Jim Rubart on Tips for Writers at Conferences

James will be conducting the workshop: “25 Marketing Tips So Hot They’ll Scorch Your Keyboard”  at NCWA’s Renewal Conference in May. Click conference button on right-hand sidebar for details.

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Dennis Brooke conducted this video interview with Jim Rubart at the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal Conference in May of 2010. At that time, Jim’s debut novel ROOMS had just spent two weeks at number one on the Amazon Kindle list. Jim has released three other novels since that day.

He can personally attest to the value of writing conferences for writers at any stage of their career.

James L. Rubart is the best-selling and award winning author of ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, SOUL’S GATE, and releasing in August, MEMORY’S DOOR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Dennis Brooke writes about Almost True Stories of Life at www.dennisbrooke.wordpress.com. He’s been a member of NCWA since 2007 and currently serves as President.

There Is No Tomorrow!

 

Why are you putting it off? You know what I’m talking about.

That thing you know you need to do. It might be big, might be small, it might be coming to the NCWA conference, it might be sending out that query letter, or submitting that article, or trying for that speaking engagement, it might be contacting that person that’s a little ahead of you on the writing journey, it might be reaching out to that person a little behind you.

Whatever it is, you’re holding back, procrastinating. If you’re like me you buy into the lie that says, “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” But tomorrow never comes does it?

 

In Rocky III there’s a scene that has burned its way into my brain. Rocky is being trained by Apollo Creed and day after day Rocky is only giving a half-hearted effort.

Finally, Apollo has had it.

“He’s hooking. He’s hooking. He’s hooking… Rock, Come on! What’s the matter with you?

“Tomorrow. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

“There is no tomorrow! THERE IS NO TOMORROW! THERE IS NO TOMORROW!”

Apollo is right.

If you’ve seen the movie the reason Rocky is only going through the motions is fear. He’s afraid. When he finally admits this to his wife on the beach it sets him free to hold nothing back and press into his training with everything he has.

You’re afraid. I get it. Me too. Let’s admit it.

Then let’s press through our fear. There is a great work Jesus has for each of us. And we are the only
ones who can do it.

You’re not alone. We have not been given a spirit of fear but a Spirit of power, love, and self-control.

Do it. Make the decision. Take action. Today.

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James L. Rubart is the best-selling and award winning author of ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, SOUL’S GATE, and releasing in August, MEMORY’S DOOR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

A Dream That Came Alive

I’ve wanted a dirt bike since I was five. Okay, maybe not five—it was more like three.

Growing up, I knew it wouldn’t ever happen.

No way.

Not while I lived with my parents. My mom was not a fan of the two-wheeled neck breakers. I was strictly forbidden from ever getting on a motorcycle. It was a non-negotiable.

(No, I won’t mention the time during high school I jumped on friend’s street bike and screamed past my mom who just happened to be traveling the same road going the opposite direction. Dinner was not fun that night. Nor breakfast the next morning, etc, etc.)But four years ago I did something about that dream that kept flitting around my heart; I bought dirt bikes for my boys and me.

We’ve all wiped out multiple times.

I’ve hurt myself—badly.

The bikes take work to maintain.

Is it worth it? Are you kidding? They’ve given us eternal memories that are gold. The first time Taylor and Micah rode out in front of me I couldn’t stop a massive grin from bursting out on my face. It was so fun. So freeing. So full of life.

 

 

It was just a small dream. To ride dirt bikes with my sons. But it came true because I stopped putting it off and took action. And when Micah said it was the best gift I’d ever given Taylor and him, I smiled that big goofy grin again.

What’s yours?

That little dream you’ve been meaning to do for years. That dream that won’t go away.

That dream that whispers to you just before you go to sleep.

Buy the bikes, write that novel, go on the trip, ask the girl out, start that restaurant … the Spirit put that desire in there for a reason, it might be time to set it free.

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Jim will be speaking at NCWA’s first meeting of the season: Monday, September 10th.  Click here for details.

This post first appeared on Jim’s blog, July 29, 2011. Used by kind permission.

James L. Rubart is the best-selling, award winning author of ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, and SOUL’S GATE (Nov 2012). He’s married with two sons, and loves to dirt bike, hikes, golf, take photos, and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.james.rubart.com