The Picky Pen
Writing Styles
So, you want to write an article but you don’t know where to start? To make it even more…
April 24, 2025-
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Building Your Creative SpaceWhat Pretty Desks Won’t Do for Your Writing
It starts innocently enough. You’re scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram, and suddenly, you’re obsessed with that dreamy writing nook:…
April 19, 2025 -
Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for April Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
April 17, 2025 -
Kids LitWhat do you do with GOOD NEWS?
Write, revise. Critique, revise. Submit, revise. And then one day: submit, interest, offer, contract! For every five years of…
April 8, 2025 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life, UncategorizedDirect My Path
In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6 I have always loved this verse, especially…
April 6, 2025 -
Award-Winning AuthorAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — FICTION— WITH JILL ROMAN LORD
Can you share a little about your recent book? Love Well, My Precious One is a picture book written…
April 2, 2025 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)Be Aware, Be Alert
As March comes to an end, so does the Brain Injury Awareness Month campaign. If you have read this…
March 29, 2025 -
Writing for YABecoming a Productive Writer Interview with YA Author Melody Personette
I’ve been following YA author Melody Personette for a while, and admire her tenacity and ability to keep producing.…
March 28, 2025 -
Book ProposalsPublishing is a Relational Business
An old saying is applicable to this secret: “It’s not what you know but who you know.” This adage…
March 26, 2025 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
A New Year
Welcome to my annual post about New Year’s Resolutions. I cannot guarantee that I will give you a formula…
March 8, 2025 -
Kids Lit
7 FREE Ways to Keep Gifting into the New Year!
Here’s 2025 all fresh and shiny, full of hope and all the little calendar boxes ready to fill! While…
March 6, 2025 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for February
The Name Game with Cathy Rueter Cathy is a journalist and author. She joins Writers Chat to explain why…
February 28, 2025 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
BOTM
Recently I had a talk with a young brain cancer survivor I have mentored and encouraged for years. He…
February 27, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Fairy Tale Retellings: Interview with YA Author Rachel Kovaciny
Young adult author Rachel Kovaciny recently released her eighth book, A Nobel Companion, a retelling of the ugly duckling…
February 26, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Publishing is a Relational Business
An old saying is applicable to this secret: “It’s not what you know but who you know.” This adage…
February 25, 2025 -
Writing RomanceDON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART
Romance readers’ expectations: Finding the best setbacks and obstacles for my couple to overcome is one of my greatest…
February 23, 2025 -
The Picky Pen
Creating a Story Title
Do you have difficulty coming up with a title for your article or story? This is sure to be…
February 22, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Books to Read BEFORE You Write
Mentor books are those an author studies before they do any writing. For a retreat last week, I had…
February 8, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Maintain a Submission Record & Follow-up
After you have the various parts of the proposal and sample ready, prepare a list of publishers to whom…
February 4, 2025 -
Devotions for WritersPuzzling Projects
One thousand pieces of the picture tumbled out onto the table. When the contents cleared the box rim, we…
February 3, 2025 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for June Part 2
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
June 30, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Refreshed and Restored
As 80% of the country is suffering from extreme heatwaves, many people are looking for relief from the summer…
June 29, 2024 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap For June Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
June 21, 2024 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
Writers Up!
I always have the first Saturday in May marked on my calendar. Even though I have never been in…
June 6, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Stay in the FIght
Like most people, I was saddened to hear the news about the passing of Christian recording artist Mandisa. She…
April 30, 2024