By Ane Mulligan There have been copious emails written on the loop regarding Plotter vs Pantster. One method works great for some and is a failure for others. Seat of the Pants (SOTP) writers can’t plot to save their lives. If the word is even uttered within fifty yards their muse takes a vacation. Plotting is their personal hades. So …
My Personal Self-Help Guide for Focusing on Writing
by Maggie Brendan With the current release of my sixth book, Perfectly Matched, last week, I was at the Georgia Romance Writers Conference, when another writer asked me if I had a guide to staying focused to write each book, handle marketing, and still maintain a separate life apart from my work. It was a thought provoking question which made …
Mentoring: Pay It Forward
By Margaret Daley Years ago when I started writing, the Internet didn’t exist, nor did the current plethora of how-to-books on romance writing. The writing groups so many of us now take for granted in helping beginners learn the craft of telling a good story weren’t exactly on every street corner either! In the city where I live, I was …
Writing Historical Novels, Part 2
By Carrie Turansky On Sept. 5th I shared several tips on research for historical authors. Today I’d like to continue with that topic and give you a few more ideas. All of these have been very helpful to me as I have been writing The Edwardian Brides Series, and today I am celebrating the release of Book One, The Governess …
Three Steps to Prevent Over Firing
by Davalynn Spencer We just moved into a new-to-us home and are acquainting ourselves with the light-switch locations, key-to-lock equations, and appliance operations-which, in my book, includes the wood stove. Though the stove is not technically an appliance, I want to be ready for action come the first snow of the season. A cozy fire on a cold Colorado night …
Say Goodbye to Frenzy in Your Writing Life
by Judy Christie When I turned fifty, I gave myself a book for my birthday: I committed to write my first novel. I’m astonished that In the past six years, I’ve had seven novels published, with number eight set to release next fall. In addition, I work a “day job” as a consultant. I am so thankful–and pooped. Like many …
Things I Wish I’d Known Sooner
by Cynthia Herron Twenty years ago, the world of writing was a much different scenario. Writers had fewer irons in the fire and more time to create. The internet was still new, a “social media presence” unheard of, and snail mail the order of the day. Today, we have the ability to research from anywhere at the touch of a …
Writer Whacked!
By David W. Fry Crouched behind a case of Tylenol, Dean sees his reflection in the shiny placard announcing the sale of Halloween candy on aisle thirteen. A shadow moves to eclipse his image. Dean pivots, his shoes squealing as if to warn, but it’s too late. I’m going to be clocked by a can of pumpkin and I didn’t …
Doing Time
by Deborah Raney Every year I anticipate this season when the brand new calendars go on sale! I always have such fun choosing the calendar that will hang on our fridge keeping track of all the important events of our lives. I get great pleasure from turning to a new page at the beginning of each month-a fresh start, a …
Distractions
by Carolyne Aarsen We all have them and we all give in to them. As a writer, working from home, with a refrigerator only a procrastination away, distractions are my nemesis. The biggest ones? The Internet and e-mail. No contest. I will be working away and hit a snag. Doesn’t even need to be a big one. Can be something …