By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede December is a funny month for writers. You start with good intentions—maybe even a spreadsheet, a new candle, and a Christmas playlist that doesn’t distract you too much. But then come the gift lists, the travel plans, the church rehearsals, the cookies (so many cookies), and before you know it, your manuscript is buried under tinsel, …
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 …
Success Beyond the Word Count
by Elle E. Kay As 2025 winds down, I find myself reflecting on the year and realizing I simply don’t move as fast as I used to. The days when I could sit down and hammer out a book in a couple of days to meet a deadline are gone. Despite slowing down, I published several new titles this year, …
The Magical Gift of Imagination
by Ann H. Gabhart “When you start writing, the magic comes when the characters seem to take on a life of their own and write the words themselves.” — Alice Hoffman One of the questions writers often get when talking about their books and writing is what comes first when you are ready to start out on a new story …
Tips to Write Effective Silences
by Linda Dindzans MD Writers want readers to savor every word—but sometimes our words pile up, rush ahead, and leave no room for reaction or reflection. Yet there are moments when silence is not only desirable but essential. What do I mean by “silences” in writing? Anything that makes the reader, the character, or the action slow… pause… stop. Why …
Visible Virtues: Judging Justice
by Christine Sunderland Today is December 7, a “date which will live in infamy” as President Roosevelt stated in his address to Congress and the nation, speaking of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This catalyst propelled our nation into World War II, hesitant as we were to get involved until then, despite the Holocaust and the rise of …
Christmas wasn’t Created for Stress
by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Dear writerly friend, promise me that this year you won’t open the unwanted gift of stress. The package is easy to recognize—the black paper and black bow with an attaching-grabbing tag, Open Me December 1 will spoil your celebration. Oh, it’s tempting, but please don’t give in. You’ll recognize the weighted items inside: Writer, cut short …
Thanksgiving at Charlotte Lake
by Donald L. Reavis It’s Thanksgiving Day. I expect you’re looking for a heart-touching, tear-jerking story of a Thanksgiving past. I did my research and found one that may fit that description. This comes from an old friend of mine, William Lindberg. Over fifty years ago, William and his young wife, Claire, left their family in Wisconsin and moved west …
The Garden Theory of Writing and Publishing
By Cynthia Ruchti @cynthiaruchti A writer and an agent were chatting over lunch one day. The writer had been at it a long time, had planted many different kinds of stories, but nothing had taken root. The agent asked, “What do like most about gardening with words?” The writer said, “Being in the garden.” “It is beautiful here, isn’t it? …
Crafting Page-Turning Dialogue
by Darlene L. Turner Boring dialogue kills a story. Would you agree with this statement? We’ve probably all read those scenes where two characters chat and chat and chat about nothing. Oh hum. Our attention drifts, and we think about everything we need to get done around us. Cleaning, laundry, walking the dog, washing our hair. Right? Boring dialogue sounds …