By Darlene L. Turner So no matter what your task is, work hard. Always do your best as the Lord’s servant, not as man’s. – Colossians 3:23 (VOICE) I think we can all agree, 2020 has been a year for the history books and one we’ll not soon forget. I know friends who’ve lost loved ones, jobs, struggled with self-isolation, …
Writing in the Yoke: the Easy Writer
by Kristi Holl Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and My burden is light.” Writing in …
Carpe Diem
By Shirley Gould The Roman Poet Horace coined the phrase, carpe diem, seize the day. He wanted to urge someone to make the most of the present-day and give little thought to the future. Scripture encourages the same message in Matthew 6:34 NLT So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for …
The Uses of a Novella
By Glynn Young On July 1, with the publication of my fifth novel, I brought a five-book series to a conclusion. Each of the five was about 93,000 words in length, except for the last one. The last one has an additional 20,000 words, included as an epilogue but actually a freestanding novella. It’s related on a minor way to …
Tips for Co-Writing a Novel
by Kathryn Cushman I’m often asked about co-writing because I’ve done it a few times. My first co-written project, Angel Song, was an unusual collaboration orchestrated by agents. While that worked well, it’s not something writers can often control, so I won’t discuss it here. For my newly released, The Plans We Made, the entire project was conceived, coordinated, and …
Lessons Learned about Promoting a Debut Novel
By Frank A. DiBianca So, after years of writing, revising, professionally editing, finalizing, and submitting manuscripts to agents or publishers, your book has finally been published. But unless you’ve been published by one of the big houses, the lion’s share of selling your book is going to fall squarely in your lap. Now comes the big question. How do you …
Just Getting Started
by Linda Brooks Davis One directive probably every writer has heard is “Write what you know.” Ever mull on those words and come up empty? Or feel as if you’re fighting a war? I have. But when I dig deeper, I invariably recall some gem from the past that usually involves my mother. She was a hoot. No one enjoyed …
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published
By Michael Jack Webb Okay, it’s not really “funny.” I began brainstorming about becoming an author in my mother’s womb. As a child, I loved to make up and tell fanciful, exciting stories, or act them out. A couple of the kids I grew up with formed a neighborhood drama company, and we put on plays. The first one was …
Getting to a Writer’s Heart
by Lisa Kibler He took a very sharp scalpel and, with great care, cut into my soul and pulled out my guts. The best surgeons know the answers aren’t found on superficial scans. To get to one’s heart, they must split the ribs, dig in, and find what lies beneath, hidden behind the interwoven mass of muscles, bones, and arteries. …
Five Ways to Make Your Writing Retreat Successful
By Kass Fogle Many of us have at least one conference budgeted per year and though we may have attended some virtually, many of us missed the opportunity to get away and stretch our creative muscles. Even without the confines of quarantine, I enjoy at least one solo retreat and share five ways I prepare for success: Pack Your Office …