Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

This is the time of the year when most individuals sit down to write out their goals, or their resolutions for the upcoming year. From my own experience as an author and an editor, I know that many writers’ resolutions start out with a list, which might include some or all of the following:  Write...

Make-A-Story™ - Monday'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

Christmas is around the corner. After Christmas is the time when I stock up on books on my three favorite subjects: storytelling, grammar, and punctuation. So, for your bookseller gift-card buying spree, may I recommend the following: Recommended Reading Punctuation and Grammar Nitty-Gritty...

Make-A-Story™ - Monday'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

Great beginnings are not written by accident. Authors give much thought before crafting that all-important first scene. Some spend hours on the first line. A novel doesn’t have to start with an Indiana Jones type opener—you know, Indie in the jungle facing dangers in order to return with the artifact,...

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

Self-editing for plot holes might be the most difficult task an author undertakes. Why? Because in an author’s mind, the story is all laid out. The characters are in place. Their relationships are cemented, and the plot is solid in the author’s mind. In other words, author’s get so firmly entrenched...