Frequently, when speaking with readers and other writers, the subject of theme or message comes up. What is the message of the story? What themes run through the story? What does the story say about the human condition? Themes are not always blatant or obvious. If they are, it may …
Recent Blog Posts
heroes
Love and the Author
Over the weekend, I was meditating on the love scripture in 1st Corinthians 13 and comparing it to what an author does. We profess to love our characters but… Love is patient. The author is not patient with his characters. He moves them quickly from one crisis to another. He …
Why Do I Read Fiction?
Rachelle Gardner posed this question back on her blog back in August. Only she called it Fiction Readers Are Better People. When I was young, very young, I read fiction to escape to other worlds. I gobbled up the Hardy Boys and Chip Hilton stories. Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke …
My Example of Dedication and Perseverance
In this writing journey, I’ve been blessed with some wonderful writing friends and partners. They’ve helped me grow and I’d like to think I’ve helped them. And a few have been an inspiration for me. One in particular. I’ve watched this young woman, Amelia Grimstad, over several …
What Are These Characters Up To?
I find myself in a bit of a transition in my writing right now. A few months ago, my weekly writing group challenged me to write a fantasy novel. (I love you, Solitary Scribes.) When I told my agent, she said I’d have to come up with a pen name …
How Autobiographical Are Your Stories?
Are my stories autobiographical? I’ve been asked this question on several occasions. For many authors, their stories, especially their first ones, are autobiographical. So I pondered this question and compared myself to the hero of my first novel, Michael Archer. Michael used to drink, so we have that in common. …
Who Are Your Faith Heroes?
Did you ever wonder about certain people in the Bible? Recently, I found myself pondering Jairus in Luke 8:40-56. I am not a theologian or deep-thinking biblical scholar. I’m simply sharing what came to mind while meditating on this scripture: Jairus is a man of strong faith. Think about it. …