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Pick up cool tips from Cheryl StJohn author of Writing With Emotion Tension and Conflict @_cherylstjohn_ #RLFblog #NonFiction #WritingTips #WritingCommunity
For years Cheryl StJohn gave workshops and wrote articles on the importance of inherent conflict in a novel. One day she decided to put all she’d learned and taught into book form and proposed it to her dream publisher.
Cheryl, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Thanks for sharing two tips with us today, but first, please tell us about Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict.
Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Cheryl StJohn
Genre non-fiction, writing
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G
Today’s highly competitive fiction market requires writers to imbue their novels with that special something – an element that captures readers’ hearts and minds. In Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict, writers will learn vital techniques for writing emotion into their characters, plots and dialogue in order to instill that special something into every page.
“A must-have compilation of rock-sound advice from a writer who knows what she’s talking about. A book you’ll want to inhale whole and then return to time and time again to improve your craft and go deeper in order to write YOUR story. Not only does this book embrace some of the most complex elements of story construction in a clear, easy to digest format, it acts as inspiration for the writer. Sentence upon sentence of outstanding advice!”
– Mary Buckham, author of the Amazon best-selling Writing Active Settings series for writers.
Tips for Writing Conflict
Create characters with built-in conflict.
Build it in as you personify them and give them diversity. Use their past, their needs and their fears. Use their strengths and their weaknesses against them.
Their backstory, combined with characterization, will be motivation for everything they do. It will shape their goals and define the way they react to situations. Weak superficial motivations lead to weak superficial conflict, resulting in weak superficial characters.
Knowing who they are and what experiences they’ve had makes your character’s goals and reactions motivated and believable. It is imperative to keep your character’s history in mind as you unfold the story. You can do this by method writing. Become the character and feel what he would feel, react the way he would if you had experienced the same things.
Conflict must be personalized to the character. If you don’t know your story people and motivate them, you won’t have a strong conflict. A vague or general motivating force produces a vague and general plot. Being specific will increase the emotional intensity of your story.
TIPS:
When plotting or editing, ask yourself these questions to make sure you’ve built a solid story:
What is at stake and is it important to the character?
How could this situation get worse?
Could this conflict be easily resolved if the characters talked it over?
Did you come up with unpredictable circumstances?
Does your character react according to his background/motivation?
What could happen to make the character change?
Did the conflict create tension for one or more characters?
Does the conflict force the character into action?
Did you use scenes and viewpoint changes for tension and pacing?
Are your characters a cast of diversified personalities who react to each other?
What does the conflict make your character learn about himself?
Where to buy Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict
Publisher https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/633914/writing-with-emotion-tension-and-conflict-by-cheryl-stjohn/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599637588
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/writing-with-emotion-tension-and-conflict-cheryl-st-john/1114185427?ean=9781599637587
Walmart https://www.walmart.com/ip/Writing-with-Emotion-Tension-and-Conflict-Techniques-for-Crafting-an-Expressive-and-Compelling-Novel-Paperback-9781599637587/23076241
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/writing-with-emotion-tension-and-conflict-1
Target https://www.target.com/p/writing-with-emotion-tension-and-conflict-by-cheryl-st-john-paperback/-/A-85136970Cheryl St John on Social Media
Cheryl is the author of more than fifty historical and contemporary romances. Her stories have earned numerous awards and are published in over a dozen languages. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.” Her bestselling non-fiction books, Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict and Write Smart, Write Happy by Writers Digest Books are available in print and digital.
Website http://www.cherylstjohn.net/
Twitter https://twitter.com/_CherylStJohn_
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CherylStJ
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cheryl_stjohn/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cherylstjohn/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24516.Cheryl_St_John
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cheryl-st-john
Amazon Author Page https://tinyurl.com/y6js92y8
Get to know Cheryl St John better by signing up for her email newsletter.
http://eepurl.com/bqCji9
Aspen Gold Series Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/n9n7p3 -
Happy Birthday #15 Marketing for Romance Writers #MFRWauthor @MFRW_ORG #RLFblog #Authors
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Help celebrate the birthday of #RLFblog Webmistress and Author Dee Carver with a discount on services @pmnp #PMInc #Authors
Dee Carver, welcome back to Romance Lives Forever. Happy birthday! I can’t to hear about your book, and what you’re offering to our readers.
Personalized Marketing
It’s hard to imagine at times that it has been 12 years since #PMInc opened and what an amazing ride it has been. We have seen many changes to online marketing, website design, SEO and changes via the Internet. However, somethings remain the same, such as proper keywords, alt and meta content, quality over quantity marketing, plus the rise and fall of some social networks. No matter how much the world changes around us, as the owner, I hope that we continue to provide the best client – company relationship possible. To help enhance our level of service and customer care, I was lucky enough to bring on a great manager, editor, digital artist and all-around amazing lady, Cindy (#PMInc’s Manager).
College
In the last 7 years, I decided I needed to expand my knowledge and fill in some of the self-taught gaps by obtaining a degree. I began with an Associate’s in IT, then Bachelor’s in IT with an Advanced Software Development Certificate, and this year I got my Master’s in Business with a Concentration in Marketing Certificate. Some of the topics I learned in school I already knew while other areas and terminology I had never heard of, overall, I feel that it was a good learning experience. I feel very blessed to have been able to attend college while running the company, being a mom and grandmother. Not everyone has that chance and I am thankful I did.
Writing
Finally, after a few years, both Fay’s Wish and La Roe’s Curse have been published after some intense rounds of editing, thanks to Cindy (#PMInc’s Manager). Fay’s Wish also recently was released in paperback. Also, I am actually writing some on the other books I put away over a decade ago.
Books
Fay’s Wish https://www.amazon.com/Fays-Wish-Dee-Carver-ebook/dp/B081QPMHW4/
La Roe’s Curse https://www.amazon.com/Roes-Dee-Carver-ebook/dp/B07Q3PYQK8/
Services and Discount
#PMInc is celebrating 12 years of service and it’s also Dee’s birthday.
To celebrate, #PMInc is offering a 12% Discount on any new service until September 1st.
Interested? Contact #PMInc and ask about the Aug Discount.
https://PersonalizedMarketing.info
Follow Dee:
About Dee Carver
Dee is a mother of 5 amazing children and Grand Mother of 3 Beautiful Little Girls. Dee enjoys spending time with her family, reading a good book and learning more about the career that has changed her life. Dee began working online in 2004, beginning her journey as an Author which is where her love of designing websites was born. Later as a reviewer and then freelance publicist, which showed her the value of quality service. Combining each of these roles she opened Personalized Marketing Inc in 2008.
Her first novel, La Roe’s was published in 2005 and nominated for the Golden Rose Awards the following year. Her second novel, Fay’s Wish was published in 2006. Her third Novel Chocolate Seduction of the Cursed Seduction Series is being rewritten for future considerations.
You can find several of her articles and blogs online.
Website: https://personalizedmarketing.info/
Author Blog https://authordeecarver.blogspot.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeeCarver
https://www.facebook.com/Personalized.Marketing.Inc/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dee.pminc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/pmnp
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeowens/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJyzsWU3LmZVLwTg32BOIg/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dee-Carver/e/B081QQHHMM -
Authors, check out Strong Verbs Strong Voice by Ann Everett @TalkinTwang #RLFblog #nonfiction #amediting
Ann Everett, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Thanks for sharing two tips with us today, but first, please tell us about Strong Verbs Strong Voice.
Strong Verbs Strong Voice by Ann Everett
Genre non-fiction
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G
Without verbs, where would a story go? Nowhere. Characters, animals, and nature can’t be or do anything without a verb. Characters can’t laugh, animals can’t attack, and trees can’t sway in the breeze. Verbs provide excitement, drive the narrative, and paint vivid pictures.
Why say she looked, if she can gawk, spy, or examine? The familiar choice offers vague action, where the stronger selections show action and expression. The right verb can illustrate the character’s state of mind, mood, as well as physical characteristics.
Inside this book, you’ll find stronger choices listed in alphabetical order for commonplace verbs such as enter, walk, ran, took, etc. This quick reference will help you use more descriptive verbs to convey better images in the reader’s mind.
Two Tips for Editing
#1 I use the word lists in Strong Verbs Strong Voice to do a ‘search and find’ to replace all the common action verbs I tend to overuse in first drafts. It’s how the book came about. I found myself using the same verbs way too much and thought other writers might find it helpful to have a list.
#2 My last pass in editing is to use the ReadAloud program I downloaded from Windows. Hearing the work helps me find mistakes I can’t see.
Two Tips for Cooking
#1 If you freeze whole lemons and limes, zesting them will be easier. Then you can defrost the fruit in the microwave to use the juice.
#2 If you’re like me, you hate to waste food. So, if you have some overripe bananas and no time to make banana bread, freeze them. Then when you’re ready to bake, microwave them on high for one minute. The peels should slip off and the fruit is ready for baking. You can also cut them up and store in plastic bags to use in smoothies as needed.
Where to buy Strong Verbs Strong Voice
Publisher: Ann Everett
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MYG7Y3OAnn Everett Social Media
Award-winning and Amazon Bestselling author, Ann Everett embraces her small-town upbringing and thinks Texans are some of the funniest people on earth. When speaking at conferences and to writing groups, businesses, book clubs, and non-profit organizations, she incorporates her special brand of wit, making her programs on marketing, self-publishing, and the benefits of laughter, informative and fun.
Her short stories have appeared in The Green Silk Journal, Snag Today, and Story Teller Magazine.
A top reviewer on thenextbigwriter.com, she lives in Northeast Texas where she writes, bakes, and fights her addiction to Diet Dr Pepper.
Website https://www.anneverett.com
Blog https://www.anneverett.com/blog/
Twitter https://www.twitter.com/TalkinTwang
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnEverett/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/loacl/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/texasauthoraeverett/
Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5195211.Ann_Everett
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-everett
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/ann.everett
Get to know Ann Everett better by signing up for an email newsletter https://www.anneverett.com/join-my-email-list/ -
Where can authors go for help? To MFRW right here: @MFRW_ORG #MFRWhooks #MFRWauthor
What is MFRW?
MFRW is Marketing for Romance Writers, a peer-oriented mentoring group open to the entire literary community. Ask marketing-related questions, request help, advice, and opinions. You can ask for opportunities to join other authors in promotional efforts. You can learn the business aspects of writing. What’s it cost? Nada, zip, zilch, zero — just come join up and share.
Marketing for Romance Writers promotes for its members on most social media. Get your book cover pinned on one of the MFRW Pinterest boards, and share your tweets on MFRW’s monthly Retweet Day. The hashtags #MFRWorg #MFRWauthor and #MFRWhooks help you promote.If you have questions about marketing your books, join us. The MFRW motto is “seek, teach, share, learn, succeed.”
MFRW was founded in 2006 by Kayelle Allen, who heads the group to this day, guiding its direction and overseeing the numerous volunteer staff members that help it run. The group began with a dozen friends, and today boasts over 2400 members, and over 7000 members make up our Facebook group. We have a multiple award-winning magazine. We have over 400 followers on Goodreads and feature our members books there in the MFRW Book Place group. On Pinterest, we are followed by over 1500 people, have 55 genre related boards, and almost 1000 pins. Want your book cover pinned on our site? Even if you don’t have a Pinterest account, you can take advantage of our presence there. Join our Yahoo group today and you’ll get information. Services and membership are free.
MFRW Volunteer Staff
Alice Orr, Barbara Donlon Bradley, Carmen Stefanescu, Emerald, Jessica Cale, Kayelle Allen, Libby McKinmer, Lisa Lowe, Lyncee Shillard, Michelle Davis, Mona Karel, Nicole Morgan, Paloma Beck, Reet Singh, Rochelle Weber, Tina Gayle
MFRW Online
Yahoo group (where you can get help) https://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/
Twitter https://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG
Kayelle Allen on Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/161092-the-mfrw-book-place
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mfrworg/ -
Happy Birthday Marketing for Romance Writers #MFRWauthor @MFRW_ORG #Authors
Kayelle Allen here. Wow, has Marketing for Romance Writers grown! Back in 2006 when I started this group, I was a busy author with four books. I was promoting, learning more about promoting, and asking friends about promoting. All the ins and outs of book marketing were starting to gel and I was beginning to understand the overall concept. That said, I had a constant list of questions. Facebook was two years old. Twitter had been founded that year. Pinterest and Instagram were four years away. How was I supposed to promote on social media? Did I need a blog?
I had friends who had similar questions, and we would email each other and ask. Often, I’d get the same question several times in a row. I found myself going back to my “sent” file to copy an answer and resend it. Not that I wasn’t asking questions myself, but I think because I’d take the time to go find an answer if someone asked and I didn’t know – I started getting more and more questions.
It was Halloween, and I was busy with all sorts of details of writing, and I got the same question from two different people. I remember thinking that there had to be an easier way to handle this. I needed a way to let everyone know what I’d discovered at the same time, and if I had a question, get an answer from someone who knew. Yahoo Groups was established and well-used, so I decided to create one that all of my friends and I could use together. We could post a question there, and anyone who knew the answer could reply.
I set it up as Marketing for Romance Writers because that’s what all of us were at the time. Our members are not just romance writers, however. They come from all genres. Looking back, I’ve often wished I’d named it Marketing for Every Writer. Of course, then the initials would have been MEW vs MFRW and our symbol might have been a black cat!
In 2006, we had 12 members. Eleven years later, there are 2420 of us, plus 6781 on Facebook, 3875 on Twitter, untold numbers on Goodreads, and 1492+ on Pinterest with 54 boards and over 790 pins. Our staff of volunteers produces an award winning newsletter and in 2018, we will publish a monthly magazine. How can we promote for you?
About MFRW
Marketing for Romance Writers is a peer-oriented mentoring group open to the entire literary community. Ask your marketing-related questions, or request help, advice, or opinions. You can learn how to create a professional image and use it effectively, as well as ask for opportunities to join other authors in promotional efforts. You can learn the business aspects of writing.
News about pitch sessions and calls for submission are posted on the Yahoo group. As a member, you can attend exclusive, member-only pitch events with publishers. Members can attend free, online workshops and seminars.
Marketing for Romance Writers promotes for its members on most social media. Get your book cover pinned on one of the MFRW Pinterest boards, and show off your cover models. Share your tweets with the MFRW street team and get them shared on Twitter. The hashtags #MFRWorg #MFRWauthor and #MFRWhop promote for you. You can get interviewed on BlogTalkRadio. Link your blog to a community hop via a unique software “ribbon” with exciting themes, and draw readers to your site.
Find and Join MFRW
Marketing for Romance Writers Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/
Marketing for Romance Writers Website http://marketingforromancewriters.org
Marketing for Romance Writers News https://www.facebook.com/mfrworg
Marketing for Romance Writers Promo https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/
Free Promotion for MFRW Members
Follow us – we follow back.
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mfrworg/
Goodreads http://is.gd/mfrwgoodreads
Google+ http://bit.ly/mfrworg-gplus
LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/marketing-for-romance-writers-organization/
Twitter http://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG our hashtags are #MFRWauthor #MFRWorg #MFRWhooksMFRW Volunteer Staff
Kayelle Allen, Founder https://kayelleallen.com
Emerald, Facebook Coordinator and Editor http://www.TheGreenLightDistrict.org
Mona Karel, Moderator, Blog Hop Coordinator http://mona-karel.com
Paloma Beck, Blog Director http://www.romancebeckons.net/index.html
Rochelle Weber, Newsletter Publisher http://www.rochelleweber.com
Barbara Donlon Bradley, Newsletter Editor http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com
Michelle Davis, Newsletter Editor https://twitter.com/michelle40768
Libby McKinmer, Newsletter Editor http://libbymckinmer.com
Mari Anne Christie, Newsletter Editor http://marichristie.info/
Reet Singh, Goodreads Coordinator http://www.reetsingh.in
Lisa Lowe, Goodreads Coordinator (website under construction)
Zeenat Mahal, Goodreads Coordinator http://www.zeenatmahal.com/
Tina Gayle, Twitter Promo Coordinator http://www.tinagayle.net/home.html
Carmen Stefanescu, Blog Coordinator http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.com/
If you have questions about marketing your books, or you want to share an opportunity such as being a guest on your blog, join us. It’s okay to ask for guest spots too. The MFRW motto is “seek, teach, share, learn, succeed.” Services and membership are free. Are you part of the Marketing for Romance Writers success story? Please share in the comments.