evannelorraine.com

Fan Girl Friday

Evanne — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:38 +0000

Last year I considered moving for a couple of months. When I looked around the house, books were an obvious problem. I reduced the library by a couple of bookcases, maybe a third of the total number of titles. Only a few of the missing books have called to me. Even if I wind up repurchasing them, in ebook form, I have no regrets about thinning the collection.

Curious about the books that earned keeper status? Reference volumes, dictionaries, timelines, thesarus, cookbooks, garden books, and writing craft books. Fiction keepers are heavy on the classics, some children’s tales, a few old favorites, and best loved stories.

Exactly what makes a best loved tale? They aren’t flawless. Some of my all-time greatest titles have parts that make me roll my eyes and groan. The favorite story isn’t necessarily the perfectly rendered tale. It’s a story that speaks to me, that moves me to smile, to cry, to cringe, to connect, and to believe.

That’s’ why there’s Lori Foster’s Too Much Temptation bracketed between Jane Eyre and I am a Memory Come Alive.

Real life

Evanne — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:19:08 +0000

There are times when my mind is a total blank. Ironically, if I’m trying to meditate this state is all but impossible to achieve. A blank manuscript screen and it happens in a flash.

Free meditation tip: open up your word processor and try to write the great American novel or even a nice chatty letter to Aunt Em.

Share the love, what makes you draw a blank?

WIP Wednesday

Evanne — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:18 +0000

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m writing slower, at least at the moment. I’m studying more and working on writing craft. While all this is going on, I’m also writing longer stories. The combination means fewer dangerously sexy tales will be completed this year.

Learning is always a slow process for me.

How about you, quick to pick up new tips and tricks? Or slow and steady gathering momentum as you go?

BTW, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

Teaser Tuesday

Evanne — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:42 +0000

Ranin Seven was reviewed over at Tour’s Book blog. The kind reader said mostly nice things and pointed out I have room for improvement.

I’m working on it, but the more I learn the more there is to learn. Perfection will always elude me. Currently, I’m writing much slower in an effort to become more polished.

Except for the blog…

Music Monday

Evanne — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:22 +0000

Romantic mood music…

Sunday Funnies

Evanne — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:00:24 +0000

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Six-pack Saturday

Evanne — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:02:10 +0000

I’ve blogged about what’s great about writing romance–it is a popular dream career for good reason. All jobs have advantages and disadvantages. Here are six things I like about work–any job.

1) Work pays me

2) Work provides social interaction–great for those of us with hermit tendencies

3) Work entertains me

4) Work offers an opportunity to learn and improve

5) Work saves me money–all those hours of employment pay me and reduce my spending

6) Work gives me a chance to teach as well as learn

Share the love, what’s great about your job?

Fan Girl Friday

Evanne — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:48 +0000

Recently, I picked up one of the Troubleshooter books by Suzanne Brockmann. I suspected I’d already read it, but it’s been long enough that I don’t mind rereading a bit. As the story continues, I’m more and more riveted, remembering why I loved romantic suspense.

Share the love, do you reread favorite titles or do they have to be new-to-you books?

Real life

Evanne — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:30 +0000

Last week I did something I’ve never done before, I reread one of my already published stories, Ranin Seven. As I read, I found errors that made me groan. Of course, they’re all my mistakes. This makes it worse.

Despite the lack of perfection, I enjoyed the adventure. Considering how many times I’ve read the same words long before it became available, that’s amazing.

Share the love, do you re-read or is once enough?

WIP Wednesday

Evanne — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:56 +0000

Conflict is the engine that drives stories, keeping me clicking pages way too late.

While writing, my own conflicting goals drive me nuts.

I want to write fast. I want to write riveting tales. I want them polished to seamless smoothness.
For reasons that don’t seem truly adequate, I can’t manage all three at the same time.

Then there’s the problem deciding which one to give up on….lately speed has slowed to a crawl. I wish I could be sure it was because the manuscript was riveting and smooth.