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Serious vs. not so serious WRITERS

A popular school of thought about writers is that if you're not consumed by a burning desire to write every day or if writing is not a major driving force in your life then you must not be very serious about your craft. I think once we subscribe to the notion that we should be  somewhere  with our writing careers when we're not there (wherever 'there' is) then we simply blame ourselves for not being serious about writing. Because, if we really wanted to be a writer more than anything else in the world, then we’d write every day, we'd crank out pages, and we'd be much further along with our novel, right? Listen, let's face it, most of us are ordinary people we are parents, spouses, employees, and homemakers. We have lives and several passions in addition to writing at that. What's important overall (than keeping a calendar date for writing) is to keep your passion for writing alive, don't let the everyday mundane burn out your writer's

Book Release 10/28! Wicked Lustful Tales, Vol. 1

A sensual romance anthology,  Wicked Lustful Tales Heat level: 3 Stranded On a desolate mountain side friends and former lovers Shana & Nick are forced to work together and find their way to safety. Their history and mutual attraction soon prove to be even more dangerous than their treacherous path.   Charity Event During a fundraiser friends and office buddies Jennifer and Adam discover that their placid easygoing friendship is much more than a platonic relationship. Before the night is through the two friends make a decision that’s likely to change the course of their lives. Snowed In In a foreign city, unwed and pregnant Nina accepts a job as live-in nanny to Dexter’s son Ian. Soon an emotional bond develops between Nina and Dexter and after Nina delivers her baby the smoldering attraction that existed for months threatens to boil over.

Reading is FUNdamental!

As writers we hear this all the time, “If you want to be a better writer, you need to be a better reader.” And this is very true. But also true is that in reading we need to do so effectively. Yes, effectively. See, reading well can help make a huge difference in the quality of work you produce. Here are three tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your reading experience, 1) Be sure to read books you enjoy. Unless you enjoy the classics (e.g. Austen, Dickens, Hemingway, etc.) reading mandatory novels some of which you may particularly enjoy might be counterintuitive. Reading should be a pleasure so read books that you like this way you’re sure to read more. 2) Read the type of material you aspire to produce. Find an author or two or three that you admire and read as much of their work as possible; devour their work actually.  3) Keep a good log of the books you’ve read. Voracious readers alike can tell you that they may not remember the books they

10 basic steps to novel writing

Most writers have distinct writing styles and we all develop unique techniques over the years. And yet as particular as most of us are about our writing in general authors do adhere to a few common practices . Whether or not you’re conscious of it all writers follow a natural drafting process. Let’s take a look at a popular process thread among fiction writers: 1. The beginning This is the spark that point of initial idea, the inspiration, that moment when we think, “Hey, this could be a book!”   2. First draft This is the writer’s initial stab at plotting the story from beginning to end. 3. Cool-off period This is when most writers take a little time off (anywhere from a few days to a few weeks) to separate themselves from the book physically and emotionally. 4. Second draft This is when some of the major issues about the story (i.e. plot problems, continuity errors, character development, etc.) are corrected to make the book presentable for a critique par

Stop! Breathe and relax!

By its very nature, writing is deeply introspective work. When in the ‘groove’ writers can easily spend eight to ten hours writing non-stop and when the writing gets good, even more. Now, we all know that making time for writing is important, but being glued to the keyboard for days at a time with no social interaction can certainly wreak havoc on our physical and emotional health. Conversely, lack of physical activity and isolation often contribute to depression, weight gain, and poor productivity. So what's a writer to do? While it is necessary for us writers to immerse ourselves in our work we do need to be self-aware and recognize unhealthy triggers. As long as writing has been a profession many well-established authors have held down outside jobs and managed to successfully juggle writing, work and family responsibilities. It is a very delicate balance, but it can be done. Here are three top tips writers can adhere to for a healthier and happier life: Break

Writing is HARD work. There I said it!

Recently, I had a conversation with a fellow writer about different writing styles. We talked about how some writers can simply sit down on a computer and write on command; I cannot. My pre-writing process can take me ten, fifteen, twenty minutes or more and it usually involves me ‘getting in to character’; I need to connect with the hero and heroine before I can delve into their lives. It is then when I’m emotionally attached that ideas begin to form I’m able to capture the thoughts and the scenes and the story begins to unfold. I can tell you that when I begin to write a story, I too experience the same nervousness that a lot of writers feel. Will anyone read my stuff? Will anyone care about what I have to say? This is the fretful process of a writer, yet, we, I, push forward and write with excitement, optimism, and a lot of discipline. On an amusing note (or maybe not so) one thing that we, writers, often encounter is that non-writers tend to think that writing is easy.

Stop procrastinating! There isn't a perfect time to start writing.

“There isn't a perfect time to start writing.” Have you ever heard this statement before? I’m sure you have, in fact most writers have heard it before. Perfect timing is elusive and can hardly be anticipated. When I look back, I realize that my writing journey led me to many opportunities, yet I passed them up because I was too busy designing my life, thinking I had to find the proper time to write. The truth is that we can write at any time. Even if you have a day job, children, or even volunteer if you budget it right you can still find time to write each day. Whether it is writing a paragraph, a page, or ten pages, you  can   write. If you've considered holding off writing until your child starts school, or until your daughter graduates from middle school, or until your son heads off to college you will find that there will always be situations that will prompt you to postpone writing. Now, if you suddenly find yourself pondering about all the things you negle

Top 20 things one MUST do to become an awesome writer!

Just sharing great information with my fellow writers! Top twenty things one MUST do to become an awesome writer in no particular order as long as you're actively working on all twenty :) 1.       Become an active blogger (don’t have a blog, start one now!). 2.       Use self-imposed word count per hour, per day. 3.       Accept all forms of criticism and learn to grow from it. 4.       Edit, edit, and edit again. 5.       Live passionately! 6.       Write without distractions (and yes, that means no Internet). 7.       Listen to how people talk. 8.       Read lots of books, both good and bad. 9.       Avoid passive voice. 10.   Limit the use of adjectives and adverbs. 11.   Make writing a priority. 12.   Keep squeezing words out even if you feel uninspired. 13.   Tell everyone: “I’m a writer.” 14.   Recognize your fears and overcome them. 15.   Join a writing group. 16.   Break out of your comfort zone. 17.   Deconstruct and analyze books a

I know what you are, but what am I? Erotica, Sensual Romance, Smexy??

Okay, so we write smut, that much is a given, but do you ever find yourself asking "Okay, so I write romance, but in what category does my writing really fall under?" Well here's my quick and dirty rendition of some of the most popular sub-genres in modern day romance. I know some of you will disagree with these descriptions, but IMO these are pretty much on the money. Erotica Erotica contains minimal if any emotional attachments between the leading characters. Erotica is also sexually explicit (language) and the plot is driven by the sexual relationship/s. The sex in erotica can also take on different aspects, including dominance, bondage, voyeurism, poly-amorous relationships, and so forth. The story may/may not have HEA for the characters and if the story does include HEA it might not be in the traditional romance sense. Erotic Romance Erotic romance exists when the story line contains a love story. Erotic romance is romantic just as it is sexually explicit. In

The Golden Era of Flash Fiction!

Flash fiction has been around for many years (reportedly since the early 1990’s), but has become increasingly prevalent in the literary community in the last five to seven years. Once regarded as ‘lazy’ work flash fiction is now considered quite the opposite: intellectually challenging storytelling. So big in popularity is this flash fiction that in modern day, dozens of literary publications (both print and online) have shifted their focus to include flash fiction and in many cases exclusively feature works in flash fiction format. Note : other names for flash fiction are short-shorts, short story, micro fiction, novelette, postcard, pocket-size story, and minute-long story. What is flash fiction? Flash fiction is a short form of storytelling defined by the number of words and/or sentences, which of course differ from writer to writer. All in all, flash fiction is any writing material more than 75 words up to 1,500 words, some flash fiction writers stretch the limit as f

Support Your Fellow Indie Writers!

Writing takes a lot of time and dedication. Have I enlightened anyone yet? Yes, I’m being facetious. I’m sure all writers, new and seasoned alike, know painfully well just how much time and dedication it does take to write cohesively. If you’re a writer through and through chances are you will spend a lot of time, no, make that a great deal of time writing, editing, rewriting, and just plain obsessing over every little word and if you’re anything like me, you’ll even have nightmares about run-on sentences :) Okay so writing takes effort, and writing is not a bowl of cherries or a walk in the park, we get that, but what are you really getting at? Indie support. Indie support? ? Let me explain… Most indie (independent) authors have chosen an alternate path to publishing, that is self-publishing. And while self-publishing leveled the playing field by giving new authors opportunities to get their books in front of potential readers, the trend came with its own set of challenges,

Moving on up!

Family/ Friends , As some of you already know, I received good news from a small publishing firm in January yet it wasn't until mid February that all the details were worked out. Well, I’m excited to report that my sensual romance anthology (title TBD ) will be released in November 2013. Due to this exciting turn of events, the Flash Fiction Friday segment on my website will be discontinued. Please note also that in the next thirty to sixty days I will be making changes to my site and do hope that you will return for its Grand Re-Opening, I will be sending out communication when this takes place. At this time, I’d like to take an opportunity to thank all of you who have remained faithful readers. I truly appreciate all the comments, compliments, and encouraging words that have come my way. I am also humbled by the support other writers have provided. Thank you kindly. As always, don’t be a stranger, I'm available via Facebook, Twitter and of course email :)

March 8th is International Women's Day

Family/Friends, Happy  International Women’s Day to you!  International Women's Day is a day dedicated to the c elebration the economic, political, and social achievements of women past,  present, and future.  On this day  thousands of other women around the world commemorate the special occasion and partake in elaborate festivities. Below are five ways women can all celebrate at a local level: 1. Celebrate  your  successes – no accomplishment is too small , so go on...toot  your   own horn :-) 2. Show the women in your life that you appreciate them –  write a thank you note to your mom, sister or best friend or simply give a hug, you may just put a smile on someone’s face. 3. Invest in the future of women - donate or get involved with an organization that promotes the importance of a good education to the younger generation.  5. Attend an event hosted  for  women  by  women   – attend an event that promotes women's health and equality. Or you may attend

Path of Least Resistance

Hello family/friends, Over the last few weeks I've come in contact with several old acquaintances and met some new ones and the more I chatted with folks the more I realized that many people out there are living this path of least resistance lifestyle. Listen, every situation we encounter in life comes with choices. Some choices are small and may not present much impact to others. In this instance the road one chooses is not usually looked upon with much scrutiny. However, when one chooses an alternate route a route less conventional one that causes tension amongst society people generally choose the route that causes the least amount of upheaval. Deep down inside no one really wants to go against the norm, and be scrutinized by their peers, their friends, and their families. Going along with society is usually the least complicated and most comfortable thing to do because it offers the path of least resistance.   The choice to head down the path less traveled is not easy,

Newsflash!! Better Reader equals Better Writer

All novice writers who want to perfect their craft have attended workshops and classes that have told us time and time again that we should read, read, and read, yet some of us fail to this. In the last three years when I realized that I too needed to make a commitment I began to add to my reading collection. At first, I didn't have a goal I just read whatever caught my attention. In 2010 however my daughter gave me a Nook as a present and it was then that I discovered a whole new world.  Reading books became so much more convenient, all I had to do was press the Buy Now button on my Nook and voila! the book was there. Needless to say in 2010-2012 I downloaded dozens of books some short stories some full length some by new and others by seasoned authors. And the more I read the more I realized they (mentors, other writers, seminar speakers, etc.) were right. All all the advice I'd heard over the years finally clicked . I needed to read, read and read! Fast forward to 2013

New Year, New Beginnings!

Friends/Family, A new year means new beginnings and new opportunities. In my personal opinion, this holds true for all of us no matter where we are in life. With this in mind, I hope that you take the time to write down a goal or two to accomplish in 2013. If goal setting has proven to be ineffective for you however, then perhaps you may want to change strategies in 2013; choose a word that describes what you hope to draw to yourself in 2013.  What exactly does this mean? Well, let's say that you want to be more spiritual then you might choose a word such as spiritual or serenity ; if you hope to institute better work/life time management you might choose a word such as balance ; if you hope to find love you might choose a word such as joy or happiness , etc. In any case, when/if you decide to take on this challenge  keep in mind a few things: habit is easy, change is hard and procrastination can easily set in. So be prepared for life to test you :) Now...get to work