I hope you’re already dreaming up an inciting incident for your favorite premise! I know I am. But before we do that, we need to know who our characters are. Yesterday, I outlined the hero and heroine of the Talk Show Host and the Teacher. Today, let’s take a look at the Actress and the Park Ranger Who is our Actress? Our Actress has worked hard to get where she is. She was a good girl, a hard worker growing up, and her parents put her through school. She moved to Hollywood to follow her dream, and was an overnight success. She married an A-list star and life seemed to be going her direction…until she decided to make an indy film exposing the flesh-for-sale industry overseas…and the […]
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A little background on the Talk Show Host and the Teacher
So, maybe it would help you know which way to vote if you knew who you were vote for. Here’s a bit of Background on our characters, using the simple WHO method for developing all the key pieces: Talk Show Host Who is she? She’s a foster child with a fractured past, always inventing herself. Always tried to be all things to all people. She never wants attention for herself, so she’s good at stepping outside herself, and highlights other people. She doesn’t know who she is, so it’s hard to be true to herself. She is only confident as an interviewer and celebrity. She has the way of getting the true story out of people. Exposing the lies. Combo of Geraldo and Oprah. But she really doesn’t know who […]
Read the RestStill trying to pick a genre?
Maybe this will help: I asked the wise and brilliant Chip MacGregor (www.chipmacgregor.com) what genre was the hottest right now… ” The fastest growing category in publishing right now is YA, but that’s only because of TWILIGHT. Aside from that, romance is definitely the strongest category. Next fastest growing? Probably thrillers. What genre sold the most? In terms of numbers of books, it was romance.” and the illustrious and also wise Steve Laube (www.stevelaube.com) said, “If I were to be held down and forced into an answer I would have to say “romance.” That category, while always evergreen, continues to be the staple of the fiction industry.” (Thanks, guys, for your help!) so, there you go… Every voice counts! Online Surveys & Market Research
Read the RestWhat kind of book should we write?
What kind of book do you like to read? I usually start with this question when I’m teaching students how to write. Because, the things you are reading will usually determine the genre that you are most equipped and most interested in writing in. I read a lot of different genres – historical romance, romantic comedy, women’s fiction…but the genre most represented on my shelf is romantic suspense and thrillers. So, that’s what I tend to write. Have I written the others? Yes. But my strengths, the genre I am honing is the one I love the most. Romantic Suspense. Whenever you start a book, you need to begin with the TYPE of book you’re writing…the GENRE. So, go take a look at your bookshelf, and then come […]
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