Writing Tips

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Fifty Shades of Theft

Posted by on Mar 19, 2012 in Writing Tips | 12 comments

If you haven’t heard about the ebook FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by now, let me clue you in. It’s a BDSM erotica novel written as a Fan Fiction version of Twilight. It’s been on Amazon’s top 100 bestseller’s list for 100+ weeks, though Amazon wouldn’t claim it for some time (until about two weeks ago, I believe), and was finally bought at auction by an imprint of Random House for a reputed 7 figure deal!! Say what? How does a rip-off erotica sell for seven figures?...

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Guest: Sophie Perinot + THE SISTER QUEENS

Posted by on Mar 7, 2012 in Author Interviews, Writing Tips | 3 comments

Today I have the great pleasure of interviewing Sophie Perinot, a witty historical fiction author (with a wicked sense of humor) for Between the Sheets. This week her debut novel—a tale of two sisters who also happen to be 13th Century Queens—was released by New American Library. I’ll be picking up my copy today! A BLURB for THE SISTER QUEENS Raised together at the 13th Century court of their father, Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, Marguerite and Eleanor are separated by royal...

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Crepes, Galettes, and Madeleines + Sophie Perinot

Posted by on Mar 1, 2012 in Foodie Advice, Writing Tips | 4 comments

I don’t know about you all, but I could use  a vat of café au lait and some sweet Frenchie goodness to carry me through to the weekend. So dig in to the array of simple recettes delicieuses below. Try one or two, or try them ALL et bon appétit! By the way, stop by next Wednesday, March 7th for a guest post by Sophie Perinot authoress of the newly released historical novel THE SISTER QUEENS.   GALETTES  2 lbs dark brown sugar      1 lb butter   7 eggs     1 TB vanilla   6...

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Applying the Spit and Polish

Posted by on Feb 27, 2012 in Writing Tips | 1 comment

What does polishing your manuscript mean? You hear it all the time. Make sure your ms shines. Look out for weak verb constructions and adverbs, or too many dialog tags, etc. Sure, these are important elements. But don’t be fooled into thinking strong mechanics are enough for your book to be “ready” for submission. They’re superficial elements. Yes, writing mechanics will make or break a great novel, but it’s only one of the MANY things that make a novel shine. Be...

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WINNERS–Opening Line Contest

Posted by on Feb 24, 2012 in Writing Tips | 1 comment

Thank you to everyone who participated. I had a blast reading your opening lines! This wasn’t easy–many of them intrigued me. So how did I manage to choose? Your entry made the top three if it: 1. Met the 160 character limit. (If your entry ran over, I chopped off the remainder of your sentence and judged from there.) 2. Was Concise, punchy, and attention-grabbing 3. Caught both my attention as well as Shari’s.   PRIZES FIRST PLACE: A critique of your opening chapter up...

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OPENING LINE CONTEST

Posted by on Feb 10, 2012 in Writing Tips | 46 comments

We’ve been discussing trite openings and plotlines the last couple of weeks here at BETWEEN THE SHEETS.  With so much blather about what is good and what isn’t, how to be inspired, and how to avoid falling between the cracks, I’ved decided to run a contest–an opening line contest. And I have some VERY EXCELLENT PRIZES. Trust me. You want to enter. So let’s do it! WHAT Submit the most creative opening line (of a novel) you can come up with in 160 characters or...

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