By Kit Wilkinson How do you write a happily-ever-after when your own story has turned into a tragedy? When I landed my last novel contract, frankly, it was the first bit of good news I’d had in a long while. I’d prayed to be able to write this book for a few months, thinking it would be just what I …
Writing Contests and You!
By Roxanne Rustand ACFW is a wonderful source of education, networking, and industry information, and offers another opportunity: its annual contest for unpublished writers. There are other non-ACFW contests during the year as well. Entering contests can be very helpful, and here are a few reasons why: 1. If your critique partners have seen your work over and over, they …
Discouragement Prescription
by Becky Wade Just four short syllables, but discouragement can have enormous destructive power in the life of a writer. Most of us who’ve been writing for any length of time have encountered seasons of it. Here are just a few of the things that can cause the onset of a case of discouragement. Do any of these sound familiar? …
What if we Plot a Writing Path for the Year Ahead?
By Judy Christie Many writers start terrific stories by asking a simple question: What if? “What if?” leads novelists down the merry story path, scene after scene, chapter after chapter. Those words ignite fiction magic. Anything can happen. As you assess your writing for the year ahead, “what if” can also bear fruit in a practical career way. That question …
Can One Person Make a Difference?
by Suzanne Woods Fisher “Don’t worry what you could do if you lived your life over; get busy with what’s left.” Amish proverb Can one person make a difference? Even a woman who might be, say, considered a wee bit elderly? Consider Victoria Williams of Richmond, California. Eleven years ago, when Victoria was 77 (did you catch that? She was …
Letting Go…
by Katherine Reay You’re suffering from a double dose of me. When I signed up to be today’s blogger, I didn’t know I’d be yesterday’s interview. So if you want to know more about me, I think I am lurking in the archives from yesterday… But today, we chat writing and letting go. In fact, as of about an hour …
Island Girl
by Jennifer Sienes Almost seven years ago, I quit my “day job” as a middle school teacher to write full time. I’m well aware that it’s a blessing to be able to devote entire days to my writing endeavors when so many of my contemporaries must snatch an hour here or there between work, kids and life. Or as Monk …
From Russia with Love
By Susan May Warren This year marks the tenth anniversary of my first novel being published. “Happily Ever After” came out in 2003 just as we returned home from the mission field in Russia, and I still remember staring wide eyed at the cover thinking…how on earth did this happen? See the truth is that I never set out to …
Tell the Story
by Shirley Gould Scripture tells us in John 21:25 in the Message Bible… There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books. Though I would never be in favor of adding one ‘jot or tittle’ to …
Accepting the Fog
By Donna Benson My husband and I are long haul truckers and write in my down time. In our recent travels, we’ve encountered fog in many areas around the country. It’s not pleasant to drive through this heavy mist, because it obscures your vision. We can’t see the scenery or traffic ahead. Year after year, many are hurt in auto …