Author Archives: ACFW
Getting Naked on the Page
By Lenora Livingston In my lifetime, I have spent a lot of time, money, and effort trying to improve my writing skills. I have taken long courses, short courses, attended writing seminars, and joined writing groups. But the best advice … Continue reading
Dialog, The Fuel Of Your Story
by Rachel Hauck I’ve written a lot about dialog over the years but it’s a topic worth repeating. Dialog. Is. Key. Talking is how we learn about people. The words they use, the tone of his or her voice, as … Continue reading
The Story Behind the Story
by Marianne Evans The creation of a series isn’t a solitary endeavor. Series novels require research, continuity, a solid plot base and characters that will see it through. Like a progressive measurement curve. But then…in steps…life. Christ. The power of … Continue reading
How Did They Do That?
By Kimberley Woodhouse I’m always fascinated with research. It’s one of my favorite things to do in my career. I find it so easy to get sucked in by an interesting time in history, an amazing person, or an absolutely … Continue reading
Handling Disappointment & Unmet Expectations
By Donna L.H. Smith If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been disappointed in writing or life — or had unmet expectations — I’d be a rich woman. Because disappointment is a part of life and how we … Continue reading
ACFW New Releases: December 2018
December 2018 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. Amish Romance: The Amish Sweet Shop by Laura Bradford, Mary Ellis, and Emma Miller — It’s almost Valentine’s Day at Beechy’s … Continue reading
7 Critical Questions to Ask Your Character
By DiAnn Mills Writers are bombarded with how to prep for writing an unforgettable character. We want every story to be deeper than the previous one, and that means depth of character. Over the years of writing, I’ve gathered many … Continue reading
Writing from the Shadow of God
By Linda Thompson I’ve been asking the Lord what kind of encouragement I could pass on today, and He reminded me of this. A couple of years ago, I met a Bible character who really inspired me on my writing … Continue reading
Your Roots Are Showing
By Shirley Gould Working as a hairdresser for five years, I covered up a lot of roots. In those days when the bleached blonde hair grew out revealing their natural color, I’d apply bleach and toner to bring her back … Continue reading
The Ultimate Story
By Darlene L. Turner Recently, my pastor did a series on evangelism and spoke on how we need to tell our stories to reach others for Christ. Our mandate is to go into the world and share the gospel. This … Continue reading
How the Power of My Mom’s Walk with God Paved My Writing in Favor
by Lauren Gail Today, November 24, is no coincidence for this blog post as it is my mom’s birthday and this post is in her honor. Happy Birthday, Mom! Ever since my brother, David, and I were very young my … Continue reading
Six Tips for Defeating Self-Doubt
by Kathy Harris Fear. It can paralyze. And no one knows that better than a writer who is filled with self-doubt. We may sit down to put words on the paper, but nothing comes out. Or, even worse, we may … Continue reading
With Gratitude
By Deborah Raney On this Thanksgiving Day, when we count our blessings and thank God for His goodness and mercy toward us, my mind turns to the blessings I’ve been given as a writer. These are just a few of … Continue reading
Be Dramatic
By Linda W. Yezak Ever read in your own work or others’ about life-changing events that don’t seem to change the character’s life? Usually, it’s because the event isn’t dramatic enough. I can think of two reasons for this: (1) … Continue reading
Tips for Researching and Writing an Authentic Novel
By Amy Clipston I’ve written Amish fiction for more than ten years now, since I received my contract for my first book, A Gift of Grace, on Dec. 14, 2007. I decided to try to write Amish fiction after being … Continue reading
