Story EmbersStory Embers is run by a group of Christian writers and editors who are committed to glorifying God with excellent craftsmanship. We accept article, poetry, and short story submissions from a number of Christian storytellers around the world. You can peruse our latest posts from contributing audience members below.
Join Christian authors Amanda Dykes, Laurie Lucking, and Faith Blum as they share advice on how to make characters unique from each other, how to write redemption arcs, how to tackle character dialogue, where to put in character descriptions, and more!
Join award-winning authors J.J. Fischer, Ann Marie Stewart, and C.J. Milacci as they reveal how to build suspense in every chapter of your novel, how to turn sagging middles into tension-pounding scenes, how suspense works differently in romance vs. action stories, and much more!
Great stories require deep thinking. But how can you create space for deep thoughts in a world filled with distractions and other commitments? In today’s episode, Lori, Martin, and Daeus give some key insight into cultivating deep thoughts as a writer. They share the SCAMPER technique, discuss the difference between linear and web thinking, and describe how to “push beyond the wall” inside your mind.
How do you craft characters who are dynamic and unpredictable? In today’s episode, Martin, Lori, and Daeus discuss what makes a nuanced, well-rounded character and how to avoid the pitfalls of a boring protagonist. Tune in to discover the ingredients to finding depth in your characters and learn how digging into your own experiences can help the lives of your story’s inhabitants connect to readers.
If the Bible reveals a creative God, how does His Word inspire and expand a writer’s creativity? In today’s episode, Daeus, Lori, and Martin explore how to ground your creative life in Scripture and how to depict characters who both are and aren’t walking in truth. They also share some examples of stories that engage with Scripture without coming across as preachy.
Every human heart longs for heaven. And, as Christians, the anticipation of going home to heaven one day is a unique theme we can poignantly wrestle with in our fiction. We can explore the tension we feel between the now of living for Christ in an imperfect world and the not yet of experiencing the new heavens and earth. In today’s episode, Daeus, Mariposa, and Josiah discuss how to write about a home we yearn for but haven’t yet seen.
Cliffhangers entice you to turn pages long into the night. But how do you write in a thrilling way that avoids disappointment and boredom? What actually keeps readers invested in a story when they encounter a dangling plot point? In today’s episode, Josiah, Mariposa, and Daeus show you how to engage readers with scenes that close at a nerve-wracking moment and later reach a satisfying conclusion.
We live in a world that’s become increasingly focused on fame, and “success” for a writer means having thousands of followers, signing with a large publisher, and hitting the bestseller list. The goal is to be in the spotlight and make a hefty income. But, as Christians, we write for God’s glory, not our own. In this episode, Josiah, Mariposa, and Daeus discuss serving God through writing—whether with a huge platform or a small one.
Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” As writers who intend for others to read our work, we desire to be leaders, and as Christians that means we must lay ourselves down and seek to serve our audiences. But what does the application of that look like? Listen as Josiah, Gabby, and Daeus unpack the motivations and actions of a servant-hearted writer, why it’s such an important mindset to have, and how building relationships with readers can be like inviting them into a warm house on a rainy day.
Like Tolkien’s depiction of The Shire, portraying moments of warmth and joy can be a powerful way to convey that Christ’s path is vastly different from the darkness in the world. How can showing characters’ potential to thrive give hope to readers? And how can writers do that while still being honest about sin and the hardships we all go through? Listen as Josiah, Gabby, and Daeus explore the concept of wholeness, its importance within fiction, and whether hope comes from waiting for heaven’s completeness or if we can experience it here on earth as well.
