by Beth Vogt Growing up, I always wanted to be a writer. Not a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher or – like my husband – a spy or an astronaut. So imagine my surprise when I realized that being a writer is, at times, similar to being an astronaut. A writer is like an astronaut because they: • …
The Vulnerable Writer
by Charlotte Snead Writers are a strange lot. We talk about our characters as if they were our friends-and perhaps they are, our best friends. I don’t just sleep with just anyone, and these, my companions, talk to me at night, waking me up, demanding a re-write, more detail, a closer look, another layer. Sometimes they let me off with …
The Poetry of Plots
by Christine Sunderland As Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, they celebrate their own resurrections. They celebrate the ending of their story as human beings. And it is a satisfying ending for each of us. Just so, as I plot my novels, I want my stories to reflect these deeply human realities that are true of all of us, believers …
Mistaken Identity
By Deborah K. Anderson Have you ever discovered that you’re not who you thought you were? I did recently, and let me tell you, it can be a frightening experience. A few years ago, I received an e-mail telling me I was a finalist in a novel competition. Being the optimist that I am, my eyes shifted. Okay, what’s going …
Writing Historical Words
By Jane Kirkpatrick If the novel is set in the early 1800s in New England should a writer use contractions when the speech pattern of the era didn’t? Or rather did not? What about word choice? Should my character say “He lacked drive” or “he lacked ambition?” Which word would resonate with the people of 1821? These are just a …
Dreaming Big!
by Casey Herringshaw Do you have dreams for your writing? Do you take the time to plot out where you’d like to go? And I don’t just mean the New York Times Bestseller list. 😉 Dreams are a good thing. Dreams give you motivation. Goals. Energy. We hear all over the social media internet when a friend or fellow writer …
Make Your Manuscript Sparkle
By Anne Greene When I wrote my book, Masquerade Marriage, I discovered the secret to making each manuscript I write come alive to my readers. In the second book of my Scottish Marriage Series, Marriage By Arrangement, I honed that secret to a fine art. I’m a great proponent of improving each manuscript I write. So, I’ve worked diligently to …
Why Take the Chance?
by Fay Lamb Stick around the business long enough and you’re going to find an exception to every rule. You know, the best-selling author who says, “I don’t worry about grammar and punctuation. I just tell the story and let a copyeditor deal with the rest.” Sure, it happens. Someone writes a novel that is so intriguing an editor overlooks …
My One Tip for Writers
By Margaret Daley I have been writing and selling for over thirty years. During my journey I have gone through many types of situations that a person may encounter as a writer–a line dying, editor changes, rejections, sold a book that never came out, a long dry spell. So when an interviewer asked me what tip would I give a …
One Message – Many Stories
by Lillian Duncan When people learn I’m a writer, I get lots of different reactions. Some are excited and want to learn more. Those are the ones I like. The kids usually just ask does that means if I’m rich. That one always makes me laugh even more. Then there are some who look like I started talking in another …