Writing Believable Dialogue: The Art of Character Interruptions

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer shares how character interruptions, unfinished thoughts, and competing goals can help writers create believable dialogue that sounds like real conversation

Writing Believable Dialogue: The Art of Character Interruptions

By Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Dialogue Isn't Tennis. It's Jazz.

I have a theory that a lot of dialogue problems begin long before the writer ever types the first line of conversation. I think they begin with the picture we carry around in our heads of what conversation actually is, because if we're being honest, most of us don't spend much time listening to people talk. We think we do. We spend our lives surrounded by conversations. We listen to our spouses, our children, our neighbors, the woman in line behind us at the grocery store who's telling her friend about some catastrophe involving a dog and a birthday cake. Conversation is everywhere. And yet, when we sit down to write it, something curious happens. We create exchanges that feel far more orderly than anything we encounter in the wild.

Self-Editing for Writers: Fact-Checking, Consistency, and the Details That Matter

From Edie: PeggySue Wells shares how writers can self-edit for accuracy and consistency by fact-checking details, verifying Scripture, and following publisher guidelines.

Self-Editing for Writers: Fact-Checking, Consistency, and the Details That Matter

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

Once your manuscript is complete, there are several rounds of self-editing an author can do before sending your polished baby to beta readers, an editor, or a writing coach, and certainly before moving toward publication.

How to Turn Your Readers’ Questions into Better Blog Post Titles

From Edie: Ginny Cruz shares how to turn your readers’ questions into better blog post titles that improve search visibility, attract the right audience, and get more clicks.

How to Turn Your Readers’ Questions into Better Blog Post Titles

by Ginny Cruz

Your readers, or potential readers, regularly go online to find the answer to a persistent question. 

How do I fix ____?

Why is ____ happening?

What should I do next?

Is ____ normal?

Can I make ____ easier?

When you think about it, isn’t that why you often go online? Of course, many of us also scroll to kill time (I sure do), but we tend to click on titles that interest us because we want an answer to a question that’s in our minds. It’s similar to searching library shelves and selecting the book title that piques your interest.

Frankenstein’s Manuscript: When Too Much Writing Advice Creates a Monster

From Edie: Learn how writers can avoid creating a Frankenstein manuscript by evaluating feedback, protecting their unique voice, and knowing which writing advice to use.

Frankenstein’s Manuscript: When Too Much Writing Advice Creates a Monster

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

As writers, everywhere we turn we’re told we need to seek out feedback.

Feedback is vital to help us grow. We need critique partners who will tell us when a scene isn’t working. We need editors who catch the things we’re too close to see. We need beta readers, contest judges, mentors, agents, and trusted writing friends who can help us grow.

But there’s another side to feedback and advice—a danger no one talks about quite as often.

You Can’t Be Chosen If You Never Submit: Taking Chances as a Writer

From Edie: Tim Suddeth reminds us that writers can’t be chosen if they never submit. Discover why taking chances, risking rejection, and redefining success are essential to the writing life.

You Can’t Be Chosen If You Never Submit: Taking Chances as a Writer

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

“I never win anything.” (Cue the violinist.)

Don’t we hear, and say, that a lot. It’s often an automatic response when we win a raffle or a contest. Or really anything. It’s part false humility and part not wanting to hurt others.

And for writers, isn’t that what we think as we enter our works into contests? I never win but I’ll send it in anyway.

Or worse, we think, “I never win, so why bother?” And we don’t send it in.

How to Write a Protagonist Readers Will Care About

From Edie: A.C. Williams shares how to write a protagonist readers care about by creating relatable characters who connect emotionally and keep readers invested in the story.

How to Write a Protagonist Readers Will Care About

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Williams

What is your favorite novel?

It’s not a trick question, and there isn’t a wrong answer (unless your answer is that you don’t read!). It’s a challenging question, though. With so many novels to choose from, how can you possibly pick one that is your favorite? 

Finding Peace When the Writing Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: The Fruit of the Spirit in Publishing

From Edie: Lynn Blackburn shares how Christian writers can find peace when the writing life doesn’t go as planned by trusting God rather than publishing outcomes.

Finding Peace When the Writing Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: The Fruit of the Spirit in Publishing

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

Fruit Under Pressure—Deadlines, reviews, comparison, the silence after you hit send. We’re on month three of a nine-month exploration of what it looks like to live out the fruit of the Spirit as we navigate the pressure system of publishing.

This month we’re talking about Peace.