Writing Tips from Patricia Bradley
What is your favorite writing craft book?
It’s a long title: Anything by James Scott Bell-Donald Maass-K.M. Weiland-Susan May Warren…all of these authors have helped make my writing stronger.
Which do you think is the most underrated writing craft book?
Maybe How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method. I think people think it’s too complicated, but it isn’t. And I love the way Randy Ingermanson uses a story to lay out the Snowflake Method!
What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?
MidSouth Christian Writers Conference in Collierville, TN; it’s small, affordable, great keynoters and craft classes. (Okay, I’m on the board…)
What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
K. M. Weiland’s blog posts. YouTube for research--from how quiet a suppressor actually is to how to blow up a dam…yeah, I know Homeland Security probably has a file on me.
Who is your writing mentor/inspiration?
Susan May Warren. She taught me how to write.
What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received?
Following my rules is the only way to write a book. Why was it bad? Because there is no right way to write a book—only what works for the individual writer, and the only rule is, “don’t bore the reader.”
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
The same thing I tell new writers: Learn the craft and find what works for you.
What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
See above. Not every tip will fit your writing, but read the craft books and use what works for you. Above all, whether you are a seat-of-the-pants writer or a plotter, learn what structure is. And how to kill your darlings—those lovely writerly words that do not advance the plot.
What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
Let Word read your manuscript aloud as you read along. It will catch a world of typos and those pesky “legitimate” words that spellcheck misses. It will also let you hear the cadence of your sentences.
Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Don’t give up. Enter your work in contests that give you feedback. Evaluate the comments and decide if you agree…maybe ask your critique partners if they agree. I once had a judge comment: “this character is too stupid to live.” That was hard to swallow, but once I looked at the scene she commented on, I agreed. My character was going to walk down her long drive in the dark to check the mail (that could’ve waited ’til morning) when there was a killer on the loose. Oh, and entering contests will teach you that not everyone will like what you write. And that’s okay. Reading is subjective—I received two 98s and a 59 once.
Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.
My newest release is Deadly Revenge.
Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Twenty years ago, the construction of a dam caused people to lose their land to eminent domain. That wound has not healed with time, and someone bearing a grudge is clearly set on revenge. With the former mayor of Pearl Springs now running for the US Senate, Jenna will have to call in backup to ensure his protection.
That's where Agent Maxwell Anderson comes in. He and Jenna used to work together in the Chattanooga Police Department, and there was even a smoldering fire of attraction. Now they team up to track down the killer before a big political rally that promises to bring not only the former mayor into the crosshairs but hundreds of civilians as well.
As the sparks of romance reignite and the threads of the investigation get tangled when another suspect comes into play, Jenna and Max will have to draw on all of their skills to stay alive and prevent the wave of disaster poised to hit the community of Pearl Springs. The question is, can either of them fully trust that the other has their back?
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USA Today bestselling author Patricia Bradley is the author of fifteen inspirational romantic suspense books set in the South. She is a Romantic Suspense Selah and Reader’s Choice Award winner, and a finalist in the Carol Award and the Daphne du Maurier Award. Patricia and her two rescue kitties call Corinth, Mississippi home, and when she's not writing, she likes to throw mud on a wheel to see what comes out.
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