Archive:

The Writing Craft

Castle on a distant hill surrounded by trees

How to Describe the Setting of a Story

March 15, 2024

One of the toughest nuts for you to crack as a novelist is where to start. Two-thirds of my more than 200 published books are novels, so I’ve faced this dilemma more than 140 times. Trust me, starting never gets easier, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But there are common errors to […]

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Surviving and Thriving As a Writer in the Age of AI

March 8, 2024

A Guest Blog by Jodie Hurst   The age of Artificial Intelligence is here, and you may be confused as to how you should feel about it. Should you feel happy that super-efficient tools can aid your writing?  Or should it alarm you that AI can produce in seconds what it takes you hours or […]

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Fiction Techniques for Nonfiction Writers

February 19, 2024

Fiction and nonfiction are separate genres, but though their labels imply otherwise, they are not wholly opposites. While the first is created from your imagination and the other pulls from real life, both require creativity and vivid expression to become compelling.  Ironically, the definitions of the two genres could almost be flip-flopped. Fiction works best […]

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How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?

February 9, 2024

Writing a book can take a lifetime. But realistically, how long should you expect yours to take?  If you’re trying to balance a full-time job, a family, or every other priority life throws in your path, where will you find the time—and how much time do you need? Your book should serve as a way […]

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Guide to christian writing contests in 2017

Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests Through 2024

January 12, 2024

Regardless where you are on your writing journey, you can benefit from entering contests. The right contest can tell you: Where you stand How you measure up against the competition What you still need to learn And you could win cash. That’s why my team researched a wide range of high-quality contests. We’ve included free […]

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