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Continue reading →: 7 tips to tighten the saggy middle of your story and keep readers engagedAnother 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 novelAnother 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 CharlotteIf 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…
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Continue reading →: New, Recent and Classic: 11 Brilliant American Romance Novels to Read This SummerHappy 4th July! To celebrate, I have 11 brilliant romance novels by American authors. I hope you enjoy all these as much as I did. Cut yourself a slice of pumpkin pie…and let the fireworks begin! New American romance novels Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, by Joya Goffney Quinn…
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Continue reading →: A simple tip for creating story structure, for plotters and pantsers alikeIt’s another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month our topic has been set by author Skye Taylor… Plotting or pantsing – which method do you prefer? Since this question is all about creating story structure, I’m answering with my developmental editor’s hat on. (I don’t really have a…
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How to breathe life into your fictional characters
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Continue reading →: How to breathe life into your fictional charactersSpring is here – season of new life and regeneration. And the question for this month’s authors’ Round Robin fits perfectly in the them of spring: How do you breathe life into your characters? I’d been a writer for a long time before I began working as a freelance editor.…
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Can Chat GPT write a romance novel?
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Continue reading →: Can Chat GPT write a romance novel?It’s another month, and another of our authors’ Round Robins. This month our topic is set by author Dr Bob Rich… How can contemporary fiction keep up with our swiftly changing world? Another thought-provoking topic this month. For my take on subject, I’m asking the question Can Chat GPT write…
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Continue reading →: How to focus on the heart of your novel. Plus, a special offer for writers
At the time of writing we’ve just started a new year – a time many people resolve to write the novel they’ve always wanted to write. If you have a great idea for a story and you’re setting out to write your first draft, even if this isn’t your first…
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Continue reading →: Appearance is everything – or is it? How much character description should a writer give?Another month, another authors’ Round Robin. And another through-provoking question in our writers’ group… What do you define in your writing about your characters and what do you leave to the reader’s intuition? Is there anything you never tell about a character? There’s a LOT to these questions but they…
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Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling Characters
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Continue reading →: Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling CharactersThis month’s authors’ Round Robin is all about character, and the inspiration for the topic comes from author Connie Vines. Jane Eyre, James Bond, Harry Potter, Fagin, Bridget Jones and Anne of Green Gables – human beings are always interested in the story of other human beings, and we remember…
Helena Fairfax
Freelance editor, author, tea drinker, Yorkshire lass
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Helena Fairfax 