More than Writers

I have been the webmaster for Association of Christian Writers since April 2020, but this year, 2024, will be my last. Being webmaster is a role I thoroughly enjoy, as it prompts me to keep up to date with my technical knowledge and everything ACW is doing.   So why am I moving over?   By next Christmas I will have been webmaster for almost four years, and on the Committee (initially as Competitions Manager) for almost nine years, but I need to do other things – my own writing, for instance, and sorting out my own author website, which is currently such a mess I dare not even give you its URL.   Running the ACW web-presence, which also includes More than Writers , is time-consuming. So this blog-post is a thinly disguised appeal to anyone who feels they might be able to take over the webmaster role.   If you are interested, I would expect to support you initially.   You may like to shadow me for the rest of this year. So, are you interested? Here’s the bas...

Goldie, on Cleeve Hill last week.   Being Dutch, there is something about heights. Standing on what feels like, the top of the world, looking around you for miles, with plenty of fresh air to recover from the climb up. That is the one downside about climbing hills. It’s a long way up, sometimes steep, sometimes it’s more gradual, but I’m sure my Dutch legs and lungs weren’t made for hill climbing. Last week, we went on Cleeve Hill, one of my favourite areas. It occurred to me, that in order to reach the top, you have to put in a lot of work. But the view will be worth it. Hopefully. Sometimes, there is no view at all, only thick, swirling mist, and you have to take the sign’s word for it that you have reached the summit. The Malvern Hills, another amazing place for walking, can be discouraging. When you reach the top, with Worchestershire Beacon standing ready for you to cling onto, you can see another hill further along... I must confess, I have never made it to that one. On...

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Hang on, folks, the almost eternal January is nearly over! Fresh year, new start and all that but have you run into writing difficulties yet?     I have learned over time every writer has writing difficulties so it isn’t just us, though it may feel like it. Knowing what can trigger finding writing a struggle is good to know. The chief one for me is over-tiredness.   When I feel like this, I ease off. I focus on little bits of writing and increase my reading. The former helps me feel good I’ve written something (and often you need a morale boost at these times). The latter relaxes me. Being relaxed helps me write more later.    I also get plenty of sleep.  Once I could write into the small hours. Not any more. Am not sorry. I’ve found regular hours at a more sensible time works better.   Remember this is temporary. You love writing. We all get tired. If you are over tired a break is what ...

  What will they tell you? By Olusola Sophia Anyanwu I was a Sunday school teacher at my church in Nigeria and in my current church. It was fun getting the kids to recite from memory all the books of the Old Testament or the New Testament. Other times, they were given scripture verses to memorise and recite. There were occasions for quiz to test their knowledge on Bible characters and what they were associated with. Sometimes, the children were asked to write A to Z of Bible characters or to say them alphabetically. It was a fun way to teach children concepts about God and His Word on issues dealing with faith, truth, courage, love, forgiveness, etc. One that drew lots of applause was their wearing the armour of God costume and telling what each part of their garment represented. Here, I have presented some Bible characters in front of you. They all have something to tell us to reflect on: Abraham:   “If I had known, I would not have listened to Sarah and taken her maid,...

Hello everyone, this is my goodbye blog as after 5+ years of being one of MTW's regulars it seemed time to let someone else take their turn.  It's been a joy to be part of this amazing Blog, to receive all your words of encouragement and be inspired by all that has been shared.  I've certainly grown in my own writing and been given so much food for thought by the huge variety of content, ideas, experiences, tips and spiritual encouragements. I feel full of thankfulness for you and certain that God delights in your sacrificial offering of creativity. What I love about ACW and the MTW Blog is its ethos of family.  We may not be flesh and blood but there is a real sense of connection.  We celebrate one another's successes and achievements and mourn with all who are struggling.  We share our skills and expertise our of a desire to help each other grow or to complete their project in the best way possible.  This is something so beautiful, a glimpse of God's hear...

Author, Kevin Elliott recording his book 'See Miracles' Have you considered publishing your books as audiobooks? One reader recently told me that she is a ‘purest’ and as such, prefers printed books. I tend to agree with her but perhaps this is an age thing. The majority of people who buy audiobooks are aged 18 to 45. Perhaps the question should be – Do you want to reach this generation with your writing? As for me, I have recently ventured into this brave new world, with the question – Why not? Granted, for me, it may seem less daunting, as I have worked on and off in recording studios since a young age. This experience and knowledge is now rather useful once again. Why publish audiobooks? Do your research and you will see that this is a rapidly growing marketplace. If you are not convinced, allow me to share some of my research. ·       The global audiobook market size was valued at  $5,095.69 million in 2022 and was expected to reach $5,897 mill...

 A change is as good as a rest. Is it really?  My husband and I were badly in need of a rest. It’s been full on season for us, and we haven’t been able to take a holiday of any kind for almost a year. So a couple of weeks ago we took ourselves away for 2 nights in lovely Ludlow, full board in a very comfortable hotel. We rested, we ate well, we visited historic sites and quaint shops. It was a change from the norm and it felt great. For 2 days… it probably wasn’t long enough! But the change of scene and tempo was a blessing. I actually haven’t been able to write ‘proper’ for weeks now. That is, work on my fiction writing. I have written stuff… I am writing now! But because of the demands on my time and energy I just haven’t felt like I have had the headspace for creativity. I don’t think I’m the only one feeling like that at present. Lately I have realised that I miss my fiction writing and I need it. I need to exercise my creative side. I need to be able to lose myself i...

This is my first blog for More than Writers, so let me introduce myself: I’m Kathryn, a Christian, a wife and mother, a reader, gardener and organizer. And a writer. I have an enquiring mind (so I like to say; my children say I’m nosey!). I also have a history degree, an out-of-date teaching qualification and have previously worked for the Church of England, the Methodist church and the Baptist church. I currently have a part-time, paid job as an invigilator and several unpaid roles: taxi-driver, PA, housekeeper and adviser to 2 sporty teenagers; church leader, occasional language tutor. And writer. The last one is always tagged on, despite writing being the thing I have to do. The thing that brings me closest to my true self. If I can’t write for any length of time I feel out of sorts and wobbly in my inmost being. I have to write. I was created to write. But I have little to show for it. No shelves of books with my name on (just one, co-authored, more years ago th...