Have you ever had an amazing experience and realized afterwards that your life would never be the same again? The Georgia Romance Writers 2011 Moonlight & Magnolias Conference was such an experience for me. I made lots of new friends, strengthened existing relationships, acquired knowledge that will sharpen my skills as a fiction writer, and gained insights that are changing the way I approach every new day. Here is a small sampling of what I know now that I didn’t know before. Volunteers have more fun. (Sally Kilpatrick) Note cards are not necessary when pitching to agents and editors. (Maria [...]

While I was tackling the monstrosity that was the Kilpatrick laundry pile, I realized that writing is a lot like doing laundry.  Of course, there’s always the possibility that I would have rather been writing than doing laundry.  Wait.  That’s a given. Seriously, good writing takes preparation and so does properly washing your clothes.  We all know what happens if you sort too quickly and get your new red socks hidden in the middle of your whites.  Or, what if you’re too lazy to look at labels and wash that silk blouse in with the regular clothes?  Bad things, man.  [...]

A review by Nicki Salcedo If you were a Rare One and could listen to the world you might hear this: I wish I were a real princess. I wish I had a puppy. I wish he liked— I wish— I wish— For Kristin Montgomery the ability to hear people’s wishes is just the beginning of her developing powers. She’s a CPA with three aunts who suddenly reveal that they are fairy godmothers and Kristin is too. What do you need to be a fairy godmother? A magic wand, some reluctance, and a guide in the form of Tennyson Ritter. He’s [...]

by Nicki Salcedo I’m sure your mother told you it’s impolite to talk about the politics, religion, and sex.  Lucky for you, I’m here to make mom mad today. Politics. I have a surprising number of friends who are my political opposite.  I think I need to wear more shirts that say “Anarchy” or “Make Love Not War.”  The truth is I like to surround myself with lots of different types of people and in my life sometimes different means opposite.  Sports fans get together for the love of the sport even if they are cheering on different teams.  We [...]

By Nicki Salcedo I dislike clichés and when I read them I feel insulted.  It makes me think the author believes I’ve never read another book before.  Don’t get me wrong, I still write about dark and stormy nights and chiseled-chinned heroes, but I delete those clichés during the editing process.  Good writing is never predictable writing.  Surprise your readers and yourself.  When I write I don’t just think outside the box, I think outside ALL of the boxes. It was a dark and stormy what? What do you think of when you think of rain?  A funeral?  A precursor [...]

by Nicki Salcedo What if the main character in Cinderella was a man?  What if the ball was being held for a lonely princess?  Would the story still ring true?  Try to put a twist on a favorite story or fairy tale and see what happens!  Happy Writing. Wait for Midnight Elliot walked the two men out of the restaurant toward the limousine and rested the urge to call them evil. “You should come with us,” one said. “Absolutely,” the other added. The two men straightened their perfectly tailored tuxedos.  They suddenly looked uncomfortable, when moments before they’d been wearing [...]

My Achilles’ Heel by Nicki Salcedo I write for myself. Everyone says, “Know your target audience.” I am my target audience. I tried to write for a specific market once. I dreaded writing. I never once had the urge to go back and re-read my words. Now, I’m back to writing for me. I always wished that my grandmother or mother kept a journal. I write for me and my kids. I hope they’ll be curious about the world and how other people experienced the world. I’m still figuring out how to channel my creative voice into my novel writing [...]