Monthly Archives: April 2010

Line Editing, Up Close and Personal

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I spent a large portion of the month of April revising The Duke and the Pirate Queen; some of the revisions responded to my editor’s comments, some responded to a workshop critique, and some came from my fevered brain. I … Continue reading →

Posted in the duke, writing craft, writing process | 2 Comments

Dialogue Tricks

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Lauren Dane’s Writerly Wednesday. The first time I tried to write a novel (the one I started over and over and over again), I workshopped it with a very small group of friends. One … Continue reading →

Posted in writing craft | 4 Comments

What Does the Reader Need To Know?

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Research is fun. Fun. Fun. However, research for the writer’s sake isn’t always needed for the reader’s sake. I get questions about this a lot. The writer may need to know the mechanics of a specific task. For example, in … Continue reading →

Posted in research, writing craft | 7 Comments

Top 5 Violent Hot Space Opera Babes

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

And now for something completely different. Sometimes, you just need to watch some women blow things up. Today I’m going to recommend some violent and also hot space opera babes. Traditionally, these are done as top fives, so that’s what … Continue reading →

Posted in movies, sf/f, television | 4 Comments

"Nation, Race, and Empire," George Robb

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

British Culture and the First World War by George Robb. Chapter One, “Nation, Race, and Empire”During WWI, “Nationalism attempted to focus conflict outward–against a German foe inevitably constructed as a degenerate, barbaric ‘throwback’…As successful as such ideas were in garnering … Continue reading →

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Geoffrey Dearmer, “The Turkish Trench Dog”

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Turkish Trench Dog Night held me as I crawled and scrambled near The Turkish lines. Above, the mocking stars Silvered the curving parapet, and clear Cloud-latticed beams o’erflecked the land with bars; I, crouching, lay between Tense-listening armies peering … Continue reading →

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Siegfried Sassoon, "Reconciliation"

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Reconciliation When you are standing at your hero’s grave,Or near some homeless village where he died,Remember, through your heart’s rekindling pride,The German soldiers who were loyal and brave. Men fought like brutes; and hideous things were done; And you have … Continue reading →

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Researching WWI Uniforms – Linkgasm #5

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Even if you don’t have a library of World War One books, there are a number of useful websites that provide information about uniforms in that era. Here are some of the ones I’ve found useful. The Sutlers Stores produces … Continue reading →

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You Make Your Own Luck

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

A fellow Romance Diva recently told the story of her first sale, which resulted from a series of events at an RWA Conference – not random events, not entirely. She had taken actions that led to those “random” events. The … Continue reading →

Posted in business of writing | 6 Comments

Elements Critique

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

A writer friend once commented that sometimes she needed a critique on plot and sometimes she needed a critique on character. And I think she was absolutely right. Characters make plot, of course. And plot affects character, giving them things … Continue reading →

Posted in writing craft | 3 Comments