By Shirley Gould As a missionary in Kenya, East Africa, I was affectionately called an mzungu. (To say it properly, hum the m, then say zoon goo.) When I asked my Kenyan guard what that meant, he would laugh nervously and shy away. When he would pass by, I would ask again, “What is an mzungu?” He would say “Oh …
What’s True Love?
By C.E. Hilbert “And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva… So tweasure your wuv.” The Princess Bride (1987) I adore this quote from the cult classic Princess Bride. But, really what is “true love“? Is it the feeling that a mother has for her newborn? Is it that moment when you realize that your life is incomplete without another …
Can Readers See Your Heart?
By Lisa Godfrees As writers, it’s safe to say that we all have a heart for a good story. Otherwise, why do we write? And why would writers be some of the most avid readers? As Christian authors, what we give our readers has to be more than a great story. People read Christian fiction because of the hope it …
How to Create and Cultivate Community
By Emilie Hendryx I can’t help but draw similarities between life as a Christ follower and life as a writer. They both take dedication, belief, creativity, and community among other things. It’s that last one that I really want to draw out though. Community: A group of people holding a particular characteristic in common. I’m part of a church plant …
Rediscover the Wonder
By Sarah Hamaker I rushed along, hurrying through my errands and worrying about my ever-lengthening to-do list. I had things to do, places to go, people to see, and it all had to be done right this very minute. This scenario wasn’t uncommon in my life a few years ago. Like many of us, I packed as much into one …
Change is a Good Thing
By Shelley Shepard Gray A funny thing happened on the way to writing my twenty-fifth Amish romance for Avon Inspire. I became rejuvenated. For a variety of reasons, I had to switch editors after I finished my last contract. When I started working with Chelsey, I must admit I was a little nervous. I write four books a year for …
When Life Gets in the Way of Writing
By Kathy Harris So you dare call yourself a writer… when you haven’t written anything other than a grocery list or the occasional blog post in a few weeks? Or even a few months? Your intentions have been to write, but somehow you’ve not found the time. Or the inspiration. What now? Maybe it’s time to quit. It would be …
Are you at the table?
By Karen H. Richardson It started with an email that thousands of other writers received. It was an invitation to participate in the ACFW First Impressions contest. Of the ten or eleven criteria for entry, the most distinctive was that you had to be an unpublished author. That’s me. I have a manuscript that is very rough. It is a …
A Mission-Field at the Tip of Your Pen
by Hannah Conway I never equated writing stories with mission work. I had big plans for my life. Writing was for fun-just stories and nothing more. I scripted a multitude of tales throughout my childhood surrounding these huge life plans. People seemed to rather enjoy hearing and reading my creations. Yes-sir-ee. Feeding babies in Africa. Educating and reading to children …
What’s Your Excuse?
By Martha Rogers We make so many excuses for not submitting our writing. I don’t have enough time to finish a manuscript. I’m too young. I’m too old. I’ve got too many rejections. I don’t have an agent, or I’m not good enough. Any sound familiar? Time: We all have the same amount. We can find even fifteen minutes in …