by Kristine Delano Writers love to talk about authentic character arcs, narrative drive, and the emotional symbolism of rain. Publishers, meanwhile, are sitting in meetings asking one terrifying question: “But what is it about?” Your hook. A strong hook is the difference between someone politely nodding while mentally grocery shopping and someone blurting out, “Wait, she has to investigate her …
Subplot Sanity
By Amy Deardon I always found subplots confusing, so I took some time to look into them. We all know that subplots add depth and richness to a straight narrative. However, creating subplots can be REALLY HARD to imagine. One reason I believe this is so, ultimately, is that several types of story narratives are conflated into the term “subplot.” …
A Love Story Worth Reading
by Roxanne Hicks While sitting in church one Sunday morning, I was struck by the profound words of a hymn. I don’t remember the name, but the concept will never leave my thoughts. “No greater love has any man than when he lays down his life for another.” This, of course, is in reference to the love of our Savoir …
Hooks & Cliffhangers Readers Can’t Resist
by Darlene L. Turner “Just one more chapter, Mom.” This is how I responded to my mother when she reminded me I had chores to finish, but Nancy Drew held me in her clutches. I couldn’t put the book down, especially when the chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Ugh! Sound familiar? This is how we want our readers to respond …
The Story Equation
By Rachel Hauck I’ve been using Susan May Warren’s Story Equation (SEQ) for building characters and working out a high-level plot for over a decade. In our early days of writing, as Susie and I talked about our craft, she brought these principles to the table and created The Story Equation. To be clear, there are many good author tools. …
Five Tips for the Tight Pacing That Will Engage Your Reader
by Allie Pleiter Every writer’s goal is to engage and enthrall their reader. We want them pulled deeply and quickly into the story so that they can’t wait to turn the page. Accomplish this, and you’ll have won a loyal fan who not only follows you to the end of your story, but eagerly await your next book. But how …
Visible Virtues: Tangible Temperance
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for many Christians. It is a day when we act out what we believe to be true, that we will live and we will die and we will be resurrected by Christ. And so an ashen cross is drawn on the forehead as we hear the words, …
How to Kill Your Characters Without Physicians Cringing
by Jenny Powell MD When I researched for my manuscript about the Apostle Paul, I wanted to know the impact of stones thrown at a body. How did stoning cause death? How far away from a body did someone have to stand to do the most damage? How does the body respond to such repeated insults? Of course, the scientist …
Building a Home, Building a Novel
By Diane E. Samson My husband and I have been in the process of building a home for the last 18 months. Our new place will be ready in December, and as all the various design pieces come together so it looks like an actual home, I can’t help but notice the similarities this experience has been to bringing a …
The Problem with Fantasy
by Scott T. Barnes Christians writing fantasy literature face one unique challenge that most writers do not: how to deal with religion and spirituality in a made-up world? I provide here only partial answers and reflections, and would love to hear your opinions on this important topic. ‘Fantasy’ fiction comprises books as diverse as The Lord of the Rings; The …