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.

The ABCs of Social Media for Writers: 26 Tips for Building an Authentic Online Presence

From Edie: Discover 26 practical social media tips for writers to build an authentic online presence, grow reader relationships, and navigate today’s changing platforms.

The ABCs of Social Media for Writers: 26 Tips for Building an Authentic Online Presence

By Edie Melson

Social media doesn’t have to be difficult. But it does keep changing.

Some of the strategies we relied on just a few years ago aren't nearly as effective today. Algorithms change, platforms add new features, and now paid options like Meta One are changing how some of us think about things like links and reach.

But here's the good news: the foundation of social media hasn't changed nearly as much as the technology. It's still about people.

So instead of chasing every new trick, trend, and algorithm change, let's go back to the alphabet and look at the ABCs of social media for writers today.

How Authors Can Build a Reader Community on Facebook Without Constant Self-Promotion

From Edie: Heidi McGill shares how authors can build a thriving Facebook reader community through genuine conversations, meaningful connections, and less self-promotion.

How Authors Can Build a Reader Community on Facebook Without Constant Self-Promotion

by Heidi Gray McGill @HeidiGrayMcGill

My husband left early this morning on our vacation for a boat dive, so I carried my laptop out to our balcony in Curaçao to write. The second-story balcony faces west over the ocean, where a warm breeze drifts in off the water and the waves roll in below me. Birds call from the tops of trees beside me, and a short distance offshore, a crew of local fishermen work on the day's catch.

I planned to write for an hour, but the scene on the water kept pulling my attention away from the screen.

Show, Don’t Tell: How What Your Character Notices Reveals Emotion

From Edie: Ane Mulligan shares how the details your POV character notices can reveal emotions, strengthen point of view, and help you show, not tell, in your fiction.

Show, Don’t Tell: How What Your Character Notices Reveals Emotion

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

You really can teach an old dog new tricks—or in this case, an old author. I’ve picked up a new tip recently that I think is one of the best I’ve learned in a while. 

It’s showing what my POV character notices, because that shows emotion or state of mind. Gleaned from Writers In the Storm blog, a frightened character notices the shadows in a room, its corners where danger could hide. A happy person would notice the sun streaming through the window, and the butterfly on a meadowsweet bush outside that window.

How Culture Shapes Character Point of View: 10 Things Fiction Writers Need to Know

From Edie: DiAnn Mills shares 10 ways culture shapes character point of view, influences decisions and emotions, and helps fiction writers create authentic characters and stronger stories.

How Culture Shapes Character Point of View: 10 Things Fiction Writers Need to Know

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Culture is one of the factors in choosing point of view, but the technique seldom receives the attention it deserves. Point of view can be confusing for the writer because the topic involves more than one concept.

Culture is defined as the accepted practices, arts, religion, social hierarchy, government, medicine, and pride of a people group that form attitudes and behavior. Imagine the differences in actions and opinions among people familiar to you. Consider tossing culture into the mix.