Updated May 2025 Many beginning writers mistakenly believe that the first draft of their book is also their finished book. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Your draft is not even something you want to send to a professional editor—a writing coach, yes, but not a professional editor. After the draft comes self-editing, but…
The year is half over—as hard as that is to believe. Now is a good time to review your goals and the progress you’ve made toward them. I like to work in 90-day increments, so I set goals to be achieved within a 90-day period. (I also have long term goals I’m reaching for.) This…
In a recent survey of my blog subscribers, I asked how interested they were in learning about the business side of being an author. “Not at all, somewhat, or very.” Sixty-five percent said VERY. So today is my first post focused entirely on being a business owner. When you read the title of today’s post,…
Making time to write in our busy schedules is common to many writers, even moi. But our obstacles are more than just busyness or the day job. Please welcome guest Jennifer Slattery as she discusses making time to write. Jennifer is a writer and international speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and…
Determination and application of lessons learned must be part of a writer’s repertoire. These occur behind the scenes in the daily grind of the writer’s life. Today, I bring you a guest post that shows us how that paid off for a new writer. Earlier this year, I taught at Wordsower’s Christian Writers Conference 2018…
Last week I discussed the hero’s story goal in fiction, but if you write nonfiction, especially self-help, you may feel a story goal doesn’t relate to your book. But story goals do relate to nonfiction in a way many people don’t realize. People read nonfiction for various reasons, sometimes for the sheer entertainment, but often…
Earlier this year I looked at 4 important elements in fiction writing. Here’s a quick review: What does the hero want? (This is the story goal.) Who or what is opposing the hero getting what she wants? What will the hero’s life look like if she does (or does not) get what she wants? Who…
The title of my devotional reading this morning was “Overcoming Giants.” The corresponding Bible reading was 1 Samuel 17:31–52. I encourage you to read it. It’s the story and David and Goliath, and “teaches believers that obstacles in our life are no match for God. “Whether our Goliath is a relational challenge or an overwhelming…