Writer's Report 2.0

This is from the blog Lying for a Living, published by one of my favorite up and coming crime novelists, Meg Gardiner. She has a humorous matter of fact no-nonsense approach on many subjects. On these posts she describes Character Building she did for her newest book, The Dirty Secrets Club and how she did it without a ‘so-called’ muse

Some writers claim they don’t construct their stories. Instead, they say, when they sit down at the keyboard the characters “just take over.” These writers describe this occurence with whimsical amazement at the way their creations spill themselves gloriously onto the page.

I don’t believe it. If writers truly think their characters seize control of the story, they’re either playing with a ouija board, off their meds, or listening to so much Carrie Underwood that they’ve thrown their hands in the air, crying for somebody to take the wheel. Gosh, it wasn’t me… this book is just a transcription of THE VOICES INSIDE MY HEAD. (more…)

Writer’s Weekly answers a reader’s question in Ask The Expertabout using real people, places or events in their novel. There are things to watch out for to avoid pitfalls, but there may also be a hidden benefit.

In the Success Stories section is an article about how an admitted introvert makes her living as a writer.

Also check out WW’s Paying Markets for up-to-date listings on paying markets