about 3 months ago - No comments
Beth Kendrick’s chick lit novels are always light, fun and easy to read (my reviews of The Pre-Nup and Nearlyweds), and Second Time Around was no exception. I love how Kendrick can develop solid and sympathetic characters in a short amount of time. It’s easy to fall in love with the four women in this
about 3 months ago - 1 comment
One of the most unusual novels you may encounter, The Spiral Labyrinth by Matthew Hughes, mixes fantasy, science fiction, and mystery to tell a tale fit for a contemporary fantasy, set in the far future, where magic is returning to replace science as the dominating force in the universe. In this world lives Henghis Hapthorn,
about 3 months ago - 1 comment
Choosing what size to make your book can be simple or difficult depending on the kind of book you are writing. Most importantly, you need to consider what your readers will want and what size will make your book sell.
about 3 months ago - No comments
Your novel needs a setting. The setting must be strong and suitable for your story. However, it must not overwhelm the story. Sprinkle it in as you go. Do not write travelogues.
about 3 months ago - No comments
In novels, both characterization and setting are extremely important. These items are often treated separately by those who like to tell us how we should write. However, the characters must fit into the setting in one of two ways: The character was born and raised in the setting or the character was imported into the setting (by the writer).
about 3 months ago - No comments
Do you have a novel sitting in a drawer? 10 easy steps on revising your novel and a general guide for the hard work ahead.
about 3 months ago - No comments
Most novels feature at least one major issue you can tie into. For example, if one of your main characters had an abusive childhood, that gives you a tie-in to talk about child abuse – in articles, interviews, talks, links with support groups, websites, forums, newsletters, and much more. All that from one little hook. But you can have dozens or even hundreds of hooks in a single story, covering all sorts of topics you like to write and speak about. It’s easy to pack your novel with hooks and create tie-ins to a huge range of markets – without compromising your story.
about 3 months ago - No comments
To create characters for your fantasy novel you must consider your market and create characters that your readers are able to relate to, and care for. This does not mean that you reveal all there is about your characters in the first few lines, your characters a best revealed a little as the plot unfolds, a little intrigue goes a long way. But your characters should be developed before you put your pen to paper.
about 3 months ago - No comments
Too many authors try to stretch their novels into 200,000-word epics, only to bore their readers to tears. Others try to get the entire story over with in 50,000 words, leaving out valuable information. A novel should be just long enough to tell your story, but long enough so that all of the details are included.
about 3 months ago - No comments
Starfishers Volume 1: Shadowline (Starfishers Trilogy) by Glen Cook REVIEW SUMMARY: An Epic Space Opera tale. BRIEF SYNOPSIS: An interesting, epic space opera revenge tale that weaves together separate story lines into an excellent read. MY REVIEW: PROS: Shadowline pulls together three distinct story lines, weaving them together over the course of the story, in