Hello all – I have taken a break from blogging due to other responsibilities with the “day job.” I will be back to post on Thursday, October 15. Until then – visit my links page and read the many wonderful blogs that I follow as well! Blessings, Nicole
Stumbling upon the ACFW
After I graduated college, I had a sudden pang of regret. I really enjoy learning more and pushing myself. I even loved homework. So I enrolled in an online class about how to get published. The class was interesting enough, but in my own research into proposals and my experience being published in magazines and newspapers, it was all very elementary for me. However, there was one lesson I took to heart. And it would change the course of my writing career. The instructor encouraged us to find contests and submit our work. In researching different writing contests, I found the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and their contest for unpublished...
Bad habits
So, time for a confession. I am the most inefficient writer on the planet. At least, I think so. I love to write. I love to hand write my stories. That means, I must type everything up later and my rough draft takes twice as long to finish. Likewise, I love to edit with paper in hand, rather than reading from a computer screen. Thus, it takes twice as long to revise a chapter. I know that a full-time writer probably wouldn’t have the time to do things this way, but its a habit I’m trying to break. With my critique partners, we do all our correspondence and editing via...
The journey of revision
I was planning on writing a blog about another Arabian horse legend, but I thought I would let you all know where I am with my novel, In Dawn’s Shadows. This week, I am currently suffering the worst case of writers block. I hate it. Thanks to my fabulous critique partners (you know you are!) the novel has undergone many changes and improvements. Most writers will tell you no story is ever finished; there could always be one more edit, revision or tweak. Well, with In Dawn’s Shadows, it desperately needed the closer look and adjustment. Because I started this story as a freshman in high school, the manuscript has...
ACFW meeting last night…
Last night, I was reminded exactly why I work so hard to become a published author. The Portland/Vancouver Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers group met yesterday and amongst other great news and camaraderie, one of the members, Christina Berry, is celebrating the release of her first book, The Familiar Stranger. The pure joy on her face was priceless. This is a woman who worked on this novel for more than ten years, with more than 45 rejections. Now, the book, published by Moody, is a striking figure for any bookshelf. Congratulations, Christina! The hard work was well worth it! In the writing group, there are writers of all...