by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea I’ll just crawl under the pew now, thanks. Has it happened to you? Right at the pastor’s most dramatically silent pause: your hideously loud stomach-growl. I say growl, but remember those old movies when Tarzan yodel-yelled and in response elephants stampeded? That.  You put your hand over…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Hey writers! Join me in celebrating February as National Library Lover’s Month.  Our libraries offer a variety of media to improve, educate, and entertain their patrons. The best news is (drumroll please) libraries are free! These sources of nonfiction information and fiction adventures create community and…

by Blythe Daniel @BlytheDaniel I am queen of shortcuts on most things. If I can get something done faster, why would I take the longer route? But with writing, this isn’t the case. The longer route of writing, revising, preparing for release, releasing a book and all that comes with…

By Debb Hackett @debb_hackett Last year I recruited (with help) close to seventy-five judges for the ACFW Virginia Crown Award contest that I direct each year. Between you and me, that’s a lot of asking nicely. I’m grateful that a most authors are very receptive to humor as I beg…

By Peny McGinnis @PennyFMcGinnis I might not share this with many people, but I feel safe spilling my secret in the writing community. Something unexpected happens when I open my laptop, call up Scrivener, and type. My storyline takes on the appearance of a curvy road in the mountains instead of…

By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin The publishing world is full of things which drop through the cracks. Your ability to use the gentle follow-up is a critical skill to acquire and use. Repeatedly in my years in publishing, I have used the gentle follow-up to keep things from getting stalled and…