By Daniel P. Warner The tone of the story has more of a YA feel than a book marketed to adults. I stared at the words in the rejection email, trying to make sense of them. Even at that early stage in my writing journey, I recognized how valuable it was to get feedback deeper than a form letter. But …
Copyright Protection and the Constitution
by Barbara M. Britton @BarbaraMBritton America celebrated her 250th birthday, and the Constitution was the topic of conversation. The document that formed our government and protected rights gave a nod to artists. Were you aware that our Founding Fathers cared about your writing? In Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, we are told that Congress shall have power to: promote the …
How Dreams Can Change
by Cynthia Hickey I’ve enjoyed mysteries from a young age, devouring every Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Hardy Boys book I could find. There’s something irresistible about pitting your wits against a thief or killer that kept me turning pages long past bedtime. Now, mysteries have given me the joy of staying home and writing what I’ve always loved to …
Hook, Line, Sold
by Kristine Delano Writers love to talk about authentic character arcs, narrative drive, and the emotional symbolism of rain. Publishers, meanwhile, are sitting in meetings asking one terrifying question: “But what is it about?” Your hook. A strong hook is the difference between someone politely nodding while mentally grocery shopping and someone blurting out, “Wait, she has to investigate her …
Fiction is Evangelistic
by Dr. Dwight David Croy My first impulse to write was to provide books to boys 13-17 with a male perspective after teaching in a Juvenile Department of Safety and Justice program. Their limitless anger, broken families, lack of fathers, mentors, and narrow view of success catapulted me to write. Each writer has a springboard to write. Our central motivation …
Limitless Words
By Susan Lyttek John 21:25 (NKJV) And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. Spring cleaning is in full force around my house. Part of the agenda this year is going through files and …
What’s in a Name?
by Deborah Raney There are many different ways authors come up with names for their characters and even more stories surrounding character names. Here are just a few of my stories. I wanted 12 kids and had a list of 24 names for boys and girls long before my first baby was born. Some of those names that I didn’t …
Be a Different Egg. Don’t Get Scrambled!
By Cynthia Herron @C_Herronauthor All of us have met people who are “different eggs.” Different eggs march (or roll) to the beat of a very distinct drum. They come from various walks of life and they have a unique approach to the world around them. Maybe you’re one of those eggs–a delightful creative who thinks in the abstract and acts …
Every Writer Needs a Room of Strangers
How I Learned to Stop Relying on Favors and Start Finding True Fans by Fayla Ott When I first started this journey, I imagined that one day, everyone I knew would be utterly amazed that the literary genius they’d overlooked would rise from the ranks of the ordinary. And no, I wasn’t picturing myself dancing with Patrick Swayze. That would …
Embracing YOUR Path
By Elle E. Kay @ElleEKay777 We’ve all been there. Whether we’re watching a virtual webinar, attending a conference, reading a craft book, or chatting with a fellow writer, we hear all about the BEST way to write a book. One person may tell us to throw out the plot, while another insists we plan every scene in detail. Some say …