WHY DOES THE WORLD NEED STORIES - PART 2

The Hero’s Paradox: Someone Great + Someone Flawed

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

In my last post, I argued that the world needs stories about heroes now more than ever. Why? Because heroes inspire us to be greater than ourselves, to surpass our own limitations or painful life circumstances to truly exhibit heroic qualities. If we didn't have stories about heroes, we would see fewer acts of courage in real life. We would see fewer acts of self-sacrifice, forgiveness, and even love. Now, maybe you don’t think this discussion applies to you because you don’t see yourself as writing stories about heroes. But what if every story is ultimately a hero’s story? As Edgar Watson Howe says, “A boy doesn’t have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn’t like pie when he sees there isn’t enough to go around.” 

1,061 Reasons Not to Quit Writing

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

One thousand and sixty-one posts. This is how many blog posts I’d written. Ten years of blogging. On a really good day, I get two or three comments on each post. A few loyal readers email me from time to time to share how the Lord used a particular post to speak to their heart.

For Writers: Finding the Right Word, Part 1

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

It seems to me the more writing I do, the more I find myself looking for the right word, the perfect word to convey what I want. Maybe it’s the color of a character’s eyes, or the fury in the sky as a thunderstorm scuds across the sky. It might be the clamor of city streets or the stillness of a forest at sundown. I become a perfectionist, seeking the best word to engage the reader in the story at that moment.

Could Binge-Writing be Right for Me?

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Are you a candidate for binge-writing? Does the thought of adding thousands of words to your manuscript thrill you from head to toe? Maybe you have no clue what binge-writing means or how it could help you move forward with your dreams and goals.

How to Write a Blessing

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

My word for the year 2021 is “blessing” and my focus has been to seek to become a blessing to all I encounter. And, as of the ninth month of this stellar year, of course I have failed at that goal. But I do continue to learn so much about the spiritual practice of blessing others, one that has been around since the beginning of time and eternity. God’s Word is full of blessing and I, for one, believe that this practice is needed today more than ever.

How to Connect Your Marketing to Special Dates

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

Every day is a special day, but the ones that relate to your book or ones that can add pizzazz to your posts and memes provide more marketing possibilities. Calendars available online include today in history, holiday calendars, 100+ social media holidays, inventions today in history, science history on this day, this day in literary history, religious history on this day, and more. That’s a lot to connect with in your marketing, so consider all the ways to use the information to promote your book. 

Let’s Write to Change the World

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

At the beginning of each year, I write down a question in my planner above the list of writing goals: How will you write this year to change the world?