By Tina Radcliffe With the New Year comes reflection and evaluation as we map out the course for the year ahead. In order to reach your goal you must have a map and you have to plan. Come on. When was the last time you started a long road trip without checking the oil, the tires, gassing up and buying …
What Writers Do on Summer Vacation
by Mary Ellis I’m occasionally asked by readers how I spend my vacations. Touring Europe with a rail-pass? Spending a month meditating in the mountains of Tibet to prime the creative well? Or perhaps relaxing on a secluded beach somewhere tropical, unspoiled and complete with spa facilities? Actually, many writers I know use vacations to research their next book or …
Digging Deeper – How Far Should You Go?
by Connie Stevens Most authors-at least the ones I know-love research. Whether they write contemporary or historical, long or short, romance or suspense, a writer wants to know their characters intimately. The best way to do that is to delve into their background, their roots, their hidden past. Are there ghosts from their past that haunt them? What defines their …
Set Goals and Reap the Rewards
by B.J. Bassett One year Jack London received 400 rejections. With that many rejections he was bound to have received some acceptances. I look forward to the beginning of a new year with a fresh slate to record my goals. Since I began setting goals, I’ve written and published more. I set monthly goals. Others set daily, weekly, yearly, short …
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
by Lillian Duncan Wow! It’s the first day of a new year and I have the honor of welcoming it in for ACFW’s blog. That is quite the honor and quite the responsibility. Do I pick a solemn topic? Maybe, one to make you smile? Something encouraging? Something to make you think? Something inspirational? Mmm. What to do? So many …
Whose Fault Is It If Your Book Doesn’t Sell in 2013?
by Greg Johnson WordServe Literary Group After representing a couple of thousand books, I’ve seen average books go through the roof, and great books struggle to find readers. I won’t name names or titles, but we’ve all scratched our heads after reading a current bestseller, thinking Really? Naturally, I’ve seen hundreds of books sell just “okay.” And on rare occasions, …
What Are You Waiting For?
by Jill Williamson As writers, we’re always waiting for something. Putting in time to finish that book and hone our craft. Waiting for our critique partners to read our book. Waiting for a conference where we’ll get a chance to pitch our project. Waiting for our turn to meet with editors and agents. Waiting to get home and prepare the …
Bring on the New Year!
by DiAnn Mills This is the season we prepare our writing goals for the next year. Some of you are cringing … I can feel it. Others are moaning … I can hear it. But if we don’t evaluate our progress in 2012 and list what we’d like to accomplish in 2013, where is our career going? Let’s discuss the …
A Call To Write
by Linda Robinson Writing was not in my plans. Notice I said MY plans. I’m long past my prime. I can only imagine the joy and fulfillment I’ve missed by not avidly seeking God’s plan for my life long ago. I’ve been a Christian since I was fourteen, and I’ve always thanked and praised Him for all His blessings. But, …
Writing Category Romances
By Margaret Daley I have been writing for Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired line since 2000 and have enjoyed creating over forty Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense books. Writing for a category inspirational romance publisher has challenged me and helped me to grow as a writer. What have I learned writing category romances? I’ve learned first and foremost how to …