Archive for September, 2014

Congratulations to Summer Quarter Writing Challenge Cash Winners!

The FaithWriters’ Writing Challenge is on a break right now, with the last winners of the Goes Together LIke” quarter announced just last week. And that means it’s time to announce the four winners of the quarterly level awards. The highest scoring entry in EACH LEVEL over each entire ten-week quarter receives a $50 cash prize.

Level 1: BEGINNERS – Saddle for Sale by Rachel Barrett (Pen and Paper Challenge)
Level 2: INTERMEDIATE – Dear Doctor C.E.O. by Diane Bowman (Pen and […]

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An Interview with God’s Word

An Interview With God’s Word
By Abby Kelly

Have you ever heard of the “5 W’s and an H”?

I studied journalism in college. I loved reporting, interviewing, writing and even editing articles. My favorite part was talking to people I’d never met, asking them questions and then piecing the story together. Being concise is one of the most important elements of writing a news story. I remember Dr. Senat saying over and over, “Cut out the extras! Get to the point! Answer […]

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Cutting Extraneous Words from your Manuscript

Cutting Extraneous Words from your Manuscript
Dialogue Tags and Adverbs

by Suzanne Hartmann

There are many different words that can be cut from a manuscript. Here, author Suzanne Hartmann talks about two of them – check out her series on this topic for more examples.

Dialogue Tags are phrases that identify who is speaking. It is necessary to let the reader know who is speaking, but excessive use of dialogue tags gets old quickly.

Examples =
“Pass me the bread, […]

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Christian Novel Contest – Xulon Publishing Package is Prize

Have you written (or at least started) a novel-length fiction manuscript with a sound Biblical message? If so, FaithWriters may have just the contest for you.

Any Platinum member can submit the first chapter of their novel and a synopsis to this free contest, sponsored by FaithWriters and Xulon Press. After the contest deadline of November 30, 2014, entries will be judged, and the winner will receive Xulon Press’s Best Seller Package (with a retail value of over $4,000) and free […]

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Why Word Count Matters

Why Word Count Matters

By Randy Ingermanson

I’ve noticed an interesting fact about my successful novelist friends.

Word count matters to them. A lot.

They may have a daily word count quota or a weekly quota. But they have a target.

When you have a target, you have a chance of hitting it. If you don’t have a target, you’re guaranteed not to hit it.

Word count matters because that’s what gets you to the finish line of your novel.

You can have all sort […]

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Meet 2014 Best of the Best Runner-Up Kenn Allan

Kenn Allan is no stranger to FaithWriters, the Writing Challenge, OR Best of the Best. In fact, he held the crown eight years ago (see his first Best of the Best interview here). Join Joanne Sher as she gets an update on his life, his reaction to his 3rd place win, and a bit on what inspires him.

JOANNE: First of all, Kenn, congratulations! Can you tell me what your reaction was when you learned one of your entries placed 3rd […]

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Hearing Voices

Hearing Voices
by Linda Yezak

When you’re awake at three a.m. agonizing over your manuscript, whose voice do you hear? What is it saying?

If you’re hearing your characters working out their tough scene, you’re in good shape. If you’re hearing the encouraging cheer of someone who supports and believes in you, you’re in really good shape.

The voice that makes me most angry is the one that whispers “you can’t do this.” The best way to shut that voice up is to prove it wrong.

But […]

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Share Your Testimony

Every Christian has a testimony – many more than one. Whether it is how you were saved or how God was with you through circumstances, we all have a story to tell of God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace. And as writers, putting it down on paper may be the most logical thing to do.

And FaithWriters is giving you the opportunity to not only write it down – but to share it with the world, get it in print, and participate […]

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Critting It Right

Critting it Right
By Delia Latham

Critiques are a literary “bread of life” to some writers. Others shudder at the thought of allowing another author to rip/tear/shred at their carefully chosen words.

Here’s my take on the subject. A solid critique can mean the difference in having a manuscript (which may never be seen by anyone other than the writer and the editors who reject it) or a novel (which makes the journey from writer to critique partner to writer to editor – […]

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