Columns
This is where we post updates and new features, as well as things that amuse us.
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All About Love Official Blog
Book research is like make up
Research is like good make-up. It should make you look better, without drawing attention to itself.
As a writer, you have to do far more research than you’ll every use in your book. But once you’ve done it, you’re tempted to show it off. Resist the temptation.
Your Gay Best Friend
My boss is making inappropriate remarks
Dear Gabriel
My boss has been making inappropriate remarks to me at work. But I find myself strangely excited by the idea (she’s quite old, actually. She must be
at least 35.) I can’t get her out of my head. I know it would be a mistake, but it seems to happen all the time so it can’t be that bad.
Simone
All About Love Official Blog
Show, Don’t Tell and how to use detail effectively
His desk was bare, but for a human skull, with a cigar clamped firmly between its grinning teeth.
Immediately, we know a huge amount about this person, without anything having to be explained.
By now, the concept of “showing” rather than “telling” is pretty much accepted. But in numerous writing workshops, it’s become clear that people may accept the concept, but they’re often unsure how to to put it into practice.
The Greatest Contraceptive in the World
Making Babies
I’m going to depart from my usual tone this time, to talk about making babies. Not physically, but emotionally. Bear with me here!
All About Love Official Blog
Getting the Love You Want Couple Workshop
Johanri Englebrecht, Allaboutlove’s Virtual Therapist is holding an inspiring, practical two-day couple workshop in Johannesburg. The workshop will be held on the 22nd and 23 of November and is filled with insight, information and communication skills.
Every committed relationship, no matter how strong, has its frustrations, and these most commonly present as stemming from “a lack of communication skills” that lead to disconnection and conflict between life partners.
All About Love Official Blog
Writing dynamic dialogue
You’ve written a really crucial dialogue that will end your characters’ marriage. It should be dramatic and poignant, but instead it seems flat, unreal or, worst of all, dreary.
What’s wrong with it? It will change your characters’ lives. Why doesn’t it affect the lives of your readers?
Here are a couple of quick hints that will lift a plain or dreary dialogue and give it dynamism:
Virtual Therapy
Why do we deal with loss differently?
Dear Jo,
I read your response to Sally in your last column. It also helped me a lot. My husband and I divorced after we suffered a loss. I was relieved to see that I wasn’t alone, and that I didn’t fail in some way.I was just interested to know why we sometimes respond to grief in such different ways. I think it’ll help me understand why my husband and I were pulled apart rather than together. I think that will help me come to terms with what ended up being a double loss.
Birgit
Your Gay Best Friend
How long should you go out with someone before sleeping with them?
Dear Gabriel
How long should you go out with someone before sleeping with them? My boyfriend says that, if you accept a second date, you’ve actually accepted
that you’re going to sleep together. Otherwise you shouldn’t say yes. We’ve gone out twice now. What do you think?
Angela
All About Love Official Blog
Short stories by course participants
Two of our Preparation for Romance Course participants have written short stories, which are being featured on the allaboutlove site.
Virtual Therapy
I’m scared of losing them both
Dear Jo,
Eighteen months ago, our two-year-old tragically drowned in a pond. Mark, my husband, refused to talk about it and it’s got so bad that I feel shy to even bring up Jason’s name. I want to talk about him all the time. What it means is that Mark and I avoid each other and hardly talk about anything at all. I’m scared this could be the end of our relationship, and then I’ll have lost them both.
Sally
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