Writing Tips
How to Write a Novel
Don’t know where to start to write a novel in 2016. Here are some tips to help you write your book.
Plot Your Novel Through Knowing Your Characters
by Tricia Goyer Many people ask me how do I plot my novel. Many times as prepare to write a book, I think about my characters’ pasts. I know where they have been, I know where they are now…but I’ve yet to determine where they will be at ‘the end’. When it comes to researching…
Seven Habits of Published Christian Writers
by Guest Author Mike Dellosso We all want to get published, to see our work featured in some magazine, or on some website, or nestled between the covers of a book, but for most the “promised land” of publication seems like it might as well be the moon—totally out of reach. But maybe we just…
Learn to Write Anywhere
Learning to write anywhere is really important. On most mornings after the sun has come up, I undock my laptop from its station and move into my living room where the sun pours through an East facing window. In Spring I can hear birds chattering from an evergreen tree off the back deck and with…
How To Write a Simple Summary
When I first query an editor with an story idea, I break it down into a few simple parts. A summary is not an overview of the entire novel, but rather a summary that will hopefully hook the editor into wanted to know more. This type of summary can be used on a One-Sheet (popular at…
My Best Writng Advice
Early on in my writing journey, my quest for publication, I received a bit of advice that at first I balked but now, in clear hindsight, value more than any other counsel I was offered. I was never a big reader. In school I skimmed, jumped, skipped, and trotted through books, pulling out the highlights…
The Importance of Character Arcs and Outlining
By Ron Estrada For some time now, Super G and I have been engaged in a bloody battle to the death* over whether or not we should plot and outline our novels before typing “Chapter 1.” I have now written 4 novels, mostly with the SOP method. Oh, there were notes and I had a…
Romantic Suspense
by Margaret Daley What is a romantic suspense? That’s a good question and one I’ve been asked by more than one person. Obviously it’s a story that has a romance and a suspense. Well, duh—hence the term romantic suspense! Okay, then how much romance and how much suspense? That’s a good question, too. And a…
Avoiding Apostrophe Catastrophes
My family refuses to enter a restaurant with me until they have conducted a search and seize, emptying my purse of anything that even resembles a writing instrument. They tell me they are not going to tolerate waiting to order while I correct, “Its the best!” or “Joes’ Diner loves it’s customers.” Apostrophes. Little marks…
Creating Quirky Characters
Writers are fabulous people-watchers. We have to be. After all, the imaginary characters we create must seem both true-to-life and intriguing to the reader. One way we add interest and realism to our characters is to give them quirks. My dictionary says a quirk is a peculiarity, and a peculiarity is something that is…