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| Victoria Bylin |
Since writing is not often a team activity, it has the
potential to feel like a lonely profession. But Victoria Bylin reminds us that writers
have a lot in common. After enjoying her words here, you may also want to check
out Victoria’s article “How
to Write a Novella,” shared on a previous Seriously Write post. ~ Dawn
Writers
& Community: You Are Not Alone!
“You must be a writer.”
My best friend and I say that to each other all the time.
She’s an amazing author and I love her to pieces. Whenever one of us comes up
with a unique phrase or a play on words, the other one pops up with the
longstanding joke. It’s a blessing to share that kind of fun. Not everyone
understands what it’s like to live with words constantly demanding attention.
But another writer does. What we do is unique. How many of
us have had the experience of being at a social gathering and having someone
say, “So what do you do?” When I say I’m an author, this is what often happens:
The person tips her head.
Her mouth opens.
Her mouth closes.
Her eyes widen.
Then she says, “Oh.”
If she’s a reader, she says, “OH!” But if she’s not, it
takes her a while to process the information. This doesn’t happen when I tell
people I work part-time in a doctor’s office. In that context, they know me
instantly. I’m the woman behind the counter asking for their co-pay and
insurance card. But a writer? What does a writer do?
For starters, I get up 4:30 in the morning. It’s my most
creative time of the day. That’s the sort of thing only a fellow writer or
artist will understand. Do I miss my sleep? Yes, definitely. Is it worth it?
You bet!
Another thing that sets writers apart is how we play with
words. Here are some of the ways I diddle around with a ms, tweaking it to make
it the best it can be.
—My first drafts tend to be full of my favorite phrases, so
I use MS Word to count how many times I use a particular expression. “She
lifted her chin” just might be the number one offender. Then there’s nodded and gazed. And how
about shrugged? Hunting those little
darlings down is a game of sorts. I go after adverbs too.
—When I get stuck on a scene, I change the font from Times
New Roman to something unconventional. Papyrus, anyone? Right now I’m using
Perpetua. It seems silly, but the visual change kicks loose my creativity.
—I talk to myself while I write. Fortunately, my husband
understands. There’s something about hearing the words that brings out subtle
rhythms. This is especially true with dialogue.
Those are a few of my writing quirks. How about you? Do you
play with words just for fun? Any
particular writing tips or unusual habits? One of the greatest benefits to
social media is belonging to a community of writers. Quirky or not, we aren’t
alone!
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Sometimes
the most unexpected love can be exactly what a heart needs...
When a
Lost Child warning blares over the mall's PA system, Carly Mason finds the
little girl playing with a stuffed rabbit. Something about Penny Tremaine is
different. An ex-social worker, Carly recognizes that the child suffers fetal
alcohol effects, and a piece of Carly's past suddenly confronts her. Never
again will she become personally involved with a client. The risks are far too
great. But something about Penny--and Penny's handsome father--tugs at Carly's
heart.
Dr.
Ryan Tremaine is trying to put his life back together. With his ex-wife
remarried and on a trip far away, his two teenage sons and Penny are living
under his roof full time. Ryan has put his faith in his Sink-or-Swim list, a
plan to reconnect with his children. The first step: recruit Carly Mason to be
Penny's nanny.
Ryan
never anticipated being so drawn to Carly, an attraction Carly seems to fight
as much as he does. Could Carly be the missing piece that helps his family stay
afloat, or will their blossoming romance only complicate things further?
Victoria Bylin
is a romance writer known for her realistic and relatable characters. Her books
have finaled in multiple contests, including the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and
RT Magazine's Reviewers Choice Award. A native of California, she and her
husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky, where their family and
their crazy Jack Russell terrier keep them on the go. Learn more at
victoriabylin.com.
Website: http://www.victoriabylin.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VictoriaBylin
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/victoriabylin/
