• Writerly Wednesday

    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…

  • Writerly Wednesday

    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…

  • Writerly Wednesday

    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! 

  • Writerly Wednesday

    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…

  • Writerly Wednesday

    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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    Align Your Mind With Your Heart and Overcome Writer’s Block

    Overcoming writer’s block is no easy feat. The words are stuck. The characters are in limbo. The story is slow. The light has gone out of your life. There’s a path you can take that will bring you out of the slump and soon you will soar to heights of writing ecstasy. Yup! Ecstasy. Humans aren’t always the smartest. Common sense isn’t, as I’m sure you’re aware, common. Our brains are supposed to be rational and full of logic that allows us to make good decisions. But there’s something that gets in the way: Emotions. Yes, emotions. And when we think with our heart, things don’t always go well. Her…

  • Writerly Wednesdays

    Labeling Your Skills: The Essential Tool for Growth as a Writer

    How you talk about yourself as a writer is essential. You could stunt your writing growth if your words about yourself aren’t accurate. We could list every writer here and find something good about their work. Ernest Hemingway, with a journalist background, made every word hold vital importance. John Steinbeck could charm the reader through the plot and use cynicism to destroy the reader’s hope in human goodness and decency. William Faulkner tested the waters with a 1,288-word sentence, and his book was still published. Elements of excellent or interesting reading are found in any work. There is some redeeming quality in every piece. Of course, you’re on the list…

  • Writerly Wednesdays

    Write Bravely: Dare to Live Your Dream

    “Writing begins and ends with loving Jesus.” Gregory Coles Idahope Christian Writer’s Conference taught us to write bravely. We learned we can break the industry formula or master writing forms with conviction. We not only write bravely but also edit and market with confidence. Greg Coles offered six powerful thoughts on bravery. To write bravely, we must remember that our vulnerability as writers is a gift to believers and ourselves. Our writing comes from the heart; thus, it begins and ends with loving Jesus. Write bravely! Not all views expressed are those of every member of ICW.

  • Writerly Wednesdays

    The Writer’s Rendezvous: How to Get the Most From a Writer’s Conference

    Idahope Christian Writer’s Conference is on the horizon! All the behind-the-scenes work is about to come to fruition, and we’re so thankful to those dedicated to ICW who put on the conference so we writers can stumble from our caves and socialize for a short time. Even the most hardened writing hermit joins other scribes to fellowship and connect at conferences. I’m glad you’re going to be there with us. Here are a few tips writers have learned to maximize your conference experience over the years. Before You Go When You’re There After the Conference Writing conferences are an inspiring time for writers. I hope you enjoy Idahope’s conference as…

  • Writerly Wednesdays

    Values and Doubt: The Writer’s Glory

    My daughter searched her purse, pulled out her phone, and glanced through her messages. “Ah, here it is. I wrote it down last night.” I set down my fork and sat back. “Lay your wisdom on me.” “Okay. It just seemed like something you might need during hard times.” “Interesting. Sure, let me hear it.” She glanced over her screen. “I’m not sure how helpful it is.” “Won’t know until you tell me.” “Because sometimes thoughts that come at night aren’t always brilliant.” “And sometimes they are.” I sipped my iced tea. “But we’ll never know until you tell me.” “The trouble is, I don’t know if anyone will like…