Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 11

Happy Thanksgiving

The members of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood would like to wish all our readers a happy Thanksgiving.

We’ll be taking this week off to celebrate the holidays with our friends and family. And while we’re away, we’ll also be making some upgrades to our blog site. We’ll be back with a new post on Monday December 2.

In the meantime, we hope you all count your blessings, and have a second helping of pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin Pie Slice

FLASH FICTION FUN!

Welcome back, inkslingers! Today we are giving away a 3-page (or 1-page query) critique from 3-time RITA finalist and Golden Heart winner Vivi Andrews/Lizzie Shane, so grab a cup and get those fingers ready! For today’s Flash Fiction Friday challenge, write a story in 100 WORDS OR LESS with this image as your inspiration, because is there anything more beautiful? So, what do you see? Smell? Taste? Is this really steam from the coffee or is it something else? Let us know in the comments! ...

Wordsmith Wednesdays: Elevator pitches, part 2

It’s our second episode of elevator pitches. To recap the first post:

We’ll focus on pitches for selling a manuscript to publishing professionals. Pitches should be limited to 25 words. The pitch should include most of the following: main character(s), inciting incident, conflict, actions toward a goal, and stakes.

Thank you to everyone who shared pitches last month for us to critique and understand. Today, I want to include some less...

Ruby Tips & Tricks – Changing POV

Tip of the Day: If a scene is not working, try re-writing it in the other character’s point of view.

Point of View (POV) is something every writer must think about when writing a scene. “Point of view is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation. In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story, poem, or essay.” (https://literarydevices.net/point-of-view/) Basically – Whose head...

FLASH FICTION AND COFFEE RINGS

IT’S FLASH FICTION FRIDAY! Welcome back, flash-fictioners!

Today, we are giving away a critique (either the first 3 pages of your WIP or your query letter) from the loverly and crazy talented Kim Law!!! So get that caffeine in you and write us a story! For this story, your opening line will begin with…

That’s it! Write your story in 100 words (yes, I’m being very generous!) or under and post it in the comments for your chance to win! GOOD LUCK! 

Beginning a blurb

I’ve been told by people a generation younger than me that the old three paragraph style for advertising or back cover blurbs went out with the typewriter. Maybe they’re right, or maybe not. But let’s explore it. And I’m all about exploration.

The whole idea, they say, is for each line to draw the reader to the next. Don’t worry about chronological order or giving a synopsis or revealing what the story is about. We’ll get to the body of the blurb next month.

This month, we’re going to try an opening three line...

It All Starts Here (Marketing)

Its so revealing, so exciting, I have no choice but click and learn more. Getting a reader to pull your book from the shelf or to click though to your book’s page is the prime purpose of your cover. Today I’ve asked three cover designers to give us insight on marketing, specifically covers. They also tore apart a few mock covers I made up and boy did they do an awesome job, offering wonderful insight as to what makes up a great cover, so read on. When I asked Judi Fennell whether a marketing plan was neces...

Flash Fiction Friday!

It’s FRIDAY, y’all!

Hi, all! *waves madly* I’m joining Darynda in hosting Flash Fiction Fridays. But I’m going to do things a little differently. Yeah, I march to the beat of a slightly out of tune drum. Once a month, I’ll give you a writing prompt, dialogue prompt, or idea prompt. I’ll even give you multiple directions you might go with the prompt. Your word counts can be as little as a line or two up to 300 words. No pressure! This is supposed to be a fun way to get those creative juices...

WE STILL DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ RULES BUT…

 

 

 

 

In my continuing search for the magic formula for writing the perfect first line, here is another “guideline” that makes a great deal of sense. Vivid, as I discussed in my last post is good. It is eye catching. It makes the reader stop and look. However, once you get them to stop and look you want them to step into your story. Think of the vivid aspect as the look across the crowded room.

 

                                                                                  Hey, Baby.

 

Now that you...

Ruby Tuesday – Heather McCollum!

Hi, everyone! I got the pleasure this month of interview Heather McCollum for our Ruby Tuesday feature! I’ve known Heather for a while, of course (since we both became Rubies in 2009 ), so I’m excited to highlight her and her latest book, THE HIGHLAND OUTLAW! Take it away, Heather . . .

I am Heather McCollum, writer of 16th and 17th brawny Highlander romance full of adventure and intrigue, sprinkled with humor, history, and spice. THE HIGHLAND OUTLAW is my 21st book, and it released on October 21st! I love coincidences!

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