By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I’m in the process of downsizing for a smaller home.  What I’ve discovered while cleaning closets, cabinets, and drawers is the power of acknowledging that stuff is not what defines our identity. The items with sentimental value symbolize life experiences. Through photographs, keepsakes that belonged to my family and my husband, and books (yes, I have a weakness for books)

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Today is September 1, and I’m ready for the 3-digit temps in Houston to drop for cooler days. That’s a redirection, and I support it 100 percent! But some changes threaten our mental, physical, and/or spiritual lives. We’re afraid and angry, especially when we are helpless to stop the inevitable. How do we approach challenges with

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills This week I want to share what I’m reading and recommending. All seasons offer enjoyable times to read. Sometimes those seasons are on the calendar, and other times seasons are what we are facing in life—celebrations, growing, learning, and entertainment. We have our favorite authors and genres, and I encourage you to try something new. Fiction

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. Across the country, communities and families are planning grand celebrations. Bands will play music that gets our feet moving and our voices singing. Flags will wave proudly. Homes and neighborhoods will glow in red, white, and blue. Choirs will sing beloved patriotic songs. Families

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Fiction writing addicts tend to have common set of traits, and these are personal and professional. It’s who we are, how we think, and how we process information. For the Christian, writing is not just how we are wired but it is our calling. Fiction writers are wired to juggle character, plot, emotion, dialogue, setting, and

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I’ve often been asked how I view my writing. Is it a career, hobby, a means to gain recognition, purchase something special? Or is it a ministry? The Christian writer who communicates through the written word journeys into a personal ministry. Every genre needs wholesome material that entertains, inspires, teaches, or informs. Exploring the process of

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills This is not a post about ways to remove the chaos and stress from of your life. Neither am I offering an instructional guide to eliminating stress by getting organized, exercising more, eating nutritionally sound, praying more, learning to say no, journaling your feelings, seeking counseling, taking prescription meds, or exploring the many ways to reduce

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnn Mills Every time I begin a new writing project, I panic. Can I do this again? Do I have the skills to carry another book through to completion? Will my readers like the characters? Is my plot credible enough with twists and turns to keep readers guessing? Will my story linger in the hearts of my

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills At writing conferences, there are moments of humor where professionalism, personality, and perfection take a break for laughter. Humor lightens the load for stressful and awkward moments, paving the way for writers to experience new and lasting relationships, critique partners, prayer partners, incredible memories, and lessons in behavior. Sometimes the unplanned breaks in the toughest of

By DiAnn Mills at DiAnnMills We have officially stepped into 2026! I wish you a joyful and blessed New Year. May the challenges of 2025 disappear, and the good times continue to make you smile. January is the month I update my blog post spreadsheet to you. If you’ve been a subscriber for very long, then you know I post