Six Sentence Sunday
Singer/ song-writer and romance author David Russell is at my blog this week. Please drop by at http://www.meganjohnsinvites.blogspot.com to say hi.
David says the best writing advice he has ever received is to always be receptive to criticism, but never accept the judgement of one individual as final. Sounds like good advice to me!
Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of 'Self’s Blossom' and check out the great reviews.
Megan Johns Coming 21 Nov Writers on the Wrong side of the Road - MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
Romance author Cherie Marks is my guest this week at http://www.meganjohnsinvites.blogspot.com .
Cherie say of herself: ‘Always a hint humorous and honest to a fault, I love to make people laugh and smile’.
Here’s the trailer to her latest release http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXrDrRC1daM&feature=youtu.be
Drop by to read more about INTO THE FIRE Two top chefs meet head-to-head on a TV cooking show, but can they resist each other as they move out of the pan and into the fire?
Leave a comment for the chance to win a $10 GC
Megan Johns http://www.megan-johns.com/
Romance author Cherie Marks is my guest this week at http://www.meganjohnsinvites.blogspot.com .
Cherie say of herself: ‘Always a hint humorous and honest to a fault, I love to make people laugh and smile’.
Here’s the trailer to her latest release http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXrDrRC1daM&feature=youtu.be
Drop by to read more about INTO THE FIRE Two top chefs meet head-to-head on a TV cooking show, but can they resist each other as they move out of the pan and into the fire?
Leave a comment for the chance to win a $10 GC
Megan Johns http://www.megan-johns.com/
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
Erotic romance author Roz Lee is my guest at MeganJohnsInvites promoting her latest release: 'Still Taking Chances’
Blurb: Mary Beth Winters packed away her toys and put the BDSM lifestyle behind her years ago when she realized the men she dominated didn’t need her as much as she needed them. But when a troubled bad-boy, Elgin ‘Hud’ Huddleston, moves in across the street, she dusts off her toy box and risks her heart to help him heal http://www.eredsage.com/store/StillTakingChances.html
Find out why Roz has Shaggy Dog Syndrome and win a copy of ‘Kinky Cupcakes’
Also, I’m blogging on themes at http://www.meganjohns.blogspot.com/. What’s your take?
Megan Johns The Path of Innocence BUY MeganJohnsInvites MeganJohnsblogspot Coming soon The AR rule-wrecking Anthology
Erotic romance author Roz Lee is my guest at MeganJohnsInvites promoting her latest release: 'Still Taking Chances’
Blurb: Mary Beth Winters packed away her toys and put the BDSM lifestyle behind her years ago when she realized the men she dominated didn’t need her as much as she needed them. But when a troubled bad-boy, Elgin ‘Hud’ Huddleston, moves in across the street, she dusts off her toy box and risks her heart to help him heal http://www.eredsage.com/store/StillTakingChances.html
Find out why Roz has Shaggy Dog Syndrome and win a copy of ‘Kinky Cupcakes’
Also, I’m blogging on themes at http://www.meganjohns.blogspot.com/. What’s your take?
Megan Johns The Path of Innocence BUY MeganJohnsInvites MeganJohnsblogspot Coming soon The AR rule-wrecking Anthology
Thursday, 6 October 2011
In response to the AR bloghop question: Theme is a scary word for most writers. What is your take?
When I first pick up my pen (yes, I’m a longhand writer!) predominant in my head is a mental picture of a location with which I have some sort of attachment. I then put my characters in it and let them respond to each other and the environment.
Of course, I have a good idea of my characters and what makes them tick, which in turn gives me clues as to possible themes. However, most themes will evolve as a result of the way they interact i.e. the plot.
I will have a general idea of the direction I want to head and I invariably know the end result, but not necessarily how to get there. Perhaps themes are operating at some subliminal level of my consciousness from the outset, but they might only become evident later when they emerge as a natural development of the plot.
For example, in my wip a pertinent theme emerged quite late in the novel but, on looking back, the seeds were sown from an early stage.
Of course, there isn’t just one theme at work and in The Path of Innocence I included various themes including:
Complex women with contradictory needs
Love and friendship
Jealousy and hate
The lust for power
Suffering
Inner isolation
It’s easy to pick these out with hindsight, but if I’m honest the only one that I was absolutely clear about from the outset was the first.
So, do themes really matter? Well, yes, I think they do. A book with a message is more likely to strike a chord with readers.
Broad themes, in particular, enable us to explore issues in depth and lend more meat to our writing. For blogs, however, narrow themes work very well.
When I first pick up my pen (yes, I’m a longhand writer!) predominant in my head is a mental picture of a location with which I have some sort of attachment. I then put my characters in it and let them respond to each other and the environment.
Of course, I have a good idea of my characters and what makes them tick, which in turn gives me clues as to possible themes. However, most themes will evolve as a result of the way they interact i.e. the plot.
I will have a general idea of the direction I want to head and I invariably know the end result, but not necessarily how to get there. Perhaps themes are operating at some subliminal level of my consciousness from the outset, but they might only become evident later when they emerge as a natural development of the plot.
For example, in my wip a pertinent theme emerged quite late in the novel but, on looking back, the seeds were sown from an early stage.
Of course, there isn’t just one theme at work and in The Path of Innocence I included various themes including:
Complex women with contradictory needs
Love and friendship
Jealousy and hate
The lust for power
Suffering
Inner isolation
It’s easy to pick these out with hindsight, but if I’m honest the only one that I was absolutely clear about from the outset was the first.
So, do themes really matter? Well, yes, I think they do. A book with a message is more likely to strike a chord with readers.
Broad themes, in particular, enable us to explore issues in depth and lend more meat to our writing. For blogs, however, narrow themes work very well.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Six Sentence Sunday blog
Are the benefits of ebook giveaways lost in view of the sheer number on offer?
Also, does giving away our prized possession devalue its intrinsic worth and how do we avoid this pitfall?
I believe it is important that we are excited about the book in question and that we convey our enthusiasm by talking it up through sms sites like facebook and twitter. We need to make readers feel that the prize is something ‘special’ by posting review quotes or short extracts to help enhance the worth of the prize.
There is no doubt that giveaways are a much used marketing tool – some might say overused – yet I believe there is still mileage in them providing they themselves are marketed effectively.
Read more at http://www.meganjohns.blogspot.com
Also, does giving away our prized possession devalue its intrinsic worth and how do we avoid this pitfall?
I believe it is important that we are excited about the book in question and that we convey our enthusiasm by talking it up through sms sites like facebook and twitter. We need to make readers feel that the prize is something ‘special’ by posting review quotes or short extracts to help enhance the worth of the prize.
There is no doubt that giveaways are a much used marketing tool – some might say overused – yet I believe there is still mileage in them providing they themselves are marketed effectively.
Read more at http://www.meganjohns.blogspot.com
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