If Only I'd Known: Writing Lesson by Loretta Wheeler

SlingWords welcomes Loretta Wheeler who writes in the friendly, casual style with which she speaks. Reading her post is like having a conversation with her over a cup of morning coffee.

Loretta is giving away a copy of her latest novel, The Verandah/Southern Breezes ,. All you have to do to win is leave a comment and your email addy. She'll choose a winner at random and notify you by email.

Loretta has 7 books available on Amazon: 3 short stories, 3 novellas, and a full-length novel which is her latest release under the name Loretta Wheeler, The Verandah/Southern Breezes.

Loretta, writing as L. Reveaux, recently released  Siren's Call which has a much higher heat level than her other books.

More About Loretta Wheeler

Loretta Wheeler lives in the south along with her Australian husband, their cat Lil’ Dickens, and their dog, Jack. Both pets are rescued fur-persons who are very much loved.

Most of Loretta’s writing is set in southern locales, whether in the thriller or romance genre. She says she writes of southern things because most of her stories speak to her in a southern accent. Something she recognizes easily since her own is so strong.

Find Loretta online: Website * Facebook Profile Page * Facebook Fan Page * Twitter.
Author Loretta Wheeler

If I'd Only Known: Change Is The Only Constant
by Loretta Wheeler

Boy, if I knew then what I know now, no telling how different things would be. How many of us say that? All through life, we glance over our shoulders, shake our heads and murmur (or if you’re a guy, you mutter) those words. The movie, Frequency gave us a good look at what being able to travel back, and share a few well-placed words, could do for us. We’d be off and running, right? Yelling Yahoo! all the way to the bank.

Well, since no one has broken the linear time line yet, the next best thing is to research what those who’ve gone before us have to share. Or heck, even research the ones running alongside us who took a slightly different path. And, just so you’re prepared, the path keeps changing. Bring a second pair of running shoes, or maybe a pair of hip boots. It can get mighty deep in here.

Everything Changes Faster Than You Can Imagine

What the path required even a few years ago is different than what is required now. This includes writing styles.

Throw out starting a paragraph with “It was.” That doesn’t fly anymore. Charles Dickens would be rewriting like crazy. Heck, even he might be muttering (See? Males mutter.) about finding the right freakin’ path.

The marketing path also changes often. What works best for a couple of years, suddenly wears thin because everyone’s doing it, and no one pays attention anymore. They scroll past all the familiar jargon and well-worn paths, selecting just a few footprints left behind. If you’ve chosen to stay with blogging, one thing that remains the same is to offer something free. If you yell Free it still garners a second look.

Be Prepared

I suppose, the gist of what I’m saying is be prepared to constantly change. You may even have to bend your style a little. I’m an “It was” gal, and I still love to start with an opening scene, not right in the middle of action. Be prepared to change your style.

Be prepared to change your marketing techniques, because sugar, the times, they are always changin’ when it comes to marketing. And with change comes a new learning curve. Whether it’s losing the oxford comma, eradicating passive voice, or donning a new hat labeled Marketing Guru, or MailChimp Madame.

I’ve bought the marketing hats, but the Guru and Madame hats are way too big for my head. Thank God there are others running alongside me who sport that Guru and Madame side like they’re walkin’ a runway.

I’m trying to keep up with them, but I’m thinkin’ there better be some signposts up ahead warnin’ of Slip-Falls and Avalanches. And further up, one with flashing lights, screamin’ in big letters: Changes Ahead!

Southern Breezes/The Verandah by Loretta Wheeler

Watch the Book Trailer!

What if everything you’ve hoped for suddenly comes true, almost as if it’s divinely orchestrated? But what if it’s accompanied by a ghost who’s dressed in clothes straight out of the Roaring Twenties?

It’s spring on Galveston Island, and everything’s running full tilt. Spring breakers swim in high curling waves, turquoise umbrellas line the sand, and the Pleasure Pier is lit like a bejeweled princess, her lights flashing with temptation.

Shelby Alexander, a New York Times Bestselling Author, has come back to the island to live. She and her friends came every summer when they were young and daydreamed often of living there when they were grown. Good to their word, all of them have now returned.

Shelby is finding that even though she’s thrilled to own a part of her Aunt Sookie’s house, the excitement’s only just begun, because a gorgeous guy has also arrived along with a scruffy dog named Charmin’. Fast on their heels is a ghost—a ghost who seems quite comfortable lounging on Shelby's verandah, blowing smoke from its cigarette—and who is always, always surrounded by a deliciously sensuous fragrance.


Time For Reading Fun

Add The Verandah/Southern Breezes to your Library. It's in Kindle Unlimited or buy for $2.99.

Remember, you have a chance to win a copy of this book. Just leave a comment with your email addy. Loretta will pick a random winner and notify you.

Takeaway Truth

How delightful! A romance with a ghost, a gorgeous hero, and set on fabulous Galveston Island. Thanks, Loretta, for giving writers the benefit of what you've learned.

31 comments:

  1. Hi Joan and Loretta!

    Lo, I love your warm, Southern style of writing. You are right about writing though--everything is constantly changing and we have to be prepared to change with it or get left behind in the dust.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning, Jacquie! Nice to see you. I have The Inheritance in my TBR stack. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. Good mornin' Jacqueline! :) I see we're both up early with our marketing hats perched on our heads lol. And, I'm SURE you are fully aware of all the change that rolls through this medium, you successful author, you:) Thank you so much for stopping by. You know how it is, verandah's are more delightful when shared ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, Loretta! I'll have my coffee on The Verandah please. *g* Thanks for being part of this feature. I think it will help a lot of beginning writers so let's spread the word! Talk to you later.

      Delete
    2. Handing a cup of joe to you...there's a dusting of cinnamon on top, sugar :) Thanks so much for having me, Joan :) It's always more fun on The Verandah when you have company :) I can usually be found there, just outside my bedroom...and of course, I usually have company...even if you can't see them ;)

      Delete
  3. Love the touch of Paranoramal to your writing.
    Life changes as we speak.
    Some people stand still and let it all pass by. I'm one of those that jogs along and try to catchup!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Francine :) And I know you're one of those who jogs alongside me, I see you on the footpath often! And sugar, I am ALWAYS glad for the company! Our best time is usually coffee in the morning :) Thanks so much for stopping by and joining me on the porch swing :)

      Delete
    2. Welcome, Francine. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

      Delete
  4. So true, Loretta. Change is constant in writing and life. Thanks for a wonderful perspective on writing and marketing changes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anna-gal, I know you know all about those changes, you're one of those with the Guru hat perched comfortably on your head. All of us are delighted to know you and listen to your words of experience :) Thank you so much for stopping by :) Now, what would you prefer while you sit here awhile, wahn or sweet tea, sugar? :)

      Delete
  5. You have that right, Loretta, change is the only thing we can count on. The Veranda was most enjoyable as is your Southern charm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well now, southern belle friend, your charm ranks as high on that southern scale as anyone's :) I've seen you passin' all those southern tests on Facebook! We have no problem communicating do we? Thanks so much for passing by and spending some time with me this mornin'...I'm sure I'll catch you later on Facebook...it's where we begin and end every day isn't it? :)

      Delete
    2. Hey, Sandy L. Rowland. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

      Delete
  6. Hello to Loretta and Joan. I have read "The Verandah" and thoroughly enjoyed it Loretta's descriptions are vivid and make you want to crawl between the pages and share the characters' experiences.

    I'd also like to say a quick hello to Joan - a friend from a Beaumont writing conference long ago.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Betty :) It's so nice to see you here :) You know I love seeing you on my verandah, or anyplace else you wander to :) Thank you for your kind words about The Verandah...I'm sure we're going to find a day to do lunch again and share a few more thoughts about what's going on at Galveston and down Dickinson way :)

      Delete
    2. Hey, Betty! Oh my gosh. Beaumont was such a long time ago. I always had so much fun at the con. Thanks for dropping by.

      Delete
  7. Good morning ladies, sorry I'm late!
    Perfect blog article, Loretta. I almost feel that the here's-how-to-stand-out advice we authors receive is old and tired before I get the hang of it, and the readers' attention has moved on to something else. From FB posts- to FB videos now, from FB parties to newsletter lists, etc. The adjustment to the changing dynamics is incredibly time consuming and difficult for an introvert.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I so agree, Sarah. This is what I'm finding so daunting. It's not really just the marketing, but the rapid changes in marketing. What worked well even six months ago, doesn't carry the weight that it did. I think, as I stated earlier, it's because the market becomes glutted with whatever is the latest rage and people don't respond like they did. I firmly believe you have to catch the wave as it hits because the returns will slow fast. Thanks so much for stopping by! :) It's so nice seeing you here :)

      Delete
    2. Hey, Sarah! Thanks for stopping by SlingWords and leaving a comment.

      Delete
  8. I am reading the book now and thoroughly enjoying it. LOVE the Southern vibe! Nice post and keep "changing."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm smiling...I'm so glad you love the southern "vibe" :) I decided to run with it, since that's who and what I am, through and through. I think for some of us, it feels like we're sitting around the patios and restaurants with a crew of our southern gal-pals. This is the way my friends and I relate, falling in the restaurant door after a busy week and finding our second wind as we compare notes, roll our eyes, and decide what the heck we're going to do about our situations. I borrowed heavily from my experiences shared with working women. We lived for those lunches or dinners and snagged them as often as we could :) Thanks for stopping in Susan :) And thank you for your thoughts on The Verandah! :)

      Delete
    2. Hi, Susan. Glad you visited SlingWords. Thanks for leaving a comment for Loretta.

      Delete
  9. Loretta, you had a good day. Thanks again for contributing a timely post for writers. Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello, Loretta. Great post! I can hear you in that sweet southern drawl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh sugar, you know me well. But then again, why the heck wouldn't you? We've been wanderin' Verandah's with cats in tow forever. So glad to see you here, gal...and I'm sure Mischief and Mayhem are right behind you :) We're going to have to make some "us" time and play catch up :)

      Delete
  11. Thank you so much for having me, Joan :) I love SlingWords! :) And of course, the gal who runs it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome, Loretta! I enjoyed having you as my guest. Come back any time.

      Delete
  12. Good mornin', ya'll! Today's the day to announce the winner of the free copy of The Verandah/Southern Breezes series. The gifted copy goes to Anna Lores! I'll be in touch with you by email, shortly, Anna. I hope you enjoy your trip to Galveston.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay!!! Thank you so much, Loretta!! I can't wait to start reading it :)

      Delete
    2. I love it when guests give away books and other prizes. Congratulations, Anna Lores!

      Delete