How do I start writing a romance novel?
These were some of my biggest problems, too. I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough material, I didn’t know how and where to start…First off, do read as many romance novels as possible. Read the successful ones and try to see the similarities. Over time you’ll see a pattern. Whether the characteristics of the hero and heroine, the flow of the story, the way conflicts are set up etc.(Apologies if you are already a dedicated reader or researcher of the genre. I write romance but reading it takes 2nd place to mystery to me.)There are sub genres as well in romance: contemporary, historical, erotic, suspense etc. You might find your idea fits better into one of these sub genres. Or that you write one sub genre more easily than the rest. As a reader, I like romantic suspense but it takes some research and a bit more plotting than I currently have the time for.Second, consider your approach. Try finishing a scene or a short story. Identify how best to personally navigate writing a complete work. Every writer is different. Some start at the beginning and write until the end; some, like me, start in the middle of a defining scene, write it all out and then add appropriate beginning and ending.Third, find as much help as possible. I find Stephen King’s On Writing to be a tremendous help to start with. It gives you a sort of background on how to work in general. And then I got my hands on Libbie Hawker’s Take Off Your Pants. It’s really helpful for those of us who want to do some outlining.And just a few weeks ago my order for Gwen Hayes’ Romancing the Beat finally arrived, which is a very practical approach to unfold the stages of what happens in a romance novel.Of course this is what works for me, might not work for you. But give it a try if you’re so inclined. Thanks for the A2A and good luck!
How can I start a promising business and make it go big in the next 5 years?
By knowing what you are good at and identifying market needs that are not being served. Also going big is never what you want, that is just a side effect. Being profitable is what you want, going big just means headaches.Combining technology and needsAn example that lies close to your own expertise OP, are audible books - Audiobooks & Original Audio. This was a dormant technique that was used for the blind and other disabled to put books on record so they could listen to them. WIth the development of the Internet and digital technology as well as mobile phones, Ipad’s and apps, entrepreneurs had the idea to create services were customers could download books and listen to them. Many customers who don’t “read” books, now listen to 2–3 books a week on the train, subway etc which has become a huge market.Picking up an existing market area and business model, doing something new with itDeveloping new tastes in consumer products and combining information and distribution routes in a way so you have a competitive advantage. A lot of people are afraid of starting something new in existing businesses (trade, food, candy, consumables etc). But it just means that you need to do it slightly better then everyone else and work step by step. The consumer market is like a huge cake, you just need to identify which piece want to take.It can be something simple like meal kit, or designing beverage, food etc were there is a niche for it.Innovate on existing technologyA lot of traditional technology today that are leading the market are technologies that were developed in the 60 s but which are in dying need of innovation. A lot of new technologies are not things were somebody invented “a new wheel” but just a different way how to produce it to become more efficient.Identifying new needs and innovateThis part can be hardest or the easiest depending on what you know and what you believe in. There are a lot of government incentives and innovation channels that will listen to you and help you get started.There are a lot more combinations…….Due to the deregulation of markets and the internet, market boundaries and consumer behavior and patterns have shifted and can be almost infinite.The entrepreneurial process is a lot of trial and error in just starting by doing something. “Making it” is rarely a linear process. Instead, it’s a lot of hard work and detours until you reach your goal in offering something that fulfills a need with enough customers.
What motivated you to start writing your current novel?
After 20+ years spent as a writer, I felt that IF had I ever written a Rambo-prequel novel… It would have become my best work ever .That’s the main reason I write for: to write something good. And not ‘just good’ for me (as most writers do) but good for other people too. A good read. A sincere read. Somethig that will make your heart beat and your mind blow.I write to give my best to people, and that’s it.I feel my work as a writer as a byproduct of generosity, not my own ego.A Rambo-prequel was the best I had in my mind at the moment, so I wrote it even if copyright holders gave me legal threats at first, and then authorized me to freeshare only.And yet, I wrote it anyway for free, and I have no regrets.I earnt nothing, not in terms of money nor career neither yet, but I was right.It turned out my best work ever and it ended up becoming one of the most critically acclaimed unofficial works of the world.I am currently working at volume number 5 of this saga.
I'm 20 years old, I haven't read any book yet, how would you advise me and what books would be good to start with?
That depends on you - what are your interests? Are you reading for self improvement? For leisure? To learn more about a specific topic?Do you like learning about notable people's lives? How about specific animals or countries/cultures? Or art or film or travel? Or inspiration or the spiritual? Do you like the classics (maybe something you've heard about in school or elsewhere) or poetry?Are there particular authors you've heard about that maybe you'd like to explore? What about science or technology or economics or politics?Perhaps a good place to start would be to define exactly why you want to start reading and then what you'd like to read about and then take it from there.I like crime and suspense novels so I oftentimes read fiction books on the topic - Mario Puzo; John Grisham, Michael Connolly, James Patterson, David Baldacci. I've also read several writings by Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist is a universal favorite. Most recently I've started purchasing books shortlisted/longlisted for the Man Booker prize, just to give me some ideas for reading. I read for pleasure and leisure and have some really strict preferences or I wouldn't be caught dead with a romance novel!Hopefully I've given you at least a bit of inspiration on how to get started.
What are some great start-up books on the topic of idea validation?
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries, 2011.Validating Product Ideas Through Lean User Research by Tomer Sharon, 2016Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal, 2013Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp, 2016BlogsYou may also find interesting to read about how not to use these product development and validation techniques
Any good romance stories on Fictionpress?
im a huge romance story freak, i practically live for the high school romance crap. Can anyone recommend any good stories on fictionpress.com for me? plz+thnku
Has anyone read books by Agatha Christne? Are they good?
i heard death on the nile was good .... shes written over 80 novels tho so id say shes pretty good