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, …
What Turns Me Off as a Reader
by Jenny Powell MD I’ve been reading since I was four years old. My older sister taught me whilst playing school (I had always thought that since my mother was an elementary school teacher, she had taught us both. I assumed wrong.). I remember reading my first chapter book in third grade, the age at which they tested our reading …
Singing the Song of Freedom
by Christine Sunderland Today, July 9, is my birthday, nine months after my bones took flesh, searched out and known by the Lord of Hosts. Bursting into the world with my first breaths, five days after America’s Independence Day in 1947 (in Fresno, California), I left behind the comfortable creche of my mother’s womb. My mother, a graduate of Biblical …
Shhh!
by Angela Hunt Hello, ACFW! I hope you’re enjoying your summer and planning for the conference coming up in September. It’s going to be a great time! Anna Quindlen once wrote an insightful column for Newsweek. She wrote about solitude and explained that though she loves her family, she also loves time alone: “I like solitude. I can spend days happily …
When You Write With God
by Chandra Lynn Smith Some days the writing flows and I amaze myself with the inspiration of my words. And then…some days…well probably more than some days I feel more like the character on Grey’s Anatomy who decided to eat his manuscript because it was terrible. (Of course, that is not the best thing to do with a terrible manuscript!) …
Wisdom from the Writer’s Desk: Five Lessons Learned
by Elle E. Kay Publishing my twentieth Christian fiction novel this year has been a significant milestone. In addition to my published works, I have several unpublished manuscripts, one non-fiction book, and two children’s books. It’s been a long and arduous journey from that first non-fiction title to my latest novel. There has been much trial and error, with some …
Fingerprint of Worship
by Jenny Erlingsson @jennyerlingsson I tiptoed up the stairs and closed the small bedroom door behind me. One hour. I had one hour to start working on the book that had been pulsing in my heart for a couple of years. It felt like a life message I needed to share, even if it was just for my family. I …
Mastering the Puzzle
By Loretta Eidson Most people enjoy putting puzzles together. We know it can be quick entertainment or a time-consuming, tedious challenge, depending on the number and size of the pieces. Separating straight edges from the others and forming the outline help bring the size of the picture into focus. Some may dump the remaining pieces on the table for a …
How Do Writers Choose a Fiction Genre?
By DiAnn Mills New writers often have the dilemma of choosing what genre of fiction they should write. If this is your problem, I have a few tips to help you make that critical decision. Look at an overview of five of the most popular genres. Romance – These stories are about two people who fall in love. The plot …
Battling Discouragement
By Allie Pleiter @alliepleiter As an author and book coach, I’ve battled—or guided another writer through—just about every creative hurdle. Today I’ll share a chapter from WRITER CRISIS HOTLINE, a writerly advice book I co-authored last year with my coaching partner Cathy Fyock. Let’s tackle one of the most common laments we hear from authors: discouragement. Writing a book can …