By C. Kevin Thompson As many authors know, good, critical, honest reviews are important. Future readers often base their purchases on them. Therefore, reviews are gold when talking bottom lines. Because Amazon uses the review system as one of its major marketing arms, keeping reviews as pure as possible is paramount to good customer service. To prevent others from manipulating …
The Field of Dreamers
By Robin W. Pearson Some soybeans spoke to me one day. Actually, it wasn’t the soybeans, but rather a cornstalk growing smackdab in the middle of them. That lone plant told me to keep pressing no matter what the world looks like around me, to do what I do, write what I know. What do I know? Well, I’m a …
The Joy of the Lord is My Strength
By Barbara J. Scott Joy? “What’s joy got to do with writing?” the Grinch would say. Aren’t writers supposed to pour their blood, sweat, and tears onto the page? Aren’t we supposed to suffer for our craft? I remember the first story I ever wrote for publication–The Milk Bottle Circus. I was in the fourth grade, and our teacher planned …
Procrastination Explanation
By Patti Shene Gonzales I’m a procrastinator. The one thing in my life I procrastinate most? My writing. When I was pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at what was then University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, we were assigned a “term paper.” I assume a student was expected to work on the project for the majority of …
To Preach or Not To Preach
by Lynn Hobbs I’m often asked how much is too much in placing scripture or prayer in a Christian fiction novel. No one wants their character to preach unless that character is indeed a preacher. Too much and the reader may lose interest. Readers want to read a story. With that in mind, I weave my story and concentrate on …
40 Days of Prayer, Day 2 – Good Travel Weather
Day 2 Prayer – Good Weather For Travel Dear Heavenly Father, we give You praise and honor for all Your wondrous works. You have so many wonderful blessings planned for those who hear Your call and are coming to the ACFW conference, in order that they may better serve Your people and deliver Your message through their writing. We ask …
A Writer’s Best Energy
By Melissa Tagg Marketing. I think a lot of writers hear the word and do a little scary-movie shudder. Or maybe a full-on horror-flick scream. Me, not so much because a) I’m more of a nervous laugher than screamer and b) I happen to work in marketing at a good-sized nonprofit. And I’ve realized something in the past few years. …
5 Reasons Why You Should Read Love Inspired Novels
By Lisa Jordan I read a discussion recently where a reader was concerned about the content and quality of Love Inspired novels because the parent publisher releases secular romance novels as well. This particular reader didn’t want to support a company whose values contradicted with her own. Every reader needs to choose her books based on her own convictions. However, …
A Brief Writing Experiment
By Lynn Hobbs Learning new writing methods can be rewarding. I noticed several men writing a tighter style, and it did get my attention. They mentioned more white space on a page drew readers from a younger generation. What were they doing? What happened? Not any back story. Later in the book it could be introduced, but only a small …
Dress for Success and Corrie Ten Boom
By Carol Hamilton Today’s authors should be speakers, also. To become more comfortable before an audience and to allow your audience to be more at ease with you, learn to dress for success. When you stand on a stage, the crowd sees more of your feet than they may want. Women, be sure heels aren’t too spiked. They could get …