By Bethany Turner A few days ago, my son asked, “Is there still manna?” I said, “What do you mean? It’s not manufactured, if that’s what you’re asking…” “Well, no,” he laughed. “I didn’t mean like at Manna-R-Us, or something.” (He’s eleven, and a little too smart and witty—and sarcastic—for his own good, sometimes.) “I mean is there any left?” …
Making it right….
by Roxanne Rustand When someone refers to their “writing journey,” I think back to my own journey and my own misconceptions back in the early 1990’s. It all seemed so clear back then. Write. Be dedicated. Absorb everything I heard at writers’ conferences, study my books on writing and the scores of writing workshop tapes I listened to endlessly. It …
The Breath of Beauty
by Christine Sunderland Tonight is All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints Day. For now, the dark of tonight eclipses the light of tomorrow. Death shadows life. The ghoulish threaten the beautiful. In pre-Christian Celtic Britain, October 31 was considered the end of summer and harvest, the day before winter and longer nights. Believing that the spirits of their …
Why We Write
By Ian Acheson For those of us who’ve started out on this writing journey later in life it’s often a result of that burning story idea that’s been bugging us for years. That was me 15 years (really has it been that long ago?). Or how many times have we met someone who says they really want to write their …
The Christian Writer’s Cause
By John W. Tucker Christian writers have a variety of reasons for wanting to write. Here are eleven: 1) to fulfill a personal need; 2) to honor God by using this gift; 3) to reach sectors of the population with a message of hope; 4) to earn a living or supplement it; 5) to set an example and help reproduce …
A Twist on Rejection
By Norma Gail Rejection. As writers, we all receive it. We all expect it. It’s never pleasant. However, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I was positive they would accept my second novel. It was a sequel. The publisher wanted it. I had worked my heart out. Rejection came out of nowhere. The editor couched her refusal in …
It Was Not You Who Sent Me Here
By Bethany Turner Today is deadline day. Not for a book. There are no edits to sift through, no dialogue to tighten, no scenes to mourn as they are mercilessly wisely slashed. But I’ve got to get this blog post done today if I am to even dream of staying on schedule with everything else in my life, and for …
Help for the Time-Starved Writer
By Joanna Davidson Politano “How on earth do you find time to write a book?” This question came from my local librarian when I told her my debut was releasing soon. I had a baby in one arm and held my toddler’s hand with the other hand. I was a naptime novelist, I said, and we made it work. In …
Our Journey
by Christa Kinde Travel takes courage. Away from home, without the comfort of familiar things, surrounded by strangers, we wander. Not all that long ago, my husband and I were in a foreign city, trying to navigate dark streets with nothing more than the tiny map from the back of a brochure. Drizzle added a wet sheen to the streets, …
I Have to Stay Home from the Conference
By Tamela Hancock Murray (Editor’s Note: ACFW congratulates Tamela on being named the 2017 Agent of the Year at our recent conference). As I mentioned in several recent posts about conferences, sometimes your best decision is to stay home. For example, if you missed ACFW’s conference last week, not to worry! You can become a traditionally published author, or maintain …