Category Archives: writing

Under Flowerpots, Mostly

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Savvy Authors. It makes me chortle when people ask writers “Where do you get your ideas?” Because where does anyone get ideas? And what kind of ideas do they mean when they ask? I … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing process | 2 Comments

Five Blogging Inspirations

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Never run out of things to blog about! Order inspiration by phone for only $19.95! 1. Blog about My Five Favorite…. This could be your five favorite romance novel plots, or your five favorite movies of all time, or your … Continue reading →

Posted in blogs, promo, writing | 4 Comments

How To Begin Writing blah blah blah

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve been rooting around in my backbrain trying to figure out how I begin writing a new story. I mean the writing part, not the coming up with ideas part.These days, since I’ve been writing novels to deadline, it’s easy … Continue reading →

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Brenda Shaughnessy, "Miracles"

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Miracles I spent the whole daycrying and writing, untilthey became the same, as when the planet covers the sunwith all its might and stillI can see it; or when one dead body gives its heartto a name on a list. … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry, writing | Comments Off on Brenda Shaughnessy, "Miracles"

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

Sex for the Oppositional

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m sure I’ve seen another discussion, somewhere on the Internet at somewhen, a discussion of villains and sex. If I could remember where or when, I would hunt it up and post the links for your reading pleasure. But since … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, romance novels, writing | 5 Comments

Slow Writers Anonymous

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

At the 2003 WisCon, there was a panel about “Slow Writers.” I’ve been thinking about it again, and thought it would be a good thing to post in my blog. This post is comprised of my distilled memories of the … Continue reading →

Posted in conferences, writing, writing process | 15 Comments

The Long and the Short of It

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

How do we decide a length for our stories? I think a lot of it has to do with the stories themselves.A friend of mine used to say that novels didn’t adapt as well into feature films as short stories … Continue reading →

Posted in short fiction, writing, writing craft | 5 Comments

Turn Your Writing Topsy-Turvy

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

In Jane Yolen’s Take Joy: A Writer’s Guide to Loving the Craft, she writes, “When we force ourselves to go topsy-turvy, we can see anew what is on the page,” (p. 49).She suggests taking a single chapter and re-reading the … Continue reading →

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Making Time

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

“I have to find time to write.” I don’t think that’s true. You don’t find time. You make time. You take it. You take it for yourself. If you want to write, you have to choose time during which you … Continue reading →

Posted in business of writing, writing | 5 Comments