October 24, 2017

Weed Words Explained

Have you ever read through your manuscript only to realize the same words keep popping up like weeds in a garden? If your answer is yes, relax—we all do it. In the flurry of keystrokes, some words just appear. You didn’t want them. You don’t remember thinking them. But nevertheless, they sprout like common weeds. Your mind can often add unintentional words to your writing. […]
September 14, 2017

Two-Dimensional Character Artist

A master novelist paints his story with dynamic two-dimensional characters. The characters are woven into the story like puzzle pieces. Each is important to the final picture, but standing alone they bring no significant revelation to the final image. Two-dimensional characters are flat. They lack depth, are partially developed, and often are stereotypically inclined. But stories need two-dimensional characters. They bring the story to life, […]
August 14, 2017

“Touch” Writing: 5 Senses

Different body parts experience the sensation of touch in unique ways. Fingertips have heightened levels of sensitivity, but the tip of an elbow is desensitized. Depending on how you touch on object with certain body parts the feeling or experience will be different and should be described relative to the sensation. A few weeks ago I went camping in Northern Michigan. As I hung my […]
July 19, 2017

“Taste” Writing: 5 Senses

Now that we’ve taken a deeper look at two of the senses, sound and sight. Let’s take a more in depth look at one of the hardest senses to describe in some settings—taste. All great authors write using the five senses, and the best know how to incorporate just a touch of taste to highlight an emotion, experience, or mood, or to fill out a […]
June 15, 2017

“Smell” Writing: 5 Senses

I don’t know about you, but every time I smell cinnamon rolls in the oven, I am transported back to 1980’s. My thoughts drift to waking up on Sunday morning to the sweet smell of breakfast baking in the kitchen. My stomach growls. My mouth salivates, and I can almost hear my mother rustling the dishes. What a great memory from my childhood. Smell has […]
May 17, 2017

“Sight” Writing: 5 Senses

For the average writer, sight, is typically the easiest of the five senses to describe. Our world is filled with a menagerie of colors, people, plants, animals, buildings, and things. Each of those objects are finite and can be described visually, making sight easy to relate on paper. But describing the sense of sight doesn’t have to be bland. Take for instance, the picture below. […]
April 19, 2017

“Sound” Writing: 5 Senses

Great authors write using the five senses. They are masters of drawing their readers deeper into the world, scene, or setting of a story by embracing the intricacies and subtleties of the five senses. The senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and feel are available to almost all writers. Utilizing proper description of each of the five sense in your manuscript will greatly improve your […]
March 19, 2017

Three “Hot” Amazon Subgenres or Trends?

As both an author and agent, people are always asking what are some “hot” Amazon subgenres or trends. This is always a loaded question and one that is very difficult to answer. I recently reviewed some interviews from some of the biggest traditional publishers on this topic. Most of them refused to give an answer, and those that didn’t dodged the question. Why is it […]
February 20, 2017

Platform vs. Writing Ability

As a literary agent, I routinely get asked which is more important platform or the quality of the writing? For writers who are looking to get published, this is an important question to debate. It may be the most important question. The correct answer is not as easy as it may seem. The winner of this important debate between platform and writing ability can change […]
June 29, 2016

5 More Things I’ve Learned as a New Literary Agent… (Part 2)

Every day as a new literary agent, I have wonderful, exhilarating, and often very humorous interactions with people, editors, manuscripts, and prospective clients. These first few months at Hartline Literary Agency have provided me with an ever-growing wealth of insight that I hope will help aspiring authors on their journey to find publishing success. I am fortunate to represent clients across three continents and to […]
June 17, 2014

Snuggle Time

Check out my blog post about showing love to my daughter by making “snuggle time” special… You can find out more at the just18summers blog.
August 11, 2014

Rattlesnake Summit

Check out my moldable moments blog… You can find out more at the just18summers blog.
August 18, 2014

Cussing For My Kid

Check out my Moldable Moments blog at just18summers.com!
October 2, 2014

Mosquito Nets for Jesus

A cacophony of nighttime jungle sounds serenaded my son and I in our cabana. Surrounded by darkness in the lush Belizean jungle, Carver and I had time to talk about life and ministry. My seven-year-old son and I led a family mission trip to Belize. We were stationed in the city of Armenia. We spent the days hosting a soccer camp and read more here… […]