressure off us.

Let us forget wanna be's and put our focus on being a servant. God makes all things beautiful, when it is time.

© 2004 by Joyce C. Lock http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

2 Co. 9:6-8

This writing, as well as all of Joyce C. Lock's writings, may be individually used, in their entirety, with credits in tact; for non-profit ministering purposes

In this task, teams were charged with selling Donald’s new product, Trump Ice (bottled water). The winner was simply team who sold most in a given period of time. Nick, a salesman by trade, was immediately confident his team would win if they would just step aside and let him work his magic.

Ereka, project manager for Nick’s team, urged Nick to sit with her at computer and research market and customer base for bottled water. Nick wouldn’t even hear of it. To quote, “Telling me how to sell is like someone telling Pope how to pray." So off went Nick using his same “high energy” sales pitch on every customer and focusing on what Nick wanted to sell - instead of finding best benefits for clients.

What happened? Nick flopped time and time again. A teammate (Bill) jumped in during one sales meeting and helped client to understand benefits of buying Trump Ice. Bill made sale.

In boardroom, George immediately noted his disappointment in how little team seemed to know about their prospective customers. And Donald chimed in by saying he had no idea why Nick thought his sales skills were so great when he had no clue about customers he was selling to. Ouch!

The bottom line? The team lost. Why? Because Nick was busy trying to sell what he wanted to sell, and in way he wanted to sell it, with no regard for customer whatsoever.

The moral of story? Know your customers. They are ones with money. It doesn’t matter what you like. If *they* aren’t happy with your site, your copy, your graphics, your product, or your service… they’ll abandon you cold.

When you’re creating a business plan, when you’re writing copy, when you’re creating a website, or developing a brochure. It’s not about you… it’s all about them. If one of richest and most profitable businessmen in world tells you target market research is vital to success, you can bet it is a wise strategy to follow.