The growth and development of a hero or heroine through a novel is as important as the plot itself. There are as many journeys or character arcs as there are people in this world. But there are lots of tropes and patterns that we can build our characters on. What are your favorite character arcs? Which ones have you used and which ones are you looking to explore?
Join us, Sunday 4pm PST / 7pm EST!
~Robin Lovett
Graphic by Alexis Daria
Originally published on DIYMFA.com
When shit goes down in our lives, how do we keep writing? At best, we lose our ability to focus on our work. Sometimes it makes us question our work—question whether what we have to say will be relevant. Or at worst, become afraid to write what we write.
There’s no more tragic fear for an author than being afraid to give voice to her story because she fears persecution for it. And that’s what one of my friends said to me recently. She was terrified that her work would be misinterpreted or even ridiculed.
We all have ideas about what we want to write but having the courage to write it is often not so easy. We worry what others will think, if anyone will read it, if agents and editors will want to buy it. But writing afraid is no way to write at all. So how can we write with fearlessness? How can we get in touch with the courage to write amidst the pressure to do it well?
Join us Sunday 4pm PST / 7pm EST!
~Robin Lovett
Graphic by Alexis Daria
The title, the name we give a book, is perhaps its number one marketing tool. Getting it just right makes or breaks a book. But finding the right title can be an exhausting process of lists and options and polling and hair pulling and… Ah!
Making sure the title captures the subgenre, heat level, time period, and tropes, all while being witty and original – the factors to consider are endless.
Come share your ideas and learn how others pick their titles on our next #rwchat. Sunday 4pm PST/ 7pm EST.
~Robin Lovett
Graphic by Alexis Daria
It’s a brand new year! Let’s welcome 2017 by setting some goals for our writing, and let’s see how S.M.A.R.T. we can make them. Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely goals can help keep us accountable to our goals.
Come join us and discuss our goals for the year together. See you at 7pm EST / 4pm PST.
~Robin Lovett
Graphic by Alexis Daria
It’s been a year, 2016. And it’s almost over.
It’s the time of year to reflect back on how it’s been. Trying to be as objective as possible – with as little judgement as we can manage – what did we achieve and how did we achieve it? What brave endeavors did try that went well? What ones did we try that did not go well? And which opportunities passed us by that we wish we’d taken and run with?
Join us to chat about it, Sunday 4pm PST/ 7pm EST!
~Robin Lovett
Image by Alexis Daria.
Our guest post today on Finding Your Ideal Reader is from the always fabulous LaQuette.
Finding your readership is essential to every author’s career. It doesn’t matter how talented or skilled a writer is, if there’s no one to read it, both the author and the work will fall off into obscurity.
How does an author find their audience? Simple, by being true to one’s own voice. Think of your readers as friends you share very specific interests with. When you hang out with friends to go paintballing, or running, or quilting, it’s because that person(s) thinks you’re interesting enough to spend time with, and you share a common pursuit or perspective.
Image by Alexis Daria
Finding out who is the ideal person to read your books is key to selling them. Where your ideal reader hangs out on social media and learning the best ways to attract and engage them is complicated and endless.
Join us to learn what things others have tried – the successes and failures alike – next Sunday Dec. 11th 7pm EST / 4pm PST!
~Robin Lovett
We have a treat of a guest post this week from R.L. Syme (writing as Becca Boyd). It’s a preview of her series of articles on Self-Awareness coming in RWA’s Romance Writer Report beginning in this month’s December issue.
Everyone wants to write faster and better. Right?
Most people think there’s one way to write faster or better. Somebody’s had success doing “faster” by sprinting, so that’s the way to do it. Somebody else has gone “faster” by outlining ahead, so that’s the way to do it.
Who’s right? Continue reading
Image by Alexis Daria
A good love story isn’t a great one without a powerful obstacle in the way. We love writing about our heroes and heroines falling in love, but as important is a formidable villain or antagonist – someone who gets in their way. It makes our characters fight harder for their love and adds invaluable conflict to the story. But writing those bad guys and gals isn’t always easy for us romance writers.
Come chat with us about how you write your antagonists and learn how others do it too. See you Sunday 4pm PST / 7pm EST!
~Robin Lovett
Romance Writers Chat 