What My One-Year-Old Can Teach Us Writers

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell 

My little boy celebrated first birthday last month. He’s looking less like a baby and more like a pre-toddler. The crawling and furniture coasting will turn into walking, then running, any day now. 

As I think back over the year, I’m amazed at how quickly time has gone and how much my little guy has grown. In the process, he’s taught me some lessons that apply not only to life, but also to writing as well.

Writing Strong Heroes - 7 Qualities to Include

By Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

Gilbert Blythe. Mr. Knightly. Mr. Darcy. Doc MacNeill.

That is the short list of strong male heroes who wove themselves into my heart as a teenage reader. 

Gilbert Blythe may have called Anne “carrots,” but he did so to get her attention. He was a teasing schoolboy, but he grew to genuinely care about our favorite red-headed heroine.

Mr. Knightly. Where to begin? He was hard on Emma because he loved her, a truth she didn’t realize until much too late.

Mr. Darcy will forever be remembered for his flaw of pride but also for his loyal friendship and generosity that he would never speak of himself.

Doc MacNeill drove me crazy the first time I read Christy, but by the third or fourth reading, he had won me over. He was brave enough to move past his brokenness to love again.

These characters are all different, but they all have one thing in common: They are strong male characters. 

And the world needs more of them. We writers must write them.

5 Famous Quotes about Mothers that Should Inspire Writers

By Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

May brings more than rain showers and spring flowers. It brings the reminder to celebrate and thank our mothers. Beyond a day of gratitude, Mother’s Day should challenge us to sit at the feet of the wonderful women who have taught us so much—and still have so much to teach us.

As writers, we have much to learn from our mothers.

Writing in Obedience When God Says, Again

By Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

The email finally came with the editor’s response to your proposal, and the answer was no. The finalists were announced, and your name wasn’t included.

No matter how long we’ve been writing, none of us is immune to disappointment. Sometimes, it feels as if our hard work gets swept under the rug, and someone stamps “start over” on our foreheads. We feel as if our good still isn’t good enough.

How to Write in Busy Life Seasons

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

How do you write in busy life seasons? This is a question I’ve asked myself. My baby boy will be seven months old when you read this post, and being his mama is one of my life’s biggest joys. Finding time to write in this season is one of my biggest challenges.

Have I arrived at the answer? No. However, I’ve learned a few lessons during the past months that I hope may encourage other writers who find themselves in busy seasons as well.

10 Things Every Author Needs to Make a Book Signing Great

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Last month, my church invited all the authors in the congregation to an “author tables” event in our fellowship area after services. Prior to my new release a few months ago, my previous book released in 2019. Needless to say, I had to brush up on my book signing preparations. If you’re anticipating an event, perhaps this list of essentials will be helpful for your next book signing.

How to Choose Your Best Writing Yes in the New Year

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

A few years ago, I read The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst, and if you’re looking for a New Year’s read, this one is worth adding to the list (or reading again). My takeaway was that in order to give my best yes, I must also be willing to say no to other good things.

Right now, many people have pledged themselves to resolutions, but the truth is, we must first evaluate our current commitments before we can take on anything else in the year ahead. As writers, this exercise is essential to maximize our potential and prevent burnout.

Why Writers Should Celebrate the Pursuit and NOT Just the Product

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

We live in a consumer-driven world that revolves around results. That’s no news to any of us. However, as writers, we miss out on opportunities to celebrate when we focus only on the final product of our work.

3 Reasons to Retire the Worried Writer Inside You

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Worry. It’s one of Scripture’s “do nots” that we writers sometimes shrug off. I mean, compared to other sins, it seems pretty tame.

But today, I want to talk about why we need to retire the worried writer. And by worried writer, I mean you and me. 

Advice from Industry Experts on Street Teams

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Authors depend on street teams or launch teams to help spread the word about their books, but if you’ve been on some of these teams before, you already know how different they can be in structure and expectations. 

As I’ve discovered, there is no one right or wrong way to run a street team. However, at this year’s Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference, I asked several best-selling authors if they would share their advice on street teams, and I’ve compiled some of their tips here today.

How to Manage the Waiting Part Our Writing Journey

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

As I’m writing this post, I’m eight months pregnant. Our active little boy is transforming my belly into a wave pool, and I’m gingerly massaging his foot to encourage him to stop poking my ribs.

This miracle of life is due shortly after you’ll be reading these words. He is an answer to my husband’s and my prayers, and it’s been a journey to get to this place. Our son is a beautiful example of the truth that good things take time, and that timing is something God controls, not us.

The same can often be said about our writing journeys. We might feel “ready” to pitch that project or receive that long-sought contract, but instead, maybe an editor or agent tells us our proposal isn’t ready or the dreaded rejection email lands in our inbox instead.

Listening as a Proofreading Tool for Writers

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Our mothers told us that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. But have we ever considered the value that listening can offer for proofreading our manuscripts?

That’s right, proofreading. Although we’re not strangers to audio books and immersive reading, I’d like to share a personal story that showed me the benefit of incorporating listening as a proofreading activity.

Why Writers Can’t Rush Ripeness

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Here in Florida, blueberry season recently ended. However, opening week back in April was something I anticipated, because my husband and I had made plans to drive up to my parents’ place and pick at the farm down the road from them. 

Though we left opening weekend with a good haul, several rows of bushes weren’t ready yet. Their berries were green or a queasy shade of light purple. Tasting one of those berries was a recipe for puckering up!

Those unripe berries reminded me that we can’t rush ripeness—on a berry bush or in our own lives. If you’re feeling impatient today about the progress of your writing or publishing journey, be encouraged that ripeness or completion takes time. 

DIY Resources to Design a Lead Magnet Cover

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

For the last couple of months, we’ve been walking through a series on creating a lead magnet to offer valuable content to our readers. In case you missed the other posts and would like to catch up on the series, click on the different topics by title.

How Writers Can Create a Free Lead Magnet Using Draft2Digital

Edie here, I want to wish Kristen HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today is her birthday, so join me in helping her celebrate 

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Welcome back to our conversation about creating a lead magnet to offer your readers! Remember, a lead magnet is simply a download or product, available for free when someone subscribes to your newsletter. Today, we’re going to look at the service called Draft2Digital, which many indie writers use to publish and sell their books. This same service allows you to create free downloads without the requirement to sell them, which makes it ideal for formatting your lead magnet. 

Update Your Website with These Spring Cleaning Tips

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

Who is ready for spring this month? I live in Florida, and even the Sunshine State has been nippy this winter. 

For many of us, spring cleaning involves purging our homes of the cobwebs, dust, and excess that we don’t want or need. As writers, let’s not forget to do the same for our websites.

What is a Lead Magnet, and How Does a Writer Start One?

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @KHogrefeParnell

One side of our refrigerator is covered with magnets, and most are still holding Christmas photo cards. The magnets reflect places we’ve visited and memories made, while the photos remind us to connect with and pray for our family and
friends. 

In a sense, a lead magnet is similar. It’s a way for readers to connect with you. It’s something you offer for free on your website, and in exchange, readers agree to receive your newsletter. Of course, they can unsubscribe any time, but if you offer a valuable lead magnet and a consistently engaging newsletter, the odds are that they will stick around.

5 Biblical Resolutions for Writers

By Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

Happy New Year, fellow writers! This time of year, people tend to set resolutions, though many of them have a self-centered focus. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be healthier and to reach goals, but we can sometimes miss the big picture. Today, let’s take a biblical perspective that I hope will encourage you in your calling as a writer.

5 Safety Tips to Prevent Writer Burnout this Christmas

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

Artificial or real tree? It’s one of the many choices we have during the “most wonderful time of the year.” I’ve been in both camps, and while most of us focus on the beautiful decorations, we can’t ignore the potential fire hazards our trees present. 

The holidays present a related hazard for writers: burnout. Let’s walk through a checklist for Christmas tree safety that also applies to writers, and learn how to enjoy the holidays without going up in smoke.

How Studying Scripture Makes Us Better Writers

by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell @khogrefeparnell

Spending time in God’s Word helps us develop a relationship with God and grow in obedience to His will. But did you know a study of Scripture can also make us better writers?

This truth dawned on me the other day. One of my practices is to read through the Bible each year. Recently, I spent a morning in the gospel of Matthew and the book of Psalms. Matthew was a tax-collector-turned-disciple who experienced God’s power to transform his life. David, who authored many of the Psalms, had a life full of change, victories, and defeats. God used these human authors, and thirty-eight others, to present Scripture’s unified message.