Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Picking Out a Place for Your Book


No, not for vacation spot, altho’ who doesn’t want to take their book to some tropical place on the beach. Or even better, have their book take them there, literally. Wouldn’t we all like to be making enough from our books to be doing that?

Course that means getting published first.

Which brings up this post.

We’ve been told as writers that when we pitch an agent one of the things we need to know is where our book fits in on book store shelves and sections.

Great.

Except when it’s not as easy to categorize into those categories / genres. I’m still trying to figure where mine fit. Yes, granted I need to actually finish them first. That would be the first thing. But then comes the question of where does it actually fit. And some believe we should know that as we write, because that would very possibly change how we are writing.

What do you think?

Do you know / have clear ideas of where the books you are writing fit in?

How did you determine that?



If you are still searching to where you fit in, here’s an interesting blog post that has genres and sub-genres you might want to take a look at.


Thanks to :


WriterThesaurus

Dec 01, 8:21am via TweetDeck

Wonder what Sub-Genre your book falls into? Check out this resource: bit.ly/sC3874 #writing #screenwriting #MyWANA


Retweeted by Quotes4Writers



Then it would be nice if you came back here to help me with mine.……if that's even possible.


And if you look around on their blog and find interesting things it would be nice if you came back and shared them with me. After all, I’m always sharing with you here.


It does look like it’s got some great info’ there. But I’m in the midst of stuff too you know. So it would be nice if we all shared here. Just sayin…. Tis the season.



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Talking Too Much????



If it’s you, then you should know who you are. Don’t you?

Not sure these ideas would really help you but maybe….. I did come across this great post that will help you look at and determine if your characters are talking too much.

Might help you in other ways other than just your writing.


And since fellow writer and I were just talking about this recently will definitely help him.


While you are there looking, check out the rest of the blog. There’s some Good stuff there!


And do Please come back here and let me know what you find! I haven’t had time to look through it much either.


[Do I Really Need to tell you how behind we are with Holiday stuff??? No decorations up. No cards done. Still have baking / presents to do. Wrapped ones needed for this weekend…. Mostly. And so on and so on …. Sigh…..]


I send Great Thanks to for finding this:


PCrutcher Paige Crutcher


Hints that you have too much dialogue and helpful fixes: bit.ly/vPLCmE @NovelEditor #writetip @elizabethscraig






Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Holiday Writers Party / Get Together


Hey, it is the Holidays. And tomorrow is the 2nd Wednesday of the Month. That means Writers Wednesday.

Where James River Writers Members gather to talk all things writing.

Or, since it’s the Holidays, talk writing and holidays.

Or just enjoy the atmosphere at the Capital Ale House downtown.

Of course that’s what we do. ;)


And if you show up it Could be a Party!


Come toast the holidays with us. And encourage the writer within us all.



Saturday, December 3, 2011

Great Practical Writing Tips



I Especially like #3 and #4 of this one -


Cory Doctorow
Author of With a Little Help, For the Win, Makers, and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

  1. Write every day. Anything you do every day gets easier. If you’re insanely busy, make the amount that you write every day small (100 words? 250 words?) but do it every day.
  2. Write even when the mood isn’t right. You can’t tell if what you’re writing is good or bad while you’re writing it.
  3. Write when the book sucks and it isn’t going anywhere. Just keep writing. It doesn’t suck. Your conscious is having a panic attack because it doesn’t believe your subconscious knows what it’s doing.
  4. Stop in the middle of a sentence, leaving a rough edge for you to start from the next day — that way, you can write three or five words without being “creative” and before you know it, you’re writing.



But there’s Lots more Terrific ones -


Thanks to :


RoyalePine Dave Bale


Practical Tips on Writing a Book from 23 Brilliant Authors blogs.plos.org/neurotribes/20…





What’s your favorite?




Wednesday, November 30, 2011

How Do You Define Yourself?



‘You can’t define yourself with negatives. You have to choose adjectives.’ Stacy London, What Not to Wear


While Stacy was talking about a particular woman’s very low self image it occurred to me it could also apply to writers.

Especially given all the the pressure going on now with NaNoWriMo. Especially for those people that feel they have no hope of really finishing it.

And so they feel they have failed.


I’ve heard that from a few friends recently and I was surprised. Not at the feelings of being upset or disappointed, but the fact they used the word Failed. In regard to something like NaNo.

Perhaps I don’t take NaNo as seriously as some people do, but hey, they aren’t paying me for that writing. They aren’t giving me any particular benefits for doing it. The benefits that we get from participating - whether we finish or not - only come from us. And our expectations of ourselves.

So to go along with Stacy London - but paraphrasing - Don’t define yourself - or your writing - with negatives. Choose adjectives. I say Choose Good Adjectives. You are a Writer. You can do it!


As for Failing at NaNo … You only Fail if you allow yourself to feel you did.


And if you didn’t learn a darn thing from it.


Have there been times I didn’t finish NaNo - you betcha. Did I feel I failed. NO. Because I learned invaluable things about my writing, my story, my characters, my scheduling….my voice. I learned all kinds of things, writing and not writing.


So if you are feeling a bit down right now - you don’t have to give up. There are NaNo get togethers going on all over town for ‘write in’ kind of things to get as much done as you can.

If you have already given up, don’t feel like you failed. Sit down and figure out what all you learned this month. Maybe you learned how much time you really need, or don’t need, to really get some writing done. Perhaps you learned you hate these characters, you need new ones - So, get some. Maybe the story needs new characters. Or a new angle. Maybe it’s really a short story or novella, not a novel.

If you sit down and think about it, even a bit, you can find all kinds of things you learned from what you did do. Or even what you didn’t do. Perhaps your heart just isn’t in it. Or in the story.

Whatever your experience you can learn from it.

If you want to. If you choose to.


If you need more thoughts or ideas, I can help with that.



But you have to choose what words you are going to use to define your experience this month.


Choose good ones.




Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Lost the Ability to Write?





Having gone through a Major slump, funk, or writers block recently, and still trying to come out of it, I started hunting around for help. The great thing about living in this time is the invention of google.

And I came across this great blog. I was caught by this title of course, since I was wondering things along the same lines.


Can You Lose the Ability to Write?


So if you are in a slump, or a funk, and you are wondering the same thing, go over and read this blog.

And then it would be nice if you’d come back and let me know if it helped. So we all have even more things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day.







Thursday, November 17, 2011

Something in the Air? Or Funks and Writers Block


Or funks and slumps and …. well, some people don’t believe in writer’s block. But when you’re experiencing a funky slump, or whatever you want to call it when no words are coming to your mind at all for writing…. And you aren’t even reading. That’s definitely not a happy dancing place.


So how do you get out of it?


As I’ve tried to get out of the deep trench of emptiness that seems to have taken over my brain I have stumbled across interesting information that I needed at this time.


And I found not only that I wasn’t the only one that had been in an awful funk, so had the Editor of Writer’s Digest - just check out this part of the recent free e-newsletter -




Letter From the Editor



Lately I've been in a funk. Personal funk. Professional funk. Writing funk. And, as many of you probably already know, I don't tolerate funks well and will go to great lengths to get out of them. One article that helped me was 4 Ways Inspiration Helps You Beat Writer's Block, which helped me learn that instead of looking for inspiration, sometimes it's better to let it find you. I also found comfort after reading Your Job Is To Write, Not Worry, a piece designed to remind you what is really important when your heart and soul is devoted to being a writer.



Also, I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorite members of the WD team, Marielle Murphy, in my latest installment ofWD Editors Are Writers Too. If it weren't for her "Friday Fun Fact" e-mails, I wouldn't have known that slugs have 4 noses! I'm eternally grateful for that.





Okay I’m not saying that misery loves company, and that info’ on the slugs….. Ewwwww.


I’m saying it is nice to know that I’ve not been the only aberration in the writing world these days. Especially with NaNoWriMo in full swing and there’s clacking of keys to be heard all over, even in the next chair.


It wasn’t just the felt commiseration, it was the articles of inspiration and encouragement.


Like this one:



4 WAYS INSPIRATION HELPS YOU BEAT WRITER’S BLOCK




Hmmmm, maybe I can convince key-clacker in chair next to me that while he seems to be cranking out the writing for NaNo, the inspiration suggestion of going away and changing the scene might really help me and be what I need right now. I guess maybe the Thailand elephant suggestion might be a little much? But he might think a change of scenery might help him as well. Elephant or not.



So what do you do to get out of your slumps? Especially writing slumps.




















Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Murder She’s Talking About




No, don’t worry, not real murder. Although it might seem like that sometime right about now for those out there working on, or behind on, NaNo. [You don’t have to do show of hands.}

I readily admit I am not doing NaNo this year. Not because I don’t believe in it or because I see no use in it. I just didn’t have the energy to write anything let alone tackle NaNo. After a while there’s only so long you can put off and ignore things you have to do, need to do, should do. At some point you have to cook meals that someone is going to eat, even if they help with cooking, there’s still the preparation, cooking, and clean up. Not to mention all the clothes washed, and worn again. And all the rest of the ‘fun’ stuff that has to get done / be done, and all those Happy Holidays breathing down on us fast. I just couldn’t deal with all that this year. Something had to go. This year it appears my brain at writing. Got up and left at some point. Which brings me to the Murder of the title. Although I am having a tough time writing anything, even darlings, the other person that lives in the household with me apparently has no trouble, and he is doing NaNo for the first time this year. Maybe he’s the one that took my create writing brain cells….. Hmmm…. No, I’m not contemplating murdering him to get them back. Doesn’t work that way. Er, does it? Just kidding.

I have writing friends that I think are tackling NaNo. Although, since I’ve not heard from them and am assuming they are…..

But one writing friend has been notified that their short story is going to be published…. but what about rewriting the first part, says the editor. Well, actually, cutting the whole first part and starting down on page 2.

Writer’s have different feelings about this. Some are - ‘so, what are you waiting for? You are going to have a piece published, what’s the big deal, just do it already.’ Other’s resist.

This is what writers often refer to as killing your darlings.

Maybe because I’ve been of bombed out state of writing not even shuddering through the shells of burned out stories, I’ve found a sudden curiosity in Killing Darlings. [The killing the dust bunnies hasn’t captured my attention very long.] Never heard of people divorcing darlings but I’ve often done that - just in case they needed love later in the story, kind of thing. I mean, Kill? That’s pretty drastic.

But interestingly as I was half-way mulling this writing mayhem I came across a site I had not been to before. The Bad Penny Review. Okay, so yeah, I had to stop and look just for the title. And then I got into looking at a section they have on Killing Your Darlings. Spooky, strange, how things like that happen, huh.

Interesting what they have to say about the different authors and some of the revisions, the Killings, that have taken place in famous works.

Especially this one - Murdering Your Darlings: Writers’ Revisions - that’s talking about The Great Gatsby.

“…..Usually, we think of revision as making qualities less abstract, more clearly defined, but this example suggests something more complex: that the real trick is in discovering precisely what the story demands—even, as in this case, if it means a slight pull back in focus to deliver it.

And that, perhaps, is as accurate a description of revision as anything else, but as we shall see with other authors, a story can have an absurd variety of needs.”



Well, that certainly clears things up about Murdering Your Darlings, huh? But it is an interesting concept to think of discovering precisely what the story demands. Guess I should read more about Killing Darlings to figure out the who, what, when, and where. Just like in a real detective story perhaps.

So how do you determine the answers to those? Is there a sure fire way you know those answers?

Those that are taking a break from NaNo - get back to it, you don’t even think about this until after you finish.

And take a break and a drink first. After all the first step will be determining which is a darlin’ that has to go, and which one you just haven’t discovered what the best qualities are and where to use them.

Just divorcing them for a while, Right?


So what do you do? Is your best way? Do you just flat out murder?

How do you go about that?

Have a routine? A style, a m.o. …….. ???


I’ll get the big spotlight if I need to.

Just let me know.




Wednesday, November 9, 2011

NaNo Numb?


Brain gone NaNo numb already?

Take a break and get some help from fellow writers at JRWs Writers Wednesday casual gathering.

You might learn things like, if you get stuck in NaNo, it helps to blow something up.

Sometimes with pirates.


If that doesn’t help just come and give your brain a break with a fun bunch of characters.



Writers Wednesday


Capital Alehouse in downtown Richmond, 623 East Main Street, Nov. 9 from 5:30 till 7:30 p.m. When you enter, look for the friendly crowd with the stick-on name-tags. Free parking in the Lanier Parking Systems deck at 6th and Cary Streets.





Sunday, November 6, 2011

Character Development



Or Developing Character.

My blog has been bare lately because I had a core brain unload after the overload of conference information and it has refused to reboot back up….. that or because I have been held captive by large groups of marauding dust bunnies and have just now escaped. Or both. That makes a real character out of you believe me. Don’t believe me, look at your lurking dust bunnies sometime and see how big they can get and form while you are off doing other things and being busy. Just be sure to inform someone of your whereabouts for rescue purposes. And I’m getting ready to do battle again so if I am gone too long send in the calvary. Or a couple of Dyson vacuum cleaners.

Luckily for you the Super Wonderful Troy Howell is stepping in to guest blog about his great information on character development that he had sent to me when we did a session on Character Development for the recent James River Writers Conference with Belle Boggs and Derome Scott Smith.

Check out Troy’s book ‘The Dragon of Cripple Creek’ - he has a great take on dragons and dragon lore, and check out his blog and site, great illustrations of course - and a lot of Troy’s interesting and inspirational thoughts and writings.


Thanks Troy for coming to my rescue.




On character development / my reference notes for the James River Writer’s panel discussion, with a few additions /

by Troy Howell



The ultimate goal is to convey characters in such a way that the reader relates enough to hear their stories. As you develop your characters, ask, Why should the reader care? Empathy or sympathy, at the least, curiosity. Whatever occurs that is greater than that—bringing tears, laughter, enlightenment—is a wonderful gift.


Each character has a function that is natural to the story premise and plot. I was recently asked by a reading group discussing my Dragon of Cripple Creek (Amulet, 2011) what my inspiration was for Dillon. Though my dragon, Ye, was pure inspiration gotten from that nebulous place where ideas drift in whispers, Dillon was the result of a need. When I created my protagonist, Kat, for the book, I felt she needed someone within her own age range to relate with outside the adult realm, someone who would eventually help her balance her thoughts and actions, and through whom more information would come. A girlfriend was not the answer, since her time is spent on a family road trip due to a job change for her dad. A sibling was a natural choice. A sister would pose the risk of being competitive, so a brother was the solution—an older brother, because a younger one would not add the necessary understanding. Hence, Dillon.


As in life, each person wants something, has a motive. Every word and action is affected by that motive. Each person has a core flaw or weakness, a vulnerability. Each person has a core strength. Need is the underlying cause for these weaknesses and strengths. Need is not equivalent to want, but usually determines want.


"Every character is sufficiently vivid and interesting for his function.” —John Gardner


Avoid stereotype: Every character, no matter how minor, should be unique and unpredictable. Sometimes, the first action or response from a character that comes to your mind is not unique; consider choosing something quirky or even opposite of who they seemingly are—surprise and delight us. My police chief, Chief Huffman, was initially stoic and steely, until I gave him a stutter that surfaces when he’s facing the public. In the movie, Meet Joe Black, Death is a golden-haired young man who loves peanut butter.


Be sure you step into their shoes, their feet, their souls. Look into their mirrors, sleep in their beds, have their dreams. Know each one as thoroughly as you can—each one has a history.


Much depends on POV.


Much depends on situation, setting, and environment.


The character should fit the scene naturally, unless, by intent, he doesn't fit at all.


A few details can convey much: A man who frequently says, “My goodness.” A cat whose fur is the careless color of chalk. A woman who wears a coat, size FITS ALL HOMELESS.


“Although characters may be complex, the details of their complexity are often blurred,

as if by time." –JG


Contrast, and a contrasting cast of characters. Contrast adds balance, richness, intensity, conflict.


Names are important—select the right one.


The reader should sense that each character has all the senses—sight, smell, touch, hearing, taste (except, of course, in cases of disability). We should also get a sense of how they sound and how they smell, besides how they look and feel. By feel I mean texture, not emotion. Emotion is a subject of its own, though the two can be, and usually are, related. Would her fingers be cool if she touched you? My dragon, Ye, smelled of “fortune and ashes, spices and earth.” It hurt Kat to smell him and soothed her, too. Each character should breathe.


Convey character through action and dialogue; show more than tell.


Psychic range: You should be able to see them from both a distance and close up.


So, to restate what I believe are the essentials of character development: Get the reader to care. Each character has a function, a basic need, and a want. Live your characters. Be unique; be succinct.


Thank you, Shawna, for being the perfect moderator on the panel, and for the opportunity to be a guest on your blog.









Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A Great Reason to Do NaNo!



The Great people at Scrivener are offering their Great software package for 1/2 price for those writers that do NaNoWriMo this year!


If you haven’t checked out the Scrivener software - here’s your chance.


For Macs, and for Windows now! Both!


I happen to really like it - as do a Lot of other writers - and I haven’t even had a chance to take the tutorial. It fits the way I write a whole lot better than other popular word processing software.

And I’m sure I’m going to like it a whole lot better once I figure out all the great features and all. ;)

But even just ‘winging’ it, it has made writing, and researching a whole lot easier.

I organized all my Conference duties in it.


So if you are at all curious - here’s your chance.


And you’ll get a good start on your novel writing.


What’s not to like about all that?


If you’re still not sure, come out for the NaNoWriMo Kick Off party on October 30th at Capital Ale, Midlothian [near 288].







Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Great Revision / Rewriting Advice




What a great insight on Revision. Uh, here


{I'm sure I would have gotten around to it - someday. ;)}


Also be sure to read the comments at the end of it, was some great ideas there as well.


Thought this was even more appropriate to post right now for all those that will be heading into NaNoWriMo starting November 1st.

[in Richmond, Virginia, this NaNoWriMo effort, and cheering leading, is headed by the wonderfully vivacious Lucky Jean -



lucky jean (@luckyjean) on Twitter


twitter.com/luckyjean

Sign up for Twitter to follow lucky jean (@luckyjean). ... Also, I'm reading up on my resonsibilities as a volunteer for NaNoWriMo= lots of work now; ...




Since at the end of NaNo you’ll have to head into this process. Do yourself a favor read this first - it will help you a Lot I think.



And read it especially if you are facing your own revisions and rewrites on the what you feel is the cold dead novel lying around on your hands. [Yes, I Know it’s Halloween season, but Don’t kill it off until After you read this. It might save You, and Your novel.]




Here’s a few insights that might help from the article - but do go over and read it, and the comments. Then come back and let me know what stood out for you.


[Again the Bolding is mine - so go read and tell me what your Bolding is.]








Revision Is a Receptive, Intuitive Act



Listen to your draft. Our work is smarter than we are. Embedded inside it are clues to what our story is trying to become.


Consciously or unconsciously, all those disparate images, symbols, objects, and memories you dialed up made it onto the page for a reason.


When reading your work, tune in to the recurring elements, images, and so forth that strike thematic chords. Which of these have an emotional or psychological charge? Unwrap them. Even the most seemingly random detail can unlock the emotional essence of a scene. Examined closely enough and from enough angles, a single image can bear the meaning of your entire story.






Rewriting is Essential



That’s because we evade our material more than we realize.


We’re often motivated to write because of certain memories, emotions and events that are far too powerful and complex to be fully grasped or articulated in our early drafts.


As memoir writer Larry Sutin says, “We rewrite because we didn’t have the courage to face it the first time.”


Each time we revisit our material, we gather more courage and momentum to dive a little deeper.


And if we stick with it, we come out on the other side with something coherent, unified, artful, and above all, moving.