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. 

How to Show, Not Tell: Using Character Actions to Bring Your Fiction to Life

From Edie: Zena Dell Lowe shares how to show, not tell by using character actions and visual imagery to reveal emotions, strengthen fiction, and engage readers.

How to Show, Not Tell: Using Character Actions to Bring Your Fiction to Life

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

How to Get the Story Out of the Character's Head and Onto the Page

If you're a novelist, you're accustomed to filtering everything through your character's thoughts. Every detail—the world, the events, the emotional beats—comes to the audience filtered through the character's mind. It's their perspective that shapes the narrative.

In screenwriting, however, there's no such luxury. A screenplay doesn't allow you to tell the audience what a character is thinking or feeling. Instead, everything must be shown through action, behavior, and visual imagery.

When Life Interrupts Your Writing: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Time

From Edie: Lori Hatcher shares five practical ways to stay productive when life interrupts your writing schedule and make the most of unexpected downtime.

When Life Interrupts Your Writing: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Time

by Lori Hatcher

Mondays and Tuesdays are writing days around my house. As a bi-vocational writer (a.k.a. a writer with a day job), I have to set a pretty strict writing schedule to be productive. Mondays and Tuesdays are writing days, Wednesdays and Thursdays are dental office days (I’m a career dental hygienist), and Fridays are family days. Because of the other demands in my life, I know that if I don’t protect my dedicated writing days, I won’t meet my deadlines or advance my writing and speaking ministry.

How Christian Writers Can Handle Criticism with Wisdom and Discernment

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin shares how Christian writers can handle criticism with wisdom, discern valuable feedback, and use it to strengthen their writing.

How Christian Writers Can Handle Criticism with Wisdom and Discernment
by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Proverbs for Writers:

Proverbs 25:12 (NLT): To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Sometimes, it’s interesting to read other translations to get a fuller flavor of the verse.

From the CEV: Listening to good advice is worth much more than jewelry made of gold.

From the CSB: A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

From the MSG: The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.

I think all of us have heard in our writing careers that we need to develop a thick skin to handle criticism and rejection. And this is true. To a certain extent. If we want to succeed as writers, we can’t let harsh criticism or bad reviews or rejection by an agent or publisher throw us off course.

Meta One and Facebook Link Restrictions: What Writers Need to Know

From Edie: Confused about Meta One and Facebook's new link restrictions? Learn what writers need to know, who may be affected, and smart ways to share links without paying for a subscription.

Meta One and Facebook Link Restrictions: What Writers Need to Know

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Here we go again.

If you've spent any time on Facebook recently, you may have seen posts warning about Meta One and the possibility that Facebook is becoming a "pay-to-play" platform.

Unfortunately, this one isn’t a hoax. There’s actually some truth behind this current change. But there is NO reason to panic!

Dipping the Quill Deeper: How Memories Can Inspire Our Writing

From Edie: Eva Marie Everson shares how memories sparked by songs, photos, and everyday moments can inspire creativity and help Christian writers find God at the heart of their stories.

Dipping the Quill Deeper: How Memories Can Inspire Our Writing

by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor

I was sixteen. I drove a 1965 white-with-red interior Mustang. Three in the floor. Air conditioning. 

And an 8-track tape player. 

A classmate had invited me to a party being held at his home out in the country. Please understand; I grew up in Small Town America. An honest-to-goodness one-traffic-light metropolis. Everyone pretty much knew everyone . . . and their business. So when I say the house was in the country, it means everyone knew where the house was. 

More importantly, my father knew. 

When Should Writers Start a Newsletter? Why You Should Begin Before You’re Published

From Edie: Kate Huff shares why writers should start a newsletter before publication and how building reader relationships early can grow an engaged audience for future books.

When Should Writers Start a Newsletter? Why You Should Begin Before You’re Published

by Kate Huff @KateOliviaHuff

“I don’t have a book yet.” 

“What would I talk about?” 

“Why would anyone sign up for my newsletter?” 

These are all things I’ve heard on my journey to become a newsletter guru. I’ve heard every excuse in the book! (Pun intended!) And my answer remains the same. Yes, you do need a newsletter before you’re published. 100% yes. I say that as a pre-published author myself!