by Staci Stallings So the other night my 16-year-old son, the light guy, sat in his chair in the living room perplexed beyond measure. His quandary? He’d been working for a couple of weeks on a prototype for a new light design for the Christmas light show at our house in our yard. […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/the-gap-5-21-2021/
by Carmen Peone “Just to let you know, I wouldn’t marry her!” said my working cattle ranch-owning contact. His words made my chest clench. Yet, his profound statement changed the course of my first romantic suspense story’s attitude. I didn’t want another weak woman saved by a macho man. I wanted real characters facing and overcoming trauma—like […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/get-up-and-get-out-find-your-research-gems-in-conversation/
by Carmen Peone Backstory is the backbone of every character, even us. It’s God–given and shapes us into the men and women we are created to be. A character’s backstory is essential for stories that rely on empathy because compassion focuses on what the why of what happens means to the character. Backstory is vital for tension and conflict. Without them, readers tend to close […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/why-backstory-is-essential-and-how-to-use-it-correctly-7-21-2020/
by Shawn Lamb The typical writing course talks about protagonists and antagonists almost in a black-and-white contrast with very little gray areas. It is true that villains should be complex, yet the more one wants to prove a point, the more dramatic they tend to create the contrast between hero and villain. In […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/hero-villain-or-somewhere-in-between-7-10-2020/
by Carmen Peone Never in this world did I think I would love poetry. Until God touched my heart with Haiku and Elfchen. Elfchen is a newer form of poetry for me, but I have come to love its simplicity. It’s a place I can hone in on God’s creation and love. In this time of fear, uncertainty, and quarantine, we can create a safe […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/two-forms-of-inspiring-poetry-5-12-2020/
by Shawn Lamb For an author, typing The End brings the journey of a novel to a conclusion. Or does it? Creating a satisfying ending can be just as daunting and frustrating as crafting a good solid opening to capture attention. Do loose ends need to be tied-up, all questions answered, or leave them wanting more? The answers are as diverse […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/the-end-finishing-a-story-5-5-2020/
by Carmen Peone You know how multifaceted writing a novel can be. Not only do writers have to create 3-dimensional, compelling characters who pursue high-stake goals, you have to do it using enough tension and conflict to keep readers turning every page until the end. For a full-length novel, all of that needs to be tucked into well-developed scenes that […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/setting-the-scene/
by Carmen Peone Metaphors extend familiar names and pair them with new objects. In metaphor there is a transfer of meaning. The Greek word from which metaphor originates from means “to transfer.” Hence a ray of sunshine cuts despair (as though it were a knife); a woman weaves through life (as cedar bark is woven to […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/metaphorically-speaking/
by Carmen Peone An interjection is a word added to a sentence to convey an emotion or a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm. There are two main reasons to use interjections in both fiction and non-fiction: They are fun! They show a character’s emotions. And emotions keeps readers turning pages. […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/yippee-another-interjection-3-3-2020/
by Carmen Peone I’ve come to realize writing is nothing more than clear communication whether the piece is fiction and non-fiction. While one may offer a form of entertainment, the other explains or persuades. However, to be effective both types of writing must effectively connect reader to story. My first tip is to think reader first. Mentors like […]
https://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/ten-tips-to-turn-your-writing-into-clear-communication-2-21-2020/
