When I create characters I spend time thinking about their names, how they look, what motivates them, their strengths and their weaknesses. I observe the world around me and take 'snippets' of people to create new people. I wondered about other authors and their thoughts on characters and wanted to share this with you:
Dean Koontz - One dimensional characters do not engage the reader's empathy, and if the reader does not worry about what might happen to them, suspense is aborted.
Stephen King - It's dialogue that gives your cast their voices, and is crucial in defining their characters - only what people do tells us more about what they're like, and talk is sneaky: what people say often conveys their characters to others in ways of which they, the speakers, are completley unaware. Well crafted dialogue will indicate if a character is smart or dumb, honest or dishonest, amusing or an old sobersides.
Sidney Sheldon - When I begin a book, I start out with a character. I have no plot in mind. the character begets other characters and soon they begin to take over the novel and chart their own destinies.
W. Somerset Maugham - People are too elusive, too shadowy, to be copied; and they are also too incoherent and contradictory. The writer does not copy his originals; he takes what he wants from them, a few traits that have caught his attention, a turn of mind that has fired his imagination, and therefrom constructs his character.
How do you go about creating your characters?
Keep writing....
Showing posts with label NOVEL WRITING. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NOVEL WRITING. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
WHAT GOOD FICTION DOES
I've been enjoying reading Patricia Briggs who writes urban fantasy which she describes as a fusion of horror, noir mystery, detective mystery, and fantasy with bits of romance thrown in. Here's what she has to say about an important thing fiction of any kind does:
"Fiction, good fiction, allows the reader to see the world through someone else's eyes. When I read I can be a black man or a young child. I can be an old woman or a deer named Bambi. Understanding how someone else thinks is the first step to accepting their differences. In a world that between faster communication and growing population, decreases in size every day, and in the light of the events of 9/11, it is imprtant for us to be able to walk a mile in another's moccasins. Books are, in my opinion, the single best medium to develop the understanding necessary to live together on our earth."
Keep writing....
"Fiction, good fiction, allows the reader to see the world through someone else's eyes. When I read I can be a black man or a young child. I can be an old woman or a deer named Bambi. Understanding how someone else thinks is the first step to accepting their differences. In a world that between faster communication and growing population, decreases in size every day, and in the light of the events of 9/11, it is imprtant for us to be able to walk a mile in another's moccasins. Books are, in my opinion, the single best medium to develop the understanding necessary to live together on our earth."
Keep writing....
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
PROCESS OF PLOT
There are many ways writers tackle the various stages of putting together a story. Here is a guideline to the process of plot:
- First turning point where something happens which alters her thought patterns on solving her problem; perhaps forcing her to venture out of her comfort zone.
- Second turning point introducing more conflict, where for example her behaviour changes. She finds something inside of her she didn’t know she had. Bring out the hero inside of your character!
- Crisis point where your character has the choice to stand and fight for what she wants and believes in, or run for all she is worth.
- The climatic point where the truth is revealed, followed by the resolution that leaves your reader fulfilled by the outcome of the story.
- Introduce your character.
- The ‘incident’ which changes your character’s life as
she knew it.- First turning point where something happens which alters her thought patterns on solving her problem; perhaps forcing her to venture out of her comfort zone.
- Second turning point introducing more conflict, where for example her behaviour changes. She finds something inside of her she didn’t know she had. Bring out the hero inside of your character!
- Crisis point where your character has the choice to stand and fight for what she wants and believes in, or run for all she is worth.
- The climatic point where the truth is revealed, followed by the resolution that leaves your reader fulfilled by the outcome of the story.
Here is what David B Silva had to say about the successful
novel writer Dean Koontz:
If you want it
direct and succinct, here’s the way Koontz does it:
1. He gives us main characters that we will care about.
2. He places these characters in immediate and often
desperate situations. They must overcome right away if they are to survive.
3. He never allows the readers to catch up with him. There
are always new and unanticipated surprises just around the bend.
Keep writing....
Friday, April 27, 2012
SUSPENSE
Suspense - keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. Techniques for building suspense takes practice, loads of reading and is developed over time as the writer learns their craft.
The Dean Koontz Companion has some interesting points to make on suspense:
Suspense in fiction results primarily from the reader's identification with and concern about lead characters who are complex, convincing and appealing. Anticipation of violence is infinitely more suspenseful than the violence itself.
Style is as important as good characterization and anticipation. As the anticipation sequence builds towards the moment of violence or the dreaded encounter, the writer sometimes will employ more short sentences, simpler words, shorter clauses and phrases - all of which give the reader a sense of headlong, hellbent forward motion.
Suspense cannot be created in a vacuum. It is generated only as a by-product of good characterization, good pacing, an awareness of the value of anticipation as a prelude to action, strong stylistic control, and an ability - and willingness - to write complex characters and complex scenes that encourages the reader to suspend his disbelief and enter fully into the world of make-believe.
Authors who I believe have mastered the art of suspense and keep me on the edge of my seat are Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
Keep writing....
The Dean Koontz Companion has some interesting points to make on suspense:
Suspense in fiction results primarily from the reader's identification with and concern about lead characters who are complex, convincing and appealing. Anticipation of violence is infinitely more suspenseful than the violence itself.
Style is as important as good characterization and anticipation. As the anticipation sequence builds towards the moment of violence or the dreaded encounter, the writer sometimes will employ more short sentences, simpler words, shorter clauses and phrases - all of which give the reader a sense of headlong, hellbent forward motion.
Suspense cannot be created in a vacuum. It is generated only as a by-product of good characterization, good pacing, an awareness of the value of anticipation as a prelude to action, strong stylistic control, and an ability - and willingness - to write complex characters and complex scenes that encourages the reader to suspend his disbelief and enter fully into the world of make-believe.
Authors who I believe have mastered the art of suspense and keep me on the edge of my seat are Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
Keep writing....
Thursday, April 19, 2012
STEPHEN KING - FROM A BUICK 8
I've been wanting to read Stephen King's, From a Buick 8, for some time time now. It did not disappoint. As a writer, a particular paragraph grabbed my attention:-
"Tell me everything. But - this is important - tell me a story, one that has a beginning and a middle and an end where everything is explained. Because I deserve that. Don't shake the rattle of your ambiguity in my face. I deny its place. I repudiate its claim. I want a story."
Keep writing....
"Tell me everything. But - this is important - tell me a story, one that has a beginning and a middle and an end where everything is explained. Because I deserve that. Don't shake the rattle of your ambiguity in my face. I deny its place. I repudiate its claim. I want a story."
Keep writing....
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
BOOKWORM
The Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary defines 'bookworm' as 'consuming maggot, great reader'. I choose to apply the second definition to myself. Over the last few months I have read piles of books. The genres range from contemporary, thrillers, suspense, crime, paranormal, horrow, sci-fi to erotic fiction. At first guilt set in. Was all this reading a form of procrastination? Was I neglecting my writing? No. Absolutely not. I came to the conclusion that I was doing research - to become a better writer! I made a point of being aware of the various styles of writing used by the authors. The way they employed the use of their craft and what made their novels popular.
Settings - extraordinary worlds (supernatural, paranormal and sci-fi) were made real and believable by the successful use of conflict and resolution, descriptions, emotions, identifying in some way to the characters; their hardships, their hopes and their dreams. I was cheering for the good guys to defeat those darker elements.
Point of View - it was interesting for me to take note of how POV was used in the various novels:-
* One POV throughout the novel.
* One POV with some chapters past tense and some present tense.
* One main POV combined with other chapters focusing on
different POV's.
* Two POV's in same chapter. (Something I wouldn't consider
doing but was pleasantly surprised how the author pulled it off.)
Balance - I found a good balance when reading the intense novels. The suspence and 'thriller' aspect was there, but the right ingredients of humour and sometimes even romance topped it off nicely for me.
I've been enjoying my role as a Bookworm. Reading as a writer. Researching what makes a publishable novel. Learning about various styles and how to piece together a successful plot. Being aware of the structure of a story.
Reading is a great way to relax and escape. Reading also helps us to become better writers!
Keep writing.... and reading.
Settings - extraordinary worlds (supernatural, paranormal and sci-fi) were made real and believable by the successful use of conflict and resolution, descriptions, emotions, identifying in some way to the characters; their hardships, their hopes and their dreams. I was cheering for the good guys to defeat those darker elements.
Point of View - it was interesting for me to take note of how POV was used in the various novels:-
* One POV throughout the novel.
* One POV with some chapters past tense and some present tense.
* One main POV combined with other chapters focusing on
different POV's.
* Two POV's in same chapter. (Something I wouldn't consider
doing but was pleasantly surprised how the author pulled it off.)
Balance - I found a good balance when reading the intense novels. The suspence and 'thriller' aspect was there, but the right ingredients of humour and sometimes even romance topped it off nicely for me.
I've been enjoying my role as a Bookworm. Reading as a writer. Researching what makes a publishable novel. Learning about various styles and how to piece together a successful plot. Being aware of the structure of a story.
Reading is a great way to relax and escape. Reading also helps us to become better writers!
Keep writing.... and reading.
Monday, February 6, 2012
STEPHEN KING - ON WRITING
‘If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.’ I’ve been doing a large amount of reading, and I did wonder if that was me procrastinating. Apparently not. In fact I’ve been making time and gathering tools to write.
Part of the book ‘On Writing’ shows incidents and life situations which made Stephen King the writer he is today and the rest is on writing itself.
Here are some of the things that Stephen King said about writing that stood out for me:
There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers: good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky. Two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognise them when they show up.
Periods of idleness followed by periods of workaholic frenzy. (This really struck a chord in me.)
The Great Commandment – Read a lot, write a lot.
In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well.
‘On Writing’ was a worthwhile read for me. It showed me that even a writer of Stephen King’s calibre travelled the roller coaster ride of the writer’s journey to get where he is today.
Keep writing…. J
Saturday, January 21, 2012
READING OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE
I have been determined to read genres that I don’t usually read. I stumbled across Brava books and began reading erotic romance, both contemporary and paranormal. (Most definitely out of my reading comfort zone.) I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The plots were great and the stories entertaining. I’m always interested in other writers’ styles, their thoughts and their writing process, so when I stumbled across Writing Erotic Romance by Alison Kent, I couldn’t resist borrowing a copy from the library.
I find the number-one telling difference between traditional romance and erotic romance is that characters in erotic romance tend to fall into bed and then fall in love.
PLOT: Establishing motives, goals and conflict. A character’s outward desire (goal) and the exterior force behind it (motive) create the momentum of the external plot. Both the desire and the force behind it must be clearly defined, as together they will push the character into making choices and taking action. Throwing obstacles (conflict) between a character and his goal makes for compelling fiction, as it gives readers a hero to root for. Once you’ve established your character’s external goal and motive, you can then have fun deciding how to tell his or her story.
It’s not the position or the location that makes the scene erotic or edgy. It’s what’s at stake for the characters, the risks they’re taking, the conflict to which they’re closing their eyes that sends such a consummation scene into envelope-pushing territory.
Use sharp evocative words and short sentences to give a scene a sense of urgency. Longer descriptive sentences that employ more adjectives or metaphors will give a languorous quality to a dreamy or sensual scene.
Alison Kent says:
I find the number-one telling difference between traditional romance and erotic romance is that characters in erotic romance tend to fall into bed and then fall in love.
PLOT: Establishing motives, goals and conflict. A character’s outward desire (goal) and the exterior force behind it (motive) create the momentum of the external plot. Both the desire and the force behind it must be clearly defined, as together they will push the character into making choices and taking action. Throwing obstacles (conflict) between a character and his goal makes for compelling fiction, as it gives readers a hero to root for. Once you’ve established your character’s external goal and motive, you can then have fun deciding how to tell his or her story.
It’s not the position or the location that makes the scene erotic or edgy. It’s what’s at stake for the characters, the risks they’re taking, the conflict to which they’re closing their eyes that sends such a consummation scene into envelope-pushing territory.
Use sharp evocative words and short sentences to give a scene a sense of urgency. Longer descriptive sentences that employ more adjectives or metaphors will give a languorous quality to a dreamy or sensual scene.
Of course some of the good advice Alison Kent gives here can apply to all genres. Well, now for a change of genre, I’m off to read an action thriller - By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz.
Keep writing… and reading!
Friday, January 13, 2012
THE BOOK PROPOSAL
A book proposal generally consists of three parts:
Keep it simple and brief. State what you are enclosing, include the title of your book, word count, genre, theme and if you have any other publications.
The main reason for writing a synopsis is to attract an editor’s attention. Let us not fool ourselves, competition is fierce, the supply exceeds the demand and your task here is to get your manuscript read. Your synopsis is your sales pitch.
From your synopsis an editor will decide whether your story is a commercially viable product. So do not underestimate the power of your synopsis. Is your story unique? Does it have some special quality?
A synopsis is usually one or two pages long. In a general synopsis you should include:
The first two or three chapters
The opening paragraph must contain a hook which grabs the reader’s attention; a clue as to the content of your book. The first page should set the tone of your book; romance, thriller, science fiction etc. The first chapter is of crucial importance – pivotal. It needs to be interesting enough to stimulate the reader’s interest or curiosity to want to read more. There is no point if your story swings into action in chapter five. From the very first page of your novel your task is to lure the reader into your story. Strive to make your manuscript a winner from the beginning to the end.
- Covering letter
- Synopsis
- The first two or three chapters
Keep it simple and brief. State what you are enclosing, include the title of your book, word count, genre, theme and if you have any other publications.
Example: I enclose for your consideration a synopsis and the first three chapters of a 100,000 word supernatural thriller called, ‘After Midnight’. ‘After Midnight’ is a story about a detective who is looking for a murderer who is on a killing spree in a usually peaceful coastal village. He soon discovers he isn’t dealing with your average murderer. After Midnight’ is my second novel.
The Synopsis
The main reason for writing a synopsis is to attract an editor’s attention. Let us not fool ourselves, competition is fierce, the supply exceeds the demand and your task here is to get your manuscript read. Your synopsis is your sales pitch.
From your synopsis an editor will decide whether your story is a commercially viable product. So do not underestimate the power of your synopsis. Is your story unique? Does it have some special quality?
A synopsis is usually one or two pages long. In a general synopsis you should include:
- Title and setting
- Introduce your main characters
- The conflict and drama
- The mood/tone/atmosphere
- What is special and unique about your story
- Turning point of your story. Which scene changes everything?
- The climax
- Conclusion – draft a satisfying sentence
The first two or three chapters
The opening paragraph must contain a hook which grabs the reader’s attention; a clue as to the content of your book. The first page should set the tone of your book; romance, thriller, science fiction etc. The first chapter is of crucial importance – pivotal. It needs to be interesting enough to stimulate the reader’s interest or curiosity to want to read more. There is no point if your story swings into action in chapter five. From the very first page of your novel your task is to lure the reader into your story. Strive to make your manuscript a winner from the beginning to the end.
NOTE: Always check with editors/agents what their requirements are. There may be certain variations from the above information. Give yourself the best possible chance in the first place by meeting their requested requirements.
Keep writing....
Sunday, December 4, 2011
DREAM KEEPER - IT'S TIME TO FACE YOUR FEARS
We have a dream. We write. We arm ourselves with persistence and determination. We get rejected, but we keep on going because we have a dream and we strive to make that dream come true. The publication of my first novel, DREAM KEEPER, brought tears of joy to my eyes when I held the first copy of my novel. This is why I persevered and I held on tight to my dream - for this moment! Dream Keeper is available through my author website, where you can read what the novel is about and there are links to online stores where you can order a copy if you wish. But, for me the hard work is far from over - marketing! So armed with another load of persistence and determination I will do the best I can to bring my novel to the reader, so they too can enjoy the journey of Dream Keeper - It's time to face your fears!Tuesday, November 29, 2011
FIRST DRAFTS
Today I finished typing 82,000 words of my novel manuscript. I can't believe how quick this novel has come about. I had so much fun writing it. The story unravelled in my mind so fast sometimes I had problems keeping up with the material that came from...the muse? Between you and me I think he was showing off. The next thing I plan to do is read the whole manuscript from start to finish, check the story line and that all the stories within the main story connect, check the flow and all those basics such as making sure character descriptions are consistent. Then it's the hard part of putting the manuscript away and bringing it out with fresh eyes. I know I must be patient with this.
What would you suggest is a good length of time to put the manuscript away before revising it? I'd probably be lucky to last a month before I brought it out again. What about you?
Meanwhile for me, it's back to writing short stories. I'm looking forward to that.
Keep writing....
What would you suggest is a good length of time to put the manuscript away before revising it? I'd probably be lucky to last a month before I brought it out again. What about you?
Meanwhile for me, it's back to writing short stories. I'm looking forward to that.
Keep writing....
Friday, November 11, 2011
CHAPTER LENGTHS
Recently I was asked; How long is a chapter? For me, a chapter is as long as it needs to be. I work out what I am trying to say without any word limit in mind. I think it's important that the chapter is not a means to increasing your word count - a dead spot, it has to move the story along in an entertaining way where perhaps the reader is learning more about the characters - who they are and the conflicts that need to be resolved, something is revealed, or information supplied which links in with an incident that happens later on in the story. I believe it is important too to end your chapter with the reader keen to turn that page in eagerness to read your next chapter.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
CHARACTERS
My muse, bless his little heart, is still in generous mode as I power through my novel. I am really enjoying meeting the characters who are bringing together a story I am having so much fun writing. There are those characters, which I will take credit for, who are a bits and pieces of people I have come across in my life and yes bits of me in there too. And then there are the characters who are appearing, out of nowhere it seems, but who have the knack of taking my story in exciting directions and opening doors I hadn't considered. The muse? Perhaps. Instinct? Maybe. Wherever they come from I'm running with it. These characters are inspiring me and I've stopped asking those kind of questions and am going on with the business (and enjoyment) of writing it. (Mine is not to question why, mine is just to write, write, write!)
Where do your characters come from?
Keep writing....
Where do your characters come from?
Keep writing....
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
NOVEL NOTES
My muse is my best friend at the moment. I've been really pleased how much progress I'm making on my new novel. I typed like a demon today and have reached 20,000 words. Recently I was questioning my drafting process. I write everything in my notepad and then I type it out. I wondered if I was making twice the work for myself, but today as I typed my hand written notes I noticed I was able to expand on these same notes and fill in all those missing pieces - everything just seemed to fall into place. Although I do have a laptop, so no excuse of where I can type, I find it comforting the old fashioned way - pen and paper.
I always find it interesting learning about how other writers go about their process of writing. I wonder if there ever has been a writer that writes from the beginning all the way to the end? When I started this novel I intended to start at Chapter One and let it unfold from there. Chapter by chapter. Sounds good in theory. But it doesn't seem to work that way, well not for me anyway. Already I've drafted a few chapters that will appear towards the end of the novel. After all these years I accept that the chapters in between haven't presented themselves yet, because whatever I need to hear or see or even realise hasn't happened yet.
Writing is a beautiful thing. It keeps my head in a good place and it gives me a sense of who I am. That is important to me. I woke up early this morning and I had a full writing day. The satisfaction I feel right now is priceless. My day flew by and in this moment I feel content just being me, a writer.
Keep writing....
I always find it interesting learning about how other writers go about their process of writing. I wonder if there ever has been a writer that writes from the beginning all the way to the end? When I started this novel I intended to start at Chapter One and let it unfold from there. Chapter by chapter. Sounds good in theory. But it doesn't seem to work that way, well not for me anyway. Already I've drafted a few chapters that will appear towards the end of the novel. After all these years I accept that the chapters in between haven't presented themselves yet, because whatever I need to hear or see or even realise hasn't happened yet.
Writing is a beautiful thing. It keeps my head in a good place and it gives me a sense of who I am. That is important to me. I woke up early this morning and I had a full writing day. The satisfaction I feel right now is priceless. My day flew by and in this moment I feel content just being me, a writer.
Keep writing....
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
NOVEL WRITING
I have been inspired by recent short story acceptances, preparations for the cover art of my first novel Dream Keeper and a desire from an agent for me to send the rest of my second novel manuscript! (She had read the first few chapters and wants to read more!) The confidence all this has given me is having a truly positive effect on my writing. Over the weekend, not sure how it happened, this scene jumped into my head. I knew it wasn't a short story. I scribbled down notes like a demon and there it was the seeds to my third novel was planted. I am going to tackle my new novel one chapter at a time and as soon as a new character appears I will create a character outline. If my thoughts wander ahead I have allocated lots of space at the back of my note book to jot things down (whether it is for another chapter, character or scene further along) - this way nothing will be forgotten and there will be no regrets. Every day I have promised myself to write at the very least five hundred words of this novel.
Why am I posting this? Because I need this in writing - it will help keep me focused and motivated. It will also remind me of the goal I have set for myself and the feelings of confidence I am enjoying right now. Well, that is the plan! Will keep you posted.
Keep writing....
Why am I posting this? Because I need this in writing - it will help keep me focused and motivated. It will also remind me of the goal I have set for myself and the feelings of confidence I am enjoying right now. Well, that is the plan! Will keep you posted.
Keep writing....
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