by Jeffrey Friedel, writing as Jefferson Riede @JeffersonRiede Scripture: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” ~Philippians 3:7 (ESV) There was a time in my life when I had the titles to back up my name. Lawyer. Executive. C-suite officer. I traveled the world. I stood in boardrooms. I rang the opening bell at …
How Understanding Hebrew Concepts May Revolutionize Your Storytelling
by Donna Wichelman In recent months, I’ve discovered the rich Hebrew concepts of Tohu V’Vohu and Shalom, which have revolutionized how I’ve started to think about my storytelling. This comes at a time when I’m starting to develop a World War II slip-time novel, called the Power of the Thorn, which takes place at a time in human history when …
One Woman’s Opinion on the Future of Christian Fiction
by Linda S. Glaz (Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency) One Woman’s Opinion on the Future of Christian Fiction. That’s right, it’s merely my opinion. Take it or leave it! So, there are plenty of folks who will no doubt have a better, more informed, clearer thought through opinion than mine, but from my perspective, this is how I see circumstances …
Writing that Makes a Difference
by Marilyn Turk Writers often dream about writing a bestseller and finding success. Will our writing make any difference to anyone in the world? When sisters Susan and Anna Warner started writing mainly to help their family’s financial situation. The Warner family had been well-to-do in New York City and bought a summer house on Constitution Island in the Hudson …
What to Do if You Feel Like a Troglodyte After Attending a Writer’s Conference
by Ruby Cline Lee Several years ago, I crawled out of a cave to attend a writer’s retreat. Did I know I was crawling out of a cave? Nope. Upon arrival, I stepped out of my pearly-white car with my pink suitcase and high hopes of gaining affirmation that my novel was, in a word: awesome. Cut to me attending …
Events Are Worth the Extra Effort
by Allie Pleiter Let’s face it…a working author must be as much marketer as writer these days. And for a largely introverted community, the challenge of hosting an event can feel too large. Still, events have many advantages and can be worth the extra effort. And they can even be fun! Here are several thoughts on how to host events …
God’s Calling to Write
by Ruby Cline Lee Has God ever used a tedious or “dry” part of the Bible to speak to you about writing? For me, it was Exodus. This book shoots out of the gate with exciting visual pictures: the Jews in captivity. Plagues. Disaster. Thousands of slaves marching triumphantly then pining for garlic. God parting the Red Sea. Manna and …
Marketing as Ministry
by Elle E. Kay @ElleEKay777 It’s common in the Christian fiction market for authors to believe that promoting their own writing is prideful and self-promoting. I get it. I’ve felt it. I’m an introvert, which makes talking to people hard enough. Add my fear of looking like I’m bragging, and I can become paralyzed. But what if we’re looking at …
Writing in the Dark: How to Craft Suspense with Light at the Core
By Darlene L. Turner There’s something gripping about a story cloaked in shadows. The kind that makes your heart pound, your breath hitch, and your eyes race across the page. But as a suspense author who also writes with a spiritual message, I’ve learned that the most powerful stories aren’t just drenched in darkness—they carry the flicker of light that …
Lessons Learned from Birthing a First Book
by Linda Dindzans, M.D. Authors often compare the writing of their books to the birthing of a baby–– the fleshing out of a spark of an idea, the crafting of a plot that encourages the growth of well-developed characters, and the striving and pushes at the end to meet deadlines. The launch of our first book is celebrated with friends …