One of the best, and I mean best workshops I ever attended was at a writer’s
conference in Alexandria LA about five years ago. Curt Iles was the presenter and his workshop on independent publishing was informative, interesting both visually and orally, well-researched, and full of hard-won wisdom. I bought some of Curt’s early work right then and have continued to follow his progress as a writer of non-fiction and now fiction.
Curt’s reinvention of himself from school principal to prolific writer and speaker is a journey of small steps. Believing God gave him a message to share and being willing to work hard at getting that message into the hands that needed it, Curt began his journey of following God one yes at a time to realize the dream planted in his heart.
I recently asked Curt a few questions related to his pilgrimage and his answers are below:
1. Curt, you haven’t always been an author, what did you do before and what made you leave that career to pursue full-time writing?
God’s will in my life has been progressive. Each step of the journey has prepared me for the next phase. I love Corrie Ten Boom’s quote: “God is preparing you for what He has prepared for you.” I’ve seen that played out in each part of my life.
My initial career was as a high school teacher (science) and coach. After a rewarding career in the classroom and on the court, I became a school principal at the school from which I graduated.
In 1992, I moved from this position into leading a year-round church camp. It was the place I received my first job at age 13 and was truly a labor of love. It was during these years that I began writing seriously and independently published my first four books.
After fourteen years as a Camp Leader, I ventured into full-time writing and speaking.
2. You obviously believe in stories because you tell them so well. What is it about a good story that is so valuable?
Stories connect to people’s hearts. A story can travel wherever nothing else is allowed. Jesus was an expert storyteller using parables and examples to illustrate Biblical truths.
I speak over one hundred times yearly to groups of all backgrounds. This includes speaking cross-culturally in Africa and Central America. Regardless of the culture, a simple well-told story always connects both emotionally and spiritually with listeners.
3. You lead workshops about independent publishing; what is the most important advice you give to budding authors who are considering publishing their own work?
Five things:
1. Develop your platform of speaking, blogging, getting to know folks. Every endeavor in life, including building a writing career, is built on relationships.
2. Be a lifelong learner on the art and craft of good writing.
3. Make aggressive use of social media (Facebook, Twitter) to develop a readership and following long before your first book.
4. Research carefully trends and opportunities in self-publishing.
5. Invest the needed time, money, and learning on how to produce an attractive book that you can be proud of.
Visit Curt Iles at Creekbank Stories here: www.creekbank.net
Check out Curt’s latest book, Deep Roots
Sample or purchase the E-book version here.
