by Janice Hanna Thompson You’re wrapping up the best book you’ve ever written. It’s all you can think about. You can’t wait to go to that next conference to meet with an editor or agent. However, you realize that your face time will be brief. How will you pitch your novel in a way that will garner the attention it …
Marketing 101: Allowing for God’s Plan
by Kathy Harris As the old saying goes, ‘fifty percent of advertising works and fifty percent doesn’t. The problem is in determining which is which.’ The same goes for marketing. In putting together a marketing plan, there’s only one thing to remember: You can control everything except the things you can’t control, which is pretty much everything. The good news …
“Pantsing” the Pre-Book Synopsis
by Anne Mateer I’m a pantser. I thrill at the thought of starting a story with just a character or a situation, only a hazy destination in mind. I love discovering new twists and turns and characters along the way. But there is a peril to pantsing that I didn’t realize until publication: the synopsis before the story. As a …
Ridin’ the Beach Ain’t Ridin’ the Range
Janet Chester Bly Copyright©2012 In writing fiction, sometimes you’ve got to know your animals. My sons and I had to do some study on horse behavior when we worked on author Stephen Bly’s last novel. In Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, Brannon leaves the comfort and security of his Arizona ranch to head to Oregon to find his missing U.S. Marshal …
ACFW Conference: Friday Night Tips
By Mindy Obenhaus Are you getting as excited about conference as I am? Now I know you think you’re coming to Dallas, but you’re not. You’re coming to Grapevine. So as a resident of this fine town, let me be the first to welcome you. Grapevine has loads to offer. From our historic downtown to Grapevine Mills Mall and plenty …
Demons and Darlings
by Michelle Arch After three years in Chapman University’s MFA program and six semesters of writing workshops, conferences, and purposeful study of the craft of writing, I have debunked any notion that existed in my mind that writing is a peaceful, innocuous, inner journey of the soul. Naïve pre-enrollment images of my writer self stretched out on a blanket in …
Here Be Dragons – Part 2
By Lynette Sowell Last week I talked about four dragons that we writers can face on our writing journeys: time, jealousy, procrastination, and a nameless one that I’ll elaborate on a little more. I’ve had twelve years of perspective on this through ACFW, and I’ve realized that these dragons do not go away the longer you write. I hate to …
What Not to Wear: ACFW-Style
by Melissa Tagg I got stuck in a dress the other day. I mean reeeally stuck. Arms over my head, uncooperative fabric playing boa constrictor with my torso while my sister laughed at me inside the department store dressing room. And to be honest, I halfway blame my near death on ACFW. Yep, that’s right. See, when my unfortunate incident …
Redefining Success at the ACFW Conference
by Beth K. Vogt A writing friend of mine is attending the ACFW conference for the first time this year. She is excited… and nervous. Right now, “nervous” rules the roller coaster ride of her emotions. The biggest virtual hill she’s facing? The 15-minute appointments with editors and agents. Writers alternately covet these appointments – the whole “Please, oh please, …
Burnout or Balance
by DiAnn Mills Recently I took an honest evaluation of myself, and I didn’t like what I discovered. Exhaustion pelted my mind and body. Did I mention cranky? I rose earlier in the morning and hit the pillow later at night. I cancelled breakfast meetings with friends and attended a writer’s conference where I failed to make all the necessary …