Author Guest Post
Why I Don't Get Writer's Block
By Rosalind James
“What do you do about writer’s block?” I hear this question all the time. Short answer: I don’t get it! After ten years as a marketing writer, I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent toiling to make alphabet letter tiles or fireplace inserts sound sexy. Writing stories about two people falling in love? Piece of cake!
The longer answer is that the techniques I developed to keep myself on track while writing about Building Your Classroom Library or Our Salon Services have continued to serve me well in writing fiction. Here they are:
1. Take a walk. Or a run, or a bike ride, or a swim. We’re not just giant disembodied brains. Something about moving my body makes the left brain/right brain combination work. I don’t try to force my story to come to me, just let my mind wander. For the first ten minutes or so, it DOES wander. Then somehow, without any direction, it comes back to the book. Often, the scene that appears isn’t even the one I thought I was working on. I’ve learned to trust the process, and go home and write the scene that came to me. Maybe that other scene will appear next time—or maybe it wasn’t right after all.
2. Try a different spot. I often take a notebook to the coffee shop in the morning. The walk up there gets my mind working (see #1), and the change from my normal writing place shakes up my mind a bit. The difficulty arises when I’m scribbling a particularly steamy scene in longhand, hoping devoutly that nobody can look over my shoulder and read what I’ve written—or that they’ll guess why I’m concentrating so hard!
3. Just write. Don’t worry about getting it perfect at first. Your words may start out stilted, but the act of writing will make the ideas start to flow, and you can go back and edit later. I often don’t start at the “beginning” of a scene, as that bogs me down. I start with the “fun” part, the part that presents itself most insistently. Afterwards, I’ll come back and write the graceful introduction.
4. Give it a day. I start each day by going back over what I wrote the day before. I can always improve it. It also jump-starts that day’s work by getting me back into the book.
5. If you’re stuck, move! This goes back to #1. If I’m blanking out, I get up and make a cup of tea, empty the dishwasher, anything to shake myself up. The right idea always comes once I stop trying to force it.
There you go. I hope my tips help. And happy writing!
About The Author
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Welcome To Paradise by Rosalind James ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Reading Addiction Blog Tours
Book Review
Welcome to Paradise by Rosalind James
Book 1: The Kincaids series
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: April 12, 2013
Format: e-Book - 326 pages / Kindle - 552 KB
ASIN: B00CBZAI7M
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Welcome to Paradise
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Reading Addiction Blog Tours.
Book Description:
They’re going to party like it’s 1885.
Mira Walker is hoping that competing on a “living history” reality show will give her what’s missing from her real life. Maybe she’ll get closer to her boyfriend, who hasn’t been all that nice to her lately. Get fired up about her job again. Who knows, she might even win a million dollars.
Gabe Kincaid and his brother Alec are after that million too, though. Mira and Scott are no threat at all, not when everybody involved is going to want to kill Scott after the first day. And there’s no bond stronger than a twin’s. What could possibly go wrong?
Book Excerpt:
Gabe began to haul out suitcases, then stopped in his tracks.
A couple spaces beyond, a young woman stood next to a glossy black BMW with its door open, her gaze turned up to the eastern skyline. Gabe could see why. The view was tinted a rose pink that lay softly over the mountains, giving them an almost ethereal glow.
She sensed his presence behind him, turned with a warm smile that was a perfect complement to the light bathing the landscape behind her. Her soft pink mouth curving, a sudden image of his teeth sinking into that plump lower lip flashing straight through him, waking his body up fast. Her smile rising all the way to the wide-set eyes that shone with happiness beneath dark winged brows.
“Alpenglow,” she told him.
“What?” he asked stupidly.
“That’s what they call that pink thing. Alpenglow. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yeah,” he smiled slowly. “It sure is.”
She nodded, looked back at the mountains with a sigh, leaving Gabe free to take in the view that interested him most. She wasn’t especially slim—in fact, she was downright . . . rounded. Arms, breasts, hips, it was all there, all the good stuff. A nicely defined waist, too, in a slightly crumpled short-sleeved summer dress that flared out at the hem, fluttered a little in the breeze. Long, shiny brown hair caught on the side of her head in a simple braid that reached nearly to her hips, ended in a curly tail. All right, she was attractive. A pretty face, nice hair, a beautiful smile. But she wasn’t gorgeous. Why was he staring at her?
“Cute,” Alec said quietly beside him.
“Yeah.” Gabe gave himself a shake and began to turn away.
“Hey.” The man was striding quickly across the parking lot. Light brown hair, parted neatly. Slim and tall, somewhere between Gabe’s six foot and Alec’s six-two. And, Gabe realized, the same asshole who’d flipped them off earlier, at the light. Frowning, now, as he came to join the woman. “What are you doing? I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I was just looking at the view.”
“Did you get the car cleaned out?”
“Not yet.”
He sighed impatiently. “I’ve got all our stuff inside already, and unpacked, while you’ve been standing here. Could you get a move on, please? I want to go to dinner.”
“Sorry,” she said again. “It’s just so beautiful.”
The man smiled tightly, still not acknowledging Gabe or Alec, who had come up to stand beside his brother and watch the pair. “All I’m asking for is a bit of focus here, sweetie. Eyes on the prize, remember? Can you do that for me?”
“Of course,” she said. Gabe could see the flush spreading up her cheeks, her embarrassment at the reproof in front of strangers. Not his business, he reminded himself. None of his business at all.
A couple spaces beyond, a young woman stood next to a glossy black BMW with its door open, her gaze turned up to the eastern skyline. Gabe could see why. The view was tinted a rose pink that lay softly over the mountains, giving them an almost ethereal glow.
She sensed his presence behind him, turned with a warm smile that was a perfect complement to the light bathing the landscape behind her. Her soft pink mouth curving, a sudden image of his teeth sinking into that plump lower lip flashing straight through him, waking his body up fast. Her smile rising all the way to the wide-set eyes that shone with happiness beneath dark winged brows.
“Alpenglow,” she told him.
“What?” he asked stupidly.
“That’s what they call that pink thing. Alpenglow. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yeah,” he smiled slowly. “It sure is.”
She nodded, looked back at the mountains with a sigh, leaving Gabe free to take in the view that interested him most. She wasn’t especially slim—in fact, she was downright . . . rounded. Arms, breasts, hips, it was all there, all the good stuff. A nicely defined waist, too, in a slightly crumpled short-sleeved summer dress that flared out at the hem, fluttered a little in the breeze. Long, shiny brown hair caught on the side of her head in a simple braid that reached nearly to her hips, ended in a curly tail. All right, she was attractive. A pretty face, nice hair, a beautiful smile. But she wasn’t gorgeous. Why was he staring at her?
“Cute,” Alec said quietly beside him.
“Yeah.” Gabe gave himself a shake and began to turn away.
“Hey.” The man was striding quickly across the parking lot. Light brown hair, parted neatly. Slim and tall, somewhere between Gabe’s six foot and Alec’s six-two. And, Gabe realized, the same asshole who’d flipped them off earlier, at the light. Frowning, now, as he came to join the woman. “What are you doing? I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I was just looking at the view.”
“Did you get the car cleaned out?”
“Not yet.”
He sighed impatiently. “I’ve got all our stuff inside already, and unpacked, while you’ve been standing here. Could you get a move on, please? I want to go to dinner.”
“Sorry,” she said again. “It’s just so beautiful.”
The man smiled tightly, still not acknowledging Gabe or Alec, who had come up to stand beside his brother and watch the pair. “All I’m asking for is a bit of focus here, sweetie. Eyes on the prize, remember? Can you do that for me?”
“Of course,” she said. Gabe could see the flush spreading up her cheeks, her embarrassment at the reproof in front of strangers. Not his business, he reminded himself. None of his business at all.
My Book Review:
Just when her readers have become used to author Rosalind James taking them on a fun adventure in her Escape To New Zealand series where they have gotten to know and love all the yummy rugby players, she switches gears and introduces her readers to a new series called The Kincaids set in the United States!
In Welcome to Paradise, the first book in The Kincaids series, the author transports the reader to the state of Idaho where they follow a dozen or so contestants compete in a "living history" reality show as homesteaders set in the 1880s for a one million dollar grand prize. In this "survivor" type game show, the story revolves around the main teams of Mira and boyfriend Scott (ugh...), twin brothers Gabe (sigh...) and Alec, along with a great secondary cast of teammates as they tough it out and work together at the Paradise Homestead as homesteaders living under harsh environments and overcoming challenging hardships like the original settlers did in the 1880s. And if that isn't enough to peak your interest, there is the wonderful "showmance" that slowly develops between Mira and Gabe ... staying true to her creative style, the author provides another steamy romance to get your heart racing!
You can't help but become captivated by the storyline, the intriguing reality show plus the budding relationship between Mira and Gabe will keep you engaged and eagerly turning the pages. This story has a little bit of everything: a challenging reality game show, a beautiful heroine, a sigh worthy doctor hero, a bad guy that everyone loves to hate, a fun group of secondary characters who will make you laugh, and a slow building steamy romance that develops into a truly feel good love story ... what more could a reader ask for?!
With a quirky cast of characters who are realistic and have unique personalities, issues and personal baggage, and their own motivations to win the grand prize; witty dialogue and dramatic interactions; and a sigh worthy steamy romance that only author Rosalind James can weave, this story will simply make you smile and yearn for more!
Welcome to Paradise is a thoroughly entertaining romance story that will leave the readers eagerly waiting to read the next installment in The Kincaids series!
RATING: 5 STARS *****
Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Virtual Book Tour May 15 - June 14
May 15 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
May 16 - What's on the Bookshelf - Review
May 17 - Bean Counting Mommy - Review
May 18 - Queen of All She Reads -Review
May 19 - Jersey Girl Book Reviews- Review
May 21 - Love in a Book - Guest Post/PROMO
May 22 - Read Your Writes - Interview/PROMO
May 23 - Book Referees - Review
May 24 - TBQ's Book Palace - Review
May 25 - Pink Fluffy Hearts - PROMO
May 26 - Faerie Tale Books - Review/Guest Post
May 27 - Overflowing Bookshelf - Review
May 29 - Brooke Blogs - PROMO
May 30 - My Reading Addiction - Review
June 3 - Mom With a Kindle - Guest Post/PROMO
June 5 - My Cozie Corner - Review
June 6 - Trine's Reviews - Review
June 10 - Andi's Book Reviews - Review/Interview
June 11 - The Adventures Within - Review/Guest Post
June 12 - The Canon - Review
June 14 - RABT Reviews - Review
Wow, Kathleen, what a wonderful review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. I had such a good time writing it and putting all the different elements together. Thank you! --Rosalind
ReplyDeleteHi Rosalind! What a wonderful start to a new series! I can't wait to read the next installment. Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtaul book tour event. :)
DeleteI absolutely LOVED this book, I've read it 4 times already and I can't wait to learn more about the Kincaid family (you know in between books about hot NZ rugby players)
ReplyDeleteHi Lea! Thank you for stopping by and visiting with Rosalind! I agree, I can't wait to learn more about the Kincaid family too. :)
Delete