Research. Some writers love it, some don’t, but with nonfiction (and fiction), it is a critical part of your writing. Readers won’t hesitate to tell you when your facts are wrong. That damages your credibility, and that reader might put down your book the moment they spot an inaccuracy. That same reader may very well…
Many people, when first deciding to write a book, land on what they know best: a personal experience. This is exactly where I started. But publishers like originality, and as Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “there is nothing new under the sun” (NKJV). My first book dealt with child sexual abuse by a family member. It’s…
Just make a decision! How many times has someone said that to you? Many people struggle to make a decision. Should I or shouldn’t I do this? Is this a good idea for my business (or life)? What will my friends think of me if I do this? What if I make a mistake?
As I write this (Feb. 28), my daily Bible reading took me to Jeremiah 15. Wow, if any prophet ever had hard, it was Jeremiah! He is known as the “weeping prophet,” and yes, like us all he got discouraged at times. Chapter 15 is one such point. A little backstory: Israel and Judah had…
This is a continuation of guest blogger Kristin Noland’s post on ghostwriting. If you missed part 1, you’ll want to go back and read it.
This month’s posts are from guest blogger Kristin Noland. With over 80 manuscripts to her name—including two bestsellers, one a military thriller—Kristin has spent her career helping authors bring their stories to life and position their work for success. From intricate world-building to sharp pacing, intricate plots, and characters who stay with readers long after…
Crafting vivid story settings is all about making your readers feel like they’re actually there! But how does a writer accomplish that? I do great with dialog, never an issue coming up with things for people to say, but I still struggle with description. I have to work at it (usually in the self-editing stage),…
Change. Sometimes we willing embrace it—like getting a new computer. Sometimes it’s forced on us—like getting downsized. Either way, it’s rarely easy. Why is that? Because we prefer to stay in our comfort zone, no matter how uncomfortable we are with what’s in our comfort zone. But like a caterpillar to a butterfly, change is…