Rules have changed. At one time, authors were respected for their long sentences and paragraphs that consumed half the page. Not anymore. Today, we want the picture in as few words as possible, with shifts of dialogue and observations put into separate paragraphs. In school, you may have learned that a paragraph begins with a […]
Having been a professional freelance editor since 1998, I believe in the power of a well-written and well-edited book. With all the self-publishing and small-press publishing going on these days, it seems there’s a plethora of books out there that aren’t as well edited as what the big traditional publishers have put out in years past. However, […]
Boom! Your lungs deflate as the acquisitions editor across the table responds to your humble and hopeful offering of your life’s work. Your proposal is written and your book is ready. You arrived at the writer’s conference in search of a publisher who would believe in you and your story. Your meeting with the editor […]
Twenty years ago, italics was a popular means to indicate unspoken thoughts. That’s still acceptable, but we now have another approach that can be more engaging. Writing in “deep point of view” doesn’t require italics. In this style, the point-of-view character’s thoughts are brought into the narrative, so italics are no longer necessary. Many acquisition editors […]
As an agent, I spend a lot of time reading and evaluating the projects that show up in my inbox. Most of the submissions I receive are good—a lot of them even great—but I don’t have the capacity to say yes to everything. So I’ve developed a series of tools I can use to evaluate […]
Because I believe in the power, impact, and influence of Christian writers’ conferences, I am holding a contest again this year in which the prize is a full scholarship to a conference. This year, the winner will be given a choice between two options: Full scholarship to the 2019 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, including […]
The second annual SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference has come and gone, and I’ve had a few weeks to catch my breath and mull over the experience. I was fortunate to be able to teach a few workshops and attend a bunch as well. I thought I’d share my top highlights. Highlight #1: Dorm life! It […]
I was so blessed to feature Jeanette Hanscome on the faculty for this year’s SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference, which I direct. I hope you enjoy this lovely guest post from her as much as I did! I’ve lost track of how many writers’ conference I’ve attended. But teaching at the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference still […]
