This is the first question most people ask once they learn you’re a writer. “I don’t know how you do it,” they’ll say. Then, there will be the other smart arses who want to know if you write from real-life experience and waggle their eyebrows suggestively, knowing...
I’ve been in a writing mood recently, which is great from my point of view. Today, I wrote “the end” on my current work in progress. Since my mind is in the groove, I thought I’d give some advice to aspiring authors. 1. Sit down and write every day. Make writing into...
"The editor is there to do two things: to make the book as polished and professional as she can and to help you and the publisher avoid infringement suits. There are no brownie points for refusing reasonable edits. My first editor [Suzanne James] taught me: "An editor...
Don't be afraid to experiment with your writing. So what does that even mean? For five years I targeted Harlequin Mills and Boon because that was the house I wanted to be published with. I did eventually progress from form rejections to personal ones and then onto...
"Goals and Goal Timelines Writing goals are fabulous tools. They get us to put the words on the page, they motivate us to submit our manuscripts, they push us over hurdles when we’d rather give up. You’ve sent goals, right? Finish the first draft – or better yet,...
"Seize the moment with sensory detail! Have you ever read a story that just didn't grab you, even if the plot was compelling and the conflict abundant? The prose probably lacked sensory detail. Sensory detail is what infuses writing with emotion and helps the reader...
"Be patient and don't ever give up. I started writing "for fun" in 2003 and did not know anything. And believe me when I say anything. It took me three years of knocking around before I got a clue (well, a couple of clues) and met like-minded writers online. Thanks to...
"Figure out what kind of story you want to tell and stick to it. Cross too many genre barriers and the booksellers won't know where to shelve you. Begin as you mean to continue. If you start out with snarky comedy, don't end up with a chainsaw toting serial killer....
"Don't worry about the distractions. I don't mean telling the kids not to interrupt your writing time unless there is fire or blood. I mean the writing-borne distractions. Don't spend your time worrying about the perfect opening line or scene, the perfect title, the...
