Connecting

I'm reading this "recent release" I checked out from the library. I won't tell you the name of the book, cause...I'm struggling to get through the first chapter and I mean struggling! I thought I was checking out a book about a group of people stranded on an Island, kind of like Survivor (where the author couldn't go wrong, cause I'm a huge Survivor fan). Anyway, this woman is murdered and is telling about herself; her childhood, her death, her funeral, she even describes her coffin. Okay, I'm ready for the story to begin. WHERE ARE THE STRANDED PEOPLE!?

Anyway, what helps you connect with the characters? What keeps you turning the pages?

Booksigning

Had my booksigning yesterday at the local Barnes and Noble, along with seven other authors. I was top seller! Even the manager of the store bought a book. One lady rushed up to the table, said, "I heard you are up and coming and I want to buy your first book."

I asked her where she'd heard my name and she answered, "I won't tell you. I just want to buy a signed copy of your first book."

Although it was a surprise, I loved it. This type of thing is happening to me more and more and send me for a loop everytime. But, what a loop!

Another thing that surprised me was how many people came up to me just to let me know they were, or wanted to, write a book and who was my publisher. One lady must have went on for five minutes. I finally told her, in as nice a way as an exasperated Irish girl can, that she just needed to put pen to paper and write. Worry about the other details later. Her eyes widened and several seconds later she giggled and said, "Or fingers to keyboard?"

Selling copies of my books was great, but if I encouraged just one person to finish that book they've always wanted to write, my day was extremely fruitful. God is good!

Sights and Sounds

As writers, we are to pay very close attention to our world. Thanksgiving, and the other holidays, are prime for us. These are the days full of sights, sounds and emotions. The Holidays give us material for all our emotions. So, this Thanksgiving, I challenge all you writers to record the day on paper. Write down how you felt, what everyone looked like, what the food tasted like, smelled like...felt like. Go ahead. I dare you!

Better Now

Okay. I'm better today. Almost finished another chapter and it wasn't quite as difficult as the last one. Guess I answered my own question. Persistance does pay off. I'm sure there will be quite a bit of revising when I'm finished, but to me revising is the easy part! And now, back to the old keyboard.

Feeling Stale

I'm 33,000+ words into my novel...and it's feeling stale. I love the characters! Just having trouble getting them to speak to me. Each chapter is a chore to get out. Hopefully, by persistance, the words will come and, once finished, I can go back through and liven the story! Does it work that way? Does persistance in writing pay off?

I Want to Take it All Back

I have two, soon to be three, Print-on-Demand novels out. I was so excited about them and, amazingly enough, there are readers who wait for my next novel. Here's my dilemma...Ugh! They were written before I even knew what pov was. Can I take them back? Please? Although I now read them, and have received the final proofs on the third one, I want to change so much of them. Rewrite them. My readers (amazing there are any!) say no. It shows how much I've grown in my craft. It does give one hope, though. If these three books sell, which they are, although they aren't flying off any shelves, once a "traditional" publisher picks me up, my readers may even, if possible, be more thrilled than I!

Drawing the Reader in

Can you see this? Feel this?

The walk was made in companionable silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. A slight breeze blew over them, carrying with it an autumn nip. Brightly colored leaves in ranges of orange and yellow, rained down around them, carpeting the sidewalk. Jo sniffed. A fireplace burned, bringing to mind childhood memories of popcorn and marshmallows at her grandmother's house. Somewhere, a lawnmower roared, its sound muffled by distance.

TOO MANY

Every where I turn someone is recommending a book that will take my novel "to the next level". How many books can I read? How many levels can I take my novel to? Getting stressed here. Silly, I know, but I feel I must read them all! Help!

The Five Senses

Well, I'm knee deep into a chapter on putting the five senses into your writing. I can see my scene, I can visualize how my character feels and I know what things smell like. Putting it into mere words is, well, very difficult.

I'm sitting here at my desk, looking out at a sea of detention kids. Papers are rustling, whispered giggles from students who think I can't hear, drift over to me. The maintenance man is working on the lights so they flicker and the kids go yes when the lights go off, and no when they go on. The hum of the air conditioner sounds in the background, and over it all is the clicking of my keyboard.

Okay. This was a practice for me. How did I do?

Description

A friend recommended, Description & Setting, by Ron Rozelle. I think this may be one of (if not the) best writing tool I will have ever read. Thank you, Robin! Rozelle gives you simple, effective ways to pay attention to the world around you and then goes on to show you how to implement these things in your writing. I can't wait to read his other book, Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint. Talk about a light bulb going on above my head.

What A Scary World We Live In

I am currently reading a book written by the FBI's famous profiler, John Douglas. In his book, he takes us into the minds of serial killers. These wackos actually believe in what they're doing! Anyway, these books are becoming great tools for my writing. I've already got an idea for my next book and great ideas into the insight of the villain in my current wip. Any "real" life tools you use in your writing?

Huh?

Okay, as I muddle through Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, I hit chapter 7 and skid to a halt. Personal stakes I understand, I thought. I know who my protagonist is, I even know her name. I know her main problem--to get her son back, alive. What I don't get is how many ways I can make this problem matter more. Isn't it enough that her son is missing and she fears for his life? What exactly is Mr. Maas asking? It's enough to give me gray hair!

Okay, I'm delusional

What was I thinking with my last post! As a friend pointed out...how do I get away with only eight hours? I was thinking of the eight hours at work, totally spacing the other 100 I need for things after 4:00 p.m. Am I thinking of things I'd like to do, or things I want to do? Often it is difficult to schedule the priorities to fit. I am not a person who enjoys losing sleep!

8 Hours

We all get eight hours in our day. What do you do with it?

Hopping on the wagon

All right, folks, I've bitten the bullet and actually opened the cover of Writing the Breakout Novel workbook. Pretty intense but I'll wade through it, groaning and ah hahing through the whole thing. Must continue to improve my craft. Isn't that what they all say?

Getting in the mood

Okay. Haven't been in the mood to write for a couple of weeks. Battling some depression here. How do ya'll get in the mood when you aren't? I'm determined to write something today.

Students

Last week I had the priviledge to speak before a fifth grade class of aspiring authors. What a thrill! To stand in front of those young faces, tilted expectantly up at me and hold their attention was wonderful. One child won a copy of one of my books and you would have thought I'd given her the moon. Others, although I mentioned I wasn't yet "famous" wanted my autograph. What a day that was. If I should inspire one young person to someday write a book...I will have accomplished something fabulous!

The Ripple is Spreading

Got my latest royalty check. Not big, but big enough to treat my family to dinner. Each time I actually get a royalty check, letting me know people are seeking out and buying my books, makes all the frustration and hard work worth it all. If only one person should be touched by God while reading a story I've written, it will all have been worth it. Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity.

Showing vs. Telling

Finally...I think it clicks. One of the lovely ladies in my critique group put it this way; Whenever you say she saw or she heard, you're telling. You don't need this because you are in her POV. Would she say to herself...I heard or I saw? Pretend you are she and show it.

Yep, folks, I'm still growing and learning. Thank God for wonderful friends willing to continue to correct you when you're wrong, support you until you get it right, then congratulate you when you do!

Doing It Again

Yesterday, I sent the first three chapters of my latest wip to a well-established author who had the grace to read them. Well...needless to say, I've got some re-writing to do. Most of the book in fact. I felt discouraged a bit after I received the e-mail. I was told I had great things to work with, story flowed and POV was good, but...that old human nature, you know? Today, I'm excited. Fired up. I know I've got a great story going. Now I've got the tools to make it better!