by Henry McLaughlin Many of us have writing quotes to inspire or nag us. Or to nudge us to keep writing. A few of my favorites include: “If my family didn’t want me to write about them, they should’ve behaved better.” – Anne Lamott “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” – Ray Bradbury “I love …
Creativity—Keeping it Pure
by Terri Gillespie “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, TLV Creativity. Taking nothing and making something. Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” I love that. The Creator of the Universe—our Heavenly Father—sure has fun with creativity. Look at the giraffe. What is amazing as writers, authors, artists, musicians, and those who live …
How Can YOU Reach a Broader Audience?
By Mesu Andrews When I was choosing dates to write for the ACFW blog, I noticed that today, May 21st, is Ascension Day. Now, I’m a theological mutt. Mom’s charismatic. Dad was Quaker. My grandparents were Pilgrim Holiness ordained ministers—both grandpa AND grandma even way back when. Since my spiritual heritage is Evangelical, I don’t know much about Ascension Day. …
Confined in Spring
by Elizabeth Musser Lord, how can I complain when I’m confined in Spring? When a chateau sits in my backyard When snow white calla lilies curl towards the sun And lilacs bloom and tulips tilt their crimson heads And butterflies, like wind, like Spirit, flit to who-knows-where? When everything outside proclaims this simple truth: Life wins! So may I not …
Sheltered by the Resurrection
By Christine Sunderland Christian writers shelter their stories, then baptize them with resurrection life. We have been sheltering-in-place in the San Francisco Bay Area this 2020 Lenten season, hoping to slow the flu virus Covid-19, and staying home has provided an appropriate time to reflect, to pray, in effect, to observe a better, greater Lent. In going through some old …
Needing to be seen
By Lana Christian Writing is largely a solitary proposition. Then comes the need to be seen. But the coronavirus has limited us in ways we never could have imagined. Countless book launches have been canceled. Authors fear their years of work may never be seen. Their collective cries blanket social media. How can I get people to notice me and …
Passed Over
by Terri Gillespie “For the vision is yet for an appointed time. It hastens to the end and will not fail. If it should be slow in coming, wait for it, for it will surely come—it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3, TLV Do you remember your first manuscript rejection? (I know, what a jolly way to begin a blog.) That …
I Know the Plans I Have for You …
by Deb Haggerty How many times do we rush blindly into our days, perhaps breathing a brief “God guide me” on our way out of the bedroom to get coffee and dive into our plans? I was reminded recently our ideas may not be the plans God has for us. I was scheduled for a left knee replacement March 10, …
Creating in the Quiet with God
By Tara Johnson “Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.” ~ Bhagavati We are living in wild times and these past few weeks have yanked busy schedules to a grinding halt. I’ve often heard people say how much they long for the quiet life, whether it be the lifestyle of the Amish, or the world of days gone by, …
From Panic to Focus
by Kristi Holl Last fall I spent several weeks researching a mystery series set in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. The locals who own the village shops depend on tourist trade from daily bus tours and mountain bike groups. Recently villagers sent out a plea for the tourists to please stay home during the coronavirus scare. Students and …