I was going through a blog of mine I started back in 2005, and I came across this post, written in ‘05. It’s interesting because it is still relevant today. And it will probably  be relevant as long as stories are told…

As you may know, I graduated from a MFA program in ‘04. Most MFA programs work to generate writers of literature. I came to the program as a pure genre head. I wrote mysteries. I wrote women’s fiction. My goal in coming to the program wasn’t to necessarily write literature. It was to better my writing in general so that everything I wrote, no matter the genre, would the best writing I could do.

Needless to say, the program shoved literature down my throat (which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing) and at times, I felt compelled to hide the fact that I was a published author of genre novels; in fact, my fiction professor did not know about my published activities until my third year at the uni.

So why am I telling you all this?

Well, a friend and I talked about lit and genre. I was telling him how it’s gotten so outrageous; IT being the riff between genre and literature. He’s a big sci-fi/fantasy buff and believes that there are some sci-fi/fantasy books that are literature; I agree. I told him about the huge CHICK LIT vs. REAL WOMEN’S LITERATURE clash that’s been going on for awhile now.

I remember back when I was like 14, and I would write scripts and bad stories in my 5-subject notebook, and I didn’t think about whether it was popular, or whether I would be Shakespeare’s long lost illegitimate great (to the umpteenth power) literary grandchild (though I wish that were true–totally dig Shakey!). It was just the love of words and the visions of stories that played on my mind’s screen that now others could enjoy. I miss the idea of writing solely what I love without someone going, “Hmm, so well, you write the stuff that goes inside bubblegum pink covers?” And being black, it’s even harder because most of the stuff I like to read comes in one color: vanilla. So here I am, liking bubblegum pink, but bubblegum pink isn’t dark enough (though I digress).

I’m staring at one of my bookshelves now. I see Plath and Sexton. I see Donald Goines. I see black feminist thought. I see semiotics. I see I’m with Cupid, The Pact, The Psychology of Suicide, Alcohol and the Addictive Brain, The Godfather, several books by Virginia Woolf, nearly two shelves of Red Dress Ink and Downtown Press books. I’m an eclectic reader. I like to think. I like to be entertained. I like to be rescued from my life and to escape into someone else’s life for awhile. GOOD stories, whether they are chick lit, lit, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, etc., do that.

I think both sides of the fence–genre and lit–need to come together and realize that just as there is literature that is entertaining, there is genre that makes one think, that is about character development and not strictly plot based. Though…I can’t help but think of how ANY story, any story that’s good mind you, could NOT have something happen (plot) and strong characters that change and call itself a STORY, but then, that’s just my opinion…

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1 writer with
3 publishers,
15+ books, and
4 genres

Celebrates 10 years of being an author with two award nominations and three new book releases in 2010.

Niobia Bryant joins us at ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING to talk about her latest project, Message from a Mistress as well as how her ambitious nature allowed her to reach her current success.

Niobia Bryant-the red-hot author of Live and Learn and Show and Tell-delivers a sexy, unforgettable novel about love, infidelity, and the importance of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer…

Through good times and bad, longtime friends Jaime, Renee, Aria, and Jessa have shared just about everything. But all hell breaks loose when Jessa texts them a shocking revelation: she’s been sharing her bed-with one of their husbands. To make matters worse, she refuses to name which husband she’s been cheating with. And all three wives have reason to worry…

Jaime wonders if her own past indifelity drove her man into Jessa’s waiting ams…Renee thinks her busy career opened the door for Jessa to step in and fulfill her wifely duties…and Aria fears her competitive relationship with Jessa pushed her so-called friend to claim the ultimate pize in revenge.

The betrayed trio vow to stick together. But before the identity of Jessa’s lover is revealed, each woman’s deepest secets will be exposed for all to see-and they’ll need each other more than ever.

When asked, “With seventeen novels under your belt, how have you changed in terms of your growth in the book industry? Was Message of a Mistress easier to produce for you,” Niobia replied, “I’ve learned so much in the past 10 years as an author. My first book took me a year to write and now I can definitely complete a well written book in less time. Writing in multiple genres allows me to continuously work towards perfecting my craft as a storyteller too. I’ve grown in my business acumen. I am a knowledgeable author. I research the industry, who’s doing what, and I keep abreast of what sells, where and why… this all helps me stay fresh and relevant to what avid readers want from authors. Writing Message of a Mistress was a smooth and timely process. I concentrated on keeping it entertaining since the entire story takes place in one day. There are many character flashbacks, but overall writing the book was not difficult at all.”

Definitely stop by ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING to learn read about Niobia, her current project, and her career thus far!

ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING
Chocolate-caramel lattes + Women writers = ONE GREAT TIME!
[chicklitgurrl.blogspot.com]

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Last month in my The Write Life for You series, I presented part one of “Building the Author’s Ethos” by talking about developing a writing philosophy. This month, I offer part two, developing a marketing plan. As I stated last month, having a great book is good. However–as part one suggests–knowing who you are as a writer and what you bring to the table is very important. Also important is knowing who your audience is and understanding the genre and themes of your book so that you can find many avenues to market your book–part two discusses this.

Read my latest The Write Life for You article! Head to APOOO Books to read ["Building the Author's Ethos - Part Two: Developing a Marketing Plan"].

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Head over to ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING where I talk with a jacqueline of all trades, author and educator Gwyneth Bolton! We talk about her latest novel, Sizzling Seduction, her alter-ego, and the still-needed recognition of black romance.

About Sizzling Seduction

Some like it hot…

Firefighter Patrick Hightower will take any risk in the line of duty. Risking his heart again? That’s something he’s vowed never to do. He prefers scorching affairs—the briefer, the better—though he might make a temporary exception for smart, sexy teacher Aisha Miller. But Aisha isn’t interested in exploring their instant, searing connection—no matter how much she feels the heat.

Aisha has had enough of dominant men trying to control her life, and the gorgeous firefighter who visits her kindergarten class is alpha male through and through. Yet the gentler side Patrick shows, especially around her young son, gradually melts her reserve. As shadows from Aisha’s past resurface, she’ll discover just how far Patrick will go to prove she’s found her real-life hero.

When asked, “What type of writer are you? Are you a plotter or a pantser,” Gwyneth answered, “I’m a little of both actually. I used to write a novel about halfway through without plotting and then I would have to plot out the rest of it to finish it. That’s how I wrote my first three novels, I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, If Only You Knew and Divine Destiny. Now that I’ve sold a few novels by proposal and the novel is technically plotted out already in the proposal, I have to give myself serious critical distance from the proposal after I write it and write as if I am still pantsing it. Then usually about halfway through the writing, I have to revisit my proposal to finish writing the novel. Strange… I know…”

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Through my alma mater, McNeese State University, I will be offering my four-week Writers Boot Camp!

What is Writers Boot Camp?

Do you have an idea for a story but are unsure where to go now that you have this idea? Then you need Writers Boot Camp! From idea to outline in 28 Days - all you need is a valid e-mail address and the desire to pen YOUR story! WBC is a four-week intensive ONLINE program in which writers will work one-on-one with the instructor to develop story ideas into novel outlines, thus preparing you to finally write a first draft.

Every Monday, students will receive, via e-mail, a weekly assignment that will help them build upon their ideas, culminating into a completed story outline. On Sunday, students will e-mail their assignment to be read and critiqued by instructor and returned.

Upon completion of the class, instructor will help students develop a writing schedule to assist in completing a first draft!

Dates: March 8, 15, 22, 29

Registration Deadline: February 22

Through the school, the price for the four-week Writers Boot Camp course is only $69!

There are four (three if you’re not in Lake Charles, LA) ways to register for the course; check out this [LINK]!

Look forward to getting literary with you!

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The next two articles in my The Write Life for You series are about developing the ethos of the author. Yes, it is important to write a great book. It is important to study the craft of writing in order to edit, revise, and rewrite that great book. But the work of a writer doesn’t stop with crafting a great book. The writer must think about his or her career as an author – in regards to what he or she writes and, just as important (if not more), what his or her audience wants.

Part one of the two articles is titled “Building the Author’s Ethos – Part One: Writing Philosophy.”

Read my latest The Write Life for You article on writing a writing philosophy! Head to APOOO Books to read ["Building the Author's Ethos - Part One: Writing Philosophy"].

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Welcome to AtBaP 2010! We are wrapping up our month of cheating, betrayal, and lies with debut novelist Madison, who shares with us great thoughts on the terrible threes and also gives us a taste of her novel, Scattered Lies!

About Scattered Lies…
When four people choose lying as a path to attain their success, they will find that the destiny they wished for is not always guaranteed. Because when…

APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING…
Denise Taylor, a chameleon, is building a promising future for herself. Aspiring toward the successful life of designer suits and couture shoes, she will learn that the past will pull up alongside you with a vengeance.

LIES ARE DEADLY…
Tony Flowers, a successful CEO/Rapper, is on the verge of becoming the Bill Gates of the music industry. He forces you to explore the way excess erodes our sense of satisfaction. Deceitful, manipulative, and living with the secret of his ultimate act of betrayal, he discovers that some lies are worth dying for.

DECISIONS CAN BE DANGEROUS…
Gabrielle Brightman is an upscale, sophisticated, resilient young woman. She didn’t become a powerful attorney without making many sacrifices. While running her own small practice, she earned a reputation for taking on controversial clients. Nevertheless, she will embark on the biggest challenge of her life.

AND DREAMS DESTROYED
Morgan Marciano is a naïve, gorgeous, yet optimistic young lady with a prominent future, but she will encounter the worst evil of all.

All will realize that when they lie, all that’s left are Scattered Lies.

Scattered Lies tells a riveting story of scandals, half truths, and ultimate triumph. It will take you on an unpredictable ride through real life, where lies are the reality of the truth.

When asked, Personally, what’s the worst thing someone can lie about, and why, Madison replied, “Personally, once someone lies to me, I can no longer trust them. I think the worst thing someone could lie about is their loyalty to you. I find myself losing associates because I believed their alliance to me, to find out they didn’t really care for me or my well being. I think this is the worst thing you can lie about because when you are at your lowest point, your alliances are what you count on most, then to realize at that fateful moment that you are alone is like the worst feeling in the world. Throughout Scattered Lies, readers will relate to the relationship between Denise and Tony. We’ve all had, or so we thought, that ‘friend ‘til the end’ until that day of reckoning presents itself and you realize how vulnerable you have made yourself.”

Come by AtBaP to read more of Madison’s thoughts on cheating, betrayal, and lies. Also, while there, read the excerpt of Scattered Lies!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing
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Welcome to AtBaP 2010! For the month of January, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is talking cheating, betrayal, and lies with three authors who know a thing or two about the causes and effects of the nasty trio. Up next, we have bestselling author Dwayne S. Joseph, whose latest novel, Betrayal is laced throughout with our trio of bad manners.

About Betrayal…

How could she, after all I’ve done for her?

This is the thought racing through Zeke’s mind as he stares at the evidence of his wife’s infidelity. The photos were sent to him anonymously and Zeke doesn’t quite know how to handle the devastating news—until he catches his son in a compromising position and hatches a plan.

Sam has always been grateful for the opportunities given to him by his father-in-law, who saved him from a life in the streets. But how far is he willing to go now that Zeke is threatening to expose his secret? In order to hold on to everything he has, can Sam bring himself to commit murder?

Betrayal is Dwayne S. Joseph’s most ambitious novel to date, and is sure to have your heart racing!

When asked, Tell me, why (or how) did you find yourself developing your story around this topic, Dwayne replied, “Betrayal just really came to me one day as I was trying to come up with something different. I didn’t want to do the usual relationship drama as I had done in the past. I wanted something darker, more intense, more suspensful. One day, as thougths were running through my mind, the idea just literally popped into my head… “what if a husband wanted to have his wife killed” If so.. why? The ideas and characters all developed from there.”

Come by AtBaP to read more of Dwayne’s thoughts on cheating, betrayal, and lies. Also, while there, read a hot excerpt of Betrayal!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

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At the popular blog on writing and editing - The Blood-Red Pencil, I have part two of my latest piece on writing, “Using Characters and Scenes to Trim the Fat from Your Story” [LINK].

Come and read about how examining your scene development can help you cut large portions from your VBB (very big book)!

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The Blood-Red Pencil
Nobody’s perfick, but we try. Snort.
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Welcome to AtBaP 2010! For the month of January, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is talking cheating, betrayal, and lies with three authors who know a thing or two about the causes and effects of the nasty trio. To kick-off the month, we have author Tamika Newhouse, whose novel The Ultimate NO NO is laced with enough cheating and lies to keep you full for the rest of the year.

When asked, The lies. The cheating. The betrayals. They are all a part of someone’s “dirt,” and people seem to be all too happy to immerse themselves in others’ dirt. Why do you think readers are so fascinated with the tawdry side of characters, Tamika replied, “People may not admit it, but they love the dirt, the gossip of the juicy details. Although if it were them, they would think differently, but people are just nosy. They have to have the scoop in order to feel good about knowing someone else’s dirt. Subconsciously I think that if we see someone else’s dirt, we feel that we have one up on them, or that we are better than that. So when we hear or read about some “dirt” on other people, it is all too exciting. This is why the media sheds light on the bad news versus a great triumph.”

Come by AtBaP to read more of Tamika’s thoughts on cheating, betrayal, and lies. Also, while there, read an excerpt of The Ultimate NO NO and learn about Tamika’s new book, the sequel to The Ultimate NO NO: The Ultimate Moment No Regrets!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

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