Practical Advice for Beginning Fiction (or other genre) Writers
I think I’ll start with a piece of advice that I was given early on. Write about something that fascinates you and is within your realm of knowledge. In order to write a good story, you have to know about the basic subject you’re writing about. As an example, if you’re a huge fan of historical stories, but know nothing about history, don’t write them until you’ve spent the time to learn.
There is the old adage to write what you know. But you should also write what fascinates you, what gets your heart racing. After all romances are about the heart and if you feel intensely about a story and the characters, so will your reader. The words and emotion will leap off the page of you feel them strongly. It has to be that way.You can’t fake the emotion. The story will fall flat. So you must be passionate and know what you’re writing about. Then you can take the reader on a journey they’ll remember.
Title: Hell and Back
Author: Dirk Greyson
Series: Standalone
Genre: M/M, Contemporary Romance, LGTBQA
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: Oct 27 2017
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Seventeen years ago, Forge Reynolds fell in love… and had his heart broken. When Gage Livingston was brought into Forge’s Army field hospital, temporarily paralyzed, Forge sat with him, read his letters, answered his mail, and formed a connection he thought would last. But Gage was sent home, Forge transferred to a new post, and Forge’s letters to Gage went unanswered.
Now, in the middle of a bitter divorce, Forge is sick and tired of his husband’s manipulation and is almost ready to make any sacrifice to get closure, and then he finds Granger murdered execution-style in their home. Forge had no idea about Granger’s illicit activities, but the killers don’t believe that. They think Forge has something they want, and they’re coming after him.
When Forge’s lawyer arranges for professional protection, the last face Forge expects to see is Gage’s. Can he even contemplate a second chance for them after almost two decades or will hoping only lead to more heartache? Before they can explore the possibilities, they must figure out what information Granger had—and others are willing to kill for—or that possible heartache could become a certainty
He set his case on the counter and walked through the downstairs rooms, expecting to hear Granger somewhere in the house, but he heard nothing. All was quiet. Forge went upstairs and wandered through the various rooms, including one that was empty except for a few boxes, because what did two people need with five bedrooms? They didn’t, so they’d never used it. Granger’s bedroom was neat and vacant, as were all the other rooms upstairs.
Forge wondered if he might have been wrong, but Granger’s car had been in the garage so he had to be home somewhere. Forge changed into more comfortable clothes and went back downstairs, then to the finished basement. They had built a huge media room there for parties and movies, but everything was dark. There was definitely something wrong. Granger! Forge yelled, his voice echoing through the cavernous entrance space. He returned to the kitchen, thinking about making something to eat when he noticed the sliding door that went out to the back deck was partially open.
Granger? he called more quietly as he pushed the door wide open and stepped out into the late-spring air. He inhaled, expecting to fill his nose with the scents of the flowering trees and shrubs that he’d planted all over the property. Sweetness filled his nose, but not quite what he was expecting. Forge walked to the far edge of the huge deck, to the very end of the circle of light, and looked out over the yard, but saw nothing. He returned to the kitchen and flipped on every switch, illuminating the backyard with a plethora of floods and landscape lighting.
Then he saw him, a figure, very familiar, lying on the grass, facedown. Forge gasped and willed his feet to move, but they remained planted where they were. Finally he got himself propelled down the deck stairs to the lawn and over to where Granger lay in a heap, covered in blood so much blood. Forge turned away and lost whatever had been in his stomach, falling to his knees as he wretched a few feet away from what was left of his husband. Even his military training, where he’d spent a lot of time in hospitals, hadn’t prepared him for this.
Dirk is very much an outside kind of man. He loves travel and seeing new things. Dirk worked in corporate America for way too long and now spends his days writing, gardening, and taking care of the home he shares with his partner of more than two decades. He has a Master’s Degree and all the other accessories that go with a corporate job. But he is most proud of the stories he tells and the life he’s built. Dirk lives in Pennsylvania in a century old home and is blessed with an amazing circle of friends.
Congrats on the new release, Dirk. I like both Contemporary Romance and Suspense Titles for LGTBQ books; as much as other genre such as historical and paranormal. The more the merrier I say. 🙂
Congrats on the book. I have to get this, the excerpt hooked me. I like both contemporary and suspence. it all depends what mood I am in. I have both always set to read, and have even stopped one to read the other depending on my mood at the time.
Oh this looks interesting! Enjoyed the Day and Knight titles I’ve read
Oh my! I read the excerpt before I read the blurb/synopsis. What a revelation it was! That’s the first time I’ve ever done that in that sequence and it heightened the experience! Definitely a practice I’m going to follow in the future. Good luck with the release!
I love both suspense titles and contemporary romances. I’ll switch back and forth depending on my mood…while throwing in some paranormal, fantasy and science fiction to keep things fresh!
Congrats on your new book release! I like both =)
Suspense is more my thing, though I like both!
Cngrats on the new book! I probably do read more contemporary romance but I read and enjoy most genres including suspense titles.
Congrats on your new book! Honestly I love both contemporary and suspense, although I do probably read more contemporary.