Blog

How to Write Emotional Stories

That may sound a little sappy. I’m not talking kissing-in-the-rain romance here. I’m talking about the tool that can transform an “okay” piece of writing into a masterpiece. Emotion. Make your readers laugh, cry, or scream, and they’ll never forget you. That goes for anything you write, fiction or nonfiction. No one wants to read […]

The Illusion of Control

In an alternate universe, I could be in a mental hospital. Okay, that’s a bit of a crushing blow. How about I back up a bit? A recent conversation got me thinking about where I’d be without my faith. My mind is a swirling pot of dialogue, characters, and scene structure. When I’m bored, I […]

One Step at a Time

“‘Child,’ said the Lion, ‘I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.’” (C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy) Imagine walking through the woods on a cloudy night. The sky draws in close to you like a velvet cape, shrouding the trees in misty darkness. The […]

The Heart of Bravery

I’ve spent a lot of my life scared. It’s sad but true. I’m a worrier by nature, the kind of person who considers every possibility and checks the locks on the doors multiple times. I don’t want to be like that. It’s my dream to be like Lucy Pevensie from Narnia – a warrior princess […]

A Word to the Dreamers

“Yes, but what’s your real job going to be? “Can you really make any money doing that?” “Oh, you’re one of those artsy people.” I’ve heard all of those phrases quite a few times. I don’t know, maybe you have to. I promise I’m not bashing artsy people, I fully admit to being one of […]

Go to the Window Right Now and Look Up!

I think it’s safe to say that I’m in love with the sky. When I was little my dad used to take me out on the driveway with his big telescope and point out the constellations. He’d tell me stories about them and the people they were supposed to represent. It’s hard to see a […]

May We Always Remember…

Our Father’s God, to Thee, Author of Liberty, To Thee we sing. Long may our land be bright, With freedom’s holy light, Protect us by They might, Great God our King.             ~ “My Country Tis of Thee” Oh beautiful for patriot’s dream, That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human […]

This Story Isn’t Over…

I’ll admit it. Sometimes I cry at the end of a book. Okay, more like all the time. I just finished the first Percy Jackson series today and there were definitely tears in my eyes. You see, as an avid reader and even more avid writer, I develop these really deep connections to book characters. […]

Stargazing

In my opinion, there are few things as powerful as a night sky. And not just any night sky, either , but the kind you see when you’re laying on your back in the middle of nowhere. The kind that takes your breath away. Through each speck of glitter thrown across the blue velvet dome […]

My New Stories