April

What is your favorite reading genre? Perhaps you have several. C.S. Lewis, Karen Kingsbury, Janette Oke and Jan Karon are some big hitters when it comes to writing best-selling Christian fiction stories. If titles, such as “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Redemption,” “Love Comes Softly,” or “The Mitford Years” ring a bell, you … Read more

Most people who consider themselves avid readers of the classics are familiar with one of the best-selling holiday novels of all time. A mere mention of the phrase “Bah humbug!” is the only clue needed to know what story this is. The timeless classic, “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens is a dark narrative featuring … Read more

Whether you’re preparing to embark on your maiden voyage as a writer or have already published several books, finding ways to stimulate creativity is always helpful for an author. Have you ever been in a situation where you thought the unfolding events you were experiencing would make a great book? In fact, drawing from personal … Read more

You’ve been creating the story in your head for a while now. Characters are coming to life and various elements, such as plot and setting are vivid in your mind. Before writing a novel, however, you must make an important decision. You must decide on a point of view (POV). A novel that lacks a … Read more

You’ve always wanted to see your name on a book cover as an author. You have several start-up manuscripts in a file on your PC. You’ve decided it’s time to take the plunge to finish a novel and submit it to a publisher. That’s great if you avoid the mistakes new writers make. Making mistakes … Read more

Many best-selling authors use pseudonyms. Think of this as a stage name for actors, except in the writing industry instead. Novelists choose to publish under pseudonyms for various reasons. For example, George Eliot, author of the iconic novel, “Middlemarch,” was, in fact, Mary Ann Evans, who chose a male pseudonym to fight against biased toward … Read more

Current literacy statistics for adults in the United States are startling. More than 50% demonstrate reading skills equivalent to levels for fifth grade and below. While people with remedial reading skills like this are often still able to function in their daily lives, many struggle, especially regarding cognitive skills, as well as comprehension and reasoning … Read more

Inexperienced authors often seek ways to improve their skills. In fact, anyone who takes their craft seriously understands that there’s always room for improvement. If you’re wondering whether it’s worthwhile to take a writing class, the short answer is yes.  Regardless of how long you’ve been a writer, it’s typically beneficial to take a writing … Read more

How many movies have you seen or books have you read that were laden with clichés? Think “burial on a dark, rainy day” or “snowed in for Christmas” types of scenes. As an author, you’ll want to learn how to use weather to create mood in a novel without making descriptions or situations so commonplace … Read more

Helping your novel achieve its full potential in the marketplace is part of your responsibility as an author and part of your publisher’s responsibility. You’ll discuss things like cover design, target audience, and marketing campaigns. You will also set a date to launch your new book.  On the surface, you might not think it matters … Read more