By Lynn Hobbs An idea flashes through your mind in the middle of the night, and you’re convinced it’s THE answer to your next novel. Maybe not. You decide which chapter to insert the idea …when to let readers be aware of that tidbit of information… Days pass as you change scenes and replace characters with that idea playing out …
Head and Tails of the Writing Life
By Dana Mentink September was hard at our house. We lost our beloved old dog, Nala. Nala was my shadow, my confidant and my writing partner. Wherever I was, she was there. After she passed, the house was empty and quiet, with only the sound of tapping keys on my keyboard. It took a long while for me to stop …
You are the Only You
By Tamara D. Fickas A new writer recently expressed concern that their words weren’t important. With so many great writers out there, how could their story make a difference? I can relate to that. Even after all the years I’ve been working at this writing gig I still struggle with whether my story is valuable enough to share shelf space …
Don’t Let These 5 Confusing Words Mar Your Image
By Dianna Booher Tom’s an articulate physician, totally able to speak his mind and express a strong point of view. But when he repeatedly says “between you and I,” that grammatical error has the same effect as a big splotch of mustard on the front of his suit and tie. Words matter-particularly, the wrong ones. Or the right ones used …
The Juggling Act: Working Full-time and Writing
By Amy Clipston People often ask me, “How do you work a full-time job and write books?” I resist the urge to roll my eyes, and instead I sweetly reply, “I just make it work.” Unlike many authors, I work a full-time for a local government, in addition to writing four books per year for HarperCollins Christian Publishing. While other …
Giving our Books, One at a Time
By Elizabeth Musser “You have such an amazing family-you’re so genuine, so obviously happy to be together. I wish all the families I photograph were like yours.” So commented the hip young photographer I’d hired to take a family photo of our two sons, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren (ages 3, 2, and 1) and my husband and me. It had been …
Writing Your Manuscript a Third at a Time
By Johnnie Alexander Every manuscript begins as an idea-perhaps a character whose voice won’t leave us alone or a situation that demands to be explored. Our challenge is to turn that idea into a story. What blueprint, plan, or method will we use? One popular approach is to write the draft fast. Anyone who has participated in NaNoWriMo understands the …
Be Stunning
By Lauren H. Brandenburg As writers we work hard to create stunning characters. Our protagonists feel more, say more, and often express more than the writers who create them. Our characters have a mission and are not only driven by the plot line we set them upon, but rather an inner desire, conviction, or conflict that we have placed inside …
Writing from the Heart or To the Market
By Rondi Bauer Olson My first writer’s conference was with ACFW in 2009. I was so proud of my manuscript. Dystopians were hot, HUNGER GAMES had come out the year before, and it’s what I’d written! Agents and editors were eager to see what I had, and I received a number of full and partial requests. Did I mention this …
What Are Friends For?
by Kathy Harris So, how are those New Year’s resolutions working out for you? We’re one week into 2016. That’s seven days you could have been writing. Six, if you take a day off for Sabbath rest. In one week – working only 10-20 minutes each day – you could have written several scenes, completed a chapter, or edited thirty …