by Lisa Jordan For the past 15 years, I’ve owned and operated my own state-registered in-home childcare program. My days are very busy and extremely noisy, but I reap many incredible blessings. In 2011 I received my first publishing contract, so for the past two years, I’ve been juggling my day job with my night job. After dinner ends, I …
How to Keep That Conference Feeling All Year Long
by Melissa Tagg The annual ACFW is one of my absolute favorite times of year. It’s like Christmas meets my birthday meets all those fun college classes. (You know, versus the classes you HAD to take…like anything even remotely math related.) But once you return home, it’s easy to feel a little letdown. A little “Oh my goodness, do I …
Top 5 Tools for the Not-Yet-Published Writer
by Laura McClellan As a lifelong student of the writing craft, I’ve heard and read lots of good advice, tons of suggestions for essential tools for those of us who are working toward a career as a writer. I thought I’d offer my suggestions for the top five tools for pre-published writers: 1. A calendar. All the real experts, the …
What A Writer Needs
by Dani Pettrey Every writer is different and every writer has different needs while writing. I always write with a piece of dark chocolate and a coffee drink (Mocha, Americano, etc.) at hand. I always write my first drafts longhand, and I’m pretty particular about the notebooks and pens I use. It got me thinking about what other writers need …
Simple Words of Comfort
by Jane Kirkpatrick When my sister was very ill she told me that when you’re going through a hard time, it’s difficult to concentrate long enough to read an entire book. So I’d call her and give her little things to think about for encouragement. For instance I told her that the word family came from the Latin word famalus …
When Tragedy Strikes…
by Shirley E. Gould My amazing husband passed away suddenly on May 7, 2013. My life has taken a devastating turn that has sapped my writing creativity. It’s hard to string words together when you’re telling yourself to breathe in and out, when your heart is broken, and everywhere you turn reminders of his absence overwhelm your emotions. After two …
Celebrating the Variety
by Jason C. Joyner I’ve been a watcher of the Christian fiction industry for several years now as an aspiring writer. I’ve enjoyed reading great books, interacting with thoughtful authors, and helping to promote CBA books through blog tours and street teams. Now on the cusp of the 2013 ACFW Conference in Indianapolis, there will be a lot of excited …
Be Kind to One Another
by Tina Radcliffe It’s quite serendipitous that what has been percolating in me for days is a postscript to Deborah Raney’s lovely post of September 4, 2013, “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Reviews.” As members of ACFW, there is an expectation that at some point we will have books available for consumer purchase. Additionally, we all have our own …
3 Easy Steps to a Successful ACFW Conference – even if You’re Not Attending!
by Beth K. Vogt I’m heading to Indianapolis tomorrow, getting a few days head start on the ACFW conference. I started a mental checklist weeks ago, about the time my Twitter feed and Facebook page filled up with “I’m going!” conversations – and some “I’m not going” laments – and discussions about arrivals and departures, favorite snacks (candy corn, anyone?) …
Making Time for the Work You Love
by Mary Ellis Most readers imagine authors pounding away at their computers, then taking long walks on the beach to renew their inspiration. A writer’s life must be solitary, introspective, and perhaps a bit tragic. Although there are some writers enjoying that lifestyle, most juggle other jobs too. If wish to add author to your day job and family responsibilities, …