BookingIt

Last post I talked about rules we readers would like to tell writers. Some rules we came up with: 1. Don't Bore Your Reader 2. Don't Annoy Your Reader 3. Don't Be Predictable 4. Misunderstandings don't make Good Conflict 5. Trust Your Reader 6. Make Your Reader Care 7. Be an Honest, Believable Writer 8. Keep Things Simple Unfortunately, while I can spot these things in books, somehow I miss them in my own stories. I'm always breaking rules and not realizing it! Thank goodness for my critique group. For my writing friends. For anonymous contest judges. Which "rules" have you broken? How do you keep yourself from doing it again? How do you feel about rules in general? (*grin* They're not my favorite thing, if you can tell)

I picked up a book that I'd heard good reviews about. The cover was cute, the voice engaging. I was totally into the book for about fifty pages...until I figured out the plot. HEAs are my thing. That's why I read romance. But there are still ways to surprise me and hook me into the characters' lives. With this book, the author set up a plot that could've been really good with lots of tension and snappy writing but somehow I realized that the whole crux of the plot is a misunderstanding. I didn't buy that the husband was cheating because I didn't see the evidence (could be other craft problems or could just be me). There was a scene where the heroine is riding with her boss's son (who the husband doesn't know about) in a car and sees her husband drive past with his beautiful co-worker beside him. That's where I stopped reading. The heroine is worrying about her husband cheating but she just did the same thing he did! Why is she allowed to ride in the ...

But first, another Huge Shout-Out to Katie Ganshert, who just landed a two book contract! You can read about her call HERE . Woohoo, I can't wait to read your books Katie! Also, please keep Baby Annabelle and her parents Krista (my tree-climbing buddy)and Scott in your prayers. They have some major medical decisions looming. On a side note, ever wonder what readers really think when they're ripped away from their current book? Check out the video below ( rated PG for name calling ) How do you react when you get interrupted?