Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Ten for Tuesday - And a Giveaway!

Before I launch into my Ten for Tuesday, the wonderful Keris Stainton was so chuffed over all the comments on my review of Della Says: OMG that she's offering a signed copy of the book to one lucky winner (open to international people, too!). If you'd like a chance to win, just leave a comment on this post. I'll choose the winner by 4 p.m. GMT tomorrow. Thanks, Keris!

Today's Ten for Tuesday is a round-up of the top ten things I learned at the recent Romantic Novelists' Association conference. There were some amazing tidbits that really hit home with me -- some great 'aha!' moments.

So in no particular order, here we go!

1. When creating characters, think about their worst fault and their greatest quality. How do they connect? (For example, being work-obsessed can be both a good and a bad thing). Many thanks to Julie Cohen for that one; she helped lift me out of my Sunday morning grump and actually got me writing!

2. Keep your receipts! Keep your receipts! Keep your receipts! Who knew you could claim for things like books and laptops as long as you're working towards a profitable enterprise? Thanks to Kate Harrison for drilling that into my head (in a nice way, of course!).

3. Think of your writing as a career, not just as a one-book wonder. Another gem from Kate, who urged us to think beyond the first book we have published to what we hope to accomplish as a whole. Do you have more than one book in you? What are you looking to accomplish from your writing?

4. Think of conflict like an onion. Deal with one layer, then peel it away to reveal another layer until the core problem is exposed. Oh, how I love this analogy! It's already helped me rewrite a few scenes I wasn't happy with. Thank you, Kate Walker!

5. Don't be afraid to ask. The worst that can happen is someone says no! This wonderful bit of promotional advice came self-professed media tart from Jane Wenham-Jones, whose book So You Wanna Be a Writer was the first book on writing I ever read!

6. Want to reach a wide audience in one shot? Try short stories. I'd never thought of publishing short stories for some reason (I have no idea why), but Sue Moorcroft made a great point: with one short story you can reach thousands of readers! It's also a good promotional tool if you have a novel coming out.

7. Don't be apologetic about what you write. Several different people said this and I took it to heart. For some reason, a slightly apologetic note always creeps into my voice whenever I explain to people what I write. No more!

8. If you're going to wear a name-tag, make sure you take it off before your hour-long Tube journey home. I only discovered why people were staring at me after I got home.

OK, that's only eight (I'm not doing so well on the Ten for Tuesday theme lately), but there are so many great tips floating around in my head it's hard to pin them down!

Don't forget to comment for a chance to win Della Says: OMG! Happy Tuesday!

70 comments:

  1. Your Eight For Tuesday was good! I only woke up about an hour ago but these tips are rousing my brain and getting me to think.

    Have a good week!

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  2. You picked up some great tips at the RNA Conference. I might have to save up and try and make it to next year's.

    I'm with you - I have to stop apologising for what I write, or even the fact that I do, and I need to believe it's a career - or no one else will!

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  3. Ah, good tips! Especially, for me, number 7. It's important to be proud of what you do—that was a great lesson to be learned throughout the entire conference, don't you think? So many fabulous people there.

    To give credit where it's due, though, that tip you quoted from me is actually one I lifted from Freda Lightfoot.

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  4. Talli, what you missed in quantity (8 vs. 10), you more than made up for in quality!

    Just thought I should mention that. :)

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  5. Great tips, Talli. Especially number six. Thanks for the opportunity to win the book as well x

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  6. I love random bits of advice like this. #7 is something I struggle with. But this will stop! Thanks!

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  7. I love random bits of advice like this. #7 is something I struggle with. But this will stop! Thanks!

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  8. Brilliant tips, thanks for posting about them.

    Lol, re the name badge.

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  9. very interesting post...I almost wish I was a writer (almost but not quite...I don't think I've got it in me!!)

    C x

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  10. How nice of Keris - awesome! It sounds like such a fun book!

    I like your advice too - great tips!

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  11. I love your eight tips. Even if you didn't get to ten, you made each one count!

    Good advice, don't apologize for what you write. That's how I used to feel when I said I wrote children's books. Like you, no more.

    I've left name tags on for HOURS after conferences. So embarrassing!

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  12. Great tips! Sounds like you had a good time.
    Can I help you out?
    Tip #9- write, write write. You'll never know what sticks.
    Tip #10- find time to read great blogs like this one on writing to keep you inspired.

    Cheers~

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  13. Great tips. Couldn't make it to the conference so I'm extra grateful to you for posting these.

    X

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  14. These are good tips and practical.
    #7? Why be embarrassed about Romance? Where would the world be without it?

    Giggles and Guns

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  15. My mum used to make us wear this badge that said "Lose Weight Now Ask Me How" when she tried to be enterprising and join this slimming cult. The idea was that you wear this badge, people ask and you explain the joy of these slimming products and et voila!! You become a millionaire overnight.

    Anyway!! Thank you for these fabulous tips!! I love the onion analogy too - I never thought of conflict and its resolution as that - it's a great one to keep in mind. Onions - they make you cry but by golly they help you write your book! Fabulous!

    Have a lovely Tuesday - no more apologising please!!

    take care
    x

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  16. Excellent tips! Writer's Digest Magazine had an article in March about keeping receipts to claim certain things on your taxes! Unfortunately, it doesn't apply to me this year since I haven't made a dime, but maybe next year??? YES, NEXT YEAR! Lol.

    Happy Tuesday, Talli!

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  17. You always give such great advice! And yet another reason why I love your blog...:)

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  18. FANTASTIC TIPS (even though there are only 8... you are forgiven!!)

    Kate is one smart cookie, and it looks like we can learn a lot of ever at Ten for Tuesday, or Eight for Tuesday ;)

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  19. Awesome tips - thanks for sharing!

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  20. Great tips - I especially like 1 and 4 and will try to keep them in my mind while working on my current story.

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  21. Thanks for the advice! very insightful:)

    fantasy4eva@hotmail.com

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  22. Don't be afraid to ask ... that's one I try to live by everyday! Cheers :)

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  23. fabulous lineup! thanks so much!

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  24. Those are all so awesome. I really like the onion analogy too. THink in layers! You know what has layers? Parfait, parfait's are delicious. Everybody like parfaits. :)

    Somehow it just didn't come across quite as Donkey/Eddie Murphy as I wanted it to.

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  25. Brilliant tips, Talli. Keep 'em coming.

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  26. Great tips, Talli. I especially like the name tag one. ;-)

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  27. I loved your slightly abbreviated list. When I first started my book, that note of apology/embarrassment would creep into my voice. Don't know why.

    I'm getting over it, can tell someone I'm writing a book with confidence now...just pray they don't ask me what it's about yet cuz my pitch needs serious work! hahaha

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  28. You learned some good stuff! I always consider the greatest strengths and weaknesses of my characters.

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  29. Love this post, Talli. Thank you for sharing your take-away lessons with us. :)

    And thanks for a chance to win a book!

    Love,
    Lola

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  30. thanks for the good tips...
    Also, thanks for paying attention!

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  31. You should do top ten tips for surviving a conference! Great ideas there, thanks for letting me in on some secrets that I missed by being elsewhere at the time.

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  32. Hello : ) To be honest I visited here initially because of the OMG comp; but I really enjoyed your post , and there is much in there that has really got me thinking. I love writing (not a pro writer though)and am just starting on the road towards thinking that maybe I would like to do something that combines my illustrations with writing ...so your post was very helpful. Thankyou !

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  33. My favorite tip in the bunch: Think of your writing as a career. I have been since the beginning of 2010 and because of it, my writing has evolved.

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  34. Fabulous tips, thank you for sharing them.

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  35. great tips, number 8 made me laugh

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  36. Thanks for all the comments, everyone! It was such a great weekend and I wanted to share all the tips I've received. There are so many I'm sure I've forgotten even though I tried my best to write everything down!

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  37. You must have been using the 'new math'. LOL Thanks for all the great tips!

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  38. Eight is plenty when they are so good!

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  39. I LOVE these Ten for Tuesday tips! My faves are... all of them!!

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  40. Great tips, Talli, and very encouraging for us short story writers.
    And I'd love to win the book, I'm getting flu and my kids are off for nine weeks and it's raining and I need something to read, I've finished my Joanna Trollope from the library and I am too weak with the almost flu to drive to a book shop.
    Sympathy vote, go on or does canvassing disqualify me?

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  41. So nice of Keris. :)

    The keeping your receipts thing is definitely good advice. But what a pain in the end. Still . . . it can save lots of money.

    And I know that apologetic tone. I've been working to get rid of mine.

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  42. Some very good tips indeed. I especially like the one about the receipts. If I remember right, you do tend to keep old receipts which is now a good thing. :)

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  43. Great tips, Talli. the onion layers one made me think of Shrek! I've had one short story published in New Love Stories Magazine in NY, and another one has been accepted, so I'll be interested to see how that impacts on sales come the 28th when my book's out!

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  44. Good summary, Talli. Lovely to meet you.

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  45. All good tips, even the name tag!

    Also, for the newer writers, that's a great suggestion about characters' worst fault & greatest quality.

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  46. Great advice, especially 7 and 6 oh and 5 and 3, Thank you, sounds like you had a great time!

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  47. Great list, number 7 really resonated with me as I write genre and often get "judgment" looks from people and comments like, "Why don't you write something that matters?"

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  48. Great tips! I always tend to be apologetic about my writing. Not anymore. :)

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  49. Great tips babe great tips!!

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  50. These are great tips! Especially #3 & #4. Thank you Talli :)

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  51. Love these! Especially the short stories tip. Happy Tuesday to you too! :-)

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  52. Those tips are great (even if there were only 8 ;)

    Thanks for hosting a giveaway!

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  53. great tips and a great giveawayx

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  54. LOL take off your name tag, gotcha. :P Great tips; thanks for sharing!

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  55. I can definitely relate to don't be apologetic about what you write. I am working on that.

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  56. Very, very good points! I have to say I agree with most of them, especially on being unapologetic. I need to work in this :(

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  57. Hi there- great blog post - please count me in for a chance to win Keris's book! Thanks

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  58. Fantastic tips. Every single one fo them is so true- so what if you fell two short?
    And do sign me up, if you are okay with international entrants. I would love to read the book!

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  59. Thanks for the awesome tips! I am guilty of #7 as well... But, like you said: no more! :)
    Have a great day!

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  60. Great advice! I have wandered with a name tag countless times... It only really bugs me when strangers call me by name *snort*

    And I always figured the apologizing would stop with publication... that is what I always feel embarrassed about... erm... no... nothing published yet...

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  61. #8 -- you owe me a mouthful of coffee Girl :-)

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  62. 1 and 4 especially are great tips - anything that jolts me out of writing same-sounding scenes.
    Thanks for sharing with us Talli!

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  63. Great tips - I really like the onion analogy! I've learned that tip about nametags the hard way myself. :)

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  64. good tips - my receipts are stacked in an envelope - and don't forget to log them in a cash book s well!

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  65. I like the 'worst fault/best quality' comparison. I hadn't heard that before. Thanks.

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  66. Still supposed to be resting my eyes but I was getting withdrawl symptoms from not being able to visit your blog! So glad I snuck a peek as I really enjoyed this post and I def want to go to RNA 11! Right, best get back to resting my eyes now, hope to be back to blogging by the weekend. xo

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Coffee and wine for all!