Writer’s Tip & Tricks Day 13: Staying Motivated by Cynthia Eden

Staying Motivated

Hi, everyone! It’s a pleasure to be participating in this “Tips and Tricks” fun! For my turn, I thought I would talk about motivation. I mean, writing is fun—please, don’t get me wrong on that! It’s an absolute dream job. But everyone can use a little motivation now and then. ESPECIALLY writers. Our profession is very solitary. In order to stay at the best level of performance, we all must remain motivated!

So here are a few of my tips:

Don’t write alone. One of the best ways to get inspired to write (get those words on the page, baby!) is to write with other authors. I love signing on to Twitter and asking other writers to participate in the #1k1hr fun with me (that’s writing 1,000 words in an hour). When several authors all sign up to write at the same time, it’s a great method of accountability. At the end of the hour, you can celebrate your progress…and then feel energized to keep going for another #1k1hr.
Reward yourself. When you hit a particular word count (whether it’s finishing a chapter or even finishing a book), be sure to reward yourself. Positive reinforcement is the best! I like to reward myself with good books to read. If I finish 100 pages of text, then I can take a break and read a new thriller. Or if I finish a book, then I can finally read that big pile of great TBRs that I collected over the last month while I was writing. (This is a little side note—I rarely ever read within my own genre when I am actually writing—I save all of the romances as my “reward reads” when I am done with a book.)
Feel the beat, baby! If you’re sitting at the computer and the words just won’t come, then take a music break. Listen to music. Dance to the beat. Just get lost for a little while. Music can relax and refresh you. By the time the song is over, you can try attacking that story again. For me, I like to listen to music that will set the scene I want to write. For example, if I am about to write an intense action scene, then I want to listen to some hard, pounding music.
Surround yourself with things that make you happy. At my desk, I’ve got all kinds of little goodies—dragons, Snoopy figurines, and even snow globes that include covers of my books. I made my desk area into my writing sanctuary. When I sit down, I can’t help but smile. I want to work at my desk, and being in that right frame of mind makes a huge difference to me.

So there you have it. A few of my tips and tricks for staying motivated. If you’ve got some tips to share, please do! And best of luck to you on your writing endeavors!

Cynthia Eden

www.cynthiaeden.com

New York Times & USA Today best-selling author

*****

Let’s take a look at Cynthia’s upcoming release

Mine to Have

Mine #5

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden continues her sexy “Mine” romantic suspense series with…MINE TO HAVE.

Is he a hero…or the villain?When Elizabeth Ward sees Saxon Black rushing into the backroom of The Blade—a low end bar in Miami—she isn’t sure if he’s there to save the day…or just to raise some hell. But she’s being held hostage, and he’s her best hope of survival. Within minutes, she’s away from the jerks with the guns and riding fast and hard on the back of Saxon’s motorcycle.Death stalks them.Saxon has been working undercover for far too long. When he finds sexy Elizabeth—with a gun to her head—he knows he will do anything to keep her safe. But once he gets her away from her abductors, the threat to her isn’t over. Someone has put a price on Elizabeth’s head, and if Saxon can’t keep her safe from the danger stalking her, then she’ll be dead.Their lives are both on the line.As their enemies close in, Elizabeth and Saxon must go on the run. And the longer they are together, the hotter their attraction for one another seems to burn. Saxon vows not to let anyone hurt her, no matter what he has to do, because he’s falling fast for Elizabeth. He’ll stop the killers on her trail, and then he’ll have her. Forever.

A little about Cynthia:

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is aNew York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, andIndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a two-time finalist for the RITA® award (she was a finalist both in the romantic suspense category and in the paranormal romance category). Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over thirty novels and novellas.

Cynthia is a “hybrid” author. She has published extensively with New York (her New York publishers include Kensington, Grand Central, and Harlequin), and she has also enjoyed success in her indie writing career.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

You can find Cynthia chatting daily on Twitter or on herFacebook page.

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To Enter for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card.

Please leave a comment or question for Ms. Eden.

Along with your email

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*this giveaway is sponsored by the author*

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Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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September 16, 2014September 17, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 12: Writing-What a ride by Maggie Wells

Writing – What a ride!

When I started my writing career, I did it with the kind of breathless anticipation one feels when they are boarding a roller coaster. In the four years since I pulled the harness down, I’ve experienced every kind of extreme—the highs, the lows, the twists that left me dizzy and the sharp turns I never saw coming.

We live in a fast-paced world. This is a tough business, and it’s changing every second. There’s a lot of pressure for an author. Even more than many people realize, because many of us are working a full-time day job, raising families, and trying to manage our own romances while cranking out the juicy stuff for our readers. It can be a bit…much. Things got so overwhelming that just a few months or so ago I dipped into a valley so low I thought about quitting.

For about a minute.

I don’t think I could if I wanted to. At the moment, more ideas running around in my head than I have hours to write them. And I don’t want to let them go. Therefore, I needed to find a way to balance my writing with my life.

Here are a few ways I’ve learned to roll with the flow:

1) I bought a hammock. Sounds counter-productive, right? Wrong! Staring up at the sky from a hammock is the perfect way to let the imagination soar.

2) Word count. Yes, most authors have a daily word count goal, but I did something radical with mine. I lowered it. You see, on most days I can write about a thousand words in an hour. I used to think that meant I should be able to crank out a minimum 3k a night. You know, between dinner, laundry, yard work…. Uh huh. Couldn’t pull that off for very long. Now I aim for a thousand words her night. I usually end up with more, but with a lot less pressure.

3) I’ve given myself permission to say no. As writers, we hear the word with heart-wrenching regularity, but we don’t often use it. For every hour we spend writing, we spend just as many working on branding and promotion, but I’ve finally given up on trying to be everywhere all at once. The writing the best story I can is my priority. Period.

By taking a step back, I feel like I’m giving myself room to grow. So yeah, that clicking sound you hear is the lift chain catching the undercarriage of this roller coaster train once more. Hang on and hands up!

Bio:

By day, Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets. At night she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. She’ll tell you she’s a deep down dirty girl, but you only have to scratch the surface of this mild-mannered married lady to find a naughty streak a mile wide. The product of a rogue and a shameless flirt, she just can’t help herself…that’s part of her charm.

For a dose of heart and heat with your happily ever after, check out Website | Twitter @MaggieWells1 | Facebook

Maggie would like to giveaway an e-copy of her newest release The Last First Date.

Let’s take a look at The Last First Date

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First date number forty-eight comes to a screeching halt for detective Langley Sheppard when his date lifts a pack of gum from the local convenience store. But things start looking up when he encounters spunky damsel in distress Jessica Vickers, who’s stranded in the store parking lot. Now Lang is about to discover that on a night when everything goes wrong, falling for Jessica feels spectacularly right.

To Enter for a chance to win.

Please leave a comment or question for Ms. Wells.

Along with your email

(please use (AT) and (DOT) we don’t want any spam)

*this giveaway is sponsored by the author*

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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September 15, 2014September 17, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 11 part b: Never give up by Erin Kellison

Never Give Up by Erin Kellison

Never give up! Never surrender!

Writing, promoting, and publishing books is (crazy) time-intensive, and the highs and lows are a roller coaster ride that can leave a writer disoriented. And then there’s regular life beyond writing—kids, jobs, houses, car payments, etc. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. And somehow in there…you’re supposed to write a book. And usually at first, it’s not for a lot of money.

So how do you cope, stay sane, and still write?

My recommendation is to track word count. Everything else (writing related) doesn’t matter unless your word count for the day has gone higher.

I’m not really talking about goals here. I’m a big goal-setter/goal-forgetter. In fact, setting goals is one of my favorite time sucks because I get to plan out meticulously how I’m going to write x number of books in x time to invigorate algorithms and supercharge sales. Whee! But honestly, if I have not added word count to a story, I don’t have anything.

Word count can be a refuge. In the midst of all the publishing chatter and networking and promotion, good reviews and bad reviews, as well as general life joys and crises—word count is the thing that got all of us into writing in the first place. It’s the story. When you had that idea about the vampire or cowboy or family that runs an inn, I’m guessing you didn’t first imagine sending support messages to Facebook asking why they refused to boost your post. When the going gets tough (or tedious) and the To Do list gets long, the one thing to hit is your word count. That’s what saves me. (I also have chocolate on hand.)

It’s a common axiom that the best promotion is to write the next book. The rest (well, mostly) can be done in the commercial breaks while watching MasterChef.

What’s a good word count to get per day? It’s easy to be intimidated when you start to hear what some people can accomplish in a day. I know authors who can write 10k in a day. (Can you hear me laughing?) Good for them. Power to the fingers. Choose a word count that you can meet. Be honest with yourself about it. And hit that number every single day (unless something big happens, then no worries). But I’m serious. The magic secret to writing a book is Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keyboard.

For those just starting out, I recommend 250 words per day. That’s a page. Try dialogue if nothing is flowing. Get a conversation going and see how the characters feel to you.

If you’re already writing, don’t get intimidated by the huge numbers others do. You have no idea what their writing process is. I’ve heard about this strange animal called a Fast Draft. I’ve never been able to do it myself. Find your own process. It will be individual and suit your own quirks—and it may change over time. 1k per day will write you a full-length book in three months.

What about editing/revision? There’s nothing quite so painful as spending the day writing and achieving a negative word count. This will happen at some point in every project. Some writers revise along the way (me) while others get a full draft and then go back and rework with the whole in mind. On revision days, try setting a different benchmark, like revising ten pages.

A warning to the perfectionist fiddlers: If compelled to go back and spend two hours making that one sentence perfect with the era-appropriate language, research, etc., okay. Knock yourself out. BUT (maniacal cackle) still get the daily word count, even if it’s not perfect. If you have a ton of on-going research to do, consider lowering the daily word count so you don’t get so immersed in the time period/physics of space travel/criminal profiling that you don’t actually write the book.

The idea is to make forward progress. And in the noise and stress of the business and daily life, the story is where the passion is. Nurturing it helps with the rest. And the best part is…those words add up to pages really fast. It’s an awesome feeling to realize you’re a quarter…a half…holy crap, two thirds!…then finished with your book.

A little about Erin:

Erin Kellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Shadow series and Shadow Kissed series, which share the same world, where dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Delve into dreamscapes in her new Reveler series, releasing Summer 2014.

Learn more about Erin and her books here: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | G+ | Goodreads

*****

Let’s take a look at Erin’s newest release

Bring Me a Dream

Reveler #5

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The madman and the nightmare…

Vincent Blackman is a little…unhinged. He recently fought a nightmare from the world Darkside and won. Now he fears nothing and wants revenge on the man who had his father brutally murdered. And how convenient to find an ally in Mirren Lambert, his enemy’s gorgeous and sexy daughter. Unfortunately, she’s made a few enemies of her own.

She might be a nightmare, but she’s also his ultimate fantasy.

Mirren was born half human, half nightmare. She was on the run from her ruthless father, but when he abducted her young son, she knew he had to be stopped once and for all. Dangerous Vincent is just who she needs to help her, though she has a perilous part to play as well, infiltrating her father’s circles to discover his secrets. They learn something dark is stirring in the dreamwaters, and it’s reaching toward the waking world. Vincent might be holding on to the last of his sanity, but that’s okay, as long as he holds on even tighter to her.

Bring Me A Dream is the fifth installment in the Reveler serial, a hot paranormal romance set in a world where shared dreaming is a new pop culture phenomenon that allows people to indulge their wildest fantasies. But there are also unknown dangers Darkside; nightmares are slowly infiltrating not only dreams, but the waking world as well. And behind them all is a shadowy entity called the Sandman.

Revel with me.

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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September 15, 2014September 17, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 11 part a: How to Handle a Bad Review by Kristina McMorris

How to Handle a Bad Review:

While perhaps cliché, for writers, I have to agree that receiving those very first bad reviews (and even some that follow) is much like having a stranger publicly announce that your baby is downright ugly. But since such criticism is part of the gig, finding a way to swiftly and fully rebound is essential. So . . .

Once you’ve grumbled to your family or close friends (preferably writers who truly understand), and the initial sting has worn off, here’s my advice:

Visit Goodreads or Amazon, look up your three all-time favorite books, and read at least two one-star reviews of each. The nastier, the better—because hey, how could any person in their right mind despise such a work of brilliance?!

To further heal your wounds, reread wise words like the following, from author John Locke:

“If you get a bad review, it’s because someone outside your target audience has found your book and gave it a shot. It’s no reflection on them as a reader, and no reflection on you as a writer. If, as an author, you don’t understand this, your writing will suffer, because you’ll be writing not to get bad reviews instead of writing to reward your target audience.”

Then there’s my personal favorite, from the amazing Georgia O’Keefe:

“I get out my work and have a show for myself before I have it publicly. I make up my own mind about it—how good or bad or indifferent it is. After that the critics can write what they please. I have already settled it for myself so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.”

And finally, after you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to brush away those self-doubts, sit your toosh back down at that computer, and, for the readers who eagerly await your next book, forge ahead and write.

A little about Kristina:

Kristina McMorris is a critically acclaimed author published by Kensington Books, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins UK. Her works of fiction have garnered more than twenty national literary awards and appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her novels include Letters from Home, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and The Pieces We Keep. Prior to her writing career, Kristina worked as a host of weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland’s “40 Under 40” by The Business Journal.

Learn more about Kristina and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Let’s take a look at Kristina’s newest novella.

Found in the book Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love and Reunion

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Virginia Collier discovered her calling at the height of WWII as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), an adventurous job that led to close friendships and even a whirlwind romance. But then a devastating tragedy changed everything. A year later, in the fresh wake of the Allies’ victory, she at last musters the courage to board a train bound for a confrontation with her past. Yet with every passing mile, the temptation grows to forgo her destination and keep harbored her haunting secret.

On any particular day, thousands upon thousands of people pass through New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, through the whispering gallery, beneath the ceiling of stars, and past the information booth and its beckoning four-faced clock, to whatever destination is calling them. It is a place where people come to say hello and good-bye. And each person has a story to tell.

Now, ten bestselling authors inspired by this iconic landmark have created their own stories, set on the same day, just after the end of World War II, in a time of hope, uncertainty, change, and renewal…

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Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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September 12, 2014September 12, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 10: Humor by Molly Harper

Humor by Molly Harper:

My first writing job was as a newspaper reporter. Well, technically, my first writing job was as an obituary writer for my local newspaper. Which should tell you a lot about my personality.

While I working for the paper, I started writing a monthly humor column for the life and style section, mostly silly stories about my home life. And I noticed that the columns that really got readers’ attention were the ones where I injured myself (a frequent occurrence) or humiliated myself (an even more frequent occurrence.) So years later, when I started my first novel, NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS, I decided that I was going to come up with the most humiliating way possible to become a vampire.

My main character, Jane Jameson, is fired from her job, despite the fact that she’s pretty good at being a youth librarian. She gets a restaurant gift certificate instead of a severance. On her way home from that restaurant, her car breaks down. And while she is walking down the proverbial dark country road, a drunk hunter drives by, mistakes her for a deer and shoots her. A vampire happens along and saves her by turning her.

I discovered that the same statements that used to get a “what is WRONG with you?” response amongst friends and family, was exactly what people were looking for in their snarky romance heroines.

There is room for humor in any plot. Whether you’re writing a thriller, an erotica, or a horror story, taking a moment for the character to make a funny observation gives the reader a moment to breathe mentally – keeping them from being overwhelmed by the plot.

That said, the humor used must be authentic to the character and move the plot along. Giving the reader a moment to breathe is one thing, but don’t derail a whole chapter to make a joke. The same should be said of the editing process. Don’t keep a scene that’s slowing you down because you like particular gag. This is a lesson I have had to learn the hard way. I actually keep a “funny file” full of jokes that I’ve had to edit out of manuscripts, just in case I can find a home for them in another story.

First, you need to figure out what makes you laugh. Do you enjoy broad slapstick? Or maybe character-driven quirks? This will be your most natural comedic style.

Then you add layers of

– Weirdos – While your main characters have to be mostly normal and therefore accessible to the readers, they can have as many crazy, quirky friends and relatives as you can come up with. My most popular character is a vampire named Dick Cheney who wears smartass t-shirts and sells counterfeit iPods from the trunk of his car.

– Dialogue – Conversations between characters reveal intimacy and history between characters without spoon-feeding the reader details. If you have difficulty with this, watch dialogue-heavy TV shows like Castle, Supernatural, Modern Family or anything in the Joss Whedon oeuvre to pick up speech patterns and structure.

– Hyperbole and Humiliation – In the words of the brilliant Nancy Holder, what can you do to mess up your character’s life further? Say your character has just had an embarrassing interaction with an ex. That’s bad enough. But how much worse would it be if she compounded that discomfort by realizing she had a cappuccino foam mustache the entire time they’d been speaking? Basically, you kick your character while he or she is down.

– Pop Culture references – The wonderful thing about pop culture is that it’s a sort of collective consciousness your readers tap into. Most readers may not be familiar with your hometown mayor’s incompetence, but most of them know about Kim Kardashian’s sex tape. You have to be careful with these as they can date your story. Also, you risk that after your book, which includes a joke about Charlie Sheen, comes out, something horrible happens to Charlie Sheen. And that will make your reader cringe and make you feel guilty. And the references you find funny may not be relevant to your reader. For instance, I am enormous nerd. A lot of my references are comic book or scifi-related. And sometimes, my editor has to remind me that I am a romance writer, not a columnist for Wizard Magazine.

Tips and Tricks

– Remember the Rule of Three. Once is an example. Twice proves the pattern. Three times confirms it.

– Don’t be afraid of well-placed sentence fragments.

– The closing line of each chapter must suck the reader into the next chapter. Be the bane of nightstands everywhere!

*****

Let’s take a look at Molly’s upcoming release.

Snow Falling on Bluegrass

Bluegrass #3

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Parks & Recreation meets The Blue Collar Comedy Tour in this third ebook in Molly Harper’s Bluegrass series of contemporary romances: A love triangle of colleagues heats up the winter lodge where they get snowed in for a week.

Kentucky Tourism Commission employee and executive assistant extraordinaire Kelsey is known around the office for having everything under control. So it’s not surprising that she and her boss, Sadie, have everything planned to the second for the office winter retreat. But there are things even Kelsey can’t micromanage.

An unprecedented snowstorm smothers half of Kentucky and knocks out the power, closes the roads, and generally shuts down the state. Luckily, the lodge has working fireplaces and enough food to keep the staff from turning on each other like something out of The Shining. Kelsey wouldn’t mind being stuck inside if it wasn’t for the tension with her not-so-secret crush, Charlie, the office’s statistician. But handsome Ranger Luke, the lodge’s only employee on hand, is there to take Kelsey’s mind off her discomfort.

Even though this weekend is supposed to be a planning session for KTC, Kelsey can’t help her mind from wandering and finds herself conflicted over Luke and Charlie. Someone’s love will keep her warm, but whose will it be?

*****

A little (or a lot) about Molly:

When Molly Harper was eight years old, she set up a “writing office” in her parents’ living room, complete with an old manual typewriter and a toy phone. And she (very slowly) pecked out the story of her third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city. She had a dark sense of humor even then.

When Molly was considerably older, she headed for Western Kentucky University, where she majored in print journalism. After graduation, she landed a job with The Paducah Sun and married her high school sweetheart, David, a local police officer. After six years at the newspaper, Molly took a more family-friendly secretarial position at a local church office.

Her husband worked nights and Molly was alone with their small child in the “The Apartment of Lost Souls.” A big fan of vampire movies and TV shows, she decided to write a vampire romance novel. Molly created Jane Jameson, a bit of an accidental loser. Jane is single, almost 30, and a librarian working in Half-Moon Hollow, Ky. She has become a permanent fixture on her Mama’s prayer list. And despite the fact that she’s pretty good at her job, she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. Jane drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar. On her way home, she’s mistaken for a deer and shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire. The three-book Jane Jameson series–which includes Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs,Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men and Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever—was released in 2009. A fourth and final installment, Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors, was released in 2012.

Molly continues stories in the Jane Jameson universe through her Half-Moon Hollow series,Driving Mr. Dead, The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires, Undead Sublet, and A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses. Undead Sublet is a short story in The Undead in My Bedanthology. A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses will be released in June 2013. A special free audio holiday novella, I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas, was released in December 2013.

Molly will update her popular Naked Werewolf romance series in 2013. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, was released in February 2011, quickly followed by The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf. A third installment, How to Run With a Naked Werewolf, will be released in December 2013. Her first-ever “haunted house story,” Better Homes and Hauntings, will be released in June 2014.

Molly will launch her first-ever contemporary romance series with My Bluegrass Baby in December 2012. Rhythm and Bluegrass was released in October 2013.

Molly’s books are published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. They are available in print, as e-books and audio books at major book stores and on Amazon. Molly is a native of Kentucky. She lives in Paducah with her husband and children.

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 11, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 9: Sketching Characters by Shiloh Walker

Sketching Characters

I’ve never been much of a plotter. It’s hard to know exactly which way the plot is going which I’m not in the driver’s seat.

My books don’t exactly come from me, if that makes any sense at all. My books come from my characters—they are in the driver’s seat and always have been. It’s why I’m always reluctant to say, Yes, this character will get a story…because it’s up to that character. The bottom line, not every character has a story to tell me. If they won’t talk, I can’t force them.

This method, sadly, ends in a lot of wrong turns, though, because I don’t always know the things I want to know.

So I’ve learned to get to know my characters in advance, as much as I can, and through that, I’ve developed my method of plotting. I don’t know if it resembles anybody else’s, but it works for me.

Some of the best writing tips I’ve ever learned came from Lynn Viehl, aka, Paperback Writer. If you’re trying to learn your craft, I’d like to point you in her direction. Be sure to check out her blog, particularly the freebies she has listed on the sidebar. Look for the novel notebook and her plotting template, in particular. Although I’m not a plotter, these gave me guidelines as I developed my twisted form of plotting.

Which I call character sketching.

Character Sketching, for me, started the first time I saw a picture online. I don’t even remember exactly what the picture was, or which book it inspired, but I knew when I saw it that I was looking at a character.

Over the course of the next few days, that character settled inside my head, as they do, and proceeded to tell me a story. Now sometimes, it’s not an image—sometimes it’s a story. Take, for instance, my latest contemporary romance, YOU OWN ME. If you’ve read it…or even just the blurb, you might recognize something that could have inspired that story. But my twist on the story came from Decker, the hero, who walked into my head, sat down and basically said, Okay…so I’ve got a story and here’s how it goes.

Once I get a concrete idea of a character, I have a few things I need to know first.

Who is this person…yes, their name, what they do, who they are…some of this is basically backstory, but for me, it’s also the story itself. Because as I’m sketching out my worksheets, and yes, I have a worksheet, I’m also looking at what he wants, what he doesn’t want, what’s his mission… (what’s his purpose in the story…like Decker. His mission was to get the woman he loved to finally look at him and realize the man she was looking for was standing right there).

Then we get down to the real heart of the matter and this is going to be key to the story and where my plot starts to unfold.

What does s/he want? Why can’t s/he have it?

These two questions are a variation of three found via Lynn Viehl’s novel notebook, and almost the plot of most, if not all, stories can be pared down to the answers to these questions.

Her questions were (if I recall correctly)

Who are you?
What do you want?
What is the worst thing I can do to you?

They stuck with me long after I gave up trying to use Lynn Viehl’s novel notebook. I love that woman, but her organizational skills kill me and she can plot her way to the grocery store, to the minute, while I get distracted on the way to the kitchen.

So…are you a hardcore plotter? If so, let me direct you to the freebie page at Lynn’s blog. Find the link to her novel notebook, which is free to download and share as long as you credit her.

If not…

Try my idea of plotting. Start with a character sketch. It’s below the line.

I leave a big blank space over on the left for an image if I have one, or wait until I find one or sometimes I just fill in the mental image I have because sometimes, nobody ever fits that mental picture.

Name:

Age:

Height:

Weight:

Build:

Eye & Hair color:

Occupation:

Education:

Hometown: Currently resides:

Likes: Dislikes:

Hobbies:

Who is s/he?:

Mission? (a reason or being here?):

Any enemies?:

What does s/he want? Why can’t s/he have it?:

Shiloh Walker

*****

Let’s take a look at Shiloh’s latest & upcoming releases

You Own Me

Amazon| B&N

It had always been her…

Ten years had passed since the doors slammed shut behind Decker Calhoun, taking away his freedom, but more importantly, locking him away from Elizabeth Waters, the only woman he’d ever loved—the woman he’d given up everything for.

The day he was sentenced, he’d looked at her and said, No regrets, Lizzie. But he lied, because he did have one. Although he’s been out of jail for three years now, he was a year too late. Lizzie never knew how he felt and just months before he was released, she found somebody else and it’s too late.

Or maybe not. It seems that Lizzie’s boyfriend wants an open relationship and two can play at that game. Now all Decker has to do is convince Lizzie that he’s the better man…and has been all along.

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance.

*****

Coming Soon

Sweeter Than Sin

Secrets & Shadows #2

Release date: September 30, 2014 Preorder here: Amazon| B&N

CAN’T FORGET THE PAIN

It took years for Adam to stop drowning his regrets in alcohol, and running the local bar doesn’t make it any easier—especially not when everyone he knows gathers there to discuss the shocking allegations that have shattered his hometown. When another murder rocks sleepy Madison to its core, it becomes chillingly clear that even more vicious wounds are waiting to be exposed.

WON’T RESIST THE PLEASURE

Nothing is sacred anymore, and no one is safe, least of all the mystery woman who shows up in town out of the blue, looking like every fantasy Adam’s ever had. She may have her own dangerous secrets, but she can’t ignore the urgent heat between them any more than he can. As a killer’s quest for vengeance explodes into violence, Adam is tempted to lose himself in the delicious promise of her body—until he realizes he’ll risk anything if she’ll give him her heart…in Sweeter than Sin by Shiloh Walker.

A little about Shiloh:

Shiloh Walker is an award-winning writer…yes, really! She’s also a mom, a wife, a reader and she pretends to be an amateur photographer. She published her first book in 2003 and since then, has tried her hand at digital publishing, traditional publishing and self-publishing. Her publishers include Hydra Publications, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, Berkley, Random House and St. Martins. She writes romantic suspense, contemporary and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy under the name J.C. Daniels.

Learn more about Shiloh here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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September 10, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 8: Permission to write by Gini Koch

Permission to Write:

There are as many tips and tricks out there as there are writers, but I find that a lot of aspiring authors need two things in particular. (I, myself, needed one of them.) And they are both permissions. The permission TO write, and the permission to stink on ice WHILE writing.

I honestly didn’t feel I was a writer because I’d been taught (by an idiot, but that’s another story) that the only way you could write was to outline. I’d try to outline, and hours later have gibberish, and so concluded I wasn’t a writer. It took a friend who was already an author, poet, and journalist to tell me that I has as much “right” to write as anyone else. Her permission meant that I could write whatever and I felt that I was allowed to do so. So, for anyone reading this, if you’re in that same situation – I give you permission to write, whatever and however you want to, because you have just as much right to write as anyone else in the world.

I was already a successful businesswoman when I started writing, so I was well aware that the first stuff I wrote wasn’t going to be awesome. I knew then, just as I know now, that everyone needs to practice. No one starts out as Mozart other than Mozart himself. But time and time again I run into aspiring authors and even those who have started writing who feel that every word they write must be “perfect”. And that’s bullpookey.

Every author has a set number of words to write before they stop sucking. For most it’s in the hundreds of thousands. For some it’s in the millions. So the faster you write, the faster you get through your sucky words and into the good, then better, then better still, then publishable words. So, if you’re one of those who think that you have to somehow be as brilliant in your first attempts as Insert Name of Author You Adore Here, then I tell you that you don’t, and I give you permission to stink on ice for as long, and however many hundreds of thousands of words as it takes, for you to no longer stink.

There’s more, of course. There’s always more. But I’ll leave you with this one last thing, which relates to everyone’s favorite excuse: writer’s block.

It’s more important to write, even if it’s garbage, than it is to think about writing. Yes, thinking is necessary, but if your time spent thinking about writing exceeds your actual writing time, then you’re kidding yourself. Work out ideas in your head, sure, but be ready for them to change as you write them down. Don’t work out ideas in your head and just work them out as you write them down. Either way works. The key is that you write.

Should you suffer from writer’s block, the cure is simple – write. Sit your butt in your chair, and write something, anything. Remember – it doesn’t have to be good. No matter what level you’re at, there’s this thing we call editing and it means that you can write the worst crap in the world and it’s fixable. And if it’s not? If it’s the worst stuff ever written? No worries, you have permission to write that, remember. Just don’t publish it. No ideas? Write about that. Hate your idea? Write about that. Idea you’ve been saving? Write about that.

But still, write. Always write. The truth is simple: Writers write. So go on and be a writer.

A little more about Gini Koch:

Gini Koch writes the fast, fresh and funny Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series for DAW Books, the Necropolis Enforcement Files series, and the Martian Alliance Chronicles series for Musa Publishing. Alien in the House, Book 7 in her long-running Alien series, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award as the Best Futuristic Romance of 2013. Alien Collective, Book 9, released in May, and Universal Alien is coming this December. As G.J. Koch she writes the Alexander Outland series and she’s made the most of multiple personality disorder by writing under a variety of other pen names as well, including Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch. Buy her books — her meds don’t come free, you know.

*****

Make sure to check out Gini’s newest Katherine “Kitty” Katt adventure.

Alien Collective

Katherine “Kitty” Katt #9

Amazon| B&N

Despite not having run for office, nor wanting to remain in office, Representative Jeff Martini is being wooed as the vice presidential running mate for a charismatic senator who seems likely to win the campaign. While the Diplomatic Corps has to deal with the pressures of a political campaign sure to uncover secrets they don’t want shared with the world, Ambassador Kitty Katt-Martini has other worries—handling the reemergence of her most potent nemesis, thought dead and buried.

*****

Gini Koch will give three winners their choice of one of the following in ebook format: The Night Beat, The Happy Acres Haunted Hotel for Active Seniors, A Cup of Joe (writing as Anita Ensal), Amazing & Waiting: Two Novelettes (writing as Jemma Chase), When Josie Comes Home (writing as A.E. Stanton), or Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters anthology (featuring a story writing as J.C. Koch). Contest is open internationally.

To Enter for a chance to win.

Please leave a comment or question for Ms. Koch.

Along with your email

(please use (AT) and (DOT) we don’t want any spam)

*this giveaway is sponsored by the author*

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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September 9, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 7 part b: The crazy, mixed-up tale of how my first book came to be – also known as, WTF? I’m getting published by Robyn Peterman

The crazy, mixed-up tale of how my first book came to be – also

known as, WTF? I’m getting published.

I’ve been asked how I got published. The answer is simple…I lied. That’s right, I lied.
I wouldn’t recommend it, although it worked for me. It certainly could have blown up in my face, but wether it was sheer will and determination or dumb luck, I’ll never know. Here’s how it went…
I pitched a very unfinished novel (as if it were done) to major NY publishers and agents at a writers conference in Chicago. I was shocked, delighted and appalled that everyone I pitched to asked for a full manuscript. After a brief and hopefully unnoticeable panic attack, I very logically explained to them that I needed to get the book professionally edited (real meaning—write it) and would have it to them in three weeks. What the hell did I have to lose? My sanity had been gone for years.
Having been an actor for umpteen decades came in handy. Clearly, pretending to smell delicious imaginary aromas in commercial auditions and becoming one with my inner lawn gnome in acting class, made my fear of telling ginormous lies nonexistent.
The next part of the story goes like this…I went home and wrote it. I didn’t sleep for three weeks, my family ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly and no one in the house had any clean underpants. I loved every minute of it. I ended up with several offers and went with a three book deal with Kensington Publishing.
That’s my crazy story, but the real answer to getting published is to write. Just write. Everyday. Every writer I’ve had the good fortune to know says the same thing. Oh, and read…tons.
Writing groups are a great idea too. I was such a nervous wreck about going to my first meeting with real writers that when I couldn’t find a parking space, I turned around and drove home.
Thankfully, I grew some bigger testicles and went to their next meeting. I met some of the neatest and most generous women. My unpublished status at the time and huge pile of rejection letters were greeted with similar stories that made me gasp, laugh and cringe. I learned to embrace my rejections, look at my writing with a more critical eye and grow thicker skin. In this group of amazing women, I found critique partners, cheerleaders and friends.
It’s empowering to be with others who share your passion, no matter where you are in your career. I highly recommend it.
I do believe writing the book of your heart is important, but knowing what’s marketable is not stupid. You may feel a passion for magical unicorns who poop rainbows and save the world, but you might not find many takers…Educate yourself about what sells. That being said, I was told that paranormal was dead. Did I listen? No. I am doing really well with paranormal. However, I didn’t choose magical pooping unicorns. I wrote what I love to read.

Oh, and I lied.
The publishing industry has changed and continues to change. With digital reading devices now in the game, viable options for writers are endless. I have extremely talented friends who publish traditionally through NY and equally as talented friends who are publishing independently. Many writers are doing both, very successfully. I am considered a hybrid. I publish through NY and I publish independently. I am very happy doing this and am headed at this point towards indie only.
The bottom line is that you have to write a good book and then another and then another…Never give up. It’s a wonderful thing to have a job where you can work in your underpants.
Writing may seem like a solitary sport, but it’s not. A critique partner, other writing friends, spell check, Coke® with extra ice in a styrofoam cup, awesome covers and great editors are just a few of the things I think every writer needs.
So that’s my story. I’m not sure how good the lesson is, but the ending is happy. I love happy endings.

*****

Let’s take a look at Robyn’s upcoming release

Hell on Heels

Hot Damned #3

Release date: September 15, 2014 Preorder here: Amazon

Where does a Demon go when she gets deported from Hell?

Kentucky. Eden, Kentucky to be more specific—where nothing is exactly as it seems.

My name is Dixie. I’m a Demon—a lousy Demon. I’m a twenty-one year old virgin and I have a battery operated boyfriend. My magic is iffy at best and downright dangerous at worst. Leaving Hell to represent my race is not high on my list of things to do.

Hell was exact. Hell was simple. All I want to do is get to home base with the hotter than Hades Demon of my dreams and work on my dark side so Satan, my dad, will get off my ass.

Instead I end up in Kentucky looking for the Balance of Chaos, avoiding pole dancing classes with Mother Nature and finding out my invisible friend is a silver skinned destructive weather pattern.

And if that isn’t craptastic enough, the damn Sword of Death is missing again and who ever has it wants the King of the Underworld dead. Seriously.

With new powers emerging daily, keeping my Demon side, horniness and general disgust under wraps doesn’t make it any easier to fit in with the humans. Thankfully my priorities are in line; get laid…save world…try not to blow up kitchen appliances…and get laid again. I was ready to rumble.
All I want to do is go back to Hell, but with the balance of good and evil in my hands, I’m stuck in the garden of Eden. Oh well, what the Hell. Someone has to save the world before there’s no world left to save. Might as well be me.

A little about Robyn:

Robyn Peterman writes because the people inside her head won’t leave her alone until she gives them life on paper. Her addictions include laughing really hard with friends, shoes (the expensive kind), Target, Coke Zero Cherry with extra ice in a styrofoam cup, bejeweled reading glasses, her kids, her super-hot hubby and collecting stray animals. A former professional actress, with Broadway, film and T.V. credits, she now lives in the south with her family and too many animals to count. Writing gives her peace and makes her whole, plus having a job where you can work in your underpants works really well for her. You can leave Robyn a message via the Contact Page and she’ll get back to you as soon as her bizarre life permits! She loves to hear from her fans!

Learn more about Robyn and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 9, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 7 part a: Should you Write Specifically for Contests? by Darynda Jones

Should you Write Specifically for Contests?

Hello, and welcome!

I’m here today to talk to you about writing/literary contests and, more specifically, should you write for them? In other words, should you write your opening pages to fit what contests are looking for? What are the pros and cons of doing such a thing? Let’s find out.

Should you write specifically for contests?

Okay, admittedly ‘should’ is a strong word. You certainly ‘can’ write specifically for contests, meaning you construct your entry for the sole purpose of finaling in and winning contests, and quite frankly, I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all as long as you keep a couple of key points in mind.

The hard truth…

First, the odds are against your selling a manuscript to New York on the first 20 pages alone. Unless you’re already published and have some decent sales under your belt, this simply doesn’t happen. So, while you may polish your first 20 pages until they shine with a blinding brilliance, you’d better be able to back that up in the other 330 pages. Agents and editors will know the instant your manuscript starts to fall apart, and they will know why. They’ve seen it thousands of times, so you won’t fool them, I promise.

Second, there is a strong desire to work and rework our beginnings, especially if your goal is to win contests, polishing them until they glow, and then going back and reworking them again. In other words, we fall into the rabbit hole—and habit—of starting a manuscript, then another, and another, and never completing any of them. You do not want to do that. You are never going to sell if you don’t, as Cherry Adair would say, FINISH THE DAMN BOOK!

The pros of writing for contests…

As you may already know, contests reflect the submission process. If those first few pages AREN’T polished to a blinding brilliance, you are not going to get an editor/agent to read past them. Sad but true.

QUICK TIP: A big sign that you have started in the wrong place:

If you have ever said to anyone, “Keep reading. It gets better.”

That is a huge, flashing warning sign that you need to go back and rethink your opening.

Like the above states, if you have ever said to anyone, “Keep reading, it gets better,” you may have started in the wrong place, put backstory where it doesn’t belong, began with too much description of the weather … any number of possibilities, really. Consider tossing out your entire opening and starting later in the story, cutting out the info dump and sprinkling in backstory throughout your story, or tightening your prose until it’s razor sharp.

A fantastic byproduct of writing for contests is that your prose will be tightened and streamlined. You are learning about pacing early on, about introducing key characters quickly and succinctly, about jump-starting your story, making it interesting from the very first word. A nice pace for the first 20-50 pages has a powerful effect on the rest of your story.

So, in that sense, there is nothing wrong with writing for contests. Later, when your manuscript sells, grows up, and gets to sit at the big table next to Nora, you will have accomplished a very important goal: Hook the reader and don’t let go. If there is anything you learn from entering contests, it’s to hook your reader early on. It is a valuable skill. You have about three seconds to grab a shopper’s attention with your prose when she’s browsing the books at Wal-Mart. Once she opens your book for a peek, you’d better have your best foot forward. Make the most of those three seconds.

Sharpening your focus…

What should you focus on in your entry?

The same thing you focus on in every opening scene. You want to set the stage, to orient the reader, and you begin with sharp, crisp writing. That’s a given. Learn the craft and keep learning. Remember, you have to know the rules to break them.

But where should your story begin?

We all know the old adage that the opening should start when there is a change in the main character’s life. Something has happened to set the main character on a different path than he or she was planning.

In a romantic suspense, perhaps our heroine comes home to find her ex-boyfriend dead on her living room floor. In a paranormal, maybe she meets a dark stranger who insists she is destined to save the world. In a YA, our heroine could find herself being goaded into running for prom queen against the evil popular girl, the one who dumped Kool-Aid on her in grade school. On purpose!

But I hope you’ll eventually learn, what I’m still learning, is that our job is not to grab the reader by the throat, nigh ripping out her jugular, trying to force her to turn the page and keep reading. It is to seduce the reader into continuing. To lure her to the next word, to tempt her with the next sentence, the next page.

Your first and best bet in doing this is not necessarily by wowing her with action, but by wowing her with sharp, crisp writing. Writing that is so fresh and appealing, it is impossible for her to stop reading.

Still, understanding your mission, should you choose to accept it, will help.

While the goal of a book is to create a positive emotional experience for the reader, the goal of the opening is to set the stage, to pull the reader in.

THERE ARE FOUR GOALS IN AN OPENING:

1. Draw the reader in

Step one is to draw the reader in. This means, setting the stage. You must orient your readers lest you risk losing them in a sea of confusion. You can use detail and description. I’m not talking about starting with the weather unless it is important in setting the tone of the story.

2. Create empathy for your main character

Step two in the process is to create empathy in your reader, make him or her really root for your protagonist. We don’t read to observe the character from a distance. We read to become the character and experience the conflicts and rewards they are experiencing.

PRO TIP: You must create empathy BEFORE introducing any negative flaws in your character, anything that will distance us from the reader.

There are five ways to create empathy: (Need to use AT LEAST two of these.)

Sympathy
Jeopardy
Likeability
Power
Humor

3. Set the tone of the story

Tone encompasses the attitudes toward the subject. It may be formal, informal, intimate, solemn, somber, playful, serious, ironic, guilty, condescending, or many other possible attitudes. Tone and mood are not necessarily interchangeable.

Tone is what the author feels toward the subject.
Mood is what the reader feels.

Establishing the tone can be done by showing the ominous thunderclouds overhead, describing the sultry darkness of the night, or describing how disturbing the loud music is at the nightclub your heroine has ducked into in an attempt to ditch a man she believes is stalking her.

Your environment is an excellent way to set tone, but dialogue is great too.

Masters of dialogue:
- Julia Quinn
- Molly Harper
- Janet Evanovich
- Joss Whedon (the god)
- JR Ward
- And many more!

4. Elicit emotion-your primary objective

If you’ve done all of the above, chances are you’ve already accomplished this last must-have. Eliciting emotion is a given if our heroine is in jeopardy or if our hero has been wounded or longs for something he believes he can never have. But just to throw fuel onto the fire, to really hook your reader, you might throw in a quick twist the reader didn’t see coming.

Perhaps your heroine who is a nice girl and who is liked by her colleagues and who seems to have her act together is actually living a lie. She is on the run and has a secret past that is so dark and so disturbing she is deathly afraid the truth will get out. The bad guy will find her. And while she is checking her email that morning, she receives one from someone who knows her true identity and has threatened to reveal her secret to the highest bidder. Voila! Emotion!

End with a hook!

Next, if you are writing for a contest, you want to end your entry with a good hook. You want that judge to be drooling for the next paragraph, so end with a twist she didn’t see coming.

And the great thing is, all of this can be done in the first 5,000 words!

Nailing your opening is a class in itself; I’m trying to be brief. But all of this together is your hook, your seduction of the reader. If you can master the opening, you will be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY!

Please feel free to ask questions!

~D~

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READS:

The First Five Pages: Noah Lukeman

Goal, Motivation, and Conflict: Deb Dixon

Anything by Michael Hauge; check his website!

Plot and Structure: James Scott Bell

On Writing: Stephen King

*****

Let’s look at Darynda’s upcoming book:

SEVENTH GRAVE AND NO BODY

Release date: October 21, 2014 Preorder here: Amazon| B&N

Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.

A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.

We’re doomed.

A little about Darynda:

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Darynda Jones Website | Facebook | Darynda’s World | Twitter

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 8, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 6 part b: Bring Sexy into your Writing by Delilah Marvelle

Bringing Sexy into your Writing by Delilah Marvelle

For those of you that don’t know me (and I won’t be so bold to say you all do), I write incredibly sexy historical romances. So sexy some have actually categorized me as writing erotica. I absolutely love erotica, but seeing as I know what it is, I also know I don’t write it. Although there is sex and graphic sex, I still see myself as writing romance. Because in the end, if you were to pull out all the sex scenes in my book, you’d still have a love story, not a sexy story. And in my opinion, sex is only as good as its love story.Seeing I write edgier and oftentimes humorous historical romances with sex, I find keeping up with what my readers want almost frightening. Because you can only keep upping yourself so much. The very idea makes me go flaccid (ehm..,). I swear, there are many, many times I sit in front of my computer and tell myself it’s too freakin’ HARD to keep writing sex that feels new.

So I started thinking of ways to keep this flame within me burning. Because if I’m not feeling it, my characters aren’t feeling it. And if my characters aren’t feeling it, my readers won’t want to feel it AT ALL…So for those of you writing sexy books, allow me to share six tips that keep me going (actually, I have more, but this post has to end sometime). And if you happen to only read sexy books, not write them, then this list will simply make you appreciate how much effort we writers put into being creative.

1.)I try being a sensualist. That is, I focus on pampering myself. Lighting candles, listening to music, watching romantic movies, and anything that will make me feel all girlie, girlie. It’s amazing how much it really works.
2.)I make out and get hot and heavy with my husband before I write a sex scene. Seriously. I don’t do it all the time, because frankly, it pisses him off when I make out with him, things get heavy and then I’m like, “Thanks! Now I have to write! Seeya!” But believe me, it really works when he does let me get away with it.
3.)I read very hot books that inspire me to write the scenes I know that will make my writing pop. Like Lisa Valdez’s Passion. Holy cow. I’m fanning myself just thinking about that book.
4.)I indulge in chocolate and whatever sinful foods I can get my hands on to heightens my senses and makes me happy. When your soul is happy, your sex scenes are too!
5.) Remember that sex is an emotional journey, not just a physical one. People focus on sex being physical, and it is, but reminding ourselves that sex is actually an emotional journey allows that depth to shine through.

6.) I create sex arcs for my characters in the same way I create characters arcs. Meaning, where are the characters sexually when they begin the book and where are they by the end of it? Are they virgins? How will this affect their view on sex and why? How will they react to sex and why? By asking yourself these questions and understanding what your character is like before, during and after sex will give insight to their character in a way only you, as the writer, can give. This allows the sex to have more meaning and become more than just sex. It becomes a part of who the character is.

Bottom line when it comes to writing sex scenes is that if it’s not a chore but a form of depth and character development. The moment you dread writing those sex scenes…don’t. It’s the best part of understanding your characters and letting your readers understand your characters. The only way it’s going to BE the best part, is if you put the time and effort to make it such. So go forth and make love to your characters. They earned it 🙂

Delilah Marvelle

USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Night of Pleasure

*****
Le’t take look at Delilah’s upcoming release

Master of Pleasure

School of Gallantry, #5

The greatest divide between a man and a woman is not the one society sets before them but the one they set before themselves…

When Malcolm Gregory Thayer comes under the protection of the Persian crown that saves him from a monastery that tortures the sins out of young men sent by their families, he dedicates himself to becoming the ultimate weapon and helping others in their greatest hour of need. When he is asked to return to England to take his rightful place as the Earl of Brayton, he refuses to face the family he knows he had wronged with his wicked ways. The Persion crown, however, has other plans. It sends Malcolm back into London on a mission he considers beneath him. Facing his family becomes the least of his problems when a dark-eyed beauty makes him realize his days of transgression are far from over.After the ever popular Miss Leona Olivia Webster had allowed
herself to be seduced by a dashing aristocratic rake who had left her scorned and pregnant, she is done chasing her happily-ever-after. Shunned by her own family and society, she dedicates herself to raising her young son and putting money in their pockets by becoming a servant to whoever will hire her. She doesn’t expect her latest master, a brooding man of hulking presence, to carve random messages into walls with his Persian blade as a means of starting a flirtation.Malcolm may have dedicated himself to a self-imposed life of virtue, due to a secret only his dead father and the Persian Prince know,
but after meeting Leona, he begins to yearn for the life he had always shied away from. Having never interacted with women during or after his days in the monastery, he is baffled as to how he is to woo Leona. When he receives an unexpected invitation to attend a special school that educates men in the topic of love and seduction, he seizes the opportunity in the hopes that Leona is up to his advances. His final mission is clear. He intends to finally serve the one thing he never had: his heart.

A little about Delilah:

I spent my youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. I confess that here ends the extent of my gentle breeding. I was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to my room on many occasions due to these misadventures, I soon discovered the quill and its amazing power. I scribed endless stories that almost invariably surrounded the topic of love, for I felt an inane need to be rescued from a family that did not understand my lust for life. In my mind, King Arthur became my true love and I waited for the day when he would come riding upon his steed and invite me to sit at his round table, not as his queen, but as his knight. To my distress, King Arthur was never to be found anywhere except for in the tip of my quill. And so I led an imaginary life for many, many years. When I finally came of age, my family was further horrified to discover that I had fallen in love with an American. An American King Arthur who became my knight, my husband, my all. I have been blessed beyond reason and am grateful for each day I have with him. What is equally amazing is that I now have the opportunity to share my passion for stories with the public. The reason why I write romance is because it allows me to touch upon the subject of love on a much deeper, more intimate level. Many of the stories I write, many of the stories I will continue to write, will always evolve around love. And yes, gentle readers, it will also evolve around sex as I have no intention of becoming my parents and restraining my characters from what it is they truly desire to do. I challenge you, my readers, to let loose of those corsets that have been strung too tightly due to convention and enjoy 1830 to its fullest.”

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September 8, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 6 part a: I have finished my book. Now what? by Kendra Elliot

I’ve finished my book. Now what?

Guess what? You’re not finished, and I guarantee it’s not ready for publication. But you’ve done the part that 95% of people who sit down to write a book couldn’t do. You finished and deserve a pat on the back and a big glass of wine.

Now it’s time for the next step: self-editing

This is a tough step if it’s the first time you’ve finished a book because you have no idea what to look for. Here are a few good references:

Fire Up Your Fiction Jodie Renner

Writing the Breakout Novel Donald Maass

Techniques of the Selling Writer Dwight Swain

Self-editing for Fiction Writers Renni Brown & Dave King

Take a few days and step away from your book. If changes occur to you during this time, write down the change on a master list to do later. There are two main parts to editing. There’s the editing the story and then there’s editing the words/sentences.

Editing the story

Is your first chapter awesome? Does it hook the reader and make them want to keep reading? These first pages are crucial. Agents, editors, and readers will give you about a page (or less!) to hook them.

Do your characters have strong internal and external motivations? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Then your story might be put-down-able. Read Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation and Conflict.

Ask yourself the purpose of every scene. Is the story strong without it? Or is it crucial to your characters and plot? You might be surprised how many scenes you’ve written that add nothing and will slow your pacing.

Does the end of every chapter inspire the reader to keep going? Readers think to themselves, “I’ll take a break when I finish this chapter.” Write the ending of the chapter so they’re compelled to go to the next chapter. Read a few of the reference books I list above to get a longer checklist for story edits.

Editing the words/sentences

When you’re ready, read your manuscript out loud. Are you stumbling over wording? Then your reader will too. Print it out to see how it looks on paper. Replace weak verbs, get rid of most of those adverbs, stagger your sentence length, get rid of excess words (very, really, just) Ask yourself, “How can I make this sentence laser focused and direct?” Look for passive sentences. Do actions happen to your subjects? That creates a passive sentence. Make your subject create the action.

The ball was hit by the bat. (passive)

The bat hit the ball. (active)

Give yourself a deadline or else you will never finish revising. A writer can go through a book a million times and still see things that need polish and change. When you’ve polished up your words to be the best they can be, it’s time to look to the outside world for some input.

Seeking outside help

Tread carefully and take every word of advice with a grain of salt. Most likely, your mother or spouse is not the right person to advise you on your story. Some writers have a network of critique partners and beta readers. The big question is how to find these valuable people and nurture the relationship.

Join a local writing group. Romance Writers of America has many local chapters with people just like you who want to talk about creating the best book they can. And they offer resources in workshops and access to online classes. Even if you don’t write romance, the amount of knowledge available about the publishing industry and improving your craft is gold. I’ve seen many authors outside of romance comment that no one knows the business and craft better than romance writers. Take advantage of that. And they’ll welcome you to their meetings; they don’t care what genre you write.
Develop relationships through social media. Look for people in the same boat as you but be ready to reciprocate. If the relationship doesn’t work, be prepared to gently end it without hurting feelings. You aren’t looking for people to praise your work; you’re looking for feedback. Expect the gut wrenching comments about how unlikeable your heroine is and focus on the why someone made that comment.
Enter contests. For a small fee, many writing groups offer contests and give feedback on a portion of your manuscript. Does the feedback deliver changes you must make? Definitely not. Again…take every piece of advice with a grain of salt. Does the feedback feel completely wrong or are you being too sensitive? Both are possibilities. Does the same issue keep coming up in feedback? Take an honest look at what they suggest.
Pay someone to read your manuscript. For a brand-new writer, paying someone to edit your manuscript is a last-ditch decision; you must learn how to write better first. Paying someone to do it for you won’t help you learn. And did the editor do a copy edit or a story edit? New manuscripts need tons of both, and quality edits are very expensive. My advice is to read, read, read everything you can on self-editing and get your work in front of experienced writers before resorting to this step. When you’re ready, ask successful published writers who edits their work. Watch out for scams! Or inept editors. Just because someone has an English degree or reads a lot does not make them an editor. A true editor has a genuine gift and most are employed with publishers or run successful editing businesses. Do your homework and research before handing over a big check. Google them up the wazoo and ask on social media for opinions. Check the website Preditors and Editors before agreeing to anything.

Now is your book the best it can be? It’s time to decide which path to pursue: traditional publishing or self-publishing or both. And while you’re working on that decision, start writing your next book!

Kendra Elliot won a 2014 Daphne du Maurier award for BURIED, which was also a 2014 International Thriller Writers’ finalist and a Romantic Times finalist for best Romantic Suspense of 2013. She’s published five novels and has three more on the way. She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her husband, three daughters, two cats, and a Pomeranian. She left the dental world after sixteen years to write full time in 2012. She’s always been fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and loves a strong Mai Tai on the beach on Kauai.

Learn more about Kendra and her books here Website| Facebook | Twitter @KendraElliot | Goodreads

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

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September 5, 2014September 3, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 5: Five things every romance writer should know by Elisabeth Naughton

Five things every romance writer should know – by Elisabeth Naughton

1. An awesome story trumps phenomenal writing any day of the week. Readers care more about what happens in a story than how you tell it. I’ve seen mediocre writers hit it big with a great story and amazing writers struggle because they’re more worried about how a sentence sounds than what it says.

2. In a romance, if your hero isn’t drool-worthy, readers won’t fall in love with your book. Yes, the female lead matters. And yes, you still need to have a great story to hook a reader, but if the hero isn’t compelling, the romance will lack luster and your readers will quickly become bored. Women read romance for the fantasy element. Make your heroes to-die-for and they’ll continue to come back for more.

3. Characters ARE story. Most newbie writers spend more time trying to come up with an intricate plot than creating memorable characters. Keep your plots simple. Spend your time crafting incredible characters your readers can’t help but fall in love with. The urge to see how a character will react to a situation or how they grow though a story is what keeps a reader turning pages, not the twists and turns of the plot.

4. Pacing takes practice. Pacing is probably the hardest element of writing to grasp. It was for me. The pace of your story is how fast readers turn pages. You don’t want the pace so slow your reader stops at the end of a chapter, puts the book down and forgets all about it. On the flip side, you don’t want the pace so fast she becomes exhausted while reading. Learning the right pace for your genre takes practice. I wish I had a magic potion for this, but in my experience, the best way to figure out pace is to read a lot in your genre, then practice, practice, practice.

And finally, the most important point of all…

5. Don’t ever think you’re too good to need a critique partner. A good critique partner is worth her weight in gold. When you’re a newbie writer, a critique partner will help you figure out things like pacing and character development and how many internals to include and dialogue tags and all the elements that are important to the act of writing. But as the years go on and you become a better writer, she will STILL be the very best secret in your box of writer tools. Why? Because an awesome critique partner knows your voice. She understands what you’re trying to say even when you don’t. She knows how your brain works so she can help you plot a book even if she doesn’t understand the subject. And she’ll be the first one to tell you if that sparkly new idea you came up with is pure brilliance or a giant pile of crap. And you know what? Because you’ve grown together as writers over the years, even if she tells you your idea is a load of horse dung, you’ll still love her. Because odds are, she’s completely right. (Just don’t tell my CP, Joan Swan, I ever admitted she was right!)

*****

Let’s take a look at Elisabeth’s upcoming release:

Twisted

Eternal Guardians #7

NICK – Leader of the half-breeds, the last true hero, and the son of one psychotic Titan. He’s spent his life fighting a dark pull toward the gods he doesn’t understand. But as his powers grow stronger and his destiny is revealed, no one knows whether he will choose to fight for the side of good or succumb to the sinister lure of evil…even him.

A little about Elisabeth:

Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A rabid reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned to a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA® and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home. Visit her website at

http://www.ElisabethNaughton.com.

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

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