10 Writing Tips from Romance Author Elizabeth Morgan
/I'm delighted to welcome Elizabeth Morgan to my blog today. If you remember, she and I share a common love for the fairy tale Rapunzel, and I interviewed her when her previous release came out. Today, she's got a brand new sweet contemporary romance from Bono Books to show off. Before we pump her for writing tips, however, I should let you know she's running a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget, along with information about the book and author, is at the very end (i.e. don't forget to scroll down).
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10 Writing Tips from Elizabeth Morgan
- Read. Reading is one of the best tools a writer can have. You learn through reading, and can gain new ideas.
- Research. Important in creating any story. Make sure you double check things so you have your facts straight. Editors and readers will pick up on things like this.
- Passion & knowledge. Write a story you would love to read. There is a piece of advice I think all writers receive, "write what you know and what you love." If you aren't interested in the plot or the topics presented in your story, no one else will be. If you don't love your world or characters than how can you expect anyone else to connect/relate? Love what you write.
- Edits. I think this will be one tip most writers will mention, but edit your manuscript a couple of times before you submit it.
- Critique Partners. It's very useful to have a CP as they will give you constructive criticism on how to improve your manuscript, and one thing to remember is that there is always room for improvement. You want your story to be the best it can possibly be. Most importantly a CP is a fresh set of eyes and they will more than likely pick up on spelling mistakes and little things that may have slipped your attention.
- Rejections. Try not to take them personally. I know it's hard. Trust me, I have been there. Pay attention to any constructive criticism you are given, and then read through your manuscript again. Don't ever change your story if you feel it should remain the way you wrote it, otherwise, if you feel a scene etc could be tightened, then polish it up, and then re-submit. But just remember someone will love your story as much as you do.
- Patience. It's hard. You will be inbox watching, but that acceptance and contract will come.
- Promotion. Being an author is 30% writing and 70% promoting. Yes, you have written a book and you should feel proud of that, but the work isn't over just because you have typed "the end." Once your book is released you have to promote it. Don't be in readers faces about it, though. No one likes having a product shoved in front of them and being told to buy. Hold competitions. Share excerpts. Communicate with your readers. The best promotion is to keep writing.
- Self-Publishing. If you feel this is a route for you, then go for it. Self-publishing gives you more say over your book, how it is packaged, when it is released. Self-publishing is more popular than it used to be, but it is still hard work and can cost a fair bit of money.
- Write. If you love to write, then write.
Bonus Tip: Most importantly, always believe in yourself and your work. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you want to do, and achieve anything if you put your mind to it. So believe.
Thank you for having me over today and thank you to all of you for stopping by. If you would be interested in winning a copy of my new release, Stepping Stones or maybe a swag pack, then please do leave an entry on the rafflecopter.
Buy Links: Bono/Decadent | AmazonUS | AmazonUK
Stepping Stones by Elizabeth Morgan
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
There's nothing like a wedding to bring the family together....
If not for her baby sister’s impending marriage, Margaret West would never return home. But after six long years, she finds herself a maid of honor who must answer to the people she left behind.
If her parents’ interrogation doesn’t drive her to drink, facing her foster brother, Adrian, just might. To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé is the vicar who will conduct her sister’s ceremony.
Everyone demands to know why she ran off. But the more time she spends at home, the more Margaret realizes even she doesn’t know the real reason.
Excerpt
“When is Aidy getting here?” Jessica grabbed the large bowl of scrambled eggs and brought it closer to her plate.
“I think his flight is due in at three.” My mother placed a dish of bacon on the table and took a seat beside me. “He will be in time for the wedding rehearsal; don’t worry.”
My stomach clenched. “Wedding rehearsal?” I coughed, trying to clear the chunk of toast lodged in my throat. “What wedding rehearsal?”
“Today at four. We’re running through the service.” Jess scooped egg onto her plate. “I told you.”
Nervous laughter bubbled in my throat and try as I may, I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “No.” I patted my chest. “No, you never mentioned a rehearsal.”
“Oh.” She placed the bowl back in the middle of the table. “I could have sworn I did.”
“Nope, you didn’t. Believe me, I would have remembered otherwise.” I grabbed my mug and knocked the coffee back before finishing my piece of toast.
“Well, it’s no big deal.” Edward took the bowl of eggs and helped himself. “Just a quick run-through.”
“Will everyone be there?” Forcing a smile on my face, I looked up at them both, hoping like hell my question would pass as innocent and genuine curiosity.
“Anyone who is involved in the wedding itself will be.”
Great. So that meant Jessica, Edward, the parents, and the bridesmaids, plus me. That left Adrian and…. “Will Vicar Taylor, be there?”
Oh God, did my voice just go higher?
“Yes, Margaret, William will be there. He is the one who is marrying Jessie and Edward, so he needs to be there.” My father skewered some bacon and tomatoes onto his fork.
Grimacing, I reached out and grabbed another piece of toast. “Just a question, Pa.” A stupid one, but a question nevertheless….
“It is normal for people to have wedding rehearsals, Margaret. Just because you—”
Jess picked up the coffeepot. “Does anyone want more coffee?”
I straightened, my focus fixed on Pa. “I’m aware of that.”
“Maggie?”
My father’s shoulders went rigid. He lifted his head and our gazes locked. I didn’t miss the way the muscle in the side of his neck ticked. Arguing with my father in front of Jessica and Edward was not an option, so I looked away.
“Please.” I held out my mug and Jess poured the dark liquid.
I could kick myself. A wedding rehearsal hadn’t even crossed my mind. Having to stand at the altar before William on the actual wedding day would be hard enough, but having to do it twice…my stomach churned.
“So, will Adrian come straight to the church?” Edward cut the awkward silence.
“Yes. He will get a taxi to the church, and then we will bring him and his luggage back here.” My mother held her mug out to Jess.
“Adrian is staying here? Tonight?” I added sugar to my coffee. “Won’t it be crowded? I thought—”
“No more crowded than it was in your childhood.” My father took a bite out of his toast.
More and more good news. Of course he would be staying here; it was his family home after all. I guess, it was stupid of me to hope that he would go to a B&B, but my parents wouldn’t have allowed it even if he did suggest it. I hadn’t seen him in six years, hadn’t spoken to him. And yet, in a couple of hours I would be locked in the same house as him.
About Elizabeth Morgan
Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.
Like her tagline says; A pick ‘n’ mix genre author. “I’m not greedy. I just like variety.”
And that she does, author of erotic ménage horror, Creak, paranormal erotic horror and UK, US & Australian Amazon best seller (Gay/Lesbian, Fiction, Lesbian), On the Rocks, and erotic romance, US, UK and Spanish Amazon bestseller (Erotica Short Story) Truth or Dare? She also has her hand in self-publishing.
Razel Dazzle, her modern adult retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel, was her first taste of publishing her own stories, and now she has the hang of it, it will definitely not be her last. Look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: www.e-morgan.com
Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes – Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Heck, yes! – Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.
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