The best writing advice I give is very succinct. Put your butt into the chair and write. There’s no substitute for experience. But since I’m seldom without something to say (ask my husband) and since I’m on Twitter (join me at http://twitter.com/christinadodd) I wrote up a series of Tweets for: CHRISTINA DODD’S WRITING TIPSXtina's Writing Tip: Write the book you want to read. Xtina's Writing Tip: In romance, plot is important. Xtina's Writing Tip: Characters are more important. Xtina's Writing Tip: Hero/heroine can do anything, no matter how stupid or trivial, if they're well motivated. Xtina's Writing Tip: Motivate your hero/heroine w *big* things: important issues, dramatic experiences.
Xtina's Writing Tip: If yr heroine starts the book being a timid, bookish librarian in glasses, she had better become a wild, passionate, smart adventurer by THE END. Xtina's Writing Tip: If yr hero starts out the book as a rude, revenge-driven, sexy, rich brute...hey, I'm a happy reader! Let me try that again. Writing Tip: If yr hero begins as vengeful sexy rich brute, by THE END he had better be tamed by heroine's love. Still sexy & rich, tho. Xtina's #1 Writing Tip: As long as you produce pages, yr writing method is the best. Xtina's Writing Tip: Research is important, but I'll never get it all right. Must just write the book! Xtina's Writing Tip: Finished yr manuscript? Go back & kill the "justs" & "suddenlys." Xtina's Writing Tip: Finished yr manuscript? Go back & take out half of the stage direction. Writing Tip: @heather_mac says vacuum cleaner is yr best writing tool. Stuck? Think about vacuuming & inspiration fills yr brain. Xtina's Writing Tip: Tortured, brooding, sexy, ruthless heroes...I love them. Not really a tip. Truth. Xtina's Writing Tip: Stuck? Change location. Move to bedroom, deck, Starbucks. Don't know why, but this jogs my brain. Xtina's Writing Tip: Good reviews=reviewer w good taste. Bad reviews=reviewer w PMS. Don't sweat reviews; good or bad, it's just an opinion. Xtina's Writing Tip: Email & Twitter 2 much of a temptation? Write on an Alphasmart Neo. No internet! Xtina's Writing Tip: Are you editing too much? Write on an Alphasmart Neo. Forces forward progress. Xtina's Writing Tip: Set a timer for an hour & write. Don't get up, check email, answer phone. Write. (Thanks 2 SEP) Xtina's Writing Tip: Ideas r everywhere. Watch movies. Read books. Improve bad stories & re-work good ones. Xtina's Writing Tip: Motivation can be as easy as an M&M w/ each paragraph. Whatever works! Xtina's Writing Tip: If yr goal is 5 pages & u don't make it, don't yell at yrself. Next day, start new & write 5 pages. Writing Tip: Author glamour overrated, especially at Costco in gardening clothes covered w dirt. Xtina's Writing Tip: Best words in the English language=THE END. Better than "I love u" or "Here's yr royalty check." Xtina's Writing Tip: Win a contest? Finish a 1st chapter? Or a book? Pub your 40th book? (STORM OF SHADOWS) Celebrate! Writing Tip: Selling yr first book is An Occasion that will never come again. Celebrate! DH, 2 kids and I went to DisneyWorld. Writing Tip: Promo is not writing. Blogging not writing. Tweeting not...Writing=producing pages on book w (self-imposed) deadline! Xtina's Writing Tip: Some stories r hard 2 write, some easy. Doesn't matter, doesn't effect how the book is received. Xtina's Writing Tip: My favorite book is the one I just finished or the one I haven't started. Never the one I'm working on. Xtina's Writing Tip: Always ask, "What's the worst thing that could happen 2 this character?" Then write it! Xtina's Writing Tip: The book of yr heart is important, but if you want a career in publishing, yr heart had better be TEAMING w/ books. Xtina's Writing Tip 1: A synopsis is a roadmap of my plot. Want to write quickly? Work out every plot point before u start. Xtina's Writing Tip 2: Divide yr synopsis into chapters so you always know what happens next. Of course, changes happen... Xtina's Writing Tip 3: Synopsis is a roadmap. Off-roading is encouraged! Change, revise, do anything 2 improve story! Xtina's Writing Tip: IMO, best writing book Chris Vogler's WRITER'S JOURNEY. Problems? Flip open 2 any page & get immediate help. Writing Tip: Listen to my inspirational speech given to 2200 RWA writers. It's 45 minutes, so bring popcorn... http://tinyurl.com/knkc4b Check back occasionally — CHRISTINA DODD’S WRITING TIPS will undoubtedly get additions. Don’t forget, you can join my fan page on Facebook, too! http://www.facebook.com/ChristinaDoddFans
Want more of my writing advice? Read the article I wrote and published in the August 2010 Romance Writers Report,
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Xtina's Writing Tip: Torture your hero early & often; it develops their character, sort of like roasting nuts brings out the flavor.
