I joined the RWA less than a year ago because as a new writer I needed to find like-minded souls. I’m not a huge romance writer so was a little uncertain considering the standard stereotypes of what constitutes a romance novel. Surprise, surprise, I found that the genre of romance encapsulates a broad range of styles of writing. Yes, you have your Fifty Shades of Grey style, but more commonly, romance writing focuses on the relationship building and can be short and sweet, long and hot, suspenseful with a little dash … the examples could go on and on. I … Read More
W is for Walkthrough – Self-Publishing from A to Z
How I Self-Publish – A Walkthrough I half plan my story. When I say this, I mean that I don’t get carried away with the details. I fill out my favourite things in my Ultimate Novel Planning Workbook, then put it to the side for reference. Sometimes I need to start a spreadsheet, or a Scrivener file for cataloging character or setting details. But whenever I write, things change organically. So it’s no use spending too much time preparing. My first book, I wrote 60,000 words before realising the story had changed before I scrapped it all and started again. … Read More
N is for Networking
This is one of the most important and at the same time, hardest parts of being a writer. For your professional development, and mental health, I thoroughly recommend getting yourself out there and joining a group of writers. One of the toughest lessons I’ve learned in becoming a writer is that nobody else – and I mean nobody – is as excited about your writing as you are. But other writers come a close second. If you join a group, you can get helpful advice, critical feedback, comradeship, motivation, sales and more. Here are a list of places you can … Read More
