Search found 10 matches

by robena grant
January 18th, 2010, 12:18 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: American dialogue
Replies: 31
Views: 13210

Re: American dialogue

Yes, this can be tricky. I'm an Aussie but have lived in the U.S. for thirty plus years. My American critique partners were always circling phrases that would pop into my work when I was typing "in the moment" and not thinking American English. I'd say things like, "She didn't quite u...
by robena grant
January 17th, 2010, 11:47 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: What are you writing now?
Replies: 69
Views: 26552

Re: What are you writing now?

I'm writing romantic mystery, I think. Not a cozy. Some people have said they could pass as romantic suspense, just not dark and angsty RS. My heart still says mystery because there are clues to be discovered, but the hero and heroine do end up working together and falling in love. Ahhhh! Who knows ...
by robena grant
January 17th, 2010, 11:35 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: how many projects do you work on at a time?
Replies: 14
Views: 5971

Re: how many projects do you work on at a time?

It's amazing how when you get to the hard part of your novel (usually for most of us it's the horrible sagging middle) something new and shiny takes our attention. It whispers in our ear, "Write me. I'll be good. I'll be easy. You'll have me on the page in no time." DON'T LISTEN. It's a tr...
by robena grant
January 15th, 2010, 4:19 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Merging narrative types and a question on prologues.
Replies: 8
Views: 3623

Re: Merging narrative types and a question on prologues.

I've always been told to avoid prologues and epilogues because the story starts with an inciting incident and when the issues around that incident are resolved, the story is over. A prologue is past history, there's no action there and it's like you're setting up the story. I'd find a way to drop th...
by robena grant
January 6th, 2010, 2:39 am
Forum: Books
Topic: Recommendations: How to Books on Fiction Writing
Replies: 24
Views: 11935

Re: Recommendations: How to Books on Fiction Writing

I agree with the books already mentioned. Two recent titles I've read recently and enjoyed for different reasons, are The Courage to Write, by Ralph Keyes, and The Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp.
by robena grant
January 2nd, 2010, 12:26 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: How many of you belong to non-web critique groups?
Replies: 16
Views: 7579

Re: How many of you belong to non-web critique groups?

I'm a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) and they have local chapters in most states. It's easy to find a crit partner or two. I hooked up with five authors some years ago. I like the face-to-face meetings but they are hard when your ms. is being torn to shreds and you aren't allowed to comm...
by robena grant
January 2nd, 2010, 12:03 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: A shallow book - what to do?
Replies: 14
Views: 6836

Re: A shallow book - what to do?

I'm sure it isn't shallow. : 0 After putting the ms. aside for a bit take another look at the internal motivation for your characters. It seems to me that it's easier to write the external motivation, but to dig really deep and put those emotional bits into the prose that let the reader know and und...
by robena grant
December 30th, 2009, 3:08 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: What are you reading now?
Replies: 528
Views: 307848

Re: What are you reading now?

I'm halfway through Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford. It's a tender story of fathers and sons, of family loyalty, sacrifice, love, war, and prejudice, and so beautifully written I almost don't want it to end.
by robena grant
December 30th, 2009, 2:56 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: sub-plot question
Replies: 9
Views: 4115

Re: sub-plot question

I'm no writing genius, but am an avid reader of mystery. Honestly, I think a dream where the mother is providing a clue to the mystery squeaks of being contrived, and you want to avoid that in your writing. It's like the person in the story who just happens to come upon two people conversing and hid...
by robena grant
December 30th, 2009, 11:56 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: What is more impressive?
Replies: 14
Views: 5701

Re: What is more impressive?

I think I'm somewhere in the middle, depending on my mood and the reason why I'm reading. I like the author who can generate a good book every year. I trust that author, know what I'm getting. I'm not looking to be blown away by something considered highly literary, but wanting to be entertained. Co...