Comments on: doh!

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:24:22 +0000

Debs, good luck ramping up conflict in the shed!

Michelle, I have done EXACTLY that in my wip. Good to see there’s an expression for it, ie that others have done it, too.

By: Author Phillipa Ashley » Blog Archive » Tension

Author Phillipa Ashley » Blog Archive » Tension — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:08:36 +0000

[...] I read Julie’s great post about conflict, I’ve been ramping up the tension in every scene of my new book. It’s not difficult as [...]

By: Michelle Styles

Michelle Styles — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:10:22 +0000

Lay too much pipe = build too much backstory. A complex or complicated backstory that no one understands, including the author.

By: Debs

Debs — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:38:35 +0000

This is just what I needed to be told today.

Thanks, off to the shed to put it into practise.

By: phillipa

phillipa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:51:23 +0000

And now, thanks to your reminder, I’m off to edit and rack up the tension in that muffin scene.

By: phillipa

phillipa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:50:06 +0000

I always wonder what ‘voice’ is exactly. It’s hard to define, isn’t it? I was really freaked out when I heard mine for the first time. It was SO different to my articles etc

Also – when you get knockbacks like rejections or negative review (yet readers seem to enjoy what you write…), how do you hold true to your voice and not be shaken into thinking you should try and write like someone else? Anyone else!

Also – do you find it hard to read other books while you write your own? I love reading but hardly dare open another romance these days for fear of a – thinking my writing sucks and b – taking on that author’s style. That might be because in my other job, it is actually my job to emulate another person ie client’s voice.

Sorry. I just rambled on there!

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:15 +0000

Keeping confidence I’m not so sure of, but I’ll happily blog about voice, Phillipa. Not that I know anything except for my own random thoughts.

I’ll try that tonight. What should I talk about!?!?

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:58:44 +0000

Agh, in this case I had to go back and rewrite the whole thing right away, Michelle, because it substantially changes the parts that come afterwards, in a good way.

What does that mean, “lay too much pipe”?

By: phillipa

phillipa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:57:28 +0000

Julie – can you do a piece on keeping confidence in your own voice? Pretty please..

By: Michelle Styles

Michelle Styles — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:28:24 +0000

Editing and revising are for adding the missing bits in. Upping the tension is important. particularly in scenes that are potentially low tension or tension hoovers as is making sure the protagonist leads, and that you do not lay too much pipe.