Go Ahead, Be Mean

Go Ahead, Be Mean

You have worked very hard to make your main characters likeable… lovable, even. You’ve developed them into complete human beings in your mind and, hopefully, in your novel as well. But then… you’ve got to be mean to them! You’ve got to destroy their wonderful (or even...
On Writing Historical Fiction

On Writing Historical Fiction

The hardest part of being a writer of historical fiction is the research. Oh, it’s not always difficult to find resources or to go through them searching for the answers to my questions. No, the hardest part of research is stopping—stopping going through all the...
Four points to finding character voice

Four points to finding character voice

One of the hardest parts of starting a new book, is discovering your character’s voice. Genre fiction is best when it brings the reader deep within the story. As readers, we derive the most pleasure from vicariously living the life of the protagonist. Without...
Omniscient POV, part 2

Omniscient POV, part 2

Why does Omniscient POV work sometimes? Last week I wrote a post on how you really should not write in omniscient POV. I was reading a Regency-set fantasy romance and the omniscient POV kept me at arm’s length from the characters, so I really couldn’t fall in love...
Omniscient POV

Omniscient POV

I’ve been reading a book that was highly recommended—and not by just anybody, but everybody! All the blogs I read that recommend books recommended this book. Even NPR recommended the book! It’s a Regency-set fantasy which is one of my absolute favorite genres, and one...