That’s What Friends Are For

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Critiques, Friends of ACFW, marketing, Social Media Leave a Comment

by Sarah Sundin When I started writing, I was alone. I’d never met another novelist, and I had no idea where to start. The first and best advice I received was to join a writers group and attend conferences. Made sense. I needed to learn my craft. I needed to meet editors and agents so I could sell my book. …

Publishing vs. Encouraging

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Critiques, Friends of ACFW Leave a Comment

By Ane Mulligan According to a song lyric by Linda Rondeau: Home, home in the industry Where the writers and publishers play Where seldom is heard An encouraging word And the skies are so cloudy all day Thanks, Linda for letting me borrow the lyric. Yes, I’ve experienced discouragement in my writing journey. Maybe it was a rejection, or comments …

Are You Being Tossed About by Every Wind?

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Critiques, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW Leave a Comment

By Henry McLaughlin Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Ephesians 4:14 NLT In my small group recently, we were discussing critiques. One member had …

Be a Critter-Getter

ACFWAdvice, Critiques, Fellowship, Friends of ACFW Leave a Comment

By Linda Robinson If I were forced to choose only one blessing I’ve gleaned from my membership in ACFW, it would be hard. After much thought, I would have to say it occurred when I chose to become a part of Scribes, their critique group, which resulted in an even greater blessing. While submitting chapters and critiquing others’ submissions, a …

Dissecting The Old To Make It New

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Books, Critiques, Friends of ACFW, revisions, tips, writing Leave a Comment

by Gail Gaymer Martin By the time novelists sell to a traditional publisher, they’ve donated a large amount of time honing their craft. Rejection points out a weak writing technique: pacing, dialogue, point of view or other flaws. Learning to write a good book is a craft. Many people say someday they’re going to write a book. They sit down, …

Iron Sharpening Iron

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Critiques, Friends of ACFW, tips Leave a Comment

by Tamera Alexander “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 Deborah Raney and I have been writing critique partners for more than ten years, ever since we met at the first ACFW conference. While not all critique partners become friends, friendship has been a natural outgrowth of our working relationship, and I’m so grateful. Over the …

It’s a Matter of POV: Toughen Up

ACFWAdvice, Critiques, Friends of ACFW Leave a Comment

by Ane Mulligan Years ago when I first started writing, I wrote short drama sketches for my church. The first one got published and every one after that. Then I turned my hand to novels. After a few months and 125,000 words, I found an online critique group. When I received my first critique, I discovered I knew nothing but …

Critiquing Suggestions for Transitioning to Published Author

ACFWAdvice, Critiques, Friends of ACFW, tips Leave a Comment

by Carrie Fancett Pagels I’ve posted elsewhere about not despising the day of small beginnings, as the Bible also tells us. One of the blessings of working on three “smaller” publications in the past several months is what I’ve learned about my writing life. For example, how can I best work with a Critique Partner (will abbreviate as CP henceforth.) …