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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Dealing with the Conference Blues
Today I’m going to talk about something that may seem a bit odd: The conference blues. “Oh, Tiff. You mean the post-conference letdown?” No. I don’t mean that at all. What I’m talking about is the deep sense of intimidation or “not belonging” that I’ve both seen in others and experienced myself at various writer’s conferences. This is something that I was completely unprepared for when I attended my first national writing conference in September 2006. I was so excited…so prepared…so overwhelmed. I remember when I got there I’d already been published in two national print publications [Today’s Christian and Charisma Magazine] and I’d also been a regular columnist for a local newspaper. Yet, as I walked around the group of about 300 people a voice in my head kept […]
Read the RestFrasier Contest Blog Tour
Hello! Usually, yes, we have Fabulous Fiction Friday… but because we have the Frasier Contest going on this month, I wanted to take this day to encourage you to stop by the following blogs this month and check what the Voices had to say about the Frasier Contest! February 6: Melissa Tagg http://www.melissatagg.com/ February 7: Beth Vogt http://bethvogt.com/ February 8: Andrea Nell http://www.andrea-michelle-wood.blogspot.com/ February 10: Michelle Lim http://thoughtsonplot.wordpress.com/ February 16: Edie Melson http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/ February 23: Lisa Jordan http://www.lisajordanbooks.com/ February 27: Julia Matuska http://painterspen.blogspot.com/ February 29: Tiffany Colter http://writingcareercoach.com/ March 1: Casey Herringshaw http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/ March 2: Jennifer Fromke http://jenniferfromke.com/blog/ March 5: Rachel Hauck http://www.rachelhauck.com/ Thank you all for your Blog post – and for more info about the Frasier […]
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Yet Another Tip On How to Write A Great Novel
Do you ever weary of all the do’s and don’ts of writing a novel? I do. Sometimes I get so bogged down with the “rules” and guidelines I end up writing something that doesn’t work. But in the end, it all forms together to create the novel I do end up sending to my editor. Nothing written for a novel is never wasted. Every word becomes a layer and texture of the ultimate story. On my latest novel, I learned a valuable lesson. Reading. Shocker, right? Y’all are rolling your eyes, moaning, “Gee whiz, Rachel, and you have fifteen novels published!? Where’s the justice?”Simmer down. I know reading is important. I’ve always read. Let me be more specific. Reading for research. I do a ton of research for my novels. […]
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