You know you’ve been deep in the smut-writing rabbit hole when a simple request for a gardener recommendation conjures images of something else.
In other news, remember Campbell’s story that I was so excited to go back to after four weeks of struggling to write another holiday novella? Well, after reading the first three chapters last night to get myself back into his world, I woke up this morning to a Campbell NOT wanting to be in that holiday story at all. It doesn’t even matter if there are a few steamy sex scenes, it’s a hard no. Nope. Nada. No Christmas settings in his book. He wants a real story, not one that’s set around a holiday. A real story that’s edgy and, well, totally Campbell. Not cute either.
So that means I’m starting over…
In the reading front, I’m reading The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson. Already, I’m finding a few nuggets of wisdom.
“Bluntly, no one is interested in your characters until they do something interesting.”
“Here’s a basic rule from the Plot Whisperer: Don’t tell a character’s backstory until the readers have had a chance to know him.”
“The longer you wait to deliver the full backstory, the explanation of what in the past made the character who she or he is today, the greater the impact of the revelation.”
But I’m not just reading non-fiction though. Here’s what I’m currently reading for fun (and research).
What are you reading?
Liz Durano 
I’m actually reading a thriller called “The Plot Against The President”. Not sure if it’s good or not yet. But there are a few wrinkles so I’m hopeful!
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Is that the one by Sally Denton? Hers is plural though but I’ve got to check that out although I prefer fictionalized versions. Fact is stranger (and scarier!) than fiction these days!
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No. It’s by a guy named Sam Bourne. But his character sounds very familiar
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