Learn to tap into your creative juices with tons of writing exercises, tips and tricks—while drawing on new and exciting writing techniques.
Setting and Context |A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES WITH STELLA QUINN
Episode 3 Australia’s Great Southern Land Rural romance is always popular, and I wonder what makes it so? Is it the history of rural settings? The rugged outdoors, the smalltown cosy factor, the sense of life being lived at a slower, more meaningful pace? The appeal of RuRo no doubt varies from reader to reader, but it is indisputable that setting and context must play a leading role in that appeal.
Simply Writing | WRITING A BIO WITH A DIFFERENCE
This month I’d like to give a little insight into that wonderful selling tool—the author bio. Just one of the few things authors dread writing, not quite up there with the synopsis, but close.
Cover Crush | April
Here we are in April and autumn is upon us. It’s my favourite time of the year with it vibrant colours and exciting prospects, much like our Member’s New Releases. This month we are once again enveloped in epic masterpieces that electrify the imagination. Every month I am astonished by the brilliance we have within our ranks, and again I was not disappointed.
Pace, Pitch & Perfection… Knocking Your First Chapter Out of the Park! | Soraya M. Lane
From the very first line, your book has to hook an editor, agent or reader. We all know what it’s like; a cover catches our eye at our local bookstore, and we pick it up. The first thing we do is read the back cover blurb, and the next thing? We read the first page! Some might skip to the middle for a quick look, but research suggests it’s that first page that decides whether we’re going to buy the book or not. When it comes to sending your manuscript to an editor or agent, you might only get the …
Critiquing is for Scaredy-cats and Recluses Too | Sandy Vaile
Critiquing tends to evoke strong opinions in the writing community: people either swear by it or avoid it like the plague. So, will it be a benefit or handicap to you? This depends on who you partner with, your openness to feedback and how long you stick at it. Embracing critiquing can improve the quality of your writing immensely. I know, because I’ve seen it work repeatedly. When I started The Novelists’ Circle group in 2010, I had no idea what an effective tool it would be for so many fiction writers. That first night there were three nervous writers …
A not-to-miss OWL for those considering self-publishing | Donna Munro
Two years ago, I released my first book The Zanzibar Moon. It wasn’t the only manuscript I had written, six are filed away. Some had been sent to publishers and rejected over many years. I admit I did not send them out enough, but I was working full-time, a mum and other things got in the way of my publishing dream. Turning 52 made me devise a plan. I found at that point in my life I desperately wanted to hold my own book. It was time. With a background in graphic design and small publishing, I was confident I …
Cover Crush| March
Another speedy month has driven past and here we are already well into March. I was excited to see our Member’s New Releases and, as always, they did not disappoint. This month we have a feast for the senses. A visual cornucopia of romantic elements that draw the eye and capture the imagination. Nearly every corner of our wide breadth of sub-genres is captured in this month’s new releases, and I won’t deny that the choice for the Cover Crush this month was a hard one.
Just a Love Story | Lyn and Dave
Part 4: **Trigger warning: Domestic violence **
The Tasting Table| Advice from the heart
This month felt like the perfect time to revisit sage advice from a cross-section of authors who have already visited us at The Tasting Table. With the recent events surrounding plagiarism, there’s been some insightful blogs from authors such as Nora Roberts and Courtney Milan, who are both affected. There is a total of twenty nine authors identified as being plagiarised so far, including our own Anne Gracie. This causes unrest and worry for other authors, published or not, which is completely understandable.