Monthly Archives: November 2015

Nov 17 2015

What To Do When You Get A Bad Review

It’s going to happen.

You don’t hunt your critic down and bash them over the head with a wine bottle, no matter how badly you’d like to do just that. You don’t have to like it. In fact, you can really, really be upset about it.

But then you need to back off, and look at it for what it is.

Was any of the criticism constructive? Can you learn anything from it? If they found a certain part of the book dull or a certain character unbelievable or a certain plot twist too predictable or outlandish – was there some merit in that? Be honest. Take notes. Look at whatever you’re working on now with fresh eyes. It’s all a learning process. Continue reading →

Nov 16 2015

Notepads And Post-Its And Scribbles On Napkins – Writing Can Be Messy Business

Notes

I have books all over the place.

I’ve learned (as I’ve become stronger and more prolific with my writing) that getting a glimmer of an idea is gold. Closing your eyes as you lay in bed or changing the radio dial as you’re at the wheel of your car or reaching for the spatula as you’re fixing dinner and telling yourself “I’ll have to remember that for later” is one of the stupidest damn things you can do as a writer.

You probably won’t remember it. At the very least, you won’t remember every juicy nuance of it, not like you will when it’s fresh in your brain.

I’ve had some amazing, bestselling ideas slip away from me like that. At least, I think they were. I’ll never know now because I don’t remember what the hell they were, other than they were brilliant. Goddammit. Continue reading →

Nov 13 2015

#OnceUponATime FanFic Friday: Killian And Emma’s Nightclub Adventure #Oncers #CaptainSwan

dreams

These Dreams is one of my most popular fanfics, and definitely one of my favorites as well. Sending Killian and Emma into the dreamscape, falling in and out of their own dreams and all the dreams of the people in Storybrooke – it was such an adventure to write. The story really took over and became so much more than I’d envisioned at it’s start – especially since the readers were PM’ing me ideas!

This particular scene is part of a larger chapter of disjointed, crazy dream stuff (including a bit with the two of them riding talking dolphins). Any weird thing can happen in the dreamscape – that’s what makes it so magical! Emma and Killian find themselves in a bar, and the rest is just plain fun: Continue reading →

Nov 12 2015

Resource Thursday: Social Media Navigation & Marketing #writingtips #writing

Today we’re going to talk about social media. UGH.

Really. Just…ugh.

It’s a necessary evil, and even entertaining a lot of the time, but the truth is it takes time and energy and focus that you’d really rather be putting toward your writing, if you had your ‘druthers. Still, there are great tools out there that help you build and engage with your audience, and you’re a fool if you don’t take advantage of them.

Here are a few resources that have really helped me as I navigate my way through the social media maze:

The Social Media Cheat Sheet – INCREDIBLY helpful guide to picture sizes and formatting constraints on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

5 Low-Cost Social Media Marketing Strategies for Authors – Great if you don’t have a lot of money to throw at a marketing program.

102 Hashtags Smart Writers Are Using – I started using some of these faithfully and doubled my Twitter following with people solidly in my target demographic very quickly.

17 Tools That’ll Take Your Social Media Marketing To The Next Level –  A list of various downloads and apps that can help you with content and scheduling.

Dan Pearce’s 100 Blogging Tips – Dan is a blogger with a strong viral presence, and his tips are spot-on if you want to build and engaging blog.

Now go forth and be retweeted, reblogged, liked, pinned, hashtagged and hopefully…read!

Nov 10 2015

Here It Is…A First Look At Seasinger!

SS

Shira Wen is the daughter of a prominent archaeologist who happened upon a clue to not just the origins of mankind, but to the magic that dwells among us. Unfortunately, his theories cost him his reputation, and then his life.

When Kai Vand shows up on her doorstep, Shira decides he’s far too threatening to take a chance on. There’s something other-worldly about the reclusive millionaire, and his powerful frame and sea-blue eyes make her entirely too off-balance.

Unfortunately, Kai has an agenda and he’s not going to let her get away that easily, no matter how many times she runs… Continue reading →

Nov 9 2015

It’s Not The Destination, It’s The Journey. Wish I Had Both.

journey

My stories come to me in a myriad of ways.

Sometimes it’s a sliver of a remembered dream. Or I was people-watching and somebody fascinated me. Or I was mulling over something for another story and a new story ambushed my brain and took off with it.

That happens entirely too often.

And then I hit the quandry and one of two things happens: Continue reading →

Nov 6 2015

In Honor Of The Seeder Saga Complete Edition (Plus Bonus Novella) – Here’s An Excerpt!

                                          Hunter

In my Sci-Fi Romance Trilogy, The Seeder Saga, we follow the paths of three women from three different planets who’ve been “seeded” there by the Seeder Corps – a group of aliens who are responsible for colonizing much of the galaxy.

The women have very different stories and each learns through their own adventure that love isn’t always like you planned it to be. These are smart, fierce girls and the men are intense and sexy as hell. Three steamy reads that all come together in one epic story arc – and then you get a bonus novella set in the same universe!

And here’s an excerpt from book three, Changeling. Enjoy! Continue reading →

Nov 5 2015

Resource Thursday: NaNo Madness? Bring On The Generators! #amwriting #NaNoWriMo

write

I will admit here and now that I haven’t used a generator…yet.

But I was clued into these by a writer friend and as I’ve done my research it turns out a lot of writers love generators – not to give them the exact idea, mind you, but as a good jumping off point. I have to admit as I perused these lists, I got some flickers of inspiration and ended up jotting down a half-dozen story and character ideas.

So here’s a list of several character, plot and content device generators that you might find enlightening: Continue reading →