Writing Rejection Doesn’t Define Who We Are

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Rejection does not define who we are unless we let it. (Rene Gutteridge)

Rene Gutteridge is one of the major influencers in my writing life. From a critique at one of my first writers’ conferences to her teaching at conferences to her own novels and her blogs and articles on the craft, I have learned from her.

Tips for Facing the Challenges of the Writer’s Life

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

A writer’s life doesn’t fit the 9-5 mold of most of the working world. Challenges smack us in the face, and we must be ready to evaluate what we are doing right and what we are doing not-so-right. Sometimes we need to evaluate our habits and if necessary make changes that will help us be successful in our writing career. 

Dipping the Quill Deeper—The Value of a Critique Group

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

In March 1997, five Christian writers gathered around a table in Longwood, Florida with one goal in mind: to become better writers. We wanted to be the iron that sharpened iron by use of honest critique that included “what works” as well as “what needs to be improved upon.”

When Do You Let Go of a Piece of Writing?

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

Stalled. Going nowhere. Can’t think of a way out. Nothing works. 

It happens to nearly every writer at some point. It’s happened to me before, but for a different reason. All I needed then was a brainstorming session with a crit partner, a little plotting, and I was off again, racing to the end. 

Bank on It

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

It’s getting embarrassing. I am embarrassingly dependent on my debit card. 

One day not too long ago I couldn’t find it. I looked everywhere all afternoon. Even by the next morning, still no trace. I searched high and low, near and far. I even searched under the sofa cushions. I have to be desperate to do that because it’s scary under there. I found 37 cents, three marbles, a T shirt (how had we ignored that lump?), seven M&M’s, a screwdriver, my favorite sunglasses, and the TV remote (hey, we’d been looking for that thing). But no card.

Selling Books from the Platform (without selling)

by Cathy Fyock @CathyFyock

You’re speaking at a conference or seminar. You’d like to sell your books. But you also know that the event planner has strict rules about not selling from the platform. 

How can you sell books without selling books?

Four Reasons Why You Need a Writing Critique Partner

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

Writers hear all the time that the life we’ve chosen (or the life that chose us) is a solitary one. After all, it’s hard to listen to the internal dialogue of our imaginary characters if the external dialogue of real-life characters drowns it out. The two-ears-one-brain thing has always made it impossible for me to write in noisy places filled with people – especially people who want to talk to me. So my best, most-productive writing usually happens when I’m alone.

New Goals & A New Writing You

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga

The first few months of a new year fosters a time for reflection and planning. It is a time to look back on last year, evaluate what you did, and plan for the next year. The new year motivates one to meet with the Lord and meditate upon his will for a person’s writing ministry. Have you taken the time to plan for 2019?

To Edit or Not To Edit As You Write

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

It’s strange the things you notice once you’ve been writing and editing your own work. These kinds of thoughts often zip through my mind:

• Those praise music lyrics are missing punctuation. (Does that drive you crazy, too?)
• I’m writing compound sentences in my e-mails without commas. (And feeling guilty about it.)
• I can’t send this text until it’s perfect.(Half the time I’m missing something.)

3 Reasons the World Needs Your Words

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

Every writer comes to the point where we ask “Why does the world need my words?”

As I look back at a lifetime of being a word girl—ever since my very first job out of college as editorial assistant of “Carolina Country” magazine—I have observed that the words we speak and the words we write do have power—for Change, Challenge and Courage.

Prepare For Writing Conference Success

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

Writing conferences offer training to network opportunities, so prepare to gain the most out of attending one. Conferences became my launch pad to success and it can be that for you! Amazingly, these steps also help build your marketing skills  as you define ideas, pitch, and expand your network.

We’re All Members of a Single Body

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

Have you ever worked on a project with a team and slowly took charge of the project?

Or do you feel overwhelmed and unneeded when someone is a stronger personality and they take over? To be honest, I have felt both sides of this issue. 

Answers to Some of the Questions Authors Ask—I'm Ready for the Big Time!

by Traci Tyne Hilton @TraciTyneHilton

#5 in a series where I answer questions I suspect you are asking

Indie Author:How do I get a traditional publisher to buy the book I indie published? It’s awesome and I could really use the bookshelf space I’d get from going trad. Also, how much money should I ask for when they offer me the deal?

PSL - Publishing As a Second Language – Networking Defined

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

The Oxford Dictionaries define “networking” as “the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.” What a perfect definition for writers!

If you are just starting out, you may be wondering why writers even need to think about networking. Isn’t the important thing that we learn how to write, create excellent manuscripts, then share them with the public to help change their lives?

Writing for Every Type of Reader

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

My mother is on the upside of 93-years-old. Weekly she reads two to three NOVELS. Not just short little novellas, but novels. Obviously, she loves reading. There’s no doubt it keeps her spry in her senior years. Her love of reading began to make me wonder exactly what draws her to read so intently.

It’s important to know there are two types of readers. Those who savor every word and those who read for the pure love of reading. The two vary greatly, so let's identify these reader types and what draws them into reading.

Tools for Writers & Speakers, How Writers & Speakers Can Use a Flip Chart Effectively

by Yvonne Ortega @YvonneOrtega1

How can writers flip the chart? Not their lid. If you have a breakout session or a small group discussion scheduled, you may want to use a flip chart. However, you want to do it with confidence and polish. 

Remembering The Power Behind Our Written Words

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. Luke 6:46-47 (The Message)

Overcoming the Stress of Writing the First Draft

by Beth Vogt @BethVogt

“The first draft is just telling yourself the story.”

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015), English fantasy author

We writers tend to stress about our first drafts. 

The Exuberant Exclamation Point!!! It’s Not Going Gentle Into That Punctuation Slush Pile

by Marcia Moston @MarciaMoston

I’m sitting in a hospital waiting area for open-heart surgery patients—one of whom is my husband. The text notification on my phone pings with a message of concern from a friend. The message ends with three exclamation points and the following clarification (just in case the three marks failed to convey the intensity of sincerity):  “Lots of exclamation points to indicate sincerity and concern.”

The Danger of Just One More Thing for Writers

by Lynn Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I want to tell you a story about a washing machine.

Hang with me here.

Subtext for Writers, Part 3 - Words, Gestures, and Action

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

We continue learning about sub-text through words, gestures, and action:

Using words to find what lies beneath may be the easiest of all—the one most of us already have down pat—saying one thing when we mean another. Characters are no different. We give our characters words to say while we give them an entirely different set of feelings, actions and behaviors. This is meant to intrigue the reader, to make them want to read more. Sometimes it's more difficult than others but, ultimately, a writer can have two completely different conversations going on between two people at the same time - one on the surface (text) while the other (subtext) is showing the reader what is really going on.

Grammar for Writers—Tenses Make Me Tense

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

Does your writing suffer from irregular tenses? Consistent tense is essential for the health of your manuscript and protects your reader and editor from timeline whiplash.

Finding Your Writing Tribe

by Ralene Burke @RaleneB

Hey, friends! It’s Ralene, your friendly fantasy fanatic again. You know, when I first got involved in the writing world, I was pretty normal—by writer standards anyway, pretty sure the non-writers still thought I was a bit weird. My first novel was a contemporary YA where I learned I knew nothing about writing and needed to start fresh. So, I wrote an adult suspense.

When God Sends Us Into the Teeth of the Storm

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Immediately he (Jesus) made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. Mark 6:45, ESV

And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. Mark 6:48, ESV

The scene is pitiful. Evening has come and darkness encompasses the fledgling band of obedient disciples. They have been forced to go ahead of Jesus after an utterly exhausting day, and their efforts to obey are met with resistance and opposition. The One they rely upon is not with them, or so it seems. Even the weather is against them. Shoving and pushing, it stubbornly refuses to allow their little boat to make progress across the choppy water. 

Finding Your Calling as a Writer

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

Have you found your calling?

Are you pursuing your calling?

Need More Time to Write? Just Say NO!

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I don’t mean no to writing opportunities—say no to some other things in your life. 

We all only have so much time in a day. And if you’re like me, life is filled to overflowing. So that means changing some priorities. 

Sounds easy, but to anyone who’s tried, it can be tough to carve out time for writing.