You are reading: Vol 1 Issue 2: October 2002
| In this issue: About Lord Ruin Carolyn's Projects Tips for Writers Questions and Answers End Notes |
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Lord Ruin, December 2002, Leisure Books
"Love," says Lord Ruin, "is a man's delusion that he's not been robbed of his freedom and a woman's that she's gained hers." Well, a bespectacled spinster is about to challenge that cynical belief, and nothing in his life has prepared him for the consequences. Lord Ruin takes place in 1818, the waning years of the Regency era and one of my favorite historical settings. I like to think of Lord Ruin as Prince Charming with an edge. He doesn't know it, but when he marries Anne Sinclair, he's ripe for a hard fall. And fall he does, head over heels! If he's to find happiness, he must win the heart of his own wife. Meet Lord Ruin
Ghosts! The past haunts Captain Sebastian Alexander - literally. This younger son inherits the family title and a haunted estate in remote northern England. What happens when the family spirits decide he should marry Olivia Willow, a woman he just doesn't like? About 75% complete now. With the ghostly elements established, I'm busy honing in on the relationship between my hero and heroine and developing the villain. Check out what's in the planning stages: The List and The Barbarian.
Strong Verbs
The concept of strong verbs is key to writing that makes the reader forget he or she is reading. "Strong" verbs cure a multitude of writing ills. They lend writing specificity and immediacy. Let's jump right into a simple example!
He walked to the door.
The verb here is the relatively weak "walked." While this certainly does the job of saying what's going on, the picture you get isn't very specific, and one of the most important jobs a writer has is to give the reader a specific picture. Strong verbs do this efficiently.
He walked quickly to the door.
The adverb "quickly"does add specificity because now we know how he walked. But adverbs, fine things though they are, tend to "tell" rather than show. What if we used a stronger verb than "walked?"
He raced to the door.
Ah. I'll bet you're imagining all sorts of things, now. A man practically running, coattails flying, feet pounding, heart thumping. There's no need for additional sentences to convey urgency, after all, the man wouldn't race to the door without an urgent reason for doing so! Try using strong verbs in your own writing. Visit Carolyn's Workshop for more tips on writing.
How Do You Come Up With Ideas?
My ideas often come to me in the form of a situation that intrigues me. Lord Ruin is a good example of an idea that came to me as a situation. What, I wondered, would it be like to be married to a complete stranger? The idea kept nagging at me. Of course, such a situation is replete with drama and tension which makes it perfect for a romance novel. Additions to the base idea continued to pop up in my head. What if these married strangers at first don't recognize they are perfect for each other?
Why Do You Write Historical Romance?
Well, first, I love history. Research is never a chore for me. I adore reading about the past. Second, historical settings necessarily create tension between what can be properly said and done. Actions that would be insignificant in a contemporary setting resonate with consequences and meaning when the setting is in the past. These tensions are great tools for any writer.
Ask Carolyn a question. She promises a personal reply.
Last romance Novel read: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn (Week including September 29, 2002)
Last non-romance Novel read: Seven Up by Janet Evanovich (Week of October 26, 2002.)
School: Mariam, Queen of Jewry, by Elizabeth Cary, Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Last Updated: 10.26.2002