Hello friends! I’m thrilled to introduce you to my friend, author and speaker, Brenda Nixon. Brenda and I have been friends for many years through Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and occasionally we’re on faculty together at writing conferences. Brenda has a varied background, including her roles as a parenting expert (Parenting Expert Brenda Nixon) and now as a writer/educator of real Amish life (Beyond Buggies & Bonnets).
Brenda has a heart for writers, parents, and the Amish, and I’m honored to welcome her and her wisdom to the Christian Writer’s Den today!
Welcome, Brenda. Let’s start with an easy question. How long have you been a writer?
Well, my first accidental writing experience was a letter to the editor. As a young mom, I’d replied to a magazine article. The editor phoned me to say he’d edited my letter and would publish it as an article – with pay. I was naive about writing – didn’t know I could get paid for my written thoughts. That was 30 years ago. Then 20 years ago, I wrote a passion project. I’d written a book on parenting to accompany my busy speaking schedule. That book was my springboard into professional writing – magazine articles, contributing to compilations like Chicken Soup for the Soul, co-authoring, selling reprints, and teaching at writers conferences.
It looks like we started seriously writing about the same time. So how many magazine articles have you written?
More than 400. For me, writing for publications gave me experience and confidence to write books. I wrote out of my heart – my passion to empower parents. Once in a while I’d receive an editor’s invite to write on assignment about a topic unfamiliar to me. Then I’d put on my research hat and go work.
So if people want to write books, are you suggesting they first write for publications?
I do. Think about it, you get a byline – name recognition – and experience while receiving income. Plus, if you don’t sell all rights, you can resell that same article. Think of it as the gift that keeps on giving.
What about your books? How many have you written now?
I’m working on my 35th book. Combining the books I’ve solo authored, co-authored, and contributed a chapter or story to, the count is 34.
Brenda, what tips do you have for aspiring or new authors?
Join a critique group, attend writers conferences, and network with other authors. Don’t be a lone ranger in this industry. I know of one author who is trying to isolate herself in this industry isolated – she’s discouraged, competitive, and judgmental of other authors. Dah. Critique groups are how I improve my wordsmith skills, writers conferences are how I connect with others who “get it” about writing and the writer’s life, and networking is how I help others and make friends.
Amen to all your suggestions! A little birdie told me that you’ve recently won another award. Would you tell us about that?
My blog, Beyond Buggies & Bonnets: True Amish Stories won BLOG OF THE MONTH at Book Fun Magazine (with a 400K readership)! See page 193 of this quality magazine for an interview of me accompanied by lots of fantastic photos. I’m grateful Beyond Buggies & Bonnets was reader-nominated, receiving 45.1% of the votes!
Now my blog will automatically be entered in BLOG OF THE YEAR voting this December. If you check out my blog and find reality and respect, learn a fact or two, or get a laugh, I hope you’ll go to Book Fun Magazine in December and vote for Beyond Buggies & Bonnetsblog – because for many of my former-Amish friends and family I’m their “voice” to the world.
Congratulations, Brenda! Wow, that is quite an honor! Thank you for taking the time to share your writing words of wisdom with us today. I hope everybody will take your instruction seriously, because it’s all good stuff!
And readers, be sure to leave a comment for Brenda and you’ll be in the drawing for a free writing workshop from my Store! (Don’t forget to check back next week to see if you’re the winner.)
Brenda’s Bio: Got questions? Amish Sex Ed? Shunning? Rumpsringa? Ordnung? Gma? Lifestyle? Ex-Amish?
I got answers. And experiences. And they’re NOT what you see on TV or read in fiction books. Cultural Literacy is what you get when I bring my suitcase of Swartzentruber Amish clothing to speak, or post in my blog, answer media questions or serve as a resource on the Amish. Helping former Amish assimilate to the English world is teaching me volumes about their struggles and the life they left.
My son-in-law lived and left the Swartzentruber Order, I’m blessed to have two “sons” from the Swartzentruber Amish – Mosie and Monroe – and at the holidays our home welcomes ex-Amish who need family. Worldwide, more than 200K readers come to get real stories at my Beyond Buggies & Bonnets blog. I hope you’ll visit, too!
My contributions to the literary world include my award-winning: The Birth to Five Book, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, and 32 other titles I’ve contributed to including Miracles & Moments of Grace and six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Author or contributor, 34 books. Writing a reality (but respectful) book about Amish, and Beyond Buggies & Bonnets blog
