April

If you’ve ever attended a writing workshop, the instructor may have taught that it’s always best to allow your readers to experience the events and scenes in your stories, rather than simply telling them what’s happening. Providing information has its place, as does “setting the scene” through the author’s descriptions. Throughout a story, however, and … Read more

The answer is yes. Some people mistakenly believe that, because Christianity includes belief in “objective/absolute truth,” that fiction stories in this genre must be based in real-world ideas and events. In fact, Christian authors are as free as writers of other genres to “build new worlds” in their stories.  It would, of course, become problematic … Read more

In the publishing industry, there are numerous types of pre-book work that help turn a manuscript into a novel. While it’s possible to do all the legwork yourself (as a writer), that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. For example, it’s typically not a good idea to edit your own work. This is especially true … Read more

You recently retired from your life-long career. You’re ready to enter your golden years or twilight years, or whatever you’d like to call them. It’s normal to look back on life at this stage. You might be pleased with your accomplishments and feel blessed for the experiences you’ve had. There might also be one or … Read more

Career authors are typically observant. They like to people-watch. Their real-life experiences, including people they know or meet, often inspire new stories and characters for their books. It’s logical to assume that you’ve read fictional stories containing people, places or events based on an author’s reality.  Slander and libel are both forms of defamation. The … Read more

As a general topic of discussion, Christianity is highly complex. The possibilities are seemingly endless insofar as topics that can stir conversation or debate. If you’re hoping to become an author in the Christian fiction space, you must incorporate spiritual issues into your stories. At some point, one or more of your characters will no … Read more

If you’re hoping to become an author in the Christian fiction genre, you might be exploring options for a publisher. Most best-selling authors encourage new writers to forge ahead and stick to their goals when the rejection slips start arriving. To improve your chances, remember that each company has its own requirements. For example, if … Read more

If you’ve been wondering whether you’ve “got what it takes” to be a successful writer (meaning, to earn a lucrative income from the craft), there are several issues that demonstrate aptitude. For example, if you’ve always disliked reading or writing, this might not be the industry for you. Becoming an author doesn’t necessarily require being … Read more

Professional singers do it all the time. Before taking the stage, they run through a series of pre-performance voice exercises. Athletes, especially runners, do the same. They stretch and perform numerous exercises to loosen their muscles, raise their heart rate and psych themselves up for their event. Authors can do this as well. In fact, … Read more

Millions of people dream of becoming a published author. For some, the dream began in early childhood and has grown with them to adulthood. Others are struck by the realization later in life that they might want to try writing as a profession. “Taking the plunge” or “stepping out into the deep” takes courage.  If you’re … Read more