• What’s Unique About Your Story?

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    Each of us has a unique story; a story we may not think is special, but to some it may be the encouragement they need to make sense of their lives. Maybe you have been feeling the tug of God on your heart to write your testimonial down on paper, yet you keep asking yourself, “Who would want to read my story?” The answer is everyone, but it’s important to locate what is distinctive about your story that might create a positive influence among readers. As May is the month devoted to celebrating testimonials, let’s try to generate ideas to discover…

  • Realistic and Respectful Romance

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    The man, the woman, or the look that says so much between the two: romance shouldn’t have to just reside in grocery store romance novels or anything from Nicholas Sparks. A growing trend in Christian fiction today is romantic fiction, a genre that thrives on endearing, appropriate romance and that has made household names of authors Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury and Dee Henderson. Yet a challenge that is always in the background of Christian romance is conveying realistic romance without tittering on giving too much detail. It’s drawing the line between sweet kisses shared on a moonlit doorstep, to full…

  • Photos Worth Words

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    Writing can come with its obstacles and challenges, such as writer’s block, but when writing nonfiction books, especially those of personal testimony, it can be even more difficult to write. We want our nonfiction stories to be inspirations to people and encourage them to see the light at the end of the tunnel as they go through life. Sometimes looking at photographs or pictures can trigger the right words to flow from your mind to the page, allowing a story to make its presence known to others. For this writing prompt, consider looking through old photographs of yourself, your family/friends…

  • Legacy

    Why We Write: To Leave a Legacy

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    What do you think about when you hear the word “legacy”? Synonyms relating to this word include inheritance, birthright, heirloom, etc. A legacy doesn’t have to be a tangible object; it can also be a treasured word of wisdom, funny anecdote or memory that offers a valuable piece of advice. Could your life story be considered a legacy you could leave to your family, bequeathing to them life lessons, personal insight and genuine encouragement for their paths ahead? At Xulon Press, we come across manuscripts from time to time that are created mementos of authors’ life experiences and beliefs, to…