By Janice Cantore In criminal court, ascertaining motive or intent is an integral part of the legal process and sets the tone for sentencing. The determination of a person’s motive can mean the difference between the death penalty, life in prison, a long sentence, a short sentence, and freedom. In the same way, the bad guy’s motive in a mystery …
Where Does Your Story Begin?
by Linda Brooks Davis Ever wonder how far back the roots of your story extend? With the recent release of my debut novel, “The Calling of Ella McFarland,” I find myself wondering when the story began. Was it in 2014 when I opened Scrivener and typed CHAPTER 1? Or long before? Perhaps it was 2005 when my first grandchild arrived …
Honoring God’s Calling in Our Lives
By Rondi Bauer Olson A few months ago I was making small talk at a wedding reception when another guest, someone I did not know, asked me what I did for a living. Up to that point in my life, my answer had always been clear. I went to college to be a nurse. My job was as a nurse. …
It’s Not Just About Me!
by Lillian Duncan As Christians, life is not supposed to be all about us. And yet as writers, we have to make it all about us-sometimes. OK, a lot of times, especially when we have a new release like I do right now, (No Home for the Holidays). We’re told to do good to others (Hebrews 13:16). Jesus even gave …
How Journaling Helps Me Juggle the Writer’s Life
By Elizabeth Musser A few years ago, I was asked by my Dutch publisher to write a novella for the Dutch ‘Week of the Christian Book’. (I wrote it in English-someone else translated it:). Christian bookstores throughout Holland put on this annual event where, for a week, any customer who purchases over 10 euros of merchandise in the store receives …
Overcoming the Failure Inside
By Elizabeth Ludwig Scarlett O’Hara. Katniss Everdeen. Michael Hosea. Jane Eyre. Do you recognize any of these names? Obviously, they are all characters from books. And yes, they are all heroes. But before they were heroic, they were flawed and fallible. These frail, imperfect, unlikely paragons struggled with weaknesses in their character—failures that sprang from something deep inside, such as …
Be Amazed by Listening
By Stan Crader I’m a novelist working on a non-fiction-it’s a stretch. The facts, once known, are easy to report. It’s the finding of facts, also called research, that’s painstaking, time consuming, and hard work; two of the three are okay. I’m working on the history of Stihl in America. Stihl, for those few who don’t know, is the largest …
Descriptions & Words
By Lynn Hobbs Besides writing, I love to read. Great descriptions in a book hook me every time. They show me a writer who continues learning the craft of writing and enjoys selecting the right words for the right situation. For me, it is a fun experience. It can be for you as well. How can you come up with …
Hark! Harold the Angel Sings!
By Davalynn Spencer Several years ago some quirky friends sent us a Christmas card with this misaligned phrase, and I’ve not been the same since. I want to hear Harold. I’m sure this guy is one of the many voices of the season, and as authors, we’re all familiar with voices, aren’t we? We ignore them. We argue with them. …
The 80/20 Lifestyle
By Suzanne Woods Fisher A few years ago, I stood in a long snake of a line at the Department of Motor Vehicles with my youngest son, Tad, who was eagerly poised to take the test for his learner’s permit. Unfortunately, we neglected to read the fine print of the permit paperwork. After finally reaching the front desk, the DMV …