One of my themes for this year is “Talk less. Listen more.” I mentioned it in the post about an author’s responsibility in the publishing industry and I think it’s a pretty universal idea that can be applied almost everywhere, including this blog.

As such, I’ll be asking you questions specifically designed to get your feedback. My friend Brody has a “Dear Christian Music Industry” category and it’s been a great way for him and his readers to communicate to the industry influencers who quietly lurk on his blog. Its my hope that a few of the “Church Industry” (I shuddered as I typed that phrase) influencers will lurk around and see these posts and your responses.

And what does that mean? You’re now the influencers. Actually, you’ve always been.

You buy the tickets.

Yesterday, I twittered about church conferences. I’ve recently had a few people comment to me that they go to conferences held at churches and leave feeling inadequate because they don’t have the budget, staff, or other resources to “do” what these churches do. I realize that people have the responsibility how to respond to the conferences they attend, but it seems like we’re naturally wired to compare and contrast what we see with what we are.

Here are some of the responses I received from twitter:

I agree, money, time, and most seem to be entertainment focus, verses step by step insight in how to truly grow and motivate your ministry

I always walk away from conferences or church networks feeling like I suck. I have to really fight it.

Most discouraging thing about church confs–the resulting “copy cat” syndrome. “Let’s do what they’re doing!” = Dead thinking.

That’s part of the reason I’m pumped about events like @innovate3 and @theideacamp. More conversations/interaction.

I’m not leaving feeling inadequate, as much as tired of them and not finding the majority of them very helpful anymore.

The conf. thing for me has less to do with feeling inadequite & more w/ boredom over the same white guys saying the same thing.

I like conferences for inspiration and ideas but rarely do I find much insight for practical application

I go to a HUGE one every year and for the past 3 years I feel that same way. Its tough. Exciting stuff but tough.

I think Church Conferences are out of control and hopefully will be a thing of the past.

So what sayeth thou? No doubt, I have been to my fair share of “this is really amazing and inspiring” conferences as well as “that light set up cost more than a Boeing 737.”

If you could tell anyone in conference world anything, now’s your chance!

(I hope they’ll listen.)

the book is coming soon, and i’m thinking it would be fun to take a little day trip one weekend out somewhere kinda close to do a book reading/signing!

the question is…where?

i’ve put down a few options in the poll below.  if you’d actually come to a book signing in one of the cities, please cast your vote…and leave a comment if you’d like as well telling me why.  flattery gets you everywhere! :)

A recent New York Times article convicted the internet and its consumers for the long, painful and potentially foreseeable death of the book publishing industry.  From bookstores closing to publisher layoffs, an inevitably grim outlook faces the book industry in the next year.

Why the doom and gloom?

Reporter David Streitfeld shares his thoughts:

“Don’t blame this carnage on the recession or any of the usual suspects, including increased competition for the reader’s time or diminished attention spans. What’s undermining the book industry is not the absence of casual readers but the changing habits of devoted readers.

In other words, it’s all the fault of people like myself, who increasingly use the Internet both to buy books and later, after their value to us is gone, sell them.”

So has the internet killed the publishing industry?  As a published writer, allow me to enter in the extremely dangerous waters by taking the smoking gun and placing it in the hands of people like myself…the authors.

Millions of people have dreams of being a published author.

Should everyone write a book?

Maybe.

Should every book be published?

No.

If publishers want to dig themselves out of this black hole of losses, they’ve got to stop spending money printing mediocre books.  There are far too many as it stands.  I mean, really?  300,000 new titles a year?  That’s 821 new books releasing every day! Be strategic and brave in your future decisions.  For instance, Thomas Nelson is cutting its new releases in half next year. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced that it wouldn’t be acquiring any new manuscripts.  To these publishers and others following similar suit, I say thank you.  Thank you for stewarding resources and investing in that which is truly valuable to be printed.

And to authors (the would-be, the wooed or the already published), I’d say this:  Please have a little more respect for your words (and your readers) when it comes to putting your heart into print.  Let’s talk contracts.  I’ve seen book contracts that are fair and intelligent, and I’ve seen other contracts that make me want to curl into the fetal position and cry.  The latter of these are completely unfair to both authors and consumers. For authors, they offer little advance money, little distribution, and little editorial input – thereby allowing almost anyone to darken their imprints regardless of talent or execution.   This kind of publishing overwhelms (or should I say underwhelms?) consumers and turns into nothing more than regurgitated white noise.

Eager authors sign these less-than-adequate contracts because they sincerely want their voice to be heard, and they possibly want to earn the credibility of the elusive book deal.  Yet in actuality, without the proper systems in place, time is wasted, paper is wasted, ink is wasted, advertising dollars are wasted…and further into the hole the industry goes.  Publishers can’t recoup their losses and authors aren’t fairly compensated for their time and effort.  Readers also get the short end of the stick because what could have been a great idea wasn’t properly (or clearly) presented.

As an author, please realize the investment you are offered from a publisher typically equates the amount of belief a publisher has in your work. No advance?  They’re probably not confident in estimating how many books you’ll sell.  They could be afraid to take a risk – whether it means your book is terrible or perhaps they don’t have the marketing dollars to promote it adequately.  Be warned.  Most importantly, surround yourself with honest people who know what they’re doing when it comes to writing books.  Their input is essential as you evaluate if writing a book is really something you should focus on.

If you’re going to put the work into your book and you are convinced it is worth the expense of publication and promotion, don’t sell out with a chintzy book contract…wait for the right publishing partner to come along (Thanks to my partner, Zondervan, for exceeding every expectation I have had for Mad Church Disease).  Or perhaps self-publish your book. You have the control and responsibility over how many copies you print, and can save a few trees (and headaches) in the process.  After all…you believe in it, right?

Personally, I’ll confess I’m wrestling with this myself.  A second book has been dreamed about, discussed and more than likely could earn a contract for publication.  But I’m not 100% sure my ideas or my words are worthy for print just yet.  I could move forward despite my hesitation, or I could wait until I’m confident it will be timeless and valuable to readers.  Right now, I’m deciding to wait and process my next book until the right time.

The bottom line:  The publishing industry is not balanced.  That’s why it’s beginning to spiral downward.  I propose this year, as authors, we talk less and listen more. We should gain insight, wisdom, and be responsible with our words when (or if) we decide they should be printed.  Maybe then we’ll begin to see this industry have the impact and the value for which it was designed.

We have the power to help save this industry.  We can revitalize it, we can reinvent it…or we can kill it.

Only time will tell…and it’s a decision that we all need to take seriously.

[photo: longbrake]

There are only 8 days left in the 50,000 pairs in 50 days challenge. We are blown away at the generosity of everyone who has contributed to this campaign. Financially, that is almost $30,000 raised for shoes in just a little over a month. Amazing!

We are still far (38,000 pairs) from reaching the goal of 50,000 pairs of shoes so if you can give another $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 dollars — every penny helps in a big way! It would be a Christmas miracle to reach 50,000 shoes but I know it can happen!

Remember everyone who gives is automatically entered into a chance to win a trip for you and a guest to Mexico to hand deliver the shoes you purchased to people who have never owned shoes before. How amazing is that?! The more you donate, the better your chances!

This week, the highest donation will receive a football autographed by Albert Haynesworth from the Tennessee Titans!

Please donate today - http://www.50000shoes.com…and spread the love!  Remind your blog readers, your address book, your office, your youth group, your mom.  I really believe this can happen! But it’s gonna take all of us!

i’ve decided that from christmas eve through january 5th, this blog will be quiet. no auto-scheduled-out posting. no posting out my favorite posts of 2008,

nothing. nada.

after a trip to the midwest to visit family for christmas, i am going into a self-induced almost isolation in a land far, far away and will not be bringing my computer with me at all. no twitter. no email.

nothing. nada.

but i would like for you to leave me a comment today with how i can pray for you or for someone you know while i am away. i’ll print off a list on sunday afternoon before my retreat and take it with me.

so comment below, please repost this on your own blogs so others can chime in, and come back to see how you can pray for everyone.

and that’s what it’s all about.