The Writing Life
It May Not Be As Bad As You Think
In the early morning hours, in a hotel, I was preparing to be on faculty at an important conference when I discovered that an elf had snuck into my makeup bag and stolen my Lancôme foundation. For those who don’t wear cosmetics, foundation is a substance that takes your skin from “ready to read a book in the privacy of your home” to “ready to appear before important people” within moments. Because …
Show, Don’t Tell With Tim Shoemaker
If there is one guiding light in excellent writing, the one thing almost everyone agrees on, is “show, don’t tell.” Telling is one of the most-common mistakes new authors make and one of the biggest reasons their manuscripts get rejected. It is also one of the biggest reasons readers give up on a book. If you stopped reading a book because it failed to hold your interest, there is a chance the …
Show, Don’t Tell With Tim Shoemaker
If there is one guiding light in excellent writing, the one thing almost everyone agrees on, is “show, don’t tell.” Telling is one of the most-common mistakes new authors make and one of the biggest reasons their manuscripts get rejected. It is also one of the biggest reasons readers give up on a book. If […]
You can listen to this episode Show, Don’t Tell With Tim Shoemaker on Christian …
Character vs. Plot With DiAnn Mills
Some novelists see themselves as character-first writers. Others start with the plot. Which is better? Does it depend on the genre? Could you be making a mistake that is crippling your writing? Our guest today will help us answer these questions and more. She is a bestselling author who has won two Christy Awards and been a finalist for the RITA, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol Award …
Character vs. Plot With DiAnn Mills
Some novelists see themselves as character-first writers. Others start with the plot. Which is better? Does it depend on the genre? Could you be making a mistake that is crippling your writing? Our guest today will help us answer these questions and more. She is a bestselling author who has won two Christy Awards and […]
You can listen to this episode Character vs. Plot With DiAnn Mills on …
Responding to Criticism
When someone tells me she’s not sure she wants me to read her manuscript, I know she’s not ready for publication. Such sentiment shows a lack of confidence and a fear of both rejection and criticism. Even though readers usually treat writers with respect, a critical word can puncture the heart.
Imagine the wounds delivered on Internet sites such as Amazon from readers who lack that respect. A …
The Industry Changes but Seems Unchanged
I recently came across an article I had saved from 2004 predicting “Book Trends 2005” by Sally E. Stuart in an issue of Advanced Christian Writer newsletter. Reading through the article makes one realize how different things are but also how much they are still the same! Isn’t that a paradox? To rattle your brain a little, when that article was published, Google was only six …
Multigenre Writing: Good or Bad Idea?
One of this blog’s readers recently directed the following question to me: You’ve been a successful writer in several genres. Is that possible for someone starting out today? I could debate the accuracy of the adjective “successful,” but I’ll let that slip for now. It’s true that I have written and published books in a variety of genres (I was a writer long before becoming an agent and …
How to Overcome Book Marketing & Money Challenges With Chautona Havig
It is possible to make a full-time living as a writer. One way to do so is to write one book that sells like crazy. Another way is to write a bunch of books. Our guest today makes a full-time living with her writing. She has written over 70 books. Whether offering a critique of a writing sample, helping with formatting, helping with marketing efforts, or redesigning an ineffective book cover, our …