Ah, romance novels. We who love them, love them fiercely. And with good reason. What’s better than falling in love every time you pick up a new book? Happily-ever-afters, strong, smouldering heroes, love that transcends time and distance and conflict … can we say swoon? It’s a shame that so many readers are quick to... Continue Reading →
Developing Imagery in Your Writing
No novel is truly complete without well-developed imagery. It’s the yin to the yang that is plot - without it, your novel won’t be balanced. Even the most gripping of action-adventure books, or the most gruesome of murder mysteries need at least some imagery to bring it to life. Imagery is how you engage all... Continue Reading →
Outlander: A Case Study in Writing Word Pronunciation
Ah, Outlander. With the sudden explosion of the Starz television series starring the ethereal beauty Caitriona Balfe and the swoon-worthy Sam Heughan (sigh), the Highland historical romance genre is well poised to rake in some major popularity points. Just thinking of the throaty way that man says the word Sassenach … oh, swoon and swoon... Continue Reading →
Guest Blog: Reinventing the Cliché Write What You Know
Hi Everyone, I'm blogging at Romance Unversity today. Come check out my guest post, Reinventing the Cliche Write What You Know. I'm super excited about this post. In it, I ask the question, what does "write what you know" really mean, and suggest an alternative application of this tired, oft-repeated piece of advice. I'd love... Continue Reading →
Giving Detail Its Due in Your Writing
We all know the two main problems that writers face when it comes to detail, right? Too much, and you’re going to either annoy your readers, or put them to sleep. Not enough, and you won’t be giving your readers the tools they need to reconstruct your scene in their heads. But did you know... Continue Reading →
Contrived Plot Points in Fiction Writing … As Illustrated by Curb Your Enthusiasm
At the outset of this post, I am throwing my hands in the air, and begging those fans of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm to keep an open mind. I know you’re a passionate bunch, but remember … I’m not insulting you personally. Everything I say is just an opinion, it’s all in good fun, and is... Continue Reading →
Writing the 3rd Person Omniscient Voice with Confidence
Whether this is a well-known fact or not, I don’t know. But if you didn’t know this already, then here it is: writing from the perspective of third-person omniscient is the easiest way to write. It is the most versatile, the most flexible and the most widely used. This is the perspective of the disembodied,... Continue Reading →
3 Tips for Writing Likeable Characters – Guest Post with Romance Lives Forever
Hello everyone, Today I'm blogging at Romance Lives Forever. I had a lot of fun writing this post, and as always, Kayelle Allen of RLF has been fantastic to work with. Check out my guest post, 3 Tips for Writing Likeable Characters. Don't forget to leave a comment on Romance Lives Forever: what other tips or... Continue Reading →
The Value of the Underdog
Note: This post from February, 2014 is being re-blogged from my previous Blogger platform. I've noticed a disturbing trend in my own reading lately. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve found that the last several romances in a row that I’ve picked up I’ve promptly put down. At first, I began to panic. Was I... Continue Reading →
Writing Your First Draft by Hand
In the early stages of my career as a proofreader, I provided the final edits for a self-help book on effective communication. Interestingly, there was a section which talked about the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and which sides you activate while handwriting and typing. According to this book, you use the left, analytical half of... Continue Reading →
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