2019

Breaking Down a Romance Plot

For this post, let’s break down a well known romance plot to see where the story beats are going. This is an exercise I’d really recommend for authors of any genre. Take your favorite story, or movie, and break it down to see how they made everything work. You’ll be surprised how much it helps you break down your own story! And yes, this is the movie I’m turning into plot points, but it still translates to novel form. Beauty…

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My Favorite Things About Being a Reader

Today we’re doing a listicle, because listicles are so fun. And gifs are even better. Combining the two? The Very Best, even though it makes a silly word (gificle? gifsticle? giflist? Whatever it’s fantastic and I’m going with it). Let’s all celebrate the high points of bookworm life. 1. I have a whole house filled with books. FILLED, I SAY. Floor space? Who needs floor space? Not me. 2. Reading is a ready-made pastime. A book is suitable for any…

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Six First Aid Steps for Bad Feedback: an IWSG Post

As part of the celebration for author Chrys Fey’s latest book release, we’re talking about writer’s block, depression, and the varied obstacles life will throw in your way as you try to publish. My contribution for the blog hop is about dealing with bad feedback. This could be editorial comments, a scathing one-star review, rejection letters, dismissive friends or family; anything which makes you feel like a big anvil made of “NO” just landed on your head. I know about…

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Holiday Wishes

Wishing you and your family all the best today, this week, and for all of the new year to come! I hope 2020 is full of good things for you and little to no disappointments. May you enjoy the day fully, eat the treats you were wishing for, receive that book you’ve been wanting, and have a happy end of 2019.

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The Great Blogging Wrap-Up of 2019

Alright, friends. Let’s get to some numbery maths for the year. I’m still at the point where I genuinely enjoy blogging (LET IT NEVER END) and I have a lot of fun breaking my year down in stats. Onward! Visitors in 2018: 2,320 Top 5 Posts from 2019: 15 Gorgeous Literary Tattoos (This is DIRECTLY caused by pinning this post to Pinterest. I stuck it up and then months later it just…took off? And was shared like crazy and ended…

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Friday Favorites Makes Friends

Find the sign-up and topics at somethingofthebook.com March 22 Favorites: Fictional Friendships. Can I also say that alliteration is my favorite thing? Yes? Okay. On to the best buddies you’ll find in a book. The Golden Trio-Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling Who isn’t going to lead off today with the three who made it through literally everything together? Starting off with murdery plant life & giant killer chess pieces, working up to dragons & Death Eaters, and ending with an actual epic battle.…

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Friday Favorites Gives You a Show

March 8 Favorites: TV Shows to watch (when not reading). Bit of a puzzler this week. I . . . don’t actually consume much media other than my books. I am a book junkie. The husband mainlines Netflix shows, but it’s the way he GOES TO SLEEP, how can you possibly fall asleep with a show going and light and people talking and plots happening, WHO DOES THAT? If you quiz him about what happened in the show later he has…

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The IWSG Wants Your Perspective

Spring! It’s so close I can almost taste the green in the air. Sure, it’s 41 degrees Fahrenheit and raining right now. Still. Warmth and sunshine are just around the corner and I CANNOT WAIT. My pale mushroom self is ready to finally leave the house and feel the heat. The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Fundy Blue, Beverly Stowe McClure, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard! March 6 question – Whose perspective do you like to write from best,…

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Friday Favorites will Mentor You

Friday Favorites is a new weekly blog hop from Something of the Book.com. Come join in! Today’s favorite: Teacher/Mentor Characters Dimitri Belikov–Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead Let’s go ahead and lead off with my (probably inappropriate) love of May/December romances. Dimitri is EXACTLY what I want in my mentor characters. Grumpy, older, hot, with a sexy Russian accent, and an efficient killer instinct. YAS, PLEASE. There are some good vampires, Moroi, and bad vampires, Strigoi, in the book and a whole plot about…

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Six First Aid Steps for Bad Feedback

It happened. The thing you’ve been dreading, avoiding, secretly praying will pass you by forever. Negative feedback. Maybe it’s kindhearted constructive criticism (OUCH) or maybe it’s a scathing one-star take down of your entire book (FUCKING OUCH OW PAIN). No  matter what form it takes this kind of feedback is hard on you. I know this, because I recently got my very own negative feedback. I enter every unfinished manuscript I write into RWA chapter contests for judging because apparently…

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