by Edie Melson @EdieMelson As working writers, our lives sometimes seem governed by word count. We use these numbers to set goals, define projects and sometimes even determine our victories. But it’s important to also view these numbers as a guide to show us how far we’ve come. I remember…

By Tamela Hancock Murray @Tamela_Murray August may seem early to be thinking of May, but it’s not! I hope you are planning to go to the conference next year. If you’re not sure, below are seventeen reasons to consider the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer Conference. Oh, and in case…

by DiAnn Mills @diannmills Characters, like people, need a place to escape tension, stress, and conflict when life’s challenges threaten to steal their optimism. A writer uses a character’s happy spot to add a slice of real life to a three-dimensional character. The character knows where this place is and…

by Alycia W. Morales @AlyciaMorales Writing a manuscript is an exhilarating journey, but just because we've typed The End doesn't mean we're finished with our manuscript. Not. Even. Close. What comes next is rewriting. This is where we try to make our writing better. We fix our soggy middles. Deepen…

by DiAnn Mills @diannmills A novel’s first page is critical to the success of a successful novel. Here, the writer must hook the reader into the story by doing the following: Establish genre Introduce a sympathetic character. Initiate a bond between the protagonist and the reader. Build a setting. Create…

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel “Think before you speak!” is good advice. What about “Think before you write?” Not a bad idea either. And I would add to that, “Pray before you write.” I’ve seen far too much writing launched out into the world these days with nary a thought…