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Wynona Winters
Writes a Romance
The links below are to sites, articles, blogs, books, programs, etc, that I found value in and wanted to share or find again later.
If it's here, it is not my original content and I want to thank the creators who have made these incredible resource available to the rest of us..
Thank you!!
Writer's Resources
The books on my wish list are ones that I'm interested in and when I do purchase them I'll share my thoughts here. Take a look if you want to beat me to it.
The best one I've found for free is FreePik - They really do have a way to continue to get free photos, but you're limited to 20 for every 24 hours. As I get better at descriptions I may not have to go through that many a day, but in the mean time, 20 leaves me wanting. If I could afford a subscription, I would probably stick with FreePik. I've cycled through a lot of free trials, and this one seems pretty solid. For the most part it knows how many fingers a person should have.. its a low bar to set, but you would be surprised.
I keep thinking of it as a word processing program, but it's more than that. It's an all in one book, research paper, or essay.. template, organizer, place to store your research.. I've only scratched the surface. I've also tried Plottr, and although they market themselves as different and suggest you use both programs, I personally think Scrivener is a more powerful tool and Plottr is pretty useless. The trial is amazing, it's 30 days but it only counts a day if you log-in. When I finally purchased the lifetime version for windows/desktop I found the discount code "PODCAST" and saved 20% It came out to something like $48 which, in my opinion, a great price for a truly valuable tool. Highly Recommend .
I love this program! I use it in Scrivener and love it when it legit tells me my writing is weak in different sections!! It points out when I start several sentences in a row with the same word, usually "she," "he," etc. It will let me know if I'm using a passive voice. All of these are done in the free version. It highlights certain sections where it would have other suggestions if you had the paid version which is distracting, but a great ploy for me to upgrade. I'm 100% sold on this program and have no interest in trying one of their competitors.
Articles, Links, etc
"Shame can kill the imagination. It's hard to keep writing in the face of cultural derision."
Eloisa James
Fav. Videos
Resources to Recommend?
My TBR on Writing/Lit
Written By
John S. Warner
Publication
Independently published
(February 27, 2022)
Genre
Non-Fic
Why?
I really need to get better at character arcs. Especially when there are multiple storylines happening at the same time. This book is highly rated on Amazon and it's something I think I will benefit from. I did recently see that it's free with Kindle Unlimited, which is amazinggg, but I had my eye on it for long before I saw it's availability.
Book Description
"Transform your story with a character your readers will remember long after they’ve turned the last page When you think of unforgettable characters from books you’ve read, who comes to mind? James Bond, Harry Potter, Scarlett O’Hara, Elizabeth Bennett, Atticus Finch, Sherlock Holmes? These are just some of the most iconic characters in fiction. They are so memorable that even decades or centuries later, they still captivate our imagination. But what exactly is it about them that keeps readers through generations so invested in them? Despite their vast differences in age, gender, nationality, occupation, and personality, each of them has a special quality that makes us want to know them more. Whether it’s James Bond’s suave demeanor, Scarlett O’Hara’s haughty vulnerability, or Atticus Finch’s righteousness, we’re hooked. Do you want to know how you too can create your own unforgettable characters that your readers will be dying to read about? Yes, it’s rare to write such timeless characters – even some bestselling authors don’t have widely recognizable protagonists. However, it’s entirely possible to write characters that resonate strongly with your readers – and get them hooked on your story – no matter how new you are to the game. Writers apply certain rules and tricks with their characters to make their stories shine and keep their audience engrossed. And with this guide, you’ll find out exactly what they are. In The Secrets to Creating Character Arcs, here is just a fraction of what you will discover: How your characters can make or break your story – and what you can do to make your characters more compelling 10 simple tricks to add more excitement to your plot without veering away from your main story How to take advantage of plot and structure to help develop your protagonist’s journey The worst thing you can do for your character that will immediately make them unappealing and uninteresting How to make your readers relate to – and root for – an unlikable character A fun yet insightful exercise in character building that can help you make sure all your characters have their own unique individual personalities 2 letters that will speed up your writing process without sacrificing quality And much more. Writing your first story (or your latest one) can be intimidating. The stakes seem to be higher when writing down words rather than just saying them out loud. But remember that you’re allowed to make mistakes, change things up, delete, and add to your story however many times you need to. Plus, with the techniques from this guide at your disposal, you can approach your writing with more confidence. Sometimes, all you need to do is get started… and the ideas will just keep flowing from there." - Amazon Description
Written By
Joseph Campbell
Publication
Joseph Campbell Foundation; 3rd edition (November 5, 2020)
Genre
Non-Fic
Why?
The writing in Joseph Campbell's 'The Hero With A Thousand Faces' is beautiful and organic. It's intelligent and easy for me to follow like a story line, unlike so many non-fiction or educational texts. Beyond that, I, like so many writiers, absolutely love mythology. Reading this book will not only expand my understanding of how universal the hero's journey is, but will give me a deeper look at mythology itself.
Book Description
"Since its release in 1949, The Hero with a Thousand Faceshas influenced millions of readers by combining the insights of modern psychology with Joseph Campbell’s revolutionary understanding of comparative mythology. In these pages, Campbell outlines the Hero’s Journey, a universal motif of adventure and transformation that runs through virtually all of the world’s mythic traditions. He also explores the Cosmogonic Cycle, the mythic pattern of world creation and destruction. As part of the Joseph Campbell Foundation’s Collected Works of Joseph Campbell, this third edition features expanded illustrations, a comprehensive bibliography, and more accessible sidebars. As relevant today as when it was first published, The Hero with a Thousand Facescontinues to find new audiences in fields ranging from religion and anthropology to literature and film studies. The book has also profoundly influenced creative artists—including authors, songwriters, game designers, and filmmakers—and continues to inspire all those interested in the inherent human need to tell stories." - Amazon Description
Written By
Lisa Cron
Publication
Ten Speed Press; 1st edition
(August 9, 2016)
Genre
Non-Fic
Why?
I will absolutely not lie to you, I wasn't sure I was going to buy this book, but when I saw it on the shelf at Barnes & Noble I decided to flip through it. From the small portions I read while I sat plopped on the ground in front of that bookshelf was, well, interesting as hell. She looks at the way we'e been writing stories and breaking down why that isn't working for us, and then how to do it right. I'm excited to go through it the rest of the way!
Book Description
"It’s every novelist’s greatest fear: pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into writing hundreds of pages only to realize that their story has no sense of urgency, no internal logic, and so is a page one rewrite. The prevailing wisdom in the writing community is that there are just two ways around this problem: pantsing (winging it) and plotting (focusing on the external plot). Story coach Lisa Cron has spent her career discovering why these methods don’t work and coming up with a powerful alternative, based on the science behind what our brains are wired to crave in every story we read (and it’s not what you think). In Story Genius Cron takes you, step-by-step, through the creation of a novel from the first glimmer of an idea, to a complete multilayered blueprint—including fully realized scenes—that evolves into a first draft with the authority, richness, and command of a riveting sixth or seventh draft." - Amazon Description
Written By
Publication
St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (September 8, 2001
((This was initially published in 1966))
Genre
Non-Fic
Why?
Ok, first of all. Look at that pic, what a bad ass. Somewhere, I had read an excerpt of this book and was empressed by how easy it was to read. I am a particular fan of one author who writes incredible and indepth books about writing, but I have to read and re-read his works to absorb it all. Ms. Highsmith shares stories of how to write stories. It's all very relatable and easy to grasp. I'm also very specifically interested in writing suspence romance, and think this will be an invaluable book to read on the subject.
Book Description
Patricia Highsmith, author of Strangers On a Train, The Talented Mr.Ripley, Found In The Street, and many other books, is known as one of the finest suspense novelists. In this book, she analyzes the key elements of suspense fiction, drawing upon her own experience in four decades as a working writer. She talks about, among other topics; how to develop a complete story from an idea; what makes a plot gripping; the use (and abuse) of coincidence; characterization and the "likeable criminal"; going from first draft to final draft; and writing the suspense short story. Throughout the book, Highsmith illustrates her points with plentiful examples from her own work, and by discussing her own inspirations, false starts, dead ends, successes, and failures, she presents a lively and highly readable picture of the novelist at work. Anyone who wishes to write crime and suspense fiction, or who enjoys reading it, will find this book an insightful guide to the craft and art of a modern master.
Written By
Publication
Picador Paper
(November 29, 2022)
Genre
Non-Fic
Why?
This initially caught my attention because of the description. It is a book about what people are looking for when they look at each genre. It helps writers guide readers to "live their best lives" through the story. I am also a huge fan of John Truby's, The Anatomy of Story. I will read anything this man writes.
Book Description
"Most people think genres are simply categories on Netflix or Amazon that provide a helpful guide to making entertainment choices. Most people are wrong. Genre stories aren’t just a small subset of the films, video games, TV shows, and books that people consume. They are the all-stars of the entertainment world, comprising the vast majority of popular stories worldwide. That’s why businesses―movie studios, production companies, video game studios, and publishing houses―buy and sell them. Writers who want to succeed professionally must write the stories these businesses want to buy. Simply put, the storytelling game is won by mastering the structure of genres. The Anatomy of Genres: How Story Forms Explain the Way the World Works is the legendary writing teacher John Truby’s step-by-step guide to understanding and using the basic building blocks of the story world. He details the three ironclad rules of successful genre writing, and analyzes more than a dozen major genres and the essential plot events, or “beats,” that define each of them. As he shows, the ability to combine these beats in the right way is what separates stories that sell from those that don’t. Truby also reveals how a single story can combine elements of different genres, and how the best writers use this technique to craft unforgettable stories that stand out from the crowd. Just as Truby’s first book, The Anatomy of Story, changed the way writers develop stories, The Anatomy of Genres will enhance their quality and expand the impact they have on the world." - Amazon Description