It's a potentially restful week. This time between Christmas and New Year’s isn’t jam packed with busy to-dos, at least generally. Some people find it a great time to write. Others take the time off...
Thursdays Tips: Rest
Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt
Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world...
Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing
We're still on the subject of comma placement. Here are five more rules to help you self-edit your manuscript into publication:Comma Rule #11: When composite adjectives are used, a comma is not necessary as each of the adjectives modify each other. However, when coordinate adjectives that modify the...
Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt
Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world...
The way in a manger
Yesterday, like many other churches in the UK and probably across the world, we had our carol services. The morning was an all age service with the children taking part and the evening a traditional carol...
Write the Vision ~ Wednesday
The Great Purse Alarm Incident of 2009My mother is, well, elderly, and we all worry about her getting out and about. My niece gave her a purse alarm, so if anyone tried to rob her, the sound would deter a would-be thief. The device hooks to your purse and the other end to your wrist. If the purse is...
Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing
Sometimes it is good to play a comma by ear: place one where there is a natural pause in narrative or dialogue. As with everything done to bring style to prose, overdoing it mutes the tone. Too much playing by ear gives the wrong impression, and not one an author would like an editor to have. What should...
Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt
Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world...
Thursday's Tips -- Dialog
Great dialog is hard to write. No one wants to read dull words, even if they echo true-to-life exchanges, like:
“Hello, Nancy.”
“Hi, Carol.”
“How are you?”
“I’m well, how are you?”
Cue reader:...
The Christmas Bells
Every year-- for the past eighteen years-- I've gotten a Christmas bell from a local potter. They're all different. Each is unique and every year there's a new design on them. Sadly,last year the shelf...
Tactical Tuesdays: Advice for Self-Editing
Commas are the musical notes of your manuscript. Some have mastered the melody by taking time to learn to read the music. Others simply play it by ear. Listening to the tune and playing it is fine if you have a sense of rhythm and can hear the notes being played. Take away that ability, and you’re simply...
Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt
Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world...
New...from the Sweet Treats Bakery Series
Tessa’s Teacakes by Mary MannersTessa, the youngest Spencer sister--and the most impulsive--rushes into the Mount Ridge crisis center bent on saving her brother-in-law. She's ready to handle Brent's...
New...from The Sweet Treats Bakery Series
Tessa’s TeacakesTessa, the youngest Spencer sister--and the most impulsive--rushes into the Mount Ridge crisis center bent on saving her brother-in-law. She's ready to handle Brent's abductor, with or without help. What she's not ready to handle is the effect policeman, Colin Phillips, has on her. Romance...
