by Lynn Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn I recently returned from a vacation where for three days I didn’t do much of anything but read. It was glorious. I loved the books I brought with me. I inhaled them. I fell in love with the characters and the places and the ideas. And then…

By Aaron Gansky @ADGansky You hear writers often mention the “fictive dream.” John Gardner called it a “vivid and continuous dream.” It’s a term used to describe a simple principle: no one wants to read a book. There, I said it. Man, it feels good to get that off my…

By Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions but this year I commit to pray for each of you daily.  I also will post a weekly prayer on the Blue Ridge Writers Facebook page. Why do I storm the gates of heaven on your behalf? I pray…

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea Things I would be immediately compelled to tell a time traveler popping in from the past: *Prepare to watch doorbell videos of delivery guys and their encounters with bees and porch pranks and whatnot. *Ready yourself to read hundreds—maybe thousands—of comments about yet another meeting that should’ve…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills One of the biggest challenges for a writer is developing a vocabulary. We become comfortable in how we converse, until we grapple for just the right/write word. We become frustrated in our search and wish we hadn’t waited so long to enlarge our knowledge of words…

THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 2024 IS OPEN!!! Every year we are excited to be able to award writers scholarships. The money comes through our contest fees and donations. Scholarships are awarded on need and/or merit. Selections are made by a group of publishing professionals. Since we are dependent on…