How do you find the beginning of your novels? How do you know where to start them?

Here’s a crazy answer - I have no idea how to start my books. Wait, wait. I’m not supposed to say that, right?

Okay, here’s a better answer. I don’t know where the beginning is until I have it.

It’s hard to say how I start a story. Usually it begins with a scene, ( Read more... )

You know what I’m talking about. The fact that in a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal, it's the woman doing the love-em-and-leave-em. She’s the one doing the heartbreaking, the one with a different man for every book, never really settling down.

And instead of this being empowering, some readers seem to hate it. Really, really hate it.

No matter how ( Read more... )

So. I tend to lurk at the occasional writing board here and there. Probably more than I should, too. And one thing constantly comes up (and surprises me!) when people say, "Well, that agent took on XYZ because of their industry connections!" or "That book only sold because he *knew* people ( Read more... )

I am in the process of reading two books at the moment. We won’t name names, since they’re both really good books, but my reaction to both is very different.

One book (we’ll call it UNO just for numbering's sake) immediately launches into a description of the heroine and her failings. She’s not as pretty as her sister, she’s clumsy (and not in an ( Read more... )

(Now, before someone can answer “It’s got a bit of a headache”, let me explain myself ( Read more... )

Every writer (aspiring or otherwise) knows that there's a specific 'rules' set that goes with publishing. You use 12 point font. Your query letter should be no more than 250 words. Your synopsis should be short (unless it should be long...). Double-space. No adverbs. No fragments. Correct grammar. Be polite in queries. Contact info in the header. ( Read more... )

I just bought a couple of books from Amazon. Not so strange, except I've already read each of them about eight times apiece.

Hi, my name is Jill, and I'm a compulsive re-reader.

( More )

(I really just wanted to see how many 'M' words I could put in that title ( Read more... )

I have this idea in my head. I think it's a good idea, but it's going to need a lot of character building ahead of time. And being a pantser, I'm not quite sure where to start ( Read more... )

So the other day I was on the phone with my agent, and we were discussing blogging and silly things that people do in their blogs.

"An author should never ever ever mention rejections in their blog," he said to me. "Because agents and editors like to websurf too."

And while I've heard this tidbit of advice before, that was the first time it's ever ( Read more... )