It’s time for our monthly authors’ Round Robin, and today we have another thought-provoking topic, chosen by author Rhobin Courtright… What unusual situations have occurred in the writing process of any of your novels? By ‘unusual situations’, Rhobin means times when everything you’d carefully planned changed, or your story veered off track in a way…… Continue reading Why the best ideas often come after you’ve started writing
In August last year my author friend JQ Rose invited me and several others to share our favourite writing tips in a series of posts running on her blog from October to February. JQ Rose had had the brilliant idea of eventually collating the posts, editing our articles, and turning our collected tips into an…… Continue reading A brilliant book of writing tips by romance and mystery authors
I’m doing a post with a difference today. It’s Monday, for a start, and any of my regular followers (and if that’s not you, by the way, then please sign up! Theres nothing to lose. Well, you’ll lose a little time – but just read my fabulous posts and think of the rewards!) Anyway, as…… Continue reading The writing process, and other writerly questions
Sweet romances are easy to read, but far from easy to write. Writing sweet romances has given me an addiction to tea, a forehead wrinkled before my time, and an ability to out-snarl my dog if someone interrupts me when I’m concentrating. In fact, although I write sweet romance, I sometimes have all the appearance…… Continue reading How to make a sweet romance break bad (and how to raise the tension)
This week the Romantic Novelists’ Association announced the nine contenders for the Joan Hessayon award. This award recognises previously unpublished writers who have passed through the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme and have gone on to have their manuscripts accepted for publication. An exciting feeling – congratulations to all nine contenders! This year there’s a really…… Continue reading 10 useful things I learned from the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme
If you’re a Jane Austen fan like me (and if you’re not, I beg you to read on anyway! you’re in for a surprising and fabulous treat!), you’ll know already that Pride and Prejudice is two hundred years old this week. I first read this book when I was fifteen and it was as gripping…… Continue reading Pride and Prejudice at 200 (and a genius YouTube interpretation)
It’s funny how one person’s page-turning romance novel is another person’s deathly dull read. Take 50 Shades of Grey, for example. When I started this novel I had no idea what the story involved. (Really! I read the book before it was famous and had searched for top romances. How was I to know?)…… Continue reading What makes a page-turning romance? (Or how Chico Marx ruined 50 Shades)
If William Shakespeare had submitted the first act and a synopsis of Romeo and Juliet to Harlequin (Mills & Boon) for publication, he would have had it rejected out of hand. (I always knew there was a reason I don’t like this play.) You see, it’s the conflict. Or rather, it’s the lack of the…… Continue reading Creating conflict in romantic novels – some perfect examples
Helena Fairfax 