Category Archives: writing process

The Intricacies of Marriages of Convenience

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I may have mentioned once or twice (ahem) how much I love the “marriage of convenience” plot. I recently finished reading one of Mary Balogh’s recent novels, First Comes Marriage, which I really enjoyed, and which also got me thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, romance novels, writing craft, writing process | 14 Comments

Me and The Doctor

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

This post originally appeared at Amanda McIntyre’s House of Muse Blog, 10/1/09. My name is Victoria and I am a Dr. Who fan. If you’ve never seen the show, it began on the BBC in 1963 and continued until 1989, … Continue reading →

Posted in television, writing, writing process | 4 Comments

Living/Writing Balance

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I sing in a choir. I would have more time to sing and practice music if I didn’t spend so much time writing. Or vice versa. And if I didn’t spend so much time reading, I would have more time … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing process | 7 Comments

Sisyphus, Writing

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I dug into my journal entries of six years ago for this post. I was working on, at the time, the first novel I ever actually completed. Looking back, I seem to have had much more anxiety over the process … Continue reading →

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Stories in the Head

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I used to make up stories before I went to sleep every night. Usually I didn’t get very far. Sometimes I would barely arrange the scene before drifting off, and would start in approximately the same place on the following … Continue reading →

Posted in writing process | 6 Comments

Nifty Stuff That Ought To Be In Romance Novels

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Nifty Stuff That Ought To Be In Romance Novels Bored with billionaire heroes and heroines who own their own antique shops? Be bored no more! Include these elements in your romance, and watch it catch fire! (Keep extinguisher handy, and … Continue reading →

Posted in research, romance novels, writing process | 15 Comments

Raymond Chandler, on time to write

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Today I’m a guest at fellow Spice author Amanda McIntyre’s House of Muse Blog, for “Coffee Talk.” Please stop by and chat if you have a chance! For a LiveJournal charity auction, I am offering your name as a character … Continue reading →

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Finish It. That’s All.

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Sometimes I think there’s only one piece of writing advice. “Finish it.” Finish the novel, finish the short story, finish something and then edit it or move on to the next thing and learn something new. I don’t care if … Continue reading →

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

Short Fiction Questions & Inspirations Playlist

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

While I’m at it with the Short Fiction FAQs, does anyone have any additional questions I should include? I’m going to make a compiled file and post it on my website. And, since it’s Friday and I should have some … Continue reading →

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Writing is In the Mind

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

So much of writing is in the mind. Not just coming up with ideas and arranging words into sentences. To write novels, to keep up the sustained effort necessary, a psychological approach to writing is often required. For me, that … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing process | 4 Comments