By Michelle Arch My office is in chaos – again. After finishing my course thesis on the parallels between Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man and Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground last spring, I spent a Saturday clearing the disarray of books, critical essays, notepads and Post-its with my jotted thoughts and references, my highlighted and dog-eared MLA Handbook and dictionary, half-empty water …
Someday … I’ll Write a Novel
by Kathy Harris Someday … I’ll write a novel. How many times have you heard someone say these words? Maybe it was you. Or perhaps you’ve written a novel-or two or three or more-and your goal is to be published. Or multi-published. Maybe you want to hit the New York Times Bestseller list. Whatever your dream, it’s time to set …
Writing Under Adversity
by Cheryl Wyatt As I pondered what to write about on this blog post, I wondered why it was taking me so long to think of a subject. Sure, I’d prayed, but my brain still felt dead and devoid of ideas. It dawned on me that a cumulative lack of sleep for the past two weeks is the likely culprit …
Why Do We Write?
by Kristena Tunstall Why do we write? For everyone it’s different. For me, it’s very personal. I started to write because of a tragedy, and not just any kind of tragedy but one that so many of us could imagine because we know the pain would be so acute. It’s the loss of a child. It’s hard to believe that …
Celebrating the Little Moments in Your Writing
by Lisa Jordan I read a brief devotional from Joy for a Woman’s Soul, written by the Women of Faith ladies. The late Barbara Johnson had written a piece titled “Celebrate Joy.” She reminds us “celebrate anything you can think of.” After all, “every day is worth a party-not just the cookie cutter moments.” If we applied that to our …
Imagine, Dream, Believe
by Loretta Eidson As I pondered the appropriate topic for this blog, I sat at my breakfast bar with a cup of coffee admiring these flameless candles on the counter in front of me. Imagine, dream, believe blinked in the flickering light. That was it, these simple words could be applied to many areas of life, but I found them …
Passion, Purpose, & Praise
by Deborah Lynne How many of you had specific goals to reach in 2013? (Of course the year isn’t over yet-just getting close.) Did you accomplish what you set out to do? How many of you had specific goals to reach in 2013? (Of course the year isn’t over yet-just getting close.) Did you accomplish what you set out to …
What’s God Saying To You?
by Jordyn Redwood I think, particularly as Christian authors, we view our books as a way to get God’s Word out in a non-threatening manner. Novels are easier to hand to someone than a Bible and generally an easier area of conversation. However, two recent events are causing me to change my view on that a little. Recently, my minister …
Writing with Christmas Passion
by Dan Campbell I love Christmas. I’m not sure when it happened or why, but from the time of my earliest memories I have watched in wonder at all the beauty and splendor of the season; the trees, the lights, the tinsel, the snow (oh the snow), the timeless carols, apple cider and eggnog. I am all grown up, with …
A Word about Communion
by Rebecca DeMarino Like many writers I’ve been choosing a “word for the year” for a few years now. Sometimes the word chooses me. It will be the word I meditate on, pray about and try to include in a conversation throughout the year. Ideally, I would do these things every day. But to be honest I have to remind …