July Calendar Inspiration for Writing Social Media Posts, Articles, and Blog Posts

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson 

July is just around the corner, so let's get started on writing ideas. The calendar is a great place to start when we’re looking for writing ideas. Crazy (and even legit) holidays are great conversation starters for social media sites, articles, and blogging. This month is especially fun for writers because of all the writing/reading related holidays. How many can you find? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section at the end of the post. 

Embracing the Rhythm of the Writing Life When Change Hits

image copyright Edie Melson, Photography

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Sunsets in the Blue Ridge Mountains are breathtaking.

Sunset and sunrise are always special times for me. There’s a rhythm and a special calm that comes with endings and beginnings. This expected rhythm of life helps me re-center my life to a place of calm. When circumstances are out of control, the fact there is still a normal ebb and flow helps me remember God is always in charge.

Sunset also reminds me there is beauty in change—if we take time to appreciate it. Sometimes we find a poignant clarity that everything has a time and place. These provide a time of reflection—and for me—a time to store up memories and insights from the day. But there’s also a promise in the sunset—a certainty that a new day is coming. This is critical to remember when life changes.

So, what does this have to do with the writing life?

Not Every Quirk Is a Flaw: How to Identify a True Character Flaw in Storytelling

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

Writers are often told their protagonist needs a “fatal flaw”—something that must be overcome for growth to happen. But what many don’t realize is this: Not every character trait that causes problems is a flaw that must be fixed.

In fact, mislabeling quirks, wounds, or virtues as flaws can weaken your story. To build authentic, compelling characters and arcs, we need to learn how to tell the difference.

Three Questions Writers Can Ask When Feeling Overwhelmed or Confused

by Lori Hatcher

What should I write today? An article? A blog post? Or maybe a chapter in my WIP?

Maybe I should edit what I’ve already written and polish it for publication.

Should I attend a writers conference this year? If so, which one?

Or maybe I should spend my time and money on an online course or hire a coach.

This fascinating/frustrating/joyful/discouraging/exhilarating/maddening writing world has more arms than an octopus and more routes than Google maps. When we consider the myriad of possibilities, we can become paralyzed by indecision. These feelings cloud our judgment and steal our ability to work efficiently. Like a tornado victim after a storm, we scan the 360 of our writing lives and struggle to figure out where to begin.

When We Write Willingly and Watch the Flow of Creativity Follow

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23 NLT.

Recently, I wrote about a tough time I had with a story. When I finally went to God about it—I stress finally because I would have avoided a whole lot of pain if I’d gone to him before I even started. I ended up tossing that completed manuscript.

What Does Passionate about Your Writing Mean?

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

The writing community is filled with people who are passionate about creating manuscripts that brighten and satisfy a reader’s life. Writers, whose hearts and minds are focused on their calling, have passion for every step in the literary process. These writers are determined to have their work read and appreciated and are unhindered by laboring hours over their craft.

Dipping the Quill Deeper: Humble Beginnings (Part 5)

by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor

Over the past few months, we’ve looked at stories of “humble beginnings,” specifically the stories behind the phenomenal success of Jerry B. Jenkins (The Left Behind series), the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, and the reading of a book titled When Choice Becomes God, which led a young, pregnant, unwed woman to choose life for her unborn child. 

This leads us to the final story, one that begins in 1858 Boston.