DiAnn Mills

Blogging at Fresh Fiction

DiAnn Mills | 10 Ways to Deepen the Craft of Writing
September 6, 2019
Writers search for ways to add professionalism to their writing. They explore technique, study the how-to guides, and invest in quality software that  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | How to Rock Your Character's World
November 16, 2016
I've always wanted to rock climb, and when I studied the skill, I realized rock climbing and scaling heights with my hero had a  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Wacky Ways to Windup Your Creativity
October 28, 2016
We’ve all been there. Deadlines are looming for our blog or our novels. A tingling in the pit of your stomach borders on nausea  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | The Scoop on Research
August 17, 2016
Writing romantic suspense is my passion. I stay awake at night planning a story in which a strong and vibrant heroine attempts the impossible, the  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Viewing Movies to Plot Your Novel
July 20, 2016
Well-written movies stir my creative juices. I envision sitting around a table with a team of creative writers to pen the best characters (and  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Thesaurus - A Treasure Box
June 15, 2016
While touring the Acropolis Museum in Greece, I stumbled upon a stone relic that caused me to smile, as though I’d just learned a  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Taking the P (plot) out of Suspense
April 20, 2016
Recently I read a suspense novel that left me wondering what the story was all about. I couldn’t follow the storyline or  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | You Know You’re a Suspense Writer When ...
January 5, 2016
I love this topic. When suspense writers get together, discussing stories and plot twists keep our adrenaline racing. We can talk about how to add  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | The Twelve Days of Christmas, a New Twist
December 16, 2015
The Twelve Days of Christmas has a new twist. This version is for writers  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Holiday Conflict in Our Stories
November 18, 2015
Adding a twist to a story’s setting gives it a psychological zip. Holidays are no exception. As your characters enter the season of Thanksgiving  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | DEADLOCKED: Which Character Would Have a Parrot?
October 21, 2015
Sometimes characters grab our hearts and sometimes the settings in our stories, but in writing   Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Brainstorming Your Novel
September 16, 2015
Every novelist reaches a plateau in which the perfect story idea isn’t coming together. The plot germ is there, but the theme, setting, charac  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | When Does Commitment Turn to Obsession?
August 21, 2015
A writer who is serious about embarking upon a publishing career under-stands commitment is critical for success. Adhering to a schedule and making provisions  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Double Cross: Romantic Suspense Musical?
April 17, 2015
I write FBI romantic suspense set in Houston, Texas, but when I sat at my computer to write this blog, a bit of fun crept  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Brainstorming Your Novel
July 9, 2014
Every novelist reaches a plateau in which the perfect story idea isn’t coming together. The plot germ is there, but the theme, setting, characters  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | FBI Houston Citizens Academy
March 5, 2013
When I received the invitation from the FBI Houston Community Outreach Coordinator to participate in their Citizens Academy, all I could think about was  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Castle Meets Cold Case
March 28, 2012
I'm an avid fan of TV's   Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Jalapeños, Scorpions, and Snakes
October 18, 2011
What do jalapeños, horses, scorpions, snakes, and a man and woman under a star-studded sky all have in common? Texas. West Texas. The  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Happily Ever After
June 18, 2011
I can’t fathom writing a novel without weaving suspense and romance into the plot. The idea of two people falling in love while sharing  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Historical Romance vs the Princess Stories
January 10, 2011
I have a theory about historical romance. Think about my conclusions to see if you agree. When we were little girls, we loved pretending we  Read More...

DIANN MILLS | Expect an Adventure
October 18, 2010
Writing is a tough profession. The competition in today’s publishing world makes the strongest writers think twice about their commitment to excellence. But those  Read More...

DiAnn Mills | Strong Women, Unlikely Roles
June 25, 2010
Women who accept nontraditional roles and succeed with dynamic outcomes are the heroines in my novels. These are Glock-totin‘ gals with southern charm who  Read More...