By Kariss Lynch So we planned a lazy Sunday afternoon date with Netflix and quiet conversation. He scrolled through our options, interested in a documentary. As titles moved past, I noticed a low-rated show that blew my mind – Wife Swap. “Who would do that?” He shrugged and kept scrolling. “I honestly have no idea how anyone could do that.” …
Writing When There are so Many Books
By Rondi Olson Most people are encouraging when I tell them I am a writer, and that my debut novel is about to be released. Often they congratulate me, and some have assured me they will look for my book when it comes out. A few others have been less generous. “People need to stop writing books,” one lady told …
Audiences and Communities
By Glynn Young Do you write for an audience? I don’t. Most of my career in communications focused on writing for an audience. It might be people listening to a speech; it might be people reading a magazine article or a newspaper story. The audience might be people (sometimes angry) assembled for a town hall meeting. Or company employees. The …
The Reluctant Blogger
By JPC Allen Last summer as I prepared for my first ACFW conference, I couldn’t have been more depressed about my chances of finding an agent. I had registered for the conference with high hopes because I was a semi-finalist in the YA category of the 2016 Genesis contest. Then I did my research and discovered the 21st century definition …
Brave the Blizzard
By Chandra Smith I write this post on March 14, and, here in south central Pennsylvania, we have a blizzard. One of my critique partners suggested this storm is my fault because last week I put the finishing touches on a novella where the bleak moments take place during a blizzard. Perhaps I should go outside and act out parts …
Eureka! Finding Gold in Research
By Michelle Shocklee Writing historical fiction is a lot like digging for gold. No matter the era and setting an author chooses, enormous mountains of historical data loom over us, daring us to find those interesting nuggets and minute details that make a book sing. The task can seem daunting, discouraging, and downright impossible at times. We know there is …
Teacher Tools for the Writer: How to Use Google Forms to Make the Writing Life a Bit Easier
By Hannah Conway After eight years away from the classroom, I went back to teaching full-time. World History with Seventh Graders y’all! Pray for me. My Google searches went from “what does a bullet hole wound look like?” to “Middle school desk seating arrangements”. Now my searches are a strange mix of facts for fiction, and classroom info combined with …
Stand Alone Novel or Series?
By Ane Mulligan Are you writing a novel that’s part of a series or a stand-alone one? Let’s talk about series. Readers love series. While Jan Karon wrote eleven books in the Mitford series, the average stands at three or four. It’s hard to leave beloved characters behind after all the time you spent with them. I planned out my …
Persist . . . or Play?
By Sarah Sundin Once again my life paralleled the lives of my characters. While writing my latest release, When Tides Turn, I’d promised to not become overwhelmed by work, but I had. Only one thing to do—power through. Or so I thought. Instead, other lessons popped through. Stay the Course “Stay the course” is the motto of the novel’s hero, …
He Sowed Seeds, I Sow Words: Lessons on Writing from my Grandfather
By Tamara D. Fickas Grandpa spent much of his life working the land, coaxing forth new life that would nourish many. Farming was in his blood, so he toiled long hours in the fields. Over the years, I realized there is much I could learn from Grandpa. I don’t sow seeds; I sow words. Writing is in my blood, so …