Writing advice and tips.
Flashbacks. You know what I’m talking about. When a writer rips us from the present moment of the story and catapults us into the past. And that’s the problem. It stops the forward momentum of your story. Like a driver slamming on the brakes and you go flying through the windshield. First, realize a flashback…
For people dipping their toes into the vast sea of publishing for the first time, knowing how to find a publisher can be an overwhelming task. I’m talking to those who have ventured into these waters from another field. Doctor, teacher, business exec, stay-at-home mom. And now God has given you a story or message…
Today’s post is by Ben Wolf, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Splickety Publishing Group. I had the privilege of meeting Ben last month at PenCon (a conference for editors). He gave an inspiring keynote speech on day 2 of the conference. I enjoyed his keynote so much, I decided to ask if he’d be willing to guest…
As I write this, I’m sitting in my son’s living room, located in beautiful Colorado Springs. This past weekend, I attended PenCon, a conference for editors. Yes, editors need conferences just like writers. I can’t say enough good things about this conference organized by Kathy Ide and members of The Christian Pen. I heard terrific…
CrossRiver Media recently accepted a second book (working title Where Destiny Awaits) from author Catherine Ulrich Brakefield. She and I connected last month at the Omaha Wordsowers writers conference, at which time she handed me a half-inch thick folder of research documents—complete with an official map of Tennessee, where her story takes place. I could…
There are those of you who prefer to let editors or proofreaders worry about commas, but if you’re hiring a freelance editor or proofreader, learning some punctuation basics will save you money because he/she will spend less time fixing your manuscript. I’ll be the first to say the rules governing the English language are confusing. I’ve often…
When it comes to tools in the writer’s toolbox, the query letter is a must. I can always tell newby writers (or those who refuse to learn the tools of the trade), by their query letters. These letters are either chock full of the wrong information, or have barely any information at all. I’ve even…
Guest Posting today is Jennifer Slattery Every first draft I write seems to be crammed with cliché characters. The Sunday school teacher with silver hair pulled back in a bun. The buff and burly loan shark. The alcoholic husband who burps and slurps and does all sorts of other crude things unfit to share in…