My good friend and writing buddy, Judy Christie, invited me to join in with a blog hop that’s going around. Good friends are like that . . . they share when they have good ideas. Judy is the author of the popular Green series, the Hurry Less, Worry Less Series, and the fun new Trumpet and Vine Series. Thanks, Judy, …
Sweet Dreams
In two days, I’ll turn in the manuscript for my fourth book – which I hope explains my absence here lately. There’s always so much to do as the deadline looms. Words to compose. Scenes to add. Or delete. Story fragments to unfrag. Facts to check. It’s always an emotional and draining time followed by exhilaration and then a feeling …
>Calling All Teen Writers
>If you’re under 25 years old and want to have a ton of fun with your writing, Stephanie Morrill at Go Teen Writers is running a contest this year. Every other week you get a writing prompt to get you started and can submit up to 100 words. The judges rotate with each round of competition. Yours truly will be …
>Top Ten Reasons I Love the ACFW Conference
>This is the week I anticipate all year – the annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. This year it’s in Indianapolis, so soon I will be In-di-an-a Bound! What’s so special about this conference? I’m glad you asked. Here are ten things I love about it, and I’m sure if I tried I could think of ten more, but …
>Help for Aspiring Writers at The Ruff Draft
>John Williams, a newspaper columnist, reporter, author and teacher, has a vision for helping new writers. His blog is dedicated to just that. Industry news and tips from publishers and authors. Here’s a recent article I wrote at The Ruff Draft: Six Essential Elements of a Novel. I’m always looking for new opportunities to write on the web and appreciate …
>An Excellent Opportunity for Writers
>Want to learn from a published pro? An author who has a passion for teaching? In less than two weeks, SUSAN MAY WARREN is coming to Tulsa. Check it out: TWO GREAT SESSIONS WHEN: FRIDAY, APRIL 16th, 20105:45: Registration & refreshments 6:15–9:00 PM: Session with Susan May Warren WHERE: ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST 5050 E. 111th | Tulsa, OK 74137 …
>Writing Nostalgia – Part Two
>Things to consider when writing nostalgia: There must be a reason for placing your story in a certain year or decade. To simply place a story in a past decade because it sounds cool is not enough. You need a backdrop of world events or social customs that are unique to the era. Some examples from the 1950s and 60s …
>Writing Nostalgia – Part One
>Boomer Books are in! Or so I’ve heard. So are historicals, and what might be historical to you may only be slightly nostalgic to me. Boomer books fall into a pretty wide array of genres and can be set in any decade from the fifties through the present day. They can have older protagonists unknotting their pasts or they can …
>TEN TIPS FOR ENGAGING YOUR READERS
> I’m blogging today atSeriously Write.Join Annette Irby, Dawn Kinzer, and me today as I share Ten Tips for Engaging Your Readers. See you there!
>Fiction Marketing Seminar in Dallas
>Me? Marketing? It’s not an endeavor that I thought would be critical in my writing career, let alone my life. Apparently it is. And I think it’s something I’m going to love once I get the hang of it. I took a step of faith this past weekend and went to The Master Seminars first fiction marketing workshop taught by …