By Tisha Martin One of the first stories I wrote won an editor’s choice award and was published in an anthology. But it probably wouldn’t have been considered if I hadn’t included one small but valuable ingredient. Fragrance. The theme of the contest was “fragrance,” but my story didn’t mention it at all. So, at the advice of an early …
Authoring Freedom
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today is Independence Day, July 4. This year, 2026, is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed by Congressional representatives of the thirteen colonies on July 4, 1776. In this document, we celebrate our freedom from Great Britain, birthing our nation under God: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for …
To Write, or Not to Write
by Melissa Wardwell For most of my life, writing has been a constant companion. In middle school, a friend and I would craft poetry during science class, exchanging one-liners instead of focusing on the lesson—though somehow, we managed to pass. English class was another outlet, where “journal time” became a space for short stories about sea creatures, underwater adventures, and …
Headline News Meets Mountain Heart
by Georgia Curtis Ling @GeorgiaCLing Every morning, I climb out of one dream only to crawl into another—trading the velvet drip of sleep for the blue glow of my computer screen, where I spend my days dreaming up a story for my next novel. The surrounding bluegrass countryside is peaceful outside my window when I begin, coaxing storylines out of …
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 …
Allie and the No Good Very Bad Workload
by Allie Pleiter The past three months served up the most challenging workload of my 20+ year career. For the first time, I experienced what most people might call “writer’s block” because so much was being asked of me by so many people that it spawned a sort of creative paralysis in my brain. I was acutely aware of what …
When You Hit a Writing Drought
by Glynn Young Since the time I was a reporter for my college newspaper, longer ago than I care to admit, writing has been an integral part of my life. I’ve been a reporter, editor, newsletter editor, speechwriter, public relations manager, novelist, short story writer, non-fiction book author, blogger, book reviewer, essayist, poet, and more. Writing has been central in …
If It Doesn’t Bear Fruit…
By Dave Pratt My first novel evolved from an introductory novel-writing correspondence course. At about that time, I met a well-published romance writer who agreed to take a look once I completed the manuscript. When I mailed her the hard copy, I was so excited! Those were the days of snail-mail hardcopy editors. It was that long ago! So, when …
God is an Earworm?
By Kenneth Bliss Over this past year of this writing curse…er…course, no, um…journey. Yeah, “journey.” That’s the right word. Anyway, it’s been quite a challenge. Those of you in the Scribes critiquing group know I have these creatures in my stories called “The Nameless.” They are the lowest form of devil. I imagine them as amorphic blobs with bat-like wings …
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 …