Be Yourself

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Encouragement, Faith, tips, writing 5 Comments

By Loretta Eidson @lorettajedison Did you ever think you could become an author? I didn’t. Well, not until the tug in my heart pulled me in that direction. Who was I to join the team of such an overwhelming, impressive profession? Who knew the journey would be so challenging? Starting at the bottom forced me to face my fears of …

Stealing the Heart of the Reader

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Characters, creativity, Dialogue, Plots, Story Structure, tips, writing Leave a Comment

By Marie E. Bast @mariebast1 To steal the heart of the reader, a story must have a solid plot line and the protagonist must believe a lie about him or herself, which will cause obstacles and hinder them achieving their plot goal. This problem will become obvious at the inciting incident and first plot point. Each chapter, like a golf …

I love that about you!

ACFWAuthors and writing, Critiques, Encouragement, Faith, Fear/Doubt, tips, writing 6 Comments

by Julia Fenstermacher Growing up without my mother was hard. I did not realize how much I needed affirmation and acknowledgement until it came to me in my teen years. My Dad did his best to raise us three kids single-handedly. He was a purpose driven corporate ex-military man who traveled for work. When he was home, he cooked gourmet …

Mesmerizing Mysteries and How to Master Them

ACFWAuthors and writing, Mystery/Suspense, Organization, Plots, Plotting/Outlines, tips, writing 2 Comments

By Sarah Sundin @sarahsundin What makes a satisfying mystery? As in all novels, we need intriguing lead characters, a captivating premise, and a setting that supports the story on both a physical and emotional level. But mysteries also have a cast of suspects and an interwoven plot with suspects and investigators acting and reacting to each other. Ideally, the reader …

Top Five things Christian Writers need in their Writing Toolbox

ACFWACFW, Advice, Authors and writing, Faith, Friends of ACFW, Prayer, tips, writing Leave a Comment

by Cindy Ervin Huff @Cindyhuff11Huff Christian writers, like secular writers, have a plethora of help available to them as they craft their books. Classes, conferences, webinars, coaches, to name a few. But Christian writers whose heart is to follow His guidance as we write have five essential tools to help us succeed. 1. Prayer It is easy to wake up …

What a Contest Can Do for You

ACFWACFW, Advice, Contests, tips, writing 2 Comments

by Lisa Kelley @LisaKelleyWrite It’s time for unpublished authors like myself to enter the Genesis contest. I encourage you to go for it, but to approach it as a learning experience rather than a ticket to publication. Even though I’m the 2023 Romance winner, I’d enter again this year if I had a finished manuscript. I’m competitive, so it’s hard …

Writing about Grief, Pain and Sorrow

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Description, Encouragement, tips, writing 2 Comments

by Allie Pleiter @alliepleiter We want our books to touch readers. For that to happen, our characters must go through deep emotions, letting the experiences transform them and their faith. Even those of us who write with a touch of humor need to plumb the depths of life’s journey to write a book that feels as significant as it does …

The Voice Inside You

ACFWAdvice, Authors and writing, Encouragement, Faith, Friends of ACFW, tips, writing 1 Comment

By Nancy Mehl @nancymehl When I first started writing, I was excited about the future. I finally knew who I was. What I was born to do! But after a while I began to realize just how much work it was going to take. How much it would impact time spent with my family and my friends. It was clear …

Cookies & Ice Cream, the Who, What, Where, When & Why

ACFWAuthors and writing, Organization, Plots, Story Structure, tips, writing 10 Comments

By Desiree Future @Desiree_Future As an avid movie watcher, I enjoy various kinds of flicks. Faith-based, drama, action, and romance always intrigue me. Sometimes, I’ll plop on my sofa with my cat on my lap and take in a good show. Other times, I’ll head to the movie theater to see the matinee of a new screening. Recently I was …

Hello 2024 – New Year, New Goals?

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by Lori Domingo @loridomingo22 I’ll begin by wishing everyone a very happy New Year! Honestly, it doesn’t seem possible to me that another year has come and gone. 2023 was a mixed bag of successes and failures, with plenty of trials thrown in just to keep me humble. Part of what I like to do at the beginning of the …