Writing Craft

Time to Play!

By Karen Ballon May 31, 2017

As I was considering what to write for this week’s blog, I realized I needed a break from all the seriousness of the last few weeks. Not that I don’t love the “conversations” and insights everyone has shared. But, at the core, I’m a golden-retriever kinda gal, and I gots to play! So today seemed perfect for a game I love: First Lines.

SO! Get your play on, folks, and share your first line—and ONLY the first line–of a project you’re working on. Fiction, nonfiction, children’s, short story…we love ‘em all. Now is your chance to test your line out on some readers.

Here’s mine, from a nonfiction project I’m working on:

It took an angry hummingbird to open my eyes.

Ready? Set. Go!

A Typo Hear, a Typo Their – Typo, Typo, Everywhere

By Steve Laubeon May 22, 2017

Is it just me or am I starting to find typos more frequently than ever before? I’m not a copy-editor or a proofreader, so I don’t go looking for them. Unfortunately they find me. My wife finds them regularly in the sports section of our daily newspaper (The Arizona Republic owned by the same people who own USA Today). It is embarrassing. I suspect budget cuts eliminated an extra set of …

Category: Craft, GrammarTag: Craft, Grammar

Choosing Your Words Wisely, Part 2

By Dan Balowon May 2, 2017

Here are some of my all-time favorite jokes: To get to the other side. Hugh and only Hugh can stamp out florist friars. Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids! Oh, my baking yak! Minnie was called, but Chew was frozen. I better run this through again! Give me a couple of eggs. Place one of these on every corner and wait for my signal! After all these years, those jokes still make me laugh. What? …

Category: Craft, CreativityTag: Language, Writing Craft

Choosing Your Words Wisely, Part 1

By Dan Balowon April 25, 2017

There are a number of reasons for the apparent decrease in reading in the world, from attention-span changes brought on by reader’s addiction to various “screens” to climate change. But it might simply be a vocabulary problem. The first time this concept came to me was about 25 years ago in a New York City taxi when a very talkative driver and I discussed local sports, politics and society in …

Category: Craft, CreativityTag: Creativity, Vocabulary, Writing Craft

Five Lessons from the Road to Publication

By Guest Bloggeron April 24, 2017

Our guest post is by Ginny L. Yttrup who is the award-winning author of five novels including her latest, Home, which released earlier this month. She writes contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. “Publishers Weekly” dubbed Ginny’s work “as inspiring as it is entertaining.” When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, …

Category: Conferences, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing Conference

Where Do You Find New Clients?

By Steve Laubeon April 3, 2017

“As an agent, what percentage of your new clients come from meetings at conferences vs. general email or postal proposals? Can you address the importance of conferences?” Thanks to Scott for the question. It is a good one. Another way to frame it is “Where do you find new clients? Blind submissions or conferences?” The answer, as always, is “It depends.” Meeting someone at a conference is a …

Category: Book Proposals, Christian Writers Institute, Conferences, ConventionsTag: Agency, book proposals, Christian Writers Institute, writers conferences

Writing the Deeper Story

By Dan Balowon March 21, 2017

I realize this will probably date me, but I sincerely enjoyed a popular radio feature by Paul Harvey called, “The Rest of the Story.” I assume some reading this post today also remember it. For generations, the venerable radio commentator, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 90, told a little known story about a well-known person or event, only revealing the subject of the story at the end of …

Category: Craft, Creativity, Encouragement, Inspiration, Marketing, TheologyTag: Inspiration, Writing Craft

Author Platforms Can Destroy Your Life (aka Making Money from Friends)

By Dan Balowon March 7, 2017

American society contains a very interesting subculture built around using your friends and relatives to make money, either as a primary or secondary source of income. I must admit it bothers me when an individual will view those around them mainly as a revenue source instead of relationships to experience and serve. It is also interesting that a number of the most successful multi-level marketing …

Category: Book Business, Branding, Marketing, Platform, Self-Publishing, Social Media, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Marketing, Platform

Fun Fridays – March 3, 2017

By Steve Laubeon March 3, 2017

Pixar-in-a-Box “The Art of Storytelling” is a free online course in storytelling is available here. Their three minute introduction is our Fun Friday for today. Enjoy!

Category: Craft, Creativity, The Writing Life

Go Ahead: Take an Online Break

By Karen Ballon March 1, 2017

Wow, what great sites you all shared. Thanks so much for letting us in on your online breaks. So here are the places I like to go when I need a break. Some are great for just a few minutes, some give a nice long break. But they’re all great fun! (click the headlines below) History in the Headlines: Writers This is the History Channel’s collection of fascinating stories about writers throughout …

Category: Creativity, The Writing LifeTag: Creativity, The Writing Life