Category Archives: reading

Reading our Grandmothers

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Jessica of Read React Review, one of my favorite blogs, recently mentioned that she had never read Jane Eyre and had decided to do so. I and several others volunteered to read or reread it along with her. I’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels, writing | 3 Comments

The Bashful Hero

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I wish more romance novels featured bashful heroes.I’ve never been a huge fan of the romance novel hero who’s physically large and good at everything and gorgeous to boot. Except, I don’t mind that combination of traits if the hero … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, romance novels | 11 Comments

Less Is Enough

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

There’s a reason stories aren’t made up of eighty percent description. It’s because there has to be room for the reader. Reading is a collaborative exercise, between the writer and the reader. The writer has a shape or picture (or … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 2 Comments

Writing Emotion

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post is more questions than answers. I’ve been thinking about what makes some fiction so much more satisfying to read than other fiction, aside from factors such as story elements one loves, a well-constructed plot, and elegant prose style. … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 11 Comments

History as Fantasy

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

In many ways, writing historical fiction is like writing fantasy. And reading historical fiction is like reading fantasy. In one genre, you have to look up a lot of tiny details to make the reader accept that the world they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, reading, sf/f | 4 Comments

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 →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | Comments Off on Romance Series-Itis

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 →

Posted in reading, research, wwi | Comments Off on Research Books Whee!

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