by Ane Mulligan Sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste create experiential fiction, a story so in-the-moment, the reader hears, smells, and tastes what the characters do. To do that, we want to show the action. Here are some tips for you. Remember to make the descriptions organic to your character. If you protagonist is a musician, her similes will be musical. …
Going Live (or on the Record) with Zoom
By Johnnie Alexander A few weeks ago, three friends and I—from four different states and three different time zones—got together on Zoom to brainstorm a story I’m working on. Thanks to Zoom’s gallery view format, we could see each other as we talked through our ideas. It was a fantastic way for us to connect with one another across such …
Hold the Dream Lightly
By Lorraine Beatty Dreams are funny things. They can sustain us, they can torment us or they can rip our hearts to shreds. But we can’t live without them. As writers we dream of that first contract or that perfect agent who will find us that top publisher. But sometimes dreams take a long time to materialize. Sometimes not at …
Even the “Big Dogs” Struggle
By C. Kevin Thompson I picked up a copy of Lee Child’s debut novel, The Killing Floor. It was his first Jack Reacher novel. Originally published in 1997, this edition (the fifth edition in 2012) is a mass paperback and contains “a new introduction by the author.” It was this intro that inspired me to keep on keeping on. Child …
Consider Large Print
By Lynn Hobbs One of the first lessons I was taught in years of attending writing workshops was to identify your writing audience; female, male, or both? What age group? What genre? After deciding, it was stressed to continue with your choice. Advantages are obvious. You keep your same readers. You built an e-mail list of those readers to inform …
The Rewards of Research
by Diana Wallis Taylor Anytime I prepare to write a new book, the matter of research comes up. What do I need to know to accurately present my main characters? Jewish background and customs are more familiar since I have written about several Jewish women in the New Testament, among them Martha, Ruth, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of …
The Ministry of Christian Fiction
By Renee Blare Have you ever wondered about your ministry as a Christian author? Is it make-believe stories? Does it lie with ideas in your head? Or with success? Is it a ministry or a career, both? I’ve thought about these questions a lot. For many reasons. How do we walk the fine line between author and Christian…without offending someone? …
Three Tips for Making Up with Your Characters
By Melissa Tagg Several weeks ago during an author Q&A, I was asked to name a sport to which I’d compare my writing journey. I didn’t even have to think about it: hockey. It’s possible I gave this answer solely because only days earlier I’d been part of an extended—and hilarious!—conversation about The Mighty Ducks movies. Nineties kids say “hey!” …
Why “Brand” Matters…Or Does it Really?
By Cynthia Herron As a writer, you’ve probably given some thought to your “brand.” (And if you haven’t, now’s the time!) “Brand” to an author is what water is to wildflowers. It quenches, sustains, and breathes life into an otherwise drab existence. For instance, in today’s world where we’re surrounded with a buffet of opportunity, I’m always intrigued by people’s …
Be Still
By Gabrielle Meyer Recently, I learned that one of the publishers I write for is closing their historical line. It was a blow I didn’t see coming as I watched my well-laid plans crash at my feet. After working for five years to get where I was, it felt like I was back at square one. I’d faced rejection letters …