Tag Archives: Writing tips

My Thoughts on Character Building

By Donna Gartshore             To start with, I personally don’t use a lot of how-to books. In no way is this intended as a critique to those that do. They just never work that well for me.             I believe that our true inspiration comes from God. He’s given all of us the power to… Read more »

Blog , , Permalink

Making a Scene: What About the Details?

“To offer readers “a break” from rising tension, you can alternate scenes of action with quieter scenes” Eleanor Bertin by Eleanor Bertin Imagine reading about one of your most ordinary days. “The sixty-four-year-old woman cast aside the rumpled sheet and fray-edged polyester blanket, swung her legs out of bed, stuffed her feet into sloppy leather… Read more »

Blog , , Permalink

Children of the King

by Brenda J. Wood Real friends, this is a short note from Princess Brenda. Somebody laughed at me the other day because I called myself Princess Brenda, but my thinking is this: God is my Lord. God is King and I am His child so if I’m the child of a king then I am… Read more »

Blog, Uncategorized , , , , , , Permalink

Motifs, Symbols, and Crocheting

by Brenda J. Wood The first thought that popped into my mind was crochet. A crocheting motif is a repeated shape or stitch pattern that’s joined together to make a larger item. Surely a writing motif can’t be much different. Right? Basically, a symbol represents your idea, but a motif is an idea used repeatedly. Think of… Read more »

Blog , , , , , Permalink

Developing Our Settings

By Carol Harrison She recommends stepping outside and recording everything your senses can take in. Once you choose the locale for your setting, there are other details to consider. What is the time period for your story? What season or time of day? Can your reader visualize the world you have created? What does your… Read more »

Blog, Uncategorized , , , , , Permalink

How to Create Setting in Fiction

by Carol Harrison Because setting can be anywhere, what ultimately matters is how setting influences the story. Setting creates the image for the readers of where and when the story takes place told from the viewpoint of the characters. It also provides a context for the story, whether fictional or non-fiction. Because setting can be… Read more »

Uncategorized , , , , Permalink

Looking Back to Look Forward by Tracy Krauss

As 2015 comes to an end, it is natural to reflect on the year that has gone past. I’m one of those people who likes to set goals. I like making lists and checking things off as I accomplish them. This year was no different. Word count, publishing goals, marketing strategies, professional development … all… Read more »

Encouragement , , , Permalink

Does Absence Make the Pen Grow Stronger? by Pamela Mytroen

Ever thought about a long distance writing relationship? Like the old adage, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” I wonder if some major distance from writing would make the pen grow stronger? According to a study in the Journal of Communication, (August 8, 2013, Molly Vorweck, USA Today, usatoday.com) long distance relationships were found to… Read more »

Writers' Habits , , , , Permalink

Middles by Janice L. Dick

Middles have a way of sagging. I’m talking about books, of course! (adapted from http://www.coloring.ws/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.coloring.ws/animals/horses/horse7.gif)

Fiction Writing , , , Permalink

Seeing Our Mistakes from a New Perspective by Steph Beth Nickel

Like most people, if not everyone, I can think of a number of times I’ve wished I could press rewind and have a do-over, especially if my actions or words cost me something: money, reputation, peace of mind. But that’s not the way life works. That’s not the way God works.

Encouragement , , , , Permalink