Wednesday, March 31, 2021

What to do When a Writer is Weary of Social Media


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I know, I’m supposed to be the cheerleader of all things social media. But let’s get real here. Some days—some weeks—it just makes me tired. There are times when every writer gets weary of social media. Usually it happens when certain situations arise:
  • I haven’t had any meaningful conversations in a while.
  • My updates seem to be going into a black hole because no one is noticing them.
  • Life in general has gotten chaotic and it’s squeezing the life out of me.
  • My numbers aren’t moving up, they’re sitting there like an old tire in a mud hole.
  • It seems like everything I read on social media is rude, wrong, or just plain shallow.
Yeah, I’ve been where you are.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Mini Memoir Moment: Me—Ways to Write about Yourself


by Marcia Moston @MarciaMoston

I know “notorious badman” Sam Bass didn’t write his own “Wanted Dead or Alive” poster, but I couldn’t resist using the description of him with its surprising last sentence to make a point for this lesson. The fine print on the poster reads:

Monday, March 29, 2021

Why and How Writers Should Use Pinterest


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

This burgeoning network has become a great network for writers to connect with readers and grow their online visibility. These are some basic Pinterest tips for writers to help you capitalize on its value.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Make Writing Your Ministry—Not Just a Career or a Hobby


Edie here. Guys I've got to tell you, we have the MOST amazing contributors here at The Write Conversation, and it just keeps getting better. Today I'm announcing our newest columnist, Dr. Craig Von Buseck. This man has had such an impact on my writing life! He has inspired me through classes I've taken from him and from the way he lives out what he teaches. I know you're going to be as blessed as I am. Give him a warm, TWC welcome (and check out his newest book, Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant - info at the end of the post). 

Make Writing Your Ministry—Not Just a Career or a Hobby
by Craig Von Buseck @CraigVonBuseck 

“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”

This famous quote has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Ironically, it has also been ascribed to Karl Marx. Both of these men succeeded in conquering the world with those 26 lead soldiers – the alphabet – for good and for evil.

The words we write have power and God can truly use them to change the world. As reformer Martin Luther said: “If you want to change the world, pick up a pen.”

I first sensed a call from God to help in changing the world during my senior year of high school. In those days, the members of my church youth group would sit in the balcony during Sunday services. I vividly remember many Sunday mornings when I could ‘see’ the biblical stories the pastor was preaching in my mind like watching a movie. 

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Creating Heroes: Ten Ways to Reveal the Heroic Qualities of Your Character in Story (Part 2)


by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

In part 1 of this blog post, we discussed the first five things that you can do as a writer to help reveal the character qualities that a true hero must possess. (Link at the end of the post) Today, we’ll discuss the final five.

Friday, March 26, 2021

In the Writing World, Are You a Moses or an Aaron?


By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 

Some compare writing a book (or a blog post, an article, or a poem) to giving birth. Others use the more picturesque description of a journey or a path. The most honest among us refer to it as a battle.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

For Writers, Effective Communication…


by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

…Or not so effective communication.

 

Back in the 1960s, we had what’s called the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Russians placed missiles in Cuba, which could easily reach many cities in the United States. Our government could not tolerate such a threat and we demanded the Russians remove the weapons. The situation escalated to where war appeared imminent. Russian Premier Khrushchev sent President Kennedy a letter saying his country would comply. A short time later, Khrushchev sent another letter saying the exact opposite and almost dared us to come take his missiles.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

The Most Valuable Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received


by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers develop their expertise over time and by penning millions of words—some of those words are outstanding and appear on the printed or digital page. Others face rejection either by us or another professional. But along the way, we read and hear writing advice meant to help us enhance our craft. 

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

6 Ways to Hone Your Writing, Develop Resilience, and Build Your Platform at the Same Time


by Sue Schlesman @SueSchlesman

As writers, we’re multi-taskers.

 

I’m not talking about our ability to make dinner, proof kids’ homework, and write a new chapter simultaneously, although we’ve probably all done that. I’m referring to the honed ability to persevere, get feedback, and recover from that feedback without hiding for a year while I half-heartedly tweak a manuscript I no longer believe I can finish.

Monday, March 22, 2021

4 Tips To Add Conflict to Your Story


by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

When I first tried my hand at writing a novel, I wrote a happy story where everyone was nice. There wasn't any conflict and very little tension. I had a lot to learn. I read articles and blog posts by seasoned authors, who said every story needs conflict.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

A Writer Looks at Lent


by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

As this posts we’re a little over four weeks into Lent—a penitential time in the Church year where Christians examine their lives and set aside time to reflect more fully on those sins and bad habits that often beset us. 


During Lent, believers prepare their hearts for Easter through prayer, repentance, and self-denial, so that we can more fully hear the voice of God. These acts of contrition do not and cannot earn us points with God for Jesus already paid the price for our sins when He gave His life for us on the cross and God raised Him from the dead to forever make intercession for us. The work was fully done for those of us who believe. We are His through grace, God’s unmerited favor.

Friday, March 19, 2021

All Because I Went to a Writers Conference - The Value of Investing in Your Writing Career


by Crystal Bowman

The year was 2006, and I had been in the publishing world for ten years. I was writing for two major publishing houses, had thirty-five children’s books published with five bestselling titles. Though I had a pretty strong resume, I felt like my writing life was at a standstill with no contracts on the horizon. I had heard about writers conference but had never attended one, and the more I learned about writing, the more I knew there was more to learn (like not using a word three times in one sentence.) 

Thursday, March 18, 2021

How Writers Use Instagram with Linktr.ee


Excerpt from Social Media for Today's Writer
, Bold Vision Books
written by Edie Melson & DiAnn Mills

Since 2017, Instagram has continued to be one of the fasted growing social media networks. The users aren’t just growing in numbers, but the range of users is expanding, making it valuable for all ages and demographics. With the creation of Stories within the app, it has multiple applications for brands as well as individuals who want to be social.

 

So how do writers use Instagram effectively? I’m so glad you asked!

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

The Writer’s Prayer Guide

 


by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

“Father, please help me as I write today.”

 

“Father, I’m stuck. Where do I go from here?”

 

“Father, thank You for that line. That’s exactly what I needed to say.”

 

Before I write any blog post or article, when I get stuck, when I need inspiration, and when I have a breakthrough—I pray. How often do you pray when you write?

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

When You Wonder If Your Writing Even Matters…


by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

Katherine was a human computer. 

A black woman in the mid-century America NASA space program. Among other responsibilities, she calculated the trajectories for both the Mercury and Apollo missions. 

But no one knew about her work. 

Until the book and movie “Hidden Figures” revealed the true story of the “West Computers” – women who were at the heart of NASA’s advancements. Yes, even Katherine G. Johnson.

Monday, March 15, 2021

Learn to Promote Your Book & Your Brand from the 2020 CAN Crown Marketing Award Winners


by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

The 2020 CAN Crown Marketing Award winners created great campaigns to promote books and brands. Each campaign had a specific focus, but the authors worked in multiple directions to achieve their goals. We can learn from their success.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

When God Surprises


by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” John 20:2 NLT

She knew what she was doing; I had no idea.

My wife and I—along with about one hundred other guests—sat under a large tent at our daughter’s wedding reception. Only the wedding had taken place four months earlier, courtesy of COVID. 

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Choosing to Strengthen Your Writing Dream with Prayer


by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt

My friend Fran visited Colorado Springs the other day and we met for breakfast. 

Fran has also always supported my writing dreams, even back when I was the tired mom of little kids. My dream was nothing more than me saying, “I’m going to get back to writing again one day.”

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Write What You Know, But Learn As You Go


by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

Recently, I had the pleasure of contributing an article to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for their Raising an Entomologist theme. The acceptance took me back on a reminiscent journey of my writing.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

How to Become a Writing Conference Faculty Member


by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

As a conference director, I receive tons of requests to be faculty. Selecting teachers is always a tough job, one I dread passionately. Throughout the year, I meet hundreds of writers who have great “presence” but don’t have a great command of the craft. I look at a career in writing as rungs on a ladder. We begin at the bottom and learn to write. Hopefully, we gain experience and knowledge which moves us up a notch. Then we’re asked to teach. Mentor. Guide. The gamut of requests is huge and as much as I’d love to have everyone teach, there is more to teaching than charisma. It’s time we address exactly what conference directors look for when extending teaching invitations?

Monday, March 8, 2021

March Speaking Tips for Authors


by Yvonne Ortega @YvonneOrtega1

The kid in me wants to speak on all the online calendar topics for the month of March. Let’s look at how this would play out.

Sunday, March 7, 2021

The Power of Lament in a Writer’s Life


by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Inspired by Psalm 40

 

I waited patiently for the Lord

            to open a door for my manuscript

He turned to me and heard my cry;

            he brought me up out of the slush pile,

            out of the miry clay of anonymity.

Saturday, March 6, 2021

How to Apply SEO to Your Blog – One Blogger’s Process


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

As writers we all have our own unique way of doing things. The same is true of bloggers, we know that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a critical part of any successful blog, but the application can be different for each of us. I thought you would like to see this blogger’s process of applying SEO to my blog. 

Friday, March 5, 2021

The Dangers of Comparing Yourself to Other Writers


by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

For my creative writing minor, my college required that I take a poetry workshop. Not going to lie, I dreaded it. I’d never been good at poetry. In fact, the only poetry I’d ever been able to write had been limericks. Light, fluffy, funny, usually irreverent. I’d been told that a person’s skill at poetry was a measurement of the depth of their soul, and that seemed to ring true quite honestly. (Even as a teenager, I wore mismatched socks, dreamed of fantasy civilizations, and choreographed my own lightsaber battles in the back pasture of our farm.)

The poetry workshop actually turned out to be fun, and, God bless her, my poor beleaguered professor extended me such grace and patience. I struggled under the weight of the tiny word count and the expectation of descriptive vocabulary that superseded anything I’d attempted previously. In that semester-long workshop, I confirmed that I was not, nor would I ever be, a poet, but I learned something else too. Something more important.

I learned that I wasn’t a poet. I learned that many of the other students in the room were. And I learned that the creative world was big enough for all of us to not only coexist but to partner alongside each other.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

How I Write a Novel


by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I just turned in what will be, Lord willing, my seventh published novel. I’ve come to realize that despite my best intentions, the process always looks something like this . . .

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Mind-mapping: Using the Way We Think to Create Story


by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

I'm going to make an assumption here. You are probably very similar to the other 7.674 billion +/- people in the world. So you probably also think like everybody else. Not the same thoughts or in the same language or with the same result, but in the same way.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Discover the Take-Home Value of Your Writing


by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

How does your writing—idea, message, or story benefit your audience? Why would your reader trade their hard-earned funds to purchase your project? Why would someone invest their limited time to read your writing? 

In other words, what take-home value do you provide?

Monday, March 1, 2021

How to Prevent Paper-Cut Words


By Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

At what point do you print out a work-in-progress to give your red pen something to scribble on? Personally, I can only do so much editing on screen before I need to see the words on paper.