Making your writing stand out in a crowd

When does your writing fit a genre, and when does it just pander to the lowest expectations of that genre’s readers? I’ve written before about the importance of using interesting language and avoiding clichés. What happens, though, if you overdo one of those things for the sake of the other? One of the most difficult… Continue reading Making your writing stand out in a crowd

“Said” is alive and well

My eighth-grade English teacher had us all chanting “Said is dead.”* It’s a good thing that was at a Christian school, where I learned resurrection is possible. I remember reading Stephen King’s On Writing yonks ago. The one piece of advice that stuck with me is that “said” is the best of dialog tags. On Joanna Bourne’s… Continue reading “Said” is alive and well

How to transcend a genre

Last night I came home from work, collapsed on the couch (it’s tough sitting at a computer all day long) and cracked open a book. Hubby came into the living room and asked, “Why do you write romance?” So much for a Friday night of mindless vegging. Knowing my husband’s prejudices against romance novels, I… Continue reading How to transcend a genre

Romance novel yourself

Folks, this is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time: put yourself (or someone you want to take the piss out of) on the cover of a romance novel. Have fun.