Hello again, dear readers,
Now firmly in the autumn of the year, I have put my gardening shears away, but my mind keeps wandering to romantic pursuits. It must be all those veggies mixing....
ANYWAY, I've decided to dedicate this month's column to all things romantic. Writing, that is.
First, to get those juices flowing, the quicker the better, I want to remind all my readers that November is National Novel Writer's Month so make sure you visit www.nanowrimo.com and sign up for their annual challenge. All you have to do is write 50,000 words this month. Think of it as dating your characters and plot. A time of pure infatuation between you and your muse when every turn is exciting and every personality trait is delightful and yummy. If things work out, you can take the next step and make room for your story on your hard drive and in your life. If not...well, what happens in November can be forgotten and you can move on. No one has to know.
Stuck for ideas? A little confused about the difference between chick lit and romance? Want to know what's selling now? Check out sights like www.wewriteromance.com, www.rtbookreviews.com, and www.harlequin.com,for book reviews, author interviews, and info on emerging trends. You may also want to check out the site forRomance Writers of America, to get the skinny on contests, conferences, etc. Want to make sure your carefully crafted steamy scenes stay clear of romance writing cliches? Check out www.writing-world.com (click on 'Romance') for tips on building plots, love scenes, and cliche's to avoid.
But with so many tempting sub-genres to choose from, how is an aspiring romance writer supposed to choose? Contemporary? Historical? Paranormal? How about a novel about a vampire CIA agent who time-travels and falls in love with the daughter of a zombie demigod who is accused of committing a crime in Regency England? HMMM...it might be a good idea to go to www.fictionfactor.com/articles/rmsubgenre.html, for descriptions of the most popular romance sub-genres before deciding.
But whatever you choose, remember to have fun getting swept away.
Happy writing, everyone!
Betty Wryte-Goode
Betty Wryte-Goode is a writer, mother, and wife who lives in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania. Her passions include writing, reading, shopping, gardening, and exploring the internet. Betty is always looking for writing tips, so if you have any you would like to share, please send them to her through our Submissions/Contacts page.
Mixed Up Words of the Month: Precede vs. Proceed
Precede is a verb meaning: to gobefore, as in place,order, rank,importance, or time.
Proceed is a verb with several different shades of meaning:
1. to move or goforward or onward,especially afterstopping,
2. to carry on orcontinue any action orprocess,
3. to go on to dosomething, or
4. to continue one'sdiscourse.
For example:
The honored guest preceded the rest of the company as they proceeded into the dining room.