Today’s video is a dad, Ben Moseley, singing to his newborn daughter. Too precious for words.
Archives for 2019
It’s All About the Plot
Last week we discussed characters portrayed in a sympathetic light. Another type of plot relies less on the character being sympathetic, but the reader is engaged because the plot itself is intriguing enough to keep reading. For instance, books can: Solve a murder. Some authors make plenty of money with a series following a detective’s career as he or she solves crime after crime after crime. Some …
A Writer’s Evening Prayer
A Writer’s Evening Prayer (based on “An Evening Prayer” by C. Maud Battersby) __________ If I have failed to heed your voice today, If I have driven any of your thoughts away, If I have written my own willful way: Dear Lord, forgive! If I have written idle words or vain, If I have worked for earthly gain, If my words should bring one soul pain, Dear Lord, forgive! If I …
046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
Literary agents: what are they? What do they do? Do you even need one? And how do you get one? Joining us today to talk about this is a thirty-year veteran of Christian publishing. He has been a writer, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and author of fifty books, both fiction and non-fiction. He is also a literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency and an interesting …
046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
You can listen to this episode 046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler on Christian Publishing Show.
Down Under
By the time this blog is posted I should be nearing home after spending the weekend with a wonderful group of Australian and New Zealand writers at a retreat center in Mulgoa, Australia (approximately an hour’s drive west of Sydney) for The Omega Christian Writers Conference. I had the privilege of giving six hours of presentations, taking a number of appointments, and just enjoying their …
Fun Fridays – October 11, 2019
Today’s video is an inspiration. There is creativity inside us all because we are made in the image of God. Watch and be inspired to persevere in your craft. Thanks to Barbara Diggs for suggesting today’s Fun Friday!
Writing Sympathetic Characters
Have you ever stopped reading a novel because you didn’t like or weren’t interested in the characters or you couldn’t muster enough caring about them to stick with them for 300 pages? Here are a few tips to try to keep this reaction from happening to your readers: 1. Portray your character as a true victim. Do use caution, so you don’t venture into melodrama. People like rooting for the underdog, …
Still More Carrots and Sticks
Several weeks ago, I posted some of the responses I received from some of my favorite writers (who are also clients) to the question, “Do you motivate yourself to write with a ‘carrot’ (reward) or a ‘stick?’” I was fascinated by the volume and variety of the responses, the last of which I relay below. I hope you find them as enlightening and encouraging as I do. “When I’m facing a deadline, …
045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
Today we are going to talk about design. This is an important topic and not one many people in the publishing industry have formal training in. Just like everyone thinks they can write a book, everyone thinks they understand design. Ignorance of the complexities of a profession is not a suitable replacement for mastering those complexities. But, before we can talk about good and bad design, we …