Tag: Writing Exercises
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Book Review: ‘How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily Ever Afters’
How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily-Ever-Afters (2019) By: The Editors at Avon Books Publisher: Morrow Gift, an imprint of William Morrow Although I’m not a romance novelist, I find myself diving into the delicate art of crafting love stories within my novel, Reunion: Coda. While…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Maddie Fends Off a Matchmaker! (Writing Exercise)
Writing As a Craft: Keeping Secrets? Author’s Note: This passage is based on one of the many writing exercises from the book How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes, and Happily Ever Afters. In this exercise, I wrote in the third person to practice creating engaging dialogue and…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Jim’s Backstory (The Teen Years Before ‘Reunion: A Story’)
Jot down the backstory of your hero – what made him the way he is? What about him can and should change? What can’t? Since Jim Garraty’s character develops between the Present Day sections of Reunion: A Story (February 1998) and Reunion: Coda (February 2000), we will focus on “teenage Jim” as introduced in the…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Five Character Traits – Jim Garraty
The Reunion Duology follows Jim Garraty through two significant life stages: his teenage years in high school and his mid-30s as a professor. Key characteristics of Jim include intelligence, compassion, humor, reserve, and sentimentality, reflecting his growth and emotional struggles. Each phase brings unique qualities that shape his character.
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Of Brothers…and Sisters
Jim Garraty, an only child, forms a close bond with his friend Mark, who plays a protective older brother role. Mark’s relationship with his younger sister Leslie is mostly loving. Maddie had a strong bond with her younger sister Libby, who excelled in music before her premature death, leaving Maddie deeply affected.
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On Writing and Storytelling: Shared Traits of Protagonists
On Writing and Storytelling: Writing Exercise – Shared Traits of Protagonists Embark on a Journey of Shared Souls Dive into the heart of storytelling where two lives intertwine across time and space. In this writing exercise, we explore the common threads that bind the spirits of our protagonists, Jim Garraty and Maddie. From the sun-kissed…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Writing a ‘Conflict Scene’ with the Protagonist and the ‘Villain’
Mid-Afternoon, Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire I found myself awake before the clock struck five this morning. Despite my efforts to drift back to sleep, anxieties about my impending move to Miami kept gnawing at me. Exhaustion has hit me hard, leaving me struggling to concentrate on penning the new chapters of my…
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On Writing and Storytelling: I Unconsciously Followed a Writing Prompt!
The author shares frustrations over writer’s block, then unexpectedly recalls a fitting scene. At Vintage Mornings, Cameron and Jerry banter over vintage pin-ups, assisting the author in finding a breakfast tray. The exchange prompts Jerry to inquire about the author’s mysterious lady friend, leading to a surprising revelation about her career.
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On Writing and Storytelling – Writing Exercise: What Do Jim and Marty Love About Each Other?*
“Reunion: Coda” portrays two love stories from different times in Jim Garraty’s life. The first, “Love Lost,” follows his high school romance with Marty, while the second, “Love Found,” delves into his feelings for Madison in 2000. The post explores what Jim and Marty admire about each other and highlights their unspoken affections.
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On Writing and Storytelling – Writing Exercise: What Do Jim and Maddie Love About Each Other?*
The post announces a writing exercise for crafting characters in a romance novel. The characters, Maddie and Jim, are described in terms of what they love about each other beyond physical appearance. The content includes a cover design credit and weather details along with the writing exercise.
A Certain Point of View, Too 