The hardest part of writing a novel is the beginning. A reader’s interest must be captured in the first few pages, or they’ll move on to the next title in their wish list. An author might want to introduce the characters, the setting, and the main conflict all at once, but these should be weaved … Read more
Some writers are excited to begin a new novel. The story idea is fresh and compelling. Characters can’t wait to jump off the page and display their personalities. The setting begs to come alive with details that make readers feel they’re there. It’s like starting a new school year eager to see what you’ll learn … Read more
When doing revisions to a novel, it’s important for writers to be consistent. What does this mean in terms of spelling for words such as “Alright” vs “All Right” when writing exposition or dialogue? According to various online dictionaries, it appears “All Right” was the original spelling. “Alright” has worked its way into our slang. … Read more
In my previous post on the Five Stages of Writing, I mention Discovery, Writing, Revisions, Production and Marketing. Currently, I’m in the Discovery Stage for my next Keri Armstrong mystery. This is the process by which you discover your story. This prep time can take weeks or months, so be sure to factor this in … Read more
Coffee Time Romance is a reader site that offers book reviews, author interviews, blogs, and more. Skip the crowds, skip lines, and win prizes during their Annual Black Friday/Cyber Monday Blog Event on Nov. 28 & Dec. 1st. Check out my post on “Truth or Fiction” – When writing a novel, authors may base fictional … Read more
It’s uncanny how our fictional stories can sometimes relate to events in the news. Some mystery writers will purposefully include social issues and current news topics in their stories. For others, like me, it may be coincidental. [Spoiler Alert] In MURDER PAYS A CALL featuring personal concierge Keri Armstrong, I introduce a character who had … Read more
Story magic can happen unexpectedly when a plot twist or new character invades your writer’s mind. In this instance, it’s good to seize the moment and scribble down notes before you forget your spark of inspiration. Such an event happened to me the other evening as I was contemplating Hanukkah Hairloom Mystery, my next Bad … Read more
Writers can easily end up in a muddle at the middle of their story. The direction forward becomes unclear, and you’re not sure that what you have plotted so far will reach your projected word count or come to a satisfactory conclusion. This means it’s time to reassess what you’ve done so far. When you … Read more
As a writer, setting goals each year gives us a path to follow. Each item we cross off our list provides a sense of accomplishment. Last year, I felt I hadn’t done much since my last novel release, Star Tangled Murder, came out in March 2023. While there were reasons for this lag, I accomplished … Read more
What is the difference between Story versus Plot? A plot gives you the bones and structure for a novel, while the story is actually what takes place. Unless you’re a full-on Pantser, you won’t start the writing process until you have an outline or synopsis for what will occur. Before I begin writing a novel, … Read more