by Ane Mulligan  @AneMulligan I cut my writerly teeth on dialogue: As a script writer for stage plays, particularly sermon-starters. I didn’t add directions or interpretation. I left that up to the director. Of course at that time, I was the director, but that’s neither here nor there. In the…

By A.C. Williams by @acw_author When did someone spoil a book or movie for you? Generally speaking, people in the storytelling business are very cautious about spoilers. But sometimes you can be too careful, especially when you’re writing a story. Sometimes, one of the best sources of tension in your…

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28 When we want to write Scripture-based content, we have an adventure waiting for us—to be readers of Scripture. In order to write the best possible messages for our readers, first we have to take in the message. To understand it, know it, and live it. Then…

By Aaron Gansky @ADGansky I don’t watch a lot of television, but one show I enjoyed was Monk. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it was an old detective show based around an OCD ex-cop with an incredible power of perception. A dead body would show up, the San Francisco police…

By Darlene L. Turner @darlenelturner A perfect bait increases a fisherman chances of catching a fish. They take their time and ease that wiggly worm onto the hook before lowering their line into the water. It’s just as important for a writer to do the same with a novel. Forget the…

by Ane Mulligan  @AneMulligan I've heard it said, "Psychologists are analysts; writers are psychological engineers. They use psychology to engineer story characters." Characterization is complex. Among other things, writers need to know how to engineer characters, design character arcs, weave sympathy and empathy, set up character conflict, show and reveal…