Writing Tip of the Day

The fact that you have a completely developed plot doesn't mean that you are wedded to it. If a better plot point idea comes along, run with it. Just be sure it isn't a wild goose that will lead you too far away from your original story premise.

Writing Tip of the Day

Most chapters of 4-5,000 words have two or three main scenes. If you brainstorm these possible scenes and capture them on paper, the picture of your book will become more complete. Your Chapter Chart is also where you jot down random ideas for future scenes that come to you as you write.

Writing Tip of the Day

A Chapter Chart can be many things, from a simple computer file with typed headings (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.) under which plot points and scene notes can be added, to a large poster-board tacked to the wall. The system used is your choice. The important thing is to capture all the nebulous images in your mind in a single place, then arrange them in effective story order.

Writing Tip of the Day

A Chapter Chart is a useful tool for organizing your work, one that will help keep you on track as you write. Most books of 85,000 to 100,000 words have 20-25 chapters of 4-5,000 words each. Placing your constructed events at fairly regular intervals within the chapters of your chart, beginning with the first incident in Chapter one and ending with the grand climax in the next to last chapter (leaving the final chapter for the resolution) will give you an instant visual reference for where you are in your story.

Writing Tip of the Day

Writing is both a right brain and left brain activity. The right brain imagines, dreams and creates while the left brain edits, analyzes and looks for logic. Allow them to work together.

Writing Tip of the Day

Apply the "Is this logical?" test to all elements of your story. If something in your plot is unlikely to happen in real life, don't make it happen in fiction. Logic overrides story convenience every time.

Writing Tip of the Day

Simple dislike on sight between your hero and heroine does not constitute conflict. Strong, reasonable differences must be constructed to keep them apart. These should stem mainly from the story premise, but can also be found in the backgrounds and character traits of the pair.

Writing Tip of the Day

Create a conflict between your hero and heroine with the potential for serious consequences, even life or death. The less likely it appears that their differences can be resolved in time for the HEA (Happy Ever After) ending, the stronger your story will be.

Writing Tip of the Day

Conflict between the hero and heroine is key in romance novels. If a reasonable conversation between two thinking adults could resolve the conflict you've established, it isn't strong enough. Think again.

Writing Tip of the Day

Character motivation can change as your story develops; it need not be set in stone. Real people change their minds and attitudes according to their circumstances. Characters are free to do the same.

Writing Tip of the Day

The motivation for your main character should never be self-serving. If your romantic heroine's goal is marry a rich man, for instance, it should be for an altruistic or sympathetic reason, something beyond her own wants and needs.

Writing Tip of the Day

Character motivation often comes from the background or back story given them. It can be based not on what they are doing, but on what happened to them in the past and on who they are because of it.

Writing Tip of the Day

Motivation for all characters should be clear and understandable, but particularly for the heroine. The TSTL (Too Stupid to Live) heroine is one who does things, or believes things, for no good reason, sometimes against all common sense. Strong, reasonable motivation is an indicator of intelligence in any character.

Writing Tip of the Day

The romance heroine's internal goal shares equal importance with her external goal. It can be, and often is, in conflict with it. Plotted events then require her to decide goal which is more essential to her and to her future.

The Interview is Up

The interview done earlier this week with Shalla de Guzman of Shalla Magazine has been posted online. See what you think about it at: http://shalladeguzman.com/shallachats/authors/Jennifer_Blake.php

Writing Tip of the Day

The external goal of the heroine in a romance novel is usually at odds with the external goal of the hero for story conflict purposes. Their internal goals, by contrast, can be complementary to create conscious, or unconscious, accord between them.

Writing Tip of the Day

Each main character needs an external goal and an internal goal. The external goal is usually physical: to find something, gain or regain something, avoid something, save something or someone, etc. The internal goal is emotional: to feel safe, to have a home or family, to be loved for themselves. The possibilities for both goals are endless.

Writing Tip of the Day

To discover the Goal, Motivation and Conflict for your characters, ask yourself these questions: What does she/he want? Why does she/he want or need it? What prevents her/him from achieving it?

Writing Tip of the Day

The Holy Trinity of plotting is Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Construct these three things for your characters and everything else will usually fall into place.

November Newsletter

Greetings:

Fall has finally arrived here in northern Louisiana. As I was out walking the dogs this morning, the sun shining on the leaves of the black gums made them so bright red they looked coated with lipstick. And it's lovely to see the sun and cerulean-lavender skies of autumn, too, after all our rain. I'm not sure how many inches fell this past month, but it must have been at least 20-25. Flood waters were over the road near our house, and rose several inches above our seawall. There was never any danger of it reaching the house, however, and all is well now.

When I send this message, I'll be turning at once to answer a questionnaire for a magazine interview. The publication is Shalla Magazine, the brain child of Shalla de Guzman who began it online but recently went to print format. It showcases writing and the pre-published and online works of authors. My writing is of interest, I expect, because of my extensive backlist available on the web: more than 25 books originally published by conventional means now offered as downloads by eReads and other online sources. For more on the magazine, or to keep watch for the interview, check out: www.shallamagazine.com.

Speaking of downloaded books, the trend seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. Clark Howard, who has a regular show on CNN about saving money, predicted last week that all publication will go in this direction over the next ten years. The benefits are many: 1) You can download books at any time and from anywhere, 2) you can carry 200 or more in your handbag, briefcase or suitcase in a device weighing only a few ounces, 3) you don't have to worry about disposing of books once they're read but just delete them, 4) Lower production costs means less expensive books, 5) Less impact on the environment since no trees are sacrificed. Can you tell I'm sold on eReaders?

My current writing project is the collaboration mentioned a couple of months back. This is with my daughter, Katharine Faucheux, on a historical set in New Orleans and France in the 1840s. For the project, she and I brainstormed the plot and characters and I wrote the first chapter or so. She then wrote a large chunk, and now it's my turn again. With luck, we'll be done with this project by Christmas. It had better turn out that way since I need to start on Book 2 of my 1480s medieval trilogy by New Year's. This medieval, BY LOVE POSSESSED, is due on my editor's desk on June 1, which will give me only five months to complete it. Yikes!

Did I tell you I finished the rough draft of the contemporary romance I was working on last month--that sudden brainstorm I had to write a 50,000 word book set in England and Italy? I did, indeed, though it will be some months before I have time to revise and polish it for submission. Writers have to do these things now and then, though, just for our own satisfaction.

I'm also keeping up with a daily tweet on Twitter.com, and adding a Writing Tip of the Day to my blog at: www.jenniferblake/jennifersjournal. Spreading myself too thin? We'll see!

Another bit of news is that Sourcebooks, Inc. has set the publication date for re-release of ROYAL SEDUCTION as August 1, 2010. This means it will ship to bookstores and other outlets in July. If you've never read this New York Times best seller of mine from 1983, it's about a Balkan prince who arrives in Louisiana on the trail of a woman involved in the assassination of his brother…and kidnaps the wrong lady in his quest for vengeance. Sourcebooks is calling this publishing program, which also features books by Jane Austen and Laura Kinsale, their "Re-launch of the Classics." Lovely thought, isn't it? The next book of mine to be featured will be FIERCE EDEN in October of 2010. I'll have three titles on the shelves next year then, as these two will follow the last book of my Masters at Arms series, TRIUMPH IN ARMS, due out in February, 2010.

And finally, because of the change from writing Louisiana historicals to medieval books, I'm currently having my web site redone. Well, and because it was time, as the general look of it hasn't changed in several years. I've seen the new background designed by Tara Green, and it's absolutely stunning, with lots of turquoise and gold. Everything should be changed over by the first of next month, and I can't wait for you to see it.

All that's left now is to express my special thanks in this month of Thankfulness. I'm truly grateful to all of you who have followed my career and read my books for years; all blessings be upon you. And thank you, as well, to those who have just discovered my work and are looking for my backlist books. This job is sometimes fun and sometimes frustrating, but would be entirely too much labor without the encouragement and support of readers like you.

With warmest wishes for a bountiful and beautiful Thanksgiving celebrated with all who offer you encouragement and support,

Love,
Jennifer

Writing Tip of the Day

Some authors like to claim they never outline their stories. What they mean is that they aren't systematic about it. Pin them down, and you'll often discover they work with piles of notes stacked beside their computers. This is just a different approach to the same problem. Any method that helps get words on paper is a good method.

Writing Tip of the Day

Story ideas are like dreams; they disappear if not captured while fresh in your mind. Make a habit of always having a notepad and pen or digital recorder on hand. Nothing is as frustrating as being unable to recall a great idea that's gone a-glimmering.