Starting Right

Starting Right

It’s been a while since I’ve written about how to start a novel but since I’m working with a new coaching client who is going through this right now, I thought it couldn’t hurt to share what I’m doing with her. How you begin a novel very...
Why should I care? Why should you?

Why should I care? Why should you?

Rachel Toalson wrote a wonderful blog post for Writer UnBoxed. It’s about getting to the heart of your story — why you wrote it and why readers will remember it long after they finished reading it. Sometimes it’s really hard finding the heart of your story. If you...
Writing Across Genres

Writing Across Genres

Does your mystery novel have a romance in it? Does your speculative fiction have a mystery element? Does your romance take place on another planet? It seems that there’s a lot of cross-genre writing going on. I attribute this to indie- publishing. Traditional...
Historical Accuracy is Fiction

Historical Accuracy is Fiction

There was recently a discussion on the Regency Fiction Writers’ forum concerning historical accuracy. For a group whose courses mostly teach accurate historical detail (everything from architecture to dancing to cookery), there were a number of authors who commented...
Making Villains Real

Making Villains Real

What makes a villain? Does someone like the mustache twirling character from cartoons come to mind? Or perhaps it’s Mr. Goldfinger (pictured here)? Is your villain a thoroughly evil character or just someone who wants to ensure your protagonist doesn’t get what they...