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?

A publisher has had my full for three months now. Knowing I could get a rejection, revision or a call any day is so nerve-wracking! What would happen with my life if I got published? How would it change? It's a new year. Many of you said you'd like to start querying this year. Have you began yet? How is it going? How would getting published change your life, and do you think you're ready?

If you don't know Keli , I'd be surprised. For the past few years she's been interviewing romance writers over at Romance Writers on the Journey . She even interviewed ME at one point. Keli is an encouraging, wonderful person. She sends gifts, creates First Sale Scrapbooks (I have one, it's waiting still for that sale, lol), and tries to support writers in different ways. I just found out that Keli has SOLD a book! You can read her call story HERE . She's been working toward this goal for a long time. How long have you been writing? Are you aware of the averages regarding the amount of manuscripts written and the number of years that pass before a sale is obtained? Do the stats challenge you or depress you? Congrats Keli!

" some of us aren't the typical romance reader who has time to read one book after another while the husband is away at work, while we're waiting on the kids at soccer practice or while we're homeschooling our kids. " I read this comment on a blog the other day. It made me laugh a little but also caused me to think about how easy it is to generalize people. I tend to think romance writers have certain qualities in common, but what about romance readers? Do you think their commonalities are more internal than external? When you think of someone who reads romance, what do you see? Have you ever made an assumption about someone and then been proven completely wrong?

A soulmate or soul mate is a person with whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity, love, intimacy, sexuality, spirituality, and/or compatibility Love is a complicated thing. Do you believe that there's a perfect fit out there for everyone? How do you handle writing a story about a widow(er) or a divorced character who meets someone special? Which type of story do you prefer to read, the first-time-falling-in-love or the second-time-around-but-just-as-special romance?