• Lent for Christian Writers

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    The season of Lent has a rich history in the Christian tradition, calling for believers to prepare for Easter and meditate on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. As writers, our work always calls for observation and reflection of the events, emotions, people, and scenes around us. So how can we allow this rich period of Lenten reflection and discipline infuse into our writing? Set a writing goal on your Lenten journey Lent is a forty-day journey between Ash Wednesday and Easter. On Ash Wednesday, crosses of ashes are painted on the forehead to show our human frailty. At the same…

  • How To Write Romantic Relationships (Without Getting Cheesy)

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    I love a good story with some romantic element. It has a way of sweeping me into the characters’ lives and drawing me deeply into their trials and triumphs. Of course there are books that focus on romance as their main genre, but a solid romantic relationship can add dimension to almost any story. The problem is pulling it off without overusing any looks of longing or overdramatic reconciliations (not every argument has to end with someone flying across the world with two dozen roses). Here are some tips on how to write romantic relationships that add depth to your…

  • Describing Characters: What You Are Doing Wrong?

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    Everyone wants to write characters who feel like living, breathing people. After all, that is how readers connect with them, feel for them, and eventually love or hate them—our ultimate goal. Whether you are trying to adequately describe real people, like your parents in your autobiography, or you are creating characters from scratch, such as in a fictional narrative, there are some common mistakes you should avoid. Mistake #1: Simply Listing Their Characteristics This is probably the comment I leave the most on manuscripts I am editing. Specific physical description is important, but it should also tell us something about…

  • New Year’s Resolution: Tackling the Blank Page

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    We have all been there: that white document glowing in your face, only marked with a flashing cursor simply ticking off the seconds that you aren’t writing—that you are allowing your idea to tuck further inside of you, away from the fate that waits on the page. You have your idea, that little seed of inspiration you have carefully nurtured until a hint of a sprout peeks out, but when it comes time to coax it out into the world, you feel it shrink back into that safe space. Who can blame it? It is cozy and peaceful there, without…