Writing Spaces/Goals/Headlines/Devo/Risks

1.  Zoe M. McCarthy blogs about writing spaces that could change how you create.

2.  Erin Buterbaugh, at MacGregor Literary, talks about setting realistic goals.

3.  Christianheadlines.com reports on the disruption of Christians worshiping and the storming of homes in Pakistan. Please remember to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world, who daily risk their lives to serve Jesus Christ.

4.  I believe Adelee Russell's devotional will touch many hearts. Do you feel damaged?

5.  I'm not a natural risk taker, but Lynn Simpson's post, at Connecting Stories, gave me something to chew on.

Writers:  What are your goals for 2016?

Readers:  Are you a risk taker or do you hesitate to make changes? Please share.

Photo Credit:  Louis Hall

Weather/Sagging Middles/The Voice/Persecution/Devo

1.  Angela Ackerman guest posts at Writers in the Storm. Using weather imagery in fiction is tricky, but she gives some important guidelines to avoid it becoming a cliche.

2.  Zoe M. McCarthy examines the works of 5 authors and how to avoid sagging middles in novels. This is one of those posts every aspiring author could use to hone their skills.

3.  If you haven't heard that Jordan Smith won The Voice, you're probably not on social media. His stellar performances are not only a reflection of his talent, but also of his faith that gives him strength and joy. My hope is that Jordan will continue to use the gift God gave him to express his faith.

4.  The continued murder of Christians in the Middle East is largely ignored by the media. I discovered this story on Christianheadlines.com. Why aren't Christians from the Middle East being encouraged to seek refugee status in other countries? They are the ones facing the greatest persecution.

5.  Alisa Hope Wagner did a thoughtful devotional on Zechariah 1:3. "Return to me, and I will return to you..."

Writers:  Do you use weather imagery in your manuscripts? How do you avoid cliches?

Readers: What keeps the middle of a book from sagging for you? Tension? Problems? Danger? All the above?

Photo Credit:  Jeffrey van Bijleveld

Real Life/Weed Words/Devo/Budget/Cats

1. LoRee Peery guest posts at Zoe M. McCarthy's blog. She shares about how she used her real-life experiences in writing her book. There are some great ideas here for writers and bloggers alike.

2. Are "weed words" creeping into your writing? Cyle Young guest posts at The Write Conversation.

3.  Dena Netherton writes about a new venture and Leaving the Results to God.

4.  FRC talks about the worries in Washington, D.C. about the impending budget crunch. Lobbyists are worried that any shutdown will have a negative impact on an already volatile market.

5.  Jeanette Levellie shares what she learned from her feline friends.

Writers:  What "weed words" trip you up?

Readers: If you've ever had a cat, what has it taught you?

Photo Credit:  Christoph Kurtzmann

Comparable Titles/Social Media/Encouragement/Devo/Pumpkin

1. One of the toughest parts of writing a book proposal is finding comparable titles. Zoe M. McCarthy gives us some great ways to accomplish that task.

2.  Have you ever had a Facebook friend or Twitter follower drive you crazy with their posts? Shannan, at the Procrastiwriter shares her experience and gives tips on how to purge your social media.

3.  Publishing can be a long road, and it's easy to get discouraged. Edie Melson gives 19 thing to remember when publishing.

4.  Rhonda Schrock shares a devotional, "Breathe in, breathe out."

5.  With fall here, pumpkin recipes are in demand. I discovered one for Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins. (Now, you knew there had to be chocolate in there someplace!) Let me know how they turn out, and maybe I'll make them for Thanksgiving.

Writers and Readers:  How do you handle obnoxious Facebook friends?

Photo Credit:  Jean Scheijen

Dialogue/Guest Posts/Sovereignty/Blog Titles/Twitter

1.  Art Holcomb guest posts on Storyfix about writing dialogue. This is an excellent article and a key element in novels.

2.  Have you tried doing guest posts for other blogs? It can be a rewarding experience. Shanan, at The Procrastiwriter, gives tips on how to pitch a guest post. Once you have a book on the market, guest posting is a great way to promote your work.

3.  WND reports on a trade deal now being considered by Congress that would put the sovereignty of the United States in grave jeopardy.

4.  Attention Bloggers! Zoe M. McCarthy gives us four resources to help us become awesome at creating blog titles.

5.  Brian Collins guest posts on Positive Writer. He hands out some secrets about Twitter that will help you navigate that social media platform.

Writers:  What's your biggest challenge when writing: dialogue, setting, or story tension? If it's something else, feel free to comment on that as well.

Readers/Bloggers:  How do you come up with your blog titles?

Photo Credit:  ilco

Growth/Thrift/Freedom/Slow Cooker

1.  Zoe McCarthy shows how characters must have growth moments as a story progresses. It's good to see examples that help identify whether or not you're hitting the target in this area.

2.  Lori Hatcher guest posts at The Write Conversation. Writing and blogging can become pricey. She gives 3 ways to save on expenses, as well as time.

3.  WND reports that a group is pressing for the court martial of a two-star Air Force general for thanking God at a National Day of Prayer Task Force event.

4.  Do you doubt that America was founded on Christian principles? Here's an article on the first Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Jay. His quotes are eye-openers.

5.  Recipe time! I came across this recipe for a French Toast Casserole that can be made in a slow cooker.

Writers:  Do you plan for character growth in your novels? Since I'm a SOTP writer, I have to think about the main character's personality at the start and gradually bring them to a place of greater maturity.

Readers:  Do you enjoy using a slow cooker? Please share.  I've used mine to make pot roasts, beef stew, and even sauce with meatballs. Handy tip:  Reynold's puts out a slow cooker liner that saves time and lots of scrubbing.

Photo Credit: nkzs