All my writing projects now feel inconsequential in light of this global pandemic. I opened my Scrivener document and scrolled through chapters yesterday, wondering how to write when there feels like a Before and After—a hinge in history that didn’t exist before.
I feel full of words, but they’re suspended in air like confetti and I’m waiting for them to shuffle into some kind of pattern that will help make sense of the world. But just as I’ve learned that I need to get outside and jog for my mental health, I know I also need to write. Writing is not a want; it’s a need.
This past week one of my favorite podcasters, Ann Kroeker, encouraged writers to journal and document the days. Although it seems hard to imagine, we will forget what this is all like. People may never see our wrestling and wrangling of words during this strange season, but writing will help us work out the kinks in our own souls. If you are a writer, carve out time and space in your day to write.
I once told a friend that I wasn’t a verbal or internal processor. “I need to write things down to make sense of them,” I told her. “What does that make me?”
“A writer,” she said.
I’ve always been more of a tortoise than a hare when it comes to making sense of things. I was never the first kid in class to raise my hand because I need time to process. I know this about myself. For a recent essay I published, I had mulled over those ideas for nearly a year before I wrote it. Madeleine L’Engle always encouraged her writing students to spend lots of time thinking, then to write without thinking. Often our ideas must be seeds hidden in the damp ground long before they become flowers.
Just two months ago I added an extra morning of preschool for two of my kids so that I would have nine hours a week to pursue freelance writing. But then the world closed its doors and we are living on top of one another in our house. Now that I am home full-time with my kids, aged 3, 5, and 7, that time to write evaporated.
My husband already works from home, so we rejiggered our schedule so that instead of working from 9 to 5, he now works from 10 to 6 and he gives me the morning hours to hide out in his office and fight with words on the screen. Can you enlist your spouse and get creative with your time? Perhaps there’s more fluidity to our schedules than we thought.
Making space for creative work will help sustain us through the next weeks and months of isolation. Writing will give us an outlet for expression and perhaps open portals into truth and beauty we might have missed otherwise.
Keep writing.
Keep writing, painting, creating. At times, invite your children into your creative endeavors. Perhaps they too will catch the passion. Don’t apologize for carving out time and space to create—even if no one buys your words or even reads them. Writing will keep us afloat. And it may buoy others as well.
***
How are you getting creative with your time so you can write?
I grew up in Florida, with jasmine clinging to our fences and alligators in our backyards. I woke up each morning expecting the sun to shine. Apart from tempestuous storms raging in the afternoons with their jet-black clouds, thunder, lightning, and violent rain, the storms would often leave just as suddenly as they came.
Life up to age 18 didn’t prepare me for the near constant sheet of grey that settles over the Midwest for weeks and months at a time. Living in Chicago, I suffered from yearly Seasonal Affective Disorder, which eventually drove us west in search of sunshine even in the winter months.
Although we now live in Colorado, which supposedly has 300 days of sunshine a year, I still hate winter. I hate wearing multiple layers of clothing (and having to put those layers on three children). I despise not being able to sit outside for any length of time. And I abhor the way it confines us to our homes for months on end.
When I watch movies that take place in the summer months in places like Ireland and England, I realize how hungry I am for lush green fields, vibrant flowers, and billowing oak trees. I ache for spring—and usually get very emotional at the first sign of life.
Despite the cold and ice, I still run outdoors in wintertime. It’s more for my mental health than my physical health. I have a four-mile loop I jog through a residential area. My route eventually curves around a reservoir with a quarter mile stretch of gravel path hugging the edge of the water with a stunning view of the Rocky Mountains.
I don’t know how many times I ran that route this winter before I first noticed the eagles.
I happened
to glance up and notice a bald eagle perched on bare tree limbs silhouetted
against a blue sky. He craned his yellow beak down toward me and watched me
pass right below him. On my next run, I noticed more. Had they been here the whole time? I cut down along the frozen bank
of the reservoir and into a small wooded area of naked trees painted golden by
the morning sun and counted 10 more eagles.
Like most people, our family is isolated and practicing “social distancing” right now. School, church, the gym, restaurants, libraries (sob), many stores, and all my plans for speaking and attending conferences were cancelled in less than a week.
Although we are on the cusp of spring, our world is re-entering a winter season of isolation and chill. And I’m trying not to hate it.
Today, I find hope in remembering that this is a season. It may be a long, chilling season and just as our gardens do not always recover from ice, wind, and snow, we will suffer real and invisible deaths. Many of our plans have already turned to ash. But although much in our life is going dormant, returning to “normal” life will bring a joy we’ve never known. In the meantime, we can look for the eagles.
This winter,
my children enjoyed listening to a Sesame Street CD we checked out from the
library. One song called “Nearly
Missed” caught my attention and replayed itself in my head. It’s a reminder
to me, to us, as we try to stay awake to the joy, the life, the small mercies:
“While lookin’ at my feet, at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly
missed a rainbow
I nearly
missed a sunset
I nearly
missed a shooting star going by”
On my run this morning I didn’t see a single eagle, though when I ran two days ago I spotted two bald eagles perched side-by-side. The eagles were only here for winter. And I nearly missed them.
Although I know I’ll burst into tears at the first daffodil signaling this season’s end, I’m trying to keep my head up and notice the beauties and mercies of this season of isolation.
***
Unrelated, but if you are stuck at home with littles, check out these great resources (some winter eagles?):
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems (author of Don’t Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus) is doing a video each day showing kids how to draw and how he creates his books.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been spiritually asleep for too long now. A friend recommended a book recently called In the End–The Beginning by the German theologian Jurgen Moltmann and one particular chapter re-energized me and gave me some ideas for Lent. He says:
“In prayer we wake up to the world as it is spread out before God in all its heights and depths … the person who prays, lives more attentively. Pray wakefully.” (p. 83)
And I asked myself: What if I started praying again–actually praying? For a set amount of time… And how would it transform my life to pray “wakefully”?
He continues:
“When we wake up in the morning we expect the new day; and in the same way, the waking which springs from prayer to God also leads to the expectation of God in the life we experience. I wake up, and open all my senses for life–for the fulfillments and for the disappointments, for what is painful as well as for what gives joy. I expect the presence of God in everything I meet and everything I do … People who know that there is someone who is waiting for them and expecting them never give themselves up. And we are expected.” (p. 85)
Do I wake up expecting the presence of God in everything I do? Expecting God? And finally, this quote:
“To go through life with open eyes, to discern Christ in unimportant people, and, alert, to do the right thing at the right time: that is what praying and watching is about. We believe so that we can see–and withstand what we see.” (p. 86)
I’ve found this to be true. It reminds me of the Chinese friend I talk about in my book who encouraged me to pray for the pang bien de ren–the “right next to you people,” then watch for how God answers your prayer.
Would you consider joining me in praying for a set amount of time every day during Lent?
I tried this once before when I was single and living in China and it transformed me. That year, I read a psalm aloud and then spent an hour praying aloud every morning during Lent. Now that I am married with three small children, I’m thinking thirty minutes might be all that I can carve out, but I’m desperate for a spiritual reawakening.
We’ll begin this Wednesday with Ash Wednesday and end on Easter Sunday, but I hope this sparks a new habit of being spiritually awake to the work of God all around me.
If you’re interested, drop a comment here, email via my contact form, or send me a dm via social media to tell me you’re in and I’ll email the small group of us a couple times over the next few weeks just to see how things are going. Let me know your goal in the form of time. Personally, I’ll attempt to pray every morning from 5:15-5:45 am (which will mean going to bed super early…), but you can pick the time frame that works for you and your season of life.
If you can’t commit to this, but would like another challenge, you could also consider doing a digital detox/fast during Lent. You can read my post here for ideas on how to do that. Highly recommend.
Feel free to share this with a friend and invite them to join you.
Blessings to you as you seek to live purposefully and wakefully right where you are.
[In the style of Verlyn Klinkenborg, one of my favorite authors on writing. I wrote this after writing and publishing my first book so I wouldn’t forget–just in case a next book wants to be written.]
1. Your book proposal is the blueprint of your book, but it will change.
2. Save at least 15 percent of your advance to use for marketing your book later.
3. Your final draft should bear little resemblance to your first draft. Tell (lie to) yourself: “It’s okay to write terribly. No one ever has to read this.”
4. You’ll be tempted to quote people smarter and more eloquent than you. Don’t let this become a crutch. Say it your way (and ignore all The Voices telling you why you can’t or shouldn’t do this work).
5. When you revise, print out your pages and mark them up. Highlight your verbs and nouns—are they vibrant, active, and concrete?
6. Schedule days (and maybe even weeks) to rest and let your manuscript sit, like dough rising.
7. Carve out space for solitude and listening. Go on long walks, runs, or bike rides alone. Pay attention.
8. Build up a support network years before you publish.
10. Print out your entire manuscript and bind it like a book. Do this after every major revision. Read your entire manuscript aloud several times over many months.
11. Use scissors to revise. Sometimes cutting, rearranging, and retyping the entire thing will help smooth out the wrinkles in your transitions.
12. Spend 80 percent of your social media real estate promoting others, 20 percent promoting yourself.
13. Save the stories you cut to use for articles and essays later.
14. Don’t apologize for writing, selling, or marketing your book. If you’re not excited about it, no one else will be.
15. Figure out how to use Scrivener. It will save you tons of time in the end.
16. Social media is not writing.
17. Platform building is not writing.
18. Reading books about writing is not writing.
19. Fans aren’t doing you a favor by buying your book. You did them a favor by writing it.
Ok folks, I have books for you. Add these to your Goodreads “want to read” list, pre-order on Amazon (this guarantees the lowest price), request from your local library, or call in to your indie bookstores to pre-order. I’m drooling over these gorgeous covers. Most of these books are nonfiction and all are by women writers. I can’t wait.
Please share this post so we can spread the word about these! If you’re an author and need some help in launching a book, you can check out some ideas I’ve collected here. Authors appreciate readers pre-ordering, writing reviews, and sharing about books on social media and with friends in real life. Every bit helps.
I’ll continue being an irresponsible reader (according to my husband who reads one book at a time) and will likely read many of these at once. Which ones look good to you? I already bought the book of poetry as I compiled this list. Happy reading!
This list will be updated periodically throughout the year. Enjoy! If you’d like more book recommendations, please sign up for my monthly-ish newsletter!
This post includes Amazon affiliate links. But when possible, I recommend supporting your local indie bookstore! 🙂
No, I’m not addicted to alcohol, porn, drugs, or drugs. I’m addicted to my Smartphone. It’s been awhile now. I even wrote about it nearly two years ago in an article for SheLoves Magazine called It’s Time to Hide My Hashtags. At the time, I was horrified to discover that I unlocked my phone over a hundred times a day and spent two hours or more a day (on average) on my phone. Sounds ridiculous, but that’s actually average for most Smartphone users. (The fact that we app and Smartphone owners are called “users” is so telling …).
I’ve asked in Facebook groups, on Twitter, and among my real life friends, trying to figure out the magic formula to yank myself out of the Smartphone use compulsion. I started sleeping with my phone plugged in downstairs, deleted apps from my phone, got my husband to block those apps and websites on my internet browser (only he has the password), but I always make up excuses to convince him to let me creep back in the gate. Eventually I find myself right back where I started: mindlessly swiping and scrolling away precious minutes of my life.
Nothing has worked.
So coming across a book called Digital Minimalism felt serendipitous to me. I’m desperate for change. Desperate enough to call it quits on my Smartphone and social media for the whole month of December and maybe even beyond.
Cal Newport sold me within thirty pages of his book, citing all the ways Smartphones have been developed to keep us glued to our screens for one simple reason: it makes more money. He talks about the dopamine hits we receive with each “like,” how one developer called the Smartphone a “slot machine,” and others admitted developers exploit our basic human need for social approval.
Bill Maher joked that the App Store was coming for our soul. Newport writes, “As revealed by whistle blowers and researchers … these technologies are in many cases specifically designed to trigger this addictive behavior. Compulsive use, in this context, is not the result of a character flaw, but instead the realization of a massively profitable business plan. We didn’t sign up for the digital lives we now lead. They were instead, to a large extent, crafted in boardrooms to serve the interests of a select group of technology investors” (p. 24).
Scary.
So while I’ve taken a few measures and gone a week without my Smartphone before, I’ve never done an entire month. December seems like the perfect time to do a digital detox so I can start out 2020 with a clear head and greater focus (I’m also re-reading Essentialism, which is perfect for this time of year. Yes, Enneagram 3 here …)
I wondered if any of you would like to join me in the challenge?
Here’s what
I’m thinking for the Great December Digital Detox of 2019 (which Newport calls
“digital decluttering.” He says, “It’s a mistake to think of the digital
declutter as only a detox experience. The goal is not to simply give yourself a
break from technology, but to instead spark a permanent transformation of your
digital life” p. 70.)
Newport
recommends we:
Define our technology rules and operating instructions (any exceptions to the rules).
Take a 30-day break (ours will be 31 days).
Reintroduce technology. (This all reminds me of the Whole 30 diet…) To do this, ask yourself: a) “Does this technology directly support something that I deeply value—not just offer a benefit?” p. 75. b) Is this the best way to use technology to serve this value? c) How and when will I use it?
Defining My Technology Rules
(This is
what I’ve worked out for myself, but you may want to tweak it for yourself)
NON-NEGOTIABLE:
Clear off all the apps from my phone that I don’t absolutely need (yes, that means Instagram..). Continue to use the app Block Site that will block apps and even my internet browser. Only my husband knows the password. I’m essentially “dumbing down” my phone to only text, make calls, use GPS, and have any other business-related apps.
Block social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest) on my computer. I think Block Site will also work for this. (I’ve also heard good things about Freedom, but I think you need to pay for that one.) Perhaps I’ll set up my private messages so that people get an “out of office” sort of message.
NEGOTIABLE:
News. Newport suggests just checking a curated list of articles like allsides.com or listening to a news round-up podcast like Up First by NPR (13 or 14 minutes)
Email. I can’t not check email, but I probably don’t need to check it twenty-eight times a day. I need to come up with specific times of day I will check email—probably morning, noonish, and once in the evening.
Podcasts, music, audio books. One of Newport’s chapters is about solitude and how some of the most important ideas are borne out of great swaths of time and silence to reflect (his other book Deep Work goes into greater detail about this). I tend to fill every quiet moment with someone else’s ideas, so I think I’ll take the month off of podcasts and audio books (or think of specific situations when I can listen—like when I’m cleaning toilets or something). Not sure yet about music since I do enjoy Christmas music … need some parameters for this.
Texting, Voxer, What’s App, Marco Polo, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. Newport isn’t a fan of these because it means we’re on call at all times. He mentioned a service where you can consolidate your text messages and just check them once or twice a day. I think I’ll minimize down to texting and calling only during the month.
Camera. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing I probably don’t need to take 100 pictures a day that I never use for any good purpose. I still have a point-and-shoot camera, so I may just use that for the month and see what happens.
T.V. This was more of a distraction for me when I was single and living alone and would binge-watch Alias until 3 am. Now that I’m married with small children, I’m lucky if I watch one 42-minute show a week with my husband—and that’s mainly just so we can fold clothes. I’ll keep this (plus I’ll want to watch some Christmas movies).
Leisure Time
(What’s that?) Newport says we need to enter the month with a plan for how we’ll fill the extra time we find ourselves with. I hope to read more, play more, and talk to actual people instead of just sending messages across oceans and states. It might also be a good time to do some Advent reading, spend more time praying, and go on more walks.
That’s my plan. The book Digital Minimalism has a ton more ideas on how to actually do this, so I recommend reading or listening to it in advance!
I’ve started detoxing a bit and am already feeling less anxious and more peaceful. It’s definitely time to do this.
Join me? If you want to, send me an email at scraping raisins @ gmail (dot) com to let me know you’re in for the Great December Digital Detox of 2019.
I have a confession to make: I hate shopping. But when I can A) shop from the comfort of my own home, B) have access to a curated list of beautiful goods, C) know that my dollars contribute to the well-being of the artisans and their families, and D) enjoy a discount, then I am more on board with shopping.
As in the past couple years, the difference between this list and other lists you may come across is that I aim to keep each gift below $50.00, since that’s generally my budget for Christmas gifts. Not only have I added a few more companies and individual artists to the list, but nearly two dozen offered discounts to Scraping Raisins readers this year!
Please share this post with your friends and family so that more people have the chance to enjoy these discount codes and spread the word about these incredible artists and companies!
From their site: “We’ve been working on the ground with our artisans in Gonaives, Haiti for 8 years, creating recycled, handcrafted goods for a livable wage. Last year our impact enabled over 108 children to stay in school, not because of hand-outs, but through the dignity of their parents’ work with 2nd Story Goods.” My pick is this leather bottle holder for $22.00:
PROMOTES: green business practices and diverse books
From the site: “From sustainably sourced paper to vegetable-based ink, the materials that make up our books are ones that you can feel good about having in your classroom or home. Whether it’s donating Barefoot books to Marley Dias’ #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign or planting trees across the globe, the Barefoot family is taking action to make an impact every day.” My pick is this World Atlas for $19.99:
DISCOUNT: Enter “ScrapingRaisins” for 15% off until December 31st! Also, everything in the store (except gift cards) will be 20% off on Saturday, Nov 16th only!
Dignify helps women experience and share hospitality with their one-of-a-kind kantha blankets, sustainably made with dignity by vulnerable populations of women in Bangladesh. My pick would be these stockings for $28.00:
From their site: “Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the 85,000 farmer members of Kuapa Kokoo, the cooperative in Ghana that supplies the cocoa for each bar of Divine. As owners, they get a share in the profits, a say in the company, and a voice in the global marketplace.” This 10-pack for $35.90. These would make great stocking stuffers!
SELLS: jewelry, accessories, women’s clothing, and gifts for men
From their site: “Do Good Shop runs like a business, but is actually a nonprofit organization. This means that not only does each purchase create jobs for vulnerable artisans, but also ALL of our net proceeds go directly back into supporting the artisans and their communities, and educating others about this great need.” My pick is this journal for $15:
EMPOWERS: women coming out of sex trafficking in Nepal
DISCOUNT: 20% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins” until Dec. 25th!
From their site: “We dream to expand from one sewing center to several to provide more jobs. The waiting list is between 300-500 women who desire to work for Elegantees …The designs are ethically made by women (and some men too) who are paid fair wages. Fabric is sustainable using organic cotton in new fabrics we dye. We also source from dead stock fabric for non-organic blends.” My pick is this top for $44.00 ( my mom bought be a shirt from Elegantees last year and I LOVE it!)
DISCOUNT: Buy one pair, get the second pair at 50% off using the code “SCRAPINGRAISINS”
From their site: “Every time you purchase Fazl, you are helping to provide orphaned and destitute children in India with food, shelter, education, and clothing. What’s more, we give fair wages to artisans in need who handmake every Fazl item. We are committed to supporting orphanages in India that care for vulnerable children, and we dedicate 50% of our net profits to this cause. We also provide dignified work opportunities for women in need. Bonus! Our products are fabulous! ” My pick is these socks for $24.00:
From the site: “100% of our profits go to enriching the lives of vulnerable and/or orphaned children. When you buy one bag of coffee $4 (our profit) goes to enrich the lives of vulnerable and orphaned children.”
The Gobena Coffee Club is their subscription coffee service and you get discounted coffee when you sign up for this option that includes free shipping! It would make an excellent gift for a coffee lover;-) My pick would be this Ethiopian coffee for $15.99:
DISCOUNT CODE: 15% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins” until Dec. 31st!
Grain of Rice Project empowers Kenyans living in the Kibera slum by helping them become self-sufficient through employment, education, and skills training. My pick would be these paper bead hoop earrings for $12.00:
PROMOTES: Local manufacturing using recycled materials
DISCOUNT: 20% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins” (minimum order of $20) until 12/15/19
This site has a wide range of toys for children. From their site: “From our 100% recycled materials to our US-based manufacturing, we’re raising awareness about sustainability while delivering unquestionably safe products.” This car carrier for $24.99:
EMPOWERS: Trafficking survivors in Cambodia, disadvantaged in Haiti, and those coming out of homelessness in Pennsylvania
SELLS: clothing, men and women’s aprons, bags, and even dress shirts and neckties for men! (It is very difficult to find reasonably-priced, ethical clothing for men.)
DISCOUNT: 20% off Nov. 15-Dec. 15, 2019 using the code “ScrapingRaisins”
Imagine Goods empowers trafficking survivors in Cambodia and vulnerable in the Haiti to provide opportunities for empowerment through employment. They also lead trips abroad for people to learn about poverty and the garment industry. I bought some wristlets last year for my nieces and adore them. I still do:-) I love this one for $25.00:
EMPOWERS: famers in South and Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia
From their site: “Just Coffee is a certified B Corp. B Corp certification gives us a credible third party certification to ensure that our practices meet our mission and values– it vouches for us that we are a business that aims to be a force for good in the world. It looks at our commitment to environmental sustainability, being good partners to our suppliers, a good place to work for our employees, and a good neighbor our communities.” My pick is this coffee for $15.00:
EMPOWERS: men and women coming out of the sex trafficking industry in Texas
SELLS: T-shirts, jewelry, prints, candles
From their site: “We visit strip clubs cross Texas, build relationships with club employees without strings attached, and connect them to community and spiritual resources. For those desiring to transition from the industry, we offer various programs to assist their journey. We also work with “Johns” who have been caught up in prostitution through our Stop Demand School. We stand against exploitation from materials to manufacturing while creating avenues of opportunity.” Their site is a little tricky, so click on the menu (three lines) and use the sidebar to view all their products. They have shirts with messages like: “The kingdom of God smells like cigarettes and perfume: Jesus Said Love.”
DISCOUNT: Meenal is offering 15% for orders of $50 or more from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3. She also offers free standard shipping within the U.S. for orders of $35 and up.
I discovered Meenal’s work at an online popup shop and fell in love. She is a talented illustrator, children’s book author, designer and artist. I adore this one for $26.00:
DISCOUNT: Get the first month of their Mighty Fix monthly subscription for $3.00 (usually $11.00) using the code “ScrapingRaisins3”–this would make a great gift! They’ll send you things each month to promote green living like reusable snack bags, bags to buy in bulk, Swedish dish cloths, or dryer balls to use instead of dryer sheets).
From the site: “Mighty Nest is a unique Web site that provides you the ability to research, get advice and buy natural, organic and non-toxic products all in one place. All of the products we sell are free from known toxic ingredients such as: BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Formaldehyde, Flame retardants, Parabens and more.”
DISCOUNT: 20% off until Dec. 24th using the code “ScrapingRaisins”
Papillon Marketplace provides jobs for Haitians and trains individuals to use metal, cardboard, aluminum, dirt, and paper to create jewelry and other products. My pick is these mugs (Papillon donated some for pre-order bonuses for my book and the are PERFECT–great color, shape, handle, and mug size). They’re $22.00 each and have a wide variety of color options:
This etsy shop belongs to an artist friend from college named Katie Coons. Inspired by her love of nature, Katie creates gorgeous pieces of jewelry. My pick would be this moon over mountain pendant for $10.00:
EMPOWERS: Refugees in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and the U.S.
SELLS: soap, candles, services/items for refugees
DISCOUNT: 20% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins” (applies to all individual soaps and 5 bar sets in the store)
I met the CEO and founder of this organization three summers ago at a conference. This is an incredible organization, and this site is just one small part of what they are doing. In addition to soap and candles, you can buy chickens for a displaced family, medical treatment for a war survivor or water for families in conflict zones in Iraq. This is their mission: “We’re a coalition stretching across Iraq, Syria, the United States, and beyond, working together to unmake violence and create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.” I gave some of these $10 soaps for stocking stuffers for my mom and nieces one Christmas. My pick is this Sisterhood Soap, Fig & Date Tea Towel Set for $30.00:
EMPOWERS: women and girls escaping human trafficking in Mumbai, India; Kampala, Uganda; Tijuana, Mexico; and two in Orange County, California.
SELLS: jewelry, candles, ornaments
DISCOUNT: 10% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins10” [on November 26th, for Ethical Tuesday, they are offering 15% off using the code “ethical15”]
From their site: ” International Sanctuary and PURPOSE Jewelry’s mission is to empower girls and young women escaping human trafficking to embrace their true identity and worth. The art of craftsmanship through our social enterprise, PURPOSE, paired with holistic care through our program, International Sanctuary, ensures that every woman gains hope, dignity and freedom for the future. ” My pick is these lunette earrings for $24.00:
SELLS: purses, wallets, bags and journals made from upcycled materials
DISCOUNT: 10% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins”
From their site: “We engage, equip and employ refugee women in the Chicagoland area. It is our greatest desire to provide a space for refugee women to thrive as they rebuild their hopes and dreams in the United States.” My pick is these hana earrings for $28.00:
DISCOUNT: 25% off using the code “ScrapingRaisins” until Dec. 15th!
This company came highly recommended by a friend. From their site: “Located in Phnom Penh and the Saang District of Cambodia, Sak Saum is a ministry dedicated to the rescue, restoration, transformation and rehabilitation of vulnberable and exploited women and men.” My pick is this hat for $16.00:
DISCOUNT: 25% off using the code “SCRAPINGRAISINS”
Sari Bari partners with women who have chosen to empower themselves by exiting the sex trade in India by providing jobs to create beautiful products using vintage saris from Kolkata’s largest red light district. *This company came highly recommended by my friend living in India. ” My pick is these six dinner napkins for $42:
Serrv
EMPOWERS: Various artisans around the world
SELLS: just about anything
From their site: “One of the first fair trade organizations in the world, Serrv International began its mission by helping displaced European refugees trade their handcrafts for income after the Second World War. Since then, we’ve extended our reach to 25 countries worldwide, working to empower over 8,000 artisans and farmers every year by selling their beautiful handcrafts. ” They have some really cool nativity sets here. I love this West Bank dipping bowl set for $32.00:
From their site: “Every product sold on The Shop Forward follows our mission of supporting programs and organizations that are effectively working to help others around the world.. Since launching in November 2014, The Shop Forward has raised over $3,100,000 for various charities by selling items associated with a cause. Our goal is to provide a platform to collaborate with charities for fundraising and spreading awareness while offering great, unique, and ethically made products for customers to enjoy.” My pick would be this custom 4-things tote (takes up to 3 weeks, so plan ahead!)
From their site: “Each time you shop at soaphope.com, 100% of the profits – yes, every dollar – goes to empower women to lift their lives, families, and communities from extreme poverty. We select partners each year based on need and outcomes.” My pick would be these soaps for $10.49:
From the site: “We provide a sustainable hourly wage, an opportunity to build a job history and a resume, as well as work making quality products the ladies can be proud of. We use organic, fair trade ingredients in the manufacturing of our products to ensure that they are the most natural and socially conscious that they can be. We want to make sure that as we seek to provide freedom for the women we employ, we will not be oppressing any others!” This orange mint bath set for $42.00 might make a great gift for a female teacher, or a mother, sister, friend, etc.:
DISCOUNT: 25% off using the code “SCRAPINGRAISINS. (Excludes the Darling and Dressember collaboration pieces and sale items.)
This company provides shelter, counseling, employment and education to women coming out of trafficking in Asia. From their site: “We provide life-changing opportunities through our Holistic Care Programs and our social enterprise where women create beautiful jewelry and become managers, accountants, graphic designers, and photographers.” My pick is this rose gold star-shaped bracelet for $44.99:
EMPOWERS: Formerly prostituted women in El Alto, Bolivia
SELLS: apparel, leather bags, accessories
DISCOUNT: Use code “ScrapingRaisins20%” for 20% off until December 31st!
From their site: “SutiSana was founded by Word Made Flesh in 2010 to provide dignified employment and a new life for women attempting to leave prostitution in El Alto, Bolivia …Word Made Flesh coordinates sewing training for women to prepare them to work in SutiSana. When a woman joins SutiSana, she receives all the benefits, including health insurance. She and her children are supported through community, and she is given opportunities to continually grow – learning to design bags, work with new materials, and even coach other women as they leave prostitution.” My pick for a guy is this dopp kit (why did I always think it was “dob kit!?”) for $45.00:
From their site: “Thistle Farms’ mission is to HEAL, EMPOWER, AND EMPLOY women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. We do this by providing safe and supportive housing, the opportunity for economic independence, and a strong community of advocates and partners.” First of all, this lip gloss is amazing--buy it right now as stocking stuffers for anyone you love ($4.00 each–comes in tea tree mint, lavender, citrus wood, and no scent–I like them all!)
DISCOUNT: 20% off Nov. 15-Dec. 15 using the code “SCRAPINGRAISINS” (does not include the holiday collection)
The White Peacock empowers Indian women to work at home and support their families through creative design, crafting, and marketing handmade items. *Recommended by my friend living in India. I’m a fan of these luggage tags for $4.99 each:
EMPOWERS: Disadvantaged women in the Denver, CO, area
SELLS: dried soups, cornbread, brownies and other food
DISCOUNT: 20% off until Dec. 15 using the code “ScrapingRaisins” (can’t be used in conjunction with other discounts, on sale items, or for donations)
From the site: “We hire women who are chronically unemployed and we teach them to work by making nourishing products that we sell across the US through some of the country’s largest retailers. We offer a transitional job in dry food manufacturing designed to provide women immediate income, arrange support services to overcome barriers to employment, and teach the job readiness and life skills needed to get and keep a job. Through their work at the Bean Project, the women learn to stand tall, find their purpose and break the cycle of poverty. Because when you change a woman’s life, you change her family’s life.”
SELLS: tablecloths, aprons, pillow covers, bags, holiday decorations, and more
DISCOUNT CODE: 25% off from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 using the code “ScrapingRaisins”
Ziyada provides meaningful employment in a safe, loving environment for twenty-two women (and two men) in an impoverished area of North India. *Recommended by my friend living in India. I love this canvas tote bag for $18.00:
Other Incredible Ethical Companies:
These companies are partnering with many different artisans and/or fair trade businesses around the world to provide quality products to empower men and women around the globe:
Please leave links to other ethical sites you love. There were so many more that I couldn’t include. And share this post to spread the word on these amazing companies!
Sign up for the monthly-ish newsletter and I’ll send you chapter 1 of Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness:
Although it can be difficult to pinpoint my exact “moment of salvation” on a timeline, if I go by that day as a ten-year-old when I knelt by my bed, asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and offered my life to God, I’d say I’ve been a Christian for thirty years now.
But just as you often hear of martial problems popping up around the twenty, thirty, or forty-year marks, the past couple years of walking with Jesus have been the hardest—mainly because he’s been the most silent. (Or perhaps because I’ve been the most distracted.) But I’ve also felt distant from God as I’ve ogled the shenanigans of the Western Christian church in the news more often than I’ve sat at the feet of Jesus. I’ve been ashamed to be a Christian because the church often looks so different from the Jesus I thought I knew.
So when I picked up Liz Ditty’s book, I’m embarrassed to confess that I didn’t have any expectations of meeting God within the pages. I should have known that with a book called God’s Many Voices: Learning to Listen, Expectant to Hear, God just might have something to say.
I read almost the entire book in one sitting this past weekend during a getaway with my husband. Like the nerds we are, we sat reading for hours in the loft at my parents’ house in the Rocky Mountains, keeping an eye out for the herd of elk wintering at their home in Grand Lake, Colorado. I kept giving my husband the side-eye, wondering if he saw the occasional tear fall or if he was getting annoyed by my furious underlining or vocal responses of “yes” and “hm” as I read.
Even though I think Liz and I are about the same age, as I read, I felt like the author was a trusted older sister sharing her life with me and giving me a peek behind the veil to learn from her relationship with God. Through wise, open, and honest personal stories, Liz neatly unzipped the truths of the Bible in ways I hadn’t considered before. She made me envious of her relationship with Jesus in the best sense of the word—she made me yearn for that kind of relationship myself.
After finishing the book, I feel inspired to spend time with God again on a daily basis. And I want to talk about God again in community with my husband, children, and friends. Liz discusses Bible reading, prayer, and listening in such a compelling way that it made me want to wake up early and begin seeking God like I have in the past. Her writing is clear, beautiful, and winsome, but she also manages to offer plenty of practical tips and ideas for pursuing and listening for the voice of God in our daily lives.
If you are in a wilderness season, a silent stretch, or have hit an apathetic patch in your relationship with God, this book may be just what you need to remind you of the joy, peace, and delight that comes from a thriving relationship with God. As a spiritual guide, mentor, and teacher, Liz will lead you straight to Jesus himself and remind you how to commune with him again.
***
I finally bought this book when I noticed it was super cheap on Amazon--$7.58 down from $16.99! I noticed she also has an audio book. If I were you, I’d pick up several copies of God’s Many Voices to give as Christmas gifts! (And if you do buy it, would you be willing to leave an honest review on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon? This helps authors more than you know!)
When I launched my book, my platform was small: I had about five hundred followers on each social media platform, including my email list. I needed help.
My launch team spread the word about my book to their virtual and real life friends and churches. They asked their libraries and local independent bookstores to order my book. They pre-ordered, did giveaways of my book on their blogs (I offered twenty-five of my author copies to them for this purpose), and they recommended me to podcasts.
But more than all that, they rallied around me and reminded me I was not alone in launching my book into the world. They gave me confidence, encouragement, and believed my book would and could make a difference in neighborhoods and communities. They were my people.
This was not the only thing I did to launch my book (you can see the rest of my book launch plan here), but I do think the team was an essential component during the weeks leading up to my book release and after.
I have only launched one book into the world (so far), but I’ve been a member of at least a dozen teams. Here is everything I know about launch teams to get you started on this new endeavor. Best of luck!
Launch Team Tips:
Ask an enthusiastic friend to help you lead it. My friend Annie Rim did this for me and was amazing. Some people, like Anna LeBaron and Amy Oden, do this for pay. If you can, find a friend who is savvy on social media and not afraid to lead a group, and ask them to spearhead your group for you. This way it doesn’t feel so smarmy and like you as the author is constantly asking people to share about you.
Begin early. I started my team eight weeks before my book launched. I was afraid my group would lose momentum, but since I only had digital copies available, it took awhile to work out some of the kinks in downloading my book. And by the time my book released, they had plastered it all over social media for weeks and weeks.
Focus on Goodreads. Encourage your team to share their reviews on Goodreads as soon as they complete the book. This makes it very easy for them to copy and paste the reviews on Amazon on launch day.
Create forms for people to sign up for your launch team using Google Forms. It’s free and easy. Don’t forget to collect email addresses and add them to your mailing list (you can upload them from the spreadsheet you generate from your google form).
Do weekly Facebook Lives. Even if you hate yourself on video (which is ME–I loathe myself on video), do a weekly Facebook live. These weekly FB lives were always a technological disaster for me, but I think they helped me and my launch team to bond over the weeks. I usually asked them if they had questions ahead of time, but also had a mini-agenda.
Find fans, not other writer friends. I recruited my launch team from Instagram, Facebook, the writing groups I’m a part of, other Facebook groups (i.e. Sorta Awesome hangout), Twitter, and my email list. I didn’t require them to purchase the book or have a certain number of followers. Anyone could join. I had 206 sign up and about 160 ended up joining the Facebook group.
Think about doing a pre-order bonus. I did this, but I’m still not sure how effective it was. I figured it couldn’t hurt! I also added these emails to my newsletter list, so it helped my list to grow.
Offer the launch team tasks via email AND Facebook. I emailed my group every Monday with some specific tasks (below). Annie shared them in the Facebook group.
Make sharing easy for your team. Provide images, memes, and lots of photos of your book for them to share. These can also be stored in the “files” or “photos” section of your FB group.
Be sure to foster community within your group. I asked my group to share about themselves and their businesses, books, blogs, podcasts, or artwork as well. And be engaged–reply to your launch team when they ask you questions! Facebook favors engagement.
Have your group follow your book’s hashtag. This seemed to be the most useful on Instagram, but if they followed the #InvitedBook hashtag, then it was easy for them to like and comment on one another’s posts about the book.
Launch Team Checklist
This is a list we shared with my launch team and kept it handy in the “files” section. I also emailed it out and posted it within the Facebook group.
DOWNLOAD: Download/read the book
JOIN: Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself! (Set notifications to “all posts” and check out the “files” section for lots of useful info.)
PRE-ORDER: Pre-order the book. Here are some reasons why:
Pre-orders help with Amazon algorithms and will put the book in front of more eyes in the days to come.
Pre-ordering a book locks you into the lowest price (you won’t be charged until the book actually ships).
Pre-orders ensure that Amazon will have enough books in stock after the book releases.
Pre-orders convince bookstores that enough people are interested in the book to make it worth their while to purchase it.
You will be eligible for some bonuses only available to those who pre-order the book.
If you’re a blogger, consider using the pre-order as a giveaway on your blog or on social media to grow your email list or blog subscribers. For the rest of you, you’ll have a copy to share with your friends, family, or church who might be interested in discussing the book. Leslie won’t be offended if you want to give away her book;-) Here’s a useful article that explains more about why pre-orders are important.
4. SPREAD THE WORD: Share about the pre-order bonuses wherever you are active on social media. Be sure to tag Leslie and use the #InvitedBook hashtag any time you share about the book. If you’ve already started reading and are enjoying the book, then tell your followers that (if you say you like a book, people WILL buy it!)
5. GOODREADS: Log in to Goodreads (or open a free account) and mark the book as “want to read” or “currently reading” (small box below the image of the book). Goodreads has over 65,000,000 members. It’s the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations (so it’s a big deal to have some reviews on there!). Go ahead and writer your review as soon as you finish reading the book (see #12 for more on that)!
6. SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow the author on all social media channels, then “follow” the hashtag #Book on any social media where you hang out (especially Instagram). (add links to social media)
7. READ: Aim to finish reading by ____ if you can so we can start discussing in the FB group!
8. SHARE: Highlight parts of the book you like as you read and share short quotes on social media. Tag the author on social media and use the book’s hashtag. When you see posts related to this hashtag in the future, like, comment, and share them. Check to see if she’s posted anything related to Invited and “like” and share those posts! Feel free to make your own memes at Canva or use some provided in the file on the Facebook page. You can also find premade tweets in both of those places. If you are a blogger, consider writing a review of the book on your site, or sharing one of the posts or interviews in the “files” section of the FB group (coming soon!)
9. REQUEST: Did you know you can ask your local library, church library, and independent bookstores to order books? You can! 😉
10. ORDER: Call or visit your local bookstore or church library and ask them to order the book. Be sure to have the full book title and ISBN # in front of you (Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness by Leslie Verner ISBN# 978-1513804330). For your library, all you need to do is fill out an online form and they’ll likely be able to order the book!
11. RECOMMEND: Can you think of any podcasts, newspapers, blogs, church groups, conferences, or other speaking venues you could recommend this book to? Here is the link to Leslie’s speaking page on her website.
12. REVIEW ON GOODREADS AS SOON AS YOU FINISH READING THE BOOK: Here’s how: Log in to Goodreads or start your own free account. Go to Invited in Goodreads. Once you’ve finished the book and are ready to write your review, mark Invited “Read” by using the green pull-down arrow underneath the book cover photo. Select the number of stars. When you do that, Goodreads will open up a popup box where you can write your review. (Pro Tip: write this review in Word or notes and you can use the same one on Amazon, your blog, or on social media later on!)
13. REVIEW ON AMAZON ON _____ : Set a timer on your phone or calendar so you will remember to post. We’re shooting for fifty reviews (there are 200 people in this launch team, so we think this is a realistic goal!). When you write, use the author’s last name or “the author,” not “my college roommate” or “my best friend” 😉 You can copy and paste the same review you used on Goodreads or on your blog. This is a helpful article about writing Amazon reviews.
14. TELL: Tell your friends about the book—word of mouth is still the best way to share about books!
Thank you so much for your help! We’re so grateful for your enthusiasm and support.
Additional Resources:
How to Create a Launch Team (Ep. 157) Create If Writing Podcast. I like how the host of this podcasts advocates for doing two kinds of teams–an ARC team and a launch team. In my writer groups, I asked if anyone would like a copy of my book for review. My publisher allowed me to buy ARCS of my book, so I offered these to my writer friends who I knew couldn’t commit to my launch team.
In August of 2019 I published my first book, called Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness, with a small, but professional publisher. They were able to get my book in a few magazine ads and sent it in to be reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly and some other well-known publications, which was a huge help. But other than that, I’ve had to do much of the marketing on my own.
I have a tiny platform, but I’ve been able to sell books despite not having a ton of followers. I’ve participated in over a dozen launch teams myself, read books, and binge-listened to hundreds of hours of podcasts relating to book marketing. To save you some time, here is what I’ve learned about launching a book into the world:
Pre-Launch Ideas
RECRUIT A LAUNCH TEAM: Check out this separate post about leading a launch team.
PUBLISH ARTICLES: Pre-write articles and submit to online publications or arrange to guest post on friends’ blogs. Time them so they will be published around the time of your book launch. I was able to use some parts of my book that I cut out during revisions. Sometimes it helps to offer a copy of your book as a giveaway.
SET UP SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Because I still have little kids at home, I can’t travel too far from home (not to mention the financial implications of doing that). Because of this, I contacted all the MOPS groups in my area since I could put my kids in childcare for free, get paid (in some cases), share my message, and sell my book afterward. I ordered a free Square so I could take credit cards. Even though they charge 2.7%, it’s worked really well so far! Venmo is also a good option because they don’t charge a fee for using it. I also bought these clipboards to pass around with email sign-ups and these book stands to display my book when I sell it after events.
Think about places your readers hang out–do you need to speak at churches, conferences, retreats, or community venues? Be creative and make a list of all the places you could speak. I also plan to set up a few speaking engagements at our public library. To prepare to speak, I read the book Resonate and Talk Like TED as a crash course.
BUILD YOUR EMAIL LIST: If there’s anything I’ve heard repeatedly over the last few years of learning about marketing, it’s this: “Build your email list first and focus less on all your other social media.” You can’t control the algorithms of Facebook or Instagram, but if you have an email list, it’s all in your control (now controlling whether your emails actually get opened or not is another story…).
There are many ways to do this, but a few are:
1. Have a lead magnet (on my site, I now offer chapter one of my book, but before I came out with a book I offered a list of hospitality resources).
2. Have people enter giveaways on other social media by signing up for your newsletter. (Also, give away something people actually WANT.)
3. Have a squeeze page on your site (a page where they have to enter their email to continue on your site–I don’t have this yet.)
4. When you speak places, always pass around a sign up sheet (don’t just put it up front–pass it around on a clipboard).
BE A GUEST ON PODCASTS: Try to get on as many podcasts as possible. This is free publicity without leaving your home. Most podcasters are working from inside their closets, so all you need is a computer and some headphones.
Setting up different podcasts has been challenging, but over a year ago, I started following many podcasts on Instagram. If an author with a book similar to mine was on a podcast, I started following that podcast. Now, when the podcast pops up in my feed, I hit the message button on Instagram and ask them if they’d like to have me as a guest on their show. I kind of hate doing this, but the worst that can happen is that they say no. In some cases, they’ve said no, but they’re willing to do a giveaway of my book. This article was helpful as I prepared for interviews: How to Give a Great Radio [or Podcast] Interview by Amy Boucher Pye.
USE YOUR ARCS WISELY: Find out how many advance reader copies (ARCS) your publisher is willing to give you–then ask for more. I mailed ARCS to writer friends, other influencers, or podcasts who wanted to have me as a guest.
I was with a small publisher, so I ended up buying my ARCS for $4.50 each (plus shipping). For this reason, my six-year-old started walking around saying “You have spend money to make money.” When you become an author, you become a small business owner with a product to sell. Often we have to invest before we see any profit.
ORDER ENVELOPES: Buy these envelopes so you’re ready to mail out ARCS and final copies. I probably gave away two hundred hard copies of my book for free. Don’t forget to use media mail! For me, each mailing coast $2.75 per book. Also grab a pack of thank you notes!
LOOK FOR PARTNERSHIPS: Partner with other authors or bloggers and offer them your book as a giveaway on their sites or newsletters. You could also partner with small businesses that might have an interest in your book and be willing to donate items to your followers. Give away other books or products on your blog or social media and ask them to sign up for your newsletter to enter the contest (you’ll continue mentioning your book to your newsletter list …).
GET ON THE PHONE: I know, I hate doing this , too. But it was actually more encouraging than I expected. Ask local bookstores and churches with bookstores in your state to order your book. Many bookstores like promoting local authors. Be sure to stop by and say hi when you’re in their neighborhood. When you call, just say, “Hey! I’m a local author. I wondered if you’d be able to order my book for your store.” They’ll usually connect you with the right person and most will ask you some questions about your book, so be ready with your elevator pitch.
CONSIDER HIRING A PUBLICIST: I did hire a publicist to do a modified campaign for me and we did a mailing to about fifty of her contacts who were mainly in radio. I paid one-fourth of what she usually charges for a full campaign, but she was able to book me a few very high-profile radio shows that were broadcast all over the nation. I put the publicist I hired in touch with my publicist at my publisher so they weren’t contacting the same people. (I was nervous about this, but my publisher didn’t seem to have a problem with me hiring extra help.)
Launch Ideas (Week Of Release)
HOST A LAUNCH PARTY: I did this locally and invited everyone I know. I hired a friend to play his cello, recruited friends to pass out tickets for door prizes, help me sell books, keep an eye on the food table, and make sure the kid area wasn’t in shambles. We had about 60 people and it was a blast. This post by Emily P. Freeman was helpful as I thought through what kind of party I wanted to have (though mine was very different from hers): I Finally Figured Out How to Have a Book Launch Party.
BOOK SIGNINGS: I called or emailed to set up three book signings at local independent bookstores which ranged from hugely successful to utter failure. Check out some great resources about doing signings here: Book Signing Tips for Authors.
One bookstore ordered the book ahead of time and I sold exactly ZERO books. With the other two, we negotiated and they paid me after the books were sold (at one, I got 60 percent of the book–so about $10.00 after paying my publisher $8.50 for it–$1.50 per book. I sold three books. At the other, we split the profit 50/50, so I got to take home $4.00 per book and I sold twenty-two books. Read my post about doing book signings … we don’t do book signings for the money!)
HOST GIVEAWAYS: Give away your book, but also other books or items to your followers. Be helpful to other writers who are also trying to spread the word about their work (maybe try some cross-promotion via social media or newsletter lists.)
STAY VISIBLE: I think it was Emily Freeman who said she likes to keep her book in the top nine images in her Instagram feed. Don’t stop mentioning your book, but don’t mention it all the time, either. Send monthly newsletters with helpful ideas and info for your readers.
KEEP SPEAKING, PITCHING, WRITING: I’m only two months out and I’m already tired. But I’m told the hustle must continue for many more months. (The good news is that my publisher said to keep doing what I’m doing, because it’s working! They sold through most of the first-year projections for my book in the first month.)
I think of this entire process as scattering seeds. Some books will languish on shelves, some will take root, and others will multiply. My job is to send more books out into the world, let them do as they will, and allow the wind of the Spirit take care of the rest.
Other Helpful Resources:
Book Launch Show by Tim Grahl and the Novel Marketing Podcast with Thomas Umstattd Jr. and James L. Rubart are podcasts that elaborate on all of the ideas I mentioned above. I binge-listened in the months before my book released.
Your First 1000 Copies by Tim Grahl is a very helpful book that helps frame your book launch as a long-term endeavor.
Remember that if you’re not excited about your book, why should anyone else be? Your book is not YOU, it’s your gift to the world, so it’s worth spreading the word about it!
Have you launched a book? What worked for you?
Subscribe to my monthly-ish newsletter and I’ll send you the first chapter of my book Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness for FREE!
