Category Archives: reading

Romance Series-Itis

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Series-itis: there’s entirely too much wordcount devoted to reminding us what happened to the hero when he was a minor character in a previous book, and setting up various other characters for their roles in future books, not to mention … Continue reading →

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Research Books Whee!

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m in a research flurry, collecting materials that I hope will be helpful in writing my second erotic novel set during World War One. I do the dance of new books! The Belgian Army in World War I is another … Continue reading →

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Maintaining Sexual and Romantic Tension

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I think that all Romance plots ultimately involve deferring consummation of the relationship, whether the desired consummation is intercourse, marriage, a marriage proposal, or simple acknowledgement by the couple that they are in love. If a consummation happens at the … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, romance novels, writing craft | 2 Comments

Cell Phones Make Life Difficult (For Writers)

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

When Tanya Huff’s vampire novels were made into a television series, Blood Ties, the original novels were re-released. The first time I read those books, I’d borrowed them from a friend. This time, I bought my own copies, since I … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, television, writing craft | 1 Comment

Basics of the Western

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

So, Westerns. What are the basic elements of a Western? There are the two plots: 1) a stranger comes to town and 2) someone leaves town, heading for a new place. A subsidiary plot involves surviving in the wilderness, whether … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels, western | 7 Comments

What Happens in the Reader’s Mind

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

“A writer’s talking about what he or she is capable of, like a writer’s talking about the worth of his or her own work, is a pretty good way for that writer to start sounding like a pompous poseur. Above … Continue reading →

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My Favorite Girls Dressed as Boys – Fantasy Edition

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Fantasy novels are rife with girls dressed up as boys. I’m not sure if it’s because there are so many female fantasy readers versus so many male fantasy heroes, or if it’s a result of a common romance-adventure trope sliding … Continue reading →

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Why No, My Face Is NOT Red

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Back in December, I was involved in a discussion about (I paraphrase) how to get used to using “naughty” words in your writing, when they weren’t in your everyday vocabulary.“Naughty” words should be treated just like any other words, as … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, reading, writing | 2 Comments

Worthy Transgressions

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

People have been talking for a while about how there’s more erotica being published in both print and electronic formats, and how more people are reading erotica and talking about it, and how erotica is getting more and more explicit … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, reading, writing, writing craft | 4 Comments

Black Wine opening

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I really love the opening to Candas Jane Dorsey’s Black Wine (1997). # There’s a scarred, twisted old madwoman in a cage in the courtyard. The nurse throws a crust at her as he passes, therefore so does the girl. … Continue reading →

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