by Darlene L. Turner “Just one more chapter, Mom.” This is how I responded to my mother when she reminded me I had chores to finish, but Nancy Drew held me in her clutches. I couldn’t put the book down, especially when the chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Ugh! Sound familiar? This is how we want our readers to respond …
Red Ink, Refined Hearts
By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede Yesterday my writing coach returned my manuscript with comments and edits, and within five minutes I discovered an exciting new subplot called “Defensiveness.” Then I briefly considered spinning it off into a companion project titled “Avoidance.” But our discipleship group has been reading Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller, and it’s been exposing the hidden idols I …
Writers, What AI Are You Using?
by Maureen Miller Let me start by saying… I’m the first to ask the Lord to refine my convictions. “Am I lazy?” I’ve inquired. Afraid of unfamiliar territory? Insecure about learning something new? It’s not like that’s never been the case, but this? It’s different. Not laziness. Not fear. Maybe there’s someone who needs to hear it, to know they’re …
Historical Research – How Do You Start?
by Sarah Sundin On a chilly and blustery evening, my husband and I traipsed through a German gun emplacement in Jersey in the Channel Islands. I said to him, “Aren’t you glad I don’t write novels set in fussy tea rooms?” The look of horror on his face was priceless. Aspiring historical novelists often ask for my best tips on …
Waiting With Purpose
by Stephanie Cardel “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” ~Psalm37:7 (ESV) To me, the most difficult part of being a writer is all the waiting. At least, that’s what drives me mad. Not writer’s block. Not how competitive it is. Not rejection. Waiting. You put yourself out there and wait for critique, then an agent’s response, …
Balancing the Story, Bridging the Gap
by Aubrey Reiss Taylor @aubtaybooks I’m a bit of an anomaly when it comes to WWII fiction. From the start, I have passionately focused on German-Perspective stories, favoring characters and storylines that challenge stereotypes and turn the standard tropes on their heads. It’s not about denying ugly truths—it’s about sinking deep into their side of the story. The task of …
How Wall Street Taught Me to Write a Thriller
by Kristine Delano “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” Luke 8:17 I didn’t learn to write thrillers by studying crime scenes or participating in ridealongs. I learned by paying attention in boardrooms. Something happened years ago but the memory …
Writing Stuff (What You Need/What You Might Not)
by Susan Lyttek @SusanLyttek I have a stuff limit. I’m not exactly sure what it is, I simply know that after the house has acquired for a while, I reach a tipping point. Then I become mildly obsessed with decluttering, giving away, and tossing until things feel in balance again. It can be the same with writing stuff. Years ago, …
When Less is More
By Joni M. Fisher @authorjonimfisher Shakespeare said it best in Hamlet, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Suggest, don’t tell all. Let the reader connect the dots. Great fiction is more like impressionist artwork than still photography. Beginning writers underestimate their ability to convey meaning, so they repeat a concept, explain it, or otherwise beat the reader over the head …
Writing Authority Figures. Who Has The Power?
By Barbara M. Britton @BarbaraMBritton Whether you are writing about kings, military officers, or an elementary teacher, authority figures contain layers of intrigue. The struggle for power that comes with authority can add conflict and tension to your novel. Let us look at the P-words that are associated with fallen, human authority figures. Power. Who bestowed power on your …