by Georgia Curtis Ling @GeorgiaCLing It was one of those frantic mornings. I was treating the scenic, unfamiliar back road like a speedway, entirely focused on making it to the grocery store. I was completely disconnected, caught up in the stress of the day—until I saw it. The unexpected sight brought me back to reality. I slammed on the brakes …
Questions to Ponder
by Mitchell S. Karnes I grew up loving to read. That love grew into a passion for writing. In the beginning, I was full of questions and voraciously searched for the answers. Thankfully, God placed many great mentors in my life. Without them, I would have given up, for there were just as many critics who discouraged me from using …
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 …
Writers, What AI Are You Using?
by Maureen Miller Let me start by saying… I’m the first to ask the Lord to refine my convictions. “Am I lazy?” I’ve inquired. Afraid of unfamiliar territory? Insecure about learning something new? It’s not like that’s never been the case, but this? It’s different. Not laziness. Not fear. Maybe there’s someone who needs to hear it, to know they’re …
Authoring Peace
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today, February 16, is Presidents’ Day, a day celebrating the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, heroic authors of peace, and this year marks America’s Super-Centennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We give thanks for our country and its founding. America’s remarkable history, formed by its many heroic presidents, reflects earlier foundations …
Historical Research – How Do You Start?
by Sarah Sundin On a chilly and blustery evening, my husband and I traipsed through a German gun emplacement in Jersey in the Channel Islands. I said to him, “Aren’t you glad I don’t write novels set in fussy tea rooms?” The look of horror on his face was priceless. Aspiring historical novelists often ask for my best tips on …
In Praise of Art Museums as Sources of Inspiration
by Glynn Young I’d heard that, as you age, you often become more interested in art. What I didn’t expect was to discover how that growing interest in art would affect my fiction writing. I wasn’t a stranger to art, but I can’t say it was a major preoccupation, either. I had two semesters of art history in college; I …
Waiting With Purpose
by Stephanie Cardel “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” ~Psalm37:7 (ESV) To me, the most difficult part of being a writer is all the waiting. At least, that’s what drives me mad. Not writer’s block. Not how competitive it is. Not rejection. Waiting. You put yourself out there and wait for critique, then an agent’s response, …
Balancing the Story, Bridging the Gap
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 …