Tag: literature (Page 1 of 2)

Quills Writer’s Conference

Constantly working to improve my writing

I love writing. I love my characters and telling their stories. I even love the struggle, the days when I just hit a wall, the worry, the reworking. It is all part of the process. At least for me.

I don’t think writing is something that you ever master. (Using an olympic metaphor), writing is a continual effort to break your own record. That constant struggle to get better.

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

So, this weekend, I went to a writer’s conference. I took classes on writing better characters, how to plot, how to use dialogue more effectively, and so much more.

I also explored some topics I hadn’t considered before. A class on illustrating my books and a class on getting inspiration from wonder tales (fairy tales) from around the world.

I am ready to dive in to the two books I am writing right now. I’m so excited to use the things I learned and the ideas that came to me in between classes.

As the reader, you may not–you should not–see the effort and craft. I want you to be swept away to another time and experience the lives of these characters. But behind the scenes, I am working hard to give you a wonderful, immersive experience. And I am always striving to make that experience better for you.

What are you working on, striving to improve? How do you describe that process of growth? Let’s talk.

A good story is about relationships

Someone told me recently that they didn’t like books with any romance. It made me a little sad because everyone needs a little romance.

But it also made me a little philoshophical about stories and relationships.

Some say there are only seven possible types of conflict used in any story.

  • person vs. person
  • person vs. him or herself
  • person vs. nature
  • person vs. society
  • person vs. technology
  • person vs. supernatural world
  • person vs. destiny

Person vs. person is obviously a story about a relationship, no matter what genre we’re reading. Sometimes it’s about love, but sometimes it’s adversarial or competitive. If so, it may end with someone winning and someone losing, but it is still about people learning about each other and dealing with each other.

A story with person vs. him or herself conflict is about that important relationship with ourselves.

The other 5 kinds of conflict might seem trickier at first. But if our main character is dealing with nature, society, technology, the supernatural world, or destiny, three things can be true of that story.

Either that conflicting thing is anthropomorphized–given human characteristics. In this case, the story becomes, in effect, a person vs. person conflict. (Moby Dick, by Herman Melville).

Although in this very complex novel, we meet more than one type of conflict. Ahab vs. Moby Dick (a malevolent God or destiny), but it is also about Ishmael, Queequeg, and the other sailors, their relationships with each other and with themselves. And it is about Ahab’s relationship with himself, his anger and fear.

Another possibility is that that entity (society or technology, etc.) is embodied or typified by one person. (President Snow in Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins becomes the figurehead for a society).

President Snow | The Wondrous Universe Wiki | Fandom

I wonder if, at heart, all of these faceless conflicts are really about our main character learning about him or herself. The story just happens to be set in a world of technology or supernatural happenings, or the other conflicting entities.

(Think about Louie in Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. The outward conflict with his captors is at the forefront, but what he learns about himself might be what makes the story so enduring).

I’ll add this: If the conflict is person vs destiny (or possibly sometimes vs supernatural), it might be about a relationship with some kind of divine presence–still a relationship.

This is a theory, which means you might prove me wrong. I’d love to hear what you think. Have you ever read or viewed a story that isn’t about relationships?

If not, what is your favorite story relationship?

My Writing Mission, Part 2

Love Is The Key

I wrote last time and tried to capture what I want you to experience as you read my work. And I tried to describe what I want my writing experience to be.

With that in mind, I want you to know these things.

What you’ll find in my stories

Yes to these:

  • Always Romance
  • Delightful, closed-door stories with a Happily Ever Afters
  • Conflict that brings growth in the characters and in the relationships
  • Female characters who are strong or who grow into confidence and capability
  • At the end, a loving, respectful relationship
  • Swoony kisses
  • In a marriage, there may be an acknowledgement (undescribed) of physical intimacy.
  • Perhaps some mild action and violence.
  • Some mention of drinking if it is historically accurate
  • Well-researched detail
  • Literary style
  • PG to very mild PG-13 levels of heat

What you won’t find

No to these:

  • Sex scenes on the page, or acknowledged between unmarried characters
  • Descriptions of erotic touching, arousal, or tongues in kissing
  • Descriptions of nudity
  • Crude humor or commentary
  • Swearing
  • Gratuitous violence

I’m here for all the feels and all the delightful entertainment. I hope you’ll join me.

Regency Romance Letters

How I came to be writing an epistolary novel

One of my college professors once said she wanted to write romances because she thought it would be easy. She described her imagined process like this: write a list of common scenes on 3 x 5 cards, shuffle them, and write the scenes in that order.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I don’t believe she was a lover of the romance genre. If I were taking her class now, I would argue her assumption of ease and her supposed “systematic” approach. My experience has been so very different and much more difficult than she imagined. (And I think more rewarding than what she described).

Some romance authors probably do write according to a formula. They have a structure, perhaps even a template that works for them. They may plan according to trope before they create character. (Example: I’ll write an enemies to lovers romance. So, who are my main characters? Why do they hate each other? What has to happen to bring them together? Answer those questions and create a story). They may even have a few situations that regularly happen in their books.

There are moments when such a system sounds a little tempting. It might make this writing process easier, but I cannot do it for a few important reasons. (Please understand. These reasons are only important to me, to my process, to my satisfaction and joy in writing. This is not a comment on how other writers plan and write).

This is what I’ve learned (and continue to learn) about my writing.

First, characters come first for me. I can’t start with plot. I don’t know what is going to happen until I know my character, and sometimes not even then. I am often surprised as I write. My characters take on a life of their own and almost always change the plot. This is not comfortable or easy, but it keeps me on my toes. And I love the ride!

Second, I can’t write “to trope.” It’s only after I’m a good way through the story that I might recognize a familiar theme or device. I’m editing my novel Under a Honeyed Moon. It has a little bit of a Cinderella beginning and is fundamentally a forced marriage story. (You know, the couple that is found in a socially compromising situation and must marry). I didn’t start out with these tropes. They developed after Evie looked out her window and started talking to her friend about his plans to run away with another girl.

Temporary Cover created in AI and Bookbrush

Third, even the structure of my novels are guided by the characters. Liza demanded to tell her own story, so first person, single point of view. Amelia and Sidonie followed suit. (Helen and Maris did too). But we had to see both Susan and Magnus in alternating points of view, and in third person. Patience required third person and to be the only point of view. Joie has such a strong voice–first person, present tense, flash fiction (less than 1000 words).

I was sure Minna’s story would be told simply in her POV in third person, except then Rupert wanted a little bit of time at the beginning of each chapter.

Now, I’m writing Corinna’s romance. She’s half in love with Lord Wycliff before the story even begins. But their whole relationship is based on a deception and an innocently meant impropriety. What will she do? I’m still finding out, along with her best friend because suddenly, I’m writing an epistolary novel.

No formula. No 3 x 5 cards. Not easy, but I love it! I love discovering and sharing these people and their love stories with you.

Three New Romances In the Month of November

Writing Romance–Fast

I tried something new and challenging in my Romance Writing life in November (Challenging myself is becoming a theme).

Photo by Abdul Gani M on Unsplash

You probably have never heard of Nanowrimo, but for the last few years, I’ve been wanting to try it. Nanowrimo stands for National Novel Writing Month. This world-wide event is held every November–Yes, I’m sorry to say, it is in November.

When an author or aspiring author signs up for Nanowrimo, they accept the challenge to begin a new novel on November 1, and try to write 50,000 words by the end of the month. The idea is that by the end of the month, you will have finished a short novel. Think of it–a new romance novel in one month!

I want to tell you about my month long experience. First, let me say, I did not cheat. I planned start a brand new novel that has been percolating in the back of my mind for the last few months. The main character of this first in a new series is Angelica, or Angel as her family calls her, so I’ll use Angel as the working title for now.

Though I didn’t cheat, I also didn’t follow the rules exactly. I just could not begin Angel before I finished An Honorable Man. So, I spent the first 5-6 days finishing the last 11,000 words of this novel. I love it so much, I had a hard time moving on. I just wanted to go back and start editing so I can get it into your hands as soon as possible. But I held strong and kept writing.

So, even though I didn’t begin with the new work on November 1, I planned to write a whole new work in November. I would just start on the 6th. Then, the night before I started Angel, I had this idea for a romance novella. It came into my mind almost fully formed in terms of plotting and characters. I made a sudden departure from my plan and started writing a totally new romance novella.

This is Lady Evelyn’s story. It has some Cinderella elements and then turns into a forced marriage trope. The working title is Honeyed Moon. I worked through the bulk of the month telling the story of Evie and Cam (Lord Camden). I get chills when I think of this novella, which I do believe I will add to in editing. I think it needs to be a full length novel.

So, there I am on Thanksgiving day, surrounded by my family (all 37 of them). I’ve finished for former Work In Progress (An Honorable Man). I’ve finished the surprise Novella (Honeyed Moon). But I am still 5000 words shy of the 50,000 word mark.

So, after my family left, I went back to the original plan and began my new series with Angel and Ramsay’s story. I’m four chapters into that story.

Photo by Laura Kapfer on Unsplash

Three novels in various stages in one month. I’m astounded, and tired. Mostly, I am so excited to bring these romances to you. In a perfect world, you’ll have one in January, one in March, and one in May/June. Cross your fingers for me. I’m working furiously.

Let’s Dialogue About Dialogue

For me a story, whether it’s a short story, novel, or movie, is all about the people.  I know some readers/viewers who “see” the picture that an author is “painting.”  They love the setting, atmosphere, movement and action. And while I appreciate a good action scene, a well written description, or historical accuracy, when I read or view, it is all about the people and their relationships. Their motivations and their history are a fascinating tapestry.  The way they react to their environment, the way they interact with the other characters carries the story.

Continue reading

Blogging Block

Which, of course, is just another name for writer’s block. There are so many blogs out there. It is easy to think/say, “What do I have to say? What do I have to say weekly? And the ever discouraging, why would anyone read it?”

Continue reading

Going Back; Moving Forward


Oedipe et Antigone By Eugène-Jean Damery
(1823-1853) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

For the month of November, I’ll be re-entering the High School English classroom. (As a substitute teacher, this time). Because I’ll be there for longer than a day or two; and because I’m doing this for a friend who cares deeply about his students and their education (and don’t we wish we could say this of every teacher?); and because if I’m going to do something, I might as well do it well; I am reading/re-reading all the of homework assignments for the eight classes.

Continue reading

What I Learned From a High School Psychology Assignment

I think I was a Junior in high school when I took the required Psychology class. For one assignment, we were asked to write a paper or create a project on a psychological subject of our choice. (Looking back, I realize this is a very vague assignment. I’m not sure what the desired learning outcome was supposed to be, but that was the assignment). The teacher encouraged us to be creative. But I think everyone in the class just started writing a paper. By the time we were Juniors, we knew how to do that. We didn’t like it, but we knew how.

Continue reading
« Older posts

© 2025 Gigi Lynn

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑