Creativity

A Love Affair with Words

By Karen Ballon January 28, 2015

I love writers. Love how much they love words. Love how they seem to know from the earliest age, that words are more than just letters strung together, they’re…

Power.

Persuasion.

Delight.

Wonder.

Magic.

As I pondered this, I looked back at those early days when I started to discover I was a word person. And I wondered…

When did writing first sing to us? To me? To you? Whose words first stirred us, deep within?

For me, it was:

A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books, read to me by my mom.
The Pink Room. One of the first novels I ever read. I don’t remember the story, haven’t been able to find it anywhere so don’t know the author, but I remember like it was yesterday the impact the story had on me. How it transported me.
C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, read in installments in our Sunday School paper.
The Trixie Beldon series—Go, Bobwhites!
The Miss Bianca series—the actual books, not the Disney incarnations. Trust me, the real Miss Bianca books are NOT Disney. These books showed me how wonderfully awful villains can be, and how truly inspiring reluctant heroes are.

So how about you? What are the books or stories that first breathed the love of words into your soul?

Suspending Disbelief

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 22, 2015

After watching a television series about the life of St. Teresa de Jesus, my husband and I viewed the special bonus about the making of the film, in the early 1980s. One scene showed travelers, using conveyances common to the 16th century, moving toward several parked trucks. Another scene showed vehicles parked behind a village facade. An outtake showed St. Teresa speaking, with a contemporary …

Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Creativity, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Writing Craft

Five Steps to Finding Hot Topics

By Karen Ballon January 21, 2015

Last week we talked about finding things to write about, things that will resonate with our readers, by looking at the people around us. Today I want to share some easy steps you can take to dig deeper into this idea. Step One Start by looking at yourself. Yes, you. Look deep within and ask yourself the following (but give the real answer. This isn’t about looking good, even to yourself. It’s …

Category: Creativity, Get Published, Platform, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Get Published, Topics

But My Book is Unique!

By Dan Balowon January 20, 2015

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Excerpt from author cover letter: (not real) “Dear (Agent or Publisher), The enclosed book proposal contains never-before-seen information to help the most important of all human relationships. It identifies six different kinds of languages of love, combines the findings of extensive studies from all cultures and is endorsed by every important person living within one hundred miles of my home. It …

Category: Book Proposals, Creativity, Get Published, Writing CraftTag: book proposals, Get Published

A Picky Reader

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 11, 2014

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Having a book rejected by an agent or editor is puzzling, especially when the agent or editor have stated they are seeking just what we’re offering. Almost every day, my office must decline books that should be a fit. Usually the reasons are concrete (too long, too short, writing doesn’t sparkle, insufficient platform). But sometimes we’re just picky. I’ve touched on this …

Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Craft, Creativity, Get Published, RejectionTag: Rejection

And the Winner is: Words

By Dan Balowon December 9, 2014

Everyone has a preference as to the type of art and media they consume. Some people like books, others prefer movies, television programs, live theater, music, online content and many simply like a combination of all of the above. Even though our modern society is captivated by “the next big thing” technologically, it is the written word, no matter how it is delivered (printed or on a screen) that …

Category: Art, CreativityTag: Art, Creativity, Written Word

Should I Be Writing This Genre?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 4, 2014

Often I talk with new authors writing in lots of genres. This is fine if it’s part of your personal writing journey and learning process. I want my authors to enjoy what they’re writing. But when you get serious about publication, know when to choose and what to choose. One mistake is to write strictly to market when you don’t like the genre. I love to tell the story of a friend who said she knew …

Category: Career, Craft, Creativity

What’s Your First Line?

By Karen Ballon November 19, 2014

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Listen! Do you hear it? It’s been there all month, echoing in the background. The sound of hundreds of thousands of fingers tap-tap-tapping away. Yes, it’s here again: NaNoWriMo! That grand adventure of joining with other writers worldwide from November 1-30 to uplift and encourage each other as you write a novel in a month. A full novel. In one month. Sound impossible? Well, I confess I’ve never …

Category: Craft, CreativityTag: first lines, NaNoWriMo, Writing Craft

Creative Outlets

By Karen Ballon October 15, 2014

Ever notice how creativity has a way of coming and going? And when it goes, it always seems to be at the worst possible moment, such as when your book is due. Or when it WAS due. Weeks ago. But I’ve discovered a sure fire way to spark creativity, even at its most elusive: the Creative Change Up. There are so many ways to be creative, so when one outlet stops up, find a new one. For me, other …

Category: Creativity, Writing CraftTag: Creativity

Long Live Napoleon Solo

By Dan Balowon September 16, 2014

The middle of September 1964 was one of the most historic periods in world history. Rarely has humanity seen the kind of cultural shift that occurred fifty years ago this month. Subsequent generations will never be the same. In one week, families, friends, fiends, fish and fun boat-rides changed forever, because fifty years ago this month, the following television programs premiered on U.S. …

Category: Craft, CreativityTag: Creativity, Writing Craft