Debra's Daily Dithyramb

Non Fiction Writing

2009-11-30T15:38:00.002-06:00

Many fiction writers started out writing non fiction, and some continue to do so. As I've stated previously, I have gone back to work outside the home and I decided to investigate the possibility of writing for magazines, newspapers, etc.

My initial fact finding foray was enlightening. There are many, many ways to break into Freelance writing. The number of blogs, articles and how-tos are mind boggling. Information overload is an understatement. So how do I sort through all of the information, opinions and advertisements? Is this something I really want to do? Is this going to be a worthwhile expenditure of my limited time, energy and resources?

What about my novel? To finish my novel is a long term goal. I am still learning about fiction writing as I write. What if I end up rewriting my rewrites for years to come or until someone snatches it away from me and says enough is enough? Ah, adulthood. Remember when we couldn't wait to grow up?!?

So, I have decided I will dedicate a month to learn some of the ins and outs of freelance writing. I will brush up on my grammar. Outlining, oy vey, it has been a while. And then I will decide if this is something that I can do and enjoy.

Some upcoming posts will be dedicated to lessons learned during this process, though there are many out there who do a wonderful job detailing their experiences and giving great advice. Fiction writing will not be neglected though.

Join me on my journey.

Updating!

2009-11-30T14:10:00.000-06:00

I've had a couple of requests to pick up the blogging again...so here I am. I'm leaving some of the old posts that have links or good info and I'm weeding out the ones that are irrelevant. I'll pick up from there. If you have anything specific you would like to discuss, please add a comment or send me a message.

For those who do not know, I've gone back to work full time so I'm not writing near as much as I would like to. Time is always in short supply and energy even shorter supply. We are still homeschooling the youngest three children and that is going well. The oldest is through with school and trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.

Thank you for all your prayers and support over the last year. This has been the most difficult year in all of our married years, I do believe.

So gather 'round, settle in, and let's talk writing!

Formula Fiction

2008-07-24T11:42:00.005-05:00

As I've studied writing, I've come across the term 'Formula Fiction' many times. I decided to find out just what formula everyone is using to write their best selling books. But, alas, there is no magic formula after all. So that you don't get your hopes up only to have them deflate like a day old balloon, I will share my great knowledge and understanding of 'formula fiction' with you. (I'm being facetious.)

Wikipedia describes formula fiction as "literature in which the storylines and plots have been reused to the extent that the narratives are predictable. It is similar to genre fiction, which identifies a number of specific settings that are frequently reused. The label of formula fiction is used in literary criticism as a mild pejorative to imply lack of originality."

This definition left me wondering what the difference between genre fiction and formula fiction was exactly. I found this statement on ArticleWorld: Genre versus formula
"While formula fiction is often found in genre writing, they are not the same thing. A genre operates with a set of conventions that readers are familiar with and do not need explained – say, the aristoratic English detective or the divorced, lonely, alcoholic cop, the murder of a seemingly harmless person or the inexplicable theft of a trinket, and the overheard conversation, the eagle eye, and the mislaid mail – and work a compelling but not entirely predictable story around them. Well-regarded genre fiction has an emotional depth or finesse in literary technique that formula fiction lacks. Characters are round, plots unique, and language near literary, or at least not riddled with clichés."

A commenter on Science Fiction and Fantasy Novelists made this statement: "I think it’s more a matter of just satisfying expectations. A mystery is presented, it had better be resolved. And that governs everything from what’s behind the door being opened in the first paragraph of a story to the fate of the world in an alien invasion. Every time a question pops up, whether it is a question involving plot, character, or setting, it must be satisfied by the end of the story or there’s no satisfaction. A reader expects a resolution, and will wait for it happily (if not impatiently) once the mystery is presented. At its most basic, I think a “formula” is just a successful balancing act that creates the most satisfying wait between the presentation of a question/problem and it’s solution."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

As an unpublished author I have piles of how-to books. None of them give a specific 'formula' for writing but all of them give advice on what the reader is expecting when he or she picks up a book. If you're writing a mystery there must be an aha moment when the bad guy is revealed. If you're writing a romance there must be a happily ever after. Whatever genre you're writing for, the readers are looking for a specific outcome. And as writers we are writing for the reader. It's the journey that must be different or unique. The characters must have something about them that the readers connect with. The plot must hold their attention. The dialogue must be realistic. But in the end the story must come to the conclusion that the reader desires.

I do sometimes wish I could find a fill-in-the-blank 'formula' and give them to some of the best-selling authors. I think it would be interesting to see how similar or different the stories end up being. But, as I said earlier, I haven't found a specific formula fill-in-the-blank thing. (If you have one feel free to send it my way.) The closest thing I've found is Lester Dent's Master Fiction Plot, though it is for a 6000 word story, not a novel, and is not a fill-in-the-blank.

Desire

2008-07-21T23:09:00.004-05:00

I've read an interesting article on Brandilyn Collins' Blog: Forensics & Faith: Sagging Middles & Desire

Intensity

2008-04-08T23:27:00.001-05:00

I'm back to work on the book I started during my novel writing month. I've figured out that I need to tweak the plot a bit to make the conflict a bit more...conflicting? What I found was that in trying to be very careful not to make the story too complex, for fear that I would not finish the story, I made it too shallow. So now I'm going back in and adding subplots and amping up the conflict a bit.

It is definitely going to be a Suspensful Romance. The main story line centers on the solution to the danger surrounding the main character instead of the romance. The romance is there but is not the main story line.

Here is a link to a post on Forward Motion Writer's Community dealing with plot that I've found useful. If your not a member, it's free and there is a ton of information over there. (No, I don't get paid for endorsement.)

I would also like to share with you an excerpt of the book Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. In chapter 6, on page 85, Mr. Stein says this, "If you have some concern about the intensity of your plot, ask yourself, Does the conflict you've invented involve the best possible thing that could happen to your protagonist? Is what happens a surprise to anyone? Could you make it surprising by setting up an action and then showing the opposite of what your reader is likely to expect?"

Do you want to know where the story is going, or be so riveted through the twists and turns that when you've finished you feel that little thrill of accomplishment along with the characters of the story? I dislike predictable stories. My daughter and I compare notes on books we've both read. We see who figured out what first. Very rarely do we get to the end of a book and not know what's coming. Those few times that we are surprised are great. That's the experience that I want my readers to have.

Idea File

2008-04-07T22:53:00.004-05:00

In the last post I mentioned an idea file. You do have one don't you? Full of little slips of paper, napkins, paper bags, and photos of your hands? You know, where you needed to write something down and couldn't find anything to write on, so you used your hand, and since you couldn't cut your hand off and file it (how would you type the next Great American Novel with one hand?) you grabbed your cell phone or digital camera and took a picture? Oh, maybe I'm the only one.

An idea file could be anything. It could literally be a file, or files, in a filing cabinet, a box of index cards, spiral notebooks, whatever works for you. Any time you have this great or crazy or weird idea, you write it down and file it away. Then, when you need inspiration, or when your stuck, you pull our your idea file and seek inspiration. Maybe you use what's there or maybe what's there sparks another idea, and off you go.

Every writer needs an idea file or inspiration file. Those little nuggets usually add up to something very promising. What or where is your idea file?

If you have suggestions for future topics or questions you'd like to ask, use the comment button below.

Ideas

2008-03-19T11:28:00.005-05:00

Over the past several weeks I've been thinking, or composting as one writer states it, ideas for new novels. Do I start with an idea? Or a character? Maybe just a picture of a certain place in my mind?

For me it could be any of the above. The idea for the novel I started during the Novel Writing Month was sparked by a scene: A woman working at a bookstore finds a book about stalking on the floor of the store. When she bends to pick it up, she notices what appears to be a piece of paper protruding from the pages. As she takes the object in her hands she realizes it's a photo, and to her shock, it is a photo of her, taken through the window of the shop. This begs questions. Who took the photo? Why? Who is this woman? What does she do about it?

Another way stories have been inspired for me is through the visualization of a character. An old woman who always sits on the same bench in the park. Her hair is white, her eyes a faded blue. Why is she sitting there? Did she promise someone she would wait there? Is she looking for someone in the faces of the people passing by? Is she a scout for a band of theives?

Then there is the starting point of just having a picture of a place in my mind's eye. Maybe it's the sunset over a vineyard. Who's eyes are seeing this view and how did they get there?

If your idea sparks enough questions, you can then sort those questions and answers into a plot. If you begin asking questions but they peter out quickly then ask yourself if there is something you could change or tweak to make it better. If not, don't toss the idea out. Put it aside in your idea file and it may fit somewhere else later on.

You do have an idea file don't you? More on that tomorrow.

Pacing

2008-03-05T12:38:00.001-06:00

While working on my novel, I am getting a really good lesson in pacing. Pacing is the flow of the book. Some books move along at a snails pace, some move like locomotives. What makes a book feel one way or the other? Pacing.

"The aim of good pacing is to make the entire story an emotional experience for readers."

Have you ever read a book that seemed to go nowhere fast? You like the characters, the story is ok, but you find yourself skimming over sections to try to get to a 'good' part.

Have you ever read a book that's like a free fall? You can't catch your breath. You want to keep reading but you are on sensory overload.

The pace of a story is important. You are leading your reader through events in a specific order and fashion. You are in control of how they will experience each event. The words you choose, dialogue, setting, these are all important, but if the pace of the story is 'off' you will leave your reader less than satisfied.

To read more from the article quoted above you can visit Pacing Your Novel by Roz Denny Fox.

Why Aren't You Writing?

2008-03-03T23:07:00.004-06:00

The topic today is: Why aren't you writing?

What's keeping you from writing the Great American Novel? Maybe your expectations are too high. Maybe you are sick or tired. Maybe life is just too chaotic to even remember your name much less get coherent words down on paper. Whatever it is, is it an excuse or a reason?

I've said countless times that the best thing to do is write. Set a goal and stick to it. Have I always followed my own advice? No. Do I feel horrible about that? Yes. Does it make me want to stick my head in the sand and pretend that I never shared my desire to write with anyone? Absolutely. What am I going to do about it? Write. And then write some more.

I have numerous writing articles, interviews with writers, and webpages marked as favorites that I go to in those times when I just need a boost or kick in the pants. Several of those are already linked to in other blog posts. Here's the one for this week: The Big Secret: Why You Haven't Written That Novel by Diane Farr.

If you've found yourself stuck or just lacksadaisical about writing, read your favorite book or go to your favorite authors blog and let them stir up that desire in you again. And I promise to take my own advice.

Do you have a favorite 'kick in the pants' fix? Share.

Writing Rules

2008-02-25T22:44:00.002-06:00

Not the cheer - WRITING RULES! with a high five, but those terrible, hideous things we beginning writers must be able to recite in our sleep.

Show don't tell - ever heard that one?

Active voice not passive - I even have a post on this one already.

POV - No 'head hopping' allowed.

There are of course more, but I couldn't cover them all...actually I'm sure that I don't know them all.

As a new writer or unpublished writer I obsess over the rules I do know and have decided to not learn any more for the present time. I want the joy of writing to be just that, a joy. If I don't look forward to sitting down each day to write about exciting places and people then I probably won't.

Mike Duran wrote a couple of blog posts over at Novel Journey about this very thing. And he does a much better job of it than I do so please go check it out.

Rethinking Writing Rules - Pt. 1
Rethinking Writing Rules -- Pt. 2

Disciplined Muse

2008-02-23T11:13:00.000-06:00

Writers sometimes refer to that inner urge or drive to write as their 'muse'. Ever heard from yours? Does he/she go on vacation often?

The likelyhood of completing a novel is just about nil if you are waiting for your muse to show up and feel like working. The more accomplished writers work with or without their muses. They treat writing as a job. Show up at _:__ o'clock, work until you've met your daily goal, quit for the day.

Do you really think they want to work everyday? Maybe they do, maybe not. What sets them apart is that they are disciplined. They treat their writing as a profession, not a hobby.

If your goal is to complete a book, from beginning to end, you have to be committed. Not to a hospital...at least not always. Do you believe that you are the only one that can write the story in your head? Will anyone want to read it? If so, then write it.

Writing is not a team sport. If you get stuck you have to unstick yourself. If you have a good critique group or a trusted friend, they may be able to offer you encouragement, but you are the only one that can put the words on the paper.

Perserverence is a main ingredient if you intend to finish what you start. You have to be committed to the project and to yourself: I will write this, and I will finish it.

Discipline yourself to write on a regular basis. Everyday. Make a schedule, so many words or so many pages, and always finish what you start.

CBA Best Sellers - March 2008

2008-02-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

The CBA Best Seller list for March 2008 is up.

If you look at the list, it seems to reflect the Valentine's Day Holiday. Several books on love and relationships.

How do you think Holidays affect book sales? Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.? Have you ever thought about how the marketing people target certain audiences at certain times and how that may affect your success when published?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Hearing

2008-02-21T22:22:00.003-06:00

I found this funny little story that sparked an idea in my mind.

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror.

Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her birthday."I'd like to be six again," she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster ... everything there was.

Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.

He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's. What a fabulous adventure! Finally, she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well Dear, what was it like being six again?"

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "I meant my dress size!"

The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he's not always going to get it right.

What I got from this is that as a writer I hear the story in my head, but I don't always get it right the first time. After working on the novel in 30 days thing, I figured out that my story is good, the characters are good, but I'll have to go back and fix the flow of scenes a little bit. I heard it but it's not quite right yet.

What method do you use to fix plot holes or inconsistencies?

Starting a Story

2008-02-13T23:54:00.005-06:00

Someone asked me recently how I get ideas for stories and how do I know if they will work. I use a combination of ideas I've gleaned from other authors.

There's the The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson. From him I've learned to start small and build out alternating between characters and plot. He's taught me how to condense everything down to a single sentence and build out from there. He has a ton of great resources on his website.

Then there's Holly Lisle. From her I've learned to know my ending and work toward it and to have a goal but be flexible. Again, she has a ton of great resources on her site. She has helped me with staying focused and working at writing. She has a great course available on plotting: Holly Lisle's Create A Plot Clinic

There's also Kati Dalton. I use her question and answer advice from How To Plot a Novel to see if an idea is viable as a novel. Is there enough there to pursue the story?

Then there is of course Brandilyn Collins. She also has a wealth of information on her blog. Here is a link to the August 2005 archive where she has a great article on a plotting graph that she uses to determine where her books may be off balance that I use.

And if you've read some of my past blog posts you'll see that I read a LOT of books. There is so much information out there for beginning and/or struggling writers. The trick is to take what works for you and let the rest go. There is no one way to write a book. The only right way is the way that works for you.

Doing this 30 Day challenge has really made me rethink some of my ideas and strategies. I've had to force myself to move ahead when I think that I should go back. But now, when I do go back, I'll have a much better grasp of the story as a whole.

What is your method or do you have one? Would love to hear from you.

2008-02-02T23:37:00.000-06:00

The CBA Bestseller's List for February 2008 is up. CBA BEST SELLERS

For anyone interested in learning why the posted Best Seller lists are inaccurate, Michael S. Hyatt, President & CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers has a great blog post on it here: Toward a Better Bestsellers List. This post is from December 2006.

In July 2007, Brandilyn Collins wrote about the bestseller issues in her blog post New Info on Data Gathering in CBA. Michael Covington, Information and Education Director for ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association), wrote her back explaining a bit more about how sales are reported.

It's interesting that the way information is reported could determine whether your book makes the bestseller list or not. You would assume that actual sales would be the top indicator. But not so. For example, what if your local bookstore, that sold your book out five times over because your friends and family purchased every copy available, doesn't report their sales? Those sales don't count toward your best seller status.

Anyhow, the people above can explain it much better than I can. Enjoy!

Music and Writing

2008-01-28T11:33:00.001-06:00

I have a new favorite group: Planetshakers

The energy of these songs is great. When I'm brainstorming I turn the music up as loud as possible and just veg. Good thing we live in the country. No neighbors to complain.

I was curious about songs to inspire writers and decided to make up my own list just for fun. (I'm procrastinating here.)

When I'm stuck:
Help by The Beatles The Hit Crew remade this song as well.
When I'm trying to characterize my Hero:
I Need a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
When my Hero needs to overcome the villain:
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
When my heroine is having difficulties with the hero:
The Story by Brandi Carlisle
When my heroine is fighting her attraction to the hero:
Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough by Patti Smyth and Don Henley
When my heroine falls for the hero:
Leather And Lace by Stevie Nicks
When the storyline is going all over the place and life is chaotic:
Slow Me Down by Emmy Rossum
When a character is having a crisis of faith:
Become Who You Are by Mainstay
When I am writing the final scene:
The Final Countdown by Europe
When my internal editor breaks out of her cage at the kennel:
Beat It by Michael Jackson
When everything is going well and the words are flying:
I Feel Love by Blue Man Group and Venus Hum

I'll add more later.

Flow

2008-01-27T20:51:00.001-06:00

I am learning a lot about flow. According to Susan K. Perry, Ph.D: WHAT IS FLOW?
It’s when you’re so deeply engaged in whatever it is you’re doing that it becomes self-rewarding. When you write from a flow state, you may forget what time it is, the words seem to arrive almost effortlessly, and it’s possible that you’re producing your best work.

I love it when the words just flow onto the page. And then my internal editor (who has escaped her cage at the kennel a couple of times) convinces me to go back and reread what I've written and I want to start fixing things. I have had to deliberately not look back unless I'm reading a few paragraphs after being away from my writing for a while in order to get back into the flow.

Update on Novel in a Month

2008-01-25T14:38:00.000-06:00

I am off to a very slow start. Eight days in and I should have about 16,000 words, I have 7,000. It seems that if it can go wrong it will when you have a deadline. I will be plugging away feverishly until I get caught up.

Here is an excerpt of the first chapter, let me know what you think.

Jacklyn Scott had been in the attic since dawn.
Old furniture draped in sheets, stained gray by time, stood watch over the group moving through the large space. Their movements stirred up the dust that coated every surface. The musty smell of neglect and decay was overwhelming. Her job as a book finder took her to some unusual places but attics were her least favorite. Especially ones with no windows.
She tucked the flashlight under her chin, pushed aside the dust, and opened another cardboard box. Old leather bound ledgers wrapped in tissue paper, lying unused and forgotten for decades. Jacklyn felt a connection to the past in these dusty, decaying books. History, especially family history, was important to her. The journals and farm ledgers here told stories of love, poverty, happiness, strength, and loss. She had a reputation for being able to find the rare and hard to find books and journals. Diaries and journals were her favorite. They told the story of someone who had lived and died: a widow, a young woman whose husband was sent off to war, an old man tired of carrying secrets from the past, recording it on a piece of paper.
Inside the next box old newspaper clippings spilled from an album tied with ribbon. Family mementos: wedding announcements, obituaries. Someone’s memories hidden away in an attic. She wished her own memories were as easily found.
She stood and stretched her back. She pushed cobwebs out of her hair and tried not to think about anything else that might have taken up residence there.
“Jacklyn.”
She turned to see her fellow book hound, Kevin, holding an armful of plastic containers. “What do you want to take first? I don’t want to be in this attic when the temperature starts rising.”
She had worked with Kevin before. He was quick and thorough which is what she needed today. “Let’s take what’s on the open shelves first. Then we’ll get the boxed books and finish up with the ledgers and personal papers. If we can’t get them all this morning I can come back this evening and get another load.”
Jacklyn began packing books into plastic storage boxes and Kevin and another employee of The Book Haven, Denise, began hauling them down the stairs. Mr. Greeley had made provision in his will for the contents of his attic to be donated to the bookstore that Jacklyn owned. She was both excited and overwhelmed. She hadn’t realized how much of a packrat he had been, but she couldn’t wait to get a better look at the treasure trove.

Active versus Passive Voice

2008-01-25T14:12:00.000-06:00

While on the NaNoWriMo forums yesterday I read a post about Passive Voice/Active Voice. I had been thinking of this with my own book so I was interested to see what someone else was dealing with. In the post there is a link to a website with some great information on this topic: Passive Voice

I also found this site: Active and Passive Voice. It gives some examples of changing from passive voice to active voice and vice-versa.

If you do a search on this subject you will find many, many websites with articles dealing with this in fiction writing. Since we are trying to elicit a specific reaction in our readers we need to use active voice. Obviously, I need work in this area myself.

Have I mentioned lately that writing is work?

As a writer I am constantly stretching myself to learn new skills and put them to work in my writing. There is so much information to assimilate, I wonder sometimes if I'll retain it all. But this is where the rubber meets the road. Remember the quote from the last post? "You are good at what you do." By continuing to write and write and write some more, you begin to get a feel for it. Your internal editor will loudly proclaim that something is wrong with that sentence. The rythym will seem off. You might not recognize right away what it is, but you will instinctively know that something is not right. It is through continuous practice and educating yourself that you begin to see it before it gets down on paper. You begin to rework sentences in your head before they ever hit the computer screen...sometimes.

How do you deal with the information overload that comes with writing well? Do you write in active voice or passive voice and how could your writing change if you switched?

Please chime in. I would love to know what you all think.

Writing Courses

2008-01-22T22:01:00.000-06:00

If you do an internet search using the phrase "Writing Courses" you will get several hundred results. From creative writing to resumes to journalism. You can find an online course for just about any part of the writing experience. Some are free, some are for a fee, some are through an accredited college or university.

Do you think it is necessary to take some form of writing course in order to be a successful writer or novelist? Should you perhaps have a degree in English? My personal opinion is no. Now you need to have a grasp on grammar (I'm working on it. Really.), sentence structure, spelling, and have a rather broad vocabulary. But most things are learned 'on the job'. The more you write the better you get at it. The saying goes, "You are good at what you do."

I believe you also need to be an avid reader. As you read, you begin to sort of absorb proper writing skills. You get a feel for flow and voice. You will find yourself drawn to a certain style and genre. In essence you will educate yourself. Especially if you read to analyze. If you have a favorite book, pull it out and make a plot outline for it. Read it in a purely ananlytical way. Instead of getting absorbed in the story, focus on how the author shows instead of tells. What are the subplots? Were there any red herrings? If so, how often did the author introduce one and how long before it was exposed?

Now, if you feel like taking a writing course or even getting a degee, by all means, go for it. Some excellent writers encourage those struggling to break into the writing market to take some classes.

Another alternative is to take advantage of seminars at writing conferences. There are also tons of 'how-to' articles on the internet. Take what you can use and leave the rest.

Here are some articles dealing with this subject if you're interested:
Do you have to be smart to write fiction? by Tess Gerritsen
How to write a novel by Jack King

Also, since we homeschool our children, I want to put a link up for a product put out by Konos. Learn to Write the Novel Way is a year long curriculum that combines learning grammar and other language arts skills with noveling (is that a word?) skills such as: characters and scene description, dialogue, paragraph division, active voice, and much more.

Finding Your Writing Moment

2008-01-18T22:18:00.001-06:00

Over the last few days I have realized that sometimes I can sit and write and it just flows. Other times I sit and stare at a blank screen. I'm a night owl by nature. This is probably why a lot of my blog posts are late night posts. After everyone else is in the bed and the TV is off, I can plug in my headphones and just write away. I have dubbed this time as my Writing Moment. I am much more productive during this time.

So, I am going to guard this time as much as possible during the 30 day novel journey and write, write, write. If you have a time of day that is more productive for you, set that time aside to accomplish whatever it is you are attempting to accomplish, whether it is writing a book, making a quilt, scrapbooking, or researching cities on the internet. Make the most of the time that you do have and you won't feel guilty for being behind or taking time from other things to finish your project.

Another thing I have discovered is that I am a research junkie. I love doing research. I've found the village I want my novel set in and have looked at it on Google Earth. I've looked up businesses in the area and looked at homes and apartments on line. I know how many people live there, what the median household income is, how many high school drop outs there are every year, how far to each of the nearest four colleges, in essence, way too much information. Most of it will never find it's way into my novel but I have enjoyed the search.

Point of View

2008-01-16T11:15:00.001-06:00

The character sheets are coming along. The plot not so much. I know the basic premise of the story and where I want my main character to end up spiritually and emotionally but I haven't quite figured out the main climax concerning the antagonist. I also don't have a clear idea of the first scene. I know where it needs to go but haven't decided where to start it. Home, work, church...don't know.

I'm just about tempted to divide my outline into scenes and just work on the ones that I seem to have a handle on and then hope that a logical sequence of events will come to me to fill in the other scenes. Have I mentioned that this is a lot of work? And I haven't even started writing yet.

I do know that the novel will be written in third person multiple point of view. The reason I chose this point of view is because it offers readers different perspectives, experiences, and insights through several characters. This allows me to keep the story moving. Obviously the main character cannot be in the midst of crisis all the time. She needs some down time or she's going to be one tired lady which in turn will tire the reader. Having the ability to move to another character's point of view gives me the ability to keep the tension tight throughout the book. While the main character is eating an ice cream cone at the local drive-in we can see what the antagonist is planning for her after dessert. This also helps the tension level since now the reader knows something the character doesn't and can see the character walking into it head first.

Off to work on the outline. Comment button works...I promise.

Still Plugging Away

2008-01-14T23:14:00.000-06:00

Still getting ready for this 30 day novel thing, trying to put a lot of work in up front. Others just go into it with an idea, a character, or a scene in their mind and then let the story tell itself. Though I would love to do it that way, I don't think I would get nearly as much accomplished as I would like.

I have decided to stick to a page count everyday instead of a specific word count. My finished novel should be about 95,000 words. Since that is almost double the amount needed to successfully complete the 30 day challenge as set out at the NaNoWriMo website, I will not be able to complete the entire novel. My plan is to get the main scenes down and focus on the twists in the plot. During the rewrite I will tweak dialogue, desription, etc. That means that I will need to write about 6 2/3 pages a day to complete the skeleton of it in 30 days. That's double-spaced lines. About 3 1/3 pages of single spaced.

For anyone interested in writing Romantic Suspense I have amassed a list of websites I found helpful or inspirational. Hope you enjoy.

Basic Ingredients for Writing Romantic Suspense by Cheryl Wright
Writing Romantic Suspense by Chris Gavaler
Crafting Romantic Suspense by Nora Roberts
Inspirational Romantic Suspense Roundtable
Writing Tips: How I Got Started by Terri Blackstock

Quotes

2008-01-13T23:19:00.000-06:00

I didn't do a thing today on my storyline or characters except think about them a bit. I'm still trying to figure out the connection between my MC and the bad guy. For the life of me I cannot figure out the antagonists motivation. Revenge? Obsession? Justice? Just when I thought I had it, they went and changed on me. I'm not even writing yet and my characters are already being difficult.

So I researched on the internet and surfed for some inspiration. Instead of some insightful ah-ha moment to share with you I have some rather fun writer's quotes.

'Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.' E.L. Doctorow

'Once writing has become your major vice and greatest pleasure only death can stop it.' Ernest Hemingway

'Writing is just having a sheet of paper, a pen and not a shadow of an idea of what you are going to say.' Francoise Sagan

'As regards plot I find real life no help at all. Real life seems to have no plots. And as I think a plot desirable and almost necessary, I have this extra grudge against life.' Ivy Compton-Burnett

'I try to leave out the parts that people skip.' Elmore Leonard

'What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers.' Logan Pearsall Smith, "All Trivia," Afterthoughts, 1931

'I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.' James Michener

'If you can't annoy somebody, there is little point in writing.' Kingsley Amis

I will be back tomorrow with, hopefully, better news on the novel front. Anyone have some peanut M&M's?

Character Sheets

2008-01-12T22:48:00.000-06:00

Onward and upward, I am trudging along with my plotting. I have had to stop to find out more about my characters, so I am doing some character sheets for my main characters. This novel will be a Romantic Suspense, probably more suspense than romance but there will be some tingly feelings and butterflies along the way.

In order to get a better handle on what disasters will befall my protagonist, I need to figure out the motivation of my antagonist which is requiring me to figure out what their past connection is, if any. ::sigh::

This is a lot of work. I love the process and I feel like I'm getting to know my story pretty well but don't let anyone tell you there is no work involved.

So, more about character sheets. My characters and I are having a roundtable meeting where everyone gets equal time to tell their tale. I'm asking lots of questions. Such as: What do you have in your purse or wallet? What is your favorite food? What makes you laugh out loud? What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? What is your greatest fear? Do you like yourself? Are you a night owl or an early riser? Are you willing to speak out or do you avoid confrontation? What instrument do you play?

Of course there are many more but if I listed them all I would never get this thing outlined. If you are interested in developing a character you can do an internet search using the phrase "questions for your novel characters" or "character sheets" or "character summaries". There are many websites with great information.

I am off to work on my outline. I haven't been able to work on it at all today. Wish me luck.

Plotting

2008-01-11T19:53:00.000-06:00

In preparation for writing the 30 Day Novel, I am clearing my to be read pile, clearing my calendar, and brushing up on plotting.

Up until now I have just written what I liked with no definite thought of how it will fit into the story line. My goal has been to just write. Some of what I write goes into my idea file and may make it into something later on. Some may inspire a poem. Some just help me get to know my characters better and will never be seen by anyone but me and my poor children who will have to clean out my cupboards and drawers when I'm gone.

But with the challenge of writing a complete rough draft of a novel I want to have some idea of where I am going and how I'm going to get there. I think that I will just feel safer with the safety net of a plot outline even if my novel goes in a different direction.

What I have discovered is that there is no 'right' way to plot out a book. Everyone seems to have their own system. Some use software programs while others use index cards. Some make out elaborate time lines. Others use all of the above. I have to figure out what my system will be.

There are some things that everyone agrees on though. A plot contains the following essential things:
1. A sympathetic character. Someone we can relate to and care enough about to want to know where the story is going. But this character must also have a great need or want.
2. Which leads us to conflict. He or she will have obstacles before them which make it very difficult to get that great need or want. Something must happen to the protagonist that we want to see resolved. You have to set up your antagonist and protagonist to passionately want something different. And whatever it is your protogonist wants has to be important to your reader or they won't read on.
3. Then something has to happen to keep our characters from resolving that conflict. Throughout the novel your antagonist and protagonist must have their desires thwarted. This creates tension. Why would the reader continue to read if the characters are always getting what they want.
4. The next thing would be a climax. The antagonist and protagonist go head to head. A final showdown. The highest point of tension.
5. And then finally a solution. Everything comes together or falls apart, however you want to end your novel and then you type 'The End'. Usually this will depend on what genre you are writing in. A romance will always have a happily ever after. A suspense may not end happily but it will end in a way that the reader feels the journey was successful.

I know all of this in my head but translating that into a full length novel, which is what I plan on writing, is a whole other ball game. And then there are subplots, description, dialogue, backstory, subtexting, etc. If I keep looking at all that must be done I'm afraid that I'll procrastinate or talk myself right out of it so I'm just going to focus on plotting out a story line and rewrite for the rest if necessary (and it will be necessary).

My plan is to take this next week, which is full of prior commitments that cannot be rescheduled, and plot the story. I'll do some character development and try to figure out who, what, and where. Then I'll begin my 30 day challenge on January 18. That's the plan anyway.

Please feel free to leave any comments or questions. If you've done a novel in 30 days maybe you could leave some pointers for me.

Writing a Book in 30 Days

2008-01-10T10:26:00.001-06:00

I had heard of NaNoWriMo before, but had never considered it as something I would do myself. While surfing the net the other day, I found the NaNoWriMo website and began checking things out. Sounds interesting. Participants set aside the month of Novemeber (You can do it any time but the official month is November.) to write 50,000 words of a novel. You don't worry, just write. Sound familiar?

Of course there are a least two opinions on every subject so I searched for opposing opinion comments on other websites, of which there were several. It's interesting to me that most who were against this form of writing novels felt that novel writing would be 'trivialized' by these novel writing wannabes. Sounds like snobbery in the highest form. What I took away from those opposed was the sense that they want everyone to assume that writing a novel is one of the most difficult things to do in the world, ranking right up there with world peace, and that only a chosen few had the right to even attempt such a feat. Soon everyone would be calling themselves writers and the 'real' writers' value would be diminished to the point of embarrassment to be called a writer, or novelist. In the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, "Bah, humbug!"

The challenge for me would be carving out the uninterrupted time for an entire month. I am a Children's Pastor's wife, Youth Minister, and homeschooling mother of four. I also work about 2 hours a day in my home office for a wonderful company I will tell you about at another time. Time is a commodity that is cherished around here. I could rise earlier than usual, or let the children sleep a little later, which would earn me kudos from the kids for life. I am already up late, as can be attested to by the time of some of my posts here. But what the heck, I like a good challenge.

With my mind made up I took a trip to the local library and picked up Chris Baty's book No Plot? No Problem!. I have almost finished reading it and then will go back and read it again as I get ready for my month-long writing frenzy. I joined the forums at the NaNoWriMo website and began reading away. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. I hope.

Mr. Baty states that it is best if you do this challenge in a calendar month. I probably will not do this. I will print a calendar out that begins on whatever day I am starting and ends 30 days later. This is solely to get 30 consecutive days that do not have high demand, unmovable, previous commitments.

Please feel free to goad, heckle, throw non pointy, soft objects, and generally keep me accountable to this challenge. If you feel the need to support me with chocolate and coffee I will get you the address. :D

Let the writing begin.....well, I'll let you know when the writing will begin.

Art & Fear

2008-01-09T01:21:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to give everyone an opportunity to check out Brandilyn Collins' latest blog posts:
Forensics & Faith: Art & Fear -- Part 1
Forensics & Faith: Art & Fear -- Part 2
Forensics & Faith: Art & Fear -- Part 3
Forensics & Faith: Art & Fear -- Part 4
Forensics & Faith: Art & Fear -- Part 5

An excerpt:
Art & Fear. If you're serious about any form of art--writing, dancing, painting, photography, sculpting--those two words often go together. If you are trying to sell your form of art, if you have the audacity to actually make money at it, you no doubt haved faced fear about what you do.

Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, is written and now self-published by photographers David Bayles and Ted Orland. Copyrighted in 1993, it has seen a total of 17 (perhaps now more) printings. Ted Orland reports that amazon.com sells 500 copies of this little book every month.

Why? Because the insights contained within its pages teach artists how to press on through their fears.

Sounds like it could be 'inspirational'.

It's way too late for me here so I will bid you all goodnight, or morning as the case may be.

Inspiration

2008-01-09T00:32:00.000-06:00

Inspiration is a wonderful word.

According to the Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary it means:

1 a: a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation
b: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions
c: the act of influencing or suggesting opinions
2: the act of drawing in; specifically : the drawing of air into the lungs
3 a: the quality or state of being inspired
b: something that is inspired
4: an inspiring agent or influence

So where do writers find this 'divine influence' or 'power'? Or does it find them?

I've read many books (as you all know) and websites about writing written by writers, wanna-be writers, almost there writers, I'm thinking about it writers, etc. and what I have taken away from these founts of knowledge is that inspiration comes from living. From interacting with people and things around you.

Where does your heroine get her quirky quirks? Why does your hero pull at his left ear while sucking in his bottom lip when he is in deep thought? I believe it comes from having absorbed those things somewhere, sometime in your life. Maybe your Uncle George did that ear thing.

Wikipedia has this to say: Inspiration in artistic composition refers to an irrational and unconscious burst of creativity.

I can definitely relate to the irrational and unconscious part there.

Inspiration is sometimes hard to recognize, at least for me. I tend to second guess everything. My internal editor is always hard at work. Hardly does a sentence get completed before Ms. Editor speaks her opinions about how that word should be changed or how something should be described differently or left out altogether. So when inspiration strikes and I think "This is it!" the next thought is "Well, maybe." It all goes downhill from there.

What inspires you? What gets your creative juices flowing? And how do you turn off your inspiration crushing internal editor?

Motivation

2008-01-02T21:55:00.001-06:00

Over the last several days I have been reading a couple of books on the craft of writing. If you stick around you'll notice that I read...a lot. Anyhow, while I've been reading I've been challenged to discover what my true motivation is for writing.

Fame - Not really. I am actually considering writing under a pen name because I don't want a lot of attention on me.

Money - Ummm, no. From what I understand it is quite difficult to get published and earn those big checks. If money was my motivation I would find a different trade.

My motivation is that I love to read good writing and I want to do that for someone else. I want to write something that causes the reader to be transported to another place or time. I want them to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel everything the characters do. I want them to relate to the characters that I have created as if they know them in life.

A tall order for someone with horrible grammar skills, mediocre vocabulary, and not much free time. But, one thing I have decided is that I will not give up this dream. I may be eighty before I ever see my work in print and then it may be because my poor family has taken pity on me and had something printed and bound just to appease me. However, this is something that I am doing for my future readers and myself.

So now off to write.

Thinking Outside the Box

2007-12-21T11:39:00.000-06:00

While studying up on plot and subplot I pulled out my copy of The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations by Georges Polti. Just in case you don't know, "The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations is a descriptive list which was created by Georges Polti to categorize every dramatic situation that might occur in a story or performance." Via A. R. Yng

It's the age old problem of finding a new way to tell the same story, sort of. How do you make your story stand out from all the other stories similar to yours? How many ways can you kill a character or cause them to fall in love?

Every writer, or at least I hope every writer, strives to make his or her story unique and memorable. We are looking for ways to keep the readers attention without sounding like a broken record. The 'been there, done that' mentality.

In the course of writing we try to find new twists. Twists within twists. We want to take something that you think only has one use and give it another. Or use it as it should be used but in a completely unexpected way.

As an example I'll use the following video. For those of you who remember the 80's you should recognize the song. It's The Final Countdown by the group Europe.

Not quite what you would expect but enjoyable nonetheless. The name of this group is Melo-M and the three gentlemen playing the cello's are classically trained musicians.

That's how good writing needs to be. Unexpected enjoyment. Or enjoyable unexpectedness. You get the point.

As I write, I am attempting to give the reader a new experience of something familiar. Not always so easy to do.

Feel free to comment or question.

And for anyone wanting an 80's flashback: Europe-The Final Countdown Live

Quarreling

2007-12-20T13:52:00.002-06:00

Today I was reading a bit in a book titled Word Watch by Anne H. Soukhanov. There is a quote in the first chapter that caught my attention.

"A book is like a quarrel: One word leads to another, and may erupt in blood or print, irrevocably." --- Will and Ariel Durant, A Dual Autobiography

When we quarrel with our spouses, family, or friends, sometimes things are said that we wish we could take back. One heated word leads to another. Hurtful memories forgotten or suppressed are suddenly remembered and hurled at one another.

This statement exactly describes what it is like for me when I am writing. Like a quarrel. I want things to go one way and my characters want it to go another. I want to use this lovely, colorful word and my heroine refuses to say it. Not in her vocabulary. It becomes so frustrating at times.

It's those times of frustration when a writer, or a would-be writer like myself, must make the decision to either keep writing or go pout somewhere.

How often do writers and/or aspiring writers give up because of a quarrel with their writing? Seems silly doesn't it. Trying to conform a character or setting or a bit of dialogue that we ourselves have created and it refuses to conform. By golly, I made you and I can do what I want with you.

But can we?

So my question today is, have you quarreled lately?

Have the words come from your fingertips one after another, tripping over your thumbs in an effort to get onto the computer screen? Have you stalked off fuming, vowing to never again write another word?

Your writing is waiting on you to come back and pick up where you left off.

For those of you interested to learn more about Will and Ariel Durant you can go here:
Will Durant Foundation

The Fear of Writing

2007-12-17T20:37:00.000-06:00

Over the last several days I have been doing some research on the fear of writing. I'm not talking about Graphophobia. I'm talking about the person who wants to write but cannot bring themselves to do it for reasons such as: Fear of criticism, not knowing how or where to begin, what if no one likes it, etc.

I think this is what's kept me from writing until now. Not knowing where to begin and not feeling like I had the skills or talent to accomplish 'professional' writing.

In order to overcome this fear I feel that the first step is to write. Just simply write. Whatever pops into my head, whether it makes sense or not, I write it down. Or type it on the computer. I don't worry about punctuation or grammar or whether I've used present and past tense in the same paragraph. I just write.

Now granted, I don't think anyone will ever read what I've written but it is teaching me is to listen to that inner voice. To follow the character's direction. To think more about what sounds, smells, sights there are in a particular setting. I can write down conversations in the exact way they come to me without my internal editor telling me 'that's not how someone would say it in a real conversation'.

So I would like to encourage those of you who suffer from this form of 'fear of writing', just write. Don't worry about whether it's good or bad. Just write.

If you would like some writing prompts you can begin here: Creative Writing Prompts

Or you can google the phrase "Writing Prompts" and they will list lots of sites on the internet that have free writing prompts available for you.

Research

2007-12-14T14:01:00.000-06:00

How do you go about researching your books?

What kind of answering machine was used in 1980?

Does anyone remember those Beta recorders? My dad still has one.

Parachute pants anyone? What was up with those?

What was the top love song in 1963?

Where did the elite of Charleston dine when they wanted to rub shoulders with other elite in the 1920's?

Research is vital if you want authenticity in your writing.

Brandilyn Collins wrote about a letter she received from a reader about a specific fact that she included in one of her books. You can read it here: Forensics & Faith: Think You Wanna Slack on Research?

Just goes to show that you need to have your facts right.

Just for Fun

2007-12-12T22:07:00.000-06:00

Here is a little something that came to me as I was trying to go to sleep last night. I'll let you read it and then I'll comment a little about it.

No one could take them from him in his dreams.

No doctor to tell him to take his medicine. No one to jeer at him about his obsession.

That’s why he fought so hard to stay in that hazy place between dreamland and reality. There he could control them.

Please, God, don’t let the phone ring. Please, just for a little longer, don’t let anything disturb my pleasure.

And, oh, what a pleasure.

See them. Curves in all the right places. Oh, he loved those curves.

Feel them. Soft, so soft.

Smell them. Fresh, untouched.

Taste them. Sweetness clinging to his lips.

Yes, here, no one could come between him and them. They were all his. As many as he wanted. As often as he wanted.

Ah, just to be here with his donuts.

Now, a little explaining. My son just started working at a donut shop so we have been the beneficiaries of the donuts left at the end of the business day. He brought some donut holes home the other day that he had filled with chocolate and cream cheese. They were sin in a bag. And I guess my quirky sense of humor got the best of me.

I tried to imagine how to describe a donut in different ways; humorous, scholarly, sensually. Which is when my overtaxed brain came up with the above.

Leave some feedback and let me know what you think. Do you see a multimillion-dollar donut commercial in here somewhere?

Things That Make You Go......

2007-12-11T19:55:00.001-06:00

Crazy!

I have just finished a book. I enjoyed the story. The characters were memorable, the tension was good, but......there were places in the story where the wrong words were used. Such as listen instead of listened. This drives me crazy.

Another things that catches my eye while reading, is when the author leaves a word out of a verb phrase. Where it should read "had happened before" it says instead, "happened before". Or when the word ''has'' and "had" get used interchangeably. I know spell checker might not always catch things like that but don't publishing houses have proofreaders or copy editors? Things like this stand out like big waving red flags to me.

Of course what's worse is when a character has on a pair of slacks at the beginning of the scene and a skirt at the end. Or when a character is called a wrong name. Or the dog is two different colors. Or a car is two different models. I know I can't be the only one that sees this.

Now obviously, no one is perfect. Just read a couple of my posts and if you're obsessive/compulsive about punctuation, well I'm sure you're grinding your teeth. That's not my strongest talent. I know this, which is why before I submit an article or story I have someone who is much better at it read it and write on it in red. (Didn't you hate your English teacher's red pen?)

So the question today is, how important are things like this to you as a reader and/or a writer? Do you just skim it figuring it just got overlooked or does it cause you to hesitate when purchasing another book from that publisher?

Inquiring minds want to know.

For a quick read on proofreading you can read this article:
PROOFREADING

Can't put the book down!

2007-12-10T10:47:00.002-06:00

I am making slow progress on Stein on Writing. Today I was reading about finding the point in your favorite novels where you make the decision to not put the book down. Where does it happen in your own writing? I always try to start in an action scene or at least a scene full of tension. It could be inner conflict if it's written to snag the emotion of the reader.

Are you able to find this point in your favorite novels?

I found an article on reading a book to analyze it for different story elements. It's here: Analyze Books to Write Well. It's a good introduction to how to really read as a writer.

Have a good day and I'll see you tomorrow.

Genre

2007-12-07T15:21:00.000-06:00

I have been pondering Genres. Should I choose a certain genre and write a book that fits, or should I write a book and then figure out where it fits later? The experts would probably say, to an unpublished writer, to choose a genre and write for that genre. They may even say to focus on a specific publisher and follow their guidelines.

Then there is the matter of writing only one type of book. Some authors are able to cross over to different genres. Others become known for a certain type of writing and in order to keep their readers they continue in that genre.

But I like diversity. I have story ideas brewing for Suspense, Cozy Mystery, and Romance. I want to write them all.

Alas, I have been trying to determine where my true love lies. If I could only write one type of book, what would it be? What do I read the most of? One day, will I look back and wish I had chosen a different path?

I don't have the answers to these questions yet. I will continue to ponder and pray. In the meantime I intend to write what is in my heart.

Opening Sentences

2007-12-06T20:29:00.000-06:00

As I said in an earlier post, I am rereading Sol Stein's book, Stein on Writing. I am reading the section where he is discussing First Sentences. He gives wonderful examples of some sentences that really hook you and make you want to read more. This is one thing that I really don't have a problem with in my novel writing. I can come up with opening scenes and one-liners that are great. It's the rest of the book that is difficult for me. Keeping the reader hooked, which is not so easy.

On this journey of not just writing, but completing a novel, I have learned a lot about myself. I think there are some valid reasons why my middles are not as good as my beginnings

For one thing, my thoughts just randomly jump from place to place. While I'm writing one scene my mind jumps forward or backward and for fear of losing a wonderful (and you know every inspiration is wonderful, right?) bit of dialogue or a better way to describe something or maybe he should be left handed instead of right handed or....see what I mean. But I don't want to miss anything.

Heaven forbid inspiration should strike while I'm in the shower. I have learned that pencils don't run, ink does. And toilet paper is not a good choice for note writing. Unless it's that Charmin Ultra stuff. Good stuff there.

Ah, but I am learning that it takes discipline. Lots of discipline. And really utilizing this horrible memory of mine. I do believe that I am going to invest in a mini recorder so that I can tell my wonderful bit of inspiration to it and then keep moving along with what I am working on. Hopefully that will curb my tendency to float around willy nilly.

So now back to the opening sentences, here are a few for your enjoyment:

"You put what? Where?"
(Unnamed Novel, Debra Hubbard)

Mrs. Halloran had a nephew in the priesthood, but that didn't keep her away from the bottle.
(A Priest in the Family, by Leo Kennedy)

Mother died today. Or maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure.
(The Stranger, by Albert Camus)

Opening Sentences:
I am living at the Villa Borghese. There is not a crumb of dirt anywhere, nor a chair misplaced. We are all alone here and we are dead.
(Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller)

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
(Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (1877; trans. Constance Garnett))

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
(1984, George Orwell)

I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.
(I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith)

I get the willies when I see closed doors.
(Something Happened, Joseph Heller)

Has anyone ever told you that you look like a shorter, fatter, older, uglier Julia Roberts? Uncanny really.
(Anonymous)

Not all of these novels went on as well as the first sentence. Some received very bad reviews, which strengthens my point that once you hook them you have to keep them on the hook.

If you would like to submit your own please feel free to post a comment.

Heroes

2007-12-05T22:48:00.000-06:00

Who is your hero?

If you had asked this of school children and adults alike a decade or more ago you would probably get a list of historical figures who have somehow shaped our world. Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, etc. If you were to ask that question today I am afraid you would receive a much different answer.

Today it seems that Hollywood movie stars and comic strip superheroes are at the top of most lists. Are they heroes or just celebrities? What exactly is a hero?

I have a 1937 edition of Webster's Universal Dictionary of The English Language and it defines hero as follows:

1. A man of distinguished valor, intrepidity, or enterprise in danger; a prominent or central personage in any remarkable action or event; a great, illustrious, or extraordinary person.
2. The principal male personage in a poem, play, story, etc., or the person who has the principal share in the transactions related; as Achilles in the Illiad, Ulysses in the Odessey, and Aeneas in the Aeneid.
3. In classical mythology, a kind of demigod sprung from the union of a divine with a human being, regarded as mortal but partaking of immortality, and after death placed among the gods.

It would seem that several decades ago celebrities would not make the cut, but don't fret yet!

Today, Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary gives us this:

1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability
b: an illustrious warrior
c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities
d: one that shows great courage
2 a: the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work
b: the central figure in an event, period, or movement
3 plural usually heros : submarine 2
4 an object of extreme admiration and devotion : idol

So it would seem that celebrities may fit #4 above.

Your hero could be a celebrity, an author, a former president, or a neighbor that bakes for the sick and elderly.

My question is this - How do your heroes influence your writing? What attributes of your heroes make it into your characters? Do you even have a hero?

Not Exactly Writer's Block

2007-12-04T15:26:00.001-06:00

Today I wasn't sure what to blog about. You know, I've never done this before. Do people want to read about deep things like allegory, character development, plotting? Or do I need to just stick to what I know...lol?

So while I was racking my brain trying to figure out what to write I came across this cute video on YouTube. If any of you are writers you will appreciate this montage. If you're not a writer you will still enjoy the humor.

-------------------------------------
I'm reading through Sol Stein's book Stein on Writing, again. Every time I read this book I find something else to underline. Soon the whole book will be a mass of underlined and highlighted pages falling from their binding.

I plan to write about my journey through this book and how it's changing my writing as well as questions it poses so come back and join me.

Please feel free to add comments, suggestions, or ideas.

My First Published Piece

2007-12-03T09:45:00.000-06:00

What I'm going to post today is part of a story that I wrote for the Fourth Annual Olive B. Eaton Creative Writing Contest For Fifth and Sixth Graders in 1983. I was in 5th grade. I still have the bound book that everyone received so essentially this is the only story I've ever had published.

Here it is just as it was printed, grammatical errors and all. Enjoy.

What I Could Do If I Had A Personal Computer

If I had a personal computer I could tell it to do something and it would. I could tell it to vacuum the floor and it would. Also if I had one it would be short and round; it would also be gray and have little round hands that could pick up a cup or towel.

Well, one day I saw a poster that said "Computer for Sale" and I had just gotten a paycheck so I found out where it was at. It was at the computer department in the biggest store in town. It was just like I dreamed it would be. I barely had enough money to buy it, but I came up with enough. I took it home and then I remembered my parents were coming up from Florida. It was Friday. When I got home I found out I had to vacuum the floor, wash the dishes, and cook a turkey all at one time. I called in Nancy.

I said, "Nancy, would you please vacuum the floor for me?" So she started vacuuming the floor. I put a turkey in the oven and started washing the dishes. After I finished with the dishes and the turkey was done, Nancy came into the kitchen and said, "I'm finished with the floor. Can I do anything else?" I said no. She left the kitchen and the telephone rang. Nancy answered it. I went into the living room and Nancy said, "It's Jennifer." I took the phone and said, "Hello Jennifer. Guess who answered the phone? It was my new personal computer, Nancy." Then she said, "I'll be over at your house tonight, okay." I said okay and hung up the phone.

Just then my parents drove up. When Jennifer left that night Nancy said, "Lynn, do you like me?" And I said yes. We went to bed. The next morning Nancy was in the kitchen cleaning up. She had a cup in one hand and a towel in the other. She set the cup on the table and I found that it had coffee in it. I drank the coffee and said thank you. After I drank the coffee she put it on the counter with the towel. The next day Jennifer called me and said she had some good news. She came over and said she was going to Miami, Florida, and she wanted us to go with her. I decided we would go with her. The next morning we all loaded on the plane. There was a special seat for Nancy. I guess she was excited because her eyes started blinking on and off. When we finally got there Nancy said, "Are we here?" I said, "Yes." We got unloaded and found our motel. When we went to the store Nancy stayed in her room. When we came back she was gone.

THE END

If I remember correctly, some of the story was edited out which broke my heart at the time.

I am thinking that the only place to go from here is up. :D

21 Days to Form a Habit

2007-12-02T16:33:00.000-06:00

Scheduling and consistency are not words I would use to describe myself. I really want to be one of those people whose eyes pop open at the break of dawn every day and their whole day flows to some melodious tune being played by a 4-piece orchestra in the corner.

Hah!

My musical accompaniment is an out of tune rock band. Think Bill and Ted.....only worse.

Dr. Maxwell Maltz introduced the theory that it takes 21 Days for the human mind to adjust to a change. Whether it is a change we are implementing ourselves or adjusting to a tragic life change such as the loss of a loved one, 21 days is what it takes for our brain to adjust.

So, if you do something for 15 minutes everyday for 21 days (you cannot skip a day or you must start over) you will have made a life adjustment. And you should do this thing at the same time every day. That will be the deal breaker for me.

I have made the commitment to blog everyday. Will it happen at the same time? Probably not. But it will happen everyday. Beginning yesterday. Two days down, nineteen more to go.

Now, to focus on the "wildly enthusiastic" part of my dithyrambs.

Well, What to Write.....

2007-12-01T13:04:00.000-06:00

Today I begin my daily dithyrambs. What is a dithyramb? I'm glad you asked.

According to several online dictionaries it means a couple of things but I am focusing on:

dithyramb [dith-uh-ram, -ramb]

noun1. a wildly enthusiastic speech or piece of writing

My dream is to write.

I have spent more hours than I can remember studying the craft. More money than I care to admit in purchasing books about writing, taking courses to learn to about writing, etc. And yet I do not write.

Why?

Because I'm one of those people who wants to do something very well or not at all and I am afraid that I won't be very good so I just don't.

Well, today it begins. I will write. Every one of those books, courses, online blogs, and how-to manuals have one thing in common. They tell you to write. Good, bad, mediocre. Doesn't matter. Just write. So I will. Even if no one else: reads it, loves it, hates it, laughs at it, or disregards it, I will still write.

So I invite you to join me on my journey and enjoy the daily dithyrambs.