Sunday, December 31, 2017
Friday, December 29, 2017
My One Word for 2018
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Since we're nearing the end of 2017, I thought I'd share my One Word for 2018.
I’ve long since given up making New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I use this time to allow God to redirect my steps onto the path He has for me. I’d like to take today to share how I go about that.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
A Writer's Time to Reflect
by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas
This is the time of year where we reminisce about last year,
looking at both the good and the not so good. Do we take the time to reflect on
both areas? Do we try to figure why the good was good and what did we do to
make it happen? Do we look at the not so good and see if there’s anyway to
prevent it from happening again?
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Tips for Mastering the Art of Story Description
by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Mastering the art of
description is an exciting reality of the writer’s life. The writer uses
various techniques to show fresh and unusual details through the point of view
character. The result immerses the writer and the reader into the story. The
adventure begins!
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
First Rules of Critique—“Rule Three”
by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson
Over the
past two months, I’ve written about two “rules” necessary to provide proper
critique within a critique group or one-on-one with critique partners.
Now let’s
take a look at the third rule, which is: Critique
the work … not your feelings about the work.
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Writing Blogs and Articles to Grow Your Speaking Business
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Using writing as a powerful business development tool. |
By Cathy Fyock, CSP @CathyFyock
What’s the number one best
strategy for growing your speaking business?
Friday, December 22, 2017
5 Ways to Balance Writing with Marriage
by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2
Wide-eyed fiction
writer Mike Dellosso didn’t start out as a writer. More science-minded than
literary-minded, he’d been a physical therapist assistant for two years before
he discovered the joy of expressing himself through the written word. He’d
write whenever he could—early in the morning, late at night, and often to the
neglect of his wife and children.
“I was a jerk about
it,” he said at a recent Word Weavers conference. “Don’t be a jerk.”
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Take Your Writing to the Next Level with Intentional Consistency
The title of this post may seem too obvious to merit
mention, but I would beg you to stick with me. Life these days is incredibly
busy. We’re subdividing our time into smaller and smaller portions, leaving us
with just more details to keep track of.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Character and Plot According to God
by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
If we were going to write an epic novel that appealed to
countless generations of readers, what characters would we create? Would they
be dashing or timid? Successful or defeated? A good novelist knows that a
protagonist must be an enticing mixture of courage and hesitation, splendid
qualities and identifiable weak points. He or she has to be true to life.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Where Does A Writer Find Peace?
by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel
Are you tired of
hearing news reports of violence around the world juxtaposed with carols that
sweetly echo “sleep in heavenly peace?” Are
you ever tempted to respond “Bah Humbug”
when someone cheerily wishes you a Happy Holiday?
About a hundred years
ago, author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
was also despondent on Christmas Day.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Inspiration for the Long Writing Journey
by Andy Lee @WordsByAndyLee
Every Christmas, under a canopy of stars, we would carry our pajama
laden children to the minivan. We’d tuck them into car seats and strap down a
television and VCR to provide entertainment during the marathon journey across
the country.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Let Your Christmas Heart Song Fuel Your Writing
by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme
As writers, our tendency to look deep helps us create story
energy and innovative characters. We break through imaginary walls and see
beyond the ordinary as we unfold story. This also holds true in our own story.
At least it does with me.
Friday, December 15, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
How to Create a Captivating Murder Mystery
by Warren Adler @WarrenAdler
I’ve always loved mysteries,
my favorite mystery author being George Simenon who, in my opinion, is the
master of brevity. Simenon wrote a masterful series of seventy-five novels and
twenty-eight short stories following Inspector Maigret. He inspired me to try writing
my own mystery series, which I began in 1981. Here I share the top three things
you must keep in mind if you want to create as captivating a murder mystery as
possible.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Writing Lessons from a Christmas Tree
by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden
“Mom, why is Moses on our
Christmas tree?”
“Moses? We don’t have Moses
on the tree. You know the only ornaments allowed on the tree are those that
have all three members of the Holy Family.”
For years I have collected nativity
ornaments. My mother started my collection while I was still living at home and
dated each one so I would remember when it was added to my collection.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Fall Clean-Up – 3 Tips to Getting Your Writing Habits Ready for Winter
Edie here. Sometimes, I can't help it, I just get it wrong. Cindy sent me this post for November and somehow I managed to put up the post meant for December instead. It's a fantastic post, so I refuse to not share it, but I didn't want you to think she'd missed the timing on this.
Fall Clean-Up—3 Tips to Getting Your Writing Habits Ready for Winter
by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted
Fall Clean-Up—3 Tips to Getting Your Writing Habits Ready for Winter
by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted
I swore I’d try to never
write on a subject that is worn out. You know, the hundreds of devotions making
analogies about gardening to their spiritual life? Well, guess what? I had an
epiphany while cleaning out fall bushes and leaves that will not leave my
creative desire to compare it to my writing life, alone.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Best Practices for Facebook in 2018
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Last week I shared Best Practices for Twitter. This week I’m following that up with a follow-up post about Facebook.
While there haven’t been any major changes lately with Facebook, it continues to make changes and updates regularly—especially in the Edge Rank Algorithm.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Who Made the Poppies?
by Sarah Van Diest @SarahVanDiest
In
Switzerland—Burtigny, to be precise—there is a hill I climbed several times during
my recent stay. Though autumn had secured much of the landscape, there remained
a few bright red poppies blooming on the edge of a farmer’s field. Situated
just above this field was a small wooded area with an enticing walking path
through the heart of it. It didn’t seem to matter to me if the day was sunny
and mild, or cloudy and wet, I still wanted to walk up the hill, venture into
the woods if time allowed, and always
visit the poppies.
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Keeping Christmas All Year
by Beth Vogt @BethVogt
I collect Nativity
scenes. I don’t have an extensive collection, but I do have
a much-loved assortment that includes a hand-sewn cloth Nativity that
little hands may play with. I also have a treasured olive wood set from my
mission trip to Israel
in 2000, when my husband and I chaperoned a high school trip that our son went
on. My husband and I brought back matching Nativity sets for each of
our children, including our then-to-be-born “caboose kiddo,” Christa, who arrived later that year on Christmas Eve.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Will You Nominate THE WRITE CONVERSATION Again for the Top 101 Writing Blogs?
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Will you recommend The Write Conversation as a Top 101 Writing Blog? |
The team and I here at The Write Conversation are working hard to provide information to help equip you to follow your writing dream. We have a dream too, it's to be listed in the Writer's Digest top 101 Writing Blogs in The Write Life's 100 Best Websites for Writers.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Editing Your Book, Part V—Copy Editing: the 5 foot view
by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer
There are four basic types of editing:
- Developmental Editing
- Substantive Editing
- Line Editing
- Copy Editing
Each type of editing offers an
opportunity to look at a manuscript from a different place, and for different
reasons. Today, we work with Copy Editing (CE).
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
4 Goal Setting Tips for Writers
by Cynthia Owens @EfficiencyAdict
It’s a December
ritual—looking back on the current year and considering all the possibilities
for the next. We celebrate, make resolutions to do better, and dream of what
the new year could hold. However, statistics tell us that only 9.2%
of those who make resolutions will achieve their goals.
I don’t share
that to deter you. I list it so we know what we’re up against and can make a
plan to overcome it. There are a lot of articles about how to achieve goals,
but today I want to share four lesser known tips that have actually worked for
me.
Monday, December 4, 2017
21 Best Practices for Twitter in 2018
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
There has been a huge change with
Twitter recently—Tweets are no longer limited to only
140 characters. Instead you can use up to 280. The question is, should you?
Maybe...
There are other, less obvious,
shifts in the Twitter universe as well. Those feed into how we should approach
the length of our updates. Instead of length explanations, I’m going to share a list to help navigate this new paradigm.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
A Writer’s Advent Prayer
by Danetta Kellar @DanettaKellar
Do you ever wonder why words have such
power? As writers we are obsessed with them. We dream about them and parse them
while we are awake. We endlessly fixate on synonyms and sit at our desks deeply
preoccupied with finding just the right word to express the ideas that surge
like lightening through our spirits.
Words may just be the most powerful
force we wield. Yes, love is powerful. Compassion is transformational.
Generosity can be revolutionary. But words are the pen with which God engraves
value and meaning upon the human heart.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Record Your Blessings
by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth
The holidays can be festive, magical times. Twinkling
lights, traditions, decorations reminding us of family and friends, an
excitement and buzz in the stores, and anticipation of reuniting with family
members.
The holidays can also be a very lonely time. A yearly
reminder of friends or family who are no longer here to sit around the table,
traditions with no one to share them with, and meals set for one.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Creative Christmas Gifts Only a Writer Can Give
by Cathy Baker @CathySBaker
As
writers, we have the unique opportunity to give gifts not found on your typical
Christmas list. Material gifts gather dust, but words captivate the heart.
While
most of the gifts below are more meaningful than fun, all are in your
wheelhouse waiting to be wrapped and given away.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Time to Write - the Gift You Give Yourself
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Most writers I know are part of a conflicted group.
We’re driven to write—spending
time composing poetry, writing books, researching articles. We doodle titles, character
names, and plot ideas on scraps of paper. All the while feeling guilty about the
time we spend pursuing our dream. I call it writer's guilt.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Let My Words Be Few
I can’t remember a time when my pencil didn’t scratch across paper or my fingers didn’t tap, tap, tap on a keyboard.
Writing is part of the air
that fills my lungs and allows me to breathe. Crafting sentences into ideas is
the way I express my most authentic self. I’m sure you can relate.
So what happens when God
whispers, stop?
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
First Rules of Critique—“Rule Two”
by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson
Last month
I talked with you about the first rule of critique, which is to know the level of the writer whose work you are
critiquing.
So, let’s
move forward with Rule #2: There are
rules … and there is style.
About a
year ago, an email came into my Firefly Southern Fiction managing
editor mailbox (oh, yes . . . another hat I wear . . . ). In the text of the email was a
book proposal. In the text of the email. Well,
I knew immediately that this writer didn’t have an agent. As I only work with
agented authors, I quickly wrote back (without reading the proposal, mind you),
and asked if the author had an agent (knowing full well she would say “no.”).
She wrote back
a short while later with, “I do not have an agent.”
Yeah . . . I
kinda knew that (insert smile here). So, I thought I’d quickly shoot back that
I only work with agented authors. But before I could hit the “compose” button
on my email page, a thought came to me. Eva
Marie, said the Thought, you are the
president of Word Weavers
International. You are supposed to
offer a word of encouragement . . .
Oh. Yeah.
So, I decided I’d peruse the first few lines of the “in the text of the email”
work, offer a few “kudos here and there” and then suggest that when the author
find an agent, she contact me again. Well, reading those first few lines led to
reading the next few lines. And then a few more . . . until I was convinced I’d
found the next great Southern writer. I was Max Perkins and this was my Ernest
Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Thomas Wolfe all rolled into one fabulous
female from Memphis now living in Malibu!
I got on
the phone, called the author, and asked (stupidly), “You don’t have an agent?” She repeated that she did not. “Hold on,” I
said. “I’ll call you back.” Then I jumped back on the phone and called a
Southern Belle agent I know who I thought would be perfect for this Southern Belle writer. After I read the first several
paragraphs out loud, the agent said, “What on earth is that glorious writing?”
Long story
a tad longer . . . the writer had a new
agent . . . the agent had a new client .
. . and I had a new author.
But here’s
the deal. The author, Claire Fullerton, broke one “rule” after
the other for the sake of style in
her work and, in the process, handed me a most delicious body of work. Months
later, when I sent Mourning Dove (releases
June 2018) to the proofer, and after she’d done her job on it, she wrote me and
said, “She broke every CBA rule . . .
and did it beautifully.”
Here’s the
problem as I see it: sometimes rules are made to be adhered to; sometimes rules
are made to be broken. For example, I hear writerly people going on and on all
the time about the cursed “semicolon.” To which I say, “If God hadn’t meant for
us to use semicolons, He would not have invented them.” (Insert grin here.)
But, oh . . . someone will say . . . but they stop me in my tracks. Well
then, buy new shoes. (More smiles inserted; I’m feeling cheeky today.)
Here’s
another one: don’t use ellipses. Honey,
Southern people speak and think in ellipses. Therefore, Southern writers have to use them. I’m not sure if that’s
a rule, but I think it’s a law.
When we
critique work, we must listen for voice.
Voice is found within word choices and punctuation. Voice is found in style. Voice is what sets the writer
apart from all other writers out there.
If, as a
critiquer, you are unsure if the writer broke a rule on purpose, then simply ask,
“Is this going to style?” I’m not suggesting that the writer will always know, especially if they are new to the
craft. But many times they will.
TWEETABLES
First Rules of #Writing Critique—Rule Two - from @EvaMarieEverson on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Always, always know the #writing rules, then break the ones needed to make the work sing - @EvaMarieEverson (Click to Tweet)
In case you missed the other posts, here are the links:
First Rules of Critique, "Rule One"
First Rules of Critique, "Rule Three"
First Rules of Critique, "Rule Four"
Best-selling, award-winning author Eva Marie Everson is the president of Word Weavers International, the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, and the contest director for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Her latest novel, The One True Love of Alice-Ann (Tyndale), releases April 1, 2017.
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