Friday, January 31, 2020

Finding Time to Write: Choices All Writers Face


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

True confession time.

Writing is both the thing I love best and the thing I hate most.

When the words flow, it’s heaven on earth. When they stutter to a halt, the opposite is true. And the truth is, both of these circumstances are a regular part of the writer’s life.

We write when we feel like, and when we don’t; when we’re inspired, and when we’re not. Most of all we write because we have to. Putting words on paper is life to some of us and an addiction without a recovery group.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

The Missing Piece


by Kathy Neely @NeelyKneely3628

Shel Silverstein is an icon in the world of children’s poetry. Where the Sidewalk Ends. The Giving Tree. Falling Up. I could go on and on. His simplistic illustrations, often in black and white, have become synonymous with his name. 

He authored a book titled The Missing Piece. Here’s the quick premise. It looks like a cheese wheel with a wedge removed, or perhaps an open-mouthed Pac-man. It knows that something is missing, so proceeds to hunt for it.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Blog and Article Ideas from the Calendar!


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Today I've decided to sneak in a post about holidays. 

So often we search for blogging and article ideas in all the wrong places. We make it way too complicated. So one of the best places to look is the calendar. But don't just assume or pick the most obvious holiday, instead, look a little deeper and discover all the fun things you could write about. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Dipping the Quill Deeper—The Why Behind Our Stories


by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

Not to be Gloomy Gloria or Maudlin Mavis, but have you ever walked through a graveyard—especially the older ones, stones tilted by time, names and dates marred by the elements—and stopped long enough to read what some of the headstones reveal?

Monday, January 27, 2020

Creating Community with Writers & Readers


by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

A few years ago, I took a marketing course at a writers conference. Presented by three multi-published Southern authors, Janice ThompsonKathleen Y'Barbo, and Anita Higman, the class taught me a lot about marketing. But the one idea that really struck a chord within me was creating a tribe. The people in a writer's tribe are those who love their stories and help promote their work. 

Okay, but the conference took place less than two weeks after the release of my debut novel, Chapel Springs Revival, so while I came home with terrific ideas, I wasn't ready to put any in place. I mean, doesn't one actually need fans to have a tribe?  

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Now That’s Alarming


by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

I keep trying to find a friendly-sounding alarm clock. Do you have one of those alarms that shrieks at the decibel level of a tornado siren? The alarm goes off, you jolt up in a panic, heart pounding, barely catching yourself before you sprint to the nearest storm shelter. Ever find those fingernail marks in the ceiling over your bed? And my alarm doesn’t blast and then stop. No, it just keeps on shrieking. Smashing it with a fist does nothing—except cause major fist pain. Throwing it across the room doesn’t faze it. Stomping on it doesn’t do much either. Maybe you can guess why I never keep a sledgehammer beside my bed. Or C-4.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

One Word At A Time: The Art of Single-Tasking and Writing Your Book


by Cathy Fyock @CathyFyock

Some time ago I spoke at the Greater Cincinnati ATD (Association for Talent Development) Conference and had the chance to attend a session led by Michael Goeke of Priority Management. In his session Michael talked about the myths of multi-tasking and how we actually work more slowly when we switch between one task and another.

Friday, January 24, 2020

Use Interval Training to Write More Effectively


By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

Does your writing life ever feel inefficient, boring, slow, or uninspired?

Welcome to the club.

Sorry, I had to say it. 

Unlike glamorous Hollywood portrayals of the writers’ life, reality proves quite different. Even the most profound and prolific writers sometimes struggle to stay motivated, creative, and productive. 

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Traits of a Successful Critique Group


by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

I’m sure we’ve all participated in or heard stories about horrible experiences with critique groups. I’ve had a few myself. Unfortunately, I may also have contributed to some of them. To any writers I did this to, I apologize.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Writing Quotes that Inspire


by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writing quotes inspire, encourage, and can cause us to laugh at ourselves. I’ve been writing for over two decades—novels nonfiction, blog posts, articles, devotions, poetry, short stories, social media posts, and tons of emails. Like you, with every writing project, I’ve learned something new about the craft and myself. Reflections of the process have often led to creating quotes. 

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

A New Year Full of New Words


by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

Happy New Year! In just a few weeks, my own new book will be released to the world.

Did you think I would be calm with this process by now?  The truth – I am in awe. That a fine publisher offered me a contract. That amazing people actually buy the books I write. But mostly, friend, I am in awe that the God of the universe would deign to offer me a part in helping to further His kingdom here on earth.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Developing a Winning Marketing Campaign: 3 True Accounts


by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

Christian Authors Network (CAN) awarded the first CAN Crown Marketing Gold Awards to three recipients, each in a different marketing category (visual, web, and broadcast marketing). I recently interviewed each to glean ideas on what makes a great marketing campaign with tips on  improving your promotion efforts.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

New Year, New Time, New Writing You


by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

“There is a time for everything, and a season for 
every activity under heaven…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
                                                              

I think of this verse every January as we begin a new year. A friend read this passage at my father’s funeral in January 1994. Though it was a sad day, this encouraged me that this was a season in my life, and changes would come. 

When I flip the calendar to January, I am reminded that it’s a time for all things new, a season of change, and maybe resolutions or goal setting. I look forward to the great new things that will happen in the coming year. Setting goals and writing them down in my planner makes me giddy. Adding fun events make me smile. Marking deadlines for projects inspire me to stay on track 

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Dear Frightened Writer—6 Things to Remember When Fear Overwhelms


by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Its January 2020, and we have decided this is the year to write, to begin the project that has stalked us for weeks, months, and maybe years. Weve dreamed about putting thoughts into words for so long, and now its become our go-to past-time. Our hearts ache with the passion to create words that move into sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, and even a book. The thought nips at our waking and sleeping hours until we must at least try.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Do I Really Need a Writers Group?


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I field a lot of questions about the value of having a critique group and/or partner. There are as many answers as there are writers. But there are very few who are able to produce publishable writing in a vacuum.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

11 Lessons Learned Along the Blogging Road


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Can you believe it? Today we hit the 3000th blog post today on The Write Conversation. 

Yeah, me too. 

I wrote that number and then had to stop and let the reality sink in.

I had no idea what God had planned when I began this tiny blog 11 years ago.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Rejections – The Fuel to Writing Success


by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

I spent some quality time with a new writer. She’d gotten her first rejection letter from a publisher and as hard as it was for her to put on a brave face, I could see how the rejection hurt. 

It happens to us all. Frustration sets in, a sense of unworthiness. Perhaps I’m not as good as I thought reels through our minds. All the roots of “failure” sink into fertile grounds of our minds making the perfect situation to believe a lie.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Sunday, January 12, 2020

What's Your POV as a Writer?


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. Philippians 3:13-14

Publishing is a tough business.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Writers, Sometimes We Just Need to Admit We Can’t Do It All


by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt

I started off the New Year by canceling a speaking engagement for a local writers group three days before it was scheduled to occur.

Not exactly what I had planned to do.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

20/20 Vision for Writing in the New Year


by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

I don’t really like making resolutions, because then I’m disappointed in myself when I forego them even before the calendar flips to the second month of the year. But I do like to set goals and daydream about my writing year ahead. 

This year, with the uniqueness of a new decade and a few memes already floating around about “the year of perfect vision” – I decided to peruse God’s word for scriptures about “eyes” and “sight.” I examined the verses to see what insightI could glean about my writing. (Yeah, I went there … but now that that’s over, I’ll try not to make a spectacle of myself and just focus on the vision.)

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Writing for Faith-based Markets - 3 Important Tips



by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

“12 Markets for Faith-based Writers.”

The title of the article drew me in. I am always looking for new markets to write for, particularly magazine markets.

I quickly followed the link, which took me to a site that, indeed, listed markets for faith-based writers. But it didn’t take me long to find that I was unqualified to write for any of them. Why?


Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Writing Control Freak 101


by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 book in 24 languages, Shirley Jump didn’t have the willpower to diet nor the talent to master under-eye concealer, so she bowed out of a career in television for a career where she could be paid to eat at her desk—writing.
      
As a wife, mother, and author, what words have kept her anchored? She shares them here.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Systems for Writers in 2020

by Ralene Burke @RaleneB

I almost didn’t write about consistency in this post because Edie Melson posted about Intentional Consistency last Monday. However, I thought I could come at it from a bit of a different angle and share with you my personal vision.

See, BE CONSISTENT is my theme for 2020.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Becoming a Stone Dropper


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 (HCSB)

Imagine with me the scene that day. A woman has been caught in the act of adultery. In biblical times, it’s a crime punishable by death—death by stoning. The men and women drag her into the public square. I can hear the voices of her accusers, raised in hatred and condemnation.

  • “You’re nothing but filth.”
  • “You knew what could happen when you made your choice.”
  • “Get rid of her. We can’t have someone like her contaminating our town.” 

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Power of Story to Bridge Divisions


by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

Over the holidays, I’ve enjoyed watching the commercials for Ancestry. com. Ancestry is the company that tests your DNA and then sends back information on your family.

The commercials captured my wife and me every time. They had families coming together, the children or teens asking their parents or grandparents questions or bringing up family history they’d been told. A cozy Hallmark movie in thirty seconds.

Friday, January 3, 2020

10 Ways Writers Can Fail Spectacularly at Social Media in 2020


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson


This past year, everywhere you turned someone was offering help on how to succeed with marketing, aka social media. Today I’m going to turn the tables and give you my top 10 ways to guarantee failure in 2020.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Putting Description into Your Story – Star Trek Holodeck style


by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

I love Star Trek. You may too. But even if you don't, you may still be able to benefit from the brilliance of their world-building. The producers of the TV shows and the movies are masters of description, although they don't use words. 

Writers do use words and putting description into your story can be as easy as watching a few hours of television.

The one I watched this week was Voyager, with Kate Mulgrew playing Captain Kathryn Janeway. The episode used the Holodeck to create an Irish pub and surrounding area.