How to Handle Rejection as a Writer Without Giving Up

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin shares how to handle rejection as a writer, overcome discouragement, grow from setbacks, and find the faith and courage to keep writing without giving up.

How to Handle Rejection as a Writer Without Giving Up

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Recently, I received a rejection from an agent. One of those non-specific rejections. You know, the ones that say something like “not a good fit for me.” Something about my writing did not strike the agent as worthy of representation or publication. And it added to a string of rejections—a long, very long, string of rejections. 

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.

When Writing Hurts: How to Keep Writing Through Pain and Struggle

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin shares how to keep writing when painful memories and emotional struggles surface, with practical, faith-filled ways to move forward and find healing.

When Writing Hurts: How to Keep Writing Through Pain and Struggle

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

There are times when writing is hard or at least seems harder than it should be. Ideas don’t come. Or the ideas do come, but the words to flesh them into coherency flutter away like a butterfly in a swift breeze. You reach for the words, and they’re gone.

Then an idea comes, and the words start to flow. And we freeze because the words trigger memories and the memories trigger pain. Pain we thought was healed or resolved or forgotten.

Is It Ever Too Late to Become a Writer? Why Your Best Writing May Still Be Ahead

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin reminds writers it's never too late to become a writer. Discover why age is an advantage, how to pursue your writing dreams, and trust God's timing for your story.

Is It Ever Too Late to Become a Writer? Why Your Best Writing May Still Be Ahead

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

My writing career began in my early forties when I had the brilliant idea I could write a novel. I’ve been a reader all my life. I think I was born reading a Batman comic book. I remember thinking, how hard could writing be? You just put one word after another, right?

So, I dabbled, as I call it, for about 10 years. I rewrote the first chapter probably 15 times. 

Does Your Character's Voice Change? How Dialogue Reveals Personality, Growth, and Conflict

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin answers the question, "Does your character sound the same in every scene?" Learn how changing dialogue based on relationships, conflict, and circumstance creates believable characters.

Does Your Character's Voice Change? How Dialogue Reveals Personality, Growth, and Conflict

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

While preparing a class on dialogue recently, I came across a concept I hadn’t noticed or considered before: our character’s voice may change based on the situation they’re in. 

Consider our own daily lives and the various situations we find ourselves in. If we have a day job, we speak in a different manner to our boss than we do our co-workers. If we’re in customer service, we often react differently with different customers. Some we can be playful and joke with. Others are strictly business and we maintain the professional decorum they demand, even if only non-verbally.

Take the Risk—Write the Story: Overcoming Fear and Rejection as a Writer

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin know writing takes courage. He shares how writers can overcome fear, rejection, critique, and self-doubt to grow in their craft and confidently tell the stories they were meant to write.

Take the Risk—Write the Story: Overcoming Fear and Rejection as a Writer

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Writing is risky. And not just in the sense of facing physical danger. Although I’m sure many writers did face physical danger at one time that stimulated or inspired them to write their story.

Am I Writing for God or for People? Finding the Right Motivation as a Christian Writer

From Edie: Are you writing for God or for people? Discover how to realign your motivation, overcome creative struggle, and write with purpose as a Christian writer.

Am I Writing for God or for People? Finding the Right Motivation as a Christian Writer

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23 NLT.

Not too long ago, I had a tough time with a story. When I finally went to God about it—I stress finally because I would have avoided a whole lot of pain if I’d gone to him before I even started. I ended up tossing that completed manuscript.

My problems happened because I didn’t follow Colossians 3:23. I wasn’t writing for the Lord; I was writing for people. In reality, I was writing to make myself noticed. See how clever I am. See how creative I am. Aren’t these characters outstanding? Don’t these plot twists blow your mind?

How to Raise Stakes in Your Story: Why Your Hero Must Face Death (and Why It Matters)

From Edie: Learn how to raise stakes in your story by making your hero face physical, emotional, or spiritual death. Discover powerful techniques to build tension, deepen conflict, and keep readers fully engaged.

How to Raise Stakes in Your Story: Why Your Hero Must Face Death (and Why It Matters)

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Today I want to discuss how to add more depth and suspense to our stories. It doesn’t matter what genre you write; this title question applies to all of them.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Part 4: Final Revisions and Beta Reader Feedback

From Edie: Learn how to revise your final draft using beta reader feedback. Discover practical self-editing tips to strengthen your manuscript before submission or self-publishing.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Part 4: Final Revisions and Beta Reader Feedback

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

We covered a lot of territory over the last few months. Now, we’re coming toward the end of preparing our manuscript for submission or self-publishing.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Part 3: Using Beta Readers in the Self-Editing Process

From Edie: Beta readers can strengthen your second draft. Discover how to find the right readers and get focused feedback on plot, pacing, and characters.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Part 3: Using Beta Readers in the Self-Editing Process

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

So far we’ve discussed several areas in the art of self-editing our work (all posts are linked at the end).

In the first post we covered letting our completed first draft cool off before revising and then reading a printed version of our manuscript.

In the second post, we discussed the value of having our computer read our work to us and starting our second draft.

In today’s post, let’s discuss the idea of using beta readers to assist in our self-editing.

The Complete Guide to Self-editing for Writers Part 2: Practical Tools and Techniques to Strengthen Your Manuscript Before Outside Feedback

From Edie: The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers explores practical tools and techniques to strengthen your manuscript before outside feedback, revision, and professional editing.

The Complete Guide to Self-editing for Writers Part 2: Practical Tools and Techniques to Strengthen Your Manuscript Before Outside Feedback

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Last month, we began exploring the process of self-editing, of getting our writing in the best shape we can before sending it out to a professional editor.

Notice, I didn’t say before submitting it to an agent, a publishing house, or self-publishing it.

There’s an old saying from the judicial system: He who represents himself, has a fool for a client. In the same way he who edits himself alone, while he may not be a fool, is not preparing his work to be the best it could be.

More on this later. Let’s return to the process of self-editing.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers Part 1: How to Strengthen Your Manuscript One Step at a Time

From Edie: Learn the first essential step in effective self-editing: letting your manuscript rest so you can return with clarity, distance, and fresh eyes. In this opening article of The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Henry McLaughlin explains why cooling off your draft—and rereading it in print—helps you spot issues, strengthen your story, and prepare for deeper revisions.

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers Part 1: How to Strengthen Your Manuscript One Step at a Time

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Part of my call as a writer is to help others through coaching, mentoring, teaching, and editing. One thing I’ve learned in my writing and in helping other writers is the vital importance of learning to self-edit. Someone said, and I can’t remember whom, “The heart of writing is re-writing.”

I’m not saying all you have to do is self-edit your work and you’re ready for publication. But, knowing how to self-edit your work effectively goes a long way to getting you there. At some point, you will need to submit your work to an outside editor or go through the editing process with a publishing house. Being able to self-edit helps these next steps go smoothly.

Faith, Risk, and Writing Dreams: How to Trust God with Your Creative Calling

From Edie: Discover how faith, risk, and creativity intersect in the writing life. Learn to trust God with your dreams and step beyond your comfort zone to write boldly.

Faith, Risk, and Writing Dreams: How to Trust God with Your Creative Calling

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

“Dreams always require risk.” Les & Leslie Parrott, Healthy Me, Healthy Us, p.92

Over the course of my writing career, I’ve learned my dreams and passions for writing are always found just outside the boundary of my comfort zone.

I enjoy writing but I often find it a chore to sit myself down, open the laptop, and be creative. The drive just isn’t there. A nap is sending its sweet melodies, beckoning with images of the comfort of the couch, which has somehow been transported to a shade covered beach on Maui. Or a new novel is calling me to start reading it.

When Writing Gets Hard: Quotes, Faith, and God’s Timing to Keep You Moving Forward

From Edie: Discover inspiring writing quotes, faith reminders, and lessons on God’s timing to help you persevere when writing feels hard and discouragement sets in.

When Writing Gets Hard: Quotes, Faith, and God’s Timing to Keep You Moving Forward

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Many of us have writing quotes to inspire or nag us. Or to nudge us to keep writing.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Writing Quotes to Inspire

• “If my family didn’t want me to write about them, they should’ve behaved better.” - Anne Lamott

• “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” - Ray Bradbury

• "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” - Terry Pratchett

• "So, the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads." - Dr. Seuss

• "Tell the readers a story! Because without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences." - Anne McCaffrey

• “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." - Jack London

• "Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good." - William Faulkner

• "Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on." - Louis L’Amour

• "You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page" - Jodi Picoult

I also have quotes that I make up for myself or paraphrase from what I’ve read about the craft. The one I use most frequently comes to mind when I’m frustrated with some aspect of my writing. The story isn’t working as I hoped. The characters are rebelling. Another rejection comes in, or a speaking engagement falls through, or an editing client quits.

At the peak of my bafflement, I’ve looked heavenward and said, “Remember, this was your idea.” I take my discombobulation out on God. It’s a way of saying, “You called me to this, but it isn’t working out the way I thought it would (or should).” And God says…Nothing! Or so it seems.

He knows me all too well. There are times I think he lets me stew in my situation. I’m sure it’s to teach me something. One of the things I’m learning is patience. I’m also learning the more difficult character-building traits of trust and obedience.

If I’m called to be a writer, then I write. If I don’t write, then I’m in disobedience. If I’m not called to be a writer, and I’m writing, then I’m also in rebellion. And he can’t bless disobedience any more than he can bless whining or begging.

It’s when I repent of my disobedience that his blessings can flow, and his plan for me can move forward. And I’m learning it moves forward in his timing, not mine. At the beginning of this year, he gave me specific directions on how he wants me to proceed with my writing over the next few months. Before that morning, it seemed like he’d never heard my prayer. Now, I know differently. He was getting me into a position to listen to him.

I’m doing that now. And trusting his timing.

In his sermon, Learning Hope the Hard way, Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church, said when doing things God’s way seems hard, it’s because, “If it was easy, I’d think I did it myself.” I’d glorify myself instead of God.

When I tell God, “Remember, this was your idea,” his response is, “I know. Are you ready to trust me?” My complaint becomes an inspiration to keep going, knowing his way—even when I can’t fathom it—is so much better than mine. 

And let’s not forget: "Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

Do you have a personal phrase or a favorite quote you use to keep you going?

TWEETABLE

When Writing Gets Hard: Quotes, Faith, and God’s Timing to Keep You Moving Forward from Henry McLaughlin (@RiverBendSagas) on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Henry’s debut novel, Journey to Riverbend, won the 2009 Operation First Novel contest.

Henry edits novels, leads critique groups, and teaches at conferences and workshops. He enjoys mentoring and coaching individual writers. 

Connect with Henry on his BLOG, X (TWITTER) and FACEBOOK.

Why Real Writers Never Stop Learning: 8 Ways to Sharpen Your Craft

Edie here: Real writers never stop improving. Discover 8 practical ways to sharpen your craft, grow as an author, and stay inspired in your writing journey from Henry McLaughlin.

Why Real Writers Never Stop Learning: 8 Ways to Sharpen Your Craft

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

A while back, James Scott Bell posted a blog called Don't Ever Mail It In where he wrote about the attitude that we’ve reached a certain point in our writing where we don’t have to improve.

What struck me most is his definition of a real writer. He’s someone who honors the craft and never settles. 

In this blog, I’m going to expand on a couple of his points.

Where in the World Are We? How to Write an Engaging Story World

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

I think our story world is one of the more subtle areas of writing and one we frequently pay less attention to. We focus on our plot and building our characters but don’t approach the time and place of the story as fervently.

World building is creating the world or setting of our story. Where does the action take place? When does the action take place? One of the early lessons I learned in writing, especially fiction, is to keep the reader anchored in time and place.

Flash Fiction Basics and Example

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Have you ever written flash fiction? It’s a form of short story—a really short story. No more than 1500 words. A complete story in 1500 words or less! Can it be done? There are websites and ezines and contests for them all over the internet. One of the shortest pieces of flash fiction is six words long and attributed to Ernest Hemingway:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Powerfully emotional, right?

I’ve written some pieces of flash fiction. I find Flash Fiction to be a good exercise for exploring my characters. A short piece helps me see some aspect of them I hadn’t noticed before—some part of their personality or backstory that helps me know them better and make them stronger throughout the story. In a short piece, the character may reveal aspects of themselves I hadn’t seen or grasped before.

First Page Critique

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Today, I’m sharing the first page of a story from a brave author, who shall remain anonymous. It’s a story about a soldier returning from Vietnam. My critique follows the original.

The Birth of a Character

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

People have asked where my characters come from. My response frequently is, “I don’t know. He just showed up one day and said he had a story to tell.”

That’s how Michael Archer, the protagonist of my Riverbend series, came to be. 

The first glimmer of book one, Journey to Riverbend, came, like most of my story ideas, from an image. There was a guy standing on a ridge looking into a valley. The sun was setting. He wore a cowboy hat and held the reins to a horse. OK, I thought, it’s a western. I like westerns. Other than that, he was a dark silhouette, a mysterious shadow. 

Dreams and Plans for Writers

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

2025 — A new year. 

A time to reassess and reflect. Did 2024 go the way we wanted? What do we do with this new year opening before us? What goals and resolutions do we set? What are our dreams and plans? How do we envision them happening in 2025?

We all have dreams, and we don’t want to give them up or compromise them. If we’ve been in relationship with God, he has dreams for us. They may be better than what we have in mind. In fact, they are better than anything we could think of.