Writing Materials

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I've just booked my train ticket on-line and Doncaster Library is a 10 minute walk from the station, which is ideal.  I'm really looking forward to the workshop. I do miss the children, Janet, but definitely not the planning, the stress and all the paper work! 

Hi Meg,

 You were a teacher too!  Do you miss it?

I won't be able to get to any of the workshops (I tend to do on-line workshops as I don't live near any of the places where workshops are held) But I'd go to Kate's if I could. I've been to one of hers before and they are excellent (The  one and only time I travelled to attend a workshop/book festival. But it wasn't too far away.)

Must try to find a copy of the BMA Complete Family Health Encyclopedia.  Thank you for mentioning it--I hadn't heard of it . It's reasonably priced on Amazon. I wonder if it goes out of date pretty quickly.

Hi Kate,

Thank you for getting back to me with this information.  I've just checked your website - should that date be Thursday August 26th?  I would really love to come, but am going to have to check train times, etc.  I'll definitely say hello if I manage to make it.

Meg 

Hi Janet,

 Lovely to hear from you.  Just had a look at your profile, and see we've got something in common - I'm a retired primary teacher too.  Like you, I'm going to have to research the medical side of things and, to begin, am going to try to get the BMA Complete Family Health Encyclopedia from the library - recommended by Kate Hardy in Kate Walker's book.  No, I haven't read any Marion Lennox yet, so I'll have a look for her when I pop into the library later.  Are you going to be able to get to any of the New Voices workshops?

 Meg  

I'd love to attend a workshop, Michelle, but don't know whether it will be possible.  I live in North Notts and the nearest workshop will be one given by Kate Walker at Doncaster Library - only 30 miles away, but, as I don't drive...  At the moment this workshop is TBC on the New Voices page, so I'm trying to find out from the library exactly when it is.  However, I'm in the middle of analysing lots of medical romances, as well as reading Kate's book, so I'm beginning to get quite a good idea of the structure of the books.

 Best wishes, Meg 

Thank you very much, Michelle, for your help.  As I've only just begun to look seriously at writing romance, I think I would prefer to take my time and submit when I'm truly happy with a story, rather than try to rush it for the August deadline.  Hopefully, it won't be too long before I send in a submission.

Best wishes,  Meg 

I'm working my way through Kate Walker's '12 Point Plan to Writing Romance' - great book - and have been reading a variety of romances to see which line I prefer.  At the moment, I am really enjoying the medical romances and feel this may well be the line I would enjoy writing.  However, apart from a lifelong interest in all things medical, I have no real-life experience, e.g. I'm not a nurse or doctor.  I'd be grateful if you could advise me about any books that would be helpful and would enable me to write medical romances in a realistic way.

 Meg    

1. Fire into Fiction by DOnald Maass. This is his latest and while I did not get as big a buzz from it, he does make some excellent points. A bonus for those who have not read Writing the Break Out Novel, the exercises are included within the scope of the book.

2. 38 Common Mistakes in Fiction Writing by Jack Bickham. This little book was written in 1992 and I discovered it thanks to Trish Wylie and her blogs on it. It is useful in many ways and should help to inspire. The number one most common mistake? Not to write.

I love writing craft books. I live by Robert McKee's adage about talent without craft is like airline fuel burning without an engine. The desire to write shows you have talent. It is how you control it that is important.

So top writing books:

For Romance:

Kate Walker's 12Point Guide to Writing Romance

LeslieWainger Writing Romance for Dummies

For more general: 

Robert McKee Story

Blake Snyder Save the Cat! and Save the Cat Goes to the Movies

Dwight Swain Techniques of the Selling Writer and  Creating Characters

Browne and King Self Editing for Fiction Writers

Donald Maass Writing the Breakout Novel and Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook.

I am always happy to add more books on craft to my shelves.