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Concocting My Novel

A while ago, I wrote about creating characters people can relate to. Good guys aren’t all good, and bad guys aren’t all bad. I don’t know about other writers, but those who know me well will recognize that my protagonist, Lou Skalney, loves coffee as much as I do....

Plotting

Although writing styles and reading interests change, authors still must have an engaging yarn to spin. Otherwise, no one will read beyond the first chapter, or even the first paragraph. To quote Jerry Jenkins, author of 200 books and counting, “grab the reader by the...

Characters

I can have the best plot in the world, but without believable, interesting, three dimensional characters, I’m going nowhere. I must populate my saga with people who move, respond to events, struggle, fail, and hopefully succeed, to keep your nose in my book. While I...

Birth of a Novel

My first novel was easy. I slid a fresh piece of paper into my Smith Corona and began with Chapter One. I kept writing until I reached the end of the story. Easy as pie. I think that manuscript lies deep in some closet in the house, where it belongs. R.I.P. Now, after...

What is Your Genre – Part II

This week, I introduce Pat Embury, a cozy mystery writer (among other talents). I asked her to share why this genre attracts her. Here is what she had to say. Pat Embury I generally write cozy mysteries, although I am branching out into some sci-fi and fantasy, as...