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Happy Valentine's Day!

This month we feature an interview with author L.J. Sellers, author of the Detective Jackson novels who shares sage advice about setting writing goals, a topic discussed in our January issue. Next month historic romantic-suspense novelist, Tasha Alexander, will be featured as she shares about the research she conducts when writing her very intriguing novels.

Recently during our Craft Chats, we've covered the topic of how to conduct research and then, how to incorporate research into our writing. This month as a follow-up we have two articles about research and an opportunity for you to weigh in.

Romance is in the air! February 14th is Saint Valentine's Day, if you didn't already know this. Did you also know that in the United States, men typically spend twice as much money as women? Okay, whether you're a literary novelist, a horror story teller, or anything between, there has to be a story coming out from that bit of information! So go at it. Still need some ideas? Be sure to check in on our daily writing prompt section.   

Kathie Leung
Founder & Organizer
Chico Writers Group

Author L.J. Sellers: Writing Goals

L.J. Sellers is an award-winning journalist, editor, novelist, and occasional standup comic based in Eugene, Oregon. She writes the Detective Wade Jackson mystery series and shares with us how writing goals have helped her progress in her career as a novelist.

read the full article…

Research: Beyond Google

Best selling author, Stephenie Meyers, admits she never visited Forks, WA, where her books best known as the Twilight Saga take place, before writing them. She claims most of her research was conducted online. But Google doesn't have to be your end-all when conducting research. Here are some tried and true methods to help get you on your way to researching your next - and even current - novel.

read the full article…

Craft: Talking Heads

This month we explore the use of scenery to help move along dialog that otherwise would be flat or what's referred to as 'talking heads'.

read the full article...

Craft: Flashbacks Wayne's World muchly? Aside from singing a little ditty when your character wants to reveal a bit of backstory, what are the effective ways of introducing a flashback? When is it necessary to include a flashback? What are some precautions to consider? We answer that here... read full article.

How-To: An author shares article about getting information from a variety of sources all in the name of research. ...read the full article.

Resources: From excerpts used here to photo credits, further reading to upcoming conferences and contests, check out this regular feature for lots of useful information. ...read the full article.