By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I believe a writer’s number one purpose in creating a story is to entertain the reader. Following that task is to inspire a reader to attempt what they may believe is impossible. The reader follows how the protagonist overcame obstacles to reach a goal or solve…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Story Payoff is not a writer gripping the handle of a slot machine and hoping the reader gets it. That friends, would be a gamble. Who wants to risk their story, a work of the heart that has taken weeks, months, or years to create? The…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writers are often stalked by a predator called stress. It’s a nasty physical, mental, and spiritual disorder that can cause headaches, back and body pain, nausea, depression, problems in relationships, doubt in God’s calling, and a host of other ailments. Not a pleasant malady. The causes…

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writers strive to meet their readers’ needs, concerns, and questions. To accomplish this, the writer explores what matters before addressing those challenges. One way to focus on a specific audience is to explore the generational sweet spot for their age group. Discover the cultural differences, victories,…

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 DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Sometimes coming up with unique and creative blog post idea is a challenge. I understand because I’ve been there more than once. Out of frustration and discouragement, I found a solution that I’ve used repeatedly. Enlist your readers to help you with blog ideas. Think about…