Boy, doesn’t that title just make you sit up and take notice. I woke up thinking about this today. Food. Writing. Diet Coke. Writing. Chips. Writing. Diet Coke. Writing. Tea. Writing. Water. Water. Water. To undo the chips and Diet Coke, of course. Writing. After returning from the fantastic Deep Thinkers retreat, I’d resolved to cut back on this, do a little more of that… But a week later, I can feel myself, see myself, slipping into old habits. Some of it is just determination. Any kind of discipline requires inspiration followed by a boat load of determination. But to keep going, we need motivation. Motivation comes from little successes. Big successes. Encouragement. More inspiration. A notch up on the determination. But it also requires resolve in our emotions. To just do it! And […]
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The I’s have it. But should they?
Ever listen to a conversation where “I” was the predominate word? I did this, I did that, I went here, I went there… I, I, I, I. After awhile, the picture is etched that the person talking is really into themselves. The same idea applies to writing in first person. As the writer and storyteller, it’s easy for us to get going in the first person narrative and forget to not let the “I’s” have it. When I started working with editor Ami McConnell, she warned me. “Watch the overuse of I.” “Hnnm, in first person?” I thought, but answered, “Okay, I’ll do that, very good idea.” Yes, it’s way easier said than done. It takes time, rethinking and rewriting to avoid the over use of I, or starting every […]
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Quick Skills: Genre makes you a better writer
I’ve written 35 books. Many of them have been on the best-seller list. A number have won awards. And at least half are….romance. When I get to that last sentence, whatever literary cred I’ve earned with the first three statements seems to vanish. “You write Romance?” someone will ask, (as if they haven’t heard me) and sometimes add an accompanying look of…disdain? Disappointment? As if writing romance is somehow less highbrow than general fiction. I hate the assumption that general fiction is better written. Hogwash. Words are words, and the truth is, writing fabulous genre fiction is harder than general fiction. You have to stand out in a category with your words while delivering a plot that follows the genre constructs. General fiction can be wonderful…or it can be a […]
Read the Rest5 ways to stir creativity over Thanksgiving
Breathing Room for your Brain Or, 5 ways to manage the Thanksgiving Brain Break. First, I just want to say that I am thankful for Thanksgiving and the mandatory break that it forces into my life –and yes, I mean forces. Think jackhammer. Or wedge. I am in the middle of writing a book, up against a deadline the first of December and near the final stretch. I’m so full of excitement it’s difficult to look up. To eat. To speak clearly. Those of you who are doing NaNoWriMo (and especially MBT WriMo) know what I mean. Like a blanket, our story embraces us, and we are reluctant to break free even for a deep-fried turkey and apple/pumpkin/chocolate pie. Thanksgiving forces us to untangle ourselves from our creative process. To […]
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