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Villain or Hero? Skip The Tired Tropes Consult the Philosophers
Many authors, including myself, have a theory about what makes a book sell past one or two printings. One word. Magic. Well, not quite. Here’s what we see. Over the years, philosophers, theologians, and others have narrowed down seven basic good characteristics and seven not-so-good things a person does. Over time, they’ve been labeled the Seven Heavenly Virtues and the Seven Deadly Sins. It’s easy to list them. Perhaps we’ll spend the time later. But for now, let’s talk about one virtue—loading the dishwasher. Loading the dishwasher is also coupled with unloading, and over the past 6,000 years, dishwashing has been known to be one of the greatest attributes a…
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Writing Human Nature
A man named Aesop, in Greece, wanted to write a children’s book. He pulled together a few local tales, penned them, and hit the best-seller list. By age seven, little Spartan and Athenian warriors went to school to become community-minded members of society by learning the fables. At the same time, they trained to be bloodthirsty warriors and graduated to slaughter Persians. Well, no society is perfect. The fables stood the test of time. What are they, and how can they support your writing? A fable is a short story featuring animals or objects as characters. The tale is designed to rely on the animal’s nature to convey a clear…
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Resolved: New Stories In The New Year!
Let’s look at some writing resolutions outside the standard advice. How many can you check off the list this year? I pray you write all the right words for Him this year. Have fun writing, and Happy New Year! Not all views expressed are those of every member of ICW.
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The Words We Write
I had this dream a few months back… On a snowy night, I sat bundled on a bench near a firepit in my back yard. A kind friend sat on a bench across from me, and we enjoyed a relaxed but lively conversation while I tossed the completed pages from my current WIP into the flames. As we talked, I watched the pages curl around my words until they were nothing but ash. The fire crackled. The air smelled fresh, the way it does after a first snow. Beyond the fact that I don’t have a firepit in my back yard, and I have yet to print out the final…
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Visions of Sugarplums: Writing Christmas
When a writer touches pen to paper during Christmas, hollies and cranberries appear. Lights dance and visions of sugarplums fill the skies. We can’t help ourselves. Christmas is magical, whether we love the magical or not. I revel in the holidays and overload myself with reading and writing Christmastime. Here are a few tips to keep your Christmas readers filled with holiday cheer! Writing about Christmas can be rewarding and a positive way to engage readers. Enjoy a tall glass of eggnog and a plateful of sugarplums while you craft the words that change the world. Blessings!
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Creating Together
This morning, as the last leaves rain from the trees, I’m viewing a fall combination of swirling, smoke-grey clouds across a deep blue sky, pierced by shafts of brilliant sunlight. The effect is a lovely collaboration of shifting, shimmering, dramatic low lights, highlights and shadows. Especially right now, in a world that can feel very divided, I like pondering the creative benefits of collaboration. As well, I’m finishing one novel and looking toward the next, which is half finished, and is a collaborative effort with another author. There are many good reasons to collaborate on a project. Beyond the exciting creative possibilities, as well as the possible doubling of our…
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In The Crucible
Do your favorite authors live the perfect life? The picture in my mind shows they’ve had a healthy breakfast and walked the dog. They take their coffee to their immaculate study and move into a creative state so potent birdsongs and sunshine burst forth after every word they type. They finish a novel just in time to jog, make a healthy lunch, and talk with friends throughout the afternoon. When their spouse arrives home, dinner somehow appears on the table, and they connect on the couch talking about what they did during the day. A movie or reading by firelight and a good night’s sleep prepare them for the next day’s…
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Ask The Question
When you purchase a gym membership, something magical happens. You’re allowed into a world of wonders. Machines, mirrors, lights, TVs, pools, therapists, towels, no toddlers, and a general sense of happy people. I don’t blame you for feeling like you’re in an amusement park, minus the toddlers. You purchase matching shoes, socks, shorts, and tops—your hair tie matches. You step onto one of the machines, and a motor hums underneath you. With a violent pull, the belt flings you toward the end of the machine and launches you through the air into a pile of dirty towels. As someone helps you up, they mumble some nonsense that you need to…
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A New Rhythm
I host a church small group in my home once a week, and this most recent gathering, I was in the spotlight, to give my testimony. Unfortunately, I’d gotten no sleep the night before *classic insomniac here* and was finding it difficult, in my groggy condition, to condense five decades of walking with Christ and my fellow believers on this pilgrim journey. That thought, Pilgrim Journey, gave me an idea. About a decade ago, and for six or seven years, I blogged regularly—several times a month—about my life, relationships, parenting, God—all with an emphasis on my worldview as a believing (although not very traditional) Christian. I pulled out a few…
