Liz Fielding's Blog, page 41
January 18, 2012
Little Book of Writing Romance
It seems to have taken forever to launch my latest project, Liz Fielding's Little Book of Writing Romance, but it's finally available on Kindle and will be appearing on other platforms in the next day or two.
I'm just about managing to contain my excitement long enough to tell you that this little book is a primer - an entry level aid for the writer who has a story to tell, but is struggling to get it out of her head and onto paper. To quote the theme song for the movie of Erich Segal’s bestselling book Love Story, “How do you begin. . . ”
I know how that feels, I’ve been there and I have written the book I wish I’d had when I was starting out.
My purpose is to explain, in the simplest terms — no jargon! — and using examples from my own work, how to make the transition from the story in your head to words on paper. How to write a compelling opening, deepen conflict, write honest emotion, hopefully with a touch of humour to leaven the mix. How to write crisp dialogue, develop the romance, add a little sizzle.
I'm just about managing to contain my excitement long enough to tell you that this little book is a primer - an entry level aid for the writer who has a story to tell, but is struggling to get it out of her head and onto paper. To quote the theme song for the movie of Erich Segal’s bestselling book Love Story, “How do you begin. . . ”
I know how that feels, I’ve been there and I have written the book I wish I’d had when I was starting out.
My purpose is to explain, in the simplest terms — no jargon! — and using examples from my own work, how to make the transition from the story in your head to words on paper. How to write a compelling opening, deepen conflict, write honest emotion, hopefully with a touch of humour to leaven the mix. How to write crisp dialogue, develop the romance, add a little sizzle.
December 21, 2011
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Pausing briefly in the mayhem of the season to wish all my friends on Goodreads a very merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year with your loved ones safe around you.
With love, Liz
With love, Liz
September 30, 2011
Tempted By Trouble
A big thank to all the six hundred plus people who entered to win a copy of my book.
A copy of Tempted went in the post today to the winner!
I will be doing this again soon - good luck!
A copy of Tempted went in the post today to the winner!
I will be doing this again soon - good luck!
September 25, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
Welcome to my very first SSS - and if you don't know what that is, click here.
Here are six sentences from my upcoming Riva/Romance, FLIRTING WITH ITALIAN...
Her brain was apparently engaged, busy dealing with a bombardment of signals. The sun hot on her arms, her throat, her breasts. The sensuous sweep of the mouth hovering above her own, the scent of warm skin, leather…
The world seemed to have slowed down and it took forever for his lips to reach hers. Somewhere, deep inside her brain the word “…no…” was teetering on the brink and all she had to do was move her lips, but her butter-soft mouth seemed to belong to someone else.
When it parted, it was not to protest; as his mouth found hers a tingle of something like recognition raced like wildfire through her blood, blotting out reason and her body, with nothing to guide it, softened, melted against him, murmured, “Yes…”
Flirting with Italian
Here are six sentences from my upcoming Riva/Romance, FLIRTING WITH ITALIAN...
Her brain was apparently engaged, busy dealing with a bombardment of signals. The sun hot on her arms, her throat, her breasts. The sensuous sweep of the mouth hovering above her own, the scent of warm skin, leather…
The world seemed to have slowed down and it took forever for his lips to reach hers. Somewhere, deep inside her brain the word “…no…” was teetering on the brink and all she had to do was move her lips, but her butter-soft mouth seemed to belong to someone else.
When it parted, it was not to protest; as his mouth found hers a tingle of something like recognition raced like wildfire through her blood, blotting out reason and her body, with nothing to guide it, softened, melted against him, murmured, “Yes…”
Flirting with Italian
September 17, 2011
New Voices is live!
NEW VOICES went live today - you can register here and upload your entry. Or read what the early birds have posted and leave comments, too. And here's the lovely Flo Nicholl introducing four of the NV mentors.
It's been agony keeping the secret that I'll be working with one of the twenty writers who get through the first round, but the list went up today. I'm so thrilled and excited!
It's been agony keeping the secret that I'll be working with one of the twenty writers who get through the first round, but the list went up today. I'm so thrilled and excited!
September 10, 2011
THE COVER
What is it about a cover that draws the eye, tempts the reader.
For most of my writing life I've had no control over cover art. I usually see it at the same time as the reader. Sometimes it's a delight, sometimes I never want to see it again. Mostly they work, although there is the occasional clunker that doesn't work.
But I recently republished three books that I'd claimed the rights too, and for the first time in my life I had the heady experience of choosing my own cover. And guess what? That cover has attracted more attention, raised more comments, and a lot more of the phwoar factor than the other sixty covers put together.
If you want to take him home, read his story, you can download it free at Kindle, Nook, Smashwords.
For most of my writing life I've had no control over cover art. I usually see it at the same time as the reader. Sometimes it's a delight, sometimes I never want to see it again. Mostly they work, although there is the occasional clunker that doesn't work.
But I recently republished three books that I'd claimed the rights too, and for the first time in my life I had the heady experience of choosing my own cover. And guess what? That cover has attracted more attention, raised more comments, and a lot more of the phwoar factor than the other sixty covers put together.
If you want to take him home, read his story, you can download it free at Kindle, Nook, Smashwords.
September 8, 2011
Mills and Boon New Voices Workshop
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Many thanks to Bethan for supplying this photograph of my New Voices workshop at Pontardawe Library this week. It was a lovely afternoon and over-subscribed sadly, so some people missed out. If you'd like a copy of the handouts I prepared, please do email me at liz at lizfielding dot com - it doesn't matter where in the world you are!
New Voices is getting closer! Have you registered here yet?
I hope you’ve started writing, but it’s not too late. You have until the 10 October to post your chapter, although the earlier you get it online the more reader feedback you’ll have, which can be hugely useful. It isn’t votes from readers that count, however; the editors will choose the best twenty first chapters to move onto the next round.
Getting the first chapter right is vital.
• The opening tells the reader who the story is about. Who. Not where, or why or what the weather is doing. Romance is character led.
Have you got all the ingredients in place? Here are some questions to help get you started:
• Who are your characters?
• What do they want?
• Why do they want it?
A great opening to a romance raises questions in the reader’s mind; questions that what make her read on. To achieve this you must:
• Start with something happening
• Get the hero and the heroine on the page
• Grab the readers attention
Stories begin with an inciting incident.
• Cinderella meets the disguised prince in the woods.
• A rich bachelor moves into the neighbourhood.
• Bassanio asks his best mate, Antonio, for a loan.
A Lee Childs I read recently started with a drunk picked a fight with Jack Reacher for no reason other than he was feeling belligerent. He gets a broken finger (he poked Jack – how dumb can you get?) and nose for his trouble. Unfortunately he’s the local cop and when he sobers up he comes after him with handcuffs. Reacher knows the best result is going to a beating in police cell and he hitches a lift out of town.
In Tempted By Trouble, Elle answers a ring at the doorbell prepared to fend off a nosy neighbour and instead finds herself fending off not just the bone-meltingly gorgeous Sean McElroy, but the ice cream van he insists is hers.
Everything that happens in these stories stems from that moment.
In all instances the stories begin with action, movement, dialogue.
That first meeting isn’t the end of chapter one, however. In the space of four thousand words the reader will find out a great deal about them.
They will have an idea what they look like – have seen them through the eyes of the other character. Not a descriptive shopping list, please. Leave room for the reader to fill in her own fantasy. Just small details. The shape of a nose. A tiny scar spotted when the characters moves and it’s emphasized by shadow.
They will, from their reaction to this meeting, know a little of their hopes, their fears and the reason why they won’t simply enjoy this unexpected meeting and move off into the happy ever after that is waiting for them.
These characters have to earn their HEA. Discover things about themselves, grow, become stronger – strong enough to deal with whatever is keeping them apart. At the end of a book should – heaven forbid – the romance fade into no more than a sweet memory, your hero and heroine should have taken control of their lives, faced their demons, be looking forward rather than back. They should be winners. That they have a partner to match them in every way is the icing and the cherry on top of that cake.
But first they have to meet. And bless Amazon for allowing you to download the first chapter of eBooks to your reading device – your PC if you don’t have anything else. You can study first chapters by your favourite authors, by authors you’ve heard of but never read, without spending a penny. (I cannot be held responsible if you feel you have to buy the book to read on, but if you do, ask yourself why.)
Many thanks to Bethan for supplying this photograph of my New Voices workshop at Pontardawe Library this week. It was a lovely afternoon and over-subscribed sadly, so some people missed out. If you'd like a copy of the handouts I prepared, please do email me at liz at lizfielding dot com - it doesn't matter where in the world you are!
New Voices is getting closer! Have you registered here yet?
I hope you’ve started writing, but it’s not too late. You have until the 10 October to post your chapter, although the earlier you get it online the more reader feedback you’ll have, which can be hugely useful. It isn’t votes from readers that count, however; the editors will choose the best twenty first chapters to move onto the next round.
Getting the first chapter right is vital.
• The opening tells the reader who the story is about. Who. Not where, or why or what the weather is doing. Romance is character led.
Have you got all the ingredients in place? Here are some questions to help get you started:
• Who are your characters?
• What do they want?
• Why do they want it?
A great opening to a romance raises questions in the reader’s mind; questions that what make her read on. To achieve this you must:
• Start with something happening
• Get the hero and the heroine on the page
• Grab the readers attention
Stories begin with an inciting incident.
• Cinderella meets the disguised prince in the woods.
• A rich bachelor moves into the neighbourhood.
• Bassanio asks his best mate, Antonio, for a loan.
A Lee Childs I read recently started with a drunk picked a fight with Jack Reacher for no reason other than he was feeling belligerent. He gets a broken finger (he poked Jack – how dumb can you get?) and nose for his trouble. Unfortunately he’s the local cop and when he sobers up he comes after him with handcuffs. Reacher knows the best result is going to a beating in police cell and he hitches a lift out of town.
In Tempted By Trouble, Elle answers a ring at the doorbell prepared to fend off a nosy neighbour and instead finds herself fending off not just the bone-meltingly gorgeous Sean McElroy, but the ice cream van he insists is hers.
Everything that happens in these stories stems from that moment.
In all instances the stories begin with action, movement, dialogue.
That first meeting isn’t the end of chapter one, however. In the space of four thousand words the reader will find out a great deal about them.
They will have an idea what they look like – have seen them through the eyes of the other character. Not a descriptive shopping list, please. Leave room for the reader to fill in her own fantasy. Just small details. The shape of a nose. A tiny scar spotted when the characters moves and it’s emphasized by shadow.
They will, from their reaction to this meeting, know a little of their hopes, their fears and the reason why they won’t simply enjoy this unexpected meeting and move off into the happy ever after that is waiting for them.
These characters have to earn their HEA. Discover things about themselves, grow, become stronger – strong enough to deal with whatever is keeping them apart. At the end of a book should – heaven forbid – the romance fade into no more than a sweet memory, your hero and heroine should have taken control of their lives, faced their demons, be looking forward rather than back. They should be winners. That they have a partner to match them in every way is the icing and the cherry on top of that cake.
But first they have to meet. And bless Amazon for allowing you to download the first chapter of eBooks to your reading device – your PC if you don’t have anything else. You can study first chapters by your favourite authors, by authors you’ve heard of but never read, without spending a penny. (I cannot be held responsible if you feel you have to buy the book to read on, but if you do, ask yourself why.)
