By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin David Smith loved language and ignited an excitement in his English teaching at Peru High School in Peru, Indiana during the late 1960s. Of modest height with receding sandy hair and a bug-eyed appearance, Mr. Smith loved his students and reached out to challenge them. As…

by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767 As Christian writers, we often encounter moments of self-doubt and insecurity. There have been times when I've questioned whether my voice truly mattered or if my words could inspire change. However, I've come to understand that our perceived limitations do not define us—our aspirations can triumph…

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills The Blue Ridge Conference is fast approaching, and writers are polishing their manuscripts and proposals One of the conference highlights is the ability for the writer to schedule two face-to-face appointments with an agent, editor, or professional writer. We want that event to be a positive…

by Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites Fluff was my favorite sandwich as a child. The ooey-gooey marshmallow mixed with the high-protein spread made for a delicious combination.  My mom packed them for long-distance trips or as a snack on the beach. They tasted best at the beach—so warm and sweet. I could…

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author Do you use formulas in your writing projects? No, it’s not a trick question. The idea of formulaic writing might concern some people, especially because the industry-wide demand for originality, but we need to understand an important truth about storytelling: There are no new stories. Sorry…

By Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites For the last week or more, one of the bulbs in my kitchen flickers when I first turn it on every morning. It burns bright for a minute or two, then goes dark for another couple of minutes. It then comes back on for three minutes,…