by Patti Jo Moore Like many people, the Christmas season is my very favorite time of year. I love the music, the lights, and most of all remembering the Reason for this holiday season. Even though my life isn’t quite as hectic as it was when my children were little, I still find myself getting caught up in the flurry …
Where Do I Fit?
By Ramona Richards A few weeks ago, I asked my Facebook followers a simple question: If you could ask an editor anything, what would be? The responses, for the most part, reminded me that editors don’t often communicate much about their side of the desk. For instance, this one from author Kellie Coates Gilbert: What is the single most critical …
10 Lessons from My First Indie Book
By Judy Christie A year ago I didn’t know what a hybrid author was. Now I am one. This past week my first indie book, “Wreath, A Girl,” a new edition of a YA novel, joined my traditionally published books. The process has been exhilarating…and exhausting. While the lessons haven’t marinated long, I hope they will help if you’re considering …
Make Friends with your Deadline
By Denise Hunter They don’t call ’em deadlines for nothing. I’m pretty sure it’s because most of us feel half dead when we get there. Add a hectic holiday or an unexpected illness, and you may not be the only one ready to tear out your hair. But if you plan ahead and work steadily, you can reach your deadline …
God’s Plans and Ideas
By Donna K. Rice The week before Thanksgiving I got a phone call to come home to Wyoming. My father’s congestive heart failure had taken a sudden negative turn and my sisters wanted help making some decisions. I planned on being home in Indiana for the holiday with my kids and grandchildren so a flurry of activity and phone calls …
Outlining – Step By Step
By Gail Gaymer Martin Though I use a brief synopsis to set up my storyline, I sometimes outline parts such as a suspense novel. Once the character is developed, the beginning and ending of the book and the black moment, begin to build the plot, scene by scene no matter if it’s a novel, novella, and even a short story. …
Publishing Decisions and Changing Times
By Robin Johns Grant I just ran across a Publishers Weekly article titled, “Is Amazon Really the Devil?” I had to laugh. When I talk to writer friends these days and the subject of Amazon comes up, either we speak in tones of awe and reverence-or else someone shudders and winces, as though we are indeed speaking of the devil. …
That’s What Friends Are For
by Sarah Sundin When I started writing, I was alone. I’d never met another novelist, and I had no idea where to start. The first and best advice I received was to join a writers group and attend conferences. Made sense. I needed to learn my craft. I needed to meet editors and agents so I could sell my book. …
Top 20 Ways Writers Spread Joy
by Cynthia Herron Now that Thanksgiving’s over and Christmas is just around the corner, writing may take a back seat as we prepare for the next big holiday. We’ll celebrate the birth of our Savior, visit with family, and of course, dine all things deelish during our Norman Rockwell picture-perfect moments. (I can hardly wait!) Still, while I adore the …
Cross Promotion and the Christian Author
By Carrie Fancett Pagels RWA’s magazine, RWR, recently featured an excellent article on marketing. One of the points they made, besides the obvious point that you must write the very best book that you can, is to link up with other authors and cross promote. As a blogger for many years, I’ve had the privilege of promoting many bestselling Christian …