Showing posts with label Author of Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author of Romance. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Creating the Perfect Environment for Your Writing by Connie Vines

Since it is the last day of school, I am reposting a blog post from earlier this year.

Do you know what you need from your environment in order to write?

If not, it is time to find out.

Our physical surroundings are immensely important to our writing process.

Far more important than most people think.

We cannot work if we are distracted, annoyed, or constantly interrupted.  We need to feel inspired and comfortable in our surroundings in order to be creative.

If your home office is cluttered with papers, laundry, and stacks of research materials, it is not the right place to write.

The mess might distract you and make you miserable, because it sends a signal about the kind of work environment you think you deserve.

It is just as bad if your office is empty. Writers work best in a creative atmosphere.

If inspiration disappears when you sit down to write you must reassess your surroundings.
Sometimes removing the clutter and reorganization of your work area will do the trick.  Other times, you need a more drastic approach.

Create a Place to Thrive.

I need privacy to work on big projects like a novel.  My Pandora app on my iPhone and my BOSE speaker create the perfect blend of music that centers me in my storyline. New Orleans Jazz now, but it was country and western when I was writing my rodeo romance. As a rule, I type or dictate to my computer while writing, but I keep a pen and composition book close by to make notes.

Do You Feel Inspired in Your Writing Place?



If not, what do you need to do to make your work space inspirational?

Perhaps you are a writer who must have activity all around, all the time-- 24/7.  Since my day job is at a middle school, I am unable to relate to such a need.  However, the library cafĂ©, coffee shop, or park picnic table may be your perfect writing place.

Ditch the Distractions.

Television blasting, cell phone ‘pings’, Facebook alert messages, the must ‘do list’ at the corner of your desk, all must be out of sight.  I must have all other work in progress or notes on future projects in my filing cabinet.  If I have my notes visible, I am excessively tempted to work on this project too.

Make Your Writing Work Space Beautiful.   


Sit on a quality chair, fresh flowers, candles, a window, favorite mug, favorite pen.  Any item that makes you spend more time in your writing space.  What makes you happy?

Of course, a tailor-built writing space, or even a room dedicated as your office, is not always possible.  Be creative.  Find your personal writing space.

Happy Writing and Reading,

Connie Vines



Friday, January 7, 2011

Welcome my friend, Lindsay Below...

The Fight for a Bride
By Lindsay Below

We all face challenges in our lives. Love and romance can be especially grueling. How many of us have had to fight before gaining the love we coveted?

Natalia, from my historical romance novella Unveiling His Princess, faces this very problem. Although she’s been betrothed to Bennett since birth, she’s never met him. She’s always known that she would someday marry him, and she’s accepted that fact. But one day, when her stepsister steals her identity and travels to marry Bennett in her place, Natalia is forced into a battle for the love of her future husband -- and she doesn’t even know whether she wants it.

Nevertheless, she disguises herself and sneaks into his palace, posing as a scullery maid during the day while she tries to convince him of her identity at night. To make matters worse, her stepsister soon learns of her arrival and goes out of the way to make her life as a scullery maid absolutely wretched.

Does she succeed? Does Bennett learn of the truth of her identity in time? Unveiling His Princess is now available from Liquid Silver Books!

How many of you have had to struggle before earning your spouse or partner’s hand?


L. K. Below writes romance and speculative fiction. Under her full name, Lindsay Below, she publishes young adult novels. Visit her online at www.lbelow.net.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Pat? Dale? Who's the Thankful One?

Even Molly looks suspicious.  :)
It’s that time of year again. This is when we strain our brain in search of reasons to be thankful for what we have. By the time you’re my age, I think we should be thankful each day we wake up and realize we got another reload. 

I do have a number of things to give thanks for, other than my still being on the planet as something other than plant food. First of all, my birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day this year. I was born on my parents second anniversary and thanksgiving, so I’m thankful for loving parents and a wonderful time of year to celebrate. 

I just got my quarterly royalty payment from one of my publishers, so I’m especially thankful that my books are still selling. Can’t wait until I’ll be getting one of these things from Muse. I’m excited as well as thankful that Lea and Litsa have got this baby going top speed already. Should be a fun ride, and not just for the money though that makes it even better.

Don’t know about the rest of you, but I write so others can share a bit of my strange creativity. Characters come to life in my brain and I bust my chops to get them out where the rest of the world (at least the part that is paying attention) can assimilate them. I just love it when a character comes to life!

I have a great family, mostly in good health, mostly more fun than the proverbial barrel of monkeys, and mostly hoping the old man (moi) will hang around a little longer. A tip of the hat to Craig, my son in law, who just had major back surgery and is back home recovering. He and my daughter Mikki have a pair of grandkids that would make anyone thankful to be their grandparent. And to Lecia, my daughter in Florida, who’s given the family Jaden, who lights up our smiles on a regular basis.

I also have more three more kids and a passel of grandkids all over this great country, something else I give thanks for. America is not perfect, but she’s the best thing to come along so far, and with a heart that reaches out to people all over the globe. 

So, that’s my thanksgiving shopping list in a nutshell. God has been kind to me, given me health, talent, family, and a wonderful land to spend my earth days with. How much better could it get?

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Let’s celebrate another year! Cheers,
Dale Thompson (living as Pat Dale in a book near your computer)

Check Pat Dale's impressive list of available books on his website.

Coming in 2011:

Sleeping with her Enemy
After losing her husband to an accident and her son to a hit-and-run driver, Ana finds love in Dan’s arms only to discover he may be the driver who killed her boy.
(available April 1, 2011)

Dance with the Devil
Buddy battles a seamy local legacy as he searches for love he can trust, but after finding it with Robin; he’s in for the fight of his life.
(available July 1, 2011)

Zach’s Amazing Dream Machine
Zach, taunted by his classmates, sets out to build a machine that will confirm his grandfather’s stories are true, only to discover a startling fact about ‘truth’ and an unsettling one about human nature.
(available September 1, 2011)

Learn about these and many other fine new novels in multiple genre at:

 

Romance Reviews

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