Ask An Editor: Structuring an Overheard Phone Conversation
Posted on Friday, May 21st, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn
Dear Theresa:
This might not be earth shattering enough to be posted – BUT – I’d really appreciate an answer on this one – as this type of scene is in two different spots in my [...]
Erotic Romance Part II: Hot? Not?
Posted on Monday, April 26th, 2010 by Kelsey Browning
Welcome our second look at the erotic romance sub-genre. If you missed Eden Bradley’s lecture on erotic romance earlier this month, be sure to hit it as well. Read on for New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight’s insights [...]
continue readingAsk An Editor: Verb Tense
Posted on Friday, April 16th, 2010 by Kelsey Browning
But we’ve noticed a few trends in the questions. People ask about many of the same issues, and many of those issues center on how to build effective sentences. So now we’re going to alternate questions with these common topics of concern. Don’t worry! This won’t be your junior high English class! And nothing could prove that point better than a quick examination of verb tenses. What you were taught in school isn’t precisely what you need to know as a fiction writer. Let’s examine some of those differences within the five major tenses.
continue readingWeekly Lecture Schedule for April 12-16: Borders’ Sue Grimshaw, Wayne Levine & Managing Editor Theresa Stevens
Posted on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn
Hello, everyone!
In case you missed our announcement on April 8, please help us welcome our newest addition to the Romance University faculty: Carrie Spencer! Carrie has been a regular reader and participant at RU since [...]
Ask An Editor: Submissions
Posted on Friday, March 19th, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn
This month, for something different, we’re going to answer a trio of short questions on the topic of submissions. Be sure to read below to find out how you can win a download of Partners [...]
continue readingWriting Hot Love Scenes
Posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 by Kelsey Browning
Today, we’re thrilled to have Nicole North join us to talk about a subject dear (okay, VERY dear) to my heart—writing hotter-than-August-in-Hades love scenes.
continue readingAsk An Editor: Problem With Tense?
Posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 by Tracey Devlyn
This month, for something different, we’re going to examine a paragraph sent in by a reader. She recently received some feedback which complained about the verb tenses in this paragraph.
Her dark gaze darted from [...]
Ask an Editor: Passive and Literary Writing
Posted on Friday, November 27th, 2009 by Kelsey Browning
Theresa:
Your last column on writing actively brought up a question I’ve had for quite some time on passive voice writing. In commercial genre fiction (romance, mystery, etc), the practice of writing in an active voice [...]
Ask an Editor: Delivering Bad News to a Writer
Posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 by Kelsey Browning
It can be difficult to deliver bad news to a writer, but sometimes, it’s the kindest thing you can do. No author would want to spend a year or more completing a manuscript only to learn that her plot is a near-perfect duplicate of an existing published novel.
continue readingAsk an Editor: Two Types of Action
Posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 by Kelsey Browning
One area I seem to have problems with is passive writing. I have to work to make my first draft more active, and it takes too much time! I’d like to be able to write, not just the exciting, action scenes, but the rest of the story without being passive.
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