By Ane Mulligan To draw your readers into your story, you want to create an experience for them. But that experience is filtered through your POV character. You know that already? Good. But are you layering the senses into your fiction so the reader hears, sees, smells, tastes, and feels it? It’s actually a matter of “showing vs. telling” gone …
The Joy of the Lord is My Strength
By Barbara J. Scott Joy? “What’s joy got to do with writing?” the Grinch would say. Aren’t writers supposed to pour their blood, sweat, and tears onto the page? Aren’t we supposed to suffer for our craft? I remember the first story I ever wrote for publication–The Milk Bottle Circus. I was in the fourth grade, and our teacher planned …
What Not to Wear Writer-Style
By Melissa Tagg A few years ago, I got stuck in a dress. 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. I’ve never forgotten that moment. And to be honest, I halfway blame my near death on ACFW. Yep, that’s …
An Unexpected Opportunity
By Mary Lou Cheatham Do you ever find a review of your novel that you wish would go away…simply disappear from Amazon…and not be there when you visit your product page next time? As writers seeking to improve our skills of communication, we thrive on helpful criticism from critique partners, critique groups, and even negative reviewers. But you have a …
Moment to Moment
By Tanara McCauley I recently joined the ranks of writers who pen speculative fiction. While I’ve read it for years and tend to favor a well-written epic fantasy over any other genre, it wasn’t until I felt God’s leading in that direction that I decided to step out in obedience and try to write my own. I initially found myself …
Sherwood Forest Intervention and Other Tools to Keep Writing
By Susan A.J. Lyttek “Curses,” Robin Hood muttered, obviously not intending I hear. But I have great ears. “I had pleaded with her to cease this interference.” He bowed to me again. “My apologies, milady. We appear to be at the mercy of the author.” “Author? As in the writer of a story?” He nodded. “Do not fret. When I …
From Whence We Came: ACFW’s humble beginnings, Part 2
By Andrea Boeshaar In Part 1 of this blog I reminisced about the early days of ACRW — American Christian Romance Writers which eventually morphed into ACFW. In this post I’ll discuss several of its growing pains as well as some of the many accomplishments of this organization. In February of 2000, the first Advisory Board opened up ACRW to …
From Whence We Came: ACFW’s humble beginnings, Part 1
By Andrea Boeshaar As I pondered an idea for this blog, it occurred to me that not a lot of ACFW members know about this amazing organization’s inception. Hundreds of writers attend the national conference and meet with editors, talk to friends who have become near and dear to them via ACFW’s many online services. But did you know that …
ACFW New Releases: September 2016
September 2016 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. Biblical: Daughter of the Nile by Jill Eileen Smith — Explore the exotic world of ancient Egypt and ponder the dilemma Siti faces when she leaves her homeland, her family, and the worship of her many gods, to live in Jerusalem …
40 Days of Prayer – Day 33: Finances for those Attending
ACFW Conference Day 33 Prayer – Finances For Those Attending Psalms 121:2 My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Heavenly Father, thank you for your loving attention to every detail in our lives. Conference expenses can be an added burden to tight finances. Help us to remember that You are so much bigger than our worry …