We all want to “hook” our readers and the fastest way to do that is by evoking an emotional response. But how do we do that? How do we write an “emotional hook” and once we do that, keep evoking an emotional response strong enough to keep the reader engaged for an entire novel?
Come with your ideas and your questions! See you Sunday at 4pm PST, 7pm EST.
~ Robin Lovett
It needs to be capitalized, I think. Our FAVORITE BOOKS are like living breathing things to us. But how do we make OUR books like THOSE book?
All of us have favorite authors and favorite series, but when we read, it’s so easy to get lost in the story, we forget to think, how did she do it? Join us next Sunday when we’ll talk about how to learn from our favorite books to help our writing and how to learn from our favorite authors to help our careers.
See you Sunday 7pm EST, 4pm PST!
~Robin Lovett
The first time I heard about core story, it was at RWA 15 in New York. I got to hear about it from my romance writer hero, Jayne Ann Krentz. (She’s pretty much the author and the person I want to be when I grow up, but we can fangirl about it another time, because Robin and Alexis will probably shank me if I don’t put a blog up soon.)
Jayne Krentz is my hero. She can be your hero too, if you want. I’m willing to share.
If you follow Jayne at all, you know she has a boatload of pen names. Seven in total, although three are currently active. I found her through Amanda Quick, firmly solidifying my love of historical romance. She pioneered the futuristic/paranormal genre as Jayne Castle, and she freaking kills it under her own name writing contemporary suspense.
Hearing about core story from Jayne Ann Krentz was amazing because…homegirl knows. When you write that many genres under that many names, you find out who you are as a writer. You find out what the heart of the story you’re trying to tell is. I can’t remember what she said her core story was—she said it, I just can’t remember—and I’m not willing to tell you what I think it is. But I know what mine is, so I’ll tell you about that.
“Telling the story only you can tell” ~Kimberly Bell
We all have themes. Things that replay in your writing from story to story, almost subconsciously. Threads that carry through no matter the changes in subgenre or setting – whether you know it or not. On our next chat, we’ll talk about what a core story is and how to identify yours. Because the better we know our own story, the better we can make it shine.
See you Sunday at 7pm EST!
~Robin Lovett
Remember the first one? Not the first one you published or edited, but the very first one. Or maybe you’re working on it right now!
What got you started? We all start writing for lots of different reasons, but what got you going from the beginning? How much have you learned since then? How is it different from what you’re writing now? And if you’re still writing your first… how’s it going?
Come share your stories or come with questions! Sunday at 7:00pm EST.
~Robin Lovett
Next week on RWchat we’ll discuss how to infuse ambiance and atmosphere into our writing – especially in love scenes. We’ll talk about tone, language, and pacing, and how to write love scenes that capture mood and still advance the story.
Join us on Sunday at 7pmEST/4pmPST on the #RWchat hashtag.
And make sure to join our newsletter to receive a reminder email straight to your inbox!
If you’ve spent time researching how to craft a compelling query, you may have noticed most of the good examples end on a cliff-hanger to generate hook. Will he overcome his past? Will she finally learn to trust? Unfortunately, we already know they will. That is the nature of the Happily Ever After. This #RWChat focused on how best to catch the interest of agents and editors when everyone already knows how it’s going to end.
 |
Kim Lionetti@BookEndsKimAfter starting her career at Berkley Publishing, Kim Lionetti left her position as Senior Editor to join BookEnds in March 2004. As an agent, she still enjoys using her editorial skills to help authors shape their work into more marketable products and guiding them to see their writing as part of the “bigger picture. Kim’s obsession with books began in middle school when she was introduced to her grandmother’s collection of gothic romances by Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Mary Stewart. To this day, Kim harbors a soft spot for dark, tortured heroes, but also enjoys a good romantic comedy. A member of AAR, Kim is looking for fresh voices and compelling storytelling. Her areas of interest are historical and contemporary romance, women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, and contemporary new adult fiction and young adult fiction (except fantasy or sci-fi). Originally from Pennsylvania, Kim currently resides in New Jersey with her son, daughter, cat, two guinea pigs, and very patient husband, who puts up with her crushes on Mr. Darcy, Eric Northman, blind dukes, and Ryan Gosling. You can contact her directly at KLsubmissions@bookends-inc.com and see her in person at the 2015 RWA National Conference in New York or the 2015 Malice Domestic Convention in Bethesda. |
 |
Ava Jae@Ava_JaeAva Jae is a YA and NA writer, an Assistant Editor at Entangled Publishing, and is represented by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. Her YA Sci-Fi debut, BEYOND THE RED, is releasing Spring 2016 from Sky Pony Press. When she’s not writing about kissing, superpowers, explosions, and aliens, you can find her with her nose buried in a book, nerding out over the latest X-Men news, or hanging out on her blog, twitter, Facebook, tumblr, Goodreads, Instagram, or YouTube channel. |
Romance Writers Chat 