By Darlene L. Turner “Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth . . . ” (Proverb 3:3a VOICE) You know what they say . . . “A picture is worth a thousand words.” But what if the picture was blurry and out of focus? It’s worthless. Or is it? Have you noticed when you first press the …
In Celebration of Technique
By Michelle Arch A curious thing seems to be happening in MFA workshops and critique groups. Criticism regarding spelling, grammar, and punctuation is considered hypercritical and offered only with considerable apologies for nitpicking. “Your editor will catch and correct those problems” seems to be the widespread assumption, which disregards entirely the fact that, as unpublished, amateur writers, we don’t yet …
Make Me Care
By Kathleen Y’Barbo Now that I commute for my job, I love listening to podcasts. I can thank my daughter for this habit, as she’s the one who told me I should give them a try. Most of the time, I listen to writing-related podcasts. My list isn’t particularly long, but I do have a few favorites. Joanna Penn’s The …
Every Day Acknowledgements
By Sara Ella I’ve been thinking about acknowledgements lately. My debut novel is with my editor as I write this, so I’ve been working on that little section the goes at the back of the book. You know, the one that’s supposed to be short and sweet. The one in which I am expected to fit all my thank yous. …
First Drafts: Fast and Free
By Katherine Reay As I write this, The Bronte Plot launches in two weeks and my next manuscript is due in a few days… As you read it, both are behind me. And at both times, I’m buried in first drafts. My son is working on college application essays and one of my daughters is tackling her first two high …
Capturing Your Romance Reader’s Heart
By Norma Gail You don’t have to compete with the greatest romance ever written to capture the heart of your reader. You have to make them fall in love with your character. Think of the most romantic line you have ever heard. So many great lines have been written and spoken over the years that it seems impossible to come …
Crafting the Villain
By Kariss Lynch We’re all born sinful, but I don’t believe any of us are born inherently evil. Hitler didn’t start out thinking he would become a mass murderer. Life experiences, his choices, and what he fed his mind and heart led to the blackness of his character. While Hitler is an extreme example, I believe the same could be …
The Dreaded S-Word
By Bonnie Calhoun There is nothing in this writing world that can elicit more dread and loathing than saying the simple word ‘synopsis.’ The definitions of the word range from ‘a brief summary or general survey of something’ to ‘an outline of the plot of a book…’ So we are going to discuss writing a brief outline of a book. …
Writing Productivity, Big and Small Chunk Style
By Allie Pleiter How much writing do you get done in a sitting? The answer feeds a lot more than your progress toward a deadline-it can tell you a lot about your writing life and writing needs. What do I mean by “big” or “small”? While my book goes into much greater detail, the basic concept is this: If you …
Ten Tips for a Satisfying Radio Interview
By Cynthia Ruchti The success of a radio interview is as easy to calculate as the number of baby guppies born in the night. Did listeners rush to their local bookstore to purchase or order the book? Were there more than two people listening? Please, God? Since God is the only one with answers to those questions about numbers and …