by Peter Leavell, @PeterLeavell Research is a kingly or queenly quest. You’re the hero in a foggy hallway filled with doors. You open one at a time to see what secrets are hidden. Eventually, you discover a golden crown. Yet, as you pick up the crown and set it on your head, you notice a new hallway with more doors …
The Best Time of Day to Write
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 …
Seven Rules to Get the Feedback You Need
by David Rawlings, @DavidJRawlings Writers are a fragile lot, aren’t we? We beaver away in our imaginary worlds, creating and inhabiting spaces with characters of our own creation. And when we emerge, it can sometimes be daunting to work out if what we’ve created it worth reading. We’re artists – even if you’re trying to make a living from writing, you’re an …
Impact: What Is Greatness Really?
by Jeanne Takenaka, @JeanneTakenaka I’ve lost track of how many times, in my heart of hearts, I’ve yearned to make a difference in our world. As a teen, I was sure I had big things ahead of me. I just needed to discover them and do them. Now, decades later, there are still times when I wish I could make an impact …
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 …
Where Do You Start Your Story?
by Patricia Bradley, @PTBradley1 We all struggle with where to start our stories. It’s been said a novel’s opening is the most important thing to nail, and you’ve heard the advice: don’t start too early—the reader has no idea where you’re coming from, don’t bore the reader, don’t confuse the reader. I struggle with openings in every book I’ve written. I …
Jesus Wore a Dress: Reactionary Ideas in Our Novels
by Peter Leavell, @PeterLeavell I met a girl, Tonya. Yowzers. I liked her, and on our first date, I could do no wrong. However, the next time we got together, I couldn’t seem to say anything right. Appropriately annoyed, she challenged me. I had two options—react and defend myself, or dig deep, consider her comments, and give a true account …
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 …
What’s A Tagline? And Why You Need One.
by James L. Rubart, @jameslrubart Over the past few weeks, a number of writers have asked me, “What’s a tagline in the world of writing? And how do I use it?” It’s a good question, so in case you’d like to know as well, I’ll give you a brief explanation and then explain why you need one. In general terms …
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