Or is success for a writer a whimsical gift distributed apparently without rhyme or reason by the fairy god-agent-publisher?
What Makes for a Successful Writer?
Recent Blog Posts
Spiff Up Our Writing, Part 2
In last week’s blog, Click Here I wrote about some things we can do to spiff up our writing by looking at the words we use. I recommended avoiding boring words and delayed action words. This week, I want to look at what are sometimes called filter words. Words like …
Spiff Up Our Writing
One definition of spiffing up our writing means composing stories that draw the reader into the world we’re creating. How do we do that? We hear about creating interesting characters, writing vivid descriptions, and having plots that can carry the weight of the story. One of the basic tools we …
When You Don’t Think You Have What It Takes
But when we give Jesus our “bread”—our resources no matter what they are or how feeble they seem, he is able to multiply it to provide for others.
The Call to Create
As writers, we create works to inspire others, to encourage others, to give to others, to share Jesus with others. Even when writing seems a drudge, even when we are not inspired or when the muse is silent, we are called to create, to keep writing through the muck.
Discerning Criticism
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.
What Inspires Me?
What inspires the plumber, the carpenter, the lawyer, the teacher, the mechanic, the nurse, the pastor to go to work every day?
You’re Never Too Old
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis As Al Borland used to say on the first Tim Allen show, Home Improvement, “I don’t think so, Tim.” Usually, when Tim was about to blow something up that shouldn’t blow up. …
Beta Readers: Friend or Foe?
Who Are Beta Readers? Who is a beta reader and why should we use them? In a nutshell, a beta reader is someone who reads our manuscript before we send it out to a professional editor or submit to an agent. Their role is to focus on the story itself …
Effective Communication…
Sometimes, choosing to ignore the parts we don’t like can be a good communication strategy.