The forgotten instrument on display. Hilarious!
Enjoy a fun Christmas-season Friday.
Blog
8 Productive Activities for Authors … After Finishing Your Manuscript
So, you’ve just completed your manuscript; and the exhilaration of typing “The End” is still coursing through your veins. But before you dive headfirst into the editing process, why not use this interlude to work on several vital activities that will set the stage for your book’s success? When I finished my first manuscript, the waiting was unbearable. After turning in my …
Are You Sure You Want That Brand?
Several years ago, I spoke with an aspiring Christian author who had several good book ideas on a wide range of projects for children to adults but, first, wanted to write about their lifelong struggle with a certain sin issue. Once it was published, they would move on with their life and be a beacon for biblical truth on all sorts of other projects. My initial reaction when they explained their …
Your Passion Is Good … but Not Enough
Decades ago (yes, I’m old, what of it?), I met with a dynamic African American writer in Columbus, Ohio. He was informed and fired up about how few African American boys and young men were readers. “They don’t read,” he said. “They don’t like to read. They don’t want to read. So, I want to write a book for them—” I stopped him. Politely, I hope. I said something like, “I love your passion, but you …
Writers Learn to Prepare
Preparation is awfully important if you are planning to climb Mt. Everest. If you show up in a T-shirt, shorts, and flip flops, with a sack lunch, it is likely you will perish during the ascent. The same idea applies to the writer. Preparation is one of the keys to success. There Are No Shortcuts Despite numerous methods for efficiency, there is still no shortcut in writing a great book. It is …
Fun Fridays – December 1, 2023
A perfect example of how to write a poignant short story. Chevrolet’s new Christmas video is a wonderful way to start the Advent season.
R Is for Reversion of Rights
You’ve published your book with a publisher. But it has been some time since it was published, and it feels like the publisher is no longer interested in promoting your book. Or the book is “old” enough that the publisher isn’t going to spend new money to sell copies but is simply keeping it available. Or the print edition of the book is no longer available, but it is still …
November 22, 1963
Today marks the sixtieth anniversary of the deaths of three well-known authors: US President John F. Kennedy (he wrote three books before becoming President), C.S. Lewis, and Aldous Huxley. JFK was 46 years old when he was assassinated. In the car driving through Dallas that day, Texas Governor John Connally’s wife turned around and said, “You certainly can’t say that the people of Dallas haven’t …
Cultivating Gratitude, Rest, and Contentment in Writing
As the year draws to a close and the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time for content creators to pause, reflect, and cultivate gratitude. In our fast-paced world, where the demands of content creation often leave us in a constant state of hustle, the joy of gratitude can be easily overlooked. However, taking a moment to be thankful for the connections, opportunities, and …
T Is for Thank You
‘Tis the season in the U.S. to celebrate Thanksgiving and to take a moment to be thankful. Today I would like to thank you. To thank those of you who read our blog regularly either via an email subscription or RSS feed or visiting the site. I am grateful for the time you have invested in reading what we write. Ask any of us, and we will tell you the hours we spend in creating these posts and …