How to Create & Maintain a Blog to Build a Readership: Part 1

Savannah asked, “Do you have any tips for people who are new to blogging or would like to start?”…

What Children’s Publishers Want

What do children’s publishers want? That is the question that all children’s writers long to have answered. What is…

Write, Submit, Repeat

By all accounts, it was a productive year. Articles were accepted for publication. A book contract hung on my…

Quite an Odd Couple

One of my favorite television shows of all time is the classic Odd Couple from the 1970s (not the…

Find Your Writer’s Voice Through Blogging

I enjoy blogging about the Appalachian mountains where I live. My blog speaks to the traditions, faith, lifestyle, and…

Setting Goals for a Conference

Setting Goals for a Conference Hello, my fantastic reader. It’s come to my attention that the season of writing…

Twisting History: How Much Fact Should Go Into Your Fiction?

By Doug Peterson In the Oscar-winning movie, Braveheart, the hero William Wallace of Scotland falls in love with Isabella,…

Found Poetry: Poetic Forms I

In honor of National Poetry Month (April), I thought we could take a few moments to explore writing a…

Top 5 Posts for Every Travel Writer

“My last point about getting started as a writer: do something first, good or bad, successful or not, and…

Sci-Fi Military Technology

Last month we talked about military technology and how it can be just as important in a fantasy book…

Aromas

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are…

Brand basics – do your colors and fonts present your best look?

Good content is critical for a writer but how that content is presented is also important. In Brand Basics…

Writing is like crossing the streets of India

I traveled to Hyderabad, India recently and we had one day of sightseeing and shopping in the city. This…

Happy Easter!

Calling All Muses

I recently downloaded Sara Groves’ excellent album (CD? What do we call it these days?) Floodplain, and one of…

You Already Have a Writing Team

Like me you are probably trying to build a support team for your writing — a reading group, a…

Hike Your Own Hike

My husband Don is starting his Appalachian Trail (AT) hike on March 13th. He’s had this passion on his…

The BISAC Subject Heading List

Have you ever looked at the category words on the back of a book, above (or below) the bar…

Using Pinterest for Ministry

Pinterest for Writers: Part 2 When I teach computer classes for Christian writers and speakers, many attendees are surprised…

2 + 2 Doesn’t Always Equal 4

Students of English learn quickly that to every rule, there is an exception; sometimes the exception is the rule.…

Surprise Them with a Twist

Characters who violate a stereotype are interesting; by surprising us they pique our interest, make us want to explore.…

A Hidden Treasure for Historical Writers

By Sandra Merville Hart  Maps are hidden treasure for historical writers. If you haven’t used this key source of…

5 Reasons NOT to Attend a Writing Conference

Conference season is upon us and social media is abuzz with encouragement to click a sign-up link and submit…

DEFENDER (Thomas Garet series)

The Elicott City main street and hub bubbled with activity. People knocking off from work marched up and down…

Five More Confusing Word Pairs to Consider

We’re continuing to examine words that are used incorrectly. Enthused/Enthusiastic—Although enthused has become acceptable in standard usage, old school…