Suzanne Woods Fisher - Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers

A powerful motivator for aspiring writers, Grit for the Oyster offers wit, wisdom, and inspiration to take that first step and persevere through the writing journey. More than a how-to, this confidence-building book is designed to draw readers to a closer relationship with God, to affirm their calling to write, and to offer pithy practical guidance from successful writers like Terri Blackstock, Martha Bolton, James Scott Bell, Liz Curtis Higgs, Dr. Gary Chapman, and David Kopp.

Copyright 2016 Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith McDonald, & Joanna Bloss

Cover illustration copyright 2016 Elaina Lee/For the Muse Designs

Interior Design by Woven Red Author Services, www.WovenRed.com

Printed and bound in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web-without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, please contact Vinspire Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 1165, Ladson, SC 29456-1165.

All characters in this work are purely fictional and have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

ISBN: 978-0-9971732-0-8

PUBLISHED BY VINSPIRE PUBLISHING, LLC

The four writers behind Grit for the Oyster have walked its path.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award winning, bestselling author of more than twenty-five fiction and non-fiction books. Her first historical novels, Copper Star and Copper Fire, were published by Vinspire, a wonderful experience that gave her a solid foundation to build on. Suzanne lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Find her on-line at www.SuzanneWoodsFisher.com .

Debora M. Coty is a popular speaker, humorist, and award-winning author of dozens of inspirational books, including historical novels The Distant Shore and Billowing Sails, and the best-selling Too Blessed to be Stressed nonfiction line of book products. Debora is a tennis addict and lives, loves, and laughs in central Florida with her long-suffering husband and three precious grandbuddies who live next door. Visit Deb at www.DeboraCoty.com

Faith Tibbetts McDonald, a former contributing editor to Christian Parenting Today magazine, a newspaper columnist, freelance writer, professional speaker and lecturer at Pennsylvania State University, received the Readers Pick award for an article published in Todays Christian Woman magazine. Faith lives with her husband and three children in Pennsylvania. Visit Faith on Facebook.

Joanna Bloss has written articles for a variety of publications including Christian Parenting Today and Todays Christian Woman, and is a contributing author to several devotionals. In addition to being a pastors wife and mom to four children, she is currently pursuing a masters degree in clinical psychology and working as a certified personal trainer. She and her family live in the Chicago area. More about Joannas ministry can be found at www.joannabloss.com .

GRIT FOR THE OYSTER is a treasure trove of encouraging words for writers, full of reminders about why God led us to this unique profession and advice from other writers. What a great way to start each writing day! ~Terri Blackstock, best-selling author whose books have sold over 3.5 million copies; author of Last Night, True Light and Night Light

To every Christian writer whos ever felt lonely, inadequate and probably delusional (cant think of any that leaves out), this book throws out a cheerful welcome. In its pages, youll find a helpful and soul strengthening community. Enjoy. ~David Kopp, best-selling co-author of The Prayer of Jabez, executive editor, Multnomah Books

All of us as writers, whether beginners or experienced, sometimes struggle with procrastination, discouragement, perfectionism, and self-doubt. We want to write, we love to write, we feel called to write, but there seems to be so many stumbling blocks along the way. GRIT FOR THE OYSTER provides encouragement and inspiration as we encounter these inevitable roadblocks. This is definitely a book you want to keep within close reach as you work. Its like having your own personal writers group and cheering squad right in your own home! ~Linda Danis, best-selling author of 365 Things Every New Mom Should Know

To those who feel called to write for the glory of God, GRIT FOR THE OYSTER is like the Writers Bible. This wonderful compilation by four talented authors is a wealth of encouragement and support for aspiring and accomplished writers. I plan to keep a copy on my desk for those times when I need inspiration and motivation in my writing journey. God bless this little book! ~ Ruth Carmichael Ellinger , award-winning author of The Wild Rose of Lancaster and Wild Rose of Promise

To aspiring writers
like us
Perspiring
today
to become
inspiring
tomorrow.

In the crafting
of your exquisite
literary pearl,
may this book be
Grit for your Oyster.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices
to see the work begin (Zechariah4:10, NLT).

Over my forty years of working with writers and would-be writers, there are certain things that have never changed. They all need inspiration to get started or to keep writing, and they love to hear the stories of what prompted other writers to start a writing career, to deal with problems or rejections, and to basically just survive the writing life.

Here, at last, is a book that meets and fulfills all those desires in one easy-to-read volume. Its authors are writers who have worked in the trenches and understand what its like to face the ups and downs of freelance writing. Better yet, they are willing and able to be open and honest about those day-to-day struggles we can all identify with.

In turn, they will take you to Gods Word, apply it to one of the everyday struggles of the writer, bring you back to God in prayer, give you some reflections to help you dig even deeper, and inspire you with the words of other writers who have traveled this same road.

Nothing brings more depth and clarity to our writing than being forced to look inward at those life experiences that have made us who we are. If God has given us a message to deliver in our writingthose things must be worked through our everyday experiencesgood and bad. Ultimately they challenge us to become the best writer we can be.

Grit for the Oyster will be a constant reminder that God is perfecting both us and our message by making something beautiful out of each challenge. Then that something beautiful can help transform the lives of our readers. Isnt that what its all about?

Sally Stuart
Founder of the Christian Writers Market Guide
www.stuartmarket.com

A number of years ago, I came upon 1 Chronicles 28:20. I was struggling with a deadline at the time, and these words spoke to me in a personal way. I have kept the verse, in a personalized form, on my desktop ever since.