By Loretta Eidson If you’ve ever been parasailing, you know the exhilarating feeling of the wind in your face, the serene solitude of flying through the air, and the breathtaking scenery of the ocean below. If you’re a writer, you envision the many ways parasailing can relate to the creative mind in the development of an intriguing story. Whether you …
Creating Careers for our Characters
by Lisa Jordan Last week I requested career options for the hero in my next book on my Facebook author page. While reading through my fans’ posts, I was amazed by the diverse occupations they suggested-boat builder, hospital administrator, youth pastor, zoo manager, etc. Meeting someone for the first time, one of the first questions you may ask is, “What …
Writing After Sixty
by Diana Wallis Taylor Someone wrote a book about “Geezers”, older guys who love to read books. A friend said, “I don’t consider myself a geezer! I always thought that when we got older, we just got better.” I shared that with my husband and he thought a moment and said, “Well, if older is better, then I must be …
Take a Stand
by Suzanne Kuhn I recently worked a return engagement with a regional charity that hosts an annual Book and Author Dinner. This event features four New York Times best selling and/or sought after regional authors. The first year I participated in the event, I asked the charity if I could provide the authors with my SuzyQ fine-tip, autograph Sharpies to …
Settings
by Dana Mentink Settings! They are one of the things that compel me as a reader and writer. Bring me to a new world, a place I’ve never been and I’m fascinated. My early years found me steeped in Middle Earth, Oz, and Narnia. More recently, the Life of Pi swept me away to a mysterious carnivorous island. Ironically though, …
Setting the Scene
by Christine Sunderland I often say I came to the writing of novels “through the back door.” While it is true I earned a BA in English Literature and loved reading, I never considered that I might become a writer. But time and grace has a way of changing things. As has been said, If you want to make God …
The Crucial First Chapter
By Anne Greene The last time I wrote, I discussed how to Make Your Manuscript Sparkle. I trust you all learned more about deep point of view from that lesson. Down through the years of writing and being a charter member of ACFW when it was ACRW, I’ve learned so much of the craft of writing that God nudged me …
Homophones (And yes, I see my errors)
by Donna L. Rich Everyone has his or her pet peeves. Won of mine is finding incorrect spelling of a commonly used word. Nevertheless, on page too on my last submission to an editor, I misused the word it’s (instead of its). Horrors! I couldn’t believe that after combing threw the manuscript a thousand times I didn’t sea the error …
Help–I’m stuck!
by Denise Hunter If you’ve been writing novels for any length of time, you’ve gotten stuck. I’m not talking about writer’s block, I’m talking about STUCK. When this happens to me, it means 1 of 2 things. Here they are, and here’s what I do about them. 1. There’s a foundational problem with my plot. (Goal, motivation, conflict, stakes, etc.) …
The Best Writing Partner
By Nancy Ellen Hird About the time I began writing for publication, I heard a businessman say he realized God wanted to be his business partner and so the man wrote up a contract. It occurred to me that God was inviting me to join His business, to be a Kingdom builder with my writings. I was awed by the …