We will be talking about what to do with your book AFTER you write it!

Join us for a 1/2 hour of marketing talk!

First off, not all novels need a theme.

As a matter of fact if a theme doesn't naturally bubble up from your subconscious, you probably don't want to try and wedge one in there just because it sounded cool to have a theme.

We have all read those books where the author thought the color chartreuse was awesome and found some way (usually not a very pleasant way) to interject it freaking everywhere.

Join me on Saturday at 2pm PST to discuss how to get your theme on without, you know, annoying your reader in the process

Nothing makes a book crackle more than romantic tension.

Most people's minds go to the 'opposites attract' place. Aka "Moonlighting."

However your characters do not have to constantly fight to create some sizzle.

Tune in Saturday at 2pm PST to talk about one of Carolyn's favorite subjects!

If you've read any of her books you know she can turn up the heat in ten seconds flat!

In fiction we hear that term a lot... "Wow, that author really knows how to turn a phrase."

You probably think, ya for them!

But unless you are getting spontaneous compliments about how you turned a phrase well, you probably... um... you know... aren't turning them well!

For any new writers out there wondering what in the heck I am talking about, here's the dictionary definition...

A sequence of words intended to have meaning.

a. A characteristic way or mode of expression.

b. A brief, apt, and cogent expression.

Okay, ya, that didn't help me out either. In my world "Turning a phrase" is when you take a fairly routine notion such as folding laundry and find a way to say it so much cooler.

Ex: Elizabeth sighed as she folded yet another towel.

Not a bad sentence. We've got sighed in there so we know her emotional state and the 'yet' adds to our characterization of Elizabeth.

However, that is not turning a phrase, I simply wrote the sentence well.

The towel was her nemesis. The hamper... her Everest.

Is that the best turned phrase I have ever written, no (give me a break , it's 5 in the morning)! But it does show you the basics of what I am talking about.

Usually turning a phrase means taking your point off the nose and flowering it up.

It is when you read something that is not action or dialogue related and think "That was so freaking cool."

I know I am being by far more vague with this blog but that is because we are not talking structure here, we are talking art.

How 'well' you have turned a phrase is completely subjective. Some people may love it. Some people may not.

The point of this blog is to bring your mind to the subject. We have all 'felt' when we needed to turn a phrase.

Join me Saturday at 2pm PST to discuss exactly how we might go about doing that!

You would think this one would be a no brainer, right? Wrong!

When I ask so many of my pre-clients/students who the top 5 bestsellers are in the genre they look at me funny!

So on Sat we are going to talk about the importance of knowing what is out there and why readers have genre expectations.

Better yet we are going to discuss how you can meet those expectations yet still surprise your readers!

Tune in Sat at 2pm PST! Better yet, call in with your questions! :-)

If you think agents and publishers can be critical of your first 50 pages, just wait until you put them out to the public! You must capture a readers attention from word one and then live up to those first words to carry them into the rest of your book. If you don't? You lose a sale. Join us as we discuss how to make sure your "First 50" kick some serious booty!

Screenwriters have done it for years. Poetry writers breathe work shopping to hone their words and performance. But prose writers? We have been slow to pick up the call. Sure we may have a crit partner or even a writing group. But to speak your words aloud? Not so much. And yes, prose is meant to be read, however having your words read aloud is one of the single most powerful techniques to hone your dialogue and catch some of our worst habits... over writing. So join us on Sat at 2pm PST where we will be joined by my co-host Ben Hopkin (@actingnodrama on twitter - check him out if you aren't familiar) where he will read selected works so we can work shop LIVE! If you would like your writing considered, please @ or DM me on my Twitter stream: @writingnodrama :-)

Besides taking a slew of questions from the @writingnodrama Twitter stream, we will be talking about a fundamental situation many writers find themselves in... When their family and friends do not support their writing. Or worse, are adamantly opposed. How do you find the strength to march on when those closest to you don't support you? In this episode we find out that we are NOT alone. that even if our dearest and dearest aren't on board, there are plenty of other like-minded individuals out there to help keep you 'propped up' even when you want to wave the white flag of defeat! A MUST 'listen to' episode! Either leave your questions on the @writingnodrama writing stream or better yet, call in and get some support LIVE on-air! Saturdays 2pm PST.

That's right, we are back in the New Year kicking some booty and taking names. I talk all the time about how ANYONE can write a book. Well, now I am challenging you to! And not a crash 30 days, lose your life and your sanity kind of thing. I am talking about scheduling a reasonable amount of time each week and devoting it to your writing. Checking in with yourself daily and weekly to see if you are on track. Sure the kids need to go to soccer and the dog just threw up on your shoes, but in between life's ups and downs, THERE IS TIME TO WRITE :-) So today's episode is all about how ANYONE can write a book this year edit it and get it out into the market place (or at the least query agents/editors if you wish to start with the traditional publishing route). Come get motivated to write a new book, edit the hot mess you got out of Nano or pull a manuscript from the drawer and dust it off!

As the holiday season pummels us... I mean greets us, it is a great time to breathe in the winter air (or summer depending on your hemisphere) and think about what writing means to us.

Remember if you simply write 3 pages a day in 100 days you will have 300 pages done. That is SO doable!

If you haven't gotten your book done, there truly is only one thing standing in your way. Fear.

You are afraid of being exposed. Most of the time you are afraid of both ends of the spectrum. You are afraid of being exposed as a hack, but also as a success.

I can't believe the number of authors I meet on social media and in real life that are too timid to do an interview or go on our IBC radio show. Um... I know writers aren't talkers, but come on!

If you aren't going to want to shout your book's virtues from the rooftops, then who will?

So I say let's take this whole, time for reflection and look forward.

Pretend your book is already done. How are you going to promote it? What do you want interviewers and reviewers to say about your book?

For some of you this exercise is terrifying. You quake at the thought of approaching strangers to read your book and give a critique. Great! You might as well face the fear now, rather than when your book is out and needs your help!

If the thought of getting out there and talking about your book excites you... Great! Let that feeling invigorate your writing. Let it motivate you to finally sit down and get a writing schedule.

Whatever you feel your shackles are to writing unfettered, spend these next few weeks releasing them. Start the New Year with a New Attitude!

Embrace your writing and it will embrace you back :-)

After this episode we will be taking the holidays off, but know that we will be back after the New Year excited and ready to dole out some serious writing advice!