The Writing Life Archives

Is There a Right Time to Write?

January 16, 2014
Student Contributor
Culture, Stuck? Discouraged?, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
3 Comments

Angie Fraser, Guest Contributor Although The One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) is designed for high school students, we also have many adult students—some college-age, but others who write in the midst of parenting and jobs outside of the home. Angie, in New Zealand, has the distinction of being both the mother of OYAN students and an OYANer herself. We asked her to tell us about what it's like writing a novel as a mom and home-educator.

A Young Writer’s Take on Jeff Gerke’s “The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction”

January 2, 2014
Student Contributor
Reviews: Books, Movies, Short Stories, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
1 Comment

Hannah Mills, Guest Contributor Hannah Mills, a veteran student of The One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN), shares her thoughts about Jeff Gerke's book, The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, with special attention to how Gerke’s insights intersect with the fiction-writing structure taught in OYAN.

Growing a Story from the Spine Out

December 19, 2013
Daniel Schwabauer
Daniel's Writing Log, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
1 Comment

Daniel Schwabauer I sometimes wonder if my work-in-progress will ever be anything more than a private playground for my characters. Of course, all of this self-analysis can go too far.

How to Write Evil, Awesome Villains

December 12, 2013
Student Contributor
Help with Characters, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
11 Comments

Rebecca Harrison, Guest Contributor Villains can be some of the most difficult characters to write and they can be the difference between a stagnant story and a powerful one.

When the Missing Ingredient in Your Story Is You

December 5, 2013
Student Contributor
Stuck? Discouraged?, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
0 Comments

Miguel Flores, Guest Contributor Few things we learn about writing are consistently applicable to every writer. One of those rare things is this: writing is hard.