Meeting: December 5, 2015

ANATOMY OF A SUCCESSFUL NOVELLA: HOW TO WRITE SHORT

Creating an effective novella is one of the most challenging and satisfying adventures in fiction-writing. It also strikes fear in many romance writers’ hearts. How is it possible to make a believable love story in 20-40,000 words? With character arcs, love scenes, and an engaging plot?

Think… amuse-bouche! The same important components that make this ‘single bite’ of food shine apply to the writer working on a short piece. Penny Watson describes the process of distilling your voice and storytelling down to the bare necessities, while still making romance magic.

Bon appetit!

BIO:

PENNY WATSON is a native Pittsburgher whose love of romance started at the age of twelve when she discovered Gone With The Wind in the middle school library. This resulted in numerous attempts at a first novel involving a young lady with windswept hair who lived in a tree house.

A biologist by training, Penny has worked at various times as a dolphin trainer, science teacher, florist, and turfgrass researcher. After taking time off to raise her two spirited children, she decided to rekindle her passion for storytelling. Now she gets to incorporate her wide array of interests—including gardening, cooking, and travel—into her works of fiction.

Penny lives outside of Boston with one fly-fishing crazed husband, two lively Filipino kids, and a wiener dog.

 

Penny Watson