By Rondi Bauer Olson A few months ago I had a difficult time leaving behind the world of a book I’d read. I thought about the characters and plot for weeks, reread the book a couple of times, and journaled my favorite passages. At first, I just enjoyed the experience. I gained a better understanding of people from a certain …
Why Writers Need Poetry
by Susan A.J. Lyttek When I teach high school creative writing, we devote the entire first semester to poetry. Just typing that line, I can hear people reading this (at least some of you) groaning in agony. Why on earth would I do that? Do I love torturing youth with thees and thous? Do I want to see them bang …
Does Writing Give You a Pain in the Neck?
By Patricia Bradley Did you know that writers as a group have more shoulder and neck pain than the average person? Is it any wonder why? We spend hours and hours sitting at a computer, staring at a blinking cursor. And not only do all those hours affect our neck and shoulder muscles, they add extra padding where we don’t …
Turning Pro: Business Planning for Writers
By Preslaysa Williams Writers, are you ready to take your business to the next level and turn pro? Then you need a business plan. It doesn’t have to be a long, complicated document. Your written plan will help you determine what you want from your career. Here are some basic elements and questions to ask as you craft your business …
Re-Releasing Books
By Allie Pleiter Recently, I went through the process of independently re-releasing of some dearly loved books of mine from earlier years. The tiny novella Getting to Yes, the Rita-nominated (and also a Caroll finalist) My So-Called Love Life, and The Perfect Blend were the first “category” romances I’d ever written, and they are still reader favorites. It was such …
Quirky Sources to Add to Your Characterization
By DiAnn Mills I live and breathe story–most writers do. And we’re always looking for ways to ensure our characters and their predicaments are exciting and unique. Some of the places we look can be a bit . . . different. But the exploration is worth it. Here are a few areas that I’ve delved into to add idiosyncrasies to …
Why Every Author Needs a Detective
by Amber Schamel Every author needs a detective. It’s elementary, my dear Watson. Not sure you believe me? Very well, I will explain. Wednesday afternoon, a quarter past one. I was at lunch with my brother. We were casually talking while dishing out homemade spaghetti. My brother was sharing about his work and the various construction projects he was selling, …
Belief for All Things
By Tanara McCauley “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It’s a verse I know well, and one I’m prone to lean on in trying times or when faced with difficult choices. I’ve only recently realized, however, that it’s a verse I never fully believed. I can do hard things through Christ. I can do good things …
Sharing Your Heart
By Patti Shene They say you should write what you know. These past few months, my life has been draped in sadness and loss. (Please don’t stop reading! I’m not going to take you into a world of gloom and grief!). My mom passed away in February of this year and my husband in June. I was blessed to speak …
My Blogless Summer
By Victoria Buck After eighteen months of blogging weekly, I knew it was time for a respite. I needed to promote the release of my second novel. A novelette begged to be finished. I’d signed the contract for my third novel, and a fourth collection of characters and plots had settled into my imagination. So I felt I needed a …