By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede Yesterday my writing coach returned my manuscript with comments and edits, and within five minutes I discovered an exciting new subplot called “Defensiveness.” Then I briefly considered spinning it off into a companion project titled “Avoidance.” But our discipleship group has been reading Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller, and it’s been exposing the hidden idols I …
Writers, What AI Are You Using?
by Maureen Miller Let me start by saying… I’m the first to ask the Lord to refine my convictions. “Am I lazy?” I’ve inquired. Afraid of unfamiliar territory? Insecure about learning something new? It’s not like that’s never been the case, but this? It’s different. Not laziness. Not fear. Maybe there’s someone who needs to hear it, to know they’re …
Authoring Peace
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today, February 16, is Presidents’ Day, a day celebrating the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, heroic authors of peace, and this year marks America’s Super-Centennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We give thanks for our country and its founding. America’s remarkable history, formed by its many heroic presidents, reflects earlier foundations …
In Praise of Art Museums as Sources of Inspiration
by Glynn Young I’d heard that, as you age, you often become more interested in art. What I didn’t expect was to discover how that growing interest in art would affect my fiction writing. I wasn’t a stranger to art, but I can’t say it was a major preoccupation, either. I had two semesters of art history in college; I …
Waiting With Purpose
by Stephanie Cardel “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” ~Psalm37:7 (ESV) To me, the most difficult part of being a writer is all the waiting. At least, that’s what drives me mad. Not writer’s block. Not how competitive it is. Not rejection. Waiting. You put yourself out there and wait for critique, then an agent’s response, …
Balancing the Story, Bridging the Gap
by Aubrey Reiss Taylor @aubtaybooks I’m a bit of an anomaly when it comes to WWII fiction. From the start, I have passionately focused on German-Perspective stories, favoring characters and storylines that challenge stereotypes and turn the standard tropes on their heads. It’s not about denying ugly truths—it’s about sinking deep into their side of the story. The task of …
To Write with Purpose and Perseverance, Take a Page from the Magi’s Story
By Lana Christian @LanaCWrites The first half of Matthew 2 chronicles how the Magi found and worshipped the Christ Child. But Matthew ends their breathtaking story on a whispered footnote. Verse 12 says that, to avoid Herod, the Wise Men “returned home by a different route.” Our 21st-century minds tend to dismiss that as “they traveled a county road instead …
Encouragement for Your 2026 Writing Goals
“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.” ~ Galatians 6:4 (MSG) Much of this post I shared with you last year in my New Year’s blog post. I did not set out to repeat myself this year, but as I read last year’s words they spoke …
What Is Christmas? A Writer’s Reflection
by Donald L. Reavis What is Christmas? In the process of developing a novel, we often ask rhetorical questions like this. Questions that linger in the air, shaping theme, tone, and character. But this one isn’t only for fiction. It’s a question that pulls me backward through time, into the places that formed me. At its core, Christmas is a …
Finish Faithfully: A Christmas Call to Writers
By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede December is a funny month for writers. You start with good intentions—maybe even a spreadsheet, a new candle, and a Christmas playlist that doesn’t distract you too much. But then come the gift lists, the travel plans, the church rehearsals, the cookies (so many cookies), and before you know it, your manuscript is buried under tinsel, …