By Chandra Lynn Smith Early morning is quiet these days. The summer songbirds have already moved out. The gaggle of Canada Goose that spent the summer raising young and lazing on my pond have left. The robins, whose arrival indicates spring, are gathering in my yard now for their southern flight. All of wildlife is storing food for the winter, …
Show Vs Tell Gone Wild
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 …
National Forgiveness Day
By Elizabeth Ludwig The theme in many of my books has been forgiveness–both giving and receiving. It seems fitting then, that that I talk about National Forgiveness Day. This year, it falls on October 29. Who knew? I certainly didn’t. It’s a good reminder that we all need to practice forgiveness. However should this be reserved for one day…or should …
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 …
A Different Kind of Contract
By Nancy Ellen Hird When I first began to write for publication, I heard a Christian business man talk about how he made an employment contract with God. He said it made a huge difference in his attitude toward work and in his productivity. It seemed an odd idea at first (a little churchy), but the more I turned the …
Sacred September Seasons
By Christine Sunderland Christian writers are keenly aware of time’s seasons, and today, a few days after September 11, 2016, we remember to remember the New York City attacks, fifteen years ago. In many ways, my most recent release, The Fire Trail, recalls this tragedy in time. Time has long been a challenge to mankind. In a vain attempt to …
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 …
Getting Naked on the Page
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. Who is Mark Weston? The younger generations probably wouldn’t …
Procrastination Explanation
By Patti Shene Gonzales I’m a procrastinator. The one thing in my life I procrastinate most? My writing. When I was pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at what was then University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, we were assigned a “term paper.” I assume a student was expected to work on the project for the majority of …
Meet Deadlines with Simple Math
by Tamela Hancock Murray During your publishing journey you may have the delightful problem of too many deadlines. You may have to ask yourself if you can accept another contract because you’re so busy. I’ve advised many clients about this over the years, taking them from panic to peace. Simple math can help. Determine time Look at all your contracts …