If you look up “dish the tea” or “spill the tea” in the Urban Dictionary you’ll find it means spilling a juicy bit of knowledge. In this case, tea (or T) stands for truth. I’d like to quickly spill the …
Sacrificial Writing
Today is the start of Holy Week. I think it’s an important time to talk about sacrificial gifts. Here is a blog I wrote five years ago. I can’t think of a more fitting one for this week. 
Many years …
An Embarrassment of Riches
An embarrassment of riches. You remember the supply and demand concept from your Econ 1A class, right? Scarcity and abundance drive each market. So, what has this to do with writing? Let me explain.
The Christian publishing industry has changed …
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Valentine’s Day is about romantic love, but today I’m going to talk about a different kind of love–the love a writer has for his or her readers, publishing friends and colleagues. You’re right, it’s not the love we have for …
Trash or Keep?
In this age of minimalism, do you ever wonder what things as a writer you should trash and what things you should keep? This dilemma became very real to me recently when my publisher announced they had decided to reissue …
Celebrating Until Twelfth Night
I’ve always loved the old English carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, partly because I was born during the twelve days of Christmas. (Think: Goose.) I was also married on the Seven Swans Day. Christmas marks the first day …
Flip Flop
At a staff meeting recently, we discussed how many things have changed in publishing. I’ve been a full-time agent for fifteen years and when I think back to what I taught or espoused back then and in the years since, …
The Book is Done!
One of the happiest days in a writer’s life happens when the book is done. You’ve polished the manuscript and sent it off to the editor. DONE! With notes put away, the desk cleaned and plans made for a celebration, …
Cliché: Who Said It First?
We avoid using the cliché when we write. But did you ever stop to think that once-upon-a-time that very cliché was a brilliantly fresh expression? I want to test your knowledge of clichés. I’m going to give you a baker’s …
The Joy of Re-reading
Our blog friend, Andrew Budek-Schmeisser wrote in to suggest a blog post about re-reading Here’s what he wrote:.
…May I suggest that a blog post might deal with re-reading books? In my straitened and dread circumstance, I am finding grace