Weekly Prompts

Donald Maass usually posts what he and the other agents at his agency are looking for each month--books they'd like to see proposals for. Not long ago, he started posting weekly "breakout novel" writing prompts.

I think they're worth checking out.

Prompts from the author of "Writing the Breakout Novel"

Look who's blogging . . . someplace else . . .

Yep, it's me. After months of being without a computer, I finally get my laptop back and what do I do? I blog on a site not my own. I don't terribly bad about that. It's my publisher's blog, and I was asked to contribute.

Harlequin Tumblr

My post is about the joys of staying at an adult resort. The topic is based on the location of my latest book ANYTIME. Click here for the book

Well, all I can say is: It's good to be back!

For the Plotter In You

Okay, this almost made me break out my drool bucket . . . JK Rowling's plotting sheet.

I realize that quite a few people sit down and write without much pre-thought. I, on the other hand, have to think through every scene before I write it. Both methods are good ones--whatever gets you to THE END.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/73653

Staying Creative

Oops up side the head . . .

When you need to shake up old writing patterns.

Guest Blogger Kim Louise--Do Something Else

I'm blogging on Authors by Moonlight encouraging creative writers to stop writing. Check it out.

Guest Blogger Kim Louise--Do Something Else

And . . . ACTION!

Another acting class finished, and this one was grueling. I'm playing Catherine in Proof. Yikes! If I have to say "It's mine. I wrote it." one more time, I'm more likely to say, "You're right. There's no way in hell I wrote this."

There are three things I'm focused on in class:
* My lines
* My emotion
* My action

I've discovered that when I focus on one, the others go bye-bye. LOL!

This week the instructor talked about how action can create emotion. I know that as writers we're taught at pattern:
Feeling--> Action --> Speech
I've always operated on the sidelines of that belief because many times I've done something without a clearn thought about what I was feeling until after I did it . . . especially when high emotion was concerned. And then I thought, "Wow. I guess I was angry."

I also think with the right action, mentioning the "feeling" is unnecessary.
Tori hurled the vase against the wall. "Get out!"

Need a Book Cover

One thing I've noticed about books that are self-published is that the covers are often . . . lacking. I found this website and really like the covers. If you're thinking of self-publishing, you may want to check out this designer.