By Mary Lou Cheatham Our first aquarium held only five gallons, but we loved it. At the pet shop we bought some guppies. The clerk said, “Better buy one of these.” “What is it?” “It’s a trap to keep the mother from eating her babies.” It was a rectangular plastic device that floated near the top of the water. We …
What Do You See?
By Loretta Eidson Remember the old saying “there are two sides to every story”? It’s difficult to see reason or understand another point of view if the full picture isn’t clear. Last Sunday my pastor gave this example during the sermon. He held the back side of his hand out toward the congregation and asked David, one of the church …
When Is It Too Late?
By Cynthia Herron Today I wanted to approach the elephant in the room. Because success is often a popular topic at writer’s meetings and conferences, obviously, it’s something that’s near and dear to our hearts. While most of us have varying opinions of what success looks like, we can probably agree on one thing. We wish we had more time. …
Time Waits for No Writer
By Christa MacDonald I’ve been thinking a lot about ‘time’ in the last few weeks. It seems to speed up after Thanksgiving. There aren’t enough hours in the day or dates on the calendar before Christmas. The end of the year looms ever closer and there’s always too much to do and too little time in which to do it. …
“This is the Way; Walk in it”
By Michelle Shocklee A new year is upon us. I imagine most of us have hopes and dreams for 2018. Perhaps you’d like more book contracts (wouldn’t we all!), more book sales, or maybe you want to finish that first novel. Do you make resolutions? I’m not one to resolve to diet or exercise (mainly because of past failures to …
Don’t Be That Way!
By Sarah Sundin “Don’t be so sensitive!” the elementary school playground attendant snapped at me after I’d dissolved in a puddle of tears over a slight from a classmate. “Stop exaggerating,” my mother said. “You’re always so dramatic.” “Sarah daydreams too much,” my teacher noted on my report card. If you’re a writer, chances are that you heard one or …
Receiving to Give
By Susan A.J. Lyttek I chose to write this blog post because today is my birthday. Receiving gifts is fine, but I tend to get a lot more out of giving and sharing. It’s the same with writing. Don’t get me wrong, I would love for one of my books to become a best seller or to touch people through …
From Book to Film
By Lenora Livingston Typically, a book is written prior to being adapted to a screenplay. However, I chose to do the reverse because of how my story developed. When I experienced the greatest miracle of my life, it triggered a long series of flashbacks about certain events that occurred during the three preceding decades. It was if I was watching …
5 Steps to Using A “Q Factor”
by Ane Mulligan I learned about the Q Factor from James Scott Bell years ago. He’s given me permission to share it here. So what is the Q Factor? It’s a great tool that comes from Dr. Q, in the James Bond movies. He’s the one who gives Bond his gadgets, so during the crucial scene where Bond is dangling by …
No Resolutions…
By Kathy Parish The ending of another year and the dawning of the next always finds me reflecting on the past and wishing that I had done better in facing whatever challenges the previous year brought. Many of you may experience the same mental and emotional (and spiritual) turmoil. I have come to believe that it is the human longing …