By Sarah Sundin As a historical novelist, I do a lot of research. As an introvert, I prefer research in books and libraries and on-line. Over the years, I’ve learned where to look for information, and I’m persistent enough (mule-headed?) to find what I need. Most of the time. Sometimes I simply can’t find the information I want. At that …
The Value of Your Day Job (Other Than the Obvious)
By Ramona Richards A day job gives you money, a connection to the world, and a routine. Freedom from financial stress also means freedom in your art. —Austin Kleon, Steal Like An Artist Along with “Write what you know,” “Don’t quit your day job” is the most overused–and misused–piece of advice new writers receive. And yet…quitting our day jobs to …
13 Truths About Being a Writer
by Edie Melson Choosing to stand up and be identified as a writer can be a scary thing. The road is rarely a straight path to publication. These are some things that I hope will help you stay the course as you continue on your own writing journey 13 Truths About Being a Writer 1. It’s an eternal struggle between …
An Elevator Pitch with a Hook
by Lee Carver Here’s the scenario: You enter the hotel elevator during the ACFW Conference and recognize an agent or editor you’d love to impress. Each of you selects a floor choice, and she turns to you and asks, “So what are you writing?” Being prepared for the question, you unabashedly speak your thirty-word pitch in the twenty seconds or …
Should I Be Writing this Genre?
by Tamela Hancock Murray Often I talk with new authors writing in lots of genres. This is fine if it’s part of your personal writing journey and learning process. I want my authors to enjoy what they’re writing. But when you get serious about publication, know when to choose and what to choose. One mistake is to write strictly to …
Tell Me Lies: A Character Building Tip
By Hannah Conway When it comes to writing, making characters isn’t my strong suit. Sigh. The plot comes natural to me. My mind wields a storyline that I can only hope to portray with words. Yet, in order to become a better writer, to deepen and sharpen my craft, I need developed characters. Not any characters, but characters that reach …
A Long Time Comin’…and Going
By Robin W. Pearson When the Crusader left for college I thought saying goodbye to him would kill me–it was harder than labor, eating okra, passing my college philosophy class, or even moving to New Jersey. After all, he’s our first child of seven, our first homeschool graduate, our first to flit from the nest; his transition marked the end …
Unexpected Inspiration
By Linda Brooks Davis Inspiration can rise from unexpected quarters. In the vernacular of my growing-up days, the poor widow of Mark 12: 42-44 gave her last red cent, a worthy lesson, I reasoned, for my young Bible students who dole out pennies for the collection basket. In search of supplies for money bags, I browsed through drawers of old …
The Art of the Series…
By Allie Pleiter Series are the big thing in fiction these days. Readers love them, publishers want them. It seems as if Netflix has taught us all how to binge-watch, so if we weren’t ready to binge-read before, we are now. As a writer, I like series because building a world and cast of characters is hard work, and it’s …
When the Story Falters
By Tamara D. Fickas Sometimes the story falters and the words refuse to come. They bottleneck inside your brain and tangle until it’s as hopeless as Christmas lights that were so neat and orderly last year. In those moments, as the tale wanders off the page and down a dark alley where you fear to tread, it’s easy to give …