Some stories have conflict that immediately grabs readers while others fall flat. In this episode, Josiah, Rolena, and Daeus discuss their favorite examples of engaging conflict and offer tips on how to build up to those moments.
Today Josiah, Rolena, Daeus, and Hope tackle the ins and outs of effective worldbuilding. They discuss common worldbuilding mistakes they’ve seen authors make and give tips on how to introduce worldbuilding to readers without info-dumping.
Today Josiah, Brianna, and Gabrielle share their experiences with professional editing and how it has helped them grow as writers. They debunk common misconceptions that writers have about working with a professional editor and discuss the advantages of hiring one....
Today Josiah, Rolena, Daeus, and Hope tackle one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal: subtext. What is it? Why is it important? What do you lose when your story lacks it? Listen to the panelists answer these questions and more below!
Almost every piece of writing advice is served with a side of “keep your readers in mind,” but what exactly does that phrase mean? And how can writers practice it effectively? In today’s episode, Josiah, Brianna, and Gabrielle share tips for how to focus on your readers during the writing and editing process.
The eighth resolution of our Christian Storytellers Manifesto describes our commitment to “paint traces of hope in even the darkest situations.” However, this raises several questions. Why do Christian writers need to shine light into pitch-black moments? How do we achieve a balance between the two? And does this mean we shouldn’t write sad endings?
Producing a novel isn’t a one-man show. Today Josiah DeGraaf, Brianna Storm Hilvety, and Gabrielle Pollack discuss the hidden heroes who help an author give readers a fully fleshed-out and polished story.
At the end of last year, Story Embers sent out a survey to the Christian writing community. Nearly half of the respondents reported that their biggest challenge wasn’t plot, characters, theme, or style but finding time to write!
In our Tricky Subjects for Christian Storytellers series, we briefly mentioned the challenge writers face when writing corrupt characters. Can writers ever safely immerse themselves in the mind of an evil character? How many of his thoughts should you reveal to your audience? And what advice does Scripture give about this topic?
In February, Josiah, Rolena, and Daeus discussed the elements of a satisfying climax, but what happens once the protagonist has survived the final conflict? Today Josiah, Hope, and Brandon explore what makes a story’s resolution effective and meaningful. They share their favorite examples of memorable endings and give tips on how to avoid common mistakes when tying off a story.
