#storytellersquad

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Writing Through the Drama: Six Ways Creative Writing Helps Teens Process Emotions

If you’ve ever watched your teen slam a bedroom door, shuffle off to their room, or emit that dramatic sigh that makes you wonder if they’ve turned into a Greek tragedy overnight—well, trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve heard plenty of “You don’t understand!” with my two kids. Teen years are emotional rollercoasters, full of hormones, identity work, social pressure, and the quest for “Who am I,…

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Join the party!

You’re invited to help me celebrate the launch of The Demons Among Us through a Zoom party Sunday, October 10, at 4 p.m. EDT. I’ll talk a little bit about my publishing journey, answer questions, read the first few pages of the book, and host a couple games with prizes. I regret we can’t celebrate in person as planned, but the COVID-19 numbers are spiking here in Georgia and I don’t feel…

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An interview with Steven James

An interview with Steven James

I met Steven James at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference last year. Yes, I braved COVID to meet him and other talented writers. He’s an amazing speaker and an even more amazing author. That’s why the Storyteller Squad selected his young adult Christian fantasy, Quest for Celestia, as our June online book club read. If you haven’t read it, download it ASAP and join the discussion…

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The Storyteller Squad

Check out the Storyteller Squad website for motivational tips, writing lessons, and reviews of clean MG and YA books.

I’m honored to be a founding member of the Storyteller Squad, a group of Christian writers who specialize in children, middle grade, and young adult genres. If you’re looking for an online one-stop shop that offers teens a safe place to find motivational tips, writing lessons and reviews on clean books, check out our site.

Since 2016, we have supported each other with chapter critiques,…

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Time Is On Our Side…And So Are The Rules

Time Is On Our Side…And So Are The Rules

In the context of writing a novel, raise your hand if you’ve ever heard:

Stay away from adverbs.

Stay away from the passive voice.

Show, don’t tell.

Limit the use of tag lines.

Only use “said” as a tag line.

Better yet, don’t use tag lines at all—just action beats.

Now, how about these:

Don’t use exclamation points.

Limit the use of adjectives.

Only two prepositions per sentence.

Never have two…

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