By Darlene L. Turner So no matter what your task is, work hard. Always do your best as the Lord’s servant, not as man’s. – Colossians 3:23 (VOICE) I think we can all agree, 2020 has been a year for the history books and one we’ll not soon forget. I know friends who’ve lost loved ones, jobs, struggled with self-isolation, …
A Well-Tended Tale
By Tanara McCauley My parents are gardeners. Not your average throw-a-plant-in-a-pot-and-let-it-fend-for-itself gardeners; they are certified members of the green-thumb club, with a significant portion of their yard dedicated to fruits, vegetables, and herbs of every variety. Their garden thrives, and they are neighborhood-famous for it. Of course, their success was neither accidental nor instant. They started small. They planted and …
Writing in the Yoke: the Easy Writer
by Kristi Holl Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and My burden is light.” Writing in …
Carpe Diem
By Shirley Gould The Roman Poet Horace coined the phrase, carpe diem, seize the day. He wanted to urge someone to make the most of the present-day and give little thought to the future. Scripture encourages the same message in Matthew 6:34 NLT So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for …
The Uses of a Novella
By Glynn Young On July 1, with the publication of my fifth novel, I brought a five-book series to a conclusion. Each of the five was about 93,000 words in length, except for the last one. The last one has an additional 20,000 words, included as an epilogue but actually a freestanding novella. It’s related on a minor way to …
Public Speaking Jitters
by Loretta Eidson Have you stood before a crowd before a presentation, only to see a variety of expressions returning your stare? It’s easy when everyone smiles and looks eager to hear what you’re about to share, but what about those who are sporting lowered brows or a solemn countenance? When they lean back scowl faced with their arms crossed …
Tips for Co-Writing a Novel
by Kathryn Cushman I’m often asked about co-writing because I’ve done it a few times. My first co-written project, Angel Song, was an unusual collaboration orchestrated by agents. While that worked well, it’s not something writers can often control, so I won’t discuss it here. For my newly released, The Plans We Made, the entire project was conceived, coordinated, and …
11 Elements for the Best First Scenes
By Susan Wingate Writers face many challenges when they start a new project. Many of these challenges arise because the writer doesn’t have a clue about what she even wants to write about. Some challenges arise from structural issues?how to proceed with a story in its formatting, structure and plotting. Other concerns can include finer points like how the major …
The Best of Times
By Julia Kay If we were at my kitchen table, I’m sure I’d hear some derisive laughter over this title. I don’t know about you, but early in my Christian walk, I thought God’s best included a writing contract and answers to my long list of prayers. But what happens when our mustard-seed faith doesn’t provide the miracle we need? …
Lessons Learned about Promoting a Debut Novel
By Frank A. DiBianca So, after years of writing, revising, professionally editing, finalizing, and submitting manuscripts to agents or publishers, your book has finally been published. But unless you’ve been published by one of the big houses, the lion’s share of selling your book is going to fall squarely in your lap. Now comes the big question. How do you …