Gabi Stevens's Blog, page 26

A Season for Gratitude

When I next pick up the "How to Write a Romance Novel" thread, I'll speak about research, but it's that time of year that requires introspection and resolution. Except I don't make resolutions. I love new beginnings and making plans, but the contrary in me refuses to do so at this time of year. I'd rather look back on some dates. Like February, when I acquired a new agent, or April, when I sold my series. Those dates mean more to me. And I have dates to look forward to. I have to finish the t...

Agent appreciation day

A fellow writer told me about this day, and I thought it was fantastic. OK, Jen K Blom is also a client of my agent, but, nevertheless, I am ready to gush.

Marlene Stringer is wonderful. She is never too busy for her clients. She answers my questions and responds to my e-mails promptly and with great wisdom. I can bounce ideas off her, get as much or little support from her as I wish, and I trust her. Trust her to tell me if my work isn't good, and trust her to tell me if it is.
I went through...

How to Write a Romance Novel--Style

What to say about style…hmmm.
Style has everything to do with writing ability, grammar skills, mechanics, and voice. This is the part where you groan and say, "Grammar? Isn't that what I have a copy editor for?"

Uh, no.

Style requires work, study, and instinct. Style is the part of writing that is the hardest to define. If' you've ever judged a contest, you've probably run across entries that are perfect but missing that spark that makes you settle into the story with pleasure. Or you've seen en...

How to Write a Romance Novel--Theme

Theme is my favorite aspect of a novel to think about. I honestly believe that all novels have themes. They might be simple ideas, but themes nonetheless. No matter how "fluffy" or shallow a book may seem, it will have a theme. So what is a theme? It's the underlying message, the moral if you will, of the story. It's the reason the author wrote the book, even if she didn't know she was doing it.

All the events, plot, characters, conflict, POV, etc., feed into the theme. Look at what the author...

I Have a Cover!!!

It's here. I have a cover for THE WISH LIST (Tor books, May 2010). I'm so excited.
--Gabi

Inspiration

Wow. All I can say is wow.

May we all experience somehing like this someday.




--Gabi
Books I'm reading now:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows