by Shannon Thomas @AuthorShannonT I love a red pen. I love what it symbolizes. I love the power it possesses. As a writer, I'm also terrified of it, like many of us are. But I've learned that the red pen is a necessary tool that can often be approached with…

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted Nobody knows the difficulty in getting on that next novel or article better than I. Between health issues with my husband, dealing with a 99-year-old Momma, a son with disabilities, and conference travel, trust me. I know how challenging it can be to get started on…

by Lynn Blackburn @LYNNHBLACKBURN I’m a firm believer that you can learn lessons about your writing life anywhere—as long as you’re paying attention. Case in point? I got the idea for this blog post from taking my oldest to three different orthodontists. Stay with me. My daughter has disabilities and nothing—nothing—is…

By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin For over 20 years, I’ve been writing for publication, both magazines and books. During these years, I’ve written for over 50 different print magazines, and I’ve also spent years as a magazine editor. My first book, a short children’s book, was published in 1992 and since…

by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @khutch0767 As a mom of three talented athletes, I’ve spent countless hours cheering from the sidelines of track meets. Each of my children had their specialty—one a sprinter, one a long-distance runner, and one who did a bit of everything. Watching them compete was exhilarating, but over…

By Aaron Gansky @ADGansky If you’ve followed my blog much, you’ll know how much importance I put on the first line. Just as important, and just as tricky, is the final line. If I could make one observation from my years as a literary editor, I’d say that the best…