Category Archives: writing
Who’s In Charge?
by Maureen Lang I like walking our dog for exercise, so I set a fast pace. But if my dog were in charge, we’d stop at every “interesting” scent and visit every dog we pass by. And if a bunny … Continue reading
Growing a Book
by Charlotte Snead I recently wrote on my FB page: “I’m gestating a book . . . Please don’t bother me.” March 12 is my oldest child’s birthday. I gave birth to four children, and I promise you gestating a … Continue reading
Do You Support Your Industry?
by Jill Williamson I’ve met hundreds of authors who are on the journey toward publication. I’m always surprised to learn how many have never read Christian fiction. And I wonder how one can hope to get published in the CBA … Continue reading
Exploring the Passion for Your Novel
by DiAnn Mills When I wrote The Chase, the first book in the Crime Scene: Houston series, I thought I’d never have that much passion for a story again. But I was wrong. The Survivor brought just as many tears, … Continue reading
Layering Your Creation With the Good Stuff
by Bonnie S. Calhoun Okay…chocolate does come to mind…but not this time. Remember the famous saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Go one step further, “No great book was built in one writing.” By that I mean many authors … Continue reading
The Secret to Getting Published
by Richard L. Mabry, MD Gotcha! How many of you clicked on this post thinking I’d give you the magic formula for turning dross into gold? Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Let me tell you my own story. My … Continue reading
No Shortcuts to Developing Gift and Craft
by Tina Radcliffe I firmly believe in the philosophy of happily-ever-after, hard work paying off and that eventually everyone who pays their dues will graduate from the school of hard knocks. I don’t believe there are short cuts to success … Continue reading
Writing in the Rain
by Telena Tanara Contreras I am a planner down to the last detail, organizing my life much like I organize my family’s travels. When a trip approaches, I map out the events, orchestrate the timeline, gather the supplies, and instruct … Continue reading
Day Job?
by Beth Shriver I’ve always admired writers who also have another job as well as their writing. I was a social worker before my daughter was born and started writing soon after, but now that my youngest is off to … Continue reading
FIFTEEN MINUTES TO FAME: How to Complete Your Historical Novel Without Quitting Your Day Job
By Kathleen Y’Barbo We historical authors are an interesting breed. Those of us who have answered the call can attest to the fact that there are no shortcuts in penning novels set in past eras. As with any other type … Continue reading
Why Do We Torture Ourselves?
By Vickie McDonough The first goal I can remember having was to grow up and marry a rancher. I loved horses, and I guess that my pre-teen mind reasoned if I married a rancher I could have all the horses … Continue reading
The Long Wait
by Dani Pettrey If nothing else, writing for publication produces patience. It takes time to learn to craft a novel, time to write the novel, and then, when you finally feel you’re finished, you often face years trying to find … Continue reading
Casting Notes For Character Auditions
A Novel Writing Exercise by Janet Chester Bly My husband, Steve, dictated these sketchy notes to me in the hospital on May 21st, 2011, concerning his novel, “Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot”. He passed away a few weeks later . . … Continue reading
To Market, to Market to Buy a Fat Pig…
by Crystal Laine Miller “…Home again, home again, jiggedty-jig!” How many times did we sing that song as kids? And we caught many product commercials on our three-channel TV that we noticed from singing the interesting jingles. Well, guess what? … Continue reading
The Write Stuff
by Michelle Arch As an MFA student, a short fiction writer, an aspiring novelist, and a literary blogger, I reflect frequently on the issues of universality and marketability in relation to art. Whether composing a chapter of my novel, a … Continue reading