Okay so it looks like I fell off the planet. Promise - I'm still here. The last four years have been ... hard. There's no other word for it. Everything is fine. I'm fine, but I've been the caregiver of my mom who has Dementia. Between her needs, work, etc I seem to have lost control of my time. I am still writing and am trying hard to get back to my blog.

In case you weren't aware Phaze and HSWF which where under the Mundania Umbrella have closed. I was smart enough to get my titles back before all this happened. I'm happy to say the three books I sold to HSWF have been picked up by Melange Books and are available through their Satin Books imprint. I have even sold a new title to them called Magical Quest due out in 2022

I have also been lucky enough to find a publisher for my Vespian Way series. I'm now with Blushing Books under the name of Bethany Drake. I have five titles out with them right now and am close to submitting two more. There's Desire's Destiny, Desire's Duty and Desire's Promise. Then there is two in my werewolf series, Tears of the Queen and Legend of the Tears. I have just finished the rough draft of the third book in the series and have plans for a fourth one the moment I submit it.

I'll probably still be sporadic here on the blog. Unless I win the lottery and can hire someone to help me I can't avoid it, but know I'm still here still working hard in the background and am hoping to do better at keeping my blog alive.

Barb:)



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Writing Doen the Bones: Seven Steps to a Plot that Will Make Your Readers cry for More

I found another wonderful hand out. I looked for a name on this one and didn't find it but I did like the info in the hand out so here we go...

1.) Search out an idea that hooks you - find something that fascinates you. I know we've all been told to write what we know, but I can't help but play the what if game when I write - it always sparks the creative juices and that's what you need to do - find something that sparks those creative juices

2.) Pinpoint the prize for which opposing characters to fight - murder, a treasure, a missing child - in other words your goal. The over all goal of your book is something everyone in your book could be after.

3.) Devise a central character who'll take immediate, aggressive action to win the prize - it should be someone your readers can root for. You should let us into the head of this character so we understand what their motivation is. Give us something to root for.

4.) Pick a moment to begin your story that will plunge your characters into exciting action - I've been told over and over again to start the book in the middle of a scene - it grabs the reader right away.

5.) Pit your character against a worthy opponent - for every strong character you should have an equally strong bad guy.

6.) Know the step-by-step action this character must take in the face of unanticipated developments in order to reach the climax of your story - give your character obstacles then help him overcome them. I'd like to add one more thing - make these obstacles something believable.

7.) Work out a good conclusion that satisfies your reader - give the climax an an unexpected twist - make your reader believe that the winner deserves to win and they want them to win.

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