By Loretta Eidson In The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer, we are told that God can restore lost dreams. Further reading presents an inspiring, thought-provoking source for resurrecting dormant talent. It encourages us to think back into our childhood and remember the one talent that brought a sparkle to our young eyes. Whether it was playing the piano, becoming an …
Do You Believe in Miracles?
by Harry Kraus A true story: (recounted in J.P. Moreland’s Kingdom Triangle, a report from Paul Eshleman, director of Campus Crusade’s Jesus film project.) In the state of Bihar, India, there is a notoriously anti-Christian tribe called the Malto. When a crew with Campus Crusade’s Jesus film attempted to schedule a showing there in 1998, they were strongly rebuffed. A …
Suspension of Disbelief: A Writer’s Goal
By Ane Mulligan Jim Rubart wrote a good piece for Novel Rocket about how authors write. He said: “I continue to read traditionally published books where I think the novelist is wasting words and keeping the reader from going deeper into the POV of the protagonist. Here’s what I mean: I frequently see sentences such as this: ‘He could hear …
The Power of Opposites
by Allie Pleiter The best romances usually pair two people who don’t seem suited for each other. Engaged readers figure out that a hero and heroine are surprisingly perfect for each other-long before the characters do if I’ve done my job right. It’s great fun to watch a heroine realize that the oh-so-irritating fellow in her life is actually the …
Learning From Other Authors’ Strengths
by Lindsay Harrel Comparison. It’s the big no-no word in the writing world, isn’t it? We’re always being told – and probably telling others – that we shouldn’t compare our writing to that of anyone else. It makes sense. After all, we each have a unique voice, and I’m bound to tell a story differently than you would. But what …
Why I Write About Demons
by Bruce Hennigan I am amazed at times by friends who think that I am somehow in league with Satan because I write novels about demons. Nothing could be farther from the truth. So, why do I write about demons? Because I have stared the enemy in the its face and I will not back down again! My first encounter …
Relying on the Reliable Narrator
by Christine Sunderland World War I (“the war to end all wars”), begun a century ago, seeded an era of cynicism, doubt that “civilization” was possible, that the savage beast could be tamed. England lost one third of their best and brightest young men. Despair and disbelief filled those who were left, a despair reflected in the arts and letters …
Big Dreams
by Henry McLaughlin At one time or another, we’ve all had big dreams. When I was a kid, my dream was to play Major League Baseball. But I stopped growing and my bat never could figure out how to hit a curveball. As we grow up, our dreams change but they’re still big: the right job, the perfect spouse, the …
Writing Fiction, Sorting Out the Facts
by Rebecca DeMarino A challenge to writing fiction based on the lives of real people and events can be daunting, but not impossible. When it is set in a historical time period, sorting out the facts from lore, stereotypes and misconceptions can make it tricky (or sticky) however. I had concerns about writing a novel based on the real lives …
Writers are From Mars, Readers are from Venus
by Janice Thompson Likely you’ve heard the old expression, “Women are from Mars, men are from Venus.” It’s so true, isn’t it? While we may have common goals, our methods of getting there are quite different. Add the various personalities/temperaments to the mix and you will see the potential for both hilarity and adventure. As writers, we must remember that …