Dipping the Quill Deeper: Finding the Path the Light Shines Upon

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

Send forth your light and your truth, David wrote in the 43rd psalm, so they may guide me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain and to your dwelling places (ISV).

I could spend hours—literally hours—digging into the Holy Writ. With each line of verse, I stop to peer into the original text. What Hebrew or Greek or Aramaic word was used here? What do those particular words mean? How are they applied to the text? What was going on when the words were originally penned or penned about? 

A Writer's Biggest Fan

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I never dreamed that we would be one of “those” families—the kind whose kids have sports almost every night of the week. But then I had boys and they turned into ballplayers. Flag football, basketball, baseball. They can’t get enough.

The Most Important POV for a Writer

by Joshua J. Master @JoshuaJMasters

Although I have a Christian Fantasy novel buried in the depth of my imagination, crying out from the dungeon of my mind to take flight on wings of dragons, I’m primarily a nonfiction writer. So, I struggled with learning point of view (POV) writing, especially deep POV. 

Why Writers Can’t Ignore the World Around Them

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Many writers are introverts and prefer to ignore the world around them. Writers genuinely care about others but working in cave mode keeps them on task. A quiet place with a laptop is much more appealing than noisy crowds. I understand the writing preference because many times I’m right there with you. While working independently is admirable, there’s a flip side to a writer’s life that we should all take heed.

Dipping the Quill Deeper – Writing About Sin in a Way that Honors God

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

There is a story in the Bible—a shocking one—about a king standing on the roof of the palace. He sees a woman taking a bath—a purification bath, to be more specific—on the roof of another building. He has a desire for her. He asks about her, learns she is married, but he sends for her anyway. They “lay” together, and, in that life-altering night, they create a child. This leads to the murder of the woman’s husband, the marriage of our two key players, and the death of the baby they conceived. 

Facing Writing Non-Productivity Without the Guilt

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

We’ve experienced almost two months of lock down—government mandated boundaries that includes staying at home except for securing necessities. Since I wander around my house and garden alone these days, my thoughts and imaginations often suddenly explode like fireworks on the fourth of July. They come out of nowhere with uncanny clarity. The memories take on new life when looking back from the pivotal point of living in a pandemic with an unseen enemy.

A Prayer for Writers

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

As writers who are Believers in Christ, we should be praying for our writing. That sounds very simplistic, but am I the only one that often forgets to cover my writing in prayer before I get into a writing jam?

Make a Difference with Writing—Keep Your Light Shining

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

The light in the sanctuary grew steadily in the silence. Adults and children alike handled their stewardship with care—to keep the light shining. A sacred tradition, candlelight passed from person to person in the Christmas Eve service that I watched online. Once every candle was lit, the pastor, Dr. David Jeremiah, stood at the front and led everyone in a simple but poignant song for the moment—“This Little Light of Mine.” 

Adorning the Dark—A MUST Read for Every Writer

by Lynn H Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I’ve been reviewing books on The Write Conversation for a long time, and I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but here goes:

Everyone needs to read Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson. 

If you don’t already know, Andrew Peterson is a songwriter and novelist (and a lot of other things) and Adorning the Dark is part memoir, part encouragement, part writing advice, and part exploration into what it means to do creative work that will “adorn the dark with the light of Christ.”

The Good Word—For Writers & For the Rest of Us

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

Father of seven and author of the bestselling series Dragons in our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, The Reapers Trilogy, Echoes from the Edge, and Dragons of Starlight, Bryan Davis received memorable advice at the beginning of his writing career.

20/20 Vision for Writing in the New Year

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

I don’t really like making resolutions, because then I’m disappointed in myself when I forego them even before the calendar flips to the second month of the year. But I do like to set goals and daydream about my writing year ahead. 

This year, with the uniqueness of a new decade and a few memes already floating around about “the year of perfect vision” – I decided to peruse God’s word for scriptures about “eyes” and “sight.” I examined the verses to see what insightI could glean about my writing. (Yeah, I went there … but now that that’s over, I’ll try not to make a spectacle of myself and just focus on the vision.)

Writers as Harvesters of Righteousness

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

When I hear the word harvest, I immediately think of gathering something. In my mind, I see the farmers gathering up the fruits of their labor that have ripened. During this time of year near where I used to live in Ohio, farmers have gathered their grain to store up for the winter to come. The corn is in the silo, ready to feed the animals through the long cold season.

The Blessing that Changed My Writing Career

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

Billy Graham once said that when we get to heaven, we are going to discover a whole barn full of blessings and answered prayers we never dared seek.

But I don’t want to miss out on any good thing God has for me—so I keep asking and praying. Who can I bless today?

Twenty years ago I found myself struggling over whether or not to keep writing. “No one will miss this book if I never write it . . . ” I muttered under my breath.

Battling a Spiritual Enemy When We Write

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

He doesn’t like it when we sit down to write. Our spiritual enemy’s mission to hurt God’s children and keep hearts blinded to the truth, is thwarted when we write for God. We may grow weary with writing and rewriting, but what we’re really doing is preparing for battle. 

Learning Obedience

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

He who is faithful in very little is faithful also in much... Luke 16:10

When I was young all I wanted to be was a writer. As a matter of fact, I actually wrote my first novel in eighth grade…long hand, with a purple ink pen. But through the years, my dream of writing drifted farther and farther from the realm of reasonable possibilities, until I finally I gave up.

The Hidden Connection Between Writer and Reader

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

Squeals erupted in the backyard. Lucy Shepherd took another sip of hot chocolate, and swiveled her computer chair to look out the window of her study.

“I should be out there with them,” she mumbled, “not stuck in here in front of this computer screen.”

Falling leaves encircled her two redheaded girls as they ran through a pile of leaves they had created. Pure joy. No worries. No deadlines. No blog posts. Lucy began her pity party chant.

Let My Words Be Few

by Heather Iseminger @Hiseminger

I can’t remember a time when my pencil didn’t scratch across paper or my fingers didn’t tap, tap, tap on a keyboard.

Writing is part of the air that fills my lungs and allows me to breathe. Crafting sentences into ideas is the way I express my most authentic self. I’m sure you can relate.

So what happens when God whispers, stop?

Lessons for the Writer from Michelangelo

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

When I first saw Michelangelo’s Pieta at the Vatican in Rome, I was filled with awe at the beauty and perfection of the marble image of the mother of our Lord holding the body of Christ just after his crucifixion. Michelangelo claimed that the block of Carrara marble he used to create this magnificent piece was the most perfect block he’d ever used. He would polish and refine this piece more than any other sculpture he created. When the artist’s work was complete, the clothing of the two figures looked less like stone and more like actual cloth because of natural-looking folds, curves, and deep recesses.

Focusing on God so Our Colors Shine Through

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson Instagram: @Stop2Pray

It's not the size of our trials, but the size of our God that affects whether or not our colors shine through

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the cool, crisp days that bring relief from summer’s heat. But most of all, I love the beautiful colors adorning the trees in our Blue Ridge Mountains. My husband and I get great joy from driving through the mountains to see the changing leaves. It always amazes me how vibrant the colors are and, until recently. I took that beauty for granted. 

Tell Your Story

by Andy Lee 
@WordsByAndyLee

She’s been misunderstood for centuries. Thought to be a loose woman. Divorced. Living with a man not her husband. Why in the world would Jesus plan to meet a woman like her at the well that day? Surely he knew who he was asking for water.