by Jane Kirkpatrick When my sister was very ill she told me that when you’re going through a hard time, it’s difficult to concentrate long enough to read an entire book. So I’d call her and give her little things to think about for encouragement. For instance I told her that the word family came from the Latin word famalus …
Fast Edits
by Bonnie S. Calhoun Fast Edits This is a fast and down-dirty review of the things you should look for as you go through your self-edit of your manuscript. If you can catch all these, you’ve got a good start to a great manuscript. Weasel Words These are words that weaken the writing, thus the story. We sometimes type them …
When Tragedy Strikes…
by Shirley E. Gould My amazing husband passed away suddenly on May 7, 2013. My life has taken a devastating turn that has sapped my writing creativity. It’s hard to string words together when you’re telling yourself to breathe in and out, when your heart is broken, and everywhere you turn reminders of his absence overwhelm your emotions. After two …
The Goodreads Reading Challenge
by Robin Lee Hatcher Unlike many of my friends, I am not a fast reader. I like to linger over sentences. I don’t like to rush through a book. Back before I was a writer, it was not unheard of for me to spend a entire Saturday, lying on the couch, reading a paperback novel from beginning to end. When …
40 Days of Prayer: Day 1
Day 1 Topic: That God’s will be accomplished at the conference Verse: Psalm 115:1–Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. Dear Heavenly Father, ACFW was founded to bring together writers who wish to honor You in all things. We do not take this lightly. As we gather for our annual conference, we pray …
Celebrating the Variety
by Jason C. Joyner I’ve been a watcher of the Christian fiction industry for several years now as an aspiring writer. I’ve enjoyed reading great books, interacting with thoughtful authors, and helping to promote CBA books through blog tours and street teams. Now on the cusp of the 2013 ACFW Conference in Indianapolis, there will be a lot of excited …
40 Days of Prayer: Day 2
Day 2 Topic: Good weather for travel Verse: Luke 8:24b–And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. Holy Father in heaven, I bless You and thank You for each and every one of Your children who will be traveling to the ACFW Conference in Indianapolis. Father, I ask in …
Be Kind to One Another
by Tina Radcliffe It’s quite serendipitous that what has been percolating in me for days is a postscript to Deborah Raney’s lovely post of September 4, 2013, “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Reviews.” As members of ACFW, there is an expectation that at some point we will have books available for consumer purchase. Additionally, we all have our own …
40 Days of Prayer: Day 3
Day 3 Topic: Lisa Rector-Maas and the Early Bird Session Verse: Proverbs 2:2–Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding. Lord, we lift Lisa Rector-Maas to you for blessings and grace during the Early Bird Session. We pray that you direct her thoughts to heavenly wisdom and the application of it in her teaching. We ask that …
3 Easy Steps to a Successful ACFW Conference – even if You’re Not Attending!
by Beth K. Vogt I’m heading to Indianapolis tomorrow, getting a few days head start on the ACFW conference. I started a mental checklist weeks ago, about the time my Twitter feed and Facebook page filled up with “I’m going!” conversations – and some “I’m not going” laments – and discussions about arrivals and departures, favorite snacks (candy corn, anyone?) …