Writing takes a lot out of you. Writing a novel is no easy task, and makes huge demands on your time and energy. I wish there was a way to log the hours I spend just thinking through my story, without even getting into the time I spend with my head in a notebook or… Continue reading Writing in the Dark
Category: Fiction Writers’ Advice
On Breaking the Rules
Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules for Writing: Never open a book with weather. Avoid prologues. Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue. Never use and adverb to modify the verb “said.” Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose. Never use… Continue reading On Breaking the Rules
The #1 Mistake Christian Authors Make
Set aside your author identity and think about your reading life for a minute. I have a question for you. How many times have you been frustrated, unsatisfied, or downright bored by Christian fiction? Let me say something right now: Christians do not have an inherent disability when it comes to creative pursuits. There isn’t… Continue reading The #1 Mistake Christian Authors Make
How to Write Immersive Scenes
Good immersive writing is nothing short of pure magic. To be able to conjure up bold tactile images and surround your reader with your story in stereo—that’s what takes good writing to an unforgettable level. But how do you do it? Details, Details. I know you get a lot of modern writing gurus warning against… Continue reading How to Write Immersive Scenes
Christian Speculative Writers: Your Mission Matters
Don’t underestimate the power of this genre group. You probably do. I did. I have to admit that even though I am a diehard speculative lover not to mention an almost strictly speculative author, I only recently realized why it was so important. Fantasy, science fiction, and futuristic genres are still somewhat neglected in the… Continue reading Christian Speculative Writers: Your Mission Matters
Writing for Christ: Avoiding the Instant Conversion
Welcome to the first post of this series on writing Christian fiction. Brew a cup of tea, open the window to hear the birds outside, and we can get started on today’s subject: how to avoid forcing a character to go from nonbeliever to believer in an abrupt unnatural way. If you’re like me, you… Continue reading Writing for Christ: Avoiding the Instant Conversion
Introducing Writing for Christ
Okay, guys. I’ve got a blog series in store for you. I’ve outlined five posts on topics I think every Christian fiction writer will find useful. All the topics respond to issues I commonly find in Christian fiction—and hear other readers complaining about. I’d be delighted if you would join me for the next… Continue reading Introducing Writing for Christ
Why Write Poetry?
If you normally write fiction, poetry may or may not be something you think much about. Maybe you’re so absorbed in mapping out your story-world, developing your characters, and fine-tuning your plot that you feel like writing poetry would be a distraction. After all, novel-writing is hard work, and takes focus. Why should you divert… Continue reading Why Write Poetry?
20 Prying Questions for Your Characters
If you’ve done a lot of character questionnaires before, you probably know where your main character was born, the names and ages of their siblings, their favorite food, their favorite color…those things you timidly ask your new pen-pal in the first letter. But here’s the thing: there’s absolutely no reason to be shy with your… Continue reading 20 Prying Questions for Your Characters
5 Elements of a Fandom-Enabled Story
We all want to be the author of a story that triggers the explosion of a new fandom. We want our readers to be as excited to read our story as we are to write it. We want to inspire fan-artists to bring our scenes to life in their art. We… Continue reading 5 Elements of a Fandom-Enabled Story