How many times have we heard we are to make our writing tight? If you’re like me, it may be more than you can count. I had no clue what it meant the first time I heard it. How does one tighten writing? It’s not like there’s a belt to cinch down or a budget to squeeze. After my critique group mentioned it several times, I asked what these two mysterious words meant. How surprised I was to find out it simply meant removing weak or unnecessary words. Yes, there’s more explanation behind it, but that’s it in a nutshell. See, even there, by removing “in a nutshell”, the sentence becomes stronger. T ..read more

“People ask me all the time: ‘How did you make it?’ I say it in the press all the time but people cut it out—it was nothing but the grace of God.” ~ Tyler Perry   As mostly self-employed writers, we must stop abusing our most valuable employee, and start creating a more loving climate. It’s time to give yourself a promotion. Like me, you may think, I haven’t done anything to earn a promotion. Maybe it’s been rejection after rejection or maybe, like me, you haven’t sent anything out in months. Maybe you haven’t been able to meet writing goals because you’re in a challenging se ..read more

The power of dialogue within the pages of a novel cannot be overstated. It’s through dialogue that characters come alive, relationships are forged, conflicts intensify, and stories unfold. Crafting effective dialogue is an art that requires careful consideration, precision, and an understanding of human communication. In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of writing compelling dialogue that captivates readers and adds depth to your narrative. 1. Develop Distinct Voices for Your Characters One of the keys to writing engaging dialogue is ensuring that each character has a distinc ..read more

Following on from our recent post, 8 Obstacles to Writing a Successful Novel and How to Avoid Them, in this post we take a deeper look at how to avoid creating weak characters. One of the most crucial elements of a compelling novel is the creation of strong, memorable characters. These characters breathe life into the story, allowing readers to form connections and become emotionally invested. Crafting well-developed characters can be a challenging task for any writer, but with careful planning and attention to detail, you can create individuals that resonate with your readers long after they ..read more

Writing a novel is an exhilarating and challenging endeavor. It requires dedication, creativity, a lot of hard work … and inspiration. However, even the most talented writers may fall into common traps that can hinder the quality and impact of their novels. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common mistakes when writing a novel and provide practical tips on how to avoid them. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you can enhance your storytelling and create a compelling narrative that captivates readers from start to finish. 1. Lack of Planning and Structure One of the most sig ..read more

I love writing contests. They’re a wonderful way to sharpen skills, get your name out there, and possibly even add an award or two to your author resume. They can help with discipline (deadlines, anyone?), get creative juices flowing, and sometimes even open your eyes to a story you didn’t even know you needed to tell. For the last several years, I’ve been more on the other side of contests as a judge or contest director. That’s been fun, too. I love reading anyway, so judging is just an excuse to read to my heart’s content while excusing it as “work.” But there’s been a growing frustration as ..read more

After surrendering my life to Christ in 2013, I gave my writing career to God as well. It didn’t matter that I’d already established a secular career as an author of fiction. It was now God’s way or bust. I thought breaking into the Christian publishing world would be easier than my secular debut, given that it’s smaller and, I figured, less competitive. I was wrong. Writing fiction for a secular market was all about writing a great story. Writing for the Christian market involves possessing not only literary gifts but spiritual gifts as well. And Christian nonfiction has the added expectation ..read more

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 Walking the writer’s path can be a scary, even threatening endeavor. We live in precarious times. Our messages of hope in Christ are as important as ever but can cost us much. Do we waver in what we know we’re to write? Is it difficult to send out our words knowing obedience to God’s call may cost us friendships? Future opportunities? Others’ approval ..read more

Members of Inspire Christian Writers are now able to submit pieces to our 2023 anthology: Inspire Honor. Please read our submission guidelines before submitting. If you are not a current member, you can join Inspire here. The submission form is available here. Note: You will need to be logged in to access the submission form. Please do NOT leave it until the last minute to make sure you know your username & password! When logged in, you will also be able to access the Submission Guidelines and the Submission Form from the Members Only menu at the top of each page ..read more

Tolkien, Lewis, Barfield, Williams … what did they have that I don’t? I’ve been reading the book, Bandersnatch by Diana Pavlac Glyer.1 I’m a bit jealous of the little band of writers, the Inklings. I don’t smoke, but I want a pipe. Beer is not my beverage, but I want to sit in the back room of The Eagle and Child, the pub the Inklings weekly met at where they raucously discussed their writing, often to the dismay of other patrons. Just as often, they met for tea at the home of C. S. Lewis where there was no one to disturb but themselves. What did they have? Comradery. A haven to share the ..read more