Show & Tell: All About Writing

Well, I've written here at Making Home for nearly 7 years now... and last month, I completed my first novel (and am preparing to jump into my second), so I'm spending time these days learning and thinking about writing.  Writing fiction, in particular.

That picture ---------> is from last weekend, when I received the five printed copies I'll use for in-house editing before I try to shop it out to publishers.  Definitely a thrilling moment!!

I pursued a writing minor in college, and while I did a little creative writing (mainly poetry), I most enjoyed editing and business writing (grant writing, proposals, professional presentations).  Novels weren't my "thing", or so I thought.  Until very recently, I had spent basically *NO* time thinking about writing elements like pacing, character development, plot, and conflict.  But now I'm playing catch-up.

Here are some links I've found helpful as I think about writing.  I hope they also encourage you, whether you are a writer, or just a person who loves to learn about interesting things:

• My favorite of all? This tutorial by James Scott Bell-- I found it really REALLY helpful for developing and refining my novel.  It's called "Novel Refining: Craft a Story Readers Can't Put Down."
• If you liked that, here's a good interview with the same guy, James Scott Bell.  It's a segment of the show, "Bully Pulpit!" with Mark Joseph, and they have some interesting thoughts about writing fiction as a Christian.
• My favorite author of both fiction & non-fiction, Randy Alcorn: Why I Write Fiction, and Writing as Ministry First, Vocation Second
• Writer's Digest has some great material on YouTube (often only the first 6-8 minutes of a 30-minute tutorial they put out for purchase, but even those tips you can get for free are helpful)-- one example: 8 Things First-Time Novelists Need To Avoid 
• 101 Writing Tips- a good list to browse and consider, especially after having written some of your story... it may help give you clarity about what *your* problem areas are (cause, as I'm learning, we all have them)
• You might want to Tell People You're Scrapbooking Instead
• Check out my writing Pinterest board for other links

Hope this is helpful for you.  I always love pointing people in the direction of great resources!