SECIONDARY CHARACTERS NEED ZIP - TUESDAY only not

For work, I'm writing Individual Activity Support Plans and Risk Assessments: lots and lots of them. And, in my spare time, I'm applying for jobs. You know when you see the perfect job: not a comparable job... or even a well-paid one, but the job you find totally inspirational; the job you've always wanted but didn't know exists?  I'm only allowing myself to glance over my shoulder at one of the jobs I'm applying for - I don't want it to know how much I want it. I'm working out how to sell my skilful self without resorting to grovelling or, worse still, to opting for the Oliver Twist's-eyes approach.

On the Reading front, I'm having so much fun reading Tessa Dare: yet, I rarely read Regency novels.

SHARON SHINN

On the Writing front, I'm writing the last words for Hal Longleat today. As it has been seen by Betas, this is the slightly more polished end of the first draft. I have specific revisions to do. I have been concentrating on speech patterns for Hal and the other pages. The last specific revision is to check the character development arcs for the other pages - I can't allow any saggy support characters to wobble their way around and through my MG novel ;)

DONALD MAASS: TIPS TO WRITE TO:

Secondary characters sometimes need zip.  Here’s a simple way to work on that…

71 Pick a character other than your MC.  What would your MC never, ever guess about this person?  Spring that surprise.

TEASER TUESDAY TWICE TEMPTED BY A ROGUE by TESSA DARE

MAY IIS HOSTED BY Hand in Hand, DONALD MAASS'  TWEETS ON CREATING THE PERFECT NOVEL ;)  

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

TWICE TEMPTED BY A ROGUE by TESSA DARE ( A Rogue Regency)

When he is obliged to return to his family home in widest Devonshire, war hero, Rhys St. Maur, is certain his damnable good luck has again found a way to torment and punish him.

Believing in the importance of hard work and determination, innkeeper, widow, Meredith Maddox, is pragmatic and yet – when faced with scarred and damaged Rhys St. Maur -  she trusts everything on the outcome of the wager her heart placed long ago.

DONALD MAASS WRITE TIP #69

What’s your story type?  What in it will fans of this story type hate?  Say that louder. Make it impossible to miss.

There was no way in Creation that he meant to propose marriage to her after a single night at the Three Hounds. Her accommodations were nice, but not that nice.

I am not a regular reader of historical romance – I particularly avoid Regency titles – so this seemed like a great book choice to read and think about a story tropes, or types, and find a book that says it loudly. But does it well.

Tessa Dare has written the essence of the Regency Romance. She made the hero able and the heroine more than willing. I shivered at the burned-out shell of the old Hall and picked my way through the mists avoiding smugglers. I also came to love Rhys, he is a great character, in serious need of being made to feel he is loved and valued. And, Meredith is a strong and determined woman. Together – that is my favourite combination.

WHAT BOOK THAT YOU READ SURPRISED YOU?