Your writer’s voice, that is. If you’re like me, hearing your speaking voice on a message always sounds odd. (Because of course, in my mind, I fantasize that I sound like Kathleen Turner…) But the Writer’s “Voice” is far more elusive, like you’re in a perpetual game of Hide and Seek and your “voice” is always winning.
First, the prerequisite “definition” from Wikipedia:
Writer’s voice is the literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author. Voice was generally considered to be a combination of a writer’s use of …
Today, I’m going to direct you to my monthly feature at Romance University — today’s topic is on websites, geared specifically for the unpublished writer. Do you need a website? If you have one, what should it look like? What the heck do you put ON It (and who’s looking at it, anyway?)
Be sure to stop by.
And conversely, I’m at MamaWriters today as well — talking about stepping outside of your comfort zone.
addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fjeannieruesch.com%2Fwordpress%2F%3Fp%3D3025′;
addthis_title = ‘Do+You+Really+Need+A+Website%3F’;
addthis_pub …
Today is my third “How To” blog. I debated from my list what to do this month. My muse was whispering at me – her name is Sophie – yet I was ignoring her. The one she wanted to do, I hadn’t intended to write on at all. Why?
I suck at settings and their details.
You don’t believe me?
Case in point: Manuscript in drawer: Hero’s billionaire grandfather owns a string of hotels. Bad guy chasing our hero and heroine and they hideout in several of these hotels. Forty instances of [insert …
Newspapers and magazines are in crisis mode…
… therefore they cut non-advertising space…
… including literary fiction reviews…
… which means readers don’t get to find out about the new releases…
… and book sales suffer.
Times are changing, remember when you didn’t see laxatives advertised. I still remember the first time I saw an add touting the benefits of a brand of laxative. I was still a kid and took the magazine to my dad. Now, we have Viagra where they caution about a four hour erection. Yep things are changing.
Have you read romances that were written like twenty years ago? The sex scenes left a lot to the imagination. And, even more so if you compare them to our current popular erotic genre. But… …
I’m in the middle of my last big revision ( edit #umpteen-thousand-and-five) on East of Jesus. I examine every scene in detail, going down a checklist to make sure all the elements of a snappy scene are included.
As you know, I’m a big believer in writing in scenes. Scenes are the basic unit of fiction. I’m also a big proponent of using scene cards to make sure structure is built into each scene (and to ensure a solid story arc, but that’s not the focus here). In the past, though, I …
So, it’s May… and for most writers who spend any time visiting online blogs, you likely know that means it’s the month for Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research. During the month of May, this auction offers some incredible opportunities and items donated by a huge number of folks within (and without) the publishing industry. If you haven’t been there before, hightail your behind over now to check out the items. I GUARANTEE you’ll find something to covet.
But since this is a writing focused blog, I’d like …
As you all know, it’s been ages since I’ve written anything, new, revised, or otherwise. Yes, sometimes life gets in the way when writing isn’t your ‘real job.’ And it wasn’t just me either. My critique partners, heck my entire critique group was surprisingly quiet.
Then one CP posted some chapters, then another and another. Suddenly, I was the only one not writing. Well, I couldn’t have that. So I pulled up my WIP and started reading it from the beginning, getting myself into the story again. Next thing I knew, …
I’ve been thinking about everything that’s been happening in Nashville (my heart goes out to all the folks dealing with the flooding there) and the fact that the RWA National Convention venue had to be changed because of it. By the way, my hat is off to the National team who managed to re-book this huge event from Nashville to Orlando in about 36 hours time. Now that’s power-working!
Anyhow, I got to thinking about unexpected turns. I ran into a recent setback with my work in progress that made me …
I admit, when I first heard this line, as a romance writer, my mind went a totally different direction than what this post will go. LOL The song did the same thing to me. See, I’m a big fan of the country music group Gloriana. They’re made up of two brothers and two girls who, IMO, can harmonize with the best of them, not to mention, their songs speak to my writer heart.
One of my favorites is “How Far Do You Wanna Go?”
It’s about a guy who finds out a girl …
First, I apologize for this being a very short post. I burned my left hand yesterday–palm and fingers so not typing the greatest in the world. As a result, I’m going to simply throw open a topic and maybe get some discussion going.
How much is Too Much Information? Agent Jessica Faust of Bookends, LLC addressed this topic on her blog last week. Titled The Internet and Your Career, Jessica posed some very interesting questions about how public we as writers should be when it comes to personal views.
I, personally, …
A topic floating around the web these days is whether or not to post your (unpublished) work online — on your website or elsewhere. If you’d like to read the topics in full, Chuck Sambuchino, of the Guide to Literary Agents blog is in the “No Way” corner, while Jane Friedman from Writer Unboxed is in the “What are you waiting for?” corner.
Where do you stand?
Since I can’t claim to be more knowledgeable than either Mr. Sambuchino or Ms. Friedman, let’s take a look at their points.
Ms. Friedman’s PROs for …
Welcoming back to Happy Endings, Meg Benjamin!
HEAD FOR THE HILLS
All three of the books I’ve published with Samhain (with number four coming out in July) have been set in a small and thoroughly mythical town called Konigsburg in the Texas Hill Country. Now Texans, which I used to be, know all about the Hill Country. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. But most non-Texans have no idea where it is or even what it is. So I sometimes find myself explaining the whole area, although …
Today, Happy Endings welcomes special guest and author Stephanie Beck, who is here to share the latest about her new release and tell us what tortures she put her mother-in-law through…the character in a book, that is. Welcome, Stephanie!
Welcome to Happy Endings. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?
I’d love to. My latest release is called Poppy’s Passions. It’s a ménage romance about three brothers and the woman they love. Growing affection and an unexpected pregnancy lead the fun they initially share to become something much more. …
I’m having a rough week. I’m dealing with a very personal issue that has derailed my work, and I’m struggling just to get through the days (yeah, some weeks are like that).
I woke this morning at 4 a.m., hurting inside. I needed comfort, but I didn’t want to wake my sweetly sleeping husband. After an hour of watching the clock change, I had a brilliant inspiration. I got up, went to my computer, and wrote myself a love note.
Dear Katrina, (I wrote)
I know you are going through a difficult time …
