Stay on Track with Your Writing by Learning When to Say No

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

I’d been working hard to break into the publishing world. One day I received an invitation to blog for a well-known publisher. They’d read my book for homeschooling moms and thought I’d be a good fit. When I opened the mail invitation, my heart leapt. This is the break I’ve been hoping for. If I blog for this publisher, thousands of people will read my work. I’ll gain name recognition, build a following, and position myself for future publishing opportunities.

Common Writing Obstacles (Part 1): Time

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Over the next few blogs, I’ll be exploring some of the most common obstacles every writer faces at least once in their career. I’ll begin with the obstacle of time.

“I think I’ve got a book in me if I could only find the time to write.” We’ve all heard this statement from would-be writers. We’ve probably said it ourselves. I know I have. And not that long ago. I’ve been writing for nearly twenty years, and I still have moments where it feels like I don’t have time to write. I’ve learned this feeling is the Lord’s way of telling me I have too much on my plate.

Tips for Writing the Anti-Hero and the Dark Hero

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers often write types of heroes break the traditional view of protagonists with the additive of anti-hero and dark hero.

Why Should Writers Learn to Analyze Fiction?

by MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio

As someone who spent years analyzing the work of numerous classic authors while earning my PhD and MFA, and as a former university professor who has taught fiction writing and literature, I’d like to share with you some insights regarding the reasons I think writers should learn how critically and objectively to analyze the work of other writers.

Beware the Trap of Comparing Yourself to Other Writers

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

As writers, it's hard not to compare ourselves with other authors. But it's exactly what we shouldn't do. When you answered God's call to write, he had a time and a place in mind for you. You may become a bestseller, or you may not. But it might be your book that reaches someone who desperately needs your words to heal—to go on to do great things for the Lord. That, my friend, is the true meaning of success.

Become a More Observant Writer with These 7 Tips

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

By and large writers are an observant lot. Things others might brush over or miss entirely stay with us, sparking ideas that blossom and grow. An overheard conversation can lead us to the plot of entire book. 

But like any skill that comes naturally, there's still room for improvement. I call it focusing the writer’s eye. Today I want to give you seven tips to help you focus your writer's eye.

Does a Main Character Need to be Likeable?

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

Anyone who's ever studied the craft of writing will have heard the adage that a main character must be likeable. For the most part, this is true, because audiences don't tend to get emotionally invested in characters they don't like. If our readers don’t care, then the stakes will mean nothing to them. Any story that fails to create an emotional bond between the MC and the reader ultimately fails altogether.