Tag Archives: writer

Purpose Driven Publishing in Uganda, an Interview with Author Lillian Tindyebwa

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Author Lillian Tindyebwa of Uganda shares about her writer journey with MAI staff intern Meaghan Zang. Last month MAI Trainer Lawrence Darmani led a writer workshop in Kampala with Lillian and the Ugandan Faith Writers Association (UFWA). Pray for UFWA as they lay foundations for launching a publishing house. 

When and how did you know that you wanted to become a writer?Lillian
I was influenced through reading, and I grew up reading many books at home. My late father was a teacher of English and, although he never wrote, he read a lot. When I was in primary school, I particularly remember coming across an old copy of Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress among his things and reading it.

I had often thought that I could be a writer, especially during my secondary school. For some unknown reason, possibly due to lack of role models, I did not get around to putting pen on paper until much later in my life.

Are there any challenges unique to being a female Christian writer in Uganda?
As a woman, I have to balance many roles which hardly leaves me with enough time for writing. I still do not have role models of female Christian writers, but I know I am called to be the role model, so I am at peace now with this issue.

Describe one or two of the books you have written.
I have written one full-length novel, entitled Recipe for Disaster, which mainly deals with the dangers of peer pressure in secondary school and also tackles problems of HIV/AIDS.  Although it does not quote verses in the Bible, it still shows the wrong decisions leading to disaster. A publisher in London rejected it, saying it was too moralistic, but it was published by Fountain Publisher in Kampala and is now used in secondary schools.  Teachers tell me it helps them communicate with students about the problems they face and how to avoid them.

My other works are mainly short stories, and my most successful one is titled Looking for My Mother.  It deals with problems of rejection and teenage pregnancy.

How did you become involved in founding the Uganda Faith Writers Association?
Uganda Faith Writers was born out of prayer sessions with my friend Betty Kituyi. We both had time between jobs and decided to seek God to really get to know His purpose for our lives. We read the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren every day and sought Him. There was no doubt that the Association was what He wanted us to do.

Why are you hoping to start a Christian publishing house in Uganda?
Like I mentioned earlier, when I wrote my novel, a London publisher rejected it for being too moralistic. Yet in Uganda, it is popular. I know there are many Christians in this country with many good testimonies, stories, sermons and expositions that could help others to grow in their faith. When published, these writers could serve as role models, and a local publishing house would go a long way toward meeting these needs and pushing forward the work of God.

Do you have any advice for aspiring Christian writers?
Seek God and never give up!

More MAI articles about Lillian and UFWA:
Redeeming the Night: Youth tramautized by war write with UFWA
The writer’s call in Uganda

 

I Write Because…

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By Joan Campbell

I am a writer. I create. I dream. My head is in the clouds most of the time, which is probably why I am still reeling somewhat from the Publishing Conference I attended last weekend. Called “The Suitcase Under the Bed Seminar”, it was a very authoritative look at the business of publishing, run by two publishing experts with a wealth of experience and knowledge. There were stats—rather sobering stats—on the (small) number of readers in South Africa, and the (low) average book sales in our country. There was a discussion on the (vast) number of manuscripts received every month, and the (rare) writers who receive a contract.

It was informative and sobering and I’m (generally) glad I heard it all, even if my head dropped out of the clouds to hover somewhere in the lower branches of a tree. Yet, in the midst of the healthy reality-dose, one of the speakers, Alison, asked something very profound, which I’ve been churning on this entire week. She asked, “Why do you write?”

Why do I write?

It should be a simple question to answer, but it isn’t. There is a tangle of motivations, Joan Campbelllongings, emotions and dreams bound up in that single, short question. Let me unravel a few of the main strands.

I write because…it is who I am in the deepest part of me. To not write feels like a betrayal of myself. A stunting. A death.

I write because…it helps me comprehend the world. In describing emotions, I have to dig deep, beyond the superficial level of my own—or another’s—heart. To create a scene requires more than a cursory glance; it requires seeing and perceiving, hearing and understanding, tasting and experiencing.

I write because…I long to connect with others. Words are dry when they tumble from my lips. They crack and warp with nervousness. But on the page, my words sing and dance with joy. They come alive, at least for me, which makes me hope they come alive for others too.

I write because…I love to be surprised. I am a wife and mother. I cook, clean, drive, listen and counsel. My life is full of routine and schedules. Yet the moment I drop into a story, everything changes. I’m somewhere else and anything can happen. Even as the creator of the story, the twists and turns delight me, because often I do not see them coming. For an hour or two each day, I live different and more exciting lives, and the spark of that ignites my own predictable life with joy and purpose too.

I write because…I hope my words will touch and change hearts and lives. Maybe there is something a bit arrogant about this—thinking that I have something to offer the world. Yet, I am unable to deny this deep longing, which is the reason why I can’t just enjoy writing the story, and then let the manuscript languish in the suitcase under the bed.

In short, I am compelled to write, despite the sobering stats and meagre chances of finding a publisher. I am grateful to Alison for asking the question (in fact, she asked four questions, but maybe that’s material for another blog post).

For now, it is enough to know that I write because I am a writer. You might all be glad to hear (unless you’re a publisher with a huge slush pile) that my head just broke through the low cloud cover as I typed that.

Why are you compelled to write?

We posted this article with permission of Joan Campbell of South Africa. It was originally published on her blog. Thank you, Joan!

Photo above: Joan Campbell (left) gets feedback from MAI Trainer Lawrence Darmani at a workshop for South African writers.

Serving the Guest of Honor: Editing as housecleaning

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By Dawn J. Anderson

I think of editing as housecleaning. Someone else’s house. To prepare it for a party. A party where the guests need to be treated to nothing but the best. To go away satisfied in every way.

As we consider all that editing entails—so much more than just dusting for spelling errors and sweeping grammatical problems under the rug—this metaphor works on many levels. As the editor, I have to keep in mind that the house, or book, is not my own. It’s not my right to knock out walls (without permission). It wouldn’t make sense to move the kitchen sink into the sitting room. I can’t impose my own decorating tastes onto the home.

women cleaning by marin freedigital photosWhat I can do is make sure each room is displayed to its best potential. I can scrub walls, rearrange furniture, and highlight or tone down the author’s own décor. I can help the author choose what courses to serve when and where, but I can’t force liver pâté onto the menu. And I certainly can’t make the house my own.

As I’m cleaning house, I have to continually keep the end goal in mind: the party. What’s its purpose? Is it a children’s birthday celebration or an adult-only dinner party? Do we need party games or champagne? If the party will last the whole weekend, we’ll need mints on the pillows and extra linens. If it’s just a couple of hours, we’ll cut the frills and focus on good food.

Of course, every party needs partiers. Who are the guests? What are their likes and dislikes? Do they have allergies? Can I serve peanuts and put out candles, or is it best to put them away? Where will guests put their overcoats? Will they be dashing from room to room, lounging on the sofas, or simply standing in cozy, chatty groups? It’s my job to anticipate the guest’s wants and needs and to help the author mesharing treats freedigitalphotoset them in every possible way.

That’s the balancing act. Can a book be written solely for the author’s self-expression? Sure. But that’s like throwing a party without inviting anyone, and just hoping the right people wander through the door.

The trick, I suppose, the real art of being an editor, is to do all of the work invisibly. The party guests likely will not know that you’ve even been there. Once the party starts, your job is done. It’s possible that someone will comment on the sparkling chandelier, and at that moment the author might credit you with its shine. Or not. The author has every right to claim all of the finished work as his or her own. Ouch. There’s no room for self-promotion when you’re a housecleaner.

If there’s one snag in this analogy, it’s probably the fact that it’s rarely the homeowner who is employing the housecleaner. Most of the housecleaners, that is, editors, are being employed by a publisher, to work for the author. That creates another level of responsibility. To edit in such a way that both the author and the publisher are satisfied with a job well done. Both are made to look good. And in all of it, to serve the reader, our guest of honor.

Dawn J. Anderson is associate editor at Kregel Publications.

Skilled editors are often the missing link in the creation of quality books and articles around the globe. MAI is helping to develop editors in multiple countries, ultimately aiming to spur the creation of life-giving reads.

>>Check out our other articles on editing on the LittWorldOnline blog.

Top photo courtesy marin, Freedigitalphotos.
Bottom photo courtesy Stuart Miles, Freedigitalphotos.

Why bother with theological conferences?

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Prior to the Latin America Congresses on Evangelism (CLADE) held in Costa Rica last July, some publishers had asked, “Why is it important for us to be in an event like CLADE?” After all, it was a forum for theological reflection for Christian leaders across the continent. For MAI and participating publishers it was worthwhile for several reasons:

CLADE congress participants chat with author and MAI board member Keila Ochoa Harris (left)

First, this was a book devouring audience, and therefore an excellent opportunity to sell books. And, direct contact with this public gave us invaluable feedback on the books being published and an opportunity to hear recommendations.

For lonely editors, it was valuable to meet grateful readers who in turn will become natural promoters of our books.

Publishers had the opportunity to hear the issues being debated. In a continent as large and diverse as Latin America, it’s challenging to put your finger on the pulse of the Church. A congress like this provides an unequalled opportunity for market research.

We also met potential authors, some of whom had already been in touch with a publishing house, but face-to-face contact had never been possible. Other potential authors would perhaps never have contacted a publisher: some conference or workshop speakers are wonderful communicators, with perhaps limited gifts as writers, but with a message that needs to be published abroad. A creative publisher can find ways of doing that with the help of a ghost writer.

In the same way, writers could interact directly with publishers and understand their respective focus and style, plus listen to issues being discussed. Noone wants to write or publish in a vacuum.

The event also served as a focus group on communication tools; what blogs people are reading; if they were reading our social media and web sites; and the type of technological devices they are using. We were surprised to discover who was using iPads, laptops, smart phones… and who wasn’t!

So, why not take advantage of theological conferences in your region to learn, network and promote your books?

By Ian Darke, MAI’s Latin America regional trainer

>>Related post: Ochoa reflects on Latin American interest in Christian publishing

We are family

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We are more than editors, writers, publishers or designers. We are part of His family and, as such, we have brothers and sisters everywhere. It’s not about competition, but about collaboration. It’s not about who sells more, but who becomes more Christ-like. And the more we are like Him, the more we want others to be like Him.

This is what LittWorld stands for: family. In this event held every three years, men and women in Christian publishing from around the world get together. We forget about who sells more or writes better. We are family. We encourage each other. We share secrets and recipes of success. We cry and laugh together. We remember why we publish in the first place.

It’s not a competition but a family reunion. It’s a moment to fulfill His wish and be one. It’s an opportunity to be a family. Will you join us and share your heart? Will you come and help others who would benefit from your experience? Will you enjoy a little piece of heaven by being around your international family during one week?

We will be waiting for you with arms open wide.

–Keila Ochoa Harris is a Mexican blogger, author, MAI trainer and board member.