Is It Too Late to Become a Writer? Why Now Is the Time to Begin Writing

From Edie: DiAnn Mills has an answer for writers who are wondering if it’s too late to become a writer. Discover why age, fear, and self-doubt don’t have to stop you—and why now is the time to begin writing.

Is It Too Late to Become a Writer? Why Now Is the Time to Begin Writing

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.” Beatrix Potter

Many of us feel the nudging to write, but excuses hold us back. I fell into that category until someone challenged me to begin.

How to Find Courage as a Writer: Overcoming Fear and Moving Forward

From Edie: DiAnn Mills shares how to find courage as a writer by overcoming fear, rejection, self-doubt, and perfectionism while trusting God to move your writing forward.

How to Find Courage as a Writer: Overcoming Fear and Moving Forward

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

When we consider careers that require courage, we think of first responders, soldiers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and others. We forget writers need courage to step out alone in a highly critical and competitive world. 

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Dorothy Bernard

Every word on the page is a risk with the potential of rejection and failure. Do we have the courage to face the obstacles threatening our way? Sometimes the biggest roadblock is us.

The courage factor is a prerequisite for all successful writers.

Does Fate Belong in Fiction? Why Character Choices Matter More in Fiction

From Edie: DiAnn Mills answer the question, "Does fate belong in fiction?" Learn why character choices, free will, and realistic consequences create stronger, more compelling stories.

Does Fate Belong in Fiction? Why Character Choices Matter More in Fiction

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Fate in fiction suggests the character plays little in the role of a story’s events. The development or outcome becomes a supernatural occurrence. Some writers use luck, destiny, written in the stars, or providence to create a desirable outcome in their stories. 

But is that fair to the reader?

Does this include genres of speculative fiction that by their name hints at supernatural occurrences guiding the writer’s hand?

How Writers Can Rekindle Creativity and Fall in Love with Writing Again

From Edie: Struggling with writer burnout or lost motivation? DiAnn Mills shares practical ways to rekindle creativity, refresh your writing perspective, and fall in love with writing again.

How Writers Can Rekindle Creativity and Fall in Love with Writing Again

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Successful writers must maintain a fresh writing perspective, or their writing will fall flat. No getting around it. How do we climb back onboard the optimism train when we no longer have enthusiasm about our books, blogs, articles, poems, screenplays, or other forms of content? 

How to Use Setting as an Antagonist in Your Novel: A Powerful Technique to Strengthen Plot and Character

From Edie: Learn how to use setting as an antagonist in your novel to create conflict, deepen character growth, and strengthen your plot through place, time, and culture.

How to Use Setting as an Antagonist in Your Novel: A Powerful Technique to Strengthen Plot and Character

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Is setting an important element of a novel?

Writing a novel involves weaving literary techniques together to create a powerful story. Novelists use characterization, plot, emotion, dialogue, symbolism, sensory detail, and setting to bring characters to life as they journey through the story.

Always choose an antagonistic setting. A behind-the-scenes antagonist—often the setting itself—forces the character to grow, change, and embrace strength not previously experienced. Setting influences plot by creating barriers and struggles for the characters, while also shaping mood and emotional response.

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. 

How to Overcome Writer Burnout and Depression: 10 Ways to Get Your Writing Passion Back

From Edie: Struggling with writer burnout or discouragement? Discover 10 practical ways to overcome depression, renew your mindset, and rediscover your passion for writing.

How to Overcome Writer Burnout and Depression: 10 Ways to Get Your Writing Passion Back

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

No matter how dedicated we are as writers, depression and burnout can drag us to the bottom of a well filled with quicksand. I know you’re trying to grasp what seems to be lost, but the gray days weigh heavily. Whether you’ve written for two decades or two years, now is the time to get out of that rut and back into the writing game with passion and enthusiasm.

Bad Writing Advice Writers Should Ignore (Lies vs Truth for Christian Writers)

From Edie: Bad writing advice can quietly sabotage your growth, platform, and publishing goals. Discover common writing lies—and the truth Christian writers need to build excellence, confidence, and a ministry-focused career.

Bad Writing Advice Writers Should Ignore (Lies vs Truth for Christian Writers)

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers look and listen for writing advice, especially from those who are successful. We want five-star reviews and bestselling status. Our goal is to discern any writing, publishing, or marketing and promotion recommendations that doesn’t work for us. 

The following list of well-intended advice might not fit your career. None of us want to sabotage our writing, and the items below have the capacity to destroy our publishing hopes and dreams. 

Funny Christmas Songs for Writers: A Holiday Parody Writers Will Relate To

From Edie: A lighthearted collection of funny Christmas song parodies just for writers—filled with humor about deadlines, edits, publishing dreams, and holiday writing life.

Funny Christmas Songs for Writers: A Holiday Parody Writers Will Relate To

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills 

It’s a little hard to concentrate on writing when it’s Christmas Eve and the music of the season is rolling through our heads. We’re humming and singing along to our favorites and finding it impossible to write . . . or can we change the words in those songs to fit our writerly needs??

How Writers Can Stay Creative in Unproductive Seasons: 15 Ways to Renew Your Mind, Faith, and Writing Life

From Edie: Discover practical and faith-centered ways to stay creative when your writing feels stalled. These 15 strategies will help you renew your mind, refresh your creativity, and navigate unproductive seasons with hope, rest, and spiritual renewal.

How Writers Can Stay Creative in Unproductive Seasons: 15 Ways to Renew Your Mind, Faith, and Writing Life

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers often face rejection, deadlines, and doubt. We may say we trust God with our writing, but when a season feels barren, that trust can be tested. November’s image of bleak fields after harvest is not a picture of discouragement but a reminder of God’s promise of renewal. 

We’ve planted words, nurtured them with prayer and edits, and released them to our readers. Sometimes a new contract doesn’t come, or fresh ideas seem as bare as empty fields. But those fields are resting, just like we need to breathe new life into our minds and bodies. The farmer trusts God for spring to plant new growth, and we writers can trust God to rejuvenation our hearts, minds, and creativity for the next project.

How to Write Christian Suspense: Balancing Fear, Faith, and Redemption

From Edie: Learn how to write Christian suspense novels that balance fear, faith, and redemption. Discover tips to craft thrilling stories with spiritual depth.

How to Write Christian Suspense: Balancing Fear, Faith, and Redemption

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Suspense novels drop a character or characters into danger, whether from unscrupulous people, natural disasters, predatory animals, debilitating illness, the loss of basic needs, mental instability, or spiritual deceptions. The fear is real. It’s unavoidable, and something must be done to stop the ever-increasing threat.

How does a Christian writer tackle the tension when violence takes over a character’s life? How is redemption portrayed without a naïve approach? Can suspense and spiritual depth truly coexist in a world where faith is often viewed as a crutch or unreliable? 

How Your Personality Type Affects the Way You Edit and Improve Your Manuscript

From Edie: Discover how your personality type—introvert, extrovert, or in between—shapes the way you revise. Learn strategies to edit and improve your manuscript with less stress.

How Your Personality Type Affects the Way You Edit and Improve Your Manuscript

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Understanding how we process information is critical to focusing on how we can best revise (edit and improve) our manuscripts. 

Our personalities process information based on nature, nurture, life experiences, education, health, birth order, culture, and a host of other factors. These define us as either introverts, extroverts, or somewhere in between according to how our brains are wired. Consider each one of us is different, which means revising our manuscripts can be difficult until we grasp the best way we manage tasks effectively, efficiently, and eliminate undo stress.

Beyond Average: Proven Strategies to Elevate Your Writing Career

From Edie: Ready to move beyond ‘average’ as a writer? This post from DiAnn Mills will help you discover 4 practical steps to elevate your career, boost book sales, and aim for bestseller status.

Beyond Average: Proven Strategies to Elevate Your Writing Career

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

While working my first job, a supervisor made a comment that has haunted me over the years. He said, “Average is the best of the worst, and the worst of the best.”

Ouch. Not where I want to be. But friends, we must start somewhere and learn how to work our way up.

Publishers have a few top-selling writers; however, they have far more who sell consistently fewer books. Average writers pay the bills, and bestsellers are the perk. Although it’s nice to be needed, many writers don’t want to be shoved into a category as . . . the best of the worst and the worst of the best.

English is a Linguistic Melting Pot: A Word-Lover’s Guide to Borrowed Beauty

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

When we write in English, we’re borrowing from a vast world of languages. English is a hybrid, shaped over centuries by conquests, trade, exploration, and cultural exchange. This gives writers a palette of amazing and descriptive choices from an array of loanwords. 

English evolved from Old English or Anglo-Saxon roots, but many other words came from French, Latin, Norse, and the other countries that influenced the English language. Fascinating!

What Does Passionate about Your Writing Mean?

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

The writing community is filled with people who are passionate about creating manuscripts that brighten and satisfy a reader’s life. Writers, whose hearts and minds are focused on their calling, have passion for every step in the literary process. These writers are determined to have their work read and appreciated and are unhindered by laboring hours over their craft.

Priorities for Today’s Writer

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Do our priorities stop us from moving forward or do they propel us to success? Writers who juggle life and achieve little success with their commitments and goals often abandon their calling. The answer lies in understanding principles for organizing our lives.

Take inventory of what is important. Christians seek to place God on the top rung. 

Writing Research isn’t for the Fainthearted

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Researching a novel is exciting, fun, educational, unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous. A writer who explores research, explores life—and life is story. Readers deserve an unforgettable adventure that touches hearts and lives.

If a manuscript isn’t accurate, and credible, the reader will recognize the flaw and toss the story aside. We want to be rewarded with good reviews and more readers. 

Harnessing the Power of Smell in Our Writing

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Sensory perception is a powerful tool in our writing, especially the sense of smell. What a character smells can—

• Affect memory
• Impact life experiences
• Form judgments—positive or negative
• Destroy relationships
• Solve problems
• Impact taste

Each literary element can be enhanced with the power of smell. When we overlook this gem, our story lacks an aspect that of what makes us alive.

Writers Can Reduce Stress by Following These 21 Tips

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers are often stalked by a predator called stress. It’s a nasty disorder that can cause headaches, back and body pain, nausea, depression, problems in relationships, and a host of other physical and mental ailments. Not a pleasant malady. 

The causes of stress are as many as how it manifests in our bodies. We get ourselves into an overwhelmed mode with edits, harsh critiques, rejections, writer’s block, looming deadlines, and self-imposed perfection. Who wants to deal with misery if there’s a solution?

These tips to reduce stress may also improve your physical and mental disposition.

How to Create a Powerful Writer’s Quote

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

We’ve all read powerful writer quotes that inspire, encourage, and motivate us to work harder for producing a better manuscript. Those quotes can jolt us from writer’s block, personal setbacks, harsh criticism, self-doubt, and a host of other brick walls that prevent us from writing our best. 

Often, we read a quote about writing and publishing . . . and feel a bit envious. 

Why didn’t I write that quote? It says exactly how I feel. 

Dear friend, you can devise a powerful quote that is uniquely and writerly yours.