What Gift Can Writers Bring for the Newborn King?
What Gift Can Writers Bring for the Newborn King? Music is an important part of celebrating Christmas. Remember the Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy”? It’s about a little boy who wonders what gift he could give to the baby Jesus. Or how about “We Three Kings,” a song about the costly gifts the magi […]
The ABCs of Thankfulness in our Writing Life
It’s easy to be thankful for an agent’s representation or signing with a publishing house. But as we consider the ABCs of thankfulness in our writing life, let’s be more creative than that!
“Seven Ways to Increase Tension in Your Scenes” by Marianne Hering
I’ve written more than thirty adventure books. And I still find that building tension in each scene is as difficult as losing weight. You think you have a “formula” and then BOOM! boringness creeps in, saturating your book in bloated prose. Here are seven things I look at to make sure my chapters are paced […]
Oaks From Acorns Grow
Are you feeling “buried” or “planted” when it comes to your writing journey?
What difference does it make?
Fact or Fiction? A Creative Nonfiction Essay by Kathryn Dover
Everyone struggles at some point to distinguish fact from fiction. When you’re a young book-and-movie lover, distinguishing between fact and fiction is a challenge. I didn’t fully understand that movies aren’t real until I was about ten. For years, my brother tried to convince me that Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader in Star Wars are […]
Dandelion Wishes vs. Prayer
Dandelion Wishes vs. Prayer Dandelions—the bane of many homeowners who strive for manicured lawns. Adults see them as an irritation. A nuisance. But children see dandelions as a source of unlimited potential. Wishes, hopes, and dreams wrapped up in the seeds of a wild flower. When you were a child, did you ever pluck a […]
What do you mean by, “if I can”?
A lesson about faith
Practice a Pause
Practice a Pause Summer. A time to reconnect with family and friends. Staycations. Vacations. Day trips. Breaks are not a luxury. We need them to recharge physically and emotionally. Even athletes understand the value of training breaks to cultivate prolonged endurance in their respective sports. But what about writers? We might think we don’t have […]
Grants Can Open Gates by Guest Blogger Liz Steffenson
Have you ever dreamed of attending a writer’s retreat? Mingling with other creatives and soaking in all kinds of writerly wisdom from seasoned professionals? Or, can you imagine having a veteran author mentor you, giving you one on one advice on how to improve YOUR writing? Fortunately, there are organizations who have set aside funds to […]
Marketing Doesn’t Have to be a Hard Sell
Marketing Doesn’t Have to be a Hard Sell I’m sure I’m not the only person to see subject lines like these in my email inbox: Check this out! Sale! New discounts! New Prices! Get it now! Order now! I didn’t ask for them. I don’t want them. Still, they show up, dozens and dozens […]