By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills   A writer cannot plunge their characters, protagonists and antagonists, into action unless deep psychological needs are clear, and powerful, unresolved goals—both external and internal—are established. How can a writer discover what these characters want and need, as well as their strengths and weaknesses? I’ve had…

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell, @LucindaSMcDowel   “Let my teaching fall like rain and my word settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass and showers on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2 HCSB Up with the sun I was eager for an early morning walk in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Blooming…

Welcome back! We've got just a few more weeks until we'll all be gathered at Ridgecrest, ready to make new friends and learn a lot about writing. Today, I'm going to introduce you to six more of our prestigious faculty members. Let's get started! Karynthia Glasper-Phillips 1. I love horseback…

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson So often we make things harder than they have to be. Sometimes we do it because we’re used to doing things a certain way, or because it’s the only way we know how. But things change quickly these days, and it’s always a good thing to…

by Cindy Sproles, @CindyDevoted   Conferences are wonderful. There's no other way to explain the benefits other than saying you must attend. Attending a conference allows the writer, whether new or seasoned, to interact with their peers, network with editors and publishers, and sharpen their writing skills. The goal is to…

By Sarah Van Diest, @SarahVanDiest I feel incomplete at times without my pen and paper, without my white mirror. As if walking away from it I forget what I look like. Returning to my writing after a time of being away feels like coming home. The reality words on the…