By Rachel Dylan When I first started writing I entered numerous writing contests for unpublished authors. I was excited to enter and see what others thought about these crazy stories that had developed inside my head. These contests were a great way to get feedback and have someone who didn’t know me read my manuscript. I jumped in and started …
5 Reasons to Attend a Writers Conference
By Patricia Bradley Are you wondering if you should attend the upcoming ACFW conference, or any conference, for that matter? Let me give you five reasons why you should. Meeting people who “get” you. Have you ever tried talking to a non-writer about your story? Or an article you’re working on? Did their eyes glaze over or did they look …
The Rewards of Research
by Diana Wallis Taylor Anytime I prepare to write a new book, the matter of research comes up. What do I need to know to accurately present my main characters? Jewish background and customs are more familiar since I have written about several Jewish women in the New Testament, among them Martha, Ruth, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of …
Why “Brand” Matters…Or Does it Really?
By Cynthia Herron As a writer, you’ve probably given some thought to your “brand.” (And if you haven’t, now’s the time!) “Brand” to an author is what water is to wildflowers. It quenches, sustains, and breathes life into an otherwise drab existence. For instance, in today’s world where we’re surrounded with a buffet of opportunity, I’m always intrigued by people’s …
Know Your Audience!
By JPC Allen Author’s Note: This article first appeared on Rebecca Waters’s site A Novel Creation at WatersWords.com. After I finished my YA Christian fiction novel and edited it a few hundred times, I looked into publishing it. All agents and editors gave the same advice, “Know your audience!” It seemed so overwhelming to me, getting to know the reading …
When the Reader Tastes the Salty Sea Spray
By Leslie DeVooght Readers want to be transported and experience your characters’ world. Your setting should elicit an emotional response from your readers. To achieve this kind of intimacy with the place, a writer must visit the place. Setting isn’t just a location. In our first meeting, my fantastic writing coach Lindsey Bracket said, “you must evoke the island.” This …
Creating a World
By Susan A.J. Lyttek One thing I love about writing speculative fiction is the opportunity to imitate my God and create worlds. There are entire books written about how to design your universe. Obviously, I cannot going that far in a blog post. Even so, I will include some basic pointers on the process. Anchor it in reality. Unlike our …
Learning from the Pro Writers without Stalking Them
By DiAnn Mills We all want to be called pro writers and to raise our status to bestselling. In our excitement, we follow the award-winning, best-selling writers whose success make us drool. Their books are read and reread, often with highlights. Their blogs are ingested like candy, and whenever they speak, we’re there. At conferences, we sign-up for one-on-one appointments …
Between You and SME: Resources for Fiction Writers
by Angela Arndt As a corporate trainer for an insurance company, I wrote the curriculum and trained new hires to ensure they used correct procedures. But my degree was in education, not computer programming. How could I teach them when I needed someone to teach me? The answer? A subject-matter expert, or SME (pronounced “smee,” like Captain Hook’s bo’sun in …
When Characters Start Talking
by Ann H. Gabhart Several years ago I had a part time job that allowed me to work from home, one I hoped would give me more time to write. It was a bear of a job. As the substitute coordinator for my county’s school system, I spent hours on the phone scheduling replacements for absent teachers. Okay, so you’re …