Dishin' It Out: #Western Romance

Friday, February 24, 2023

How Can Contemporary Fiction Keep Up With A Changing World? #Round Robin #WriterTips

How Can Contemporary Fiction Keep Up With A Changing World?

Thank you, Dr. Bob, for this month's topic.

I write in multiple genres. For obvious reasons, history takes place in the past, and technology isn't an issue. However, accurate historical knowledge (especially by YA) readers, perhaps should be discussed at another time.

Contemporary Stories

I find to keep up with tech, climate, and social focus (coffee pot vs coffee pods; someone should be a vegan; changes in fashion, etc.) I need to update my novels every 3 to 5 years unless I wish to market them as 'vintage'.

This isn't a real problem with my Western stories or my RomCom Paranormal stories.

My urban/big city stories often require revisions after the book is completed and ready for submission.

AI (artificial intelligence) do I need to mention its possible impact on selecting an employee for a position?

If I'm building a series, my choice will have a longer reach than if it's a stand-alone novel.

I try to avoid 'hot buttons' in contemporary novels because the focus is on "the romance', 'the humor', or 'life in a small town'.

Paranormal/ SiFi

I believe it's much easier to slide contemporary (hot-button) issues into this genre.

Not as a pro/con on the part of the author; observation and possible outcome of a misstep

Thank you for stopping by today.

I'm working on my laptop with limited WiFi here in SoCal.

Weather conditions in the burbs are unexpected this week: rain, 60 - 85 mph wind gusts, hail storms, blizzard warnings in the nearby mountains/ passes, and a small tornado that ripped out a 50 ft pine tree. (all fodder for a future novel or two 😆 .)

Connie

Please visit our Round Robin blog participants:

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Connie Vines https://mizging.blogspot.com/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2QS

Anne Stenhouse http://wp.me/31lsq

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenfairfax.com/blog

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Stuck in Your Story? Favorite Ways to Get Things Moving Again. By Connie Vines #RR, #RoundRobinBlog, #Writing Tips,

Ah, the universal problem for a writer.

Favorite ways to get your story moving again! This month's topic:

It (writers' block) often appears when the story is running smoothly....that is, until either your hero or heroine refuses to go along with your plotline. This is when 'storyland' begins to get ugly! 😕

What steps do I take? (Whining, crying, or insisting your characters conform, is pointless.--I learned that the hard way).

☕ Coffee, a brief break in my garden, or listening to calming music will often work.

An idea 💭will pop into my head--or one of the 'characters will tell me what will happen next.

Other times, nothing seems to work.

This is known as the "Dark Moment" when All Is Lost!

Since I write multiple novels simultaneously, I'll pull out another story to edit, work on a blog post, or simply leave the story alone for a day or two. 💻

I may leave the story alone, but subconsciously, I'm still thinking about it and dreaming.

I can't say I always come up with a way to complete a story, but I do most of the time.

Please visit my other author friends and find out how they get their stories moving again.

An author's favorite moment?

Typing "The End."

Happy Reading, everyone!

Connie

XOXO

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Dr. Bob Rich --- https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2CG

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com