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Calm the $%* Down – Tips for the Over-Optimistic Writer

I am an optimist. No, really, I am. “But you run your subs down ALL the time!” I hear my CPs shout. It’s true, I do that. But that’s just a cunning front. Because deep inside, I am an honest to God, genuine, over-the-top optimist. And not in a ‘I think my sub isn’t too … Continue reading “Calm the $%* Down – Tips for the Over-Optimistic Writer”

The Dog Ate My Blog Post

Because school holidays have ruined my career as a wanna-be romance novelist, not to mention keeping this blog up to date, I’m taking the easy way out post-wise and directing your attention to the Sisters’ site where I have a post about emotion up there. It’s one I was going to do for here but … Continue reading “The Dog Ate My Blog Post”

A Budgie Called Doris – The Perils of Backstory

I am consistently amazed by how little backstory you need in a first chapter. I know! Who’d have thunk it? But it’s true. The reader does not need to know as much you think they do. The reason I’m concerned with backstory is that I’ve been wrestling with the beginning of this chess ms and … Continue reading “A Budgie Called Doris – The Perils of Backstory”

That Ole Emotional Connection Type Thing Again

When I was a baby author, I really liked my characters to fight ALL THE TIME. Why? Because I liked the angst and conflict and the torment and the anguish. It was awesome, plus I got to write hot, angsty love scenes which is always a bonus. Unfortunately there was also a problem with this … Continue reading “That Ole Emotional Connection Type Thing Again”

The ‘I Hate My Story’ Syndrome

I’ve got a general theme this week – first my stupid process and now I’m hating my stupid story. First draft blues in other words. I should know by now that at a certain point in the first draft – usually about 3/4s of the way through – I start to doubt everything. And I … Continue reading “The ‘I Hate My Story’ Syndrome”