Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware that characters are kind of big deals when it comes to fiction writing. They’re the heart of the story and the main reason our readers gift us with hours of their lives. Let’s face it: without characters, the reading experience wouldn’t really be electrifying. Like, at all. May as well hand them a book on mathematical physics, I say.

I mean, sure, some readers enjoy plot-driven stories, but almost every great story is about the people. Even a fantastic plot-driven book would feel empty without well-developed characters. Why? Because there’s nothing like connecting with a story on an emotional level. And having rich, layered characters in your book is the way you achieve that. How? By making them realistic. I know, I know. This goes without saying . . . but it’s best to add a reminder. Just in case.

For many women, pregnancy is like a second birth. Many even consider that their life only truly begins the day they give birth. But there is a second group of women who are very worried at the idea of getting pregnant. It has nothing to do with not liking children, but it’s related to some common fears and worries that false information and urban myths have created around pregnancy. In truth, whether you are considering having children or whether you know someone who is, it’s good to get your pregnancy facts checked with science.

Focus on eating healthy

Craig Boyack here, with another post on the Storyreading Ape’s blog. This is my eighth post here, and the assignment gets more difficult with each post. “Write something without going down the buy my book path.” It’s a great test, and I’m always up for a challenge.

I’m writing this early in the morning on Christmas Eve. I may actually have a new book out by now, but don’t dare write about it today. My topic is going to be speculative fiction.

In the writing world, there are more definitions for every term than are helpful. Look up word counts for short stories as an example. In most cases, I look to the definitions as guidelines and make up my own parameters. Speculative fiction is like that. For me, it involves at least one impossible element.

You can look to broad categories like science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal, or you…

Hello, bloggers!

I hope you are having the most fabulous of days!! It’s always a great day in Alabama!!  🙂

Today, I have a treat for you. Susan Hughesis visiting with us and we are talking about the one thing that many authors aren’t a fan of… EDITING!!!Susan has some wonderful suggestions to share with us. So, as always, enjoy…

When Marlena offered me the opportunity to write a guest post for her blog, I jumped right on it. As an editor, I’ve been exposed to a wide range of writing styles and skill levels. I’ve edited professional documents for school districts, articles for the Huffington Post, poetry, nonfiction, fiction . . . you name it. As the copy editor for Addison: The Magazine of the North Dallas Corridor, I spend time on that end of things as well.

Most of my work, however, is with self-published…

You ever have days when you don’t know what to write? I’m in one of those places right now. I’ve spent the last hour and a half reviewing blogs of some of my favorite writers and reading through my latest Writer’s Digest, but I am still struggling for inspiration.

I like to write blogs that help others avoid the mistakes that I make. You would think I would have an endless supply of topics, since I’ve made about every mistake imaginable. I’m sitting here staring at the screen and my mind is a blank canvas.

I suppose that could be a good thing at times, but today is not one of those times 🙂 What do you do when you don’t know what to write?

The most common response I get, is just start writing. The words may come slow at first, but they will catch up with you.

I’m testing that…

Where are you? Oh God!
Where could you actually be?
Are you somewhere around me?
If you are, why can’t I see ?

Where are you? I want the answer,
I’ve sent my heart, in search of you,
I’m sure, it will find you one day,
It will make me walk your way.

My heart searched everywhere it could,
Above the sky, deep in the sea,
Over the mountain, into the dale,
But no fortune, to no avail.

Heart was exhausted, but yet it called,
‘God is somewhere far away,
It is not true, that you spose,
For he is somewhere very close!

A question, then it began to ask,
Why does a mother live selflessly,
For her children every day,
What makes her live that way?

It answered, God exists in this love,
Of mother towards children’,
I simply concluded in my mind,
Only in love, my God I…

For Christians around the world, Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday and includes Holy Thursday and Good Friday, ending at midnight on Holy Saturday. Holy Week ends on Easter Sunday with the celebration of Jesus rising from the tomb.

Many of you may already know this, but Palm Sunday is the day in which Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. His choice of travel is symbolic, because Jesus chose to show people that He came in peace. An examination of history shows us that when a king rode into a city on a horse, he entered for war. If a king rode into a city on a donkey, he came in peace.

Will you be observing Palm Sunday with a special meal and/or attending church services? Please share in the comments below.

USA Today Bestselling Author Josie Riviera writes Historical, Inspirational and…

Photo by http://offers.hubspot.com/science-of-facebook-marketing

This is a guest post by Joan Herbert. Joan is an Assistant Manager atBank-Opening-Times.co.uk, a curious individual, avid reader, and a passionate creative writer.

Using Facebook Groups to Promote Your Book

Book promotion can involve a significant amount of effort and time, and thus, using the proper tools can be an advantage. If you have recently published a book, you will want to consider utilizing the power of Facebook groups to increase its exposure. When posting in this way, it is important to target the right audience and choose a group that has a large number of members. Furthermore, directing users to a landing page instead of an Amazon link will help maximize sales.

Here are five keys to finding success with Facebook groups:

1. Identify an Audience

While there is the possibility of achieving book sales by posting to virtually any group on…

Hello, SEers! Harmony here 🙂

Recently, I had to update my webpage to reflect a book release due out soon. I realised that I had forgotten completely how to make the book previews that I’d done for my other books, lols. So, good old Google came to the rescue. Then I thought that it might be useful for folks if I outlined the process of Embedding Amazon Book Previews into your website here. If you know all this already, then of course feel free to ignore me! The other benefit of sharing this is that, in writing it all out, it might actually embed in this brain of mine! (Miracles have been known to happen.)

Happily, unlike donating digital gifts (including ebooks), this feature works on both Amazon UK as well as Amazon US. Yay! (Sorry, but being in the UK, that’s one of my gripes, ha ha.)

Anyhooooo …

Hey, some of these tips might help with that WRITING CONTEST you are thinking about entering!

WIN your share of $400 in prizes AND get valuable feedback. ClickHEREto learn more!

1. Start the story as late as possible

2. Have a grabber opening

3. Make the reader care, usually via the MC

4. What are the stakes? What can be gained or lost?

5. End with a cliffhanger so we go to chapter 2

Need more info? Let’s read on then, shall we?

(Learn more about writing better stories HERE)

Start the story as late as possible

Most authors bury the really interesting stuff a few paragraphs in, or worse, in chapter two or three. What’s the first interesting thing that happens in your story? Start there.

(Learn about tightening your story HERE)

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Have a grabber opening

Holy cow, am I intrigued by this…