Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 64

How To Write Romance Without Being Cheesy

Everyone loves a good romance, and even novels which wouldn't necessarily fall under the romance genre often have subplots or side stories which sees some of the main characters forming romantic relationships.

But unless you are going for a full-blown kick back with a cocktail by the pool kind of romance, where it's OK for it to be a little cheesy, it's vital to try to make sure that you write a love story that doesn't make your reader cringe.

On the flip-side, concentrating too hard on trying to avoid the cheese can end up meaning that your romance comes across as a little dull.

So how do you do it well? Here are some useful tips to get the balance right.

Steer clear of clichés

A love story littered with clichés can't help but be cheesy. Eyes across a crowded room, love at first sight, both characters being impeccably good looking, one character who is super shy or unpopular and the other who isn't and the budding romance between them - these are all clichés that are often used in romance stories. The more original you are, the more you'll capture your reader's attention and ensure that you stop your story from being too cheesy.

Be realistic

Give your characters time to get to know one another before they fall in love. If you let the romance slowly unravel over time, this can help to make your story more believable and relatable and this is important if you want your readers to buy into your romance. If they go through important shared experiences, this can help. Characters who have been through something frightening, upsetting, hilarious and so on together will have more of a foundation for their relationship and love to grow from, thus giving proper reasons why they might be in love which your reader can believe.

Don't make it painfully slow

At the same time, don't make the romance between the two characters develop so slowly or undramatically that the reader loses interest. Avoiding cheese and the whole 'love at first sight' cliché is one thing, but don't sacrifice the pacing of your story otherwise your readers won't even care whether the relationship happens and that will make the romance pointless.

Don't make the romance the only thing going on

Even in a full-blown romance novel, the plot has to be more than just how two characters come to fall in love. There needs to be other things going on to keep the reader's interested in the book. Take a break from the romance often, don't make it so all the characters are doing is thinking or talking about each other otherwise you run the risk of boring your reader and bombarding them with the romance so much that they end up entirely disinterested in it.

Minimize the lovey-dovey

The best way to avoid cheese is to turn the dial down on the public displays of affection, and the soppy, romantic thoughts, conversations, and romantic gestures. It's fine to include this every now and again, but too much will have your readers rolling their eyes and will detract from what else is going on in your book.

Using the above tips can help you write an intriguing, unique romance without the cheese. Do you have any suggestions for writing romance in a novel? Share them with us here!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Write Romance Without Being Cheesy appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Freelance Writers – What Makes Good Content?

If you want to become a successful freelance writer, you have to put the effort in to create good quality, relevant content that reaches your target audience.

If you aren't going to try to write quality content, then you are unlikely to see the results you want from it, meaning you've been wasting your time when you could have been focusing on other things.

Good content takes skill and requires practice. It also contains several key elements that need to be consistent in every piece you produce in order to reach your goals.

So what makes good content?

Solid, effective writing

Naturally, good content requires good writing. Each piece you create should be carefully planned, thoroughly researched, and written using appropriate language. It should be clear, concise, and exciting. It should be easily digestible, entertaining, and valuable to the reader.

A smart content strategy

Planning your content can help make it far more effective. Make sure that you spend time planning the material that you intend to roll out over the coming weeks and months, and this will help ensure that your content is varied, interesting, and relevant too.

Consistent quality

Your writing needs to be of consistent quality if you want to build up a readership that trusts you as a source and a reputation that means you win jobs time and time again. Take pride in making sure that every piece you write (even if it's a bit tedious) is the very best you can make it before you send it off.

Tailored to your audience

Writing should always be done with the reader in mind. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself what they want, research their likes and dislikes, the questions they are asking and tailor your content to help provide them with answers.

Written with specific goals in mind

Good content always serves a greater purpose. Think about what it is you hope you achieve by creating each piece. Write down your goals and make sure that they are relevant and measurable, so you can assess and then improve your success.

Conveys authority and says something new

If you want your content to be successful, you need to try to convey your expertise on the subject, say something new and set yourself apart from your competitors.

Inspires action

Your content should be written with careful purpose, and while it is essential to provide value and give something genuinely useful to the reader, you also want to make sure that when they have finished reading your piece, you've inspired them to take the action that aligns with your goals. Keeping this clear and cleverly crafting your piece to ensure this happens will mean you enjoy greater success.

By considering the above every time you create content, you can make sure that every piece you write is not only of fantastic quality but also gets you the results you want!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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10 Habits Of Highly Effective Writers

Being a competent writer takes time. You have to be willing to put the effort in to give yourself the very best chance of success. However, if you are eager to do so, the rewards can be significant. Here are ten habits that highly effective writers always put into practice.

1. They Practice

Writers who want to get better at writing make sure they practice. They take their writing practice seriously and actually stick to a challenging writing schedule that helps them to progress at a steady rate.

2. They Research

Taking the time to research your writing can make such an important difference, regardless of whether you are writing fact or fiction. So make sure you understand how to study effectively and what kinds of things you should research to make your novel more believable or your article have more depth.

3. They Read

Effective writers also read. They read in the genre, they read outside of it. They read anything they can get their hands on and use this to inspire their own work.

4. They Learn

Being open to learning is an essential part of writing. Writing is a craft, and there are thousands of books on the subject, and pieces of advice to read and take on board. Those who want to get better at writing set time aside to learn more about the craft, and then put these new skills into practice.

5. They Edit

Good writers know that the editing process is as important as the writing process, and that good editing takes a massive effort and learning how to edit effectively can help make your writing the very best it can be.

6. They Listen

It is also essential to understand how to open your ears, to the world around you, and to conversations, but also to what feedback you are given about your writing. Receiving constructive criticism can be taken on board without upset or offense, and rejection isn’t the end of the journey!

7. They Take The Plunge

Writers who want to see their work in print dare to send their work off to publishers, to magazines, to enter competitions, to pitch. Doing so takes them one step closer to their goals; however scary it may be to do so.

8. They Have Confidence

Productive writers believe in themselves and don’t let that inner critic take over and stop them from doing what they love.

9. They Experiment

Effective writers also understand that writing outside of their comfort zone can be a helpful way of finding their writing voice and of broadening their reach, so they are willing and curious to experiment.

10. They Continue

Perhaps the most important habit of all is that successful writers never give up. So no matter the setbacks and no matter the obstacle, they continue to write and always strive to reach their goals.

So there you have it, if you want to become a highly effective writer, make the above the habits ones that you take on board, and you’ll see your writing improve and the chances of reaching all your writing dreams and goals much more likely to come to fruition.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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How To Set The Right Pace In Your Novel

When it comes to writing a successful novel, getting the pacing right is imperative. However, this is not always as easy as it may seem, and learning how to get the pace right can take time and practice.

What is pacing?

The pace of your novel is the speed at which your story unfolds. As the author, you have control over how quickly or slowly, the action takes place and how your story progresses. Different types of genres call for different pacing, and it is vital to get it just right so your story ebbs and flows, so that you keep the reader hooked, but also so that you don’t reveal too much too soon.

So what are some useful tips to follow to ensure you get the pacing right?

Make a plan

Proper planning can be critical when it comes to creating the correct pace. By plotting out your novel, the action, and the rise and fall of the story, you will be able to see how your story unravels and whether there are gaps or lulls in the action that might go on for too long and lose the interest of your reader. While the entire novel can’t be moments of intense action and adventure, it’s essential to include enough of them to keep the pace up, and the reader excited to continue reading.

Think of your pacing in units of time

It can be helpful to break your novel down into separate scenes, each of which should contain a critical plot point or interaction between characters that is significant. Each unit should have highs and lows where the drama becomes more intense, and thus the pace quickens - and parts in the aftermath of the drama, which can be slower. Remember, it’s as important to give the reader some respite in between climatic scenes where the tension and action lessens and allows them to absorb the drama that has just taken place fully.

Read the greats to help you understand pace

Some authors are revered as being masters of pacing - and you can learn a lot from them. Reading the most celebrated writers in your genre can help you gain a better understanding of how you should pace your novel and unravel vital scenes to keep your reader hooked.

Pay attention to the structure of your novel

The way you structure your novel has a significant impact on your pacing, not just in terms of plotting, but how you break down paragraphs and even sentences. Shorter sections are easier to digest, as are shorter sentences. So if you want to speed up the pace, use shorter sentences and keep your paragraphs tight too to help quicken the pace and keep the story moving forward. Similarly, if you want to slow your pace down, try lengthening sentences and paragraphs, and more detail, and even make chapters longer and shift the focus to a subplot to help slow things down.

By using the above techniques, you can help to make sure that you get the pacing right in your novel, and it keeps the reader reading right until the very end!

How do you make sure you get the pacing right in your novel - share your tips with us here!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Set The Right Pace In Your Novel appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

What Does A Good Agent Look Like?

Deciding to search for a literary agent to represent your work and try to find you a publishing deal can be a smart move. However, it is essential to remember that doing so means that you’ll lose a percentage of your revenue, which will go to them as payment.

Because of this, finding the right agent is essential. It can be easy to get excited about any agent who is willing to take on your book, as it’s very competitive trying to find someone who will take you on. However, just because an agent accepts your work, doesn’t mean they will do an excellent job for you, or that they are really the right fit for your book or have the same hopes and goals as you do for your work.

In short, there are good agents and bad agents out there, and while each author may be looking for different, specific things, there are ways to tell if an agent is really going to work hard to make your book the biggest possible success.

To understand what qualities an efficient agent has, you need to understand their role fully. In short, a literary agent should be committed to making sure that they find the best possible publishing deal for your book.

So what does a good agent look like?

They are trustworthy

An agent should be clear and transparent about what they are offering. They should be able to answer any questions you have about a contract and address any concerns you have too. Be honest about what you want from your book and your goals to make sure they are aligned. Find out the specifics of who they intend to approach and why. Most importantly find out their cut and make sure that fits in with what you want.

They are passionate

A quality agent should not only be passionate about the work they do in general but also the industry and your book specifically as well. They should be on top of news and trends, they should always be trying to expand their network, and they should be genuinely committed to and believe in any work they take on.

They are excellent communicators

Handing over your work to anyone can be particularly nerve-wracking, and a good agent will appreciate this. They should, by nature, therefore be great at communicating their progress to you and ensure that they can demonstrate what work they’ve been doing to help get your book published.

Trying a wide variety of agents and doing your research to find out what they specialize in, and the previous successes they have can help ensure you focus your energy on those agents who are more likely not only to be interested in your work but genuinely invest in it too. An experienced, helpful, committed agent will give their authors confidence and assurance that their book will be a great success.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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Common Mistakes For Beginner Writers To Be Aware Of

For those just starting at writing it can be both an exciting and slightly daunting time. While you may be keen to get going, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the craft of writing a novel, to invest some time in research and learning before you begin.

It’s inevitable that you will make mistakes when writing your novel, particularly in the first draft. In fact, you might make so many that you have to start all over again! However, being aware of some of the common pitfalls that new writers fall into can help ensure that you produce the best first draft possible, and have a robust platform from which to edit and shape your story.

So what are the common mistakes new writers should remember?

Show, don’t tell.

An oldie but a goodie, ‘show don’t tell’ is one piece of writing advice that is important to take on board. It is important to remember that it is practically impossible to write an entire novel without ‘telling’ some of the story. However, if you are interjecting yourself, the author, into the account and describing everything that happens move by move, you leave little room for the reader to exercise their imagination. Avoid long passages of narrative, too much background story or unnecessary information - this will feel a bit like receiving a lecture from the author and isn’t what you should focus on.

2.  Revealing too much too soon

You know how important it is for readers to connect with your characters, to root for them, or despise them or laugh at them as you direct them to. However, one mistake that beginner writers can make is to be so focused on doing so that they reveal the entire character right at the beginning. They describe the character in meticulous detail, their likes, and dislikes, hopes and dreams; they include too much inner dialogue and everything about their past life and personality. Characters need time to breathe, to grow. Reveal them over time, and you build a relationship with the reader, and this will have a far more significant impact, especially when dramatic events take place and difficult choices are to be made.

3.  Poor dialogue

Wiring dialogue well takes a lot of practice. Too much or too little dialogue can stifle the flow of the story. It’s also important to use discussion to convey emotions rather than just tagging them after the speech (for example, she grimaced, he growled, she chuckled etc). Dialogue is a great way to help draw the reader in, create immediacy, and reveal more about your characters. Try reading your dialogue aloud to see if it flows well.

4. Starting with backstory

The opening of your novel is so important, and getting it right will help to hook readers (and agents and publishers) in from the very first word. It can be easy to think the best starting point would be to reveal some backstory or to set the scene. However starting with action and bringing about change, tension, conflict, and suspense immediately will be much more powerful and engage your readers right away.

5. Remembering to research (but don’t overdo it)

Researching your novel is essential and will add realism to your story and ensure eagle-eyed readers don’t call you out on something that doesn’t sit quite right. Research can take up a lot of your time, but use what you have learned sparingly. If you stuff the book with facts and dates, it will take away from the story and distract the reader. Just because you have learned exactly how to take a clock apart or how to cook the perfect lemon meringue pie from scratch doesn’t mean you have to include all the steps unless it is imperative to your story to do so. 

Of course, there are many more mistakes that writers, both new and experienced, may make. However, by working hard to avoid the five above, you can hope to produce a solid first draft of your novel that you can then continue to work from to create a book to be proud of. So keep writing and good luck!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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Does Writing Have To Be Your Top Priority To Be Successful?

One of the top pieces of writing advice that seems to crop up time and time again is that if you want to be good at writing, if you're going to get that novel finished, and if you desire satisfaction and success then you need to write. It may seem pretty obvious, but often, it can be easy for writers to struggle with the one thing that needs to happen to get anywhere at all.

Now the second piece of advice that goes hand in hand with this is that if we want to make sure we write, we need to make sure that writing is a top priority in our lives.

But is this true? Does it take massive sacrifices of time, money, and our relationships to ensure that we stay on top of our writing game? Is it possible to complete a novel while keeping up other hobbies and social engagements at the same time?

There seems to be a perpetuating myth that writers need to be writers first and foremost, and it seems unfathomable that a writer could possibly have interests, commitments, and dare I say, even other priorities that come before their writing. But writers are many things. They are husbands and wives; they are parents, they are homemakers, chefs, golf and knitting enthusiasts, they like to go out for walks, for dinner, to dance.

Sometimes writers are made to feel guilty if they'd rather have a night on the town or a movie night at home and their writing takes a hit because of it. It's all 'well you can't possibly call yourself a writer,' or you clearly aren't 'committed' enough to your writing or 'passionate' enough about it if you don't spend every waking minute dedicated to your craft. If you'd, I don't know, rather hang out with your kids of an afternoon then lock yourself away in your tiny windowless office for five hours ignoring their chubby little hands banging on the door imploring you to come outside then you're not a real writer at all.

But perhaps there can be a happy medium. It's essential to make time for your writing, of course it is. It's important to write regularly and frequently if you want to make steady progress and stay in the writing 'zone.' However, just because you don't get up at 5 am to do it, or sometimes make choices to do other things it doesn't mean that you aren't a writer or that you don't deserve writing success, should it come your way.

It is not so much about how you decide to prioritize your writing, but how to ensure that you are totally focused and productive when you do decide to write. Also that you are making enough time for it so that you feel comfortable with the pace you are going at so that you are in line with your writing goals, and above all else so that you enjoy writing and all the other things that are going on in your life as well!

If you can do that, if you can make writing as much of a priority as fits in with your busy, lovely, demanding life, then you are far more likely to commit to it, to stick with it and to take pleasure in it. This will be all the more rewarding and satisfying when you do come to an end, not burnt out and sick and with no friends and fractured family relationships, but feeling positive, happy and fulfilled with your proud loved ones by your side.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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How To Use Twitter As An Author

We all know that these days being a writer is about so much more than writing. If we want to connect with readers and promote our work, we need to engage in different platforms to find our audience. Twitter is a social media platform that can be useful for authors to engage with fans, support fellow writers, and promote their work. Here are just some of the things you can use it for.

Follow other authors

Following your fellow authors is bound to be reciprocated and shows that you support them. You'll also get their interesting news and tips coming through on your feed too.

Comment thoughtfully

Find interesting things to read, look at other peoples accounts and like, share and comment on their posts thoughtfully - you can build relationships this way which could help you in the future. Find agents and publishers, those in the industry, book reviewers, and bloggers too!

Recommend books

A love of reading is a prerequisite for any author, make sure that you read lots and share those books that you love on social media.

Talk about your progress

Let your fans and followers know how you are getting on with your latest book. Share your progress, link to snippets, ask for feedback. If you are nearing your launch date, use the platform to promote this, and drum up a sense of excitement and anticipation. Let people know if you have any promotions, book readings or competitions coming up too.

She writing tips

Writers all face different challenges, so why not share your lessons learned and pearls of wisdom through Twitter too?

Try to entertain

Show off your writing skills by being witty, amusing, thought-provoking, and smart on Twitter. You can use those 280 characters to be creative and imaginative, and it will show your followers what you are made of!

Share industry news

Get involved in the writing industry and be another voice that has smart, intelligent things to say that can help writers from all walk of life. You'll look professional, and engaged and people will take you seriously if you do.

Don't just promote yourself

Remember, while Twitter can be an excellent platform to promote yourself and your book, it's not what it should solely be about. People will get bored if you clutter up their feed with self-promotion, so spread out instances of this with retweets, sharing funny and entertaining facts and other pieces of content too.

Be positive!

While it's OK to share your frustrations from time to time, no one likes a negative Nancy! Remember that being positive and uplifting is more likely to engage people, so don't vent unnecessarily or get angry or personal - social media really isn't the place for this.

Getting involved in social media can be daunting, but by following the above tips, you can use it wisely, build your followers, and make it work for you!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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How To Write A Popular Article

If you want to be successful as a freelance writer, you need to understand what elements make an article accessible. Sometimes it takes more than just good writing to make sure that your material meets the needs of your intended reader, and indeed, even reaches them in the first place.

So what can you do to ensure that you write a successful article? Here are some helpful tips:

Have a catchy headline

A catchy headline is so important. It will give your readers insight into what your article is going to be about and is vital in influencing their decision as to whether to click or not click on your content. Do your research and see what headlines other popular articles have used, and identify any patterns to help make sure your headline makes people take notice.

Know your audience

You should always write with an intended reader in mind, and the better you know that reader, the more likely it is that your article will get those all-important clicks. Make sure that you know what they are looking for, and that within your piece you are asking and answering the kinds of questions they will be asking.

Have a human connection

Understanding your reader is one thing, but connecting with them on an emotional level is another. However, research shows that people who are engaged emotionally with a piece of content are more likely to act, and so whether you want them to like your article, sign up to your newsletter or visit your website, if you can get them to engage on a human level, they are much more likely to do so.

Structure your article well and pay attention to SEO

Of course, the writing needs to be good. It also needs to be a well-structured, thoroughly researched, smart, valuable, and entertaining piece of content that is optimized for SEO. By really taking the time to produce a quality article, you will be sure to stand out over the rest of your competition. It’s also a good idea to try and use the active voice as this will ensure that your article speaks directly to the reader and is, therefore, more engaging.

Avoid jargon

Remember, no matter what an expert you fancy yourself on a particular subject, those who come across your article might not have the same level of expertise. Therefore avoid jargon and acronyms, break up more extensive paragraphs, keep sentences short and simple and try to simplify ideas without being condescending.

By using the above tips, you can make sure that your article stands out from the crowd, reaches the people you want to read it and impresses them enough to engage with it when they do. Do you have any tips on how to write a good article? Why not share them with us here?

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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How To Find Writer Friends

While writing can be a solitary challenge at times, building a network of writer friends can be invaluable. Making connections and forming relationships with fellow authors can provide you with vast amounts of support, advice, and camaraderie.

Of course, reaching out to your fellow writes can seem daunting, especially if you are new to the process, or you are feeling less than confident about your work. You might worry about what you can offer in such circles or imagine being scorned or rejected or that you'll be uncovered as the 'imposter' you are.

Making a group of writer friends does take time and effort, but by integrating yourself as part of the writing community, everything from your confidence to your competence can benefit.

So how do you start to reach out?

Join a Facebook group

There are tonnes of great Facebook groups out there that are aimed at connecting writers together and sharing knowledge tips and advice. These groups are generally friendly and welcome writers from all walks of life and at all stages in their writing career. You can also find groups of ones specific to your genre. Each group has it's own 'rules', and usually blatant self-promotion isn't allowed, but you can ask advice, share funny stories, get support and generally connect and communicate with likeminded people.

Do some gentle stalking

The beauty of the internet means there are countless ways to connect with fellow writers. If there is a particular author you would like to meet or know more about, then you can usually find their website or connect with them on social media. By linking and sharing their work and commenting thoughtfully on their posts, you can slowly build a relationship with them, and hopefully, they will start to reciprocate.

Take a writing class

A writing class can help hone and improve your writing skills, will ensure that you write regularly and will allow you to meet writers who are likely to be at the same sort of level and stage as you.

Join a writing group

A writing group, be that virtual or local, could be a great way to help boost your writing confidence, get feedback on your work, and share ideas and inspiration for future projects. Writing groups are usually welcoming, friendly spaces where writers have rules about how to critique one another's work and are mostly hugely supportive and encouraging - though will offer constructive and impartial feedback when asked!

Go to a writing conference

While writing conference can be exhausting as it's a lot of networking with a lot of people, they are a fantastic way to make connections with all sorts of people from the writing world. So if you need some advice on your manuscript, are looking for an agent or publisher or want to learn some top trade secrets, a writing conference would be the place to go!

Go on a writing retreat

A writing retreat may be an expensive way to make writing buddies, but it can help you to form deep connections with your fellow writers, as well as really make some progress on your latest project, all usually in beautiful surroundings with great food, drink, and company!

So if you are feeling a little lonely, or just want to benefit from forming a network of writer friends, try the above and reap the benefits and positives that having writer friends can bring!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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