Craft
Back to School … and Work
FROM THE ARCHIVES Something absolutely amazing happened this week. My youngest child started preschool. For the first time in over eleven years of stay-home momhood, I have the house to myself. The dog and cats are outside. The TV is off, radio is off. I can hear the refrigerator running as I type. And that…
My ACFW Conference Journey
Since I started writing fiction seriously and pursuing publication in 2005, I never missed an ACFW conference…except last year. Each year my motivation to attend ACFW was different. Each year I had new goals and dreams. Each year I grew as a writer and took home something specific I would need on my journey ahead.…
Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Bertrand
Roland March, Houston homicide detective, responds to a call about a stab victim. The victim lies face down, half in a pool, killed by a knife through the heart. Something about the scene strikes March as odd: it mimics a crime scene photo of a case he closed ten years ago. The only difference is…
The Teacher Becomes The Student
It’s much easier to assign writing than to teach writing. That epiphany in my profession as a high school English teacher was a blessing and a curse. . .for me and for my students. It meant I stopped bombarding them with the alphabet soup of essays (analysis, biography, comparison, definition, exemplification, etc.), and started devoting…
Finish the Book
by Kathleen Y Barbo A Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting to THE END and Hitting Send Some people have no trouble writing books. Words flow and contracts arrive almost as frequently as 747s land at LAX. Life is good and so are the royalty checks. Is this your idea of the writing life? Guess what? That’s…
What Really Keeps Me From Writing
Life must be lived at one speed. But Sheri and I have noticed many try to speed it up. Maybe they simply don’t realize they’re doing it and the result is they push out peace and make those around them play at their speed. Others want it to slow down. And some people wish they…
Top Ten Ways to Find Ten Minutes to Write
No one should have to remind us that life is short. The Bible says it “fades quickly like grass.” In fact, the book of Proverbs is full of encouragement to make use of our time, to be wise with our gifts. If this is true, that we should, in fact, use every day wisely, then…
How to Write a Hallelujah Chorus-Worthy First Chapter
“Without a great first chapter your reader will never move onto to chapter two.” That reality is beat into us at writer conferences, on blogs, and in writing email loops. But before a reader can love your first chapter, you need to believe in your first chapter and love it. But, let’s face it. How…
Finding Writing Inspiration on Vacation
I admit it. I bring the over-scheduled busyness of life with me on vacation. I kid myself that after nonstop seeing and doing for three or five days, I’ll be rested and ready to return to daily life with vigor. Still, I can’t pass on the opportunity to feed my mind with the experiences of…
Summer Critique Special Ending Soon!
Getting ready for the ACFW or another writing conference? Plan on entering a contest soon? Need a thorough and honest critique, but can’t find something that fits in your budget? Check out our comprehensive and affordable critiques! But hurry, there are only so many clients we can take before the end of the summer! …