Food is a large part of most cultures and one of the main guests at any celebration. A lot of our memories of growing up involve food: the smell of a roast on a Sunday afternoon, barbecues in the summer, and special cookies made at Christmas. Food and life are tightly interwoven. Food can serve…
It is very easy as both a reader and a writer to get swept up into book trends and for our reading and writing habits to be dictated by them. First Chick-lit was everywhere, we all read it and wrote it. Then Young Adult was explosive and again, it was everywhere with all of us reading…
Aspiring writers know the sad truth about the publishing industry — the pay is lousy. If we should ever get lucky enough to be published, there is a strong chance that we will not be able to quit our day job. The delusion of getting paid like a premier author runs rampant. The profession is tricky. We have…
Establishing Boundaries During Writing Hours Everything is all set: laptop booted up, pen and paper at hand and a cup of coffee that is still hot. You have been waiting for this “free” time to get all those words out of your head and onto the paper. With hands poised above the keyboard, you take a…
When I was offered a contract last year by Harlequin, I was not only excited but relieved as well. I believed that my writing had finally reached the point where it was publishable. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening! I was assigned to an editor and I quickly learned that my book still…
It is quite possible that as a writer, you are juggling a lot of writing balls. You might be working on your novel. You might have an assignment due for a magazine. Or perhaps you are trying to get a short story written for a contest deadline. You have all of this plus what life…
Can your Main Characters be unlikeable? Apparently they can, judging by two books I have read recently. Actually, in both instances the main characters were not only unlikeable but there was nothing redeeming about them. Nothing made me feel sympathetic to their plight (as a sidebar, both books were bestsellers which has me scratching my head). This…
Somewhere along the way of writing your story, you will need a plot. The plot is the glue that brings everything else together: characterization, voice, setting and style. Without a plot, you do not have a story. Here are five things to consider when minding your plot: Conflict – There is nothing a reader loves…