The Hero and the Savior
The Hero and the Savior Spoiler alert! If you have not read my book, buy it now and come back to the post after you’ve read it all the way through! “You’ve heard it said: no hero, no story. I will add this: no Savior, no hero.” Let’s start by […]
My House Full of Editors
My House Full of Editors Things done alone rarely succeed and aren’t a fraction as much fun as they can be. I live with my parents and seven siblings on a beautiful plot of land in Alabama {pictured above}. Despite all our responsibilities as a family, we find time to […]
Creating a Plot With the Bible
Creating a Plot With the Bible I said it once, and I’ll say it again “God was the first to inspire man to write, and His stories, themes, characters, and settings will all be recreated time and again through all of life.” Let me be clear: God did not write a […]
The Chapter One Dilemma
The Chapter One Dilemma {A note from Alyson: all the strategies and rules of this blog series apply primarily to adventure novels. Not all standards and regulations will carry into other genres.} Remember COC? We’ve used the Chapter One Criteria to create all the key elements that make a first chapter […]
The Chapter One Dilemma
The Chapter One Dilemma {A note from Alyson: all the strategies and rules of this blog series apply primarily to adventure novels. Not all standards and regulations will carry into other genres.} So, now you have a first sentence, a positive-negative current, an opening paragraph, and the beginning of a scene. […]
The Chapter One Dilemma
The Chapter One Dilemma {A note from Alyson: all the strategies and rules of this blog series apply primarily to adventure novels. Not all standards and regulations will carry into other genres.} “If someone would tell me what to put on the first page, then I would write a book.” […]
The Chapter One Dilemma
The Chapter One Dilemma {A note from Alyson: all the strategies and rules of this blog series apply primarily to adventure novels. Not all standards and regulations will carry into other genres.} “I know how to write, and I’m good at it. I know my character, and he’s great. If […]
Character Corner #1
Character Corner #1 “What makes a good character? It is not the name – though a name is an excellent thing to create, for a nameless character is nobody at all…” Naming characters is a delight for me, especially if I get to make up the name. This is an […]
The Pure Line Series Begins!
The Pure Line Series Begins! When I completed Chained, I had no clue it would lead to an entire series of books. My sisters and brother loved the book so much that I decided to write another about Adrian Falkner for them. They loved that one, too! Spurred on by […]
Why I Write Youth Fiction
Why I Write Youth Fiction As nightfall descended, one of my cousins took me to her room, and we sat down at her desk. My cousin opened a blank document, and then I happily told her all about the story I wanted her to write down for me. My […]