by Allie Pleiter The past three months served up the most challenging workload of my 20+ year career. For the first time, I experienced what most people might call “writer’s block” because so much was being asked of me by so many people that it spawned a sort of creative paralysis in my brain. I was acutely aware of what …
When You Hit a Writing Drought
by Glynn Young Since the time I was a reporter for my college newspaper, longer ago than I care to admit, writing has been an integral part of my life. I’ve been a reporter, editor, newsletter editor, speechwriter, public relations manager, novelist, short story writer, non-fiction book author, blogger, book reviewer, essayist, poet, and more. Writing has been central in …
Authoring Faith
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today is the National Day of Prayer, a day signed into law in 1952. This year’s theme is “Glorify God among the nations, seeking Him in all generations” (I Chronicles 16:24 NASB). In this year, 2026, when we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we celebrate America and the faith of our fathers. …
If It Doesn’t Bear Fruit…
By Dave Pratt My first novel evolved from an introductory novel-writing correspondence course. At about that time, I met a well-published romance writer who agreed to take a look once I completed the manuscript. When I mailed her the hard copy, I was so excited! Those were the days of snail-mail hardcopy editors. It was that long ago! So, when …
Fiction is Evangelistic
by Dr. Dwight David Croy My first impulse to write was to provide books to boys 13-17 with a male perspective after teaching in a Juvenile Department of Safety and Justice program. Their limitless anger, broken families, lack of fathers, mentors, and narrow view of success catapulted me to write. Each writer has a springboard to write. Our central motivation …
Limitless Words
By Susan Lyttek John 21:25 (NKJV) And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. Spring cleaning is in full force around my house. Part of the agenda this year is going through files and …
Heritage Drives
by Georgia Curtis Ling @GeorgiaCLing It was one of those frantic mornings. I was treating the scenic, unfamiliar back road like a speedway, entirely focused on making it to the grocery store. I was completely disconnected, caught up in the stress of the day—until I saw it. The unexpected sight brought me back to reality. I slammed on the brakes …
Questions to Ponder
by Mitchell S. Karnes I grew up loving to read. That love grew into a passion for writing. In the beginning, I was full of questions and voraciously searched for the answers. Thankfully, God placed many great mentors in my life. Without them, I would have given up, for there were just as many critics who discouraged me from using …
Your Book is Not Your Baby – And That’s Good News
At my very first ACFW conference—several years ago—I sat in a class with a well-known and much-loved author. When I asked her for her number one piece of advice for a green, newbie like me, she replied, “Always remember your books are not your babies.” Her admonition took me off guard. I had heard numerous writers, both fledgling and professional, …
Red Ink, Refined Hearts
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 …
