by Rachel Hauck Over on Southernbelleview where I blog with a fine host of southern writers, our Friday Belle, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, wrote, “The whole world stops for a story.” Her words hit me square in the heart. How true! The world does stop for a story. A news story. Or a book. A movie or play about the heroism …
What Should I Write?
by Sandra Bishop MacGregor Literary What should I write? What should I do next? “What’s Hot?” Should I write that? I get this exact litany of questions often. And while we’re an agency that prides itself on career management and guiding our authors in their writing journeys, I’ll confess, answering the “Should I write what’s Hot?” question in is not …
Achieving the Next Level
by Kathy Harris Let’s talk about transitions. Not transitional words – like but, and, either, and or – but the kind of transitions that take our writing to the next level. On Sunday afternoons, I often tune into Motivational Coach Micheal Burt’s radio show. Coach Burt recently spoke about transitions. Any of us who have experienced a transition, in or …
You’re a published author . . . Now what?
By Diane Moore The first book is published, ongoing media interviews, book signings, and social media networking fill your schedule, further outward signs that you’ve made it, Congratulations. So, why do you have that gnawing feeling of unfinished work still looming? For many of us, the second novel (and beyond) is more challenging because we have something to live up …
“The BE-happy-ATTITUDES for Christian Writers”
by Eileen Key During this holiday season, a week after Thanksgiving, I feel so FULL of thanks. God’s done such amazing things in my life and in ACFW. I ran across this list from my wonderful writer friend Janice Thompson and decided to share it. Be happy, be blessed my friends. “The BE-happy-ATTITUDES for Christian Writers” by Janice Thompson Blessed …
Does your story passion match your life story passion?
by Melissa Tagg I like to think of myself as a fairly confident person. I mean, I’ve not pulled a Julie Andrews and gone singing through the streets of Salzburg about my confidence or anything. But I’ve not generally been all that self-conscious… …until recently. In the past few months, I’ve been writing-and wincing and replotting and rewriting-my second contracted …
Four Ways to Rise to the Top!
by Tamela Hancock Murray The Steve Laube Agency Since agents receive more proposals than they have time to represent, a huge obstacle for new authors is getting their manuscripts to the top of the stack. Every week I review excellent proposals from writers I would be proud to represent. If only I could double my hours in a day! This …
When the Contracts Don’t Come
by Vickie McDonough Since I was first published in 2004, I’ve gone through two long seasons without a contract. The first lasted fifteens months, and the most recent lasted eleven. During my first dry desert time, I remember wondering if I’d written all the books that God had for me. Was I done writing for publication? It was a real …
Don’t Be Afraid of Hard
by Anne Mateer It’s inevitable, I think. At least I hope so. Otherwise it’s just me. But I choose to believe that every writer hits that book that spins them round and round and upside down. Maybe it’s an emotional theme that requires you to reach into depths of yourself you had no desire to explore. Maybe it’s characters that …
Reduce Irritation with Basic Information
by Les Stobbe, Literary Agent As literary agent I find an all-too-often disregard of the basics when writers send me a proposal. In addition, I get really upset clients when, in writing cover copy, publisher’s copy editors misrepresent what is in their book. Finally, clients get really frustrated when their book’s front cover is way off base on either background …