By Chandra Smith In March I shared about a dream one of my ancestors had that inspired one of my manuscripts. I encouraged you to dream your stories. Anyone who has been writing for a while understands when discouragement comes, it is easy to give up and go sit in the corner of insecurity. I am a professional dog trainer. …
Tips to Help on Your Journey toward Publication
By Amy Clipston People often ask me what the secret is to getting published. I don’t believe there is a secret to getting published, but I do have a list of things that will help writers on their journey to publication. 1. Join a Writers’ Group I accidentally found the website for a local writers’ group while in search for …
Help! I’m Lost and Can’t Find My Way
By Ane Mulligan I’d hit the 43,000-word mark in the fourth book in my Chapel Springs series. I knew the characters like I know myself. Better even, since I don’t pretend they don’t have faults. But the story stalled on me. It lacked the usual “feel” of its sister books. It was missing the heart. I had to force myself …
Making Sacred Sense
By Christine Sunderland A church bell tolls over the lake. A white gull soars and dives, catching the wind current over the waters. We follow a path along the water’s edge to the local village, feeling the pebbly uneven cobblestones, careful not to trip and fall. Entering the village, the exhaust and gunning of motorbikes propel us to the town …
Dress for Success and Corrie Ten Boom
By Carol Hamilton Today’s authors should be speakers, also. To become more comfortable before an audience and to allow your audience to be more at ease with you, learn to dress for success. When you stand on a stage, the crowd sees more of your feet than they may want. Women, be sure heels aren’t too spiked. They could get …
Collisions with Purpose
By Norma Gail Sometimes life is like getting rear-ended, bouncing around like a rubber ball as the car does a complete 360, colliding with the median and curb, making you wonder if it will ever stop. The only question my mind can form is “God, why?” The world around me became silent a little over a month ago. I can …
Story Structure
By Katherine Reay As I begin a new story, my mind turns to structure. No matter how much I say I’m an “organic” writer, I need solid hooks on which to hang my musings. I can get lost easily if the basics of the road aren’t cleared in front of me. Whether you think the “rules” of structure are important …
The Actions of Writing
by Sarah Hamaker Are you a writer? If you answered yes, do you believe, deep down inside, that you are indeed a writer? Too many times, we say we’re writers but our actions say another thing. For example, you meet someone for the first time and are asked what you do. Do you… A) Say you’re a writer? B) Say …
A To Don’t List for Writer’s Conferences
By Tamara D. Fickas Springtime is easing into summer. Trees and flowers are blooming. The temperature is inching upward. On cue, the writing world is easing into conference season. One-sheets and proposals are bursting forth. Social media is a twitter (see what I did there) with what works best and words of encouragement. This season is a busy time for …
The Capacity to Obey
By Davalynn Spencer “What if I run out of things to say?” For some authors, this can be a serious concern. Other writers dip from an ever-flowing font and never worry about where the next words are coming from. I began my writer’s journey as a journalist and crime-beat reporter. Talk about unending fodder. But deep down in the creative …