A Call-Out and a Question…

Charlie Bear here with Mom Peep’s monthly newsletter. I like this one. Practical, sound advice and even a question for you. Here it is:

TAYLOR’S TIPS for a more productive you…

Hey there readers! I have a call-out and a question. Which would you like first?

We’ll go with the call-out. Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories for a new book. I’ll bet you can find a story to wrap around one of the suggested topics listed below, can’t you?

Chicken Soup for the Soul: HOPE & MIRACLES

Here’s what the call-out said, direct from the editors of Chicken Soup:

There are events that happen in our lives that we cannot explain and that cause wonder and astonishment. These events give us hope for a better future, for the resolution of our problems, for miracles. We invite people of all faiths to share their true stories of how their lives have been transformed by wondrous events.

We want this book to be for everyone — whether religious or secular. We are looking for personal stories about your feelings of expectation and hope and the extraordinary events that have happened to you. Why did these things happen? Were they answered prayers? Did your positive attitude give you hope for better things to come? Did you find something you had lost long after you had given up hope of finding it? Did something good happen when only bad was predicted? Share your awesome stories about how good things happen to good people!

Here are some suggested topics:

  • Power of prayer
• Messages from loved ones who have passed on
• Dreams and premonitions
• Guardian angels
• Mysterious helpers
• Divine intervention
• Miraculous healing
• Unexplained happenings
• Visions and revelations
• Everyday miracles
• Signs and wonder
• Any other stories about hope and miracles

Please remember, we no longer publish “as told to” stories. Please write in the first person. Do not ghostwrite a story for someone else unless you list that person as the author. If a story was previously published, we will probably not use it unless it ran in a small circulation venue. Let us know where the story was previously published in the “Comments” section of the submission form. If the story was published in a past Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO OUR WEBSITE. Select the Submit Your Story link at the bottom of the page and follow the directions.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS OCTOBER 30, 2014.

Did your antennae peak when you read the part about making $200? How about the 10 free copies of the book? Awesome to give as gifts, right?

Okay, so that’s the story call-out. Now my question. Those of you who have attended one of my classes have probably heard me teach the P MS to a T formula for how to write inspirational short stories that sell. Lynne Leite attended my class “Writing Personal Experience Stories that Sell” in 2011, wrote a story for Chicken Soup, submitted it, but didn’t get picked to be in that book. Buuuuuttttttt….she didn’t give up. She submitted another story for another book, and that story was chosen and published. Hooray! Lynne was a published Chicken Soup author and made $200 bucks and 10 free copies of the book.

But Lynne didn’t stop there. Using the formula from my class, Lynne went on to sell 8 more stories to Chicken Soup over the next 18 months. Awesome? Yes!

P   MS   to   a   T
the winning formula for writing inspirational short stories that $ell

Besides Lynne, this formula has helped many others to sell stories to Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. I’m considering putting the formula into a small print and e-book for sale on Amazon or at the conferences where I speak. Would that be something that would interest you? Kindly email back with a “reply” so I know if I should begin to put my teachings into written form. I would greatly appreciate your feedback. Personally, I have 40 stories accepted and published by Chicken Soup, plus numerous stories in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and other publications.

We all love to write (well, most of us…some are not writers, but that’s okay too). Wouldn’t it be nice to make money in the process of sharing our passion? I would love for you to wave a check above your head when you become a published author and grin as wide as the sun with happiness and pride.

Please comment with something like a “yes, write it” or whatever you would like to tell me about this idea. Thanks!

Hugs and love, and blessings on your work.

Follow your dreams…
B.J.

What’s Going On:

Orange County Christian Writers Conference The 2015 conference will be held on Friday, April 24 (5:30–9:30), and Saturday, April 25 (8:00–5:00). Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana, California. This conference was packed with writers and full of enthusiasm in 2014. Maybe plan on attending to jump-start your writing next year?

Northwest Christian Writers Renewal May 15-16, 2015 in Redmond Washington (near Seattle). I’ve accepted the invitation to be on faculty and I am very excited. Put this one on your calendar. www.nwchristianwriters.org/renewal

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A review of Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me About Life, Love, and Second Chances

A review found “helpful” to people per Amazon:
0 out of 5 starsFull of surprises…just like Charlie Bear
By L. Frankel

As someone who has been ‘mom’ to two rescued dogs, I approached this book with curiosity and to be honest, a bit of skepticism. Would the author be honest about the ‘see-saw’ of emotions adoptive owners go through? The many “did I make a mistake” moments? Would she understand that, over time, it is the “peeps” (as Charlie Bear likes to say) who have been rescued, as much as our animals? B.J. Taylor managed to convey these truths and many more, while taking us on an engaging and tear jerking ride. I felt as though I was on the ride with her and Roger as they embraced their newest love and grieved their departed (and soon to be departed) loves. I never expected the story of a challenging rescue dog to be so multifaceted but Ms. Taylor exceeded my expectations as she told the story about Charlie Bear’s impact on an entire family. This should be on every animal lover’s ‘must have’ list when they are wondering what to read next and it is a ‘no brainer’ choice when looking for a great gift.

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Want to hear Charlie Bear’s “voice”? www.bjtaylorblog.wordpress.com.

Here’s his photo shoot for the Guideposts story:
http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/pet-stories/learning-to-love-charlie-bear

He’s also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/charliebearwigglesandwoofs
AND on Twitter: @CharlieBearY2K

bj@bjtayloronline.com
www.bjtayloronline.com
www.bjtaylorblog.wordpress.com