Writing My New Novel, Tuesday's Child

fter my last novel, Monday's Child, which will be published in Spring, 2016, took me fourteen months to write I decided I need to write faster. I set myself the task of finishing a 75, word novel in 75 days or less, and to enter a young adult fiction competition as well as a short story competition. I've entered the competitions but fallen short of my target to finish Tuesday's Child yesterday. However, the good news is that I've written 65,000 words without stopping to edit, revise and check my research.

In order to reach my goals I stopped posting on social media. I've missed chatting, reading posts and posting messages but it's been worthwhile.

I know that many authors write a couple of thousand words or more a day but I don't have time to, so I'm pleased with my achievements.

Rosemary Morris

www.rosemaymorris.co.uk

Writing Historical Fiction and Romance

I am pleased because I've nearly written half of my book, Tuesday's Child, a stand alone, follow on novel from my Regency Romances, Sunday's Child and Monday's Child. I had decided that I write too slowly so my plan was to finish Tuesday's Child without spending hours researching the historical background. I have notes in bold to indicate where I need to research something, or check if something is correct. However, I have found it impossible to develop the plot without some research. Fortunately, it hasn't prevented me from reaching my daily output, and keeping up with other 'writerly' matters. 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Writing Competitions

I enjoy writing historical women's fiction but every once in a while I think it's good to challenge myself. I enjoyed revising my young adult fiction competition entry which I submitted to Fish yesterday. So I have high-lighted all the competitions of interest to me in Writing Magazine's Supplement: 2016 Competition Special. Years ago, I completed the beginner's, intermediate and advanced Open College of the Arts' Writing Courses. The 3000 word stories I wrote are based on classical Indian literature, which rivals classical Greek literature. One of my stories was published but the others have languished in a box file. The tutor was enthusiastic about the stories so it's time to 'test the waters' by entering one in a competition.
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

R is for Romance

Many of the most famous novels are either romances or have an element of romance in them.

Most of us have experienced romance which novelists can draw on when writing about the subject. Whatever we write the characters must spring to life from the page and, if the reader is not going to lose faith in them, their circumstances and behaviour be believable.

Consider Pride and Prejudice which contains the classic ingredients of an engrossing romance with many obstacles which inhibit it until the happy ever after ending.  When the couple first meet they should not fall in love at first sight, although they can be attracted to each other, on the other hand they could be angry or suspicious, be reluctantly drawn to each other, be wary, embarrassed or annoyed.

The setting must be romantic - a holiday in a five* hotel or cottage with rambling roses round the door, an exotic place - a houseboat in Kashmir, a log cabin by a lake in Canada, Venice, a beautiful island.

When writing about the location, descriptions and language needs to be sensuous, employing the five senses, and conveying food, perfumes etc. Everything should be larger than life.

Romance has it's own language to draw the reader deeper and deeper into the story. Short sharp sentences emphasise conflict and drama. Longer sentences allow the reader 'to smell the roses'.

Historical romance requires extensive research - a foolish mistake will cause the reader to lose faith in the author.

Finally, the reader should be able to fall in love with the hero or heroine in spite of their faults. After all, in Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind Rhett Butler understood Scarlet's flaws and loved her passionately in spite of them.