Welcome to the Christian Editor Connection blog.
Our founder and director, Kathy Ide, posts “PUGS Pointers“–tips on punctuation, usage, grammar, and spelling … and reasons it’s important for writers to know the industry-standard rules and apply them carefully to their manuscripts.
Other members of the Christian Editor Connection post blogs about the writer’s life, reviews of writing craft books, and reviews of well-written books recommended by CEC editors.
We hope you find these posts helpful. God bless!
The manuscript was painful to read, filled with mistakes that even most beginners wouldn’t make. I managed to find some positive things to say and offered helpful tips for improvement, but I still dreaded the possibility of crushing a newbie writer’s spirit.
Madeleine L’Engle was an inspiring writer. Most people know her as the author of A Wrinkle in Time and other “juvenile fiction.” But those books for children are inspirational for adults, as well. Why? Because she challenges her readers, young and old. L’Engle was an Episcopalian, a woman of strong faith and convictions who wrote several […]
One of my criteria for a book to make a classic category is its ability to continue to strengthen a writer’s skill from beginner to advanced. As I recently reviewed this excellent Make a Scene for a workshop I was struck again by the combination of simplicity and depth that Jordan Rosenfeld brings to understanding […]
Well-known literary agent Donald Maass has likely ruffled several feathers in his introduction as he differentiates between status seekers and storytellers. However the purpose is not to throw stones, but instead to enable each writer to recognize their potential and the responsibility to reach deeper, regardless of genre or market. “Having something to say, or […]
Tonight, a friend and I are hosting the first meeting for our new critique group. We are extremely excited! Both of us have led groups before and had wonderful as well as frustrating experiences, so we have pretty firm ideas for what we want. One thing we want to avoid is ending up with what […]
It may seem obvious that a writer should write with the senses, but many new writers neglect that aspect of storytelling. Others overdo it, writing about every wrinkle and twitch to the point where we lose focus of what is happening in the story. Meg Gardiner writes with great control, a necessity when writing thrillers. […]
Soul’s Gate by James L. Rubart Supernatural/Spiritual Warfare Reece Roth believes it’s time to fulfill a prophecy spoken over him thirty years ago. He extends an invitation to four people in the Seattle area to join him in a spiritual adventure unlike any they’ve had before. Dana Raine manages sales people at a local radio […]
Plot versus Character, by Jeff Gerke Plot versus Character, by Jeff Gerke, is a must have for every writer’s shelf. This book re-charges writing batteries with creativity, focus, and resonance. Instead of jumping into the argument, he intertwines their potential. His system integrates plot and character to deepen the quality of your novel, by both […]
Writers are fortunate when they encounter someone in real life who has “character potential,” someone who fills a page with story without effort. A man who has traveled the world hunting rare animals is such a character. A woman hiding with her children during a riot is another. For readers, these characters and their stories […]
Mine Your Memory
When you’re writing characters, it’s always good to use dialogue to create the character. You can say how they walk (if it’s part of their character), or what they look like, or provide some background, but if you infuse your character’s language with clues, you’re reader will have a better image and understanding of that […]
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