OH NO! A Harsh Critique!

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Sherry Kyle here, writing from California. Last week was an exciting one for me. I signed two book contracts—one for another nonfiction girl’s book with Legacy Press, and the other for my second contemporary novel with Abingdon Press. I’ve entered the world of having deadlines before the books are complete. Kind of scary . . . yet thrilling! Thanks for allowing me to share my good news with you! Today I want to encourage you to keep writing even when you receive a harsh critique. If you’ve taken the step to submit your writing, you’ve experienced some negative response. Hopefully,…

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Writing on Faith

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  Sherry Kyle here, writing from my laptop in California.  “So, what are you working on now?” a friend asked me the other day.  “I’m tweaking something I wrote awhile ago,” I said, trying to sound more positive than I felt. During the past couple of weeks I had attempted to breath new life into an old manuscript.  “Cool. What’s it about?” she asked.  I wondered how much to say. Why was I so uncertain? Maybe it was the fact that this manuscript had yet to find a publishing home.  Do you ever feel like you’re writing on faith alone?

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Ups and Downs of Acceptances and Rejections

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Aloha from Karen Whiting, CAN treasurer Yesterday I received news that a promised contract arrived and news that another proposal had been rejected. In reality, the current contract is all I can handle well so that’s okay with me. But there’s a story behind the responses and reasons why the contracted book received a comment from the editor, “This is the best book proposal I’ve seen this year.” As a member of CAN I’m often hearing news of acceptances and rejections friends receive. That’s normal in this industry. The acceptances increase as authors gain experience and learn to market better…

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10 Ways To Overcome the Fear of Writing

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I’m afraid to write. And I’m a writer. Crazy, huh? This is Susy Flory. I’ve written four nonfiction books so far and yet, every time I sit down to write, I am afraid. I have a very hard time getting started. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you are not alone. Many, many, many successful and multi-published writers tremble each time they pick up a pencil (or a keyboard). “Writing and fear go together,” wrote Ralph Keyes. “If you’re not scared, you’re not writing.”

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More than just Boring Assigned Reading

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  Happy Monday from Jeanette! Last week I finished and sent the final section of a three-part review of the classic novel Les Miserable. Not only did this fun writing assignment allow me to revisit why I enjoyed the book so much but it also reminded me of the many ways that a writer can benefit from reading the classics.

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Waiting

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 Hi there! Sherry Kyle here, writing from California. There are a lot of exciting things happening in my writing life, one of which is joining this wonderful group of like-minded authors at CAN. I’m so glad to be a part. Another wonderful event is the release of my new book, The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style, for tween girls on September 30. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to its arrival. But something else besides writing and books has been consuming my thoughts. Family. Husband. Children. Siblings. Parents. Let me backtrack just a little.

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Recipe for Greatness…

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Greetings, Dear Friends! Susie Larson here… I have some fun news to share with you. For the past two and a half years I’ve worked as an on-call radio host for a live talk show. In June we launched my new radio show, Live the Promise with Susie Larson. The program airs every Saturday morning from noon to 1:00 CST (you can also listen online). Last week my guest was Chrissy Toledo (daughter of author and Pastor Jim Cymbala – Brooklyn Tabernacle and Carol Cymbala, director of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir). She shared about her prodigal journey away from God’s heart, and…

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