Sudha Nair's Blog, page 2

3 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR FICTION WRITING

“If you want to become a good writer, you’ve got to read a lot of books,” a writer will tell you. But there are other things a writer could also do to improve his writing.

Nobody starts out as a great fiction writer or any sort of artist, to begin with. We start out by copying others since we’re little.

We are all ‘inspired artists’. As artists, we watch and learn and pick up certain useful and creative tricks from other artists like us. Austin Kleon encourages it in his book, Steal Like An Artist.

Writing, like any other craft, can be learned and worked upon. We may not be born with spectacular writing talent. Remember those scribbles in your diary when you were a child? They were passe but it didn’t matter because they were for your eyes only.

We watched and learned, picking up nuances, vocabulary, styles, voices from other writers.

It was probably subconscious but now that you’ve started the journey of a writer, you may want to improve your writing craft consciously. Your writing has probably undergone several changes over the years. You may now want to give it your own special touch.

It is natural as a creator that we desire to better our work, improve on what and how we create art. If you’re interested in ways to improve your fiction writing, here are three ways to do just that.

This post contains links to the Amazon affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

1. Read more and read widely

 

Reading is the numero uno requirement for better writing. As readers, we subconsciously pick up nuances from the words we read. We watch how the sentences flow, our eyes follow sentence lengths-short or long, we see the cadence of the words. We feel how the words catch us unawares or make our hearts race.

You may want all that and more in your own writing. The way to imbibe some of the craft that captivates you in another writer’s writing is to read books that you enjoy.

Re-read a sentence or paragraph that you especially liked to see what the author did there. What words struck you as brilliant? How did the writer entice you into that scene or present a picture so vivid that your eyes were glued to the page?

Go over the chapter again. Make note of what you liked. Write down the phrases, words, sentences that moved you or caused you to stop and think about them again. Put those little notes in a diary where you can look at them whenever you want to feel inspired.

Also, read widely.

Romance writers may read a lot of romance books but you can also read a variety of genres like fantasy, adventure, mystery, as well as non-fiction to implement the elements from other genres into your book too.

For example, a fight scene in a thriller will teach you about pacing and the use of shorter sentences to create a sense of urgency in the writing. It may inform a scene where your character is trying to meet his lover in the middle of the night, for example, and needs to see her quickly to deliver a message to her.

Picking up dialogue writing tips from a mystery genre could teach you how to keep the words sharp and succinct in your own story. Ask questions like: How does the writer create intrigue in the mystery? How does one character evade questions by another character?

By studying the high points of stories that you enjoy, you can bring some of the same techniques into your writing genre too.

 

2. Use Copywork as a daily writing practice.

 

Reading great fiction can help you a lot as a writer, but you know what? Copying the sentences of writers you admire makes you better at writing.

Other artists do it too. Haven’t you practiced singing by singing a song by another artist? Haven’t you played a popular tune on your guitar? Then, why don’t we do the same for writing?

It is a great practice to pick up a writer that you admire and practice copying his/her words daily as part of your writing practice. You use a pen and paper to meticulously copy each word, along with the punctuation, into a book that you keep aside for Copywork.

Famous writers used Copywork to develop their writing. Jack London is said to have taught himself to write by copying Rudyard Kipling’s books in longhand. Malcolm Gladwell says he attributes his writing success to the habit of copying his favourite authors for years.

Make Copywork a “deliberate” practice.

Writing down the exact words as the writer has used allows you to see for yourself how the writer uses punctuation, how the dialogues flow. Ask questions. How many sentences does the author use to create a ‘setting’? How does he develop the setting? How does he work in the interior monologue? How does he start and end a scene? How does he create a narrative flow between scenes?

Studying another writer’s work so minutely can help you subconsciously develop good writing habits that will flow into your own writing. It helps you pick up the artistic elements of your favourite writers.

Mix genres. When copying words from a book/author you love, try to learn a particular writing technique. Practice for 15-20 minutes and make it a daily practice. You can even try this as a brief writing routine to exercise your writing muscles before you start your own writing.

It goes without saying that you do not post this writing, plagiarise, or try to pass it off as your own. This is for your own personal development only.

 

3. Practice a writing skill until you get better at it

 

Find out the weaknesses in your writing. You may be weak at writing dialogues or flashbacks, or perhaps, you cannot form a scene too well.

Once you learn a skill from either a book or by studying another author’s work, practice it in your own work.

There was a time I would write short stories where I would focus on elements like setting or writing flashbacks or writing emotions.

Implement what you learn in your writing. Focus on improving one aspect at a time, and slowly over time, you’ll have picked up some great arsenal that will prove tremendously useful in your own writing.

 

To sum up, reading a lot and reading widely, using Copywork, and practicing a writing skill until you get better at it are ways to improve your fiction writing craft. Use them as often as you can.

Even if you’re going through writer’s block, use these tips to read, write, and practice writing and see how you get back to your writing as soon as possible. Don’t believe me? Try it!

 

Here are some book recommendations that you may find useful:

 

If you’re feeling lost in the creative world and want to get your creative mojo back, buy

Steal like an artist BUY FROM AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM

 

If you’re just starting out and struggling to find your creative voice, check out:

Find your Artistic Voice BUY FROM AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM

 

If you’re looking for inspiration and to discover and recover your creative self, check out

The Artist’s Way BUY FROM AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM

 

For more inspiration and encouragement to write your best writing ever, check out

Writing Down The Bones BUY FROM AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM

 

Write to me at sudha@sudhanair.com and let me know if these tips were useful.

 

 

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5 TIPS FOR STRONG CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Ever wondered if creating a great character is a hit-or-miss?

I’m here to tell you that it’s NOT!

Writers sometimes struggle to develop their characters in ways that are meaningful to the story and interesting to the readers. But, you don’t have to worry.

Every story is made up of characters. Characters play different roles in the story and you need them to carry the story forward. 

The protagonist, antagonist, and sidekick are some characters in every story.

The protagonist is the hero of the story. Every story needs a hero who undergoes a transformation in the story.  Such a hero must be believable, real, and flawed in a way that only this story can bring about a change in him.

The antagonist is the anti-hero or the villain. He also plays a crucial role in the story by personifying the troubles in the hero’s journey.

You need to flesh out all your main characters, while you may pay less attention to some of the supporting cast.

What you need is to develop your main characters and make them memorable.

The secret to a strong character is a character who excites and fascinates a reader and makes the reader interested in the story.

Nobody cares for boring characters who want nothing or are so two-dimensional and cookie-cutter that they become uninteresting to the reader.

But, how do I make a character memorable? you ask.

Do you want to know how to create characters that your readers will love?

Here are 5 tips to write a great character and strengthen character development. 

 

This post contains links to the Amazon affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

1. Provide a strong visual image for your character

A visual representation of your character along with a few personality traits will bring forth a well-rounded, 3D character, instead of a flat, cardboard character who doesn’t feel human. What we want is a character who is memorable, unique, unusual, and also different enough from the rest of the characters in your story.

Start by giving him a personality or a general disposition. Eg, friendly, impulsive, introverted.

Add some quirks or unusual traits in his speech, appearance, or mannerisms. Eg, a nervous tic or a stutter or blue eyes. For example, In my novel, Strictly At Work, Simi knocks over things when she’s nervous.

Add one or two admirable strengths that your character possesses. For example, is courageous, is trustworthy, has an uncanny sense of intuition, is sharp and observant.

Every reader likes a character he can admire, who’s different and yet relatable.

Putting these together with name, gender, age, marital status, etc, gives you a well-shaped character who can offer a great starting point for your story.

 

2. Find out what your character lacks

Your character must have flaws or problems. Find out what they are.

A character who has no flaws or weaknesses is boring. If he can get whatever he wants, if he already has what he wants and his life is perfect, then nobody would be interested in his story.

To make a character believable, real, and interesting, craft someone who has some problems or flaws.

Give him a backstory that shows what his problems or weaknesses are. That backstory fuels the conflict, making something stand in the way of what he wants.

It’s something that has happened in the past which influences his present and prevents him from getting what he wants. 

It goes without saying that the more difficult it is for the character to get what he wants, the more interesting the story becomes.

What’s missing in the character’s life? What does he long for? What is creating problems in his life? Such questions will help you determine what is wrong with the character’s present life. What are his fears and frustrations? What’s his backstory?

For example, in Strictly At Work, Ranvir’s career choice clashes with his personal relationship and creates problems in his love life.

In my novel, The Wedding Tamasha, Shweta is in an abusive marriage. She’s married to the wrong man. She doesn’t have the guts to tell her parents about it and break off the marriage.

In Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Louisa has never known independence. She still lives with her parents and has an unsuited boyfriend. 

 

3. Make your character want something

When your character has a problem, he’ll want something that will make him happy again. The character wants to fix the problem or thinks that fixing the problem will make him happy.

A character can have one want throughout the story or his wants can change as the story progresses. The want, whether it remains the same or changes, drives the story forward. It’s what makes the character take action. A character who wants nothing and does nothing makes for a very boring character. So, in every story, figure out what your character wants.

Pro tip: making your character want something that’s impossible, unattainable, disastrous or forbidden, piques the reader’s interest even further.

When you have a character who’s courageous enough to try to achieve something that could change his life, it makes for a really interesting character and a terrific story.

Remember, the character may or may not get what he wants by the end of the story. He may end up with something totally different but it’s still important to start out with a want that becomes the main driving force of the story.

What kind of goal can you give your character that will make him interesting to the reader?

In The Wedding Tamasha, Shweta wants to escape her husband and return to her parents in India. Once she reaches India, she wants to break off her marriage, but of course, it isn’t easy because she knows that her parents won’t accept it.

In Me Before You, Louisa desperately wants a job to support her family. Once she finds a job taking care of quadriplegic Will, she wants to make him happy and save his life.

 

4. Find out what your character needs

What your character really needs (not what he wants or thinks he wants) is something that will take away his weaknesses and flaws and make him whole again. As long as he has those weaknesses, he may go after things that he thinks will solve his problem, but a hole remains that he needs to fill with what he really needs.

The thing is, the character doesn’t usually know what he needs. He thinks he needs to go after an external goal, but that is really only a want. 

He thinks a car or a dream job will make him happy. He thinks marrying the girl his parents want will make everyone, including him, happy. But, what he needs is perhaps, true love.

What he needs is buried deep within. It’s that thing that can liberate him and make him a truly happy being.

And it’s only when you look deeply at his flaws/weaknesses will you be able to get to what he really needs. Try to find what he really needs and you’ve determined what the story is really about.

Your main character’s need gives him something to learn over the course of the story and change in some way.

Some common needs are love, acceptance, trust, redemption, etc.

In The Wedding Tamasha, Shweta needs to find the courage to make her own choices.

In Strictly At Work, Ranvir needs unconditional love and an accepting partner.

 

5. Use the character’s role effectively to aid character development

The protagonist, antagonist, sidekick, and all other minor characters have roles to play. 

Determine what role a character is playing. 

For example, a love interest is a role played by the male and female lead characters in a romance.

Now, you may cast the character in a role that conforms to a stereotype, or not, bringing a certain familiarity or unfamiliarity to the character description. 

For example, A male love interest is usually tall, dark, and handsome. This provides familiar characterization. 

If, on the contrary, you decide that the male lead should be ugly and awkward, you’ve cast the lead character against a stereotype. That can make for an unfamiliar but interesting lead character. 

Matching a role to familiar or unfamiliar role models is a way to deepen your characterization.

For example, in Strictly At Work, Simi’s father is not overbearing or forceful towards his daughter about her marriage like a stereotypical father. By being the opposite, he offers an interesting yet strong opposition to Simi’s desires.

In Me Before You, Will is a suffering quadriplegic, making him the opposite of a stereotypical love interest.

 

To sum up, a character in your story is just a stick figure until you flesh him out to make him seem real. You build a character slowly by using the steps outlined above to make him spring to life. Hope you found these tips useful!

You can reach me at sudha@sudhanair.com

 

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15 WAYS TO MAKE TIME FOR WRITING

One of the most commonly asked questions is how to find ways to make time for writing.

“How do I find time to write?” a busy mom, or someone who also has a day job, may ask.

Yes, I know what it feels like when you want to do something but you never have the time or the inclination to do it. It feels like a chore or it’s too overwhelming and you put it off every day. At the end of the day or week or month, you have written nothing. Sound familiar?

Have you ever felt like you started out with a goal to write that morning but by the end of the day you wrote nothing and then made excuses for the reasons you didn’t write?

There could be many reasons you didn’t write. While not finding time may be one of the reasons, it could also be a symptom of something bigger that’s hampering your writing life.

So let’s deal with this in a holistic way to enable you to take a bird’s eye view of your writing practice and work on ways to find time to write and make the most of it.

I’ve outlined 15 ways to make time for your writing, get your writing done, and to find ways to enjoy your writing creatively and productively.

Let’s dig into it, shall we?

This post contains links to the Amazon affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. What is your WHY?

First of all, some questions that you must truthfully answer:

Why am I writing?Is this important to me?Why is it important to me?How will it make me feel if I choose to write today?What will happen if I don’t write today?

Because, let’s be real, unless it’s paid writing, you may not feel motivated to write. It doesn’t matter whether you have the time or not because if you don’t feel like writing, then you won’t write at all.

So first and foremost is to deal with the WHY.

Simon Sinek in his book, Start with Why, says it doesn’t matter what you do, it matters why you do it. Not really asking yourself why you do what you do could be the thing that’s hampering your writing.

Asking why, could be just the inspiration you need to sit at your desk and write. It could be the key to unlocking what’s stopping you from writing or making the time for it. So, maybe if you’re struggling to find your WHY, this TED talk may just be the thing you need to get back on track.

Maybe it is that you want to earn extra income, or you just want to tell a good story. Whatever it is, it will propel you towards your goal of writing. That’s half the job done in finding more time to write.

So, think about that “why” every day or every time you lose the motivation to write.

 

2. Aligning your soul with your daily practice

“Over any extended period of time, being an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline. Enthusiasm is not an emotional state. It is a spiritual commitment, a loving surrender to our creative process, a loving recognition of all the creativity around us,” says Julia Cameron, in her book, The Artists’s Way.

So what is aligning your soul? It is coming to the page every day with enthusiasm, with a sense of wonder about what you might create that day, the words you may write, and how that may be deeply satisfying.

When you have to write every day, think of it as a marathon, instead of a sprint. You need sustenance. You need not only discipline but also enthusiasm.

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. – Duke Ellington and Irving Mills

What will enthuse you about your writing today?

 

3. Create a place for writing

Some writers like to write in coffee shops, some like quiet spaces. Whatever your ideal place for writing maybe, it’s necessary to find out what that place is.

Initially, you may like to try out a few different places to see which environment sparks your creativity best, and then it’s time to make that place your place for writing.

The benefits of having a place to write could mean peace, happiness, ease, and familiarity.

Find that place first.

 

4. Getting rid of clutter

There is physical clutter and digital clutter. Physical clutter being the most visible is likely to be the strongest deterrent to a good start every day. Get rid of things on your desk that you don’t need. Keep everything that you need handy.

On your device/laptop, make sure the writing program is open the night before, so you can get straight to writing first thing in the morning, instead of going through your cluttered file folders to find where you left off yesterday.

Make it a practice to declutter your physical space and your digital space often to keep writing time as peaceful and productive as possible.

 

5. Eliminate distractions

Social media, phone, notifications, all of these are distractions you want to avoid when you sit down to write.

I have switched off all notifications on my phone. Apps like Instagram and Facebook are not on my phone’s main screen. I try not to open WhatsApp or emails before I’ve finished my writing for the day unless I know in advance that I’m expecting an email or a message.

If you have kids, make sure they’re fed and happily engaged before you sit down to write so that the distractions in your writing time are eliminated.

 

6. Mark writing time as important

We make time for the important things in our life. Everything else gets waylaid by the side. The same is true for writing. If it is not scheduled in your physical calendar (planner) or digital calendar (Google calendar), you will never get to it. So, do set aside time for writing and mark it as important by scheduling it like you would schedule an important meeting or a doctor’s appointment.

Schedule your writing time. If it’s important, YOU WILL DO IT!

 

7. Make time for writing by giving up something else

Making time for writing may mean giving up something else.

Whether it’s the two hours you take to unwind after a long day or hitting the snooze button several times in the morning, think what it is that you are willing to give up to have the time you need for writing.

Go back to points 1 & 2. Think about your why, and align with your soul to find your true purpose in writing.

 

8. Avoid negative thoughts and focus on the positive

Negative thoughts can sabotage the most wonderful writer’s efforts.

We have been taught to believe that negative equals realistic and positive equals unrealistic – Susan Jeffers.

“Remember, your artist is a child. Find and protect that child,” says Julia Cameron in her book. 

Don’t let negative thoughts and beliefs stop you from getting to work. Don’t pay attention to them.

Instead, develop positive thoughts.

Pick affirmations that will enable you to focus on the positives and let them guide your writing.

Use affirmations like: “I am willing to use my creative talents” OR “As I create and listen, I will be led.”  Pick an affirmation that infuses you with positive energy before you sit down to write.

These positive affirmations may feel uncomfortable at first but write them down or say them anyway before you sit to write.

Believe in the higher power guiding you in your writing. Respect your writing time and do the best that you can in that time.

 

9. Create a routine

James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits is a goldmine when it comes to small habits and routines that can help you achieve your goals.

When it comes to writing, I always add it to my existing daily routine so that it becomes easy to incorporate. Immediately after breakfast, I make a cup of coffee and sit down to write. Making the cup of coffee is the nudge I require to get to my writing desk.

So, what routine do you follow to get to your desk to write?

Another great book, The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod talks of the six powerful habits that will transform your life before 8 a.m.

Use the guiding principles in the book to make your mornings productive if that is the time that you, like me, choose to write.

 

10. Think of what you want to write before you get to the writing desk

A lot of writers use their desk time as thinking time. This will just waste the time you’ve carved out to get the actual writing done.

Instead, maximize time.

Use mundane and repetitive tasks like washing dishes, or taking a shower, as your thinking time. When you get to your writing desk, know what you’re going to write so that you spend as little time as possible in getting straight to it.

 

11. Start small – Write 200-300 words every day

Keep your goals and plans small when you are starting out. If you try to bite more than you can chew, you can get burned out pretty quickly.

Keep smaller targets. Keep them as small as 200-300 words every day so that they feel achievable and attainable.

Minimize the overwhelm in your daily writing habits.

 

12. Give yourself a deadline

A deadline will goad you on to the finish line. Use it diligently and effectively to achieve your writing goals. 

While not giving yourself an impossible deadline is important, it’s also worthwhile to note that the more time you give to complete a task, the more time it will take to finish it, according to Parkinson’s law. So, what should you do? Instead, check out ways to get more done in less time.

 

13. Don’t try to be too perfect

Get it done, not get it right!

Perfectionism is a loop that you get into that refuses to let you move ahead. It is that monster that is an obsessive, debilitating thing that wants you to get it right and fix things, and yet never be satisfied.

It’s an unrealistic expectation and demand on you to produce something that may be outside your scope of possibility at the moment.

Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes. Because you’ll learn from them. Learn to pick yourself up and move on, but never stop just because you think your writing isn’t perfect.

Perfection is a myth. Nothing can ever be perfect but it can be delightful, creative, wonderful, vulnerable, and so many more things.

What do YOU choose to have in your writing?

 

14. Treat yourself with kindness

There could be days when you get no writing down. There could have been a family event or an incident or something that stopped your writing practice. 

Allow for those days when unforeseen circumstances can cause upheaval in your writing day. 

Pick up from where you left off. Don’t beat yourself over what you missed or didn’t do. Tell yourself you sometimes need that time because it will help you get back on the writing horse tomorrow.

Bear no grudges towards yourself for missing a day or a few days of writing.

That includes not judging and comparing your writing with others.

Comparison never yields any fruit. When we compare ourselves to others, we limit our own capabilities. Be willing to write less, produce less work than others.

Measure your progress by your own pace of learning, by your own word counts, by your own happiness indicators.

These will provide better results in the long run.

 

15. Give yourself a pat on your back for a good day of writing

A good writing day deserves a treat and a pat on your back. YOU DID WELL!

Do a small prayer of gratitude for what you accomplished today. Thank yourself and your muse for showing up on the page.

Having gratitude for every tiny thing you achieve pays off in big ways in the larger scheme of things.

So make gratitude a daily practice at the end of every day. Even if you didn’t write, say thanks for whatever else you did that day that will allow you to have more time for tomorrow.

There’s never a dearth of reasons to say thank you. Make it a daily practice too!

 

Book Resources mentioned in the post

Please note that these are books that I have personally used and loved, not sponsored books.

 

THE ARTIST’S WAY

START WITH WHY

THE MIRACLE MORNING

ATOMIC HABITS

You can reach me at sudha@sudhanair.com.

 

 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING

The incredible thing about being a writer, apart from making up imaginary worlds, is talking about the writing craft.

When I began writing over a decade ago, I had all these questions about the writing process and craft. It’s likely that you have such questions too.

Below, I’ve tried to address some of the most frequently asked questions about writing. I hope these help you if you’ve been trying to find answers.

This post contains links to the Amazon affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What’s the Difference Between Scenes and Chapters?

A scene is a single unit of time, character(s), and place. What I mean by that is every time the place, character(s), or time changes, it becomes a new scene. A scene is a beat-by-beat account of what is happening in the story. Scenes and sequels make up the story.

A scene is used to build a story and propel it forward. Scenes are used to depict big and small moments in a story. Every important action, moment, conflict in the character’s life, if made into a scene, plays in the mind of the reader as he/she reads it and keeps the reader engaged and interested in the story.

A chapter can contain one scene or many scenes. You can even split a scene to continue the scene in a new chapter. A chapter is a pause in the narrative and controls the pacing of a story.

To a reader, a chapter break is more of a psychological break in the story. Many readers like to read a chapter or two every night before bed. But if the chapter ends on a cliff-hanger, they tend not to be able to put the book down.

So, a good writer usually tries to end a chapter on a hook that makes the reader want to go on reading after the chapter. More on hooks, later.

There are many reasons to include a chapter break – sometimes to break narrative, to signal the end of a scene, to change the POV of a scene, etc.

For instance, in my book, Flames Of Desire, I have a chapter in which Dinesh takes Pooja to visit his aunt. This chapter starts with Pooja’s POV (I’ve used First Person Narrative), at the visit to Dinesh’s aunt, and the intimate moment they share in his mother’s old room, I then add a chapter break mid-scene to change to Dinesh’s POV. This chapter is in Dinesh’s perspective as the couple continues the moment in the previous chapter, and continues with Dinesh’s POV showing more scenes with Dinesh and Pooja at their aunt’s house, and back at the hotel to enjoy the barbecue dinner that evening.

In this example, I have used a chapter break to indicate a change in POV because I wanted to bring in both the characters’ perspectives to the visit to the aunt’s house and the intimate moment they share there. In novels written in First Person, it is standard practice to change the chapter when the POV changes. It brings more clarity when you break into a chapter as soon as the POV changes.

So, basically, to summarise, a scene is a single unit of the story, whereas a chapter is multiple units of narration in a story.

Should I Edit As I Go?

The simplest answer to this is NO.

Writing uses the creative side of the brain, whereas editing uses the logical side of the brain. Constantly shifting between these two sides of the brain causes the writing flow to freeze.

There are several times as writers that we want to perfect the sentence we’ve written before we move on. But what ends up happening is that we lose the stream of words that were coming through and end up with feelings of frustration and doubt.

So, the best practice is to write at one go without even stopping to fix spellings and grammar, and once the words are down on the page, then you can go ahead and edit those words.

I would even go as far as to say that it is better to finish writing the entire story or novel at one go, without editing, and then come back to edit what you need to change.

These are some of the basic reasons not to edit while you’re writing:

Editing slows down the writing.Editing is a waste of time while you’re still writing because if you need to scrap a piece of writing, you would have wasted time editing what you didn’t need.Editing brings in doubt.Editing keeps you stuck in the loop of perfection.Should I Use Real-Life Settings or Made-Up Settings?

Generally, fantasy authors use made-up settings while most contemporary authors use real-life settings. You can use real or made-up settings or a mix of both in your story. The most important thing to remember is that no matter whether your setting is real or made up, you need to bring authenticity to that setting in the story.

What I mean by this is that when you include a setting in a story, try to make it vivid by incorporating all your characters’ senses.

If it is a beautiful beach, let the character hear the crashing of the waves or watch the colours of the sky as the sun sets, let them feel the breeze in their hair or their toes slipping on the sand, taste the salt on their lips, and so on.

What makes any setting come alive in fiction is the character’s perception of it, and therefore the reader’s imagination. This is why readers sometimes even remember made-up settings as if they were real.

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Backstory?

A backstory is the detailed history of the characters and all the events prior to the start of the actual story that you’re writing.

It is pertinent for the author to know the backstory for the purposes of understanding what makes the character be, do, behave, act, think, believe, etc, the way he/she does in the present story.

While the author tries to explore as much backstory as possible to be able to write a good story and understand certain nuances of the character better, the reader doesn’t need to know all the stuff that doesn’t pertain to the current story.

For example, Dinesh’s backstory in my book, Flames Of Desire is that he hates to come to India because of the memories of his mother’s passing away and blaming his father for his past. Now, it was important to know this backstory and pass it on to the readers so that they could understand why Dinesh hated being in India for the high-school reunion.

But it wasn’t important to know Dinesh’s backstory of what he did when he was away from the family for all those years, because that wasn’t pertinent to the story. As the author, I did develop a backstory for his habits, his attitudes, his beliefs, but they were for better character building and were woven into the story organically and not literally dumped in the present story.

So, what you need to remember is that too much backstory, especially which isn’t relevant to the present story can distract and frustrate readers and take them away from the story.

Some things to remember about backstory:

Keep backstory in the story only if it’s related to what is happening in the story.Don’t do a backstory info dump that will bore readers.Instead, sprinkle the pertinent portions of backstory throughout the present story in places where the whys become important.Keep even the pertinent backstory to a minimum when woven into the story and spread them out to keep the reader interested and read further to find out more.How do I write a good character?

A good character is a fleshed-out individual in your story. What that means is that your character not only has a name, a gender, and certain distinguishing facial and physiological characteristics but also qualities that will establish him/her in the reader’s memory.

A good character has attitudes, beliefs, flaws, virtues, backstory, and a uniqueness that makes up his/her personality.

A good character can be developed by keeping in mind that every character, just like a normal person, is unique. What he does, how he acts, what he says, etc, is wholly determined by everything that defines him/her as an individual.

For instance, using the previous example of my book, Flames Of Desire, Dr. Pooja is a caring person. How did I bring that across? Right in the first chapter, Pooja helps an old woman who’s missed her bus stop. Then, she helps a very drunk Dinesh. But, that’s not the only side to her. She also has strong opinions about marriage and family. She’s overworked and she hardly has any time for herself but she loves her job.

Dinesh is a character who is bitter about his past. He’s protective of the people he loves and he’s determined to make a success of his life. How did I bring all that across? In various instances in the story, I show how Dinesh is troubled by his past and how attached he was to his mother and the restaurant that he started in her memory. All these instances help flesh out Dinesh as a well-rounded character who is not only the protagonist/love interest in this story but also a good son, a great friend, etc. Thus, he becomes a very real person in the reader’s mind.

So, to create a good character:

Give them thoughts, beliefs, actions like a real person.Give the reader a visual image of them as well.Give that character flaws and virtues which the reader can relate to as well as compare and contrast with other characters in the story.Make them more than superficial, cardboard characters.

 

I hope these answers have helped you understand the writing process and craft better. I hope to come back with more questions and answers about writing soon.

 

Check out Flames Of Desire: 

 

 

The post FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING appeared first on SUDHA NAIR.

5 TIPS TO BEAT WRITER’S BLOCK

Are you often hit by writer’s block?

These days, writer’s block has become synonymous with being a writer. Many writers talk of creative block.

Writer’s block is the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing. A writer experiences a creative slowdown or burnout and is unable to produce new work or finish the work she has started.

The history of writer’s block dates to when the term was coined by Edmund Bergler, a disciple of Sigmund Freud, in the 1940s. Bergler’s theory was that a writer’s block is “the unconscious wish to defeat one’s conscious aims, and to enjoy that self-constructed defeat.”

There could be many causes to writer’s block including a lack of creative freedom, comparison to others, the need for external validation, the pursuit of perfection, and life events/burnouts/deadlines/external pressure, etc.

Prolific writer, Asimov, is said to have published 500 books and never suffered from writer’s block.

A solution to overcome writer’s block may be that you just need to write.

You may wonder what to write when you have writer’s block. A writer’s block may seem paralyzing, but more often than not, it can be averted or simply avoided by using some simple hacks.

What you need are actionable tools to get past writer’s block.

Here are 5 tips to beat writer’s block.

This post contains links to the Amazon affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. Switch to writing by hand

Writing longhand is actually therapeutic for the brain. As the fingers touch the pen and connect to the paper, it does something to free your brain to come up with sentences that flow with a certain vitality that could be lacking when you’re typing up the same words on a computer.

So, every time you feel disconnected from your writing, pick up a pen and a notebook and write down those thoughts or the scene that you were thinking about directly on paper.

Let the words flow freely and continue writing as you feel inspired.

Trust me, you’ll feel much better after the writing session, and when you read back what you’ve written, you’ll be sure to find some gems and nuggets that you can transfer to your computer.

 

2. Go for a walk

A walk is probably underrated as an exercise for allowing the creativity to flow but moving the body also helps to get out of stuck points of view and general stuckness in the writing.

Try to walk without listening to anything like music or a podcast. Simply walk and enjoy what’s around you. Let your mind wander and soak in the atmosphere and feel the energy of your surroundings. All you’re doing here is to give the brain free rein to come up with as many ideas as it wants to.

This type of mindful walking induces deep states of peace and relaxation and brings forth ideas that were in hiding.

 

3. Create a mind map

A mind map is simply a tool to get all your ideas down on paper and let them form their own connections to each other. Doing this exercise will help you draw out the connections between various ideas and let them seep into your brain so you can visualize them and form coherence from all the disparate ideas that may seem to be floating around.

This tool is similar to writing by hand but you are trying to also form connections with words, symbols, objects, pictures, drawings, etc which will activate the problem-solving part of your brain.

 

4. Try writing prompts every day

You need to be able to express yourself and be secure in your writing as Natalie Goldberg says in her book, Writing Down The Bones.

And, the more you write, the better you become. As you make writing a practice, you come to know yourself, feel the joy in expression, and trust what you think. Once you connect with your mind, you’re free. Read Goldberg’s book to free the writer within you!

A writing prompt also aids just that. It is a line or phrase that sets off your imagination and enables you to come up with random ideas based on the prompt you are using, which in turn enables you to write freely.

Writing prompts are a good exercise for your writing muscles. You can use this practice daily before you start your actual writing so that you feel warmed up and ready to hit the page immediately.

I’ll provide some examples of writing prompts in a separate blog.

 

5. Journal in the morning when your mind is fresh

I follow Julia Cameron’s advice in her book, The Artist’s Way, to produce three pages of stream of consciousness writing by longhand first thing every morning. She calls it the “morning pages”.

Doing the morning pages really brings out all my troubled thoughts on paper so that my mind is free to write the stuff that really matters. Try it and see how it works!

When I first began writing three pages, I never thought it would work but slowly as I kept at it, my writing started flowing more easily because my mind was freeing up. When all the crap that was in my mind had been transferred to paper, what I had left when I went into my actual writing were pure words, ideas, scenes, and writing that was free of limitations, worries, judgments. It was pure gold!

I also use Cameron’s advice to find solutions to the problems that may have been plaguing me. For instance, if I’ve been trying to think of a scene and am feeling stuck, I just pour all of those questions into the three morning pages, and somehow, as if by magic, some solution emerges. Again, try it, and see what works for you.

For free writing, you could also keep a dream journal for writing out your thoughts and dreams as Graham Greene did.

 

Books that will help you beat writer’s block and start writing again

Check out these amazing books:

 

The Artist’s Way By Julia Cameron

 

Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Golberg

 

Try all these tips to beat writer’s block and let me know if they work.

You can email me at sudha@sudhanair.com.

 

 

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Priyamvada & Co. released

Priyamvada & Co. released on May 10, 2018! Check it out on http://mybook.to/paco Blurb: A heart-warming tale about love, friendship, and following one’s heart. The destinies of an unlikely trio converge at the making of a movie. The eldest Menon daughter and school drama teacher, Neha Menon, must find a way to face the hard […]

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Priyamvada & Co. released

Priyamvada & Co. released on May 10, 2018!
Check it out on http://mybook.to/paco

Blurb:

A heart-warming tale about love, friendship, and following one’s heart. The destinies of an unlikely trio converge at the making of a movie.
The eldest Menon daughter and school drama teacher, Neha Menon, must find a way to face the hard times and deal with the loss that threatens to destroy her family.

Prithvi Nair’s production house Priyamvada is his grandfather’s legacy and the reason it’s so close to his heart. But the moment Prithvi tries to reopen the company that has been shut down for decades, it finds itself embroiled in one controversy after another and he can’t seem to get it off the ground.

Aditya Shankaran is a writer-director with big dreams of directing his debut movie but there are no takers for his script. Down on luck, his future looks bleak. There is only one chance to end the troubles that are set at odds with launching his career and winning the hand of the woman he loves.

Prithvi, Aditya and Neha meet under unusual circumstances for the making of a movie that will change their lives in different ways, push them into the world of treachery and deceit, and force them to question their choices.

Time is running out. They must quell the sabotage before the final blow to all their hopes and dreams.

Priyamvada & Co.

***Praise for PRIYAMVADA & CO.***

“At times heart-wrenching, at other times heart-warming – and at all times vividly colorful and appealing – “Priyamvada & Co.” rivals the epic movie world it alludes to.”
— Devika Fernando, romance author

“Priyamvada & Co. is a beautifully written, heart-warming tale of getting second chances in love and life. Extremely unputdownable.”
— Sonia Rao, Writer, Editor, NaNoWriMo ML(India)

“Sudha Nair’s latest, Priyamvada & Co., is not one but many stories woven seamlessly to bring out the myriad human emotions—pain, romance, retribution, jealousy—all anchored in real world dilemmas and insecurities. An easy, fast-paced read, set in the back drop of film industry, drama and theatre.”
— Ruchi Singh, author of The Bodyguard

>>>This is a standalone sequel to the bestseller, The Wedding Tamasha. You can read this even if you haven’t read ‘The Wedding Tamasha.’ This Book 2 of The Menon Women series glimpses into the life of the eldest daughter, Neha Menon, a few years after meeting the Menons in the first book, The Wedding Tamasha.

Books in The Menon Women series are:
The Wedding Tamasha
Priyamvada & Co.

The post Priyamvada & Co. released appeared first on SUDHA NAIR.

Priyamvada & Co. released

Priyamvada & Co. released on May 10, 2018!
Check it out on http://mybook.to/paco

A heart-warming tale about love, friendship, and following one’s heart. The destinies of an unlikely trio converge at the making of a movie.
The eldest Menon daughter and school drama teacher, Neha Menon, must find a way to face the hard times and deal with the loss that threatens to destroy her family.

Prithvi Nair’s production house Priyamvada is his grandfather’s legacy and the reason it’s so close to his heart. But the moment Prithvi tries to reopen the company that has been shut down for decades, it finds itself embroiled in one controversy after another and he can’t seem to get it off the ground.

Aditya Shankaran is a writer-director with big dreams of directing his debut movie but there are no takers for his script. Down on luck, his future looks bleak. There is only one chance to end the troubles that are set at odds with launching his career and winning the hand of the woman he loves.

Prithvi, Aditya and Neha meet under unusual circumstances for the making of a movie that will change their lives in different ways, push them into the world of treachery and deceit, and force them to question their choices.

Time is running out. They must quell the sabotage before the final blow to all their hopes and dreams.

Priyamvada & Co.

***Praise for PRIYAMVADA & CO.***

“At times heart-wrenching, at other times heart-warming – and at all times vividly colorful and appealing – “Priyamvada & Co.” rivals the epic movie world it alludes to.”
— Devika Fernando, romance author

“Priyamvada & Co. is a beautifully written, heart-warming tale of getting second chances in love and life. Extremely unputdownable.”
— Sonia Rao, Writer, Editor, NaNoWriMo ML(India)

“Sudha Nair’s latest, Priyamvada & Co., is not one but many stories woven seamlessly to bring out the myriad human emotions—pain, romance, retribution, jealousy—all anchored in real world dilemmas and insecurities. An easy, fast-paced read, set in the back drop of film industry, drama and theatre.”
— Ruchi Singh, author of The Bodyguard

This is a standalone sequel to the bestseller, The Wedding Tamasha. You can read this even if you haven’t read ‘The Wedding Tamasha.’ This Book 2 of The Menon Women series glimpses into the life of the eldest daughter, Neha Menon, a few years after meeting the Menons in the first book, The Wedding Tamasha.

Books in The Menon Women series are:
The Wedding Tamasha
Priyamvada & Co.
About That Summer

The post Priyamvada & Co. released appeared first on SUDHA NAIR.

Winning the KDP contest and more…

It was a very proud moment for me when The Wedding Tamasha made it to the winner of the Pen To Publish 2017 contest held by Amazon India.

Read my interview with Amazon, where I talk about about where it all started, what got me onto the path of writing fiction, what it felt like to be up on the stage at the Jaipur Literature Festival to receive my first award, and lots more.

Watch my first video interview with Yourstory, which ran my publishing story after I’d made it to the top five finalists of the contest.

The post Winning the KDP contest and more… appeared first on SUDHA NAIR.

Winning the KDP contest and more…

It was a very proud moment for me when The Wedding Tamasha made it to the winner of the Pen To Publish 2017 contest held by Amazon India. Read my interview with Amazon, where I talk about about where it all started, what got me onto the path of writing fiction, what it felt like to be […]

The post Winning the KDP contest and more… appeared first on Sudha Nair.