by Jane Kirkpatrick Some months ago a reader wrote the following: “My children are happy and nearly grown, my husband loves the fact that I’m writing, I’m organized enough that my home nearly runs itself, our church is healthy and thriving with or without me. But giving myself permission to do this thing that I love so much – writing …
Cat Block
by Beth Shriver I bet you’ve never used a cat to gage your level of writers block…but I don’t hear anyone opposing the idea so I’ll continue. I don’t know about you but I have three furry friends who keep me company while I write. After a dog bone, a scoop of cat food, and a cup of coffee, the …
Backup Plan
by Carolyne Aarsen I dislike running out of things. When I pull a jar of mayonnaise from my pantry to replace the one I’ve just emptied and I don’t see a second full jar, I get nervous. What if I have a sudden craving to make a whomping huge bowl of potato salad and I use up the jar I …
Set Goals and Reap the Rewards
by B.J. Bassett One year Jack London received 400 rejections. With that many rejections he was bound to have received some acceptances. I look forward to the beginning of a new year with a fresh slate to record my goals. Since I began setting goals, I’ve written and published more. I set monthly goals. Others set daily, weekly, yearly, short …
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
by Lillian Duncan Wow! It’s the first day of a new year and I have the honor of welcoming it in for ACFW’s blog. That is quite the honor and quite the responsibility. Do I pick a solemn topic? Maybe, one to make you smile? Something encouraging? Something to make you think? Something inspirational? Mmm. What to do? So many …
A Plan for 2013: Getting to THE END and Pressing SEND
by Kathleen Y’Barbo As the saying goes, all good things come to an end, be it a year or a book. I sit in the shadow of a Christmas tree now devoid of gifts and dropping needles like crazy, painfully aware that 2012 is almost no more. Midnight ushers in 2013, and with the new year comes new plans, new …
Whose Fault Is It If Your Book Doesn’t Sell in 2013?
by Greg Johnson WordServe Literary Group After representing a couple of thousand books, I’ve seen average books go through the roof, and great books struggle to find readers. I won’t name names or titles, but we’ve all scratched our heads after reading a current bestseller, thinking Really? Naturally, I’ve seen hundreds of books sell just “okay.” And on rare occasions, …
What Are You Waiting For?
by Jill Williamson As writers, we’re always waiting for something. Putting in time to finish that book and hone our craft. Waiting for our critique partners to read our book. Waiting for a conference where we’ll get a chance to pitch our project. Waiting for our turn to meet with editors and agents. Waiting to get home and prepare the …
Bring on the New Year!
by DiAnn Mills This is the season we prepare our writing goals for the next year. Some of you are cringing … I can feel it. Others are moaning … I can hear it. But if we don’t evaluate our progress in 2012 and list what we’d like to accomplish in 2013, where is our career going? Let’s discuss the …
Passion to Publish
by Jill Elizabeth Nelson If I say, I will not make mention of [the Lord] or speak any more in His name, in my mind and heart it is as if there were a burning fire shut up in my bones. Jeremiah 20: 9 (Amplified) Fire in the bones. That’s how I describe the irresistible passion that kept me writing …