It sounds audacious, but it is largely the premise of Dorothy L. Sayers' The Mind of the Maker. Because writers, like other artists, are "sub-creators," they can give us a unique perspective on the Creator Himself, which can simplify questions of how one can make good and evil, and how miracle, free will, and the Trinity might … Continue reading What Writing Can Tell Us About God
Category: Inspiration
Description is one of my least favorite things to write--it feels like such a catalog of objects, colors, and sensations--but it's a necessary evil. Action can't happen in a vacuum; readers need some sense of where a character is, even if its only very general. Some authors have gotten away with very little description. Jane … Continue reading Why a Writer Needs Observation #amwriting #atozchallenge
As we've discussed throughout this A to Z series, writing is hard work. You can't complete a story of any great length in one burst of creativity...and this can lead to discouragement and disillusionment, as the luster of our imaginative worlds wears off. (At least for us; we've been there so much, written so much, … Continue reading Keep on: The Art of Not Quitting #atozchallenge, #quotes
For "I," I wanted to write about ideas. Some writers have no trouble coming up with ideas. Others have a few thoughts of what they'd like to write about--a particular character or genre, perhaps--but need help coming up with the rest of the story. The plot, the description, the "meat" that makes the story long … Continue reading A Writer’s Source of Ideas
I'm not going to say that blogging can make you famous, give you a new career, or change your life (though it probably can...at least theoretically?). But, having blogged fairly steadily for the last two years, I know that it can change how you write. Suddenly, you can use the hashtag #amwriting all the time, … Continue reading Why You Should Blog #atozchallenge #amwriting
As I go back over my first novel (for the twentieth time, at least), I'm reminded of one writing "rule" that many authors seem to forget: your rough drafts are worth their weight in gold. They aren't pure gold, of course. There are spelling and grammar errors, plot inconsistencies, and lines of dialogue that no … Continue reading Why You Should Treasure Your Rough Drafts
I recently read a novel by a New York Times Bestselling author (I shall not name it, but suffice to say, I had to skim my way through to finish it). And it awoke that age-old desire for my books to be just as well-read, just as popular. "My writing is every bit as good, … Continue reading How Famous Do We Need To Be?
Far and away, the Book Reviews page was most visited, but here are the next, top ten posts from last year. I'm not sure if the fact that none of my poems made the top ten should tell me something or not. Hmmm... When the Author Gets It Wrong: Jo March and Laurie Laurence C. … Continue reading Most Popular Posts from 2015
Waking up to a world of delight? Or caught in ditches of sorrows? Do you look to the future with hopeful eyes Or gaze at endless tomorrows? Edging close to where the ground ends, The place where we take to our wings? Or shuffling along, in deepening gloom, As a heavenly chorus sings? Wherever light … Continue reading Where Does Today Find You?
Book Description (from the author): One idea can create a book. One idea can spark a career. Do you have a hard time coming up with ideas on what to write? Countless writers love to write fiction. Exploring a plot and fleshing out characters is part of what makes the project fun. However, few things … Continue reading Book Review: The Idea Factory
Andrea Lundgren 