One Night, Twin Consequences (The Monticello Baby Miracles)
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The Best Advice…came
free!
Putting it to work, however, took a wee bit of sweat – and
was more than worth the effort.
I have been reading a lot about the craft of writing lately
(and particularly enjoyed Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ if you’re interested) but
this bit of advice I am referring to came to me via a wonderful friend and
writer,Fiona Lowe.
I was struggling – and I mean struggling to get my story to
progress. I sent out a whiny email into the universe and H&M Medical Author Fiona Lowe came back with a
huge basket of a writing advice muffins. She suggested that, perhaps, I didn’t
know my characters well enough (which, ahem, turned out to be true). She then
said, once I knew who they were – who they really were – to think of two things
they would never ever do (maybe it was one – maybe it was three! – but you get
the idea)…so think of two things they would never do…and then have them do it.
GOLDMINE! I don’t think my keyboard saw the light of day for
the rest of the week! The book, Doctor…to Duchess? went on to win the UK Romance Novelists Association’s RoNA Rose Award earlier this year, so let me tell you I was thrilled to have zipped up my
pride and asked for help when I knew I needed it.
Fiona’s suggestion is some of the best advice ever and I
return to it again and again. If you really know who your characters are – and
let’s face it – books are about characters, not a house or a clifftop or the
most beautiful red rose in the universe. It’s about the ghosts who live in the
house, the bare-chested man who rides bareback along the clifftop and the young
lover who quests the most beautiful rose in the universe. So our job is to know
these people inside and out and when we do?
We will know how they respond to life and everything it throws at them –
even if they are in a situation they would never put themselves in.
Who, after all, wants to read a book about somebody’s
humdrum life. I do – if it includes the day when life takes a turn and for some
reason our hero or heroine decide…hey, perhaps I will take that road less travelled. That’s interesting. That’s
engaging. So get in there. Really get to know who you’re writing about and
enjoy the journey they take you on – especially if it brings you on some
unexpected twists and turns.
One Night, Twin Consequences (The Monticello Baby Miracles)
Unexpected surprises come in twos!
When Dr. Matteo Torres invites nurse Harriet Monticello to work with orphans in Buenos Aires, her head says yes! It's something she's always wanted to do…although her heart is wary of the irresistible off-limits doc. Shy Harriet isn't used to taking anything for herself, and yet before they board the plane for Argentina, the chemistry between them combusts and they give in to just one night together…
But their night of recklessness isn't without consequences. And now Harriet has nine months to melt this brooding doctor's heart!
Read Reader Review
I like that advice about having a character do something they normally wouldn't. That does have serious page-turning potential.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tamara!
DeleteI love the advice! I do a kind of stream of conscious journaling for each character, where they tell me about themselves. It's a great way to get to know them.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea too! I might give it a whirl. Many thanks Bish! x Annie O'
DeleteI have never heard that advice before! Definitely interesting and I can see how that could make for an interesting story. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
It's advice I use again and again. Super useful....next time you watch a romcom...think about it and SHAZAM! It's there a lot. Thanks for dropping in Jess! x Annie O'
DeleteOoo, that is great advice! Congrats, Annie!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cherie! And thanks to Fiona who is the font of all sorts of wisdom. All the best - Annie O'
DeleteI love the term "writing advice muffins." I love both covers.
ReplyDeleteHa! It's a new one from my lexicon...I think I might use it again. Mine are blueberry flavoured. What about yours? x Annie O'
Delete