Fiona Harper's Blog, page 5
September 27, 2011
Mills & Boon Secrets Uncovered!
If you're and apsiring romance author, or are polishing your entry up for the current New Voices competition, you might like to know about a free ebook that the Mills & Boon editors have produced to help you write your romance: Mills & Boon Secrets Uncovered .
Tons of fab advice, from the horses' mouths, so to speak (sorry, ladies!) and maybe even a tip or two from your favourite authors. Maybe even a little bit on how not to overdo the emotion from yours truly!
September 26, 2011
RWA workshop 1: Creating 3D characters
Creating Three-Dimensional Characters
This workshop was given by NYT bestselling author Cherry Adair and was an absolute hoot, as well as being thought-provoking and educational. I had to stop and scribble things down while I was listening, which was a bit tricky, because I was on a train. I also embarrassed myself in front of the other passengers on the 10:35 to London Victoria by laughing out loud a couple of times.
I've never read one of Cherry's books, but after hearing her speak I am o...
This workshop was given by NYT bestselling author Cherry Adair and was an absolute hoot, as well as being thought-provoking and educational. I had to stop and scribble things down while I was listening, which was a bit tricky, because I was on a train. I also embarrassed myself in front of the other passengers on the 10:35 to London Victoria by laughing out loud a couple of times.
I've never read one of Cherry's books, but after hearing her speak I am o...
September 25, 2011
RWA workshops
My DVD of the audio sessions from the RWA conference in New York have arrived! I'm very excited, as I only got to attend a couple of sessions, and there were so many interesting-sounding workshops on the schedule. I've ordered the conference audio sessions after each time I've been to an RWA conference, and I download them all onto my iPod and listen to them when I'm walking or in the gym or driving the car. And I try and listen to them in order, even sessions that don't necessarily grab ...
September 23, 2011
Festival of Romance
I'm blogging about the Festival of Romance too - but not here! I'm over at Fenella Miller's blog, talking about why I'm excited about the first ever event of this kind in the UK!
Love reading or writing romance? Think about heading on down!
Love reading or writing romance? Think about heading on down!
September 22, 2011
Guest blog - Festival of Romance
Today I have a visitor on my blog! Please welcome Jean Fullerton, award-winning author of page-turning romantic fiction, who is talking about the upcoming Festival of Romance. If you love writing or reading romance this is the place to be this autumn.
Celebrate Romantic Fiction!
Festiv
al of Romance takes place on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd October 2011 at Hunton Park, near Watford, Herts, UK. The programme is based around romantic fiction giving readers the chance to meet favourite and new ...
September 21, 2011
Brixton Library Workshop pics
I know I've been posting my New Voices workshop notes, but I haven't said much about the workshop itself. I had a fabulous time. The librarian was warm and welcoming, and everyone who came was bursting with questions and enthusiasm. I could have wittered on all night - but, fortunately, somebody stopped me.
Aside from being a great opportunity to mention New Voices, it was also good to support a local(ish) library. Many libraries are facing funding cuts or closure, and having events like t...
September 20, 2011
New Voices Workshop - part six
Just a quick post to talk about the Happy Ever After...
A romance is a story with a happy ending. Your hero and heroine had lessons to learn, remember? They wouldn't have been ready or emotionally capable of making this relationship work at the start of the story. However, the events of the plot have changed them and now they are ready to embark on a fulfilling, loving relationship.
In other words, your You hero and heroine have to earn their happy ending. Their prize? The thing they've al...
A romance is a story with a happy ending. Your hero and heroine had lessons to learn, remember? They wouldn't have been ready or emotionally capable of making this relationship work at the start of the story. However, the events of the plot have changed them and now they are ready to embark on a fulfilling, loving relationship.
In other words, your You hero and heroine have to earn their happy ending. Their prize? The thing they've al...
September 19, 2011
New Voices Workshop - part five
The Black Moment
OUTER STORY: should have escalating conflict – bigger obstacles, more vicious baddies – until there is a final showdown
INNER STORY: there should also be escalating conflict with a final test.
Often, before the climax of the story (when the hero and heroine finally get together) the conflict will escalate until things reach breaking point. Different craft writers call it different things : crisis, major setback, the black moment. Whatever name you prefer, this is where your ch...
OUTER STORY: should have escalating conflict – bigger obstacles, more vicious baddies – until there is a final showdown
INNER STORY: there should also be escalating conflict with a final test.
Often, before the climax of the story (when the hero and heroine finally get together) the conflict will escalate until things reach breaking point. Different craft writers call it different things : crisis, major setback, the black moment. Whatever name you prefer, this is where your ch...
September 18, 2011
New Voices Workshop - part four
Okay, so far we've looked at the individual characters, but how do you get the sparks to fly when you put hero and heroine together?
The Romantic Conflict
In a romance we have two protagonists – a hero and a heroine – but often no villain. So where is the conflict going to come from? Each other, of course! Neither of them is evil or bad; it's just that their differing goals are going to put them in conflict with each other.
However, this is a delicate balancing act:
On one hand they have to ...
The Romantic Conflict
In a romance we have two protagonists – a hero and a heroine – but often no villain. So where is the conflict going to come from? Each other, of course! Neither of them is evil or bad; it's just that their differing goals are going to put them in conflict with each other.
However, this is a delicate balancing act:
On one hand they have to ...
September 17, 2011
New Voices Workshop - part three
Continuing from yestedays's post, where we talked about internal conflict...
Asking a few questions can help identify your character's internal conflict:
1. What is your character's greatest fear?
This will often be the flipside of their goal and will be closely related to that pain in their past. (See yesterday's post for more on this).
Allegra fear's being trapped for the rest of her life, of never feeling free.
2. What coping mechanisms has your character developed?
There are otfen two aspects ...
Asking a few questions can help identify your character's internal conflict:
1. What is your character's greatest fear?
This will often be the flipside of their goal and will be closely related to that pain in their past. (See yesterday's post for more on this).
Allegra fear's being trapped for the rest of her life, of never feeling free.
2. What coping mechanisms has your character developed?
There are otfen two aspects ...
