By Roxanne Rustand Yes—she was right, about getting enough sleep, exercise and eating properly. But how easy it is, to ignore that wisdom when there aren’t enough hours in the day to work on your writing career! Whether you are an aspiring writer longing for a first sale, a busy author working on deadlines, or someone with responsibilities in a …
The Miracle of Music
By Christine Sunderland Music, an ordering and art of sound, is a profoundly intriguing phenomenon. What is, after all, music? Why is it deeply personal and grandly universal at the same time? What is the “music of the spheres?” I wish to explore some of these ideas in my next novel (working title, The Music Librarian). Writing novels (or writing …
The Miracle of Music
By Christine Sunderland Music, an ordering and art of sound, is a profoundly intriguing phenomenon. What is, after all, music? Why is it deeply personal and grandly universal at the same time? What is the “music of the spheres?” I wish to explore some of these ideas in my next novel (working title, The Music Librarian). Writing novels (or writing …
Three Tips for Writing a Novella that Feels Like a Full Book
by Melissa Tagg I wrote my first novella in 2014…and, true story, I had noooo clue what I was doing! I’d published three novels at the time. I’d written short stories in college. But nothing in-between. Since then, though, I’ve written four more novellas and they’ve become some of my very favorite writing projects. I’ve also been intentional about reading …
Three Tips for Writing a Novella that Feels Like a Full Book
by Melissa Tagg I wrote my first novella in 2014…and, true story, I had noooo clue what I was doing! I’d published three novels at the time. I’d written short stories in college. But nothing in-between. Since then, though, I’ve written four more novellas and they’ve become some of my very favorite writing projects. I’ve also been intentional about reading …
Work of Art
by Elizabeth Musser I had the joy and privilege of visiting The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago. As I stepped into the museum on that surprisingly balmy October afternoon, I thought back to my first visit to National Gallery. In 1989, I flew from Columbia, South Carolina to D.C. to spend a few days …
Work of Art
by Elizabeth Musser I had the joy and privilege of visiting The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago. As I stepped into the museum on that surprisingly balmy October afternoon, I thought back to my first visit to National Gallery. In 1989, I flew from Columbia, South Carolina to D.C. to spend a few days …
Time to Say Goodbye
by Dennis Ricci Six months ago, my literary life was riding high. My debut novel, Perilous Judgment, had just produced its first four-digit sales month, thanks to a BookBub promotion arranged by my publisher. The month-after sales embers were still hot, and I was praising God for the discoverability breakthrough and its apparent staying power. One Sunday in May after …
Vacation, aka Book Marketing Research
By Glynn Young My wife and I have been to England several times for vacation, but this time it was vacation with a book twist. Shortly before we left, I had finished a manuscript and turned it over to the publisher. The story is set in Britain and mostly London. But it was with a huge feeling of relief that …
Beyond Sense of Place
by Gail Gaymer Martin Setting should be more than sense of place. It can add deeper meaning to your story by reflecting the theme or mood. It can enhance the plot with situations built into the setting that can foreshadow situations or problems. It can influence the character’s emotions and actions. When you begin your novel, ask yourself these questions: …