Category: Christian Authorship

Why God is a Critical Part of the Writing Process – Guest Post by Beloved

Why God is a Critical Part of the Writing Process – Guest Post by Beloved

Today’s article is a guest post by Beloved, who’s releasing her new YA contemporary novel The Daily Life of Hailey Grace.

For Hailey Grace, birthdays suck! She hopes with all her heart that her big day passes without gifts, or even a birthday wish. But with loving parents and two witty best friends who keep her on her toes, there’s no telling what adventure Hailey Grace will be forced to explore this time. Unexpectedly, her best friend Alex challenges her to do something she’s never done before. With that comes a whole new set of rules, and another life Hailey isn’t sure she’s quite ready for. Now questioning all that she has ever believed, she takes Alex up on the dare by asking for something that no one but God can give her. Her request also comes with a twenty-four-hour deadline. As the minutes slowly but surely tick by, Hailey’s life shifts into overdrive and she wonders if she has asked for too much too soon.
Her post is short, but sweet. Enjoy!

My advice for aspiring writers who seek publication is to first seek God. Seek God wholeheartedly and Continue reading “Why God is a Critical Part of the Writing Process – Guest Post by Beloved”

Finding Your Why

Finding Your Why

The Dark War Trilogy is really hard to write. Well, at least the last two books. I’ve been working on The Shadow Raven since before last NaNoWriMo, and since NaNoWriMo I’ve made very little progress on it. I’ve totally stalled out multiple times and been weighed down by the guilt of not writing, and even guilt for not loving my writing. I mean, this trilogy was my passion project, wasn’t it? Why is it so difficult?

In times like these, when writing is just hard—sometimes emotionally draining—when the words just aren’t coming… These are the times we need to remember why we’re writing this story rather than one of the other billion ideas out there. Why did we decide on this story?

I know, a lot Continue reading “Finding Your Why”

How to Write Healthy Romance (and Why We Need To)

How to Write Healthy Romance (and Why We Need To)

Romance is a large feature in the majority of books (at least above middle-grade level). It’s nearly impossible to find a book without at least one romance in it, and almost as hard to find a book with a good romance in it. The romances found in most books today are shallow, based almost entirely on physical attraction, and often have little basis in a prior platonic relationship. This is not a good kind of relationship to be praising and providing examples of. Real relationships require much more than physical attraction to survive, and relationships based only Continue reading “How to Write Healthy Romance (and Why We Need To)”

The Power of Art

The Power of Art

Art is a powerful thing. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Sometimes it feels like it’s simply words on a page or paint on a canvas or notes on the air. Other times, it’s impossible to miss how powerful it is. Other times it hits you like a train, bringing you to tears or making you grin uncontrollably. Art is much more than the sum of its parts. Art has the power to spawn emotion in a reader, viewer, listener. I know this first-hand, both from being so affected by art, and by seeing the reactions that my friends have when they read my writing.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” As artists, we have great power, but we have to be careful Continue reading “The Power of Art”