Posted on 4/10/2024
In On Writing, Stephen King recommends a 10 percent word reduction as a good rule for tightening your prose. Removing 10 percent means reducing a 100,000 word manuscript to 90,000 words, or 85,000 words to 76,500 words.
Posted on 4/10/2024
You’ve finished your novel and gone over it one or more times, but you want it to be the best it can be. Do you need to have your book edited?
Even if you get a promising request after sending a query letter and submit your manuscript to a publishe
Posted on 4/10/2024
You have poured your heart onto the page and had the thrill of typing “The End.” Your critique group has given feedback, and you have implemented the many helpful resources from the Romance Writers of America.
Finally, the time is right to launch
Posted on 4/10/2024
Nothing takes a reader out of a story faster than characters behaving in ways that don’t feel authentic. In my own reading I’ve run into the following situations in contemporary novels:
A hero in his twenties with a tough reputation heads home after
Posted on 4/10/2024
Rose City Romance Writers was founded over 25 years ago and is still a happy place for romance novelists to find their tribe.
Posted on 4/10/2024
RWA President Clair Brett shares her thoughts for the month of April and recognizes the contributions of volunteers.
Posted on 4/10/2024
Tell me if this sounds familiar... you read a novel. A great novel. One that makes you look at your current work-in-progress and want to drag the entire thing into the digital trash can.
Posted on 4/10/2024
Even if you’ve never heard the term, “sagging middle,” the Reader inside you is well-acquainted with the warning signs:
You grow impatient.
Your mind wanders.
You begin to skim.
In essence, the author has lost your interest.
Posted on 4/10/2024
Copy editors like me are the mechanics in the publishing process. We’re the ones who come in after you’ve worked out your story with your development editor and finished your revisions.
Posted on 3/14/2024
I self-published my first romance book in March 2015. Back then, I could write for 10-14 hours a day, fueled by the words in my head and the clawing need to give my characters their hard-earned happily ever after.
Posted on 3/14/2024
Quick, slow, quick, slow, medium? Pacing may be one of the most complicated concepts in writing. As an author, judging how to pace a story is either natural or very planned. Don’t get pacing and speed mixed up, because pacing is all about the movemen
Posted on 3/14/2024
In the March issue of the RWR, Clair Brett shares a message for Women's History Month.
Posted on 3/14/2024
In the thirteen-plus years it took me to sell my first book, I learned a lot about the craft of writing, and how to develop characters and focus my dialogue, but I continued to struggle with pacing, receiving nice rejections that loved my heroes, and
Posted on 3/14/2024
Our chapter was started in 1986. Currently we have 43 members. Since we conduct our monthly meetings via Zoom, our members attend from all over the US. This year we have two new board members, Candace Lucas (Katy Berritt) as president and Jean Joachi
Posted on 3/14/2024
Not knowing what’s at stake for the characters in a story/scene is like watching a game in a sport where you have no idea of the rules or even the teams. There’s a lot of noise and movement, but if you don’t know what it means—who’s winning and who’s
Posted on 3/14/2024
Dialogue is a great tool for telling your story, but it’s not your only tool.
In certain situations, dialogue can backfire. One such situation is affectionately known as “As You Know, Bob.”
Posted on 2/8/2024
The Hearts Through History chapter of RWA discusses different aspects of the historical romance genre and how we as writers can further promote romance fiction.
Posted on 2/8/2024
Writing conflict can get us a bit conflicted ourselves at times, no?
It can prompt occasional stints of hair-pulling. Our own, mostly. (It is to be hoped.)
How does this happen?
Several ways.
Posted on 2/8/2024
Character dialogue. It’s a blessing for some writers and a bane for the rest of us. Like it or not, though, it plays a pivotal role in any and every story you create. What your characters say
performs double or even triple duty, carrying essential i
Posted on 2/8/2024
In the February issue of the RWR, Clair Brett discusses the importance of diversifying your TBR list.
Posted on 2/8/2024
New to pitching—and perhaps even a little (or a lot) intimidated by the whole process? Join the club!
But take it from me—there are tips and tricks that will help you polish your pitches like a pro.
Matching what you have to offer with what edito
Posted on 2/8/2024
What’s your first thought when you see the title above?
Do you think of being "freed" to write badly, to have "dreck" as a first draft, knowing it’s only your starting point? That you can make notes to yourself about “stuff” you don’t know, or pla
Posted on 1/17/2024
The Romantic Women’s Fiction Chapter encompasses all subgenres of romance.
Posted on 1/17/2024
One of the strangest things about being a romance writer is the need to write regardless of your mental state. Sure, everyone has to do their job when going through hard times.