21 Ways to Ruin Your Protagonist’s Life (without compromising their morality)
I met with an author yesterday to review her developmental edit. Like many first-time authors, she was struggling to make enough bad things happen to her protagonist, especially things that might be perceived as the character’s fault. Understandably, she wants her...
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Is The Chosen a failure?
An old friend of mine recently wrote an impressive piece for The Atlantic on why The Chosen fails to achieve its goals. The Chosen is a dramatic serial adaptation of the life of Christ, funded by the largest crowdfunding campaign of its type in history. Created by...
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Play the Game You Want to Win
When I was in the fifth grade I won this really cool 4-square ball at AWANA. It was multi-toned blue, swirled together, like the way the ocean looks from space. We were playing at recess one day, and I felt like I had been treated unfairly. Who knows why? Probably a...
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What’s more important—Beta Readers or a Developmental Editor? What’s the difference?
I’m a firm believer in writers’ workshops, especially for beginning authors. As long as it’s a good workshop committed to giving hard feedback, there’s no better way to hear what real readers really think of your work. Beta readers are like workshop readers for your...
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Authors: Write a Slogan that Works
“Let’s do it.” “I’m lovin’ it.” “Mmmm, mmmm, good.” “In 15 minutes, save 15% or more on car insurance.” You can probably name all four of these companies just based on their slogans, and probably pass a test with 100 more. You’re bombarded with slogans every day of...
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Is Your Faith Worth Persecuting?
Let me tell you a brief story. In the early days of the Christian Church, the first two hundred or so years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the Church grew rapidly. Large numbers of believers were added to the faith. As it ballooned in...
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The Nativity: A Tale of Faith and Fear
I cry every time I read Christmas books. I don’t know why. The Christmas story from the Bible, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas…it doesn’t matter. One of my favorite Christmas books is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara...
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9 Actually Seriously Really Thoughtful Gift Ideas for a Writer
Writers are tough to buy for. Your literary shot glasses, each featuring the portrait of a long-dead author, are well-intentioned and thoughtful. Well, not thoughtful, more creepy. But you tried. Most writers don’t need another notebook, or a glow-in-the-dark pen...
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Acting, Empathy, and the Art of Authentic Dialogue
Over the years I’ve found that writers who can also act often write better dialogue. If you can believably act your dialogue out, you can write it. Writers who sound stilted, awkward, and, for lack of a better word, cringey, when they read dialogue out loud typically...
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Sharing Is Not an Endorsement
When you step out in ministry, haters will find you. That’s how satan works. Satan has limited resources. I don’t know that he’s overly concerned with complacent Christians. But when you begin to step out and take risks for the Lord, satan will show up. One of my...
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