Stupid Things People Say to Writers (and how we'd like to respond)

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Below is my list of comments I’ve received over the past years since I’ve admitted to being a writer. 

In the parenthesis after each comment is what I wish I could have said. 

I’m happy to report I’ve not given in to the temptation…yet.

What NOT To Do When Submitting to An Agent

by Tessa Emily Hall @TessaEmilyHall

I’ve worked at Hartline Literary Agency for a little over a year now—first as an intern for Cyle Young, then I began to work with him as a Jr. Agent. Learning about this side of the industry has been enlightening, to say the least. Although I’m primarily a writer at heart, the publishing process is fascinating to me as well. It’s thrilling to witness the multiple stages that a book undertakes along its path to publication.

My favorite part of this business, however, is helping other writers further their career and potentially play a role in the unfolding of their dreams.

Writers Change Lives

by Bruce Brady 
@BDBrady007

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words. Proverbs 15:28 (NLT) 

What an awesome opportunity and responsibility!

The fact that God spoke the entire universe into existence is proof words are powerful.

3 Ways Writing Is a Lot like Flying

by Lori Hatcher 
@LoriHatcher2

Somewhere between Lexington, South Carolina and Rota, Spain, I realized that writing is a lot like flying. Luggage, boarding passes, and four-ounce. TSA approved bottles of essential liquids aside, I’d like to share three similarities.

The Question of Becoming a Hybrid Author

by Lynette Eason @LynetteEason

Indie, traditional, or hybrid? That is the question…

…a lot of writer ask themselves.

I’ve been published traditionally for the past ten years and I absolutely love that fact. 

One Writer’s Love Affair with Telling Stories

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

Once upon a time, in a life long, long ago, there was a young boy who fell in love with stories. He longed for the times he could grab a book or turn on the TV to lose himself in an adventure or fantasy that not only entertained, but also taught him important life lessons.

Growing up with Disney, he learned from Cinderella you can rise above your circumstances. Pinocchio taught him to trust the Father’s love and always tell the truth, no matter the consequences. He learned from Snow White there are kind-hearted who will help in his times of need. And the Absent Minded Professor encouraged him to never stop dreaming. And that it’s okay to be a little different.

I Think I Can! I Think I Can! The Role of Self-Efficacy in Writing Your Book

Edie here. Today I'm super excited to have blogger Cathy Fyock as a guest today. She has a new book coming out, Blog to Book, that you'll definitely want to check out!

by Cathy Fyock @CathyFyock

“I think I can! I think I can!” said The Little Engine That Could. The Little Engine believed that she could do it—that she had the smarts to figure it out and the persistence to keep at it. She had a quality that social cognitive theorists call self-efficacy, and it’s the same trait that enables us to achieve our big goals—like writing our books.

Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments wrote Albert Bandura in his 1977, 1986, and 1997 research findings. It’s the confidence we need in our abilities to be able to exert control over our motivations, behaviors, and social environments.

Idea Starters for Writers—January Calendar Days

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It's that time again—Calendar Days. I sure hope you all are enjoying this column as much as me.

Are you looking for a unique article idea to pitch to a magazine? What about a different blog post or a social media update that gets everyone's attention? Today may be just what you're looking for—it’s time again for Calendar Days. These aren't just fun to read. 

They’re also a great way to jumpstart our creativity and a fun writing prompt idea.

The Twelve Days of Christmas for Writers

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

Do you ever struggle to find something new to write about?

I’m a writer, speaker, editor, and blogger, and finding new material is a constant challenge for me. Satisfying the voracious appetite of my blog often reminds me of how difficult it was to keep a household of teenagers fed. Add to that the need for clever ideas for magazine articles, women’s ministry programs, and writers conference workshops, and my creative pantry sometimes feels like Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.

Tested By Praise

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.” Proverbs 27:21 (NLT)

Okay, I thought, when I recently read this Scripture. That’s interesting. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this passage but I can tell you this was the first time I stopped and thought about it.

I like praise. Doesn’t everyone? It’s something we’ve earned, right? Shouldn’t we enjoy it? So why are we tested by it?

How the Writer Fits into the Christmas Story

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

None of our names are found in Matthew 1 or Luke 2 in which the story of Jesus’ birth is told. (Unless your name is Mary or Joseph.) 

But have you considered that we have something in common with angels and shepherds if we know Jesus? We are heralds.

Writers & Word Count - A Love/Hate Relationship

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Sometimes our lives seem governed by word count.

As working writers, our lives sometimes seem governed by word count. We use these numbers to set goals, define projects and sometimes even determine our victories. But it’s important to also view these numbers as a guide to show us how far we’ve come.

I remember in high school—the anguish I felt when an English teacher assigned a 500-word essay. Pulling together that many words in an original sequence seemed an almost impossible task. I spent hours looking for places to add the words that, the, and of course and. Of course back then, essays were written long-hand. No quick check in MS Word or an easy way to add in extras here and there.

Creating Life-like Characters

by Kathy Neely 

If you’re a writer, you are familiar with the story elements that keep readers turning the pages. 

Characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution. You can simplify or expand the list, but the building blocks are basically the same. 

While none can survive exclusive of the others, there’s something crucial about creating life-like characters. Your readers need to love them, hate them, and think about them when they close the book. No matte` how gripping the plot, it’s nothing if readers don’t relate to your characters.

When Writing Isn’t Easy

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation (1 Peter 5:10 NLT).

Many of you know I’m dealing with the ups and downs of cancer. As always, God allows me to suffer for a while, then steps in to comfort me and show me how my suffering can be used to help others.

Top 3 Black Friday Finds for Writers

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

“Since 1932,” Wikipedia tells us, “Black Friday has been regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the U.S., and most major retailers open very early (and more recently during overnight hours) and offer promotional sales.”

Tips to Add Depth to Your Writing Through Color

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers are always looking for ways to deepen their writing. That’s who we are and what we do.

We explore the psychology of our characters to add tension and conflict to our projects.

We twist our plots and add dimension to narrative and setting.

When writers use color to establish emotion, the reader is able to experience the actions and reactions on a higher level. Emotions become vivid, and symbolism weaves into the storyline.

When You Write, Don’t Forget Rover & Whiskers

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

As people, we have long been influenced by the pets in our lives.

My husband and I rescued our first cat in 1981 when “Ke Ke” showed up at our back door on a rainy night. I fed her … I didn’t know better … and thus we found ourselves owned by a cat. For a LOT of years. We rescued our first dog in 1990 when our oldest daughter took a summer “job” at the local shelter. “Come look, come look,” she said to her father when he went to pick her up on her first day. He looked. I looked. We “bought.” We had Aimee for nearly 17 years. Then there was Oreo … and Hope and Angel … and Poods. Pets have been a part of our day to day existence for 35 years. We have albums of photos to prove it. And these bits of fluff and fur are as much a part of our family as the kids and grandkids.

It's Okay to Take Time to Flex Your Writing Wings Before You Fly

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

A lot of newer writers I meet find themselves overwhelmed with the myriad of opportunities in the field of writing. They struggle, trying to decide between writing articles, devotions, fiction, non-fiction, etc. Writing is a big field, and if you didn’t study some aspect of it in college, the choices can be daunting.

My suggestion—take a deep breath—you don’t have to start out with a specialty. As a matter of fact, until you’ve tried several different types of projects, you probably shouldn’t limit yourself too much. Even those of us with formal training find ourselves morphing into a different kind of writer than we envisioned at the start of our career.

Let Your Writing Wounds Lead to Wisdom

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

We writers wear our hearts on their sleeves, metaphorically speaking. 

We pour our inner selves out on the page, drawing on the highs and lows of life to interpret the world through words. 

This is an exhilarating journey. The highs are incredible, and the lows…well…they’re tough. 

If we don’t take time to process the difficult experiences, those writing wounds can leave disfiguring scars. But when we do evaluate what’s happened, there is wisdom to be found in those writing wounds.