Do you always follow the recipe? When I first learned to cook, I leaned what tools to use, how to read the recipes, and how to mix the ingredients to make something edible and tasty. Have you ever asked your mother or grandmother for a recipe only to have her say, “I don’t use a […]
Writing Alone Together
“Writing is a solitary occupation.” – Jessamyn West I don’t know much about Jessamyn West, but I think she has the author’s life right. I also think she’s got it completely wrong. The quote goes on to speak of interruptions and the need to be completely alone in order to finish the task of writing. […]
Creating Memorable Heroes and Heroines
What makes a hero and heroine memorable to readers? Often it’s the fire and ice relationships that make for an interesting read. In the world of fiction, as well as real life, opposites seem to attract. When creating lead characters, writers often choose unlikely combinations. A backwoodsman and a city girl. A rich heiress […]
Find Your Way
Fill a room full of writers and ask them how they approach writing and you’ll get lots of different answers. Everyone has a unique way of how they write and come up with their ideas. Some may have to plot out every single detail, while others come up with it as they go. There’s no […]
Tips for Attending a Writing Conference
I’m planning to attend Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to being in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, chatting with old friends, meeting new ones, and focusing on my writing journey for several days. Here’s my to-do list. Before the conference: Pray about whether or not you […]
Practically Painless
When dreaming of being an author one day, I never considered more than seeing my name on the cover and having other people read my words (and love them, of course). Everything else would obviously take care of itself because if a publisher liked my work enough to print it, then it would sell, right? […]
A Responsive Reading of Christian Fiction
At the church where I serve, the Sunday morning service includes a profession of faith spoken in response to the teaching we’ve heard from Scripture. This response might be a creed taken from our denomination’s collection of trusted explanations of faith, or it might be a portion of Scripture. We might read the entire portion […]
Praying For Your Writing Journey
Like the other Mantle Rock authors, I write from a Christian world view. That means whether or not the Gospel is explicitly stated in the stories, God is always woven into the plot. Because of the Christian component, I begin a writing project and writing sessions with prayer. Sometimes the prayer is as simple […]
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