Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Christian Fiction”
This is the time of year the writing world is abuzz with all things “conference.” For those who write Christian fiction, it’s especially exciting. One of the biggest writing events of the year is the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. In 2011, the conference was held in St. Louis. Last year it was in Dallas. This year it’s in Indianapolis. …
I asked some friends, “What says ‘romance’ to you?” Their answers varied: “When my husband calls/texts me for no reason at all.” “When my husband hides love notes around the house.” “When he cleans the toilets.” “When he’s attentive, chivalrous, and passionate.” “When my boyfriend lets ME pick the movie.” “When my husband reaches for my hand. In public and …
It happened again. It’s not something I like to talk about because I’m the kind of gal who doesn’t like to hurt folks’ feelings. But here’s the truth: Sometimes, kind people–gals, guys, writers, bakers, and candlestick makers–get used. And not in a good way. Today’s post is a little diddy about TIME. If that’s something you struggle with or find difficult to balance, then …
I tend to be a detail-oriented person. I like to study people wherever I go–the mall, the bookstore, church, Starbucks, and even flea markets to name a few. Details excite me. They add dimension to the characters I craft. Sprinkling in a few particulars here and there at just the right time can offer a great deal. For instance: Suzy Sunshine seems so perky. She has …
In today’s world we’re very visually motivated. Because of savvy marketing gimmicks, we often make decisions based on eye appeal and not performance. Bells and whistles and cross-the-heart promises sell us everything from dressed-up paperweights to lighter-than-air feather dusters–and usually, all for a mere $19.95. From cleaning supplies, food, clothing, make-up, and countless everyday products to the more costly things such …
I finished reading one of my favorite books of the year. At approximately 416 pages, Flight of the Earls, by Michael K. Reynolds, hooked me and held me fast from beginning to end. I knew I was in for a hang-on-to-my-seat ride as I read the opening sentence and initial paragraphs of book one in the Heirs of Ireland series. The picture this …
How do you feel when folks air their laundry? Does it make you uncomfortable? Does it depend on the circumstance or the situation? In this post I told you about a childhood memory. You may remember that I couldn’t look at old “Mr. Fletcher” quite the same way once his wife started hanging their laundry out to dry. Something about the parade of eye-fetching boxer shorts …
Photo Credit: Angus Kirk/Creative Commons Ask writers why they write and I bet you’ll get a hundred different answers. Ask them again what motivates them to write, and I think the answers may boil down to this one thing: imagination. Writers are wired differently. We’re artists. We see things in multidimensional worlds and colors. Our minds race with new and varied possibilities. …
As I create fictional characters, I decide when they’ll dine on their “just desserts.” Sometimes, it’s hard to let Polly Perfect make an imperfect choice, and harder still, to let the poor girl suffer from that choice. Isn’t that how it is in real life though? We realize poor choices can often lead to bad outcomes, but we still mess up. …
I began blogging in 2011. Today’s blog post marks my 305th post. (Congratulations, me!) I remember when I cranked out my first post thinking how easy it would be. (I’m a writer, I believe in fairy-tales, and yes, I sometimes wear rose-colored glasses.) Initially, I blogged daily. I began with a simple WordPress theme and learned about things like SEO, format, plugins, photo …
