I have lived in Phoenix for 50 years. Winter has beautiful weather and brings visitors from the frozen north. But, as this weatherman discovered, sometimes it can get a little toasty in the desert. His reaction is priceless.
What Entered the Public Domain in 2026?
I try to post something about this topic every year. This year is no exception. In the United States, under U.S. copyright law, works published in 1930 and earlier are now in the public domain. One can publish them or use them without securing copyright permission. In case you are wondering about the specifics, the Copyright Term Extension Act (passed in 1998) gave works published from 1923 …
Fun Fridays – January 23, 2026
The picture below made me start playing a word game in my mind. What words can be created by adding new letters? Some possible answers are beneath the photo. But before you look, play the game yourself! Then the thought dawned on me that each answer to the puzzle creates a story, in and of itself. The potential for a short story of your own is ripe for creation. See my 300-word attempt below. If …
Bring the Books (What Steve Laube Is Looking For)
(Updated 1/19/2026) “Bring the books, especially the parchments,” is a sentence in 2 Timothy 4:13 that has teased readers for 2,000 years. What books did the Apostle Paul want to read while waiting for trial? Theology? History? How-to? (Maybe a little escape reading? Pun intended.) Another writer chimed in a while ago by saying, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). And if …
Fun Fridays – January 16, 2026
Does today’s video reflect the saying “You must sing for your supper”? What does that mean anyway? Does it suggest that only vocalists will be fed and writers will starve? Enjoy! (If you cannot view the video in your email newsletter, please click through to the website and enjoy it there.)
A Year in Review: A Look Back at 2025
I always find it instructive to look back at the prior year. So many things are the same in the industry, and yet changes are still constant. The world, reveling in darkness and debauchery, continues to try to throw its shade over the glory of God, thinking they can somehow smother, suppress, or smash it into oblivion. We know different. The following is my annual attempt to review some things in …
Taking a Break
No new posts for the next two weeks. We are all taking a short break for the holidays. Back in the saddle starting January 12!
Christmas Blessings to Each of You
Thank you for being a loyal reader of our posts. We wouldn’t continue if it weren’t for you! We strive to bring a measure of insight to the conversation about writing, publishing, and all things between. Your feedback is appreciated! May you and yours have a blessed Christmas wherever you are. This will be our last post until January 12, 2026. We shall return with vim, vigor, notions, …
Fun Fridays – December 19, 2025
Sometimes you can take a writing idea and approach it from a different direction, discovering something completely new, yet still familiar. Apply this idea to music. Listen to see how your favorite Christmas carols sound when put in a different key. The video is about five and a half minutes long. [If you cannot view the video in your email newsletter, please click through to the website and enjoy …
The 2026 Christian Writers Market Guide Is Here!
What are your writing plans for 2026? Is there a new publication where you want to send your article or devotion? Is there a conference you’d like to attend, virtually or in person? Do you need a freelance editor or a literary agent for your project? Experience has taught us that things can change suddenly. The publishing industry is no different. Each year, dozens of agents and editors move …