By Molly Jebber I had two blood red spots removed from my face. The doctor warned they may turn black and blue in a few hours, but they would disappear in a day or two. After they were removed, my face was warm and red. I went shopping for a gift. Of course, I had to stop by the shoes, …
A Brief Writing Experiment
By Lynn Hobbs Learning new writing methods can be rewarding. I noticed several men writing a tighter style, and it did get my attention. They mentioned more white space on a page drew readers from a younger generation. What were they doing? What happened? Not any back story. Later in the book it could be introduced, but only a small …
Come Out of The Corner
By Chandra Smith In March I shared about a dream one of my ancestors had that inspired one of my manuscripts. I encouraged you to dream your stories. Anyone who has been writing for a while understands when discouragement comes, it is easy to give up and go sit in the corner of insecurity. I am a professional dog trainer. …
Tips to Help on Your Journey toward Publication
By Amy Clipston People often ask me what the secret is to getting published. I don’t believe there is a secret to getting published, but I do have a list of things that will help writers on their journey to publication. 1. Join a Writers’ Group I accidentally found the website for a local writers’ group while in search for …
Help! I’m Lost and Can’t Find My Way
By Ane Mulligan I’d hit the 43,000-word mark in the fourth book in my Chapel Springs series. I knew the characters like I know myself. Better even, since I don’t pretend they don’t have faults. But the story stalled on me. It lacked the usual “feel” of its sister books. It was missing the heart. I had to force myself …
Making Sacred Sense
By Christine Sunderland A church bell tolls over the lake. A white gull soars and dives, catching the wind current over the waters. We follow a path along the water’s edge to the local village, feeling the pebbly uneven cobblestones, careful not to trip and fall. Entering the village, the exhaust and gunning of motorbikes propel us to the town …
Story Structure
By Katherine Reay As I begin a new story, my mind turns to structure. No matter how much I say I’m an “organic” writer, I need solid hooks on which to hang my musings. I can get lost easily if the basics of the road aren’t cleared in front of me. Whether you think the “rules” of structure are important …
The Actions of Writing
by Sarah Hamaker Are you a writer? If you answered yes, do you believe, deep down inside, that you are indeed a writer? Too many times, we say we’re writers but our actions say another thing. For example, you meet someone for the first time and are asked what you do. Do you… A) Say you’re a writer? B) Say …
The Capacity to Obey
By Davalynn Spencer “What if I run out of things to say?” For some authors, this can be a serious concern. Other writers dip from an ever-flowing font and never worry about where the next words are coming from. I began my writer’s journey as a journalist and crime-beat reporter. Talk about unending fodder. But deep down in the creative …
My #1 Rule of Writing
By Tosca Lee Late one night while I was writing my second novel, Havah, I dragged myself home from a business trip–tired, bloated, grouchy, stinky… and on deadline. I had two solid days at home before my next work trip and 5,000 words to write. Why then, the next day, did I want to do nothing but pick my cuticles, …