Regency romance, romantic mysteries, & writing tips too.
A reader asked about social media content: “Is there still room for freelance writers? What about AI?” “Automatic” content needn’t faze you. It’s always been around in some form or other. Find clients who want fresh ideas. Not only do these clients pay more, but they’re also more fun. A tip: make getting ideas a … Read more
Creating a satisfying story is a big challenge when you’re writing fiction. In a recent writers’ group meeting, we discussed reader satisfaction. “I love thrillers and adventure stories,” one author said, “but everything I’ve read lately is all about the plot. The characters are either TSTL (too stupid to live) or are a bunch of … Read more
Several of our writers’ group members are attempting a freelance writing side hustle. They agreed that setting their fees and negotiating are their greatest challenges. Should they price similarly to other freelancers? Attempt to undercut them? Knowing how much to charge is confusing. You would rather not price yourself out of the market, but you … Read more
If you’re writing fiction and haven’t published your novel, it’s likely that you’re intimidated by your first draft. Relax. The story on the page may disappoint you, but consider that this is your chance to transform the mass of material into the ideal novel you’ve imagined. Revising and editing will change your muddle into a … Read more
When you’re writing fiction it’s often suggested that you write your first draft straight through without editing. Is this good advice? We’ve discussed this at writers’ group meetings, and I was reminded of those discussions today because I’m rewriting parts of a first draft and hoping that I don’t mess it up. A book journal … Read more
Do you struggle with writing fiction? In a writers’ group meeting, we chatted about a common struggle: managing your ideas, without being distracted by them. One writer said that she struggled with organizing sudden inspiration. Another said that his big challenge was developing ideas. He constantly second-guessed himself, deleting one or more scenes—he’d even delete … Read more