Writing Tip of the Day-Theme

Few books have a single theme. Most are multi-layered, with insights about life and human nature presented in conjunction with a larger, more mythic premise.

Writing Tip of the Day-Theme

Most commercial fiction books are morality tales with an underlying theme of the battle between good and evil. They are examples of how to use high principles to overcome obstacles and receive the reward of a life well lived. Romance novels are no exception.

Writing Tip of the Day-Theme

Examination of the human condition is not limited to literary fiction. Any written work, including commercial fiction, can become a forum for author insight.

Writing Tip of the Day-Theme

Romance novels are explorations of the male-female bond. A major underlying theme is the importance of this bond to the survival of the human species.

Writing Tip of the Day-Theme

The basic themes of literature are said to be Man Against Nature, Man Against Man, and Man Against Himself. For romance novels, the overriding theme is often Man Against Woman, or the battle of the sexes.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

Strict rules of grammar forbid the incomplete sentence. It's allowed in commercial fiction as an indication of natural speech or for dramatic emphasis, but should not be overused or allowed to become a habit.

Writing Tip of the Day

Exclamation marks should be reserved for moments of high drama or excitement as frequent use dilutes their impact. Word usage, or word order in the sentence, should provide any emphasis required.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

The accepted "go-to" reference for the prevention of accidental anachronisms is Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. It includes dates of first usage for thousands of common and uncommon words and phrases.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

Modern words and phrases used inappropriately in historical fiction are known as anachronisms. They should be avoided at all costs, as nothing destroys the careful construction of a historical world so completely.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

Slang words and phrases should be avoided. They are often too localized to be useful, or else tie a book to a particular time period so the text becomes dated or inaccessible to readers in future decades.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

To create the illusion of a character of foreign extraction, it’s best to use a few well-chosen exclamations, oaths or endearments from his native language. Readers should not be overwhelmed with excess foreign words or phrases.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

Foreign words and phrases are placed in italics when used in dialogue. Exceptions are foreign words that have become so familiar (senorita, monsieur) they are easily recognized by the average reader.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

In normal conversation, people seldom use more than three sentences without a break. Dialogue will seem more natural if it follows the same pattern.

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

Character speech should read as if it's issuing directly from the brain of the person speaking. The vocabulary of the author should not necessarily be the vocabulary of the character.

The Jennifer Blake Newsletter - March 2011

Greetings:

So much has been going on here recently that I’m not sure where to start except to take things more or less in order. First up was the reprint of FIERCE EDEN by Sourcebooks in their Casablanca Classics program of presenting romance novels from the classic period of romance in trade-size editions. Reviews for the book have been heart-warming with many sites awarding it top honors of 4 ½ or 5 stars. A selection can be found at these web addresses:

http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-fierce-eden-by-jennifer-blake/

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Danya-reviews-Fierce-Eden-by-Jennifer-Blake.aspx

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/2011/02/fierce-eden-by-jennifer-blake.html

http://www.suite101.com/content/historical-romance-fiction-book-review--fierce-eden-a337219

http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=28008

http://saveyspender.com/2011/02/10/fierce-eden-book-review/

http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-fierce-eden.html



A great “5 book” review was also posted at the Long and Short Reviews web site, where readers voted FIERCE EDEN the Best Book of the Week for February 6 – 12. The review and special button showing its winning status are here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/fierce-eden-by-jennifer-blake.html

For work in progress, I completed the second round of pen-and-ink self editing/polishing for SEDUCED BY GRACE, book 3 in the medieval Three Graces trilogy that will be out later this year. Though I still have to transfer the corrections and additions from paper to computer, it looks as if I’ll easily make my editorial deadline of April 1. The closer I get to the final The End, the more I like this book, which is always a nice feeling. As this is the last book in my current contract, I’m looking forward to a few weeks of R & R after I zap it off to my editor.

A side note: book 1 of the new trilogy, BY HIS MAJESTY’S GRACE is already available for preorder on Amazon.com. It won’t ship until late July, but readers can reserve their copies. Last time I looked, Amazon had no cover art available for the title. I posted the covers for the trilogy to a Facebook album last week, so my “friends” there got an advance look at them. I’ll add these to the Photo section of this Yahoo group soon, so you’ll have a sneak peek, too. If you’d like to join me on Facebook, just do a “search” for Jennifer Blake. Several people have that name, but I’ll be only one with a book cover for my profile photo!

Meanwhile, the Three Graces trilogy has been sold in Turkey. I was in Istanbul year before last while on a Mediterranean cruise. It’s a great pleasure to think of my books being read in this lovely old city beside the Bosporus.

I can’t remember if I told you that TRIUMPH IN ARMS, final book of the Masters at Arms series, has been nominated as Best Historical Romance 2010 in the Romantic Adventure category by Romantic Times Book Review Magazine. This award will be presented to the winner at the RT convention in Los Angeles next month. In addition, I received my author’s copies of the hardcover library and large print edition of TRIUMPH IN ARMS this past week. That means it’s out there now in this additional format.

For some time I’ve been posting a “Writing Tip of the Day” to the blog on my web site. I’m now coming up on Tip #250, and will actually post that one tomorrow. The current subject is Dialogue. The next will be Manuscript Preparation, the dos and don’ts of preparing professional-looking manuscripts. You can view these at: http://jenniferblakejournal.blogspot.com/

On the subject of blogs, I’ll be posting a new one on March 9 to the Mira Author Blog on the Harlequin web site. The title for it will be “10 Tips for Productive Writing.” Check it out here: http://community.eharlequin.com/content/mira-author-blog

On March 11 -12, I’ll be at the NOLA Stars conference, the annual writing conference for the North Louisiana branch of Romance Writers of America. I’m not speaking or giving a workshop this year, but have donated a basket of writing-themed goodies to the silent auction to be held during the weekend, and also a personal critique for a synopsis. You’ll need to be present to bid on these and the other great items, as well as to enjoy the super workshops and speakers. A Barnes and Noble book signing with several authors from NOLA will be a part of the conference as well. FMI: http://www.nolastars.com/nola-stars-conference

I’ve also contributed an autographed book and hand-knitted lace scarf in turquoise/aqua shades of silk and wool to Brenda Novak’s annual auction for the benefit of diabetes research. These things will be included in a basket of books and hand-crafted items gathered by author Winnie Griggs, a fantastic collection from romance authors who are also do handicrafts. FMI: http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

And, speaking of autograph sessions, I’ll be signing books at Book Expo America in New York on Wednesday, May 25th. At this session, advance copies of BY HIS MAJESTY GRACE will be given away to booksellers. The invitation-only event is by arrangement with my publisher, Mira Books, and should be great fun.

While all this has been going on, the unusually cold weather here in Louisiana has slowly warmed to something near normal, or even a bit above. Daffodils and narcissus are blooming, along with maples, pears, plums and redbud trees. The grass is beginning to show a haze of green, as are the weeping willow trees at the lake’s edge. What grand timing, to be almost done with my book and contract just in time for my favorite season of the year. It couldn’t have worked out better if I’d planned it that way!

With warmest wishes for a well-timed spring wherever you are,

Jennifer

Writing Tip of the Day-Dialogue

All dialogue is not created equal. Lines for characters should be written to reflect the personality of the speaker, his/her place in the world, and the time period in which they live.