By Donna Wichelman During these days of quarantine, a writer friend has sent quotes of the day to our writers’ group. I’ve enjoyed the many words of encouragement, but one struck me as particularly profound: “Success is a project that’s always under construction.” Philippians 1:6 came to mind: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work …
Writers, Lead the Way!
By Sarah Sundin This week marks the 76th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. While studying the US Army Rangers on D-day for my latest novel, The Land Beneath Us, I was struck by aspects of the Ranger mentality that apply to us as writers. Although we may not have to scale tall cliffs under …
Writing in the Midst of Chaos, Pandemics, and Life
by Kimberley Woodhouse The past few months have been weird. There, I said it. Of course, I don’t think any of us will soon forget COVID-19, coronavirus, stay-at-home orders, masks, church services all moving to online, or any of the other oddities that became normal parts of our everyday life during this pandemic. And it’s not over. To be honest, …
Writing Quotes
by Henry McLaughlin Many of us have writing quotes to inspire or nag us. Or to nudge us to keep writing. A few of my favorites include: “If my family didn’t want me to write about them, they should’ve behaved better.” – Anne Lamott “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” – Ray Bradbury “I love …
Creativity—Keeping it Pure
by Terri Gillespie “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, TLV Creativity. Taking nothing and making something. Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” I love that. The Creator of the Universe—our Heavenly Father—sure has fun with creativity. Look at the giraffe. What is amazing as writers, authors, artists, musicians, and those who live …
I Mowed My Grass
By Julia Kay I mowed my grass. Big deal, right? Yet, we find posts similar to this on social media. Some folks share their health problems, minor details of life, or political views. It’s a rather large spectrum. What does this mean for the writer? Lean in, my friend. I’m about to share a secret. Social media is a GOLD …
Making It Real
by Kathy Harris In a plot twist few had fathomed––although Dean Koontz predicted something eerily similar in his 1981 novel The Eyes of Darkness—a tiny organism too small to see without a microscope has turned our lives, and our livelihoods, upside down, setting off a giant conflict in the story we call day-to-day life. Although this real life “inciting incident” …
How Can YOU Reach a Broader Audience?
By Mesu Andrews When I was choosing dates to write for the ACFW blog, I noticed that today, May 21st, is Ascension Day. Now, I’m a theological mutt. Mom’s charismatic. Dad was Quaker. My grandparents were Pilgrim Holiness ordained ministers—both grandpa AND grandma even way back when. Since my spiritual heritage is Evangelical, I don’t know much about Ascension Day. …
Do your characters talk to you?
By Glynn Young The news report made quite a splash. Researchers at Durham University in the U.K. teamed up with The Guardian newspaper and the Edinburgh Book Festival to do a study of authors. And the study reported that two-thirds of authors hear their characters speak while they’re writing. My first thought was, this is news? The study was more …
The Art of Baking…and Writing
By Kariss Lynch I’m always cooking up a new story. The problem? I can’t write them as fast as I can concoct them. And somehow the thoughts don’t always make the batter very creamy. (Can you tell I’ve been baking and watching too many episodes of Cake Wars in quarantine?) Sometimes I have to a look at a new way …