Giving Ourselves Grace in Our Writing Journey

ACFWAccountability, Advice, Authors and writing, business, Deadlines, Encouragement, Faith, Perseverance, Time Management, tips, writing 11 Comments

By Elle E. Kay This path we’ve chosen isn’t easy. Whether you’re indie, traditionally, or hybrid published, you have to manage your career. We all have to help with the marketing, juggle social media, send newsletters, and so much more. Keeping all those plates spinning without dropping any of them is nearly impossible. Yet, we expect to do it. And …

Name that Christmas Movie!

ACFWcreativity, Friends of ACFW 3 Comments

By Dana Mentink Christmas gives me ALL the feels! Every year I find myself wanting to relive all those special nostalgic moments from holidays past. Certainly Christmases have changed lately, with several tragic losses in the Mentink clan. I’m sure we’ve all got stories about holidays missed and mourned. Nonetheless, I persevere in hanging onto those precious holiday moments of …

Christmas Quotes by Writers

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By DiAnn Mills Have you ever read what other writers have said about Christmas? Curiosity, like a writerly-child (I made that up), propelled me to explore several quotes. These are so special that I wanted to share twelve of them with you. “Do give books—religious or otherwise—for Christmas. They’re never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.” ~Lenore Hershey “Christmas! ‘Tis the …

Writing in Layers

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Characters, Encouragement, Faith, tips, writing 4 Comments

By Loretta Eidson Chefs prepare some of the best tasting layered foods. We have lasagna, nachos, casseroles, salads, pizza, etc. Just the mention of those delicious dishes makes our mouths water. Not to mention topping it off with extra cheese. All the ingredients, appropriately measured and blended, result in a lip-smacking delight. We won’t forget the satisfying taste that tickles …

Let Down the Nets

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Encouragement, Faith, Fear/Doubt, Rejection, tips, writing 7 Comments

by Lisa Kelley @LisaKelleyWrite Writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Even so, the quest most of the time is rewarding. But sometimes the doubts mushroom, and I think my efforts are futile. Have you felt this way? Maybe you, like me, have said, “Lord, I’m done. I have nothing more to give.” Like me, you may have had …

How to Kill Your Characters Without Physicians Cringing

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Characters, Plots, Showing/Telling, tips, writing 4 Comments

by Jenny Powell MD When I researched for my manuscript about the Apostle Paul, I wanted to know the impact of stones thrown at a body. How did stoning cause death? How far away from a body did someone have to stand to do the most damage? How does the body respond to such repeated insults? Of course, the scientist …

Building a Home, Building a Novel

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Brainstorming, Characters, creativity, Editing, Encouragement, Organization, Outlines, Plots, research, revisions, tips, writing 1 Comment

By Diane E. Samson My husband and I have been in the process of building a home for the last 18 months. Our new place will be ready in December, and as all the various design pieces come together so it looks like an actual home, I can’t help but notice the similarities this experience has been to bringing a …

ACFW New Releases: December 2024

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December 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: Always In My Heart by Iola Goulton — Broke solo mother Maya Allen is raising her daughter, Sarah, as well as her dead best friend’s daughter … who just happens to be her own daughter’s half sister (thanks, cheating college …

Singing the Song of Thanksgiving

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by Christine Sunderland There is a white cross on the hillside of Angel Mountain, aka Mount Diablo, the setting for one of my novels. I have learned recently that it is a place of prayer and meditation, a light in the dark. We can see the cross from our house, a moving reminder to pray and give thanks, and on …