by Linda Dindzans @lindadindzans Since I became a writer, my prayer life has changed. Writers who sense God has called them to write—though our genres, audiences, and purposes may differ—share this one thing: we are called to pray. We pray for His will to be done and His glory to shine through our words. Called to Write My journey began …
Visible Virtues: Prayerful Prudence
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland A note from Christine: This post is dedicated to Charlie Kirk and his family Today is September 11, or “Nine-Eleven” as we recall it twenty-four years later, when the infamous and horrific attack by radical Islamists on New York’s World Trade Center buildings woke America from her sleep. It was a path chosen by those pilots, …
Deadlines Can Be Deadly!
By Neva Bodin With great fear and trepidation (how’s that for cliché?) I signed up to do two blogs for ACFW! I am a writer, although I swallow loudly, labeling myself as one. It feels like saying that sets me up for all kinds of expectations I might not be able to meet—expectations from others and myself. However, in searching …
The New Ending Interruption
by Janice Haburn Shober How would you write a new ending to your book? This question arrived in my inbox when an editor said, “I don’t like your ending. Change it.” Certain scenes are crucial to a book, and the ending is one of them. I can recall endings to many of the multitudes of books I’ve read, even if …
How Understanding Hebrew Concepts May Revolutionize Your Storytelling
by Donna Wichelman In recent months, I’ve discovered the rich Hebrew concepts of Tohu V’Vohu and Shalom, which have revolutionized how I’ve started to think about my storytelling. This comes at a time when I’m starting to develop a World War II slip-time novel, called the Power of the Thorn, which takes place at a time in human history when …
Events Are Worth the Extra Effort
by Allie Pleiter Let’s face it…a working author must be as much marketer as writer these days. And for a largely introverted community, the challenge of hosting an event can feel too large. Still, events have many advantages and can be worth the extra effort. And they can even be fun! Here are several thoughts on how to host events …
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 …
Lessons Learned from Birthing a First Book
by Linda Dindzans, M.D. Authors often compare the writing of their books to the birthing of a baby–– the fleshing out of a spark of an idea, the crafting of a plot that encourages the growth of well-developed characters, and the striving and pushes at the end to meet deadlines. The launch of our first book is celebrated with friends …
Simple Tricks for Staying in the Room
by Jane Kirkpatrick My forty-first book will be released in May (Across the Crying Sands, Revell) and I’m busy writing book two in the three book “Women of Cannon Beach” series. I’m discovering some of the same old negative voices creep in to make me leave my computer and clean the grout which seems much more important. To combat those …
Engaging Book Clubs with Engaging Discussion Questions
by Sarah Sundin @sarahsundin As readers, we delight in socializing with fellow book-lovers. As writers, we delight in connecting with readers. The continuing popularity of book clubs provides an opportunity for authors. By crafting engaging questions about your novel, you can help book clubs have amazing discussions that build community and love of story. Since I belonged to a book …