I know they’re waiting for me in there. Even when I forget, as soon as I walk into my office, there they are, the whole cast and crew, hanging around until I return to my desk each day. There’s pretty Cora, pensively sitting at her desk, undoubtedly thinking of the next hat she’ll create, and [...]
The New Year has arrived and I’m not ready yet! Have you ever felt like that? I felt that way about Christmas too, so does that mean time is moving faster or I’m running behind? Since this new week of the New Year began, I’ve been doing some “spring” cleaning – cleaning out my office [...]
Lately, I've read several lists of gifts for writers. While they may be practical, useful, and appreciated, I thought of several other things I'd like to have. Of course, being a writer, my imagination does sometimes run away with itself, so I realize the gifts on this wish list might be a bit difficult to [...]
Lately, I've read several lists of gifts for writers. While they may be practical, useful, and appreciated, I thought of several other things I'd like to have. Of course, being a writer, my imagination does sometimes run away with itself, so I realize the gifts on this wish list might be a bit difficult to [...]
“Very few of you will ever be successful writers.” I was at one of my first writers’ conferences and the keynote speaker, a well-known agent, had just dropped a bomb over the audience. He continued by telling the percentage of people who don’t follow through on requests to submit material to editors or agents. He [...]
Sunrise When I first embarked on this writing journey, I really didn't know what to expect. I went to writers’ conferences, took classes, listened to industry professionals and experienced writers, and tried to figure out how things worked in this field, what steps to take, what to do next. After many years in [...]
A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God. - Sidney Sheldon Most writers will agree that writing is hard work. In fact, the surprise that comes with a commitment to write is just how hard the work is. Few people can plop themselves down and [...]
A few years ago I was privileged to hear Dr. Charles Stanley’s lesson on Reaping and Sowing. This agricultural process is used in the Bible several times to describe our lives and the consequences of our actions. To begin with, we sow, that is, plant the seed. In our lives, there are many kinds of [...]
When I first discovered the path, I was intrigued. There before me was a trail through the woods that I had never seen before, that I didn’t even know existed. But I knew I had to follow it. Although it was clear I was not the first to travel the path, what lay ahead was [...]
My father used to warn me against being a “Jack of all trades and master of none.” I suppose he said that because I had so many interests and so much trouble making up my mind about what I really wanted to do. In college, that indecision was evident. I first enrolled in Business Administration, [...]
As writers, we long to hear or see that word. Our writing has been accepted - by an editor who wants to read it, a publisher who wants to publish it, or a reader who wants to read it. Too often, though, we hear the opposite along this path to publication. “Rejected” is not used [...]
The more I study the craft of writing, the more I read like a writer. I look at how the author tells the story, what adjectives and verbs they use, whose POV they use, and how many “rules” they break. Since I’ve become a critique partner with three other writers, I’m used to looking for [...]
photo courtesy futurity.org “Reading, writing and arithmetic,” have been the basics of education for years, and for us writers, the first two are our favorites. What a surprise then, to discover how much arithmetic is part of the writing world. It seems everywhere I turn, there is a focus on numbers. First, it’s [...]
Sept. 30. 1872 – “The sails of the vessels which entered in yesterday’s storm were hanging in shreds, but no other injuries sustained.” May 28, 1873 – “A terrible hurricane tonight at about the time of lighting up the beacon. Narrowly escaped being swept into the lake.” The above are journal entries from Keeper Harriet [...]
It starts with an idea or a question. An object, a person, a place, or perhaps something you heard makes you wonder. What happened? Why is it here? How did they become who they are, what if . . . and so on. And if you let your mind take off down that road to [...]
Recently I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers’ Conference. Having attended a few conferences before, I was less anxious about being there and knew pretty much what to expect. At this point in my career, I knew my reasons for going to the conference – to pitch my book to editors and learn more [...]
“I get by with a little help from my friends.” This line from the old Beatles song came to mind recently when I hit a low point in my writing and personal life. Although the Beatles may not have been thinking of friends the way I do, the statement is true. Writers are constantly reminded [...]
When I read Debbie Macomber’s story in the January Guideposts magazine about choosing a word to live by each year, the word “balance” came to my mind. Therefore this year, I have tried to apply balance to every part of my life. First of all, I want to balance my spiritual life with my physical [...]
This week the semi-finalists of the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest were announced. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a contest for unpublished Christian novelists. While congratulations are in order for those who made the list, are condolences in order for those who didn’t? As one of those who [...]
First-time writers conference attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with editors and authors while at the conference. Somewhere I heard, “talk to as many people as you can.” Following up on this advice, I wrote my name on the list for appointments to various faculty members. One day I ventured [...]
Today as I considered “people who pointed the way,” I realized that the expression carries a double meaning for me. So far, I’ve been featuring individuals who have helped me develop as a writer. But each of these people has also pointed the Christian way; that is, serving God in our writing [...]
When I was dating my husband, he introduced me to fishing, something I never thought I’d be interested in. However, I did like spending time with him, so I gave it a shot. What I discovered was an experience where we shared more than just catching fish. Now, four years later, we still [...]
DiAnn Mills knows how to write a book. In fact, she’s had over fifty books published since her first book in 1998. Her passion is encouraging new writers, and she carries out that passion through teaching at conferences and as a Craftsman mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. In addition, she’s won a [...]
Vonda Skelton is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I first saw her at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference where she taught classes on writing and speaking. A bundle of energy and Southern charm, Vonda emits Christian love through her interaction with beginning writers. When I first took her packed class, [...]
When I arrived at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for the first time, I couldn’t wait to check into my room and study the conference book describing the schedule and faculty. I had no clue what classes to take, but I stumbled across one class in particular that appealed to me – a [...]