So you're writing a novel, huh? Good for you! Butt be forewarned: no TRUE writer escapes the Seven Stages of Fiction Frenzy... 1. Eureka! An Idea! Nothing is better than that first spark of inspiration. You feel alive. Your Muse is finally cooperating. You’re buoyed with hope and visions of obscenely large paychecks. You balk […]
Yes, fellow fiction writers, when it comes to writing novels and fuming about rejection letters, I can feel your pain. That’s why I created these 10 humorous zingers to take away the sting. By the way: the inspiration for this post came from 25 Phrases You Wish You Could Say at Work More Often. Be […]
Why do publishers consistently single me out to write fictional series rather than single title novels? Well, according to my Bantam editor (who was weeping when she told me never again to kill off a dog on her watch,) my "fiction folks" touch the hearts of readers. I’ll never forget the (now ancient) U.S. News […]
Do you stop to recognize the miracles in your life? So many of us have been brainwashed to believe that the term, “miraculous,” can only be applied to giant earth-shaking events, like winning the lottery or discovering a cure for cancer. But I’m talking about everyday miracles: the hopes and dreams that quietly reappear when […]
I just completed several rounds of podcast interviews to promote my Lady Law & The Gunslinger series of Western Romantic Suspense novels, so I’m offering these book marketing tips for writers who want to be “heard.” The following ideas come from 20 years of experience as a professional publicist. Write a Pitch Letter Unless your phone's […]
Readers buy Romance novels because they want to experience the vicarious thrill of falling in love -- and usually with a man who is just a wee bit too dangerous to risk loving in real life. Romance novels are fantasies, after all. What woman wouldn't secretly thrill to be wholeheartedly loved and desired by James […]
Written By Prince Rael the Magnificent (Transcribed by Adrienne deWolfe, aka “Minion”) Greetings, Humans! It is I, Prince Rael the Magnificent, writing on a subject that is near and dear to every (self-respecting) reader’s heart: why cats make the funniest sidekicks. Er . . . I mean, why animals make the funniest sidekicks. Frankly, I […]
“I’m writing a Mystery,” my writing student told me proudly. And I said, “Great! Which sub-genre are you writing?” The student said, “Huh?” “You know. Cozy, Caper, Police Procedural, Hard-boiled . . . “ My student blinked blankly at me. She had no idea what a sub-genre was, nor did she know that the Mystery […]
Are you making progress toward your writing goals today? Or have you fallen victim to one of these 10 nefarious Gremlins from the shadowy realm of Writer's Block? 1. Mind Muncher This warty, pug-nosed menace chews up good inspiration and spits it out, claiming that your ideas suck, your writing sucks, your muse is a […]
Before I share today's 20 Tips for Writing Lovable Romance Novel Heroes, let's look at what keeps your target audience buying books in a $1.36 billion market that has dominated the world's fiction paperback sales for more than 30 years. (Learn more in my bestselling ebook series, The Secrets to Getting Your Romance Novel Published.) Readers […]