History in the Making
The Epistolary Novel Form
The popularity of this literary device dropped off prior to the turn of the nineteenth century, but its recent…
September 20, 2019-
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Devotional/Christian LivingHow to Write Christmas Devotionals All Year Long
I don’t normally get into the Christmas spirit until after Thanksgiving, but as a Christian Living or Devotional author,…
September 19, 2019 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspenseBody Language in Writing
Everyone uses body language in one way or another. Talking with a friend, in a business meeting, or at…
September 17, 2019 -
Mastering Middle GradeMy Fall TBR List
I may ruffle a few feathers here, but my favorite thing about fall is NOT pumpkin spice. My favorite…
September 16, 2019 -
Magazine and FreelanceWhat Oscar Mayer Wieners Have to Do with Style
One of the joys (and frustrations) of the English language is how it ebbs, flows, and changes. Unlike dead…
September 14, 2019 -
Fantasy-Sci-FiThe Slow Build of Believability
Most of us have probably been told to “plunge your main character into terrible trouble as quickly as possible.”…
September 7, 2019 -
ScreenwritingTreatments
Now that summer is coming to an end, I feel it’s time to get serious about the business of…
September 4, 2019 -
Writing for YAThe Path to Publication: Interview with Agent and Author Hope Bolinger
Today I am talking with Hope Bolinger. She’s an author of young adult novels as well as a literary…
August 27, 2019 -
Romancing Your StoryWriting a Strong Heroine
Editors often say they’re looking for stories with “strong female characters.” Many writers take that to mean the heroine…
August 23, 2019 -
Kids Lit“B.I.C. Time”
Whenever I teach at conferences, I’m often asked the same question: “How do you write so many books a…
August 21, 2019 -
History in the Making
A GLIMPSE OF EARLY TELEVISION
The youngster thought it her privilege to pick the name for her soon-to-be-born sibling. She gleefully and toothlessly spit…
August 20, 2019 -
Devotional/Christian Living
9 Hot Topics to Write About in 2019 for Christian Living and Devotional Writers
The first book proposal I wanted to send out to publishers was on the book of Revelation. My agent…
August 19, 2019 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Pacing: The Tortoise or the Hare?
What’s the secret to creating a book worthy of catching an agent’s eye? Worthy of turning an acquisition editor’s…
August 17, 2019 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Doing the Next Right Thing
Once upon a time, during what feels like another lifetime ago, I took my masters’ of science in documentary…
August 16, 2019 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
The Beginner’s Guide to Props – Using Them to Show Character
You know the phrase, all an actor needs is an empty room and a script? I’ve heard that idea…
August 7, 2019 -
Screenwriting
Silence Speaks
Last month I finished another rewrite of a screenplay I’ve been working on this year. Although I cut a…
August 4, 2019 -
Writing for YA
How to Defeat Dream Killers
We know them. Naysayers. Those who never have a word of encouragement. But who are they? Before we can…
July 27, 2019 -
Romancing Your Story
First, They Meet
The fact that you are writing a romance it’s a given that your hero and heroine have to meet…
July 23, 2019 -
Kids Lit
While You Wait…
We’ve all said it before. You know, the old, “I’m just waiting on God to make this publishing thing…
July 21, 2019 -
History in the Making
How Much Research is Required in Historical Fiction?
As an historical romance author, I love history. I love learning about different historical time periods and the events…
July 20, 2019 -
Devotional/Christian Living
Writing Wisdom from Christian Living and Devotional Author Sarah Geringer
I recently interviewed Christian Living and devotional author Sarah Geringer. I hope you gain as much writing wisdom from…
July 19, 2019 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Clues and Secrets
Was it Miss Scarlet in the Ballroom with a candlestick or Colonel Mustard in the Billiard Room with a…
July 17, 2019 -
Mastering Middle Grade
In Which We Use Memes to Represent the Writing Process
We all know what a distraction the internet can be for a writer. In the space of a split-second,…
July 16, 2019 -
Magazine and Freelance
5 Tips for a Successful Interview
When I interviewed Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages and a bazillion other books, I prayed…
July 14, 2019 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
The One Story That Always Keeps Readers Turning Pages
It’s not every author that has a movie made in their honor. But when the author makes global impact,…
July 7, 2019
