By Cynthia Herron As a little girl, I created masterpieces. I rocked my world with art and zany inventions. I made stuff from unusual materials—egg cartons, fabric swatches, wallpaper samples—you name it. I used it. I adored anything I could put my creative stamp on and call my own. I liked to color, paint, and make things with my hands …
Let Go and Let God Write
By: Lenora Livingston In my seventy-nine years of living, never once in my wildest dreams did I ever envision myself writing a novel. No, not me, no way! In my school days, I always cringed at the very thought of rough drafts and rewriting themes and term papers. If I couldn’t write it right the first time, forget it. It …
“Don’t Push Me”
By Leslie DeVooght My two-year old niece proclaims, “patience is waiting with a happy heart.” Apparently, I gave her mother the book In This House, We Will Giggle by Courtney DeFeo. My family studied one virtue a month from this book, but I’m pretty sure we need a remedial course. We all need what we want, and we need it …
Enjoy the Journey – Even the Detours
by Tracy Popolizio Last year I was given a great, hidden treasure. A book! I say hidden because I didn’t realize the impact it would have on me until months later, when, shuffling through my stack looking to see what might interest me, it caught my eye. I pulled it out and thought I should probably read it because it …
Beautiful in His Time
By Cathleen Armstrong How does it happen so fast? New Year’s Day always dawns with so much promise—365 days, a whole year, lie open like the pristine pages of a brand-new journal. The possibilities are infinite. This is the year we’ll finally finish the novel-that-never-ends. We’ll start a new one. We’ll wrestle social media to the ground and rise victorious …
Dare To Know
By Kim A. Gilliland I have often heard or read in writing courses over the years — write about what you know. I have also heard and read how absurd that notion is. I wonder, which is correct? Perhaps it’s both. I love to write about murder, but I have never murdered anyone. My protagonist owns her own pet store, …
What We Learn While Waiting
By Elizabeth Musser I received a wonderful gift over Christmas: contracts for two new novels with a publishing house I not only respect but one I had worked with for many years. And then for many years, I didn’t. Work with them. Or receive a contract. And it was HARD. Maybe your writing has career has been a little like …
How Are Those Resolutions Working For You?
By Patricia Bradley It’s January 16th, one day past the halfway mark in January. So, how are those resolutions you made at the beginning of the month working for you? Or have you already cast them aside, broken and mangled? Raise your hand if that’s you. That’s me waving my hand. Oh, I’ve not broken them all. I’m still doing …
Acts of Gratitude – Paying it Forward
By Lenora Livingston “Paying it Forward” is an expression for describing the recipient of a good deed repaying it to others instead of to the original benefactor. What better way can a person show their thankfulness than to participate in the rippling effects of goodness. At age 78, I wish I could go back and thank my teachers who most …
Finding Acceptance in a Tough Writing Industry
By Emily Conrad When responses to my debut novel started to come in from my launch team, a friend asked if the positive feedback encouraged me. Though, yes, the praise was a momentary boost, and no, I don’t want to consider what might’ve happened in my heart if the initial response had been the opposite, I had to confess that …