This is a Christmas video you absolutely must watch.
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Exclamation Points!!! Avoid or Embrace?!
I love using exclamation points! Don’t you? How about interrobang sentences?! Finally, I think we should bring those back, don’t you?! And not just in dialogue, but in narrative! Finally, shouldn’t readers just really ought to be able to keep up with run-on sentences, no matter how complex, or whether or not they stay on topic, and I wonder how many people could diagram a sentence that’s simple, …
Are Deadlines Killing Your Christmas?
Remember the days when all we had to do at Christmas time was sip hot chocolate, trim the tree, and wrap gifts, all while listening to Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole croon out those wonderful old carols? Yeah, me neither. For so many of us, Christmas has become another item on our To-Do list. One that we keep moving as deadlines grow ever more dire. It’s crazy. This time of year, the time when we …
Christian Criticism
Most agents to the Christian publishing world represent a variety of authors from a wide spectrum of theological thought, so we understandably have a little more forgiving attitude than others about differences between fellow believers. There is one type of book I have always felt uncomfortable representing…one which criticizes a certain theological stand, a particular church group or even a …
We Care, But We Must Choose
If you go through my trash, you might think I’m the world’s worst person. Why? Because my discarded mail might lead a casual observer to think that I don’t care about: The paralyzed. The blind. Amputees. Orphans. Israelites. Health needs overseas. Impoverished people living overseas. People suffering with: Lupus Muscular Dystrophy AIDS Multiple Sclerosis Emphysema Diabetes Heart disease. Cancer …
Christmas in Story
December is here, the time we celebrate the greatest story of all—the advent of a holy baby/Savior. Of course, my favorite version of the Christmas story is found in Scripture, but I love that the spirit of that story can be found in countless venues and styles of story. So I thought I’d share my favorite Christmas books and videos with you fellow storytellers, in case you’re looking for something …
The Send…A Proposal’s Weakest Link
You spend hundreds and hundreds of hours writing and re-writing your book. You work meticulously to craft a proposal for an agent or publisher. You talk to your friends about the big step you are about to take, the step of sending your proposal out. The power of email will carry your message to the world. Then you copy 135 names into the email address field, use a generic greeting and send it out …
Writers Learn to Wait
Good publishing takes time. Time to write well. Time to edit well. Time to find the right agent. Time to find the right publisher. Time to edit again and re-write. Time to design well. Time to market well. While there can be a lot of activity it still feels like “time” is another word for “wait.” No one likes to wait for anything. Our instant society (everything from …
Fun Fridays – December 2, 2016
This is way too much fun. Imagine an entire gymnasium, on its home court, during a college basketball game, being completely silent…until something special happens. Enjoy this ESPN story about a Taylor University tradition.
Protecting Yourself on Social Media
Almost weekly, I receive communication on social media from men who want to flirt. I am not flattered. I have no doubt these men have cast a wide net looking for vulnerable women either to flirt with or to trick into sending them money. Yet some women fall for these “catfish” schemes – smart women who should know better. Here are some tips and tricks to derail them: Be wary of friend requests and …