Industry Archives

Is Planning a Series a Good Idea As a First-Time Novelist?

October 30, 2014
Daniel Schwabauer
Industry, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
9 Comments

Daniel Schwabauer I’m often asked whether or not a young author’s first book can or should be part of a longer series. The question still surprises me; I’m amazed at the number of teens who aren’t afraid of long-term writing projects.

Conveying Hope in Your Novel without Sounding Trite

June 12, 2014
Student Contributor
Culture, Industry, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
5 Comments

Kyle de Waal, Guest Contributor We still live in a world where pain and suffering seem to be all but omnipresent. Scrolling through any news website provides more than enough fodder for the argument that humans are capable of committing any evil to each other. Where do we find hope in that? Wouldn't any message of hope seem trite against the backdrop of actual human experience?

Facing the Christian Fiction Stigma

Kyle de Waal, Guest Contributor When we look at a genre like Christian fiction, a lot of us might find ourselves sneering, because we have an idea of what Christian fiction is, and that image is not positive. We picture flat characters, predictable plots, and ham-fisted themes that leave us groaning. We can't seem to escape bonnets and buggies. However, is that really what Christian fiction is all about?

How Limitations Can Push You as a Writer

February 6, 2014
Student Contributor
Industry, Push Your Imagination, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
3 Comments

J. Grace Pennington, Guest Contributor On the surface, our possibilities may seem unlimited. We can sit down at our word processors and type out anything our imagination can come up with. There are, however, still many possible limitations. We are obviously limited by what we know or can find out about. We are somewhat limited by our own experience (“Write what you know!?”). We may be limited by word count, content, or subject if writing for someone else. But, like Spielberg, we can use these limitations to enhance our creativity and improve our craft.

Why Go to a Writers Conference?

Daniel Schwabauer In a perfect world, every good book would find a print home, and every stupid book would die a horrible death. Obviously this isn’t how the system works, and I’m often asked by young writers what they can do to break into print.