Writing Thoughts 

• Read. Read everything you can. Read the kind of books you want to write and if you can’t find any then maybe you should write it.
• Write. Writers write. You don’t have to write anything for anyone. Write for yourself.
• Attend writer’s conferences. This is a great place to learn.
• Talk to writer’s, readers and take a creative writing class.
• Know how to use a computer.
          

Books on the Craft of Writing

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• On Writing by Stephen King
• Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
• Writing The Breakout Novel by Donald Maas
• Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
• The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman
• Write Away by Elizabeth George


Conferences

• Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference
• American Christian Fiction Writers Conference
• Romance Writers of America’s National Conference
• Local Writers Conferences (I’m a member of the
Ohio Valley RWA).

Online Courses

• ACFW has free monthly courses for its members.
• Through Romance Writer’s of America you can learn a lot. I belong to the Mystery Writers and Suspense Kiss of Death Chapter
that offers Killer Instincts, a chance for you to hone your craft.
• Writer’s University

Friends and Mentors

Mae Nunn www.maenunn.com/
Kathleen Morgan www.kathleenmorgan.com/index.html
James Scott Bell www.jamesscottbell.com/Site/Welcome.html
Brandilyn Collins www.brandilyncollins.com/
Colleen Coble www.colleencoble.com/
Ruth Axtell Morran www.ruthaxtellmorren.com
Marylu Tyndall www.mltyndall.com
Mary E. DeMuth www.relevantprose.com

Mount Hermon’s Christian Writers Conference http://www.mounthermon.org/writers/
In 2008 you will find Debbie Macomber and Jerry B. Jenkins as the keynote speakers.

Contests

"One who fears failure limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again." -Henry Ford

Contests are subjective. Yes, it hurts when somebody doesn’t love our words the way we hope they will, but it’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t mean you’re not a good writer. And it doesn’t mean you can’t learn something worthwhile from every critique. We all want to win, but when it comes down to what others think of your writing, think about the movies. That’s right, the movies. Did you ever go to a movie and just love it and then a critic writes a review and gives it two stars and you wonder if they saw the same movie you did? Go figure. We’re all different. So the next time you don’t place or win a contest, don’t worry. Now, go to your bookshelf, pull out Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul, get some chocolate and something yummy to drink and console yourself. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Asylum made it to the finals in several contests, including the prestigious Daphne Awards through Romance Writers of America’s Mystery and Suspense Chapter, Finally A Bride Contest and Faith, Hope, and Love’s Touched by Love Contest.

On Saturday, August 11, 2007 I received a call from Janet Brown in Texas giving me the exciting news that both Asylum and my contemporary, Gifts of the Heart finaled in the Ticket To Write Contest sponsored by the Red River Romance Writers. The Winners will be announced by October 15, 2007.

Favorite Fiction 

•  Ghosts by Adrian Plass 
•  Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
•  Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
•  A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Devereux
•  The Forgiving Hour by Robin Lee Hatcher
•  Sins of the Father by James Scott Bell 
•   Hearts in Bloom by Mae Nunn

New Fiction Project

Dreams in the Mist

An English noblewoman struggles to maintain the title King George III bestowed upon her and finds she may be marrying a notorious slave trader.