Whose stories do we have the right to tell?
Read moreExplanatory Phrases and Commas
Is it "My brother, Bob, ate the watermelon" or "My sister Sue ate the cake"?
Read moreDrawing a (Good) Villain
You don’t need trench coats or guns. Create a chilling antagonist without the cliches.
Read moreThe Nuance of Medium
Ever wonder why Christian film gets the label “cheesy”? Here’s why (and how to avoid it).
Read moreHow to Share the Gospel through Story
Want to evangelize through story? Keep this in mind.
Read moreHow to Write a Story with a Message
Some proposed answers to an age-old problem.
Read moreQuick Ways to Skirt Gender Bias
Foster gender equality in your work with these quick tips.
Read more5 Hacks for a Better Book Reading
Have a book reading coming up? Here’s how to keep your listeners tuned in.
Read moreHow to Make Steady Progress in the Distraction Age
Everyone has obstacles to growth. Here's how to minimize those obstacles and find productivity.
Read more10 Kids Books Every Adult Should Read
Looking to add to your summer reading list? Here are five kid’s books and five young adult books that every grown-up should read.
Read moreChange Your Reader's Truth
The Greeks invaded Troy by slipping past their defenses with a Trojan horse. It takes the same skill to slip past a reader’s defenses and impact thinking.
Read moreBecoming Nietzsche’s Madman
When Nietzsche declared “God is dead,” he defined a movement that changed the modern world. What can we learn from his success to apply to our own writing?
Read moreThe Gift and Horror of Having an Editor
Does having someone edit your work feel like disembowelment? Here's how to survive—and maybe even enjoy—having your work edited.
Read moreFraming a Moment
My professor’s idea of an unforgiveable sin was putting adverbs before a character’s line. If he couldn’t tell the emotion of my character by what she said and did, applying a bandage adverb wouldn’t help.
Read morePsychosomatic Observation: The Writer’s Secret Weapon
Want a secret weapon for reaching your audience? Use this method to increase realism and depth in your writing.
Read morePutting "However" in Its Place
Discover the simple solution to this confusing word!
Read moreMaking the Most of Writing Conferences
Spring is coming! And spring is prime-time for writing conferences. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips!
Read moreConjunctions Part 2: To Comma or Not to Comma
When I start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, should I follow it with a comma as my writing software often says I should? Find out how to use commas correctly!
Read moreAre Their Eyes Shining?
When I was in high school trying to decide what to do with my future, I heard a story about a comic book writer asking why the families he wrote about were always solid, loving families—surely that’s not realistic? He responded that the art of today makes the culture of tomorrow. If all we show is broken families, then is it any wonder that real families are broken? This statement caught my attention, and it has been rolling around in my head for several years now. If art has that much power, what does that mean for the artists of the world? How are we supposed to respond to such responsibility?
While studying creativity for a class, I came across a book called The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. Benjamin Zander is a professional conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and has developed his own philosophy of creative leadership, positing that “[the leader’s] true power derives from his ability to make other people powerful” (69). Zander said that when he realized this truth, he stopped focusing on how he looked and turned his attention to how he could empower his musicians. As artists and “conductors,” how are we leading? Are we encouraging and inspiring our followers?
Zander has established a practice of taking a good look at the people he leads and asking himself, “Who am I being that they are not shining?” (74). As writers, our ultimate power is not in how many books we can sell, or how much publicity we can get. Our greatest impact is in empowering our followers to rise up and lead others. What do your words create in others?
Quotes taken from The Art of Possibility, by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander.
Conjunctions, Part 1: To Start or Not to Start
Conjunctions cause all kind of headaches for writers, but they are immensely important for linking words and ideas in good communication. Learn how to use them for effective communication.
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Callie Johnson works as Editorial Assistant at Kelli Sallman Writing and Editing with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and Creative Writing from Calvary University. She previously interned with Kelli for two years, working as proofreader and copyeditor on several manuscripts. Her strange obsessions include kerning, East Coker, and the sound of cows chewing.