by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28  The written word doesn’t only stay written. Nor is it completely silent. Even if we don’t read out loud, our minds “hear” the words on a page. As we read silently, our brains pronounce the words. (Like right now, yes?) Sentences don’t stay stagnant on a…

By Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites Writing causes angst, yet we are driven to the keyboard. We know God called us to pen our thoughts and stories, but how do we overcome our fear, doubt, worry, and the dreaded platform building? Recently I posted on the Blue Ridge Conference Writers Facebook page.…

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea Ever get to that “I need to peel a roll of cookie dough and eat it like a banana” state of stressed? Cookie dough. So good, but so bad. But I’m talking about a shaky-hand kind of stress that goes beyond even the “I have to pour…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writing a story from an actual person or event provides an opportunity for readers to explore, invoke sensory perception, and imagine themselves as those who lived through a notable time in history or a contemporary happening. A real or fictitious character who embarks upon the established…

By Theresa Parker Pierce @rowanhistory When I am giving a tour or other presenting to groups, people often ask how I got started. They say, “I would love doing this.” So, here is my short answer. Walk into your local museum and ask, “Do you take volunteers?” Twenty-three years ago,…

by Blythe Daniel @BlytheDaniel You probably have been asked this question that frequently comes up in publishing discussions: “What are you doing to build your audience?” Some people cringe at this question, others excitedly share how they are meeting people, talking with them about the interest in their writing, and…