By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep Some authors swear by writing before the sun is up. Others are nocturnal. And lots don’t have a choice, squeaking in words whenever a spare minute flares up. Which begs the question: is a certain time of day better than others to write? Short answer: Yep. Long answer: The best time to get your word count …
Just in Case you Need a Smile Today
by James L. Rubart, @jameslrubart Since there’s a bit of chaos and anger in the world these days, I thought it might be high time to inject a bit of humor into your day with a classic video. If you’ve been in this industry for more than ten minutes, you’ve probably had, or heard about, the type of conversation played …
Are You Willing to Declutter Your Fears to Achieve Your Dreams?
by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan I told my husband once I submitted my latest book to my editor on August 31st, then I would make time in my very busy schedule to declutter our basement. Now this is a project and a half, friends. With over thirty years of marriage, and twenty-four of them have been spent in our current home, …
Filling Your Well with Fall Reading
by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay After finishing a manuscript, I feel dry. All my creativity has been spent and I’m a little tired. We all have times in which we need to recharge and that moment is always mine. I believe writers need to be voracious readers. We need to be inundated with stories. But in the last days of writing something new, …
Back to Virtual School: 5 Tips For Productive Writing During This New Season
by Heidi McCahan, @HeidiMcCahan The new school year has arrived and even if you don’t have children, you’re probably still aware of this milestone event that marks the end of summer and the unofficial beginning of fall. As my own children are adjusting and adapting to the changing landscape of a school year that’s beginning online, I’ve realized now is the …
The Art of Dreaming and Writing
by Kariss Lynch, @Kariss_Lynch What does it mean to dream with God? As writers, we are innately dreamers and creators, proof that we are created in the image of a Master Creator. I love that one way I connect with God is by practicing the gift He has given me. Doesn’t it make sense then that His number one adversary …
My Favorite Writing Rule (That I Made Up)
by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong Blake Snyder made up some fun writing rules that he teaches in his book Save the Cat. Save the Cat is actually his most famous rule. It says you must make your characters likable by having them do something heroic in the beginning…like saving a cat. I appreciate these kinds of rules because they don’t …
The Fear Trap
by Andrea Christenson, @andrea143 As writers we often joke about finding ourselves doing anything to avoid writing. We do the laundry, clean out the fridge, scrub at the grout in the bathroom with an old toothbrush. Anything! Lately, I’ve been finding myself in the trap more and more often. “Just wash the dishes, then you can get a page of writing …
The Beauty of Learning to Wait
by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan Several years ago, I celebrated a friend’s birthday by attending a pottery painting party at a local studio with our circle of friends. We had two hours to choose a piece of greenware—clay that has been shaped, but not fired yet—and paint it any way we desired. We laughed, ate the most fabulous cupcakes and celebrated …
Finding the Quirky in the Mundane
by David Rawlings, @DavidJRawlings I find characters memorable when they have a certain something that stays with me when they’re gone. That doesn’t mean they’ve got the stereotypical chiseled jaw and swept hairline, but it’s more that they’ve got a habit that is quirky. Quirky can be memorable. Like the character that sucks in air through his teeth while he’s thinking. Or …
It’s All About Character
by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay Our ability to engage our readers comes down to the characters we share with them. Compelling characters make a rich and rewarding story — and keep readers wanting more. Even if you write fast-paced, plot-driven fiction, readers will only travel that road with you if your protagonist is worthy of the chase. How do we create these “jump …