Getting Naked on the Page

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By Lenora Livingston In my lifetime, I have spent a lot of time, money, and effort trying to improve my writing skills. I have taken long courses and short courses, attended writing seminars, and joined writing groups. But the best advice ever given to me came absolutely free from Mark Weston. I had already learned from taking acting classes that …

Writing and Staying Healthy—Was Your Mother Right?

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By Roxanne Rustand Yes—she was right, about getting enough sleep, exercise and eating properly.  But how easy it is, to ignore that wisdom when there aren’t enough hours in the day to work on your writing career! Whether you are an aspiring writer longing for a first sale, a busy author working on deadlines, or someone with responsibilities in a …

Writing and Staying Healthy—Was Your Mother Right?

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By Roxanne Rustand Yes—she was right, about getting enough sleep, exercise and eating properly.  But how easy it is, to ignore that wisdom when there aren’t enough hours in the day to work on your writing career! Whether you are an aspiring writer longing for a first sale, a busy author working on deadlines, or someone with responsibilities in a …

The Miracle of Music

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By Christine Sunderland Music, an ordering and art of sound, is a profoundly intriguing phenomenon. What is, after all, music? Why is it deeply personal and grandly universal at the same time? What is the “music of the spheres?” I wish to explore some of these ideas in my next novel (working title, The Music Librarian). Writing novels (or writing …

The Miracle of Music

ACFWAdvice, Friends of ACFW, writing Leave a Comment

By Christine Sunderland Music, an ordering and art of sound, is a profoundly intriguing phenomenon. What is, after all, music? Why is it deeply personal and grandly universal at the same time? What is the “music of the spheres?” I wish to explore some of these ideas in my next novel (working title, The Music Librarian). Writing novels (or writing …

Three Tips for Writing a Novella that Feels Like a Full Book

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Friends of ACFW, Novellas, writing 1 Comment

by Melissa Tagg I wrote my first novella in 2014…and, true story, I had noooo clue what I was doing! I’d published three novels at the time. I’d written short stories in college. But nothing in-between. Since then, though, I’ve written four more novellas and they’ve become some of my very favorite writing projects. I’ve also been intentional about reading …

Three Tips for Writing a Novella that Feels Like a Full Book

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Friends of ACFW, Novellas, writing 1 Comment

by Melissa Tagg I wrote my first novella in 2014…and, true story, I had noooo clue what I was doing! I’d published three novels at the time. I’d written short stories in college. But nothing in-between. Since then, though, I’ve written four more novellas and they’ve become some of my very favorite writing projects. I’ve also been intentional about reading …

Time to Say Goodbye

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW, writing 2 Comments

by Dennis Ricci Six months ago, my literary life was riding high. My debut novel, Perilous Judgment, had just produced its first four-digit sales month, thanks to a BookBub promotion arranged by my publisher. The month-after sales embers were still hot, and I was praising God for the discoverability breakthrough and its apparent staying power. One Sunday in May after …