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Continue reading →: The Legend of John Macnab: how an autistic author created a compelling new tale from a Scottish classic
In this last weekend of #indieapril, the month where we celebrate indie authors, I’d like to champion an author published by an independent publisher whose work I feel deserves a much wider audience. I first came across James Christie’s book, Dear Miss Landau, after it was chosen for an episode…
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Choosing point of view: which one is best for your story?
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Continue reading →: Choosing point of view: which one is best for your story?Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month our question is… What are the advantages and disadvantages of first person, third person and the omniscient point of view? It wasn’t until my first novel, The Silk Romance, was going through editing that I grasped point of view as a…
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Continue reading →: Some tips on research for fiction writers (and knowing when enough is enough)
It’s time for another of our authors’ Round Robins, and this month the topic is… How important is research for your writing? Besides writing fiction, I’m also the author of a non-fiction social history, Struggle and Suffrage in Halifax: Women’s Lives and the Fight for Equality. This book covers the…
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Continue reading →: How Goal, Motivation and Conflict add essential tension to your story
It’s my first authors’ Round Robin of the year, and this month our topic is… Using Goal, Motivation and Conflict to add tension to your story All stories are about people, because human beings love to hear stories about other human beings. At their heart, the most engrossing stories are…
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Continue reading →: 7 tips for setting the scene in your novel (and bringing it to life)
It’s another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. And this month the topic is… Setting the scene This seems a simple topic. A scene is just a scene, isn’t it? Just a few lines of description and then move on to the more interesting plot and dialogue. In fact skilful…
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Continue reading →: 7 tips to tighten the saggy middle of your story and keep readers engaged
Another month, another writers’ Round Robin. And this month our topic is a question many novel writers have grappled with at some point. How do you fix a saggy middle? Imagine you’re a writer with a killer opening. You spend the next few chapters setting up your characters and the…
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Continue reading →: #Writetip: Seven steps for creating a strong character arc in your romance novel
Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Skye Taylor How important is character arc to your stories and how does it tie in to the plot or story arc? I write and edit romance novels. These novels are character-driven rather than…
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Continue reading →: The fabulous Kew Palace and the true story of Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte
If you haven’t yet seen the Netflix series Queen Charlotte, and if you’re looking for a touching love story, with a great script, an excellent cast, beautiful costumes and stunning scenery, then you’re in for a treat. Shonda Rhimes called this prequel to Bridgerton ‘fiction inspired by fact’. I loved…