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Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 18

Tamela Hancock Murray

Teased Hair

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 12, 2020
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My mother has sported teased hair all her life. My beautician says they don’t teach new hairstylists how to tease hair anymore. So when I need to find someone to style my mother’s hair, I have to ask if they know how to tease it. I found two in town: one is my hairdresser, and the other is the back-up stylist I go to when my regular beautician isn’t working.

“Oh, you mean, backcomb?” She smiled and nodded. “Sure! I know how to do that.”

As she teased my mother’s hair into a lovely, fluffy cloud, she told us that in her school, they had to spend every day for a month backcombing hair on mannequins. “I learned patience.”

What a great reminder that our writing profession isn’t the only one requiring patience. So, would you prefer to wrestle with characters and wait on agents and editors to review your work, or would you rather tease hair?

Your turn:

Are you more patient now that you are a writer?

How has writing taught you patience?

What would you tell new writers about being patient during the process of being published?

 

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Category: The Writing Life

Our Favorite Typos

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 11, 2020
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Writers aren’t perfect. This may not be news to you. But occasionally we read or create typos that stay with us. Some become favorites, prompting smiles and giggles (and maybe embarrassment) for years to come. I asked writers, editors, and agents to share some from their experiences. Here are their favorites: “I submitted a post called ‘4 Reasons Why Writers Should Clothe Themselves with Humility’ …

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Category: Book Proposals, Grammar, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

How to Write Cinematic with Deborah Raney

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 10, 2020
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Show Notes The biggest competition for authors is not other books. It’s movies. Movies often have scores of writers working together; and most people hungry for story prefer to watch a movie in the evening than read a book. Even many authors have subscriptions to Netflix.  The most popular books borrow writing techniques from Hollywood. If you want your book to be popular in the 2020s, …

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Category: The Writing Life

Choosing Your Character’s Name

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 9, 2020
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Choosing the name of a character in your novel is a bit like reading the book Where’s Waldo? You can search forever and never find just the right one. Creativity You want to be creative, but not too creative. You say, “It has to fit the person in the book.” That is a huge weight to place on your character. And what if you need to change the name later? Can’t Remind Me of …

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Category: Creativity, Writing Craft

Criticism and Its Discontents

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 5, 2020
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A reader asked me to write on handling criticism, hence this blog post today. I’m fond of saying that if you want to find out who your friends are, throw (or be the star of) a bridal or baby shower. People you think won’t respond will come through amazingly, while a couple of people you were sure would come through remarkably won’t bother to send an RSVP. Likewise, through my involvement in …

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Category: Career, Editing

A Writer’s Prayer of Confession

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 4, 2020
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Most holy and merciful Father: I confess that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. I have let the idea of being a writer distract me from devotion to you. I have made myself busier with words than with your Word. I have been consumed by my writing plans and …

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Category: Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Theology

Saving the World, One Romance at a Time

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 27, 2020
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Often I will receive submissions of novels tying in an element of mystery and suspense with romance. Writers targeting the romantic suspense market will find difficulty in placing this type of story. Why? Because romantic suspense readers have certain expectations that won't be met with a mere element of mystery and intrigue.

In my experience trying to sell and market romantic suspense, I have …

Read moreSaving the World, One Romance at a Time
Category: Genre, Get Published, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Tamela, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Pitching, Proposals, Tamela, Trends

Don’t Make Your Readers Whack Through Weasel Words

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 20, 2020
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Since I waxed eloquently about weasel words last week, I just really thought I should share this very astonishing post. Truly it is just so important that authors really strive to write tightly so that the reader doesn’t just close the book because the writer uses, like, too many weasel words. As we survey various techniques to the establishment of accomplished prose, we are obliged to contemplate …

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Category: Craft, Writing Craft

What Authors Must Know About Homeschoolers Before Trying to Sell Them Books

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 18, 2020
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Back in Episode 51 I gave an overview of the Homeschool Market. This episode is the next in that series, where I go into some of the mistakes authors make when trying to sell to homeschoolers. I also cover how to avoid those mistakes. If you are curious why homeschoolers are not interested in your book, this episode is a must-listen. Links:  The Read-Aloud Family  Helicopter Parents …

Read moreWhat Authors Must Know About Homeschoolers Before Trying to Sell Them Books
Category: The Writing Life

Fun Fridays – February 14, 2020

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 14, 2020
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I thought this video was perfect for Valentine’s Day. The love these men exhibit by accompanying their wives to their local Target is inspiring.  (LOL!!!) Enjoy the satire and hilarity. And happy Valentine’s Day.

Read moreFun Fridays – February 14, 2020
Category: Fun Fridays
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