writing stuff

This was not very interesting.  The interesting part was the publishers talking (again) about the state of the industry, but the rest of it wasn’t anything new.  It was about the process of edits, cover selection, publicity and sales.  Sure, some people may not have known it, but I don’t know if it warranted a […]

The Art of Layering your novel This was an instructive workshop on how to add depth to your characters and therefore to your story. I have been to workshops run by Valerie Parv before, and they are always really good value and worth attending.  In addition to her fifty novels, she has written more than […]

Susan Wiggs spoke this morning about the 12 steps to being a writer, using the hero’s journey as a guide.  I won’t go into it now, most people who read my blog will know what I am referring to. But can I just say that she was great – warm, funny, engaging.  I haven’t read […]

Further to the post on the editor’s panel, one member asked them a question from floor.  She asked if any of them looked and male / male romances. The ‘big four’ sat in shocked silence.  It took one of the HMB editors – who used to work for Ellora’s Cave – to explain to everyone […]

I have just attended a *very* interesting panel discussion on what publishers are buying in Australia right now.  There were representatives from Harlequin Mills & Boon, Avon, Carina Press, Allen & Unwin, Penguin, Hatchette and Random House. The final four listed, in their own descriptions ‘mainstream publishers’, are starting to accept romance.  They were polite […]

I arrived in Melbourne this afternoon, and made sure I turned up to register with plenty of time for the Romance Writers of Australia 20th Annual Conference, which is on this weekend.  The theme this year is ‘From Here to Eternity’, and is already looking like it will be a brilliant weekend.  I have been […]