The Writers Conference Survival Guide Part 1: How to Prepare for Editor and Agent Appointments

From Edie: PeggySue Wells shares how to prepare for editor and agent appointments at a writers conference with practical tips to make a professional, confident, and lasting impression.

The Writers Conference Survival Guide Part 1: How to Prepare for Editor and Agent Appointments

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

A writers' conference is an opportune time to talk with editors, publishers, agents, and authors.

Understandably, many writers feel nervous about discussing their ideas and work-in-progress with these industry experts. But with some strategic preparation, you can have a productive face-to-face meeting.

What to Do After a Writers Conference: Pray First, Don't Panic

From Edie: Ginny Cruz answer the question about what to do after a writers conference. Discover why Christian writers should pray first, avoid panic, and take the next right step.

What to Do After a Writers Conference: Pray First, Don't Panic

by Ginny Cruz

If you’ve attended a Christian writers conference and absorbed incredible amounts of new information or perhaps been fortunate enough to get an editor, agent, or publisher interested in seeing more of your work, then it’s likely you’ll be asking yourself what’s next.

Jesus the Word of God: : The Giver of Treasures in Darkness

From Edie: Audrey Frank shares how Jesus, the Word of God, gives writers treasures in darkness, turning trials into hope, purpose, and words that point others to Him.

Jesus the Word of God: The Giver of Treasures in Darkness

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name (Isaiah 45:3, NASB)

“In 1637, out of much trouble of mind, the Scottish minister Rutherford wrote to a friend: It is possible to gather gold, where it may be had, with moonlight.

This book is written to any who are walking in difficult places and who care to gather that gold.”

—the dedication page of Gold by Moonlight, by Amy Carmichael 

There is treasure in the darkness. In the blackest night, a light shines. If we care to, we can gather gold by moonlight.

How Writers Helped Shape America: Lessons from the Declaration of Independence

From Edie: Tim Suddeth helps writers discover how writers helped shape America through the Declaration of Independence and what today's Christian writers can learn about the power of words.

How Writers Helped Shape America: Lessons from the Declaration of Independence

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

Today, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. Or, as George Washington once called it, “the great experiment.”

I’ve always loved studying about the Revolutionary War period of American history, even while I was in school. One problem we have when we look back at another era is that we know how it turned out. And often, we accept it was the inevitable outcome. We know that 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a single nation of states stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Why Every Author Needs an Editor (and How to Choose the Right One)

From Edie: A.C. Williams share why every author needs an editor, how editors improve your manuscript, and practical tips for choosing the right editor for your book.

Why Every Author Needs an Editor (and How to Choose the Right One)

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

I am terrible at jigsaw puzzles. It’s something about how all the different little shapes fit together that makes it a challenge for me to identify what pieces go where. I’m also stubborn enough that I will try to force a piece into a place, whether it actually goes there or not. But it never fails, after I’ve been working on a puzzle for ages and ages, when someone who has never seen it before comes up and looks at it, they can instantly spot where pieces go. 

Why is that? Any theories? I’ve got a few. 

What Writers Can Learn from the FIFA World Cup About Success and Perseverance

From Edie: What can writers learn from the FIFA World Cup? Discover why perseverance, faithfulness, and showing up matter more than guaranteed success.

What Writers Can Learn from the FIFA World Cup About Success and Perseverance

By Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I’ve watched more soccer in the last month than I have in my entire life. 

Y’all. 

I know very little about soccer. 

I mean, I know the gist of it. I know you can’t touch the ball with your hands, unless you’re the goalie. I know there are two forty-five-minute halves. I know that for some bizarre reason, no one but the referees really know when the game ends because of the way they manage the stoppage time. And I know that offsides is bad, but I have no idea why. 

I also know that I don’t have to watch the whole game. If I have it on, when everyone starts yelling, I need to look up and I’ll get to see someone score. Or … not. Usually not. 

Conflict vs. Tension: The Difference That Makes Stories Impossible to Put Down

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer helps writers discover the difference between conflict and tension in fiction and learn how tension keeps readers turning pages while conflict alone cannot.

Conflict vs. Tension: The Difference That Makes Stories Impossible to Put Down

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Writers often talk about conflict as if it’s the engine of story. And it is—but only in the way a parked car technically has an engine. Conflict is the machinery. Tension is the ignition, the fuel, the forward motion. Without tension, conflict just sits there, inert, a list of problems rather than a living narrative.

Understanding the difference between the two—and how they work together—is one of the most important skills a writer can develop. Because once you do, your scenes stop lying flat on the page. They start to hum.