How to plot a pageturner: C.S. Pacat

Plotting to create ‘narrative traction’, the page turning quality that drives readers through a book (and keeps them up until 3am) Aims: To learn new way of thinking about both writing and reading that raises your awareness of how page turning quality is created To learn techniques and strategies for  writing narrative traction

Opening keynote address: Graham Simsion – Men in romance

Graham Simsion is the author of The Rosie Project, background is in script writing He is the only person who could have written The Rosie Project, but everyone has the ability to write their own story. Male protagonist (Don) was easy to write, Rosie was the hardest – was originally called Clara but she was […]

Angela Ackerman – Show don’t tell pt 1

Sharing characterisations & emotions without telling or info dumps   Do more with less If you are describing appearance, also include emotional description Learn to convey information with powerful word structure rather than writing it all out   What does ‘Show, don’t tell’ really mean? It is the drop in your stomach when you jump […]

Angela Ackerman: Larger than life characters Pt 2

And the flipside is using flaws / negative traits Hobble your character with flaws A flaw is a negative quality that emerges in a character’s personality as a result of an emotionally hurtful experience Just as we have a survival response for physical dangers (fight or flight), we instinctively protect our emotions from harm as […]

Breakout 4: The Dark Side: Psychology, psychopathy and stalking – RWAus14

I have to admit that I had a great time at the dinner on Saturday night, and went to a room party afterwards.  I decided to sleep in a bit on Sunday morning so I missed the first session of the day (which was noted as TBA in my schedule anyway), and got there in […]

Little Gems – Moonstone: Official Launch – RWAus14

Little Gems official launch:  Moonstone Cover design:  Sheridan Kent Contest winners: Josephine Brown—The Minstrel’s Trial Rowena Candlish—Minnie’s Year Of Living Rowena Candlish—Jake’s Best Friend Heidi Catherine—My Moonstone Love N.F. David—Luna and the Moonstone Fiona Greene—The Moonstone Legacy Jennifer Hoff—The Farewell Letter Fiona Kekic—The Heart Surgeon Linda Knightley—Moonlight On Water D.D. Line—Moonstone Hill Patricia Poppenbeek—Catch Of […]

Keynote address: Cherry Adair – RWAus14

Cherry Adair is an award-winning and best-selling South African American romantic fiction writer. She lives near Seattle, Washington. She is a six-time finalist for the RITA Award given by Romance Writers of America, and she has been nominated for the Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense from Romantic Times two times. Her book Hide and […]

Writing the knockout novel: Pt 7 – RWAus14

How to write Dazzling Dialogue for your characters. Definition Dialogue is a compression and extension of action   The 8 essentials: 1. It has an agenda Every character who says something in a scene should want something A way to create instant conflict is to have characters express different agendas via dialogue 2. Flows from […]

Writing the knockout novel: pt 5 – RWAus14

The mirror moment and door #2.   The Mirror Moment Write your novel from the middle James Scott Bell   Midpoint (of story, may not actually be): A look in the mirror Who am I? What have I become? What MUST I become? Or I am probably going to die Finding strength to keep going