If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably a writer. And if you’re a writer, I’m sure you’re quite familiar with the question above. You’ve likely asked yourself or a friend what another word for (fill in the blank) might be countless times. Or you’ve looked it up in a writer’s (or at least my!) best friend – the thesaurus. When you’re looking for just the right word, little can beat it.

Though many have likely stopped using the paper version (can [...]

Many FaithWriters’ members are working on a novel – or at least have an idea for one in the back of their heads. Why not take it to the next level, and possibly win a fabulous prize in the process?

All FaithWriters Platinum members (not a Platinum member? Click here to upgrade) need is the first chapter of their novel (fiction) and a synopsis/overview of the rest, and they can enter the Seventh Annual Page Turner Contest. And you have until [...]

White Space Magic
By Randy Ingermanson

One of the most common mistakes I see when I critique manuscripts is that the paragraphs are too long.

When I see a dense page of text that has only three or four paragraphs, I suspect the pace is going to be slow and the writing is going to be boring.

When I see a page with a lot of white space, I suspect the pace is going to be fast and the writing is going to have [...]

I don’t know about you, but this time of year I start thinking about NEXT year – next school year, anyway.

My kids – ages nine and twelve – are in the last quarter of the school year, and there’s talk of getting ready for the next grade (In our cases, fourth and seventh, FYI). And every year around this time, it hits me.

My kids are growing up.

I look back at assignments they did at the beginning of the school year [...]

If you’re a believer, you have a testimony – whether it’s about how you came to Christ or how the Lord stood beside you during tough times.

Have you thought about using your writing talents to  share your testimony in an anthology?

That’s what the Testimony Contest is about. Sponsored by FaithWriters and bestselling author J. J. Hebert, FaithWriters Gold and Platinum members can submit a testimony, and if it is one of the forty selected, the writers will not only be [...]

Top Ten Ways To Show and Not Tell: Eliminate Filtering

By Suzanne Hartmann

Don’t use words like “wondered” or “thought”
Like the senses, these are also filtering words. They remind the readers that they aren’t actually in the POV character’s head, but are merely observers. Since the readers understand that everything in the story is shown from the POV character’s perspective, they will know without being told that the character is wondering or thinking these thoughts.

As mentioned regarding things the POV [...]

Can you believe it’s already the middle of April? That means the 2013 FaithWriters conference is just two-and-a-half months away – and the early bird deadline is in just TWO weeks!

Here are the basics:

WHAT: 2013 FaithWriters Writing Conference: Nurturing the Whole Writer

WHERE: Radisson Hotel Portland (OR) Airport

WHEN: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 6pm through Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 8:30pm

COST: Early Bird: FW Platinum members $75, others $85 – through April 30 (that’s two weeks from tomorrow!)

General Rate: FW Platinum [...]

Note from Joanne – I was scanning FaithWriters Free Reprints (you should  too!), and I found this post which I HOPE will encourage some of you writers out there who are reluctant to be critiqued. I LOVE Marla’s attitude. And if you have it too – check out FW’s own Critique Circle!
Am I Ready for Some…No, Not Football, CRITIQUING?!!
By MARLA GROETHE

Dear Jesus,

I joined a Christian website, Faithwriters.com, and am so excited to combine the writing skills you gave me with [...]

Writing with Intent
By Dorothy Love

How do you approach your work each day? Do you sit down at the computer with a clear purpose, or do your thoughts and intentions wander? Writing with intent can mean that the author approaches the work with the goal of influencing the reader to embrace a particular idea. It might also mean that we sit down to spin a story enveloped in a particular state of mind. But here’s the definition I love best: writing [...]

There are a lot of ways for writers to share their message with the world – and for others to get to know them.

One way is through your very own spot on the world-wide web.

There are several ways to do this. FaithWriters itself has a portfolio builder (free to Platinum members – only $36/year for others) which allows you to easily put together a writers’ portfolio (no html knowledge required!).

Some people create a website or a blog.

It’s so important these [...]