Sherrie Miranda's Blog, page 185
July 27, 2015
RANDOM MONDAY FUNNIES…
Luckily Chris’s Monday comes several hours before mine so I still have plenty of time to share his “RANDOM MONDAY FUNNIES.” I love the one about coffee! It’s so dang true!
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is a/b an American girl in war-torn El Salvador: http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/P11Ch5chkAc?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
ALWAYS REMEMBER
What Amazon Could Do For Authors
Derek and Jack both make excellent points. How does one get a Monster Octopus under control? If only we knew! ;-)
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is a/b an American girl in war-torn El Salvador: http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/P11Ch5chkAc?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Originally posted on Have We Had Help?:
While what Derek suggests is perfectly logical and sensible, he is talking about trying to get Big Brother to agree to see sense. A chance would be a fine thing!!!
http://www.derekhaines.ch/justpublishing/what-amazon-could-do-for-authors/
July 24, 2015
This New Characterization Technique Could Transform Your Writing
This New Characterization Technique Could Transform Your Writing
by Kellie McGann
Characterization is one of the most important aspects of writing good fiction. Characterization is what gives authors the power to sway their readers. It’s how you get your reader to fall in love with—or despise—the characters in your book.
This New Technique Will Transform Your Characterization
Speaking of characterization, The Write Practice offers a tutorial with our seven best lessons on creating great characterization. It’s free and easy to sign up for. Check it out here.
In this post, I want to give you a new technique to use to develop characters that I believe could transform your writing.
Why Your Character Needs an Eyepatch.
What do we think when we see someone wearing an eyepatch? We immediately wonder.
“What happened? Is it real? Were they born that way? Was there an accident?”
In other words, “What’s the STORY?!”
What if we could get our readers to be that interested in our characters?
What if our readers were the ones asking questions and flipping to the next page faster to see if they could find their answer?
I call it the Eyepatch Technique.
Three Reasons You Should Use the Eyepatch Technique to Develop Your Characters
With that in mind, here are three reasons to use the Eyepatch Technique in your stories:
1. The Eyepatch Technique Creates Mystery
Mystery is vital to any story. We might start a book that has an interesting premise or story-line, but when the story falls flat lacking mystery, we’re likely to put it down.
Giving your character a secret or mysterious trait will keep the reader turning the page.
An eyepatch is not just something that makes you look twice, but it is something that makes you question the backstory.
We work hard to make those backstories interesting, but the stories won’t matter if our readers aren’t curious in the first place.
When I was a kid, I had an uncle with a glass eye. Every time I asked him how it happened he would tell me a different story. I still don’t know the real story, but it keeps me asking.
2. The Eyepatch Technique Creates Connection
“Eyepatches” provide a personality trait or physical trait to which the reader can relate to. When you incorporate these into your writing your reader will relate themselves to the character.
A great example of the Eyepatch Technique is Holden Caulfield in The Catcher In the Rye. Holden’s eyepatch is his absolute discontent for everything, and it’s most visible in the amount of times he uses the word “phony.”
3. The Eyepatch Technique Creates Consistency
Another reason to give your character a figurative eyepatch is because it creates a relationship between the past and the present.
The red “A” in The Scarlet Letter, for example, is a small but constant reminder of Hester’s past.
Use your character’s current situation to emphasize his or past. When your characters’ story is consistent, your character becomes more reliable.
5 Examples of the Eyepatch Characterization Technique
Here are some examples of what an eyepatch could look like in your story.
Irrational Fears: For example, a character might be afraid of dogs, gray cars, red lipstick, or the color green. However, behind each of those fears is a story about why he or she is afraid of that thing.
As a writer, you can show the fear, but leave us guessing as to why the character is so afraid.
Mysterious Tattoos: Most tattoos, even bad tattoos, have a story behind them. Perhaps your character has a name, a set of coordinates, a specific date tattooed on his or her body.
Each of those tattoos can be a sign of mystery, something lurking in his or her past that the reader is begging to have uncovered.
A great example of this is the film Memento, in which the characters tattoos (SPOILER ALERT!) literally lead him to committing murder.
Flashbacks: Perhaps your character has a habit of spacing out in the middle of important conversations, a blank look sliding over his or her face, while images of the past come flooding back.
Flashbacks can act as an effective Eyepatch, leaving readers curious to know more.
Just be careful not to give too much away too soon in your flashbacks. Flashbacks can lead to info dumping, which is a great way to destroy all your drama.
A Twitch: Could some early trauma have caused your character to experience a twitch at certain trigger moments?
A good twitch reveals a characters weakness, a weakness he or she is desperately trying to keep hidden. And behind every twitch is a fascinating story.
Scars: Scars can be real, like Harry Potter’s, or figurative, like a gruff attitude or an inability to get close to other people.
“The only requirement,” to be a writer, said Stephen King, “is the ability to remember every scar.”
Don’t be tempted to hide the fact that your character has experienced pain, suffering, even violence. We ALL have experienced pain, and pretending it doesn’t exist merely alienates us to your character.
The key is to keep that pain hidden by an Eyepatch until just the right moment.
Good Characterization is About Mystery and Connection
Clearly, the Eyepatch Technique is a way to add mystery to our characters.
Just as an eyepatch covers something on a person, the Eyepatch Technique is a way of covering a wound or misshapen piece of a character’s personality, giving the character an air of mystery and suspense.
Let’s be honest, we all have wounds, we all misshapen pieces of our personalities, and behind each of those wounds and character flaws lies a story.
Perhaps it’s time for you to tell that story.
What figurative eyepatches do you use? Let us know in the comments below!
PRACTICE
Practice using the Eyepatch Technique to develop a character with a trait like we discussed above.
Take notes on your character’s eyepatch for fifteen minutes. When your time is up, post your practice in the comments below. And if you post, please be sure to leave some ideas for your fellow writers!
Recent: How to Overcome Writer’s Block While You Sleep
About Kellie McGann
Kellie McGann is the author of the soon-to-be-released memoir, Uprooted. Be sure to check out her blog, kelliemcgann.com, and follow her on Twitter (@McgannKellie). She contributes to The Write Practice every other Wednesday.
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is a/b an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
July 22, 2015
“The Dream Lover” by Elizabeth Berg – A Stunningly Beautiful Book about An Amazing Woman
I just posted this review of Elizabeth Berg’s “The Dream Lover.”
The Dream Lover: A Novel
~Elizabeth Berg
5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunningly Beautiful Book about An Amazing Woman, July 22, 2015
By Sherrie Miranda “Sherrie Miranda” (San Diego, CA)
Verified Purchase
This review is from: The Dream Lover: A Novel (Hardcover)
I absolutely LOVED this book! I had read a couple of Berg’s other books years ago, but the subject of this one grabbed me and told me I had to read it.
George Sand, the male pseudonym for Aurore Dupin, was a writer in the 1830s to the 1870s. Berg tells Sand’s story so adroitly that I found myself believing Sand had written this memoir herself! Every place Sand goes is beautifully described as is each person who comes into Sand’s life, whether they be lovers, her children or long-time friends. She befriends several well known artists and musicians and possibly even becomes a muse for some of them.
I was on vacation and terribly sick the entire time I was reading this novel. It saved my vacation! I didn’t need or want to go anywhere as I had this lovely book that I did not want to stop reading. This was good as I had no energy to do anything else anyway.
Elizabeth Berg, you have outdone yourself! I can’t wait to get caught up on the rest of your novels now!
Sherrie Miranda is the author of the historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador: http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
July 21, 2015
…and the Wrath of the Great God Amazon shall be visited upon yeez… be careful out there… #TBSU…
Wow, I didn’t know this! Makes sense though. And it is exactly what I have been telling a friend who is all over Wattpad. I asked “Why would people buy your stuff when you are giving it away?” Maybe this will convince her to save her best stuff!
Sherrie
P.S. Do you know about my debut novel?
Historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about a young American woman goes to war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
The video my husband made for my novel. He wrote the music too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc
Originally posted on Seumas Gallacher:
…I s’pose I should feel flattered… email correspondence today from the compliance brigade at Amazon flagged up a potential monstrous offence on the part of this ol’ Jurassic… it seems that my published collections of Blog Posts from this web page blog of mine, WELL I’LL BE BLOGGERED and BLOGGERED, have appeared elsewhere other than with the Amazon titles carrying the collections… another channel of access has been spotted contravening law/ROOL/regulation #such-and-such of the contract with them… I’m not allowed to be on Kindle Select Program while the material is in the public domain elsewhere… now I’ll give yeez a thousand guesses where that ‘other’ offending outlet is… yup, right here… it’s all on my very own web, well I wonder what relative of Einstein has twigged that a collection of my own blog posts might have appeared on my own web over the last several months???……
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Self Publishing – The Errors of My Ways…
I totally get how this could happen. If I hadn’t been trying for a few years to get an agent, my book would have gone out too soon too. The longer I waited for a nibble from agents, the more time I spent writing, revising and editing. The one thing I always knew was that I did need an editor. We should always have an unbiased reader to help us improve 1) storyline 2) grammar 3) in-congruencies.
Sherrie
P.S. Do you know about my debut novel?
Historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about a young American woman goes to war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
The video my husband made for my novel. He wrote the music too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
Like many budding authors I felt on top of the world when I completed my first book. The euphoria was quickly replaced by the stark realisation that no one was willing to publish or promote my work.
It took me over six years to finish my first book, so I was a little impatient to see it published. Unfortunately I rushed through the self publishing process only to discover that my book had some inherent copy editing issues that had not been addressed. I made quite a few mistakes when I first self published, but it is through these mistakes that I learnt so much.
What I should have done
I should have had my manuscript professionally edited.
I should have taken the time to seek out successful mentors for advice, support and personal development.
I should have researched the publishing, marketing and management process more thoroughly.
I don’t regret…
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A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words
I am against war, but have never been against the young soldiers we send to fight our wars. Donald Trump does not deserve a modicum of respect!
Historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about a young American woman goes to war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
The video my husband made for my novel. He wrote the music too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc
Originally posted on AnaElisa:
Donald Trump – Shame on You!
Photo copyright Ana Elisa Fuentes
July 20, 2015
RANDOM MONDAY FUNNIES WITH ANIMALS…
So silly! So adolescent! I just had to share them!
Thanks, Chris!
Do you know a/b my debut novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador”? A young American woman goes to war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
The video my husband made for my novel. He wrote the music too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
Courage. No. Excuse me. Real Courage.
A belated thank you for all my birthday wishes! I flew to NY the next day and caught a terrible bug/sinus infection. Finally went to the clinic there as I was afraid I would be able to do my book event otherwise.
Finally back home, enjoying the comfort that one only finds in their own quiet, joyful home.
Do you know a/b my debut novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador”? A young American woman goes to war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
The video my husband made for my novel. He wrote the music too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc
Originally posted on Live & Learn:
The most beautiful flowers of courage
are not seen in the showy,
loose petalled bouquets of our leaders,
enormous gardenias perfuming whole banquet rooms.
No, they are blossoms like this:
a child-sized young woman with a homely face,
alone on a seat on the city bus,
eyelashes thick with mascara,
lipstick smudged onto her small, determined mouth.
~ Ted Kooser, July. The Wheeling Year: A Poet’s Field Book
Image Source: Ziemowit Maj
July 15, 2015
A First Draft 27 Years in the Making #amwriting
I totally relate to this! My first draft took about the same amount of time IF you count ALL the thinking I did about it.
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Lies-El-Salvador-July-ebook/dp/B00T6EI1UW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
My hubby made a video about my novel. He wrote the music too.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAcP
Originally posted on blindoggbooks:
Stop me if you’ve heard this before…
I finished the first draft of my latest novel.
Full Circle has, if you’ll pardon my turn-of-phrase, quite a storied history.
Cue the flashback music…
It all began in the summer of 1988.
Being a single parent with an eight-year-old son, I had very little in the way of a social life.
I also had very little in the way of money…so, I was on a constant quest to find new and creative ways to kill time.
One night, I don’t remember the exact moment, or what spurred the thought in me, I decided to write a book. It would be about Karma, more specifically, the old adage what goes around comes around. I actually had the title picked before I put pen to paper.
I’ve always been interested in the unexplained forces of the universe, probably as a result of watching…
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