I see a child stand at the valley entrance. Alone. Forlorn. Blood on his feet. Tears on his cheeks. The shadows draw him in. I can’t…I can’t reach him; pull him back. I can’t even speak.
Valleys
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Hope Ann
Story Embers Newsletter Manager
Hope Ann likes to think of herself as an undercover resistance fighter in the battle for truth. In reality, her bluntness and sarcasm make her anything but “undercover.” The oldest of nine children, she has an arsenal of experience ranging from jiu-jitsu, living in the Dominican Republic for two years, and working with troubled teenagers.
Her greatest struggle is realizing she can’t do everything, but it hasn’t stopped her from periodically trying.
Based in central Indiana, her day-to-day life involves brainstorming theories about Sanderson’s Cosmere with her husband, collecting situation-perfect memes, and struggling to remember the difference between effect and affect. She is the author of nine fantasy books, a writing coach, and a former board member of Story Embers.
Enlist in her ranks for humor, sarcasm, and blunt, honest truth. Click here for all that, plus a free Beauty and the Beast retelling!
I Took Life Apart
I took life apart to see what made stars glow; I wove a web of silver truth, untangled row by row.
How Personality Types Should Affect Characters’ Thought Processes
Personality assessments are a hot topic today. But, like everything in life, people’s opinions differ widely. Some treat personality types as the explanation for all human behavior. Others are skeptical for reasons ranging from personal to religious. The truth, as so often happens, falls between those two extremes.
Masks
Each mask hides another, veil on tearstained veil. Each tattered page of my heart, inked and stamped and sealed in the shadows of my mind.
The Light of Shadows
When I peered into the blush of dawn, I saw only dreams, but slowly my laughter faded, as in my mind I found the shadows left behind.
Shadow Heir
Josan clutched the doorframe, doubling over with a ragged cough. Smoke pricked his eyes with a hundred tiny daggers. He gagged, pressing his face into the crook of his arm.
How Should Christian Authors Depict Darkness?
Light is a paradox. Without darkness, the light’s ability to reveal hidden wonders and dangers would be lessened. Without the night to conceal, gloom can’t be driven away by dawn. Without shadows for contrast, even the brightest light cannot manifest its full strength. This is true of the gospel as well as writing.
How to Use Themes to Create a Fantastic Story Outline
You can plan a novel many ways. Perhaps you begin with a glimpse of a character, a snippet of a scene, a thread of plot, or even a line of description. You have a spark of a story, and now you need to turn it into a cohesive plan.
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