Author Archives: Steph Nickel
How Dark Times Enhance My Writing by Janice L Dick
It was the fall of 1994. My father had just been diagnosed with cancer. Apparently the disease had been at work for a long time. At Thanksgiving, we travelled to my parents’ home in Alberta for a bittersweet weekend. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law, who had been feeling poorly for years, was told she had a brain… Read more »
Unblinded by Brenda J Wood
“God it is dark where I am right now, dark. I can’t see any farther than the nose on my face … which to be honest is farther than most people–due to its size.” That’s a line from my journal during one of my times of loss and despair. It’s followed by: “How can I… Read more »
In the Dark About Dark Times by Tracy Krauss
This month’s prompt asked, “How do dark times enhance our writing?” I’m sure I blinked, not quite sure I understood the question. I felt stumped. I felt stymied. I felt ill equipped to write on this topic.
8 Resources to Take Your Poetry to the Next Level by Violet Nesdoly
Here, on the doorstep of April, I’m celebrating because it’s almost National Poetry Month! What better time to think and talk about how to improve our writing in general, poetry-writing in particular? And so, I’m excited to share eight resources that have helped me in writing about poetry (as a many-year online and FellowScript poetry… Read more »
11 Tools to Take Your Writing to the Next Level by Steph Beth Nickel
I’ve been exploring several resources to take my writing to the next level. You may want to check out some of them as well. (Please note: At the present time, I am not an affiliate of any of these people or products.)
Spring Ahead: Take Your Writing to the Next Level by Janice L Dick
This time of year, when the days lengthen, the weather warms, and the birds sing with more joy, is a great time to blow out the cobwebs on our writing. Sometimes we get bogged down; at least I do. We struggle on, doing our best to do our best. Spring has a special way of… Read more »
When They Come by Brenda J Wood
Disturbing current events struggle through our brains every day now. What is our response? Several writers have already posted their comments online, comments like “Be careful what you say. People might not buy your books.” Seriously, is that our goal: selling books? SERIOUSLY? Aren’t we Christian writers with the purpose of glorifying God?
Wait, Weight, and Getting Swept Away by Pamela Mytroen
Before we get swept away in crafting an exciting plot, we need to wait! Wait until we weigh down our main character. Susan May Warren pointed out recently in a blog post on Novel Rocket how important it is that we connect with the characters. “Plot is interesting, but not unless it is about someone… Read more »
Cultivating a Love of Writing by Tracy Krauss
Consider the Future I grew up in small town Saskatchewan, surrounded by a sea of grain fields and nurtured by an agricultural mindset. To make a living as a farmer, one has to have tenacity in the face of uncontrollable obstacles. Grain prices fluctuate, markets can collapse, and nobody but Jesus can control the weather!… Read more »
7 Valentines for the Writing Craft by Violet Nesdoly
It hit me recently that I’ve been at this writing thing for 20+ years. I sold my first story—a Keys for Kids devotion—in March of 1997. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, then, that the honeymoon with the writing craft is long past and some days my love for it falters. I’ve done many things to… Read more »