I read a book once. I know you are very surprised at that. But this book talked about learning to write more in a day. While I don’t write as much (not even close!) as this author does, I was able to up my word count on a regular basis. It’s nothing earth shattering or […]
Handling Negative Reviews
I was asked a really good question not long ago that I thought deserved a longer, perhaps more thoughtful answer. “How do you handle negative reviews?” Let’s face it. No matter how hard we try, we can’t please everyone with our stories. Some will love what we write and others won’t care for it. Some […]
Change it Up!
Have you ever heard those words shouted at a hockey game? Have you watched some players suddenly leave the ice and take a seat on the bench while others vault over the sides to join the game? I’ve only seen it happen in movies because where I live, well, we don’t have any hockey teams. […]
Writing Lesson 101
It has occurred to me, that tips on writing are always helpful. I mean, it is good to be reminded of certain aspects of the art of writing that we often neglect. And so, to help you remember, I’m going to give you a quick lesson on writing. Please pay close attention. 1- Infinitives . […]
The Purpose of Reviews – Part 2
Last week we talked about the purpose of reviews for the reader. Today we’ll focus on the purpose of reviews for an author. And then we will wrap up with some other thoughts about reviews. First, let’s remember what a review is. A review, of either a book, product, movie, or whatever, is a critical […]
The Purpose of Reviews – Part 1
I’ve heard a lot about reviews and their importance. Some things I’ve heard are true and others are false assumptions. Let’s take a look at reviews and see what they are for and what they are not for. First, let’s define Review. In Dictionary.com it is defined as:A critical article or report, as in a […]
5 Things I Learned from Writing Book Series
If you are planning or thinking about writing a book series, I want to spare you from the difficulties I have come across, and help you better prepare for your journey. 1. Always write down any character names. You don’t know when you’ll need them again. (And I mean any names.) 2. If your series […]
Not Yesterday But Today
What did you want to be yesterday that you weren’t? You look back at yesterday and wish you had been More loving More trusting More joyful More kind More helpful More encouraging More prayerfulMore patientMore faithfulMore diligent God doesn’t give us yesterday to redo, but He does give us TODAY to try again. Let me […]
Plot Twist!
Have you ever been reading a book and suddenly there is a plot twist! The tale takes a rapid and exciting turn. Danger threatens, tragedy strikes, and the main character is forced to grapple with everything while still staying sane. Or Maybe you are one of those authors who love to dump in plot twists […]
Writing Christian Stories without Preaching
I was asked some great questions a few months ago and thought I’d share my answers as a blog post. How can you write a Christian book without preaching? One piece of advice I would give is to add Christ to your story. Are your characters Christians? Then have them grow, and live like ones. […]