My friend Yvonne Anderson writes fascinating sci-fi, and her blog is one of the stops on the Christian Book Lovers Hop, going on now: June 25-30. What is a blog hop? It's a creative way to link blogs and give readers a chance to win free stuff. It looks like most of the blogs on … Continue reading Blog hopping
Doubling time
Nearly every writer feels pulled. Pulled between writing compulsion and family commitments. It can feel like being the increasingly fraying rope in a tug-of-war. In a writing course I once took, I was challenged to consider the hours poured into relational commitments as doubling my time. Instead of thinking that I'm being pulled away from … Continue reading Doubling time
Simmering fiction WIP
Writers often refer to their current WIP (Work In Progress). Since I am always working on several projects, I'm thinking of adopting the acronym MWIVGIP (Multiple Works In Various Genres In Progress). But it seems a tad awkward and I'm not sure how I'd pronounce it. One of my two current novels has a complicated … Continue reading Simmering fiction WIP
On the centennial cusp
Okay, folks. I've been watching my blog's follower count creep up and have been thinking that it might be a clever gimmick to reward Follower #100 with their choice of my published books. I thought I'd have plenty of time to think this through, but yesterday my follower count suddenly shot up to 99. We're … Continue reading On the centennial cusp
I get by with a little help from my friends
Although the lyrics of that old Beatles song fail to reflect the comprehensive character of my personal worldview, there's definitely a sense in which I get by with a little help from my friends. Every writer knows the importance of networking. A writer can't construct a platform without building name recognition, which requires networking through … Continue reading I get by with a little help from my friends
Best. Feeling. Ever!
Is there any greater delight than being productive and believing that you're doing exactly what God wants you to do? Today's a Wonderful Wednesday because I finished the introduction and Day 1 of a new devotional manuscript I'm writing. Writing can be such a struggle when you feel as if you're pulling every word out … Continue reading Best. Feeling. Ever!
Supplemental fiction
After getting past some big deadlines, including a couple of speaking engagements, I designated today for a full day dedicated to writing fiction. I intended to write only fiction, nothing but fiction, all day. It's over three hours since I first entered the office and I've yet to write one word of fiction. I'd hoped … Continue reading Supplemental fiction
Creative writing interview
Today a student sent me questions for an interview. I found some of the questions thought-provoking and thought the interview might be worth sharing. How would you define creative writing? Creative writing is generally fiction and poetry, although more genres of nonfiction are being increasingly identified as creative. The most notable modern example is what's … Continue reading Creative writing interview
Marketing or ministry?
My friend, Yvonne Anderson, reflects today on the tension between marketing and writing. Having two books published this year has shown me how that tension increases exponentially. There seems to be a continual tug of war between these two priorities. But one thing I'm learning is that the lines blur between marketing and ministry. Since … Continue reading Marketing or ministry?
Nano null, but not void
Here we are: the last day of November. For hundreds of thousands of people around the globe, that means the last day of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Some are sleeping in this morning because they've reached their goal of 50,000 words in a new novel. Some are typing "The End" with a smile on … Continue reading Nano null, but not void
Glenda Faye Mathes 