by Aubrey Reiss Taylor @aubtaybooks I’m a bit of an anomaly when it comes to WWII fiction. From the start, I have passionately focused on German-Perspective stories, favoring characters and storylines that challenge stereotypes and turn the standard tropes on their heads. It’s not about denying ugly truths—it’s about sinking deep into their side of the story. The task of …
How Wall Street Taught Me to Write a Thriller
by Kristine Delano “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” Luke 8:17 I didn’t learn to write thrillers by studying crime scenes or participating in ridealongs. I learned by paying attention in boardrooms. Something happened years ago but the memory …
Writing Stuff (What You Need/What You Might Not)
by Susan Lyttek @SusanLyttek I have a stuff limit. I’m not exactly sure what it is, I simply know that after the house has acquired for a while, I reach a tipping point. Then I become mildly obsessed with decluttering, giving away, and tossing until things feel in balance again. It can be the same with writing stuff. Years ago, …
To Write with Purpose and Perseverance, Take a Page from the Magi’s Story
By Lana Christian @LanaCWrites The first half of Matthew 2 chronicles how the Magi found and worshipped the Christ Child. But Matthew ends their breathtaking story on a whispered footnote. Verse 12 says that, to avoid Herod, the Wise Men “returned home by a different route.” Our 21st-century minds tend to dismiss that as “they traveled a county road instead …
When Less is More
By Joni M. Fisher @authorjonimfisher Shakespeare said it best in Hamlet, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Suggest, don’t tell all. Let the reader connect the dots. Great fiction is more like impressionist artwork than still photography. Beginning writers underestimate their ability to convey meaning, so they repeat a concept, explain it, or otherwise beat the reader over the head …
Encouragement for Your 2026 Writing Goals
“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.” ~ Galatians 6:4 (MSG) Much of this post I shared with you last year in my New Year’s blog post. I did not set out to repeat myself this year, but as I read last year’s words they spoke …
What Is Christmas? A Writer’s Reflection
by Donald L. Reavis What is Christmas? In the process of developing a novel, we often ask rhetorical questions like this. Questions that linger in the air, shaping theme, tone, and character. But this one isn’t only for fiction. It’s a question that pulls me backward through time, into the places that formed me. At its core, Christmas is a …
Finish Faithfully: A Christmas Call to Writers
By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede December is a funny month for writers. You start with good intentions—maybe even a spreadsheet, a new candle, and a Christmas playlist that doesn’t distract you too much. But then come the gift lists, the travel plans, the church rehearsals, the cookies (so many cookies), and before you know it, your manuscript is buried under tinsel, …
Writing Authority Figures. Who Has The Power?
By Barbara M. Britton @BarbaraMBritton Whether you are writing about kings, military officers, or an elementary teacher, authority figures contain layers of intrigue. The struggle for power that comes with authority can add conflict and tension to your novel. Let us look at the P-words that are associated with fallen, human authority figures. Power. Who bestowed power on your …
Success Beyond the Word Count
by Elle E. Kay As 2025 winds down, I find myself reflecting on the year and realizing I simply don’t move as fast as I used to. The days when I could sit down and hammer out a book in a couple of days to meet a deadline are gone. Despite slowing down, I published several new titles this year, …