Staying Sane as a Debut Writer
Do As I Say, and Not As I Do. ~ By Laura Trentham I imagine every book has its own challenges, but your debut book is a special breed. Not only is it the first time you’re sending your words out for the masses to read, but it’s an unknown. Expectations are sometimes far from reality. […]
Reentry and Giving Yourself a Break
~ By Melina Kantor We hear it all the time. BICHOK. Want to be a writer? Write. Writers write every day. And of course, all of that is true. But I’ve got to confess something. I just finished a first draft of a story. I sat my butt down and put my hands on the keyboard […]
About Characterization. . .
~ By Mellanie Szereto I love stories with three-dimensional characters, both main and secondary. They draw me into the story, and I’m invested in their journeys. What makes a fully developed character? Characterization. Yes, the reader should have a general idea of the character’s physical traits, but I don’t necessarily mean a specific height, weight, eye […]
Tips for Proofreading Your Manuscript
~ By Liz Dempsey Well done to everyone who participated in NaNoWriMo, no matter how far into the process you made it. If you managed to get a whole book drafted, then you’re now at the stage of revising your work—either for a second draft, or in order to send it to your editor. Here […]
Giving Up
~ By Laura Trentham I was discussing TV shows with my hubby the other night. He wanted me to binge watch a show with him. I told him I did not have time to pick up another show. His response? “You have the time; it’s just not a priority.” Well…he’s right. My free time is […]
Writing Sprints Make a Difference
~ By Leigh Duvan When you hear the word Sprint your first reaction might be to think of Olympic Runners or Track & Field Events – you know like the 100-meter dash. Sprinting is associated with “going fast” and the actual verb definition is: run at full speed over a short distance. Today we’re going to […]
Writer’s Block
~ By Mellanie Szereto What happens when an author’s creativity slows to a tickle or stops altogether? Besides PANIC, Writer’s Block is the most common term for the condition. What are the causes? What’s the cure? Lots of issues can lead to writer’s block, but one of the most frequent causes is burnout. Authors tend to […]
NaNoWriMo – Why You Win Even When You Lose
~ By Leigh Duvan There are only a few days left to sign up for NaNoWriMo 2017. You may still be on the fence about NaNo or thinking there’s no way you can win, so why bother even doing it. Today I’m going to tell you in Nike form to JUST DO IT! Sign up! […]
What Does It All Mean?
The Confusing World of Editing and Proofreading ~ By Liz Dempsey For the new writer, understanding the function of the professionals involved in the process of readying your book for market, and the terminology used by the editing and proofreading world, can be daunting. It doesn’t help that often the same job comes with several […]
GMC, Wonder Woman, and Unlocking Your NaNoWriMo Story
Wow, okay. So NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) begins exactly a week from today. Have you figured out your plot? Eh, don’t worry, neither have I. Besides, as they say, “no plot, no problem.” Right? NaNo is the time to write with “literary abandon,” forget the rules, and just write. Right? Well. . . The […]
NaNoWriMo Word War!
~ By Melanie Greene Who’s up for a writing challenge? Those familiar with writing know it can be a solitary occupation, even with the friendship and resources of a great group like Contemporary Romance RWA. Those familiar with NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month — know it can be an overwhelming pursuit to generate 50,000 new words […]
La Tavola
~ Jo Thomas ‘Write about what you know,’ people would tell me when I first started writing. The problem is, I didn’t know about anything…or so I thought! I knew I loved food, but I wasn’t a chef, or even one of those foodie types with fancy knifes and a cupboard full unrecognisable ingredients. I […]
