Craft
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,…
Quick Fiction Fixes – Writer’s Voice, part five
We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish them to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Developing your writing voice, part…
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…
My great-grandchildren are great grandchildren OR Compounding the hyphen problem
Is the writer well known or is she a well-known writer? Both. Which explains why compound and hyphenated words can cause a headache when your head aches. The information here comes from Sleeping Dogs Don’t Lay by Richards Lederer and Dowis. In addition, this link from Writing for Business and Pleasure by Stephen Wilbers is…
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…
These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking by Melody Carlson
Review by Michelle Sutton Book Description: Willing to make the necessary sacrifices—even skipping the occasional latte—to ensure career success, 31-year-old Cassidy Cantrell “invests” in a chic pair of boots, certain they’ll make a spectacular impression and help seal the deal on a long-anticipated promotion from her Seattle employer. But reality tromps all over her expectations.…
Quick Fiction Fixes – Writer’s Voice, part four
We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Developing your writing voice, part…