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.
How do you know what to change, when to change it, and whether you’ve fixed the problem? In today’s episode, Martin, Lori, and Daeus discuss how to manage large-scale revisions and find the motivation to edit when you’re overwhelmed.
We stopped at the teashop on Madison Street. Abstract renditions of flowers hung from the walls. A case displayed little pastries, perfect and neat. The worker behind the counter gave us a smile. We returned the greeting and found a seat.
Recently I had a dream; creeping and stealthy, it quietly came. The pictures I saw were dull and blurred, but the air about me with voices stirred. Confused at first, but gradually clear, each one shouted, “I knew him here!” Then one spoke out, the voice of Flesh, soft and low amid the clamorous rush.
I walk the length of another road, but endless paths branch from it in every direction. The journey was arduous but rewarding in strengthening me so I can climb another mountain. I’ve learned from the steps I’ve taken and the hurdles I’ve leapt over, even when the rocks seemed too tall, too daunting for me to ever hope of overcoming.
Every moment in every story makes a promise: the conversation, decision, or setting that the author is focusing on holds significance, whether immediately or in a future chapter. As a reader, you’re conditioned to expect even the tiniest details to connect to and advance the plot.
The phenomenon first happened when I was seven years old. Mud caked my pants and the tip of my nose as I stirred an earthy concoction with a stick. “Leaves!” I commanded, my hand outstretched. My friend Lily scurried toward the bushes. Within seconds, she returned and placed the ingredients I’d requested in my palm. Careful not to break the surface of the murky water, I spread out the green embellishments and removed my makeshift utensil. “Soup’s done.”
In today’s episode, the panelists celebrate Story Embers’ fourth anniversary with a walk down memory lane and a heartfelt goodbye to current podcast host, Grace Livingston. Josiah, Daeus, and Grace reminisce about Story Embers’ development from a daring concept to the site’s launch in 2018, and Lori shares how our mission drew her in years later. They reflect on how Story Embers has shaped them personally, grown their knowledge of storytelling, and more.
When I was nine years old, I became the dictator of a sprawling, shape-shifting land called Fiction, and my political party consisted of myself, a few other students in our homeschool co-op writing class, and a table where we gathered during lunch breaks to scribble in our notebooks. We even passed a law banning nonfiction, and whenever our teacher gave us an assignment that didn’t involve mythical beings like unicorns and flying hippos, we’d threaten to revolt (and then, of course, we’d obey, because she was the adult).
You asked me if I believe. I’m not sure after all my sister and I have endured. What made You stay so far away from Your friend and us in our dismay? Yet one truth I know despite the pain: I know my brother will rise again.
In today’s episode, Josiah, Daeus, and Lori tackle a common storytelling obstacle: forgettable themes. They discuss examples of underwhelming themes, propose possible causes, and give advice on how to ensure that your story’s theme is relatable and impactful.
