Vintage Romance/Romantic Suspense/Cozy Mysteries

Book Cover Ideas for New Authors - The Book Designer How do new authors come up with book cover ideas that will do their manuscript justice? Discover tips and tricks for crafting original book cover design ideas.

Just when I thought all the research was done...two new names have cropped up! Spent the morning researching them. So the new update is 8 stories written and 7 to go! But they're interesting people and definitely worth remembering!

6/27/2024 - How to Research Your Novel like a Reporter

https://www.amazon.com/Next-Level-Plot-Structure-Storytelling-ebook/dp/B0D3K1SHR1/

I design all of my books to be as accessible as possible for all writers, no matter their skill level. But my recommendation is always to read them in the order they were written, since each one delves deeper into more nuanced and detailed explorations of story creation and narrative tools.

Be sure to check out my latest book Next Level Plot Structure. It's officially launching in a few weeks, but the paperbacks are already out on Amazon, and the e-books are available for pre-orer on most retail sites.

Even if you haven't read the earlier books, you can catch up here. And if you have read the previous books, you'll be primed to explore the innate chiastic symmetry and symbolism available in every structural beat (and so much more!).

https://www.amazon.com/Next-Level-Plot-Structure-Storytelling-ebook/dp/B0D3K1SHR1/

Getting ahead with your writing couldn’t be easier. Sign up today and get instant access to your first set of pointers.

Juggling Life and Writing: 9 Tips for Maintaining Creative Focus Learn effective strategies for juggling life and writing, including ways to maintain creative focus amid distractions.

Tools for creating characters "A must have for writers."

Writing Fiction That is Believable Imagine you are sitting amongst fellow writers in a workshop class or critique group. You’ve just finished reading your work and this group is providing constructive criticism. You are nervous, of …

100 Ways to Say “Nice”: A Word List for Writers How many instances of "nice" can you find in your work in progress? Maybe it's time to replace them.

Update on Forgotten Faces: 6 stories written, 7 to go!

https://wp.me/p3QOd2-1jY

Story structure creates foreshadowing and can show writers how to recognize which events should be emphasized and when.

https://wp.me/p3QOd2-1jY

Creative Freedom in Writing | Now Novel Creative freedom in writing and planning are not mutually exclusive. Find out how to plan so that there is room for writing inspiration too.

Just finished first of 12 stories for "Forgotten Faces" and sent it--unread--to volunteer beta reader. She's also a writer--AND we had the same wonderful English teacher in HS who held our feet to the fire of excellence! I've told her to be brutal.

How to Write an Inciting Incident - Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books. Wondering how to write an inciting incident for your story? This post will guide you step-by-step.

Today's goal: a rough draft of an introduction to "Forgotten Faces of San Angelo"

https://wp.me/p3QOd2-8Zy

When it comes time to kill off a character, authors are often divided. Some find it almost too excruciating to pull off. Others approach it when a decided amount of glee, knowing character deaths will affect readers powerfully.

Years ago, when I was (perhaps) a bit more melodramatic, I would wait with bated breath until beta readers reached certain death scenes. If they cried, I was ecstatic!

However, I would now caution younger me that character deaths need to be handled with purposefulness and understanding. Otherwise, they can feel both manipulative and even predictable.

Today, I'm musing on this in a quick tip. Be sure to check out the infographic and link at the bottom for practicable advice about how and when to kill a character.

https://wp.me/p3QOd2-8Zy

Here are 3 tips to move forward from manuscript rejections: tinyurl.com/2rh33fxn ✨

Untangling the Mess: Overcoming Common Revision Obstacles | Some manuscripts are clean first drafts. Others fight you every step of the way. And how you approach your revision depends on what stage its in.

Oh yeah!!! and I love it here...

Six common publishing and book marketing hustles of 2024 – and what we can do It’s really tough for authors to sell their books at the moment. And there are people who are hoping to make money from this. I get approached almost daily by people on Linked In or Facebook who as…

Just for fun, here are the working titles of the 12 stories I plan to feature in "Forgotten Faces". They could change, of course. I also plan to include articles--some written by me, others with permission and full credit from the author.

“They Called Him ‘Walking John’”
“Fisherman Jake: Jacob Schmidt”
“The Candy Lady: Bertha Kensel”
“Some Gave All: Jack and Mark Mathis”
“The Buffalo Soldier: Jacob Wilks”
“Caring for Her Community: Maggie Fullylove Starks”
“The Educator: Felix Smith”
“A Future Lost: Arthur Q. Beverly”
“It Started with a Saloon: The Edward Maier Family”
“The Pioneer Rancher: John P. Lee”
“Breaking Barriers: Noe Lara Camunez”
“Destiny in West Texas: Seaton Keith”

WOW! Wish we had a place like this where I live. Plenty of empty space downtown, but $$$$!

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Put Your Life into Your Writing | Writers In The Storm A different take on "write what you know" from mystery author, Eldred Bird. Here are five examples to breathe life into your fiction.

How to Write the First Chapter of a Novel - Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books. Unsure of how to write the first chapter of a novel? Check out this post for some tips!

Check out these tips on how to make time for writing: tinyurl.com/2p9b6uxn ✨

https://buff.ly/4bDK2DO

Want to find a writing buddy to critique your book? Jump in, meet someone new, and start taking your writing to the next level!

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