Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 32

The Value of Another Pair of Eyes

So you finished your first draft… WHEEEEEEEE!!!  Pop the champagne!  Read that book you’ve been saving!  Dive into your stash of Dove chocolate!  Celebrate that moment!  Make sure you are reminding yourself how huge that accomplishment is and how amazing you are – don’t forget to revel in the moment! 

But then, the next day or the next week, it’s time to face the inevitable… oh yeah, then comes the next step.  Revisions.

Now, as you may have heard me say about a thousand times on this blog, r...

Voice

Let’s talk about voice.  No, not the TV show. The ‘voice’ that comes through in your story. Your book. And I don’t mean reading it out loud. I mean what YOU bring to the story.

Ever ask anyone to define voice? Most times I’ve gotten something along the lines of, I can’t tell you what it is exactly but I know it when I see/read it. Or, have you tried to explain voice to a newbie author? Yeah.

Okay, so here’s my take on voice.   

There are layers of voice in a book.

First is the author’s voice....

Getting Back on the Writing Horse or A true account of a writer/non-writer/writer

Do you remember the first time you sat down with your hands poised over the keyboard ready to write the Great American Novel? The characters were talking to you, the plot was strong, and the words flowed. A wide range of emotions came from both you and your characters. In order to get those words on the paper, you sacrificed time. You slept less. You watched less television. You wrote on the weekends. AND…all was right with the world. The reason: You LOVED writing. It was your passion.

Then,...

It takes a family…

Most of my blog posts have writers as their target audience. Not this post.  Today I’m addressing our families.

Living with a writer can be a tough job.  We’re odd creatures.  We do things that would get other people locked up—like hearing voices.  Sobbing randomly.  Plotting murder.

You, our loved ones, worry about us.  You wonder sometimes if you should stage an intervention. You have questions.  Lot of questions.  If you are wise, you have not asked them.

So–to family and friends–I invite...

Consolation Day (Phone Didn’t Ring Wednesday? We’ve Got Chocolate..and some helpful advice!!!)

 **because the blog was down so long Friday morning, I’m extending the chance to comment through the weekend, and will choose remaining prize winners Sunday evening. Keep commenting!** Well, #*$@$!!!!! And waaaaaaaah!!!!! And also NO DANGED FREAKIN’ FAIR!!!!!!!!!! You had such a FABULOUS book entered for the Golden Heart or the RITA this year…you sweated bullets over it, your beta readers adored it…it was a slam-dunk, no-question-about-it, RWA-nomination-worthy MASTERPIECE!!! So you sat by...

Welcome 2018 Golden Heart and RITA Finalists!!

CONGRATULATIONS, 2018 FINALISTS!!! We know you must still be floating in the clouds!!! And you deserve every moment of happiness! RWA judges are tough, and nobody gets where you are without having written a FABULOUS book!! (See the full slate of 2018 nominees here). We have a tradition here at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood of asking  finalists to share their stories about getting that life-changing, thrilling call. So SPILL THE DETAILS in the comments below, and we’ll set off a whole new roun...

It’s Golden Heart / RITA Announcement Day!! And We’re Throwing a Cyber-Party!!

LET THE ANNOUNCEMENTS BEGIN… Those amazing Golden Heart and RITA nomination phone calls are going out today, and thousands of hopeful romance authors are trembling with anticipation as they wait to see if their phone will ring!! We’re here to cheer, commiserate, celebrate, hold hands with other nervous hopefuls, give you good company to gnaw your fingernails with, or whatever it is you’re needing today. (Chocolate, maybe? Who cares if it’s the crack of dawn? Tear open that bag of M&Ms, baby!!...

10 Ways to Kill Time Until the Call

Warning: The following post is a bit tongue-in-cheek. It’s a Ruby Reprise from a few years ago (with some minor updates), but the tips are still valid…especially the chocolate one.

Art & Business – You Can Blend Both

I’ve had some great conversations recently with several different people in my life (writer friends, non-writer friends, extended family) and inevitably conversation swings through a variety of topics. Amazingly, if you dig under the discussion, what we’re really bubbles up is the effort it takes to combine art with business.

Tell me if this resonates…

I’d rather write all day. This marketing stuff is so hard and so time consuming. Is it even working?

My day job is sucking the life out of me....

St. Patrick’s Day Fun – Make a Little Magic

Tomorrow is a day of magic! Leprechaun magic!

Although St. Patrick’s Day is anchored in Ireland, many people off the green isle celebrate the magic of this fun day. Even though I have reddish hair and some freckles, and my dad looks like a Leprechaun, I’m not Irish. But ever since I was a wee little lassie, I’ve been very fortunate to have the Leprechaun come to my house every St. Patrick’s Day.

 

Some years he would turn the milk in the carton green, or leave green pancake batter ready for...