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Tension and Conflict in Fiction

Tension and Conflict in Fiction

Next time you read a work of fiction, pay attention to how the author develops and maintains conflict and tension. This is especially important in the genres that promise tension, namely, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Horror, and even Romance. Ted Dekker teaches in his...

No Stinking Outlines

No Stinking Outlines

I’m frequently asked about how I start writing a book. The two most common of these questions are: How do I get ideas for a book, and do I outline the book before starting to write. I’ll address the outline question this month. Please realize there is no “one” way to...

Character Names

Character Names

Out of the blue, the opening lyrics to Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stone came to mind as I sat down to write the newsletter this month. “Please allow me to introduce myselfI'm a man of wealth and tasteI've been around for a long, long yearsStole million...

The Snare Audiobook Sample Chapter 22

The Snare Audiobook Sample Chapter 22

The Snare is book three in The Lighthouse series of Christian thrillers. The protagonist, Charley Austin, is the 18 year-old son of Clay and Sheryl. In this scene he returns home for Thanksgiving holiday from his freshman year at college. The weekend looks rosy until...

The Chase Audiobook Sample Chapter 3

The Chase Audiobook Sample Chapter 3

The Chase is book two in The Lighthouse series of Christian thrillers. In this scene, Sheryl, the 30-something protagonist, has just learned she is pregnant. At first excited, she now hesitates to tell her husband, Clay. Self-doubt and a sense of unworthiness begin to...

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