Liz Flaherty's Blog, page 183

The Plot Organic

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately, the organic plot. How do we keep the plot organic to the character?

Have you ever read a book and there's a twist thrown in just for the shock factor and it doesn't feel right? Or you discover something about a character that is only revealed because of the plot--and it feels like the writer put it in just to justify an action?

I've quit reading books when this happens. I was a huge Alex Cross fan in the beginning. And then James Patterson turned F...

Every Writer Needs A Song

Okay, this may not, technically, be a lesson...more like a lesson I've taken to heart over the past couple of years. You know, since bebe got to be Demanding Age. I bought a couple of sing-a-long videos for her from the different Disney "Princess" movies. So every few days I get transported back to my own childhood with "Someday My Prince Will Come" or the "Wishing" song from Snow White. You know what I've learned? All of these songs are usable inspiration in my writing life.

Take "Lesson Numb...

Candi Wall and Mustracks Agent/Editor Pitches

As if the question ‘Wanna pitch to an agent or editor’ isn’t enough.

Hello! A huge thanks to all my wonderful hosts as I run all over cyberspace talking about Agent/Editor Shop at the Musetracks blog.
In this crazy world of easy access to information, it’s also easy to miss huge opportunities, or forget! Because I get so many comments that writers either forgot, or didn’t know Musetracks did pitch sessions, I asked a bunch of fellow writers, bloggers and readers to help me spread the word.
For...

Elmore Leonard and the romance novelist.

The Wranglers are happy to welcome my fellow Hoosier, Linda Morris, to the corral today. I've read and very much enjoyed By Hook or By Crook, so am especially happy she's here.
Thanks for having me at Word Wranglers. My latest release, By Hook or By Crook, is a bit of a different take on a road romance, in that gangsters are involved. I have a bit of a weakness for crime capers, and that probably influenced this story. In the book, a spoiled heiress, Ivy, teams up with her father's security co...

Tear Jerker Chick Flicks

In the mood to watch a tear jerker? Nothing does it better than an old fashioned movie. Here are two of my favorite tear-jerker movies. And let me warn you, there is no happily ever after at the end, but they were damned good movies. Oh, and I may be showing my age here.

1. Madam X- This movie was made in 1966. Lana Turner played the role of a woman from the wrong side of the tracks who marries into a wealthy family. (John Forsythe plays her husband) Since his job has him o...

Introducing Braxton Cole

Today I'm thrilled to host my very good friend, Braxton Cole. Her new book, Blown, is now available on Amazon.

Brax--love those "X" names--take it away.

***

<!--[if gte mso 9]></span>

Something About a Series

The painting to the left has always been one of my favorites. It's by Camille Pissarro, one of my favorite artists, and I think what draws me in is that it could be me - in a different outfit and with different hair, of course. But that could be me, curled up on a sofa, reading a book.

Lately, I've been obsessed by series, maybe because I've been writing one. But there is something about reading a familiar-but-different book that is just...very satisfying to me.

Series have always been a favori...

Horse auctions and pitch sessions.

Have you ever been to an auction? As a kid, I accompanied my dad to many horse auctions. They're a little bit like a fair. Sellers showing off their animals, buyers with stone faces. Excitement mixed with the smell of greasy hamburgers hangs in the air.

Dad used to go from pen to pen, marking on a little piece of paper which horses he wanted.

Then the actual bidding. We'd get seats mid way up, not too close so we could see movement. And not too far away so we could catch any flaws. The auctione...

Mom always liked you better.

          Although we grew up in the same house with six years separating us, my brother and I are polar opposites. If he were to observe that it’s raining, I would say, Yes, but it’s going to stop any minute. If I said I had a headache, he would say, Yes, but I have a migraine. I am the youngest child, he is in the middle of the five of us, but when I looked up personality according to birth order, the descriptions didn’t have much to do with us. Although we care...

You Make It Happen

 Remember this movie--Working Girl? 

You know what I loved the most about this movie? How Tess McGill decided it was time to take her life into her own hands and "make it happen."

Specifically, "You make it happen." In the last couple of weeks, I've been frustrated by a lot of stuff going on in my life. Like my real-life job--you know, the one that pays the bills and provides family with insurance? Yeah. That's the one.

Now, I'm not going to mention where I work, but it's a retail orga...