There’s some confusion about what exactly categorizes a novel as romance. The idea seems to be that if your novel includes a love story it automatically falls under romance. However, this is incorrect and could cost writers a spot with their agent or publisher of choice, not to mention, reader expectations for the romance genre are high. Read on to learn what defines a novel as romance and what the differences are between that and women’s fiction.
Perfectionism is the culprit of many unfinished novels. Every single author or aspiring author has had to face off with the villain that is perfectionism. But perfectionism doesn’t have to rule our lives. We don’t have to let it dictate our productivity. Read along to learn some tactics you can apply in your life in order to overcome perfectionism and allow your creativity to flow freely once again.
Writers need a lot of constant encouragement when they’re working on a novel. This isn’t anything to be ashamed about. There’s nothing wrong with needing a bit of a pep talk from a friend, fellow writers, loved ones, or even from ourselves. One thing that’s sure to help us get back on track when we’re feeling low about our writing journey are positive affirmations. Especially when we place these somewhere where we can see them all the time. Read on to learn more about the magic of using affirmations and even find a few graphics with affirmations to help you get started!
For some new writers, the world of editing can seem a bit confusing. When first starting to research editing for your novel, you may find that there are different service tiers and you may not be sure what it all means. But two of the most mixed up services are copyediting and proofreading, with some people often using the terms interchangeably. Read on to find out what the difference between these two is so that you can be prepared for when the time comes to send your manuscript to an editor!
Writing a romance novel is far from easy, contrary to popular belief. There are so many factors to keep in mind: character arcs, tropes, expectations, etc. An editor can assist you with making sure that your story romance story is hitting the mark and that all its elements are working cohesively so that your vision is clear and also creating a poignant story that stays with readers for a long time.
Deux Ex Machina is a plot device originating as far back as ancient Greece. While it’s still widely used today, it can end up being problematic. Having some awareness of what Deux Ex Machina is can help us decide how to better manage the climax and resolutions of our stories to ensure that we provide readers with an ending that’s both engaging and satisfactory.
Show, don’t tell is an important piece of advice when writing. But did you know that subtext is almost as important when trying to create rich stories that resonate on a soul level with readers? Read on to learn why subtext is an important and integral part of the craft of writing.
Some authors believe that a beta read can take the place of professional editing, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Find out how a beta read and a manuscript critique differ and why the former cannot replace the latter.
We all do it. I know I do. And once I explain what it is, you’ll probably realize you do it, too. It usually goes a little like this: Character A and Character B are having a heated discussion. The dialogue is sharp, piercing. Their expressions and physical language are poignant. The prose that holds…
Read more
Remember all those Friends episodes where Monica wore a fat suit and everyone made jokes about her weight? Remember the appalling treatment of transgender people in Ace Ventura Pet Detective? More recently, Dr. Seuss’s publisher has made the decision to stop production on six of his books due to racist imagery. In today’s world, this…
Read more
Recent Comments