By Loretta Eidson Recently, I posted this quote by Mark Twain on Hootsuite: Great people can make you feel that, you too, can become great. I’ve heard numerous times throughout my life that if we want to be smart we should hang out with smart people. It stands to reason the same is true for greatness. But, who do we …
Summer book overload…send help!
By Dana Mentink Hi, all. Dana Mentink here. Summer is a special time for an elementary school teacher/writer. As we settle into that nice long break from school, my summer goal is the same this year as it has been my whole life…to stuff myself with as many books as I can possibly cram in! Since I do best with …
Double Cross – Romantic Suspense Musical?
by DiAnn Mills Writers often invent ways to challenge their minds and explore various means of creating story. Our goal is to fashion unforgettable characters and develop distinct plots. All the while we’re reading books by our favorite authors, viewing fabulous movies, and observing what’s going on in the world around us, we are constantly thinking story. How can my …
Something is Greater than Nothing
By Anne Mateer I’m not very good at math. Never have been. I still have to use cheats to add and subtract, multiply and divide. Recently, however, I did have a mathematical epiphany. (And yes, it has to do with writing!) Something > Nothing Remember that little sideways caret thing from elementary school math? It either means greater than or …
Top Blogging Mistakes Made by Authors Online
By Edie Melson Blogging is a great way to connect with our online audience. And while there are a lot more people out there doing it well, I still see some common mistakes. These things affect a blog, making readers click away before we have time to connect. Today I’m going to point out some of the specific things we …
Setting – the First Character You Create in a Story
By Mary Ellis What first comes to mind if someone mentions the television show, Hawaii 5-0? The muscular actor who plays Commander Steve McGarrett, or perhaps a clever plot twist in an episode involving identity theft? More likely it’s a visual of tanned young surfers riding the perfect wave to the shores of Waikiki, or perhaps a volcanic peak rising …
A Star in the Heavens
By Christine Sunderland My good friend, wise counselor, sacrificial priest, and loving pastor, Archbishop Robert S. Morse, recently left us for Heaven at the age of 91. He is gathering with others before him, along the heavenly river that runs by the throne of God. I owe him my life, at least my reborn life, after returning home from Canada …
Earning a Reputation
by Christa Kinde As an author, I have a reputation. I’m not ashamed of it, but it isn’t really the sort of label I had in mind when I set out to tell stories. Now, I’m not talking about those snazzy accolades we plaster on dust jackets. “Best-selling.” “Critically-acclaimed.” “Award-winning.” “Highly-anticipated.” I’m talking about the words readers choose. Do you …
Reflection
By Kariss Lynch Authentic. That’s ultimately what we want, right? We want a story that moves us, motivates us, makes us forget our troubles for a few hours, that makes us laugh or cry or jump, that leaves us still thinking, still wondering days later. We want a story that rings so true and raw in our own mind and …
Myth: BUSTED!
By Elizabeth B. Elliott If you have ever watched the show MythBusters on the Discovery channel, then you know the goal of co-hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage is to prove or disprove the veracity of commonly held beliefs. Putting these ideas to the test and sometimes under a literal microscope has paid off for them – their 11-year-old show …