Twelve months has come and gone since I began this blog and it has given me such an insight into the importance of visually appealing covers for our great work. A series of unexpected end-of-year events has meant this month will feature both December and January’s Cover Crush nominations.
Appeal to readers with emotive showing and telling
Show don’t tell is yelled from roof tops and preached at literary alters, and yet it remains one of the most problematic maxims for fiction writers around the globe. It’s the telling part that gives us the most trouble because it is inherent in the art of storytelling. So, how can you make sense of the maxim and successfully apply it to your writing? In this article we’re going to explore the importance of avoiding key storytelling pitfalls and change the way you view showing and telling. “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light …
Three Ways Not To Start Your Story
When it comes to writing a book, sometimes it’s easier to look at the things you shouldn’t do than those you should. Here are some common mistakes writers make that you can easily avoid: 1. It was all a dream When you start a story with a dream or a vision or something that doesn’t really happen, it makes the reader confused. What’s real? What’s not? Is the next chapter going to end this way too? When someone chooses to read your book, they’re putting their faith in you as an author. By adding those five evil words (and then …
Show Don’t Tell is Like a Layer Cake
Presented by Sandy Vaile Course Dates: 7 January — 3 February 2019 Cost: RWA Member—$55. Non-RWA Member—$88. Venue: Online – RWA Moodle Platform Booking link: www.trybooking.com/ZIVD About the course… We’ve all heard this old adage, but applying it often causes confusion, because it’s riddled with contradictions. Both showing and telling are valuable techniques. One creates drama and movement, and the other conveys information succinctly and poetically. Bring your story into focus by finding a balance between action and brevity that will captivate readers. Participants will: • Discover when to show, and when it’s okay to tell. • Identify and banish …
Start Your Story Right
Presented by Lauren Clarke Course Dates: 7 January — 3 February 2019 Cost: RWA Member—$55. Non-RWA Member—$88. Venue: Online – RWA Moodle Platform Booking link: www.trybooking.com/ZIUR About the course… “Let’s start at the very beginning …” Do you want your first chapters to leap out and grab your reader’s attention, leaving them desperate for more? Make sure your book has the strongest start possible with Start Your Story Right, an online workshop by Lauren Clarke for RWA. Except to learn: • How to create a killer hook • The best way to introduce your characters • Tips to capture reader …
Social Engineering
Presented by Frank M. Ahearn Course Dates: 7 January — 3 February 2019 Cost: RWA Member—$55. Non-RWA Member—$88. Venue: Online – RWA Moodle Platform Booking link: www.trybooking.com/ZITO About the course… Social Engineering teaches how characters can extract information from individuals, companies, governments and law enforcement agencies by using the fine art of pretext. Hackers, private investigators, skip tracers, collections agents, repo agents, bail bondsmen, and even stalkers use social engineering to obtain information to further their cause and case. If there is a database with information your character needs, they can extract with a white lie, some black ones too. …
Simply Writing | END OF YEAR Q&A
Welcome to my last post for 2018! I hope you’ve all had a fab year and the lead-up to our Aussie Summer break finds you happy, well and contented. After a year of wonderful support from my blog readers, I wanted to give something back— hence this post. My plan was to gauge the aspects of writing craft you’d like to build on, and then tailor not only this post, but future posts, to fit your needs. Thank you to everyone who responded, whether it be on the original post, on facebook or by private message and email. I have …
The Upcoming Famous and Fabulous Romance Writers | Is it the words that count, or the word count?
Of course ultimately it’s the words, but in this month’s blog, like the Olivers of the creative world, we look at the strategies and tactics some of us employ to kick our word counts up a gear and make ourselves more productive. We want more!
Simply Writing | THE BLURB PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS…
The Oxford Dictionary defines a blurb as ‘a short description of a book, film, or other product written for promotional purposes.’ A great definition, yet a blurb is so much more than the word ‘description’ suggests.