By Brenda Anderson Rejection. A word most writers are intimately familiar with, a word filled with negative connotations. Merriam-Webster defines rejection as “the action of rejecting: the state of being rejected.” Sounds depressing, doesn’t it? In the midst of rejection, it’s difficult to find something positive, but I assure you, there is an upside. We learn from rejection: You’ve just …
An Unexpected Gift from Alzheimer’s
by Suzanne Woods Fisher A few years ago, I started writing a weekly column on my blog called “Conversations with Dad.” My father was in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease and, because my parents lived across the street, I was spending quite a bit of time with him. Quite a bit. For those of you who have had an …
Resurrecting Beauty
by Christine Sunderland I have long been fascinated with the relationship between beauty, truth, and goodness. One of the joys of being a novelist is that I can create characters who share my fascinations. So in my recently published novel, The Magdalene Mystery, a protagonist is devoted to truth in the media and correcting Internet lies. He is also fascinated …
Don’t Leave the Last 10% Unsaid
by Melissa Tagg There’s not a whole lot I can brag about when it comes to all things domestic diva-related. It’s not that I can’t do things like clean and cook-I just don’t generally have time to keep up in a way that wouldn’t horrify Martha Stewart. But one thing I can be at least a little proud of: I’m …
Details, Details
by Harry Kraus Let’s talk about the “fictional dream.” What makes people willing to suspend belief and enter into a make-believe world? How is this done successfully? I’ve been contemplating this recently as I’ve been reading the young adult novels beginning with Divergent. Veronica Roth creates a world very different from our own, one which requires the reader to accept …
Reflections of Tone
by Jennifer Sienes I’ve written enough now to realize that there’s been a pattern in not only what I write, but in how I write – no, I didn’t get the Tread Desk I’ve had my eye on for some time-I’m referring to that somewhat elusive tone. At the end of my first year as a middle school teacher, I …
How Writing Retreats Have Profoundly Impacted My Life
By Lindsay Harrel When I first began writing, I did everything I could to learn how to become a successful career novelist. I wrote a few books (kind of a given!). I read countless books and articles on craft. I stalked many an agent blog to discover more about the industry. I befriended other writers. All of these things were …
Incredible Writing Done Credibly
by C. Kevin Thompson Have you ever read books that promised suspense, only to find they don’t deliver? Ever read a thriller that didn’t thrill? Ever read a romance between two people who never would get together in the real world? Ever wonder why this happens? There are many reasons. One of the most common causes resonated with me one …
Writer, Examine Yourself
By Richard L. Mabry, MD Is the phrase “Know thyself” in the Bible? No. It was inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. But it’s still good advice…especially for writers. I’ve been chained to the computer recently – not writing another book, but rather doing interviews associated with the release of my medical suspense novel, Critical Condition. Sometimes the …
ACFW REWIND: Make a Plan and Write it Down!
(Editor’s Note: Today, ACFW re-runs a worthwhile post from the past, in this case from August 2012, in what we call ACFW Rewind, highlighting previous posts that deserve a second look. ) by Lacie Nezbeth At a recent, local writer’s conference, the attendees (myself included) were taught by New York Times bestselling author Susy Flory, and one of the most …