Archive for February, 2015

How are you Improving your Writing?

It’s important to not rest on your laurels in your writing. There are several things you can do to improve your craft, and FaithWriters can definitely help.

First, you can check out some excellent writing lessons at the FaithWriters forums, run by longtime FWer Jan Ackerson. With topics from point of view to characterization to gender-neutral language, her explanations and interaction will certainly help you polish up your own writing.

Then, of course, there’s the FaithWriters Writing Challenge, where you are challenged […]

Comments Off on How are you Improving your Writing?

The Perfect Ending

The Perfect Ending

By Dorothy Love

Is it just me, or do we spend an inordinate amount of time in workshops worrying about crafting the perfect opening? Of course openings are important–a reader or editor wants to be drawn into the story immediately. But, to leave a lasting impression, we should work just as hard at crafting the perfect ending. By “perfect ending” I don’t necessarily mean one in which everything is neatly resolved, every problem is solved, every wrong […]

Comments Off on The Perfect Ending

Motivation and Inspiration – Keep Plugging Along

Did you set goals or resolutions in January? How’s it going for you?

Well, if you are like most people, the answer is probably “not so great.” We are now on day 51 of 2015, and statistically, a good portion of folks aren’t sticking to whatever their goals were for the year – at least not as well as they were in January.

But I am not here to get you down about yourself. Those of you who know me are fully […]

Comments Off on Motivation and Inspiration – Keep Plugging Along

In the Beginning was the Word

In the Beginning was the Word

By Lynda Lee Schab

Words have been around since the beginning of time. Christians trust the writer of Genesis when he claims that God spoke the world into existence.

The world became because God spoke a word.

As demonstrated when God created the world, spoken words are powerful. Yet, this is also true with the written word. Just as hearing a lecture or a sermon sometimes shape our views, thoughts, and opinions, books also have the ability to change the way we think. And books are able to affect not […]

Comments Off on In the Beginning was the Word

Be HIS

Be HIS–A Valentine’s Devotional
By LauraLee Shaw

I’ll never forget receiving the candy hearts on Valentine’s Day when I was in middle school. You know, the ones that taste a little bit like Pepto-Bismol? My friends and I would tear our little bitty envelopes open to see which hearts someone put inside with the generic card. Reading into every phrase, we fantasized of that special someone spending tireless efforts to make sure he delivered the perfect message and emotion to […]

Comments Off on Be HIS

Just for Fun: Those Sneaky Austrians

Do you struggle with with distraction when you are trying to write? I’m guessing it isn’t as extreme as this scenario I made up a few years ago for the FaithWriters Writing Challenge.

Those Sneaky Austrians

By Joanne Sher

12:54pm Well, today’s the day. My professor told me that I just needed to set some time aside and protect it, and my goal will be within reach.

So, I did. Three hours once a month, starting in about five minutes. The phone […]

2 Comments

Respect your Readers

Respect your Readers
by Megan DiMaria

This 2008 Associate Press news article caught my eye, and I think it has an application to writing.

Trust me, I’ll explain. But first, here’s the story:

Woman Shoots Self While Trying to Kill Mice

POTTER VALLEY, Calif. — A Mendocino County woman who was trying to kill mice in her trailer with a gun ended up shooting herself and another person.

The 43-year-old woman pulled out her .44-caliber Magnum revolver after she saw the mice scurrying across the floor […]

Comments Off on Respect your Readers

It’s Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week!

Have you ever written for children? A lot of people seem to think it is easier to do than writing for adults – but, as someone who has spent the past year or so learning about the genre, I do not agree. In fact, I think it is harder.

Writing so kids can understand without talking down to them. Including a “message” without them feeling preached to. Rich description with a MUCH shorter word count. Writing relatable stories for an audience […]

Comments Off on It’s Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week!
   Rss Feeds