It must be exhausting to constantly be told that how you use an author’s toolkit depends on what story is being told, but it’s something that needs to be turned into a mantra. Many key elements tell the reader where, how, why, and when the story takes place. In particular, the when of the story… Read More
Critique is Crucial: Seven steps to a great writing group
Writers love writing; we wouldn’t be in this business if we didn’t. What writers don’t love (for the most part) is sharing their writing. Sharing your writing is terrifying. There’s no bones about it. Your words could get torn apart, or worse–stolen. It’s baring your precious darling to the world and praying it doesn’t get… Read More
Let’s Talk About Sex, Part 3: Be Explicit
In this, our final installment of our ‘how to write better sex’ series, we will be discussing the finer points of this unique body of writing. Part One discussed researching the science of sex; Part Two illustrated the many ways which authors can write sex in character. We wrap the series the best way we can to prepare you… Read More
Let’s Talk About Sex, Part 2: Stay in! (Character)
One of the things that Alexis and I come across when editing manuscripts is this weird sort of habit – I’m not sure if writers even realize they’re doing it – where the names of the characters almost never come up during a sex scene. Pull up your MS, erotica writer, and take a look at that… Read More