Wednesday Writing Challenge: Nothing to Lose

Welcome to the Wednesday Writing Challenge!

Every Wednesday, I pose a new writing challenge here on the blog. These challenges come from books on writing, classes I've taken on creative writing, or sometimes just from my own imagination. If you're an author, hopefully they will help you get your writing juices flowing and help you improve your craft.

 

Some of these challenges may be very good ones or may include an element I consider highly important for writers to learn...so occasionally I may cycle through some of my favorites more than once. 

 

??  Want to Participate  ??

The Wednesday Challenges are open to all readers. In order to participate, simply comment on the challenge post with your response to the exercise. Not only is it good practice, but you could win something nifty and fun!

 

October Prize: A $20 Gift Card to Breathless Press!

 

~ IMPORTANT~
~For Full Contest Details, See Here ~

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 And now...

***Here's Today's Challenge!***

Something Daring:

Let's end the year on an open free-write!

Finish this sentence:

  "I had nothing to lose, so I..."

 

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Hints and Tips:

.

This one is totally open, so think of something fun, Fun, FUN to write!

Keep it to one sentence but make it a good one!

Give me your best, darlings!!

Spotlight on "Carlos and Casey", by Ember Leigh

What happens when too much time has gone by? 

 

Carlos and Casey were lovers, long ago. But in the four years they haven’t seen each other, plenty has happened — marriage, job changes, lifestyle shifts, routine, and ultimately divorce.

 

When a work trip brings Casey back into Carlos’ territory, she knows she’d have him right there in the airport parking lot. But Carlos doesn’t seem so eager. Unsure of herself post-divorce, Casey knows only one thing: she wants this man as much as she did the last time she saw him. And she’s more than ready to relive every saucy adventure they had together. Can the sparks be salvaged, or has time left them behind?

 

 

Bio:  

Ember Leigh has been writing erotic romance novels since she was far too young.  A native of northern Ohio, she currently resides in South America with her Argentinean partner, a detail she uses to justify her Bachelor's degree in Latin American Literature. In addition to romance novels, she also writes travel articles, maintains three blogs, and continually attempts to complete a mildly-gripping short story. In her free time, she practices Ashtanga yoga, travels the world, and eats lots of vegetables.

 

Review highlights:
 

“Carlos and Casey is a fantastic quick read full of quips, steamy sensuality and sweet emotion.” 

 

 “…[leaves] you in a breathless puddle on the floor.”

 

Buy links:

Breathless Press: http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=9&products_id=630

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carlos-Casey-Ember-Leigh-ebook/dp/B00NBBKJBK/ref=la_B00JEESPSW_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410752263&sr=1-2

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-carlosandcasey-1621428-149.html

 

 

Other Places to Find Ember Leigh!

Latest updates: www.emberleighromance.com

Find ‘Jaded’ on Breathless Press and Amazon

Follow me @EmberLeighAuth!

Talking Shop: When Reviews Sting

This post was originally written for and appeared in the Writer's Online Network Newsletter. Please check out Writer's Online Network Here.

It is inevitable. No matter how skilled a writer you are, you are one day going to run into the dreaded Bad Review. A public bashing. The "lone star". There's no way around it: it will happen. When it does, it's bound to sting.

Life Drawing ~ A Friday Free Read

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Wednesday Writing Challenge: The Truth is Out There

Welcome to the Wednesday Writing Challenge!

Every Wednesday, I pose a new writing challenge here on the blog. These challenges come from books on writing, classes I've taken on creative writing, or sometimes just from my own imagination. If you're an author, hopefully they will help you get your writing juices flowing and help you improve your craft.

 

Some of these challenges may be very good ones or may include an element I consider highly important for writers to learn...so occasionally I may cycle through some of my favorites more than once. 

 

??  Want to Participate  ??

The Wednesday Challenges are open to all readers. In order to participate, simply comment on the challenge post with your response to the exercise. Not only is it good practice, but you could win something nifty and fun!

 

October Prize: A $20 Gift Card to Breathless Press!

 

~ IMPORTANT~
~For Full Contest Details, See Here ~

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 And now...

***Here's Today's Challenge!***

Something Strange:

Aliens are among us,

But they are not what we expected...

  What are they?

 

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Hints and Tips:

.

Think outside the box for this one. How do we normally think of aliens? What are some common characteristics and expectations? How can you turn them on their heads?

Are these aliens good, bad, or neutral? How long have they been among us and how have we not noticed them?

Explain in 5 sentences or less.

Give me your best, darlings!!

Talking Shop: You're Always Showing

If you're a writer, it's a fair bet you've heard this one:

"Show, don't tell."

 

 For many writers, this proves to be a bit of a challenging lesson. For others, it comes fairly naturally. What many don't realize, however, is that whether or not you realize it, you are always showing something.

 

Tombstone Dance ~ a Friday Free Read

This week's sexy free read comes from the world of His Cemetery Doll. 

 Please enjoy this bonus scene that didn't make it into the novel!

Conall woke in the middle of the night. Not with a start or a cry, or even the slow, dawning awareness of simple waking. He woke with abrupt, instant clarity, as though he hadn’t really been sleeping at all.

Had he heard a footstep in the hall?

Had it been...her footstep?

For several moments, he lay still in his bed, listening. At first, he hardly noticed his own trembling...or, his adamant hardness. If he hadn't already been dreaming of the doll, he was certainly thinking about her now, and in the close, quiet spaces of midnight, his mind conjured quick and illicit imaginings. A tryst; a rendezvous. Sweet, cold kisses in the dark; ivory limbs, tangled with his in these rumpled white sheets.

Spotlight on "When You Believe", by Mia Epsilon

When You Believe 

.

 .

Dan and Monica's relationship gets a push from a handsome stranger, but will their love survive the test?

Monica has deep roots in the small town of Abbeville and manages the local coffee shop, which serves as the hub of town news. Deeply in love with Daniel, she still can't help but notice the gorgeous stranger, Micheal, who seemingly appears out of nowhere. When Dan begins to pull away from her, what's a girl to do? Tempted to sit home and cry, Monica is determined to push through the uncertainty. Does that mean exploring new options?

Daniel carries secrets he can't share with anyone, even Monica. He's a man with no past and no relatives, so he doesn't believe he deserves a bright future. Pulling away from Monica, his love and the closest thing he has to a family, he believes is the only way she can truly find happiness. But when tragedy strikes Abbeville will the man with no roots become its savior? Or will he discover Michael's true reason for appearing among them?

.

Author Bio

Mia Epsilon lives with her ever patient and tolerant soul mate hubby in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, USA. She's an avid reader of almost anything but particularly romance, with too many favorite authors to name. Mia is a huge Doctor Who fan, isn't so certain about the writing in the new series yet absolutely adores the new Doctor and his Scottish accent. She also happily suffers a chocolate addiction which causes her to visit her favorite chocolate store, The Chocolate Fetish an abnormally high number of times.

Mia can most often be found at her computer spinning new tales or in a quiet padded nook (a nook, she swears, not a padded room) with her e reader happily engrossed in a new story. She's currently hard at work on her series 'Weddings by C & C' and trying to build its reputation from 'just another wedding story' to 'OMG you have GOT to read this book!' She appreciates all reader input and comments on her Face Book, Twitter, Amazon and Good Reads pages. Her released titles include: 'Wedding Belle Blues', 'Take a Chance on Me', 'When You Believe', and 'That Night' along with a short story in The Wonderland Tales 'Leave Your Hat On'.

REVIEWS FOR OTHER BOOKS BY MIA ESPILON

 

        

Wedding Belle Blues

Mia Epsilon really did a great job with this novel. It was funny, quirky, and pulled at your heartstrings. There was plenty of romance, but the characters didn't just float through the story. I thought that the backstory of Anna and Robin was particularly great. The thought of a friend so great that they not only stayed with you all through college but actually got a teaching job at the same school, in the same hall as you? I wish Epsilon were writing my life story.----Nicole

I really enjoyed "Wedding Belle Blues" by Mia Epsilon. Although I read a lot of romance novels this one was definitely different. I really loved the main characters and even the secondary characters. It was a perfect combination of romance, laughter and deep emotions. I highly recommend this novel. It's one of those stories you read and laugh out loud with at the same time. Do Anna and Robin get their HEA? Read to find out! Great story!---- booknerd

Leave Your Hat On

In this short, Alice in Wonderland inspired story, up is down, left is right and hot is an understatement! Ailis is a reluctant participant in a wild bachelorette party that pits her with the very smexy and sensual Mad Hatter. Ms. Epsilon's deft skill with combining erotica and fun is par none. Grab this hot tale, sit down and get to reading….hat optional!--- Torie James

Leave Your Hat on by Mia Epsilon is a very modern take inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Costumes, strippers and naughtiness ensue in this short but steamy piece. Trust me you will never look at Alice or the Mad Hatter the same way again. This story is sure to leave you a little hot and bothered and almost begging for more. Let's hope the author gives us more soon. I give this story 5 hot stars for a yummy hero and heroine!—Sherri Velarde

This book is full of awesomeness. It kept me riveted though every page. It has everything you could ask for in a book. Intrigue, mystery, romance, and danger. I adored the main characters. Charlie and Christine are wonderful and enjoyable to read. I highly recommend it.—ISLover

Take a Chance on Me

Another AMAZING book by the fabulous Mia Epsilon. I was so enthralled by this book, I finished it in just a few hours, and was left wanting more! I was sucked in from page one and loved every word. It was so beautifully written and had me at the edge of my seat. Wonderful job!---Christina M.

 

A million THANK YOUs to Brantwijn for this host. It's always a pleasure to be on a fellow author's blog.

   (oh, honey...i do it all for the nookie.)

Wednesday Writing Challenge: The Dreaded Haiku

Welcome to the Wednesday Writing Challenge!

Every Wednesday, I pose a new writing challenge here on the blog. These challenges come from books on writing, classes I've taken on creative writing, or sometimes just from my own imagination. If you're an author, hopefully they will help you get your writing juices flowing and help you improve your craft.

 

Some of these challenges may be very good ones or may include an element I consider highly important for writers to learn...so occasionally I may cycle through some of my favorites more than once. 

 

??  Want to Participate  ??

The Wednesday Challenges are open to all readers. In order to participate, simply comment on the challenge post with your response to the exercise. Not only is it good practice, but you could win something nifty and fun!

 

October Prize: A $20 Gift Card to Breathless Press!

 

~ IMPORTANT~
~For Full Contest Details, See Here ~

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 And now...

***Here's Today's Challenge!***

Something Poetic:

Write an erotic haiku.

 

Haiku format:

3 lines

First 5 syllables, then 7, then 5

Brantwijn's Example:

Pure drop of water,

Fresh upon your naked skin.

My tongue, chasing it.

 

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Hints and Tips:

.

The haiku is one of the most beautiful and expressive poetic forms, because it forces you to say all you mean in a very limited amount of space.

It's also quite fun for a lot of writers, for exactly that reason.

Isolate to the most important details. Focus on sensory images, and use metaphor as needed.

Give me your best, darlings!!