Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “writing”
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Fiction writers use their imaginations to transport readers into an adventure. Imagination and creativity are not the same tools, but they work together. Imagination propels creativity by connecting what our mind sees with how best to show it to readers: an inner landscape is used to develop the outer landscape. For example, a writer imagines a …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We writers are a passionate, emotional group. While these traits help us create beautifully worded fiction and non-fiction, nothing slashes the heart deeper than a harsh critique of our work. We might catch ourselves reading a harsh critique and thinking: “Even an idiot would get this.” “What? You’ve got to be kidding?” “Obviously, my style doesn’t …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I like to cook and bake almost as much as I love writing. Spending time in the kitchen is relaxing, satisfying, and hopefully the results are tasty. I’ve discovered my passion for writing has a lot in common with food prep. Cooking makes me a better writer. Look at the following comparisons; I think you’ll understand …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Have you ever heard a reader say they didn’t read Christian fiction because of poor writing? Either the characterization, plot, dialogue, setting, emotion, or description disappointed them. Professional writers always evaluate their craft to raise the bar and attract readers to an outstanding story. Some Christians write for the Christian market, and others write for the …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Today is National Author’s Day, and whether you are a reader, writer, or both, it’s a good reason to show an author that you care. Books thrill, inform, inspire, educate, entertain, show us new cultures, and how people lived in historical eras. We can do none of this unless we have authors who will learn how …
DiAnn Mills By DiAnnMills Most of us are familiar with King David of the Bible. His story is in 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Psalms, and many other parts of the Old and New Testament. For many of us, one of our first childhood Bible stories showed us how David took five smooth stones and used a …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills A writing client inspired this post for readers and writers. My client and I were editing his story together. A chapter ended, and so did our time, but he’d successfully created a curiosity in me, and I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened next! His response still makes me laugh. “Your enthusiasm for …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Confession time. I can use the same word too many times in a story. I call them pet words, and they can vary from one story to another. It seems my mind forgets the times I’ve already used the same word. Oh, the frustration when I discover the flaw. This leads me to explore editing tools …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills In the past two decades plus, I’ve learned a lot about writing, the publishing industry, social media, marketing, and promotion. Along the way, I’ve made some embarrassing mistakes too. But I’m not diving into those. Here are 12 things I’ve learned about writing since publishing my first book. Maybe some will help you. 1. Research doesn’t …
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We live in a comfortable society. But that can be dangerous for writers who choose complacency rather than pouring a steady stream of effort into their writing. Have you ever met a writer who expected and demanded results from readers, other writers, and those involved in the profession without doing their share of the work? It’s …
