@DiAnnMills Some of our character’s traits are easy to discover. Physical description, food preference, a career choice, favorite color or food, wants, goals, and other basic attributes that can be revealed in a non-threatening manner.  Life experiences that had painful physical, mental, or emotional outcomes are often hidden beneath a…

@LucindaSMcDowel I think about words a lot. Because I’m an author and speaker, you might say words are my business – thus no surprise my ministry is called “Encouraging Words.” But this week there are at least three good reasons I’m thinking especially about Words: I’ve just sent the edits…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjZeEhXqiVg&t=39s[/embed] Video Produced and Directed by Gary Chavalier. Although this video is presented tongue-in-cheek, every example is based on absolute fact. The Blue Ridge Conference is fast approaching, and writers are polishing their manuscripts and proposals One of the conference highlights is the ability for the…

@ADGansky 4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action. –Kurt Vonnegut I love the simplicity Vonnegut uses when asserting his rules, but sometimes I wonder if we need a little extra, especially for beginning writers. At first, this rule just makes perfect sense, but if…

@LynnHBlackburn Several years ago, my dad made a beautiful mirrored coat rack. I had the perfect wall for it and it hung in a place of prominence in my home where it received oohs and ahhs from friends, family, and guests. Then we moved. Our new home has an open…

@DiAnnMills We’ve all heard the depressing reports. Fiction sales are down. Too many books out there for readers to choose from. Movies and TV are vying for attention. But dear fiction writer, there is no reason to fear when you can incorporate the following action steps into your marketing and…