Writing Rejection Doesn’t Define Who We Are

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Rejection does not define who we are unless we let it. (Rene Gutteridge)

Rene Gutteridge is one of the major influencers in my writing life. From a critique at one of my first writers’ conferences to her teaching at conferences to her own novels and her blogs and articles on the craft, I have learned from her.

Tips for Facing the Challenges of the Writer’s Life

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

A writer’s life doesn’t fit the 9-5 mold of most of the working world. Challenges smack us in the face, and we must be ready to evaluate what we are doing right and what we are doing not-so-right. Sometimes we need to evaluate our habits and if necessary make changes that will help us be successful in our writing career. 

Dipping the Quill Deeper—The Value of a Critique Group

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

In March 1997, five Christian writers gathered around a table in Longwood, Florida with one goal in mind: to become better writers. We wanted to be the iron that sharpened iron by use of honest critique that included “what works” as well as “what needs to be improved upon.”

When Do You Let Go of a Piece of Writing?

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

Stalled. Going nowhere. Can’t think of a way out. Nothing works. 

It happens to nearly every writer at some point. It’s happened to me before, but for a different reason. All I needed then was a brainstorming session with a crit partner, a little plotting, and I was off again, racing to the end. 

Bank on It

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

It’s getting embarrassing. I am embarrassingly dependent on my debit card. 

One day not too long ago I couldn’t find it. I looked everywhere all afternoon. Even by the next morning, still no trace. I searched high and low, near and far. I even searched under the sofa cushions. I have to be desperate to do that because it’s scary under there. I found 37 cents, three marbles, a T shirt (how had we ignored that lump?), seven M&M’s, a screwdriver, my favorite sunglasses, and the TV remote (hey, we’d been looking for that thing). But no card.

Selling Books from the Platform (without selling)

by Cathy Fyock @CathyFyock

You’re speaking at a conference or seminar. You’d like to sell your books. But you also know that the event planner has strict rules about not selling from the platform. 

How can you sell books without selling books?

Four Reasons Why You Need a Writing Critique Partner

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

Writers hear all the time that the life we’ve chosen (or the life that chose us) is a solitary one. After all, it’s hard to listen to the internal dialogue of our imaginary characters if the external dialogue of real-life characters drowns it out. The two-ears-one-brain thing has always made it impossible for me to write in noisy places filled with people – especially people who want to talk to me. So my best, most-productive writing usually happens when I’m alone.