Looking Back: Early A3 Posts

Almost an Author is celebrating its third anniversary. Why not take a moment to look back at some of the original posts?

Over the last three years, quite a few talented writers have dropped by Almost an Author to give advice and encouragement. Some have been with Almost an Author from the beginning. Others have joined along the way. Some have moved on to other pursuits.

A few are still writing columns. (Although not necessarily on the original subject.)

Here are a few posts from the early days of Almost an Author by columnists who have stuck around. Their advice is as valid today as it was then. Enjoy.

Hurry! I need patience

Some days feel like Finals Week in Patience 101. Writing and publishing are a major part of this learning experience.  Sometimes I have to step back and remember it was God Who planted this dream of writing and publishing in my heart, and it is God Who will see it come to fruition, in His time and in His way. But, man, I wish He’d hurry! Read more.

The Importance of Emotional Continuity

When actors (or fictional characters) enter a scene, they bring with them a certain attitude and emotional state that is a result of the moment before they appear. We expect continuity between a character’s emotional state in the previous scene and how they behave the next time we meet them.  Read more.

Just a Writer

Do you ever feel like “just a writer?” “Just” a wannabe author? “Just” a wordsmith who spends hours inventing characters and hoping someone will read your work? I encourage you to throw out the word “just” from your thinking. Treat it like yesterday’s trash that’s contaminating your mind. You are not “just” a writer. You are “A WRITER!”  Read more.

Storytelling – What Makes a Story Great?

What is it about a story that makes it compelling? Is it the characters? Is it the plot? Is it the element of surprise? Is it the challenges? Is it danger? I submit, it’s all of them, skillfully put together, woven like a tapestry to make an impression on our minds and in our hearts. Read more.

Query Letter Basics

If you want to pitch articles to magazines, you need to know how to write a query letter. The query is your calling card. It is your sales letter that includes the subject of the article, who you are, and why you are qualified to write it. This post reviews the basics of what you need to know to craft a good query. Read more.