Three Word Pictures to Describe my Writing

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by Dwight David Croy My writing thought life is best described as a percolator, puzzle, and a microscope. Time is needed to think, think, and think before writing. A percolator cannot be rushed but it is working on that perfect cup of coffee. My generation is from the “Java Jive” sung by the “Ink Spots.” Most words in that song …

Surprises of Post Publication

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by Jane Kirkpatrick One of the surprises of being a published author is experiencing the side stories that result from the publication. A couple of my titles have resulted in watercolor artists painting their version of the story. We had events celebrating those paintings, selling them to raise money for non-profits. Several quilting groups through the years have chosen one …

Using Foreshadowing to Increase Tension

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By DiAnn Mills Foreshadowing is an ingenious literary tool that indicates something will happen in the story. It hints or suggests what is to come and becomes a promise to the reader, a promise that must be kept. Like a road sign that shows what is ahead, foreshadowing signals tension and suspense while alluding to fear, threat, humor, tragedy, or …

The Value of Creating White Space in Your Life

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By Lisa Jordan @lisajordan One of the first writing rules I learned was to be sure there was plenty of white space on the page. At that time, I wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but as I grew in my craft and my abilities, I learned it meant having a good balance of dialogue and narrative to ensure the …

Reasons to View Writers as Athletes

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By Linda Dindzans, M.D Billions of people viewed the  Paris Olympics, and I enthusiastically joined them. While watching, it occurred to me that writers could be viewed as comparable to athletes and writing could be considered a sport. While most Olympians will not take home a medal, and most writers will not become worldwide best sellers, both groups have entered …

Seven Components Required to Create a Compelling Character

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by Rachel Hauck  @RachelHauck This August I’ve been writing full time for twenty years. I quit my job—cutting our household income by two-thirds—with one little $2,500 contract and a big deposit of dreams. While other contracts followed, my books didn’t fly off the shelf, win awards, or create buzz at my publisher. In many ways, I had a wrong idea …

The Business Side of Writing: Backing Up Your Claim of Being a Writer

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By Barbara M. Britton @BarbaraMBritton I love to create people with distinct personalities and unique skills and write about them to produce a story. I call myself a professional writer, but to the IRS I might be a hobbyist or a dreamer. How do I prove to government agents that I run a business? Here are a few steps to …

Suffer the Children

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by M.D. House @real_housemd Almost everyone has a tender spot in their heart for children. That is because we are sons and daughters of God; his natural tenderness toward the innocent, the vulnerable, and the teachable was passed on to us. We can learn to ignore it, mute it, or shove it aside, and unfortunately some do. I love children, …

Why Read or Recommend a Biblical novel?

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By Linda Dindzans @lindadindzans First let’s review from my previous blog Why Write a Biblical Novel? the definition of a biblical novel. The vast cast of biblical characters is both historic and religious. They are not fictional. Their lives, faith, and teachings are accurately recorded in scripture. A biblical novel is not scripture. The tale is generated in the “offstage …

The Five Be’s of Brainstorming

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by Darlene L. Turner Brainstorming plays a significant part in every author’s writing process. Doesn’t matter if it’s non-fiction or fiction, we need to spend time mulling over our thoughts before we put our pen to paper. But what exactly is brainstorming? Seems like an odd question, but let’s look at the definition from dictionary.com. “A technique for generating ideas …