by Keli Gwyn Are you too nice to your characters? I was. I used to ache for the characters in the stories I read as the authors forced them to endure one trial after another. When I began writing, I couldn’t do that to my beloved heroes and heroines. I made things easy on them-too easy. I wised up when …
Confessions of a Historical Author … Who Hates Research!
by Julie Lessman “But I don’t write “historicals,” I said stupidly to my agent. “I write romance.” Uh, wrong. And, yes, I really was that green, a writer who didn’t consider the historical aspect of my story as important as the emotional tug-of-war between hero and heroine. I mean, come on now, everybody knows the most important thing is WHAT …
Book Review: Over the Edge
Title: Over the Edge Author: Brandilyn Collins Publisher: B&H Books Date: May 2011 ISBN: 978-1433671623 Genre: Christian Suspense Reviewed by: Lisa Lickel I live and play in rural Wisconsin where ticks are a nuisance. After reading this book, I will take the “tick check” a whole lot more seriously. Brandilyn Collins gets up close and personal with Over the Edge. …
The Numbing Nature of Numbers
by Allen Arnold Senior Vice-President, Fiction Thomas Nelson, Inc. We live in an industry with instant access to data. Numbers sorted in endless graphs, grids and pivot tables to tell if a novel, an author, a genre or the entire Christian Fiction category is rising or falling. And the numbers change constantly. The cycle starts to feel like a dog …
The Ten Words You Need to Hear
by Chip MacGregor, President MacGregor Literary Inc. As you begin preparing for this year’s ACFW conference, I’d like to suggest you keep ten words in mind… 1. READ. Don’t just show up and wonder who the speakers are. Read the blog of keynoter Michael Hyatt. Read the books of teachers such as Davis Bunn and Susan May Warren. That way, …
Writing From The Hero’s Point Of View
by Becky Wade What’s the matter with the following passage? ‘As Daniel strode from his office building towards his car he glanced upward at the cumulus clouds flowing languorously across the sky. Sunshine poured over him like a benediction. What a lovely afternoon! When he reached his car, he sat within for a few moments, thankful for spring and thankful …
And They Lived Happily Ever After
by Lisa Jordan I’m a sucker for happy endings. I admit it and make no apologies for it. I’ve heard complaints about romance novels being predictable-they end the same way with the hero and heroine concluding with the realization they’re in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together. Isn’t that the point of a romance? So, …
Do You Need That Character?
by Mary Connealy I’m doing an interesting and very educational thing with a book. The third book in the Kincaid Bride series which releases this August. Over the Edge, the crazy brother’s story. At my editor’s suggestion I’m taking out a character. Not taking out a character like I’m a a HITMAN or something, that would be rude. No, my …
Honest Criticism: What Every Writer Needs
by Fay Lamb A writer who will not listen to honest criticism of his work, who continues to march solo into his writing adventure without heeding the suggestions of others, is unlikely to fulfill his dreams of publication. And this is why critique partners are essential if you wish to grow and to achieve success as an author. A critique …
Thanks to Authors
by Lorraine Walker I have found the advice of established authors to be invaluable on my writing journey. To all of you who are inundated with deadlines, revisions, research, and marketing, please know that your writing tips, blog posts, and info on your websites are golden nuggets to others. You have lived the writer’s life and your expertise helps those …