Blogging – Page 4 – SE White Author

What I Thought Author Life Would Be Like vs. What it’s Actually Like

2021-10-14

Blogging, My Books, Silliness, Writing Process

What I thought it would be like: Writing retreats full of discourse, stimulating discussions, plotting, and lots of other authors. What it’s actually like: #You’reTooPoor #SillyAuthor #RetreatsAreForBestSellers What I thought it would be like: Ideas lining up, falling neatly into their places, everything is flowing and glorious and ticking along like pure, perfect, writing clockwork. What it’s actually like: EVER HEARD OF SLEEPING, Ideas? GIVE ME A BREAK. What I thought it would be like: Editing, DONE. Polishing? This baby…

The Insecure Writer’s Group Plays Offense

2021-10-06

SE White

Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books, Romance Tropes

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pitt, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren (Hi, Ronel!) and Mary Aalgaard. Don’t forget to stop by their online homes, knock on the figurative door, and make yourself as comfy as a Dwarf in a Hobbit Hole. October 6 question – In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language? Let’s preface this entire post with one firm pillar: I Write Romance. Yep. That kind,…

Book Tropes: We Stan Step Parents!

2021-08-25

SE White

Blogging, Recommendations, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

Today’s niche trope is all about choosing to love. To me, the decision to step up as a parent figure is the definition of heroic, because it hits close to my own personal experience. I have been a single mom and I have been lucky enough to find a second chance with the most amazing husband and stepfather in the entire world. He’s the best. No arguing. Also, he’s mine. But you can have these books which feature a love…

Giving You All the Squee: Declarations of Love

2021-07-21

SE White

Blogging, Recommendations, Romance Tropes, Silliness, Top 10 Lists

This is one of the best parts of reading romance, in my humble opinion. Oh, those declarations of love! If you tell me you never rewound and and sighed a little bit and re-played that one part of a movie adaptation I will say I believe you . . . but secretly I will think you sit on a throne made of lies. Come on. It’s the best part! My Favorite Bookish Confessions of Love Leading off with the best.…

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Didn’t Raise No Quitter

2021-07-07

SE White

Blogging, Goals and Hopes, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books, Writing Process

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group meets online the first Wednesday of every month to share, commiserate, and encourage each other. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! You can sign up for the group yourself by going here. The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, and Louise – Fundy Blue! And the IWSG chose to go straight for the superior vena cava today with the question: What would make you quit…

Why Titles are Literally the Worst

2021-06-30

SE White

Blogging, My Books, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Silliness, Writing Process

Inquiring authors want to know: What’s harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names? (It’s me. I’m inquiring authors.) My answer: Titles. Titles are the hardest thing ever. Titles are horrible, nasty, no good, very bad, brain-killing beasts. Compared to titles, naming my characters is a breeze. And not like, a fourteen-kilometer-per-hour windstorm breeze, one of those gentle zephyr kind. So many options, all of them easy breezy. I can use names I like the sound…

Author Life: Tiptoe Through the AHHH TOO MANY BUTTERFLIES GET THEM OFF OF ME

2021-06-16

SE White

Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books

I’m going to take a leap of faith and generalize something because this has been bothering me lately and I want it out in the world to bother you, too. Although in any other context generalizing is a BAD IDEA and I should never ever do it…in this one case I think it’s less a stereotype and more of a sterling truth. Authors/Writers live a life stuffed full of imaginings. I feel like this is true of all of us.…

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Getting Shelved

2021-06-02

SE White

Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Writing Process

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting! The awesome co-hosts for the June 2 posting…

Book Tropes: I Hate Everyone. Who Isn’t You.

2021-05-26

SE White

Blogging, Book Reviews, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

This trope flavor du jour starts with a firm, succulent base of Brooding Big Bad. Spicy hints of Shades of Grey add to the morality, while robust kicks of Standoffish, Blunt, and Guarded finish the dish for a well-rounded palate. The discerning reader will love the fact that this character absolutely has no time for anyone in the world . . . except for that one, special someone they can’t resist. They are secretly (OH so secretly) soft and protective…

Author Life: Putting a Book on Draft2Digital

2021-05-12

SE White

Blogging, Goals and Hopes, My Books, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Writing Process

We’re starting out with the first, basic baby-steps to independent authoring. Well, no. The actual first step is to finish a book. Truly finish not just hit 60K, write “the end”, and shove that sucker out of the nest all bare-assed without even pinfeathers. Your book must hatch: cheep loudly demanding brainworms until you think you may well lose your mind: require hand-fed edits and critiques to grow: regurgitate some re-writes: and get a few more edits just to be…