If you’ve enjoyed my reflections and ramblings over the past years here at my blog, I think you’ll enjoy my newsletters—which are much more consistent. The reason why I have an author newsletter is because I want to stay in direct touch with readers and followers. I much prefer the closer connection that email allows,ContinueContinue reading “Will You Take A Minute to Join My Newsletter?”
Category Archives: Writing
Why I Journal (And Why I Think Everyone Should Too)
Confession #1: I’m usually keeping two journals at once—but it should be three. (Never mind the notebooks and slips of paper and digital notes I take to record and organize my thoughts. Heaven help that lot!) The first journal is for life, and the second is a journal for spiritual life. The third one shouldContinueContinue reading “Why I Journal (And Why I Think Everyone Should Too)”
Writer’s Block: 5 Things You Can Do When the Words Won’t Come
Anyone who has spent more than a happy afternoon putting words together knows that intent alone does not a story make. Sometimes there’s an impenetrable block that stops the flow of words. And I’m not talking about the writer’s block that looks like scratching one’s head halfway through a complicated scene. I mean the writer’sContinueContinue reading “Writer’s Block: 5 Things You Can Do When the Words Won’t Come”
The Top 5 Authors Who Inspire Me
Behind every writer are stacks of books as tall as they are. These books were authored by people who touched the writer, either in-person, in the written form, or both. Creativity inspires creativity, and so I believe it’s important to absorb as much content as possible. And so as to not stay a consumer, IContinueContinue reading “The Top 5 Authors Who Inspire Me”
Serving vs. Selling
So many thoughts rummaging around in my head these days, but one that has emerged in some state of cohesiveness to ponder with you all is about marketing. And yet it also isn’t. Let me explain. I was reading a fantastic article about marketing by author and writing coach K.M. Weiland recently. (Or, more accurately, IContinueContinue reading “Serving vs. Selling”
The Jonah Within
There are few Bible personalities I really connect with. You know: Ruth was so good, and Esther was fearless and beautiful, and Mary was amazing. Paul is hard for me to get my head around, and the disciples, well, they were interesting and funny, but relatable? Well, maybe not so much. But start talking about Jonah, andContinueContinue reading “The Jonah Within”
One Part Calling, Another Part Compulsion
Not long ago, someone asked why I chose to pursue writing. Responses for how, when, and where came to mind, but why was more elusive. After a moment’s consideration, the only way I could describe it was: “It was one part calling, another part compulsion.” Eric Liddell, portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire, said, “I believeContinueContinue reading “One Part Calling, Another Part Compulsion”
To Outline, Wing It, or Both?
It’s said there are two types of writers: those who work methodically off an outline and those who write by the seat of their pants, guiding their characters into the unknown with pen, paper, and intuition their only provisions. Another type that is commonly overlooked is the hybrid. In a world of logical classification, they areContinueContinue reading “To Outline, Wing It, or Both?”
No Choice in the Matter
“What made you choose that?” The question made me smile. The gentleman next to me didn’t ask it in a rude way. Maybe because I don’t seem like someone who’d be interested in the textile mill industry in late-1800s Philadelphia, he genuinely wanted to know why I’d chosen it for the background of my story.ContinueContinue reading “No Choice in the Matter”
The Color Red: the Brighter Side
When I counted every person who had critiqued the chapter I blogged about last week, I calculated twenty. Never before have I had that large of a critique group, and never before has my writing changed so drastically from start to finish. Over two months ago, before another pair of eyes had seen that chapter,ContinueContinue reading “The Color Red: the Brighter Side”
Meagan Briggs 