By Vikki Kestell Producing great Christian fiction is, as Gollum said, “Tricksy.” We members of ACFW desire to present the Gospel through our work. Along every genre and setting, bringing to bear all our tools and skills, whether we employ drama or humor, fantasy or realism, we strive to lift up Jesus and make him known. And yet, crafting effective, …
Fearfully and Wonderfully Written
By Tanara McCauley Earlier this year my husband took me to see Andrea Bocelli in concert. Already a fan, I thought I knew what to expect from the world-renowned tenor whose voice makes even my six-year-old close her eyes in appreciative awe. I was mistaken. Accompanied by a host of musicians, Mr. Bocelli conducted half of the concert in English …
Just Ask
By Sarah Sundin As a historical novelist, I do a lot of research. As an introvert, I prefer research in books and libraries and on-line. Over the years, I’ve learned where to look for information, and I’m persistent enough (mule-headed?) to find what I need. Most of the time. Sometimes I simply can’t find the information I want. At that …
13 Truths About Being a Writer
by Edie Melson Choosing to stand up and be identified as a writer can be a scary thing. The road is rarely a straight path to publication. These are some things that I hope will help you stay the course as you continue on your own writing journey 13 Truths About Being a Writer 1. It’s an eternal struggle between …
Should I Be Writing this Genre?
by Tamela Hancock Murray Often I talk with new authors writing in lots of genres. This is fine if it’s part of your personal writing journey and learning process. I want my authors to enjoy what they’re writing. But when you get serious about publication, know when to choose and what to choose. One mistake is to write strictly to …
Tell Me Lies: A Character Building Tip
By Hannah Conway When it comes to writing, making characters isn’t my strong suit. Sigh. The plot comes natural to me. My mind wields a storyline that I can only hope to portray with words. Yet, in order to become a better writer, to deepen and sharpen my craft, I need developed characters. Not any characters, but characters that reach …
A Long Time Comin’…and Going
By Robin W. Pearson When the Crusader left for college I thought saying goodbye to him would kill me–it was harder than labor, eating okra, passing my college philosophy class, or even moving to New Jersey. After all, he’s our first child of seven, our first homeschool graduate, our first to flit from the nest; his transition marked the end …
Unexpected Inspiration
By Linda Brooks Davis Inspiration can rise from unexpected quarters. In the vernacular of my growing-up days, the poor widow of Mark 12: 42-44 gave her last red cent, a worthy lesson, I reasoned, for my young Bible students who dole out pennies for the collection basket. In search of supplies for money bags, I browsed through drawers of old …
The Art of the Series…
By Allie Pleiter Series are the big thing in fiction these days. Readers love them, publishers want them. It seems as if Netflix has taught us all how to binge-watch, so if we weren’t ready to binge-read before, we are now. As a writer, I like series because building a world and cast of characters is hard work, and it’s …
When the Story Falters
By Tamara D. Fickas Sometimes the story falters and the words refuse to come. They bottleneck inside your brain and tangle until it’s as hopeless as Christmas lights that were so neat and orderly last year. In those moments, as the tale wanders off the page and down a dark alley where you fear to tread, it’s easy to give …