Rants – Page 2 – SE White Author

The Insecure Writer’s Group Asks the Real Questions

2019-01-02

Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Romance Tropes, Romance Writers of America, Writing Process

Happy Holidays/Solstice/Yule, blessed be, and Happy New Year! You all should be in a nice vacation-induced stupor by today. Perfect time to get some Insecure Writer’s group in. I hope 2019 has started off nice and gently for you and you’re enjoying your time, wherever you are! The Co-hosts this month are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi and Fundy Blue. Don’t forget to stop by and show them the love. And the question for January 2 – What are your favorite and least favorite…

The 10 Totally Made-Up Commandments of Querying

2018-08-01

SE White

Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Query Letters, Silliness, Top 10 Lists, Writing Process

This is an Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. Since I’m currently querying and fielding nothing but rejections, I’d like to share the pain. Odds are good that some of you are in the trenches with me. The optional August question is: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey? Querying. Avoid querying, if at all possible. No, I don’t mean that. It’s just the bitterness talking. Really, what I mean is: don’t query before your manuscript…

Why Titles are Literally the Worst

2018-06-06

SE White

Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books, Silliness, Writing Process

This is an Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. To join the group yourself, head over to their website and don’t forget to throw a ninja salute at our captain, Alex J Cavanaugh. The co-hosts for this month’s posts are Beverly Stowe McClure, Tyrean Martinson, Tonja Drecker and Ellen the Cynical Sailor, stop by and check out their posts as you’re hopping today! The question (totally optional, you little rebel, you) for June 6th is: What’s harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names? Answer:…

Feminism, and Romance?

2018-03-17

SE White

Blogging, Romance Tropes, Romance Writers of America, Top 10 Lists

I’ve noticed a trend on several Bookstagram accounts I follow lately. It’s a good trend, and I am all for it. At the root, it’s all about making sure female authors have the same opportunity male authors do to be on your bookshelves and receive awards when it’s time for those literary trophies to be handed out. Equality=good. One specific part of this growing movement stuck out to me, and I’m going to give you my thoughts on it. For…

Nevada: The Start

2018-02-17

S.E. White

Blogging, My Books

Welcome to the Silver State! A lot of my books are going to be set in Nevada, describing it in detail, loving all of its quirks (there are lots.) It’s a place full of contradictions, but empty of people. The terrain goes from high mountain dryness to arid, rocky sand. Although there is a lot of variation from end to end of the state, most of it is variations between different kinds of desert. Water is a precious resource, and…

When I’m a Millionaire, I’m Going to Spend it ALL On Books

2018-02-10

S.E. White

Blogging, Book Reviews, Goals and Hopes, Recommendations, Reviews, Silliness, Top 10 Lists

Time for some more new-to-me authors and a few bite sized reviews. If I ever win some sort of lottery, the money will go towards books, shelves to hold the books, more books, and if I have enough, a book barn. Like a literal barn, stuffed full of literature. Writers must read, and read a lot. Stephen King says so. I’m going to take him at his word, because something is obviously working for him and I just really love…

Why I Love Writing Romance

2018-02-07

S.E. White

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

As a romance author, February tends to be a pressurized month for me. It’s the time of year when you can’t move outside your house for fear of being slapped in the face by ferociously pink plastic hearts. I feel like I’m supposed to enjoy that sensation, or, you know, at least market with it. I do acknowledge the silliness behind memorializing, in gilt and silk flowers, the church gloss-over of a pagan fertility ceremony. Or, alternate option, celebrating the…

When One Door Closes, Kick Another One Open

2018-01-20

S.E. White

Blogging, My Books, Query Letters, Writing Process

Impostor syndrome has been on my mind lately, partly due to that viral thing Neil Gaiman wrote about it and also because I follow Chuck Wendig’s blog Terribleminds and he just wrote a whole article on impostor syndrome and how to deal with it. Seriously recommended, especially if you want to hear a good solid technique. What he wrote really inspired me, at a time when I needed inspiration (i.e. my very first e-book will be coming out in the next few…

No Filter

2018-01-13

S.E. White

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

Did you know there’s such a thing as “filter words” when writing? I did not, but now thanks to the Tunnel of Rejection that was 2017, I do. In the course of a) submitting my manuscripts to RWA contests for judging and b) having my bits chopped off by the Axe of Editing the awesome staff at eXtasy Books wields, I have learned the stuff they teach you in creative writing. So take writing classes, is the lesson here. Alternate lesson: If,…

Hopeful Goals (2018 Edition)

2018-01-03

S.E. White

Blogging, Goals and Hopes, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Silliness

Happy Insecure Writer’s Support Group day! The first one in the first month of the brand-new year, which even sounds hopeful and exciting. The co-hosts entrusted with this important start are Tyrean Martinson, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor (I personally feel like she and The Ninja Librarian could be friends) Megan Morgan, Jennifer Lane and Rachna Chhabria. The question for this shiny new month of January is: What steps have you taken or plan to take to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing? When…