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Monday, June 28, 2010

Patricia Mason tells us to always look on the quirky side of life for story ideas


As authors, it helps to look outside the box. Many times we think we have to color inside the lines. Is this true? What if we want to make the tree orange and the sky green?
Patricia Mason broke out of her box and finished her novel:
"For many years—I’m embarrassed to say exactly how many—the completion of a novel seemed to elude me. I would work on something for a few weeks but then interest would wane and the first three chapters ended up under my bed or taking space in some storage tub full of memorabilia. They say to “write what you know.” For me that didn’t seem to work. I didn’t want to write about my real life. Real life is sometimes depressing and always boring to anyone but me. So what is an aspiring novelist to do?

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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Economical ways to do promotion

We all strugle with ideas for promotion. You can drop a pretty penny on it. Local author, Delle Jacobs, shares a few idea on how to create your own bookmarks on the cheap:
"Now that I've got a cover for LADY WICKED, my coming-soon release from The Wild Rose Press, I just had to do a bookmark. A little re-positioning, fine-tuning, and some blurbs and addresses. And a new design on the backside. Add a subtle color gradient for spice. (Oh yeah, I put a dress on her. Just because I could.)
For those of you who have a thing for RT cover models, and you know Jimmy Thomas, you may recognize him in the embrace silhouette. He's got some fabulous photos I'd love to use on covers, and they're not all that expensive- and pretty cheap for the e-book or bookmark size- $5.
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Thursday, June 24, 2010

How writing short stories can help promote your fiction

There are a few reasons I've been writing short stories. My first ebook, Ignite Me, was a great learning curve. It helped to polish my skills as a writer, it's helped me with the experience of working with an editor, and it helped get my name out there as a published author. It's not usually for the fame and fortune, but there are benefits!
I asked Seattle author, Gina Robinson,
What do you think some of the pros are for writing a short story?
"Last fall the editor of a popular series of romance short story anthologies approached me about contributing a story to an upcoming anthology. The offer came out of the blue. I write in the subgenre that she was going to feature in this particular anthology. The deadline was short—just three weeks. Was writing a story for it worth my while or not? Can a short story be an effective way to promote a novel or a novelist’s career?
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What are our duties as writers? Is it more than just the story?


I think our writing is more of a big picture thing. I don't want to write or read books where, especially the heroines, are abused or made to do things against their will.  It's not good... it's not sexy. Is this just my opinion?
I caught up with local author, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and asked her opinion
Is it our job to give women more than just a light read?
"Awhile back I went to the Rose City Reader’s Luncheon in Portland. It was my first unofficial function as a published writer, although I attended as a reader because, well, because by the time I registered that’s all that was left. I won a basket of historical books, which I don’t really read, but I like winning and there were some other cool trinkets and bobbles. Yay me!
Jane Porter was the featured speaker at the luncheon. I don’t guess I need to explain who she is. I’ve never read her work, but I saw the movie Flirting with Forty, and now I have the book and I will read it. I found her to be a great and inspirational speaker. She talked about some bad reviews she’d received as a new author, which came at an ideal time for me as my fear of reviews had grabbed me in a strangle hold. She gave me permission to not be loved by one and all. Some day I will give myself permission.
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Monday, June 21, 2010

Bronwyn Green shares how writers can decrease stress and increase productivity


We all face stress each and every day. We try to deal with it, and if not, we drink coffee because we live in Seattle the coffee capital of the world!...
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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Daring to Believe: Hitting that “send” button by Dana Marie Bell

I know I speak for myself, but I have hold the fear of hitting the send button. I spend sleepless nights, reading my first three chapter and synopsis...
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Ellery Adams tells us to beware! A mystery writer may be watching you

Is there truth in the old writer's joke 'Be careful or you'll end up in my next book'? Isn't there always someone that you fantasize about getting...
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