Back to Top

Category: Writing

Posts in which we talk about the writing craft and process

Observing

Updated on by

So we’ve just returned from a vacation to the South–Charleston, South Carolina, to be specific.

While there, we went to a few beach restaurants–casual atmosphere, cheap beer, delicious crabs–and there were a lot of  twentysomethings as well. That was interesting, since in my daily life I don’t see the age of the people about whom I’m writing. And I don’t see Southern people ever, so there were two different things about the people I got to observe.

Man, twentysomethings are very different from me. Something to keep in mind as I write their romances.

It’s easy to think that because you’ve experienced things–yes, I was twentysomething once–that you know all about it. But then seeing people interact in ways you just wouldn’t imagine reminds you (or me, at least) that no, I don’t know it all. So maybe my characters will behave in ways that I wouldn’t expect, even as their authors, because of their different perspective.

Which is a long way of saying I am very excited to return to writing. Hope everyone had a great holiday, if you’re American or Canadian, and otherwise had a lovely week.

Megan

Posted in Writing | Tagged | 4 Replies

Obsessed by Pinterest

Updated on by

Not even a month ago I signed up for Pinterest. You can see my early days here when I was just dipping my toes in the Pinterest water. Now it has become a bit of an obsession, my place to go when I’m stuck writing, needing a break from writing, or should be writing.

The thing is, it is wonderful inspiration for writing Regency. There is, for example no end of Regency fashion images. I especially like the photographs of real clothing. Somehow I can imagine my characters in such clothes more easily than from a fashion print.

Like this one on the left, originally from the Bowes Museum.

I also liked images of men’s fashions, which we so rarely see in fashion prints.

Another way Pinterest is useful is that it provides visual ideas for setting, whether it be inside or out.

Here’s are images of the drawing room at No. 1 Crescent, Bath and of Keddleston Hall

Then there is art that inspires, like this image from Jane Austen’s World

I’m sure you get the picture (pun intended).

Images are powerful. A glance tells us so much in an instant, not only about the facts of the subject matter but also about color, design. Even lighting can convey mood or emotion.

I know some of you have joined the fun at Pinterest, because you’ve repinned my images and I’ve repinned yours. It is fun to see who likes what.

I’ve never quite gotten the hang of social media beyond blogging until this particular form.
What about you? What is your favorite form of social media? Do you like Pinterest?

By the way, for those of you who cannot wait until A Not So Respectable Gentleman? is released on July 24, it is available now for order at eHarlequin!

Posted in Regency, Research, Writing | Tagged , | 9 Replies

Tuesday Doings

Updated on by

So, what have I been doing this week?  Watching lots and lots of Olympics, certainly.  Who knew how interesting the trampoline could be?  Who even knew there was a trampoline event at the Olympics??  I’m also loving Kate Cambridge’s colored jeans and cute striped tops.  Plus, how hilarious is this Jezebel article about the top ten reason why Ryan Lochte is the world’s sexiest douchebag?  Good times….

But I am also trying to finish a new book, a Regency for Harlequin.  Wrapping up a story is always the hardest part for me.  Beginnings are fun, easy–the book is so shiny and new!  The characters haven’t made me mad or veered off on weird pathways yet!  Even middles aren’t bad, because I usually know what I’m trying to say about the characters at that point, we’ve gotten to know each other better and I see the shape of the plot clearer.  But endings–ugh.  For one thing, I always think I am closer to The End than I actually am, and it always takes much longer to get there than I plan.  Stuff doesn’t want to get solved, or it gets solved too fast.  When I feel frustrated, I turn to my Inspiration Board.

I actually have a cork board hanging on the wall next to my desk, where I stick things like postcards, book covers, scraps of fabric, whatever catches my attention.  (Also lots of pics of my 2 year old goddaughter being incredibly cute).  But now I’ve also started inspiration boards on Pinterest, to which I am completely addicted.  Yes, it’s yet another way to waste time online (like I needed another one of those!), but I also like looking at images that help me get a concrete idea of my book in my mind.  Plus there are always pics of cupcakes on there somewhere.  (You can follow me there at AmandaMccabe)

So what’s on my Pinterest board for this book?

This is the heroine’s house, called Barton Park in the book.  It’s an important part of the story–she moved back there when things went bad in her marriage, to live quietly with her sister and try to make sense out of what went wrong with her husband (and why she still loves him).  It has to be once-grand but now sort of shabby…

This is the garden maze, where important plot events happen…

This is the hero, Hayden, who is now sorry for what he did to lose his wife and now has to find a way to get her back…

This is the heroine, Jane, who at first doesn’t want to take him back…

See how fun this can be??  I also have boards for my Mary Queen of Scots book “Tarnished Rose of the Court” and the new Elizabethan mystery series, as well as a Wedding Ideas board.

What would be on your Idea Board?  What are you watching on the Olympics??

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , | 6 Replies

A Mountain Retreat

Updated on by

I am in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, today, finishing up a weekend writing retreat that was incredibly productive. We’re in a vacation rental surrounded by forest and, listening to the birds during the day and the cicadas at night. It has been a lovely consolation for missing RWA.

So…no time for a proper blog today! It’s our last day and there is lots to do before leaving.

Here’s a photo from the restaurant where we ate dinner last night, which gives you an idea of the landscape around here (although it is a lot greener than it looks in this photo).

But, I wonder, would I rather be writing someplace like this? Malvern Hall as painted by Constable?
Well, my head has really been in Regency London:

Where are you today, in your head and in reality?

Posted in Writing | Tagged | 9 Replies

Wish I were there…

Updated on by

Hello!
I meant to have a carefully written and hopefully interesting post up today but there are painters in the house today, sprucing up our hall, kitchen and the master bathroom. Yesterday, as I was preparing for them, we had to scoot to the basement because of a tornado warning (fortunately one did not touch down in our neighborhood, though it wrought massive havoc in the town of Elmira, not too far away).  Then our power was out for hours, so I couldn’t write the post nor could I properly prepare for the painters.

So today I’m scrambling. They’re in the house now and although they are good guys who have done good work for us before, it is still chaos.  I wish this could be done by magic wand instead!

So anyway, I wish I were at RWA. The last time I went was in 2008 (see Risky picture above). However, I will soon have a nicer-looking house and I am looking forward to going to the New Jersey conference in October, so I have both of those to look forward to!

So how are you spending your weekend?  Those of you at RWA, please take lots of pics and be ready to tell us all about it!

Elena
www.elenagreene.com
www.facebook.com/ElenaGreene

Posted in Writing | Tagged | 3 Replies
Follow
Get every new post delivered to your inbox
Join millions of other followers
Powered By WPFruits.com