By Cynthia Ruchti For three decades, I wrote scripts for a daily 15-minute radio broadcast. The first portion of the broadcast was a slice-of-life scene by two women walking through the kinds of things life can throw at any of us. Following that scene, a musical interlude segued into devotional thoughts related to that day’s theme. The scenes were all …
Books that Empower Writers to Excel
By Frank DiBianca I have a recurring nightmare in which I walk onto the stage of a packed symphony hall. I hold a violin and bow in my hands. The conductor turns to me and smiles. Suddenly, I realize I have not memorized my part. Even worse, I don’t know how to play the violin! Sound familiar? That’s probably not …
Ensuring Your Deadline Doesn’t Kill You
By DiAnn Mills Writers value deadlines. Well, maybe not. But the looming dates do help to keep us focused, on task, and writing, our favorite activity on the planet. Sometimes though we think those deadlines are out to kill us. What’s the balance? How can we end the love/hate relationship and turn our writing process into a positive one? The …
A Writer’s Success—A Project Always Under Construction
By Donna Wichelman During these days of quarantine, a writer friend has sent quotes of the day to our writers’ group. I’ve enjoyed the many words of encouragement, but one struck me as particularly profound: “Success is a project that’s always under construction.” Philippians 1:6 came to mind: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work …
Writers, Lead the Way!
By Sarah Sundin This week marks the 76th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. While studying the US Army Rangers on D-day for my latest novel, The Land Beneath Us, I was struck by aspects of the Ranger mentality that apply to us as writers. Although we may not have to scale tall cliffs under …
Writing in the Midst of Chaos, Pandemics, and Life
by Kimberley Woodhouse The past few months have been weird. There, I said it. Of course, I don’t think any of us will soon forget COVID-19, coronavirus, stay-at-home orders, masks, church services all moving to online, or any of the other oddities that became normal parts of our everyday life during this pandemic. And it’s not over. To be honest, …
Writing Quotes
by Henry McLaughlin Many of us have writing quotes to inspire or nag us. Or to nudge us to keep writing. A few of my favorites include: “If my family didn’t want me to write about them, they should’ve behaved better.” – Anne Lamott “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” – Ray Bradbury “I love …
Creativity—Keeping it Pure
by Terri Gillespie “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, TLV Creativity. Taking nothing and making something. Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” I love that. The Creator of the Universe—our Heavenly Father—sure has fun with creativity. Look at the giraffe. What is amazing as writers, authors, artists, musicians, and those who live …
When Your Setting Takes on Character
By Norma Gail Setting that takes on character brings our stories to life in the minds of our readers. When the author knows the setting well, small details can enhance what our characters experience. In a recent review by Connie Porter Saunders, she wrote, “You know an author is talented when they can convince readers that a country is one …
Making It Real
by Kathy Harris In a plot twist few had fathomed––although Dean Koontz predicted something eerily similar in his 1981 novel The Eyes of Darkness—a tiny organism too small to see without a microscope has turned our lives, and our livelihoods, upside down, setting off a giant conflict in the story we call day-to-day life. Although this real life “inciting incident” …