By Cynthia Herron Most writers will tell you the in-between seasons are the hardest. Because I’ve promised to tell you the truth, I won’t sugarcoat it. They are. Waiting (especially a prolonged season of waiting) is like a knife to the weary writer’s heart. As each hope-filled day passes, so does a tiny bit of our resolve. We struggle to make sense of …
Of Brides and Books
By Laurel Blount My daughter is getting married in October, so our family’s immersed in a chaotic whirl of wedding planning. Coincidentally, while I’m launching my oldest child into her “happily-ever-after,” I’m also celebrating the launch of an entirely different sort of “baby”! Love Inspired released my newest “book baby,” (aptly titled A Baby for the Minister), in September. So, …
For Those of Us At Home
By Chandra Lynn Smith I sit at my desk on Tuesday morning, two days before the ACFW Conference begins. Many of you may be traveling today. This is the first year since 2012 I have missed the conference. It’s funny, before I started writing this morning I read my blog post from last September in which I wrote the top …
ACFW Conference Prayer: God’s Will Be Done (Day 1)
2018 ACFW Conference 40 Days of Prayer Day 1 – Topic: That God’s will be accomplished at the conference Psalm 115:1–Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. As the conference approaches, LORD, we ask your will be accomplished. We ask you to open the doors you want opened and close the doors you …
ACFW Conference Prayer: Safe Travel (Day 2)
2018 ACFW Conference 40 Days of Prayer DAY 2 – Topic: Safe Travel with Good Weather Luke 8:24b–And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. Father God, we come to You, the One who created wind and rain, the One who still commands their attention. So many of us …
Getting The Most From A Writers Conference
By Rachel Hauck I confess it took me awhile to get the hang of writers conferences. Why? Because I attended with the hope of networking with the best of the best or pitching a knock-their-socks-off story idea. My focus was very inward. “What can I do?” “What can I accomplish?” “What connections can I make?” “Who will I impress?” While …
ACFW Conference Prayer: Early Bird and Post Conference Sessions
2018 ACFW Conference 40 Days of Prayer Day 3 – Topic: Early Bird and Post-Conference Sessions Proverbs 2:2–Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding. Dear God: Thank You for making the Early Bird and Post-Conference sessions possible at the ACFW Conference. We lift up the people teaching the sessions. Please bless them as they prepare to …
Got Conference Nerves? You’re Not Alone!
By Grace Hitchcock Three years ago, I attended my first writers conference and I cannot tell you how nervous I felt! Doubts flew through my head: I’m a poser. These men and women have so much more experience than me and I think I can write? I just finished my novel three weeks ago…. I’ve never pitched to an agent before! …
ACFW Conference Prayer: Wisdom for Executive Board
2018 ACFW Conference 40 Days of Prayer Day 4 – Topic: Wisdom in decision making for the Executive Board as they meet Romans 15:5–Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus. Please bless the Executive Board with wisdom as they meet and make decisions …
The Blank Page
By Henry McLaughlin Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good. –William Faulkner How many of us hesitate to start writing? Even authors who have been at it for a while have this hesitation. This is sometimes referred to a writer’s block. Which I think is a falsehood. …