Writing Tips
Romantic Suspense
Jill Elizabeth Nelson here. I write romantic suspense. I do not write suspense. I do not write romance. It is romantic suspense. Well, I do write in other genres, but today’s blog is about a subgenre in which I’ve been published, and what differentiates it from related genres. So just what IS the difference between…
Using Stories to Reach Readers
by Ron Estrada I’ve undertaken a post in a new ministry in our United Methodist Church. It seems the Methodists are going through a transitional stage, a return to our roots so to speak. More for most of us, it’s a heavy sigh of relief. But it’s not just the UM Church undergoing a change,…
Guest Blogger: Meredith Efken on Advice for Newbie Fiction Writers
1) Don’t be in a hurry to submit work or query editors/agents. Learn the craft. Love the craft. Obsess about the craft. Aim to make your work art, not just “sellable.” 2) Educate yourself about the publishing industry, especially the fiction industry. Pay attention to what’s going on and how things work, and who’s who.…
Serenity Weekend
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! And what mom doesn’t need a serentiy weekend, time away to regroup and refresh for this wonderful rollercoaster we call motherhood! So to get you thinking about nourishing yourself (or the moms in your life) here’s so refreshing news from best selling author, Lisa Samson. Lisa Samson loves to nourish writers, face-to-face,…
Capturing Your Memories in a Journal
As parents, we follow our kids around with cameras trying to record those happy moments of childhood. Snap! First tooth. Snap! First steps. The milestones show up in baby books and photo albums (or for those of you less organized, like me, they show up in shoeboxes, with good intentions!). Yet even more important than…
A Goal Attained
Saturday I accomplished a life-long goal. My husband and I joined more than 30,000 of our closest friends (not!) and ran the Indianapolis mini-marathon. It was an amazing accomplishment to run 13.1 miles. Especially considering three months ago I’d taken a break from running. I don’t think I fully understand what I learned through this…
Guest Blogger: Brandilyn Collins on Prologues
Hearing that there are those who don’t read prologues makes me sad. Can’t blame these non-readers, though. I blame the writers who’ve so misused prologues that these readers have given up on the things. However, if you’re in the “non-read” group and you pick up a book by an author who knows how to use…
The Three Chapter Rule
The Three Chapter Rule By Gina Conroy In a recent critique I was told my opening needed to move quicker. I thought I had done that after scrapping the first opening. But I heeded their wise advice and went back and hacked and pushed things up, and I’m very happy to say the pacing starts…
Carnival of Christian Writers #7 April 2007
It’s carnival time! So please keep your hands and feet inside at all times and buckle up for your safety. Enjoy the ride… Literary Agent Chip MacGregor offers The Best Advice he’s received. Mary DeMuth asks “Why do we put novels down? What makes us turn the page?” In Affrimation for the Craft she shares…
Faith in our stories
By Margaret Daley One of the intricate aspects of an inspirational romance that other romances don’t possess is the faith element. Without it we don’t have an inspirational. For an inspirational it is the third element of importance to me. So how do you integrate it into your story? Make it seem effortless? Not preachy?…