Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 12
September 24, 2012
Critique Groups
At Amazon
My guest this week is Chris Redding, author of Incendiary,
an exciting new romantic mystery from Imajin Books.
What can I say about critique partners. I had one
set, when I first began writing, who were terrible. They kept rewriting my
stuff in their style. They also gave me the advice that I should start writing
category romance.
NOT.
I don’t write category. There is NOTHING
My guest this week is Chris Redding, author of Incendiary,
an exciting new romantic mystery from Imajin Books.
What can I say about critique partners. I had one
set, when I first began writing, who were terrible. They kept rewriting my
stuff in their style. They also gave me the advice that I should start writing
category romance.
NOT.
I don’t write category. There is NOTHING
September 21, 2012
Dare to Believe - excerpt
At Amazon and other sites
GIVEAWAY!
L.A. Sartor is giving away a copy of her romantic suspense novel, Dare to Believe. Anyone who comments
between now and Sunday, September 23, by 8 p.m. Eastern time will be entered to
win an eBook or, in the United
States, a print book.
Here's an excerpt.
Last night, after she'd been fingerprinted, Cate had either paced the
small holding cell or
GIVEAWAY!
L.A. Sartor is giving away a copy of her romantic suspense novel, Dare to Believe. Anyone who comments
between now and Sunday, September 23, by 8 p.m. Eastern time will be entered to
win an eBook or, in the United
States, a print book.
Here's an excerpt.
Last night, after she'd been fingerprinted, Cate had either paced the
small holding cell or
September 17, 2012
What do you do when your English teacher tells you "you'll never be a writer?"
Print or eBook, all formats
L.A. Sartor, author of the new romantic suspense novel Dare to Believe, is my guest. “Ms. Sartor splashes action and suspense across a backdrop of rugged
mountains and tropical paradise in a panicked search for a little girl
kidnapped for reasons deeper than anyone suspects.” (Giveaway details below.)
I stopped writing. Immediately, according to my parents.
L.A. Sartor, author of the new romantic suspense novel Dare to Believe, is my guest. “Ms. Sartor splashes action and suspense across a backdrop of rugged
mountains and tropical paradise in a panicked search for a little girl
kidnapped for reasons deeper than anyone suspects.” (Giveaway details below.)
I stopped writing. Immediately, according to my parents.
September 15, 2012
Eye of the Beholder
Narrative, like
beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Unless you use your author voice as a
narrator in your story, the narrative should be written in the voice and
through the eyes of the viewpoint character.
If Tom is a mariner
who’s lived most of his life at sea, he’s unlikely to visit a small town in Kentucky and identify
the plants in Sally’s garden.
He pushed open the low wooden gate
beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Unless you use your author voice as a
narrator in your story, the narrative should be written in the voice and
through the eyes of the viewpoint character.
If Tom is a mariner
who’s lived most of his life at sea, he’s unlikely to visit a small town in Kentucky and identify
the plants in Sally’s garden.
He pushed open the low wooden gate
September 10, 2012
4 Excerpts, 2 Authors, 4-Book Giveaway!
At Amazon
We’re giving away four Kindle eBooks this week. Each author will draw two names from all the commenters, so you could win two books. Comments must be in by 8 p.m. Eastern Time Friday, September 14. Winners will be announced here on Saturday before noon, September 15. Check out these brief excerpts.
SO WHISPERS THE HEART by Rebecca George. Historical romance, Napoleonic era, 1803
…
We’re giving away four Kindle eBooks this week. Each author will draw two names from all the commenters, so you could win two books. Comments must be in by 8 p.m. Eastern Time Friday, September 14. Winners will be announced here on Saturday before noon, September 15. Check out these brief excerpts.
SO WHISPERS THE HEART by Rebecca George. Historical romance, Napoleonic era, 1803
…
September 7, 2012
FIRST FRIDAY--Anderson, Bishop, Dougherty!
It’s FIRST FRIDAY! One photo, three terrific authors with very different styles. This is how they saw it, in 150 words or less. ANDERSONOh, my. I sent Beth Anderson the Dreamstime comp instead of the purchased one, and she wrote about it.This is the picture that goes with hers.
He'd been having the dream for at least six months. Targets everywhere, shimmering in the hot air. All he could
He'd been having the dream for at least six months. Targets everywhere, shimmering in the hot air. All he could
September 4, 2012
The Rhythm Method
Marjoe Gortner
I first learned about rhythm from Marjoe Gortner, child evangelist, actor, and son of evangelists, when I saw him on a late-night talk show. He explained the four beats to working up a crowd, the one his parents used at revivals and taught him to use. It was very simple and seemed too obvious, but then he demonstrated. In a very short time he had the audience rocking with him.
I first learned about rhythm from Marjoe Gortner, child evangelist, actor, and son of evangelists, when I saw him on a late-night talk show. He explained the four beats to working up a crowd, the one his parents used at revivals and taught him to use. It was very simple and seemed too obvious, but then he demonstrated. In a very short time he had the audience rocking with him.
August 31, 2012
A Difference in Perception
Kindle or Print
Sometimes, even when you’re telling a story, it makes a difference whether you show or tell. The words the audience or reader receives have quite a different effect. When the reader is told, she doesn’t form a picture or experience an emotion. She accepts the idea and moves on to the next idea. Here’s an example, rephrased from the real book as telling. Abby heard footsteps but
Sometimes, even when you’re telling a story, it makes a difference whether you show or tell. The words the audience or reader receives have quite a different effect. When the reader is told, she doesn’t form a picture or experience an emotion. She accepts the idea and moves on to the next idea. Here’s an example, rephrased from the real book as telling. Abby heard footsteps but
August 27, 2012
History Whispers to Her
At Amazon
Historical romance author Rebecca George is my guest. She's celebrating the release of her new novel, So Whispers the Heart.Last week I finally published my historical romance, So Whispers the Heart, on Amazon Kindle. It’s a loosely connected prequel to my last book, Call Home the Heart, which was published by NAL in 1989. It was my first new book in 23 years and as I began this
Historical romance author Rebecca George is my guest. She's celebrating the release of her new novel, So Whispers the Heart.Last week I finally published my historical romance, So Whispers the Heart, on Amazon Kindle. It’s a loosely connected prequel to my last book, Call Home the Heart, which was published by NAL in 1989. It was my first new book in 23 years and as I began this
August 25, 2012
Dialogue and Paragraphs
Do you ever have trouble figuring out who said what? I do, and it stops me. I have to go back and figure out the speaker. One of the reasons for the confusion is the way paragraphs are laid out. If one person's actions are lumped in a paragraph with dialogue, it looks as if they go together.Each time the speaker changes, begin a new paragraph. If the dialogue doesn’t make it clear who’s speaking,
