Ruth Buchanan's Blog, page 4

Ruth’s Extremely Helpful Do-It-Yourself Online Dating Profile Sample Questionnaire

Note: This post was originally published in 2015 on my former blogging site. It’s been refreshed and relocated for your convenience. Enjoy!

Recently someone asked a friend of mine if she’d ever considered internet dating and seemed shocked when she said she wasn’t interested.

I wasn’t shocked. I get it. Internet dating’s a lot of work.

Consider the process. When singles first join an online dating service, they’re immediately tasked with filling out long, tedious, one-size-fits-al...

13 Signs You Belong in a YA Novel

Every genre has its clichés. Some you love; some you hate; all you find instantly recognizable. Young Adult novels are no exception to this phenomenon.

You can spot clichés on the page, but how good are you at spotting whether or not you meet the criteria yourself?

13 Signs You Belong in a YA Novel You hang out with a ragtag group of misfits. You wear hoodies almost exclusively. You have a precocious younger sibling in need of rescuing. You have a useless best friend. You’re involved in a lo...

What Writing a Book Feels Like

When people find out I’m a writer, they often tell me they have an idea for a book.

I nearly always encourage them to sit down and write it, because one fact that’s universally true of all writers is that there was a time before they wrote anything when they said to themselves, “I’m not a writer.”

The point of this post is not to tell you that you, too, could be a writer (although you definitely could) but to tell you what writing a book feels like.

That way, when the times comes for you to w...

5 BOOKS. 5 CHANCES TO WIN. (+ BONUSES)

Surprise! It’s a hot summer GIVEAWAY!

Contest Details:

Duration: Enter by July 31, 2018.

Prizes: 5 winners will take their pick of 1 free book from among Ruth’s currently published books. Winners will be announced on August 1, 2018, via e-mail and will have 5 days to make their selections and claim their prizes.

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Bonuses: There will be small, regular bonuses in contest-related e-mails (so watch for those!), but the really exciting news is that two of the top five winners will also receive a b...

Show Your Favorite Book Some Love – Bingo Edition!

Last week, my friend Emily Conrad posted a Bingo card titled “Show Your Favorite Authors Some Love” and challenged everyone to claim a row. It’s a good card, but it seemed as if a few things were still missing.

Me: If I did a personalized grid, it would say things like “Take book to church and foist it on an unsuspecting friend” and “Turn favorite dialogue snippets into a musical, which you sing to yourself and others until they ask you to please stop.”

Emily: I would LOVE to see the official...

4 Reasons to Persevere in Running Even if You’re Bad at It

When I first started running a few years ago, I was really bad at it. Even now, I’m still only mediocre. Yet I persevere. I have four good reasons for doing so.

Reason 1: It’s a Quick Calorie Burn

This is the main reason why I took up running in the first place. As a writer who spends a fair amount of time in a computer chair, I need regular exercise. Running is quick, effective, and a cheap alternative to the gym, since the streets don’t charge me monthly fees to run them.

Reason 2: No One P...

5 Myths About My Single Life

My book on singleness and the church released in November of 2017, and since then, I’ve had increased opportunity to discuss my single life. I’ve recognized the need to dispel some myths.

Myth 1 – My single life is inherently lonely.

Yes, single people tend to spend more time alone than their married counterparts. But single living needn’t be inherently lonely. As a matter of fact, many singles find that they have more time to invest in meaningful friendships. I know I do.

Myth 2 – I must not...

Expectation, Reality, and Hope

Recently, a former student of mine found a typo in a book. Normally this would thrill me. I love seeing my students apply what they’ve learned–especially post-graduation. This time was different, however. This time the book was mine.

“I found a typo in your book.”

Her comment sparked an inner war.

Obviously, I make no mistakes; therefore, she must be wrong. But she can’t be wrong. She’s my student. She knows her stuff. To doubt her is to doubt the quality of her English education, which I can...

When Life Has Continuity Issues

[image error]Recently I stumbled across a list I’d scribbled in one of my writing notebooks while editing my first trilogy. At the top of one page, in giant loopy (and–let’s face it–slightly manic) handwriting are two words: CONTINUITY ISSUES!

In crafting fiction, continuity issues crop up for a number of reasons. The most common reasons include late-date tweaks to a plot or a character that are inevitable and yet frustrating because they nearly always require total book (or, in my case, total series) che...

Announcement: Moving Day!

The time has come to take this word show on the road!
For my latest posts and news, please visit my new website! In addition to continuing blog posts, you'll be able to access media, contests, and news about my latest releases.
Thank you for your many years of faithful reading, engagement, and encouragement.
I love you guys.
See you over there!