Dan Walsh is the award-winning and bestselling author of eight novels, published by Revell and Guideposts, including The Unfinished Gift, Remembering Christmas and The Reunion. Reviewers often compare Dan’s books to Nicholas Sparks. His latest project is a 4-book fiction series with Gary Smalley. The first book, The Dance, just released in April. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Dan now writes fulltime in Port Orange, FL. He and his wife Cindi have been married 36 years. You [...]

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

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Sometimes it is hard to find the good in our struggles. Yet, the day our Savior died on the cross is called Good Friday.

Maybe you’re having a “Good” Friday like Jesus did – or a “good” week. Or month. Or year. Maybe you’re asking why God has forsaken you. (Matthew 27:46)

Just remember: if you are [...]

Nicole O’Dell is an author, speaker, wife and mother of six — including a set of triplets! I (interviewer Lynda Schab) met Nicole a few years ago through an online critique group. She had just signed a contract with Barbour Publishing for her first book series, Scenarios for Girls, an interactive fiction series for tweens about the tough choices they face every day. Since then, Nicole has gone on to publish several more fictional books (including her most recent series, [...]

When I hear the word neighbor, two different images come to mind (and maybe the same thing happens with you, too).

One is from my Bible, and one from my childhood in front of a television set. And, even though this is a Christian blog, we’re going to be focusing on the latter rather than the former (though, of course, we will not discount Christ’s teachings).

Today would have been Fred Rogers’ 85th birthday. The Presbyterian minister and star of the well-loved [...]

What’s Your Passion?
By Linda Yezak

In a recent discussion on ACFW’s Women’s Fiction loop, author Sharon A. Lavy said, “I really care about the relationships between people of all kinds. Parents and children, siblings, friends. I really have a passion that women need other women. So every story I write includes the close friendship of women. No matter what else is going on in the story.”

Whatever an author is passionate about shows up in their work and often fills the characters [...]

We’ve all likely been told there are two ways to get better at writing:

We need to write…and we need to READ.

Read writing craft books. Read in your genre. Read out of your genre. Read the classics.

You can learn so much to improve your own writing by reading others’ words. You can get ideas for how to work out a problem in your manuscript. Inspiration for a new idea. Or even great of examples of how NOT to write.

So, what are [...]

Beat That Distraction
By Marie Grossett

Distraction comes in all forms; from people, finances, or work. Distractions are there to stop you in your tracks from achieving your God-given destiny.

But what are you going to do about these monsters? Are you going to be like Jane, who is putting her dream on hold, or  like Susan, who says, “Despite what is going on in my life right now, I am going to pursue my destiny no matter what obstacles are thrown at [...]

Filter to Enhance Story
By Gail Gaymer Martin

Authors often set up perimeters for a storyline by weighing it with backstory or details when they provide readers with information to help them understand the motivation for the characters. As we’ve heard many times, backstory or details can bog down a novel when it’s piled into the beginning of a novel. Too much emphasis on story theme or message can do the same. Think about these alternatives.

The old saying action can speak louder [...]

So, we’re two months into the new year. How are you doing with your writing so far?

Did you set any writing goals at the beginning of 2013? Are you closer to meeting them?

Have you taken advantage of the many writing opportunities here at FaithWriters?

Are you preparing a manuscript for Page Turner? Planning to attend the FaithWriters Conference in Oregon in June? Working on an article for the Testimony contest? Entered a monthly writing/blogging contest? Taken a taste of the Writing [...]

Maximize your Time
by Jennifer Slattery

Today I’d like to share a few ways to avoid time-sapping pitfalls while maximizing every moment for optimum productivity. In A Woman After God’s Heart by Elizabeth George, she talks about foregoing the good to find the better and foregoing the better to find the best. In writing, this means evaluating each moment in order to determine the best use of your time.

Organize your day around your creativity. For example, I need silence when I write. [...]