By Sarah Sundin Once again my life paralleled the lives of my characters. While writing my latest release, When Tides Turn, I’d promised to not become overwhelmed by work, but I had. Only one thing to do—power through. Or so I thought. Instead, other lessons popped through. Stay the Course “Stay the course” is the motto of the novel’s hero, …
He Sowed Seeds, I Sow Words: Lessons on Writing from my Grandfather
By Tamara D. Fickas Grandpa spent much of his life working the land, coaxing forth new life that would nourish many. Farming was in his blood, so he toiled long hours in the fields. Over the years, I realized there is much I could learn from Grandpa. I don’t sow seeds; I sow words. Writing is in my blood, so …
The Writer Challenge
By DiAnn Mills How far are you willing to extend yourself to write a novel? Are you aware of the sacrifices that partner with the rewards of becoming a published writer? Do you ever wonder if you’re all alone in your pursuit of publication? Has anyone ever posed those questions to you? If not, let me give you a little …
Why I Write
By Preslaysa Williams “Do what you love and the money will come.” Mama My mother always said this to me growing up, and Mama was right. When the school teachers pushed me to be a lawyer or a doctor, I wanted to be a creative. With the support of my parents, I was able to be creative at an early …
ACFW New Releases: March 2017
March 2017 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. Contemporary Romance: Reunion at Crane Lake by Robin Bayne — Colt’s memory is returning after the accident that ended his career. Now he wants to take over his family’s inn, but he’ll have to partner with his former fiancée to be …
REWRITING: How to Avoid Too Much Introspection in Your Manuscript
By Beth K. Vogt Let’s be honest with each other and admit that we all can get introspective at times – stuck in our heads as we ponder either a real-life problem or one our imaginary character is facing in our work-in-progress (WIP). We mull over options. Debate pros and cons. Maybe we remember a first kiss … or having …
Making the Most of a Diversion
By Elizabeth Ludwig I found myself stranded in Bentonville, Arkansas recently, when the plane I was on from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Dallas, Texas, was diverted mid-air, to a tiny regional airport in Northwest Arkansas. Not only was this a little nerve-wracking, it felt a little bit like a “Hotel California” moment, with delay after delay keeping us grounded inside …
Time and Place: Researching Your Historical Fiction
By Liz Curtis Higgs When I asked my fiction readers to finish the sentence, “I love historical fiction because…”, my favorite response was this: “It’s like a history class and an adventure, all rolled into one.” Yes! I’ll leave spinning memorable adventures to your fertile imaginations. I’m here to help with assembling a historically accurate world in which your characters …
God is in Control
By Deb Haggerty How many times do we rush blindly into our days, perhaps breathing a brief “God guide me” on our way out of the bedroom to get coffee and dive into our plans? I was reminded recently that our plans may not be the plans God has for us. I was scheduled for a total hip replacement on …
New Year’s Goals and the Reminder That Good Bridges Make Good Connections
By Catherine Stuart As we hit the reset button with the New Year my notebook filled up with goals. Goals that were very different from each other, and I realized prioritizing was the key to success. This year for me is different, as I find myself on a bridge of change. I wish to get to the other side, yet …