by Charlotte Snead Writers are a strange lot. We talk about our characters as if they were our friends-and perhaps they are, our best friends. I don’t just sleep with just anyone, and these, my companions, talk to me at night, waking me up, demanding a re-write, more detail, a closer look, another layer. Sometimes they let me off with …
The Poetry of Plots
by Christine Sunderland As Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, they celebrate their own resurrections. They celebrate the ending of their story as human beings. And it is a satisfying ending for each of us. Just so, as I plot my novels, I want my stories to reflect these deeply human realities that are true of all of us, believers …
Motivation-the Foundation of Compelling Characters
By Ane Mulligan For those who have read Debra Dixon’s book GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict, I have come to the conclusion that Motivation is the most important. Motivation engages us. We can relate to character motivations. They form the foundation of characters that live on in our minds after the story ends. Motivation leads to character arc. It’s the …
Writing Historical Words
By Jane Kirkpatrick If the novel is set in the early 1800s in New England should a writer use contractions when the speech pattern of the era didn’t? Or rather did not? What about word choice? Should my character say “He lacked drive” or “he lacked ambition?” Which word would resonate with the people of 1821? These are just a …
Dreaming Big!
by Casey Herringshaw Do you have dreams for your writing? Do you take the time to plot out where you’d like to go? And I don’t just mean the New York Times Bestseller list. 😉 Dreams are a good thing. Dreams give you motivation. Goals. Energy. We hear all over the social media internet when a friend or fellow writer …
Make Your Manuscript Sparkle
By Anne Greene When I wrote my book, Masquerade Marriage, I discovered the secret to making each manuscript I write come alive to my readers. In the second book of my Scottish Marriage Series, Marriage By Arrangement, I honed that secret to a fine art. I’m a great proponent of improving each manuscript I write. So, I’ve worked diligently to …
The Art of Not Rushing
by Lindsay Harrel I’m impatient by nature. I see something I want and I make a plan to go for it. Sometimes, no matter the cost. But as an author of Christian fiction…well, I just can’t. I can’t force myself to learn something faster than my brain will process it. As we all know, learning characterization or plotting techniques isn’t …
Why Take the Chance?
by Fay Lamb Stick around the business long enough and you’re going to find an exception to every rule. You know, the best-selling author who says, “I don’t worry about grammar and punctuation. I just tell the story and let a copyeditor deal with the rest.” Sure, it happens. Someone writes a novel that is so intriguing an editor overlooks …
The Writer’s Life Is A Solitary Life. Or Is It?
The Writer’s Life Is A Solitary Life. Or Is It? How to build a viable community. A writer’s life is a solitary life. The very act of shutting oneself away to write a novel implies solitude, aloneness. If not physically, then mentally and emotionally. Writers have to break free from the day-to-day, spend time with the people living and breathing …
Speaking at Your Local Library
by Lisa Jordan Last November, my friend mentioned her book club was reading my first novel, Lakeside Reunion, and she asked if I’d like to come and talk at their November meeting. I agreed and enjoyed the conversation I had with them. One of the book club attendees works as the business manager at my local library and asked if …