My links this month are as mixed-up as the weather, I think… * I’m sorry I can’t be sympathetic about this, that a writer may not make a living from writing. Welcome to the real world. * Rather a “well, duh” article: media’s ignoring of Romance. * How many of these books have you read? … [Read more…]
To follow up last month’s column on cleaning up your writing below is a reference list of some common grammar mistakes. (Can you tell I’m in the middle of book edits?) Take care, especially when you are writing a blog or a post. Yep, I’m feeling a bit like the Grammar Police today, but seriously, … [Read more…]
How do you plot a mystery? Ask ten different authors, and you’ll get ten different responses. Everyone’s method is unique. However, genre conventions dictate that certain reader expectations must be met. When writing cozy mysteries or traditional mysteries, readers expect a puzzle to solve, an amateur sleuth, a collection of suspects, and an exciting climax … [Read more…]
It all began with an off-handed remark to a fellow author about a writer’s support group. A sign-up list was offered and on September 1, 2011, we had our first group blog posting with about forty writers participating. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) has now grown far beyond its humble beginnings. There are … [Read more…]
You want the essence of your writing to come through, but needless words and phrases can get in the way and weigh down your prose. Solution: put your writing on a five-step diet.