How to Appreciate the Writer in Your Life

How to Appreciate the Writer in Your Life

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Tomorrow is National Author’s Day, so it seemed fitting to focus today’s post on how to appreciate the writers around us. If you’re a writer yourself, you might already be thinking about these things, but if you’re not–if you’re a family member or friend of a writer–then here are some tips for showing your appreciation for the authors who are important to you.

(For any family members reading this post: No, this is not a hint. XD)

Ask them about their projects

We authors often Continue reading “How to Appreciate the Writer in Your Life” →

How Should Christians Write About… Cursing?

How Should Christians Write About… Cursing?

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Here’s another “how should Christians write about…?” post, and this time the topic is something I’m personally working and praying through for a project.

As always, this post is meant to be food-for-thought, to lay out the scriptural guidelines for a particular topic and what we do or don’t have the freedom to include in our stories (or how we do or don’t have the freedom to portray it) based on that scripture. I’ll put forth my interpretation, but all of these topics are ultimately between you and God and the intention is not to bind or to violate your conscience.

All of that out of the way, let’s talk about cursing in fiction. (I know some of you are already squirming in your seats, but Continue reading “How Should Christians Write About… Cursing?” →

2023 Know the Novel: Part 1 – Introduction

2023 Know the Novel: Part 1 – Introduction

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Hello, and welcome to my first writing update sort of post in a very long time, lol. Some of you may know, if you follow me on social media or are subscribed to my mailing list, that I’ve been working on a couple of book projects this year. One is a non-fiction project that I’m not saying much about yet; the other is a sci-fi novel called Lightning, which I’m Continue reading “2023 Know the Novel: Part 1 – Introduction” →

Defining the Purpose of a World

Defining the Purpose of a World

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Defining the purpose of your fictional world is a foundational and yet often overlooked step of worldbuilding. Leaving your world’s purpose indefinite and vague opens the door wide to overwhelm, lack of direction, and frustration with the worldbuilding process. But defining a world’s purpose can feel limiting–and how do you effectively frame the purpose of a world, anyway? Hence often overlooking or ignoring this helpful step.

Today I want to look at how defining the purpose of your world will aid you in the worldbuilding process and how to frame your world’s purpose effectively.

*Links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links, meaning that purchases made through them earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Prime Question: Why Define a World’s Purpose?

“Why do it? Won’t outlining my world’s purpose just limit my creativity and the scope of my world?”

Yes and no.

Defining your purpose with a world limits the scope of Continue reading “Defining the Purpose of a World” →

Intrigue & Mystery with Selective Prose

Intrigue & Mystery with Selective Prose

Posted on by R.M. Archer

This post is based on a question I got quite a while back and answered for a newsletter subscriber. Bethani asked, “How do you write stories that are intriguing without using too many words?”

I’d been intending to expand this into a blog post for at least several months, and finally got to it in my big batching project before my wedding so I can finally share Continue reading “Intrigue & Mystery with Selective Prose” →