By Kariss Lynch It’s inevitable in writing, publishing, and life – there will be high highs and low lows and sweet moments in between. How we handle both extremes often demonstrates our character. A slap to my writing and to my dreams caused me to wrestle with this concept when I graduated from college. I began to wonder, “Is God …
Hanging in There
By Rondi Olson A couple of years ago, I had an unexpected reaction to reading a blog post. Normally I enjoy writer success stories, but after reading one particular publication journey, I crawled into bed, curled into a ball, and cried. This writer had finished her National Novel Writing Month project, then, in newbie eagerness, submitted her first draft to …
You are the Only You
By Tamara D. Fickas A new writer recently expressed concern that their words weren’t important. With so many great writers out there, how could their story make a difference? I can relate to that. Even after all the years I’ve been working at this writing gig I still struggle with whether my story is valuable enough to share shelf space …
Giving our Books, One at a Time
By Elizabeth Musser “You have such an amazing family-you’re so genuine, so obviously happy to be together. I wish all the families I photograph were like yours.” So commented the hip young photographer I’d hired to take a family photo of our two sons, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren (ages 3, 2, and 1) and my husband and me. It had been …
Be Stunning
By Lauren H. Brandenburg As writers we work hard to create stunning characters. Our protagonists feel more, say more, and often express more than the writers who create them. Our characters have a mission and are not only driven by the plot line we set them upon, but rather an inner desire, conviction, or conflict that we have placed inside …
Writing from the Heart or To the Market
By Rondi Bauer Olson My first writer’s conference was with ACFW in 2009. I was so proud of my manuscript. Dystopians were hot, HUNGER GAMES had come out the year before, and it’s what I’d written! Agents and editors were eager to see what I had, and I received a number of full and partial requests. Did I mention this …
Writing the Story of your Heart versus Writing Something “to get the sale.”
by Susan May Warren I receive a lot of questions from aspiring writers and this one caught my eye. Q: Have you ever had a story that you wanted to write, a spiritual message you wanted to share, but it won’t let you just yet? A: Yes, I have a couple stories sitting in my heart that I haven’t had …
Write What You Know?
By Katherine Reay As I generate ideas for my next novel, I realize a certain theme in everything I write. If you’ve read anything of mine, you’d probably say “classic literature.” While you wouldn’t be wrong… Goodness knows, with titles like Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy and Jane and The Bronte Plot, how could you be? But there’s a deeper theme… …
Where Does Your Story Begin?
by Linda Brooks Davis Ever wonder how far back the roots of your story extend? With the recent release of my debut novel, “The Calling of Ella McFarland,” I find myself wondering when the story began. Was it in 2014 when I opened Scrivener and typed CHAPTER 1? Or long before? Perhaps it was 2005 when my first grandchild arrived …
Writing Suffers If Faith Falters
by Linda Robinson If it were possible, writing would be number one on my priority list every day—after my Bible study, prayer, and quiet time alone with God. But “stuff” happens to interrupt schedules and plans. And as we all know, some events are much bigger and more stressful than others. In this age of specialized medicine, we must visit …