Tolkien Reading Day: 4 Writing Lessons from J.R.R. Tolkien Every Author Should Know

From Edie: From Edie: Celebrate Tolkien Reading Day with five powerful writing lessons from J.R.R. Tolkien. Discover how imagination, faith, and life experience can strengthen your storytelling and inspire your writing journey.

Tolkien Reading Day: 4 Writing Lessons from J.R.R. Tolkien Every Author Should Know

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Since 2003, March 25 has been celebrated as Tolkien Reading Day. J.R.R. Tolkien’s books have entertained and inspired readers since his first fantasy book, The Hobbit was published September 21, 1937. I found that he wrote this story for his children, just like so many of us begin our writing careers by creating something for our children. 

According to The Tolkien Society, “The 25th of March is the date of the downfall of the Lord of the Rings (Sauron) and the fall of Barad-dûr.” This year’s theme is Unlikely Heroes. His fascinating life story reveals the background of one of the world’s greatest writers. I encourage you to visit the Tolkien Society’s website and explore the many offerings available for Tolkien readers.

Tolkien’s quotes provide us a glimpse into his mind and heart, not only for writing but for hope, faith, and the betterment of our culture. 

Dipping the Quill Deeper; Finding Writing Inspiration in Life & Scripture

From Edie: Discover how one writer’s story idea developed over 40 years and what it teaches about trusting God’s timing, creative process, and patience in writing and publishing.

Dipping the Quill Deeper; Finding Writing Inspiration in Life & Scripture

by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor

A single Dear Abby letter. One that told a story of a woman who woke up in the dead of night to the sound of a man snoring in the bed next to her.

Problem was, she wasn’t married and he was a stranger.

This was forty years ago, which was about 10 years before I began my career as a professional writer. But I distinctly remember reading this article and saying, “That would make a great novel premise.”

AI for Writers: Friend or Foe? How to Use Artificial Intelligence Without Losing Your Writing Voice

From Edie: Discover how writers can use AI without losing their unique voice. Learn the benefits, risks, and best practices for using artificial intelligence in your writing process.

AI for Writers: Friend or Foe? How to Use Artificial Intelligence Without Losing Your Writing Voice

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

I was tasked with writing a fundraising letter for our nonprofit community theatre company. I'm a fiction writer. There isn't an iota of grant writer in me. I played, edited, and played around again with the plea, but the tone was wrong. My thoughts were all over the place—like following an ADD character’s train of thought. Squirrel! 

Finally, I went to ChatGPT and asked it to polish it. I was gobsmacked! The site took my words, tweaked them, organized them, and made the letter sound good. Then, I passed it by another board member who added a couple of their own tweaks. We ended up with a letter that sounded us like us but better. Success. 

10 Book Contest Tips and Christian Indie Award Winner Announcement

From Edie: Discover 10 practical book contest tips to boost credibility, visibility, and sales—plus the 2026 Christian Indie Award winners announcement.

10 Book Contest Tips and Christian Indie Award Winner Announcement

by Susan U. Neal @SusanNealYoga

When your book wins a contest, its status elevates. It reassures readers that your book is worth their time, attention, and money. Book contests are one of the most effective—and often overlooked—marketing tools available to authors. Winning a contest can open doors to credibility, visibility, and sales. 

YouTube for Writers, Part 7: Why Captions Matter and How to Use Them

From Edie: Learn why captions are essential for writers on YouTube and how to use them to boost accessibility, SEO, viewer retention, and engagement.

YouTube for Writers, Part 7: Why Captions Matter and How to Use Them

by Samantha Tschritter @SETschritter

Boost accessibility, SEO, and viewer retention with accurate captions

Think about it. How often are you waiting in a doctor’s office or scrolling through reels beside a sleeping spouse, or sneaking a quick glance at your phone during a family function? What’s the first thing you do to the volume on your phone? Turn that sucker down. Or consider the millions of viewers who have hearing loss. In these cases, videos with captions get attention, while other reels are swiped off the screen. 

Before You Share That Post: A Writer’s Guide to Verifying Information and Building Trust Online (Part 2)

From Edie: Before you share that post, learn how writers can verify information in under 60 seconds and build trust online by choosing truth over viral misinformation.

Before You Share That Post: A Writer’s Guide to Verifying Information and Building Trust Online

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Before You Share, Read This

In Part 1, we talked about the Facebook copyright hoax and why it matters for writers (link at the end of this post).

Now let’s get practical.

Because the goal isn’t just to avoid misinformation—

It’s to become someone who consistently shares truth.

The Facebook Copyright Hoax Is Back: Why Writers Must Verify Before They Share (Part 1)

From Edie: The Facebook copyright hoax is back. Learn why writers must verify before sharing and how misinformation can quietly damage your credibility and platform.

The Facebook Copyright Hoax Is Back: Why Writers Must Verify Before They Share (Part 1)

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

The Facebook Copyright Hoax Is Back (Again)

If you’ve been on Facebook for more than a few years, you’ve likely seen it.

That post.

“I do not give Facebook or Meta permission to use my photos…”

It sounds official.

It feels urgent.

And every time it resurfaces, it spreads like wildfire.

Let’s clear this up right away:

It’s not true.

It never has been.

But for writers, this isn’t just about spotting one hoax.

It’s about something much more important:

How we handle words we didn’t write.