Ivy Keating's Blog, page 8
November 20, 2018
Surprise!
Do writers always know what their characters will do next?
I can't answer for other writers but for me the answer is, "No!".
In my blog post, "Breakfast", I wrote about a turning point. Chief Sean Dermott, the protagonist in 'Camouflage', was developed to a point where I could 'listen' to how he would act. When this happened, it was possible for the story to take a slightly different direction.
In another book I am working on I knew how the book would end but I hadn't decided which character would make one particularly important move. It took writing three quarters of the story before I could make the final decision.
Well developed characters take on a life of their own. Writers should take time to listen to their creations, and analyze what they're doing. If you've written a book and can't answer a variety of questions about your characters, they may need further development.
I can't answer for other writers but for me the answer is, "No!".
In my blog post, "Breakfast", I wrote about a turning point. Chief Sean Dermott, the protagonist in 'Camouflage', was developed to a point where I could 'listen' to how he would act. When this happened, it was possible for the story to take a slightly different direction.
In another book I am working on I knew how the book would end but I hadn't decided which character would make one particularly important move. It took writing three quarters of the story before I could make the final decision.
Well developed characters take on a life of their own. Writers should take time to listen to their creations, and analyze what they're doing. If you've written a book and can't answer a variety of questions about your characters, they may need further development.
November 17, 2018
But I'm Not a Scientist!
I am not a herpetologist, an aquatic ecologist, or a police chief. Then how did I come up with believable characters that held these positions in 'Camouflage'?
To create the people in these roles I used a technique I'll call "over researching".
In one scene the scientists are with police officers on a boat in the lake. I had to figure out what the scientists would point out in regards to the wildlife. I took pages of notes on; how to become an expert in each relevant scientific field, I learned what animals are indigenous to the area, what tools the professionals would use to do their research, etc.
The funny thing is I only ever used a fraction of the information I gathered. By over studying I was able to get a feel for the professions and write dialogue that made the characters sound natural and proficient.
I enjoyed doing the research, and was fascinated by some of the things I learned. I particularly liked when I could put some of the facts in the story. When you're writing, really know your characters, and if you need to learn something about them, do the research.
To create the people in these roles I used a technique I'll call "over researching".
In one scene the scientists are with police officers on a boat in the lake. I had to figure out what the scientists would point out in regards to the wildlife. I took pages of notes on; how to become an expert in each relevant scientific field, I learned what animals are indigenous to the area, what tools the professionals would use to do their research, etc.
The funny thing is I only ever used a fraction of the information I gathered. By over studying I was able to get a feel for the professions and write dialogue that made the characters sound natural and proficient.
I enjoyed doing the research, and was fascinated by some of the things I learned. I particularly liked when I could put some of the facts in the story. When you're writing, really know your characters, and if you need to learn something about them, do the research.
November 4, 2018
Getting Published
The first thing I learned on my way to being published is telling a story and crafting a novel are not the same thing. There are rules and guidelines for writing a book.
I started doing all the research I could online. The internet taught me things like the average page count for science fiction, how to develop the characters, and show don’t tell. But after applying everything I discovered and sending my book to over fifty publishing houses, only one place showed any interest—and they wanted a rewrite.
Fortunately, they submitted my work to their readers. Boy did they tear it apart! My best piece of advice to writers is—be open to criticism. If you are too afraid to hear something bad about your work or too prideful to listen, you will hurt your chances of getting published.
After embracing all the flaws, I decided I needed help from a writing coach.
When I finished another round of edits with her guidance, I sent it out again. This time three places showed interest, but they all wanted…you guessed it—rewrites.
I listened to the comments and kept improving. I even had a request from Knopf for additional pages. Anytime a publishing house showed interest, I worked on my book until I received an offer. (Incidentally it took two years for Knopf to tell me they were going to pass. Happily, I already found my book’s home.)
You can get your book published. Send it out to professionals in the industry, be open to criticism, and keep making improvements. The finished work will be something you’re proud of.
I started doing all the research I could online. The internet taught me things like the average page count for science fiction, how to develop the characters, and show don’t tell. But after applying everything I discovered and sending my book to over fifty publishing houses, only one place showed any interest—and they wanted a rewrite.
Fortunately, they submitted my work to their readers. Boy did they tear it apart! My best piece of advice to writers is—be open to criticism. If you are too afraid to hear something bad about your work or too prideful to listen, you will hurt your chances of getting published.
After embracing all the flaws, I decided I needed help from a writing coach.
When I finished another round of edits with her guidance, I sent it out again. This time three places showed interest, but they all wanted…you guessed it—rewrites.
I listened to the comments and kept improving. I even had a request from Knopf for additional pages. Anytime a publishing house showed interest, I worked on my book until I received an offer. (Incidentally it took two years for Knopf to tell me they were going to pass. Happily, I already found my book’s home.)
You can get your book published. Send it out to professionals in the industry, be open to criticism, and keep making improvements. The finished work will be something you’re proud of.
October 28, 2018
Sincerity
When a writer develops a character they have to make sure the person is sincere. I don't mean if the character acts with deceit. Some of the most interesting story-lines come from the villain. I'm referring to the consistency of the actions and emotions of the people in the novel.
In 'Camouflage' the protagonist is the chief of a small town's police station. He takes his work seriously. The only way I can have him jeopardize his job is with an extraordinary circumstance. Anything short of that would be unnatural to his character.
If the author establishes sincere characters, their actions will make sense for their roles. The plot will move forward based in part on what the characters would naturally do.
A story can be interesting but if the characters do not feel genuine, it will fall short.
In 'Camouflage' the protagonist is the chief of a small town's police station. He takes his work seriously. The only way I can have him jeopardize his job is with an extraordinary circumstance. Anything short of that would be unnatural to his character.
If the author establishes sincere characters, their actions will make sense for their roles. The plot will move forward based in part on what the characters would naturally do.
A story can be interesting but if the characters do not feel genuine, it will fall short.
October 23, 2018
Breakfast
Yesterday I wrote a short essay for a blogspot. I called it, 'What did Sean Dermott Eat for Breakfast'. The piece was about the importance of having well developed characters.
Sean Dermott is the new police chief in my science fiction, 'Camouflage'. After spending months writing about him there came a time when I knew what he would say or do. His character had a sincerity that was flushed out with consistency. First he was created, and then there was a turning point where I could listen.
The answer to what Sean had for breakfast--a bowl of cold cereal and milk on the run-- is not crucial to the plot. But the fact that I knew the answer to this and a variety of other random questions suggests he's a well thought out protagonist that readers will want to get to know.
Sean Dermott is the new police chief in my science fiction, 'Camouflage'. After spending months writing about him there came a time when I knew what he would say or do. His character had a sincerity that was flushed out with consistency. First he was created, and then there was a turning point where I could listen.
The answer to what Sean had for breakfast--a bowl of cold cereal and milk on the run-- is not crucial to the plot. But the fact that I knew the answer to this and a variety of other random questions suggests he's a well thought out protagonist that readers will want to get to know.
October 16, 2018
Inspiration
Inspiration is open ended. It's something that draws you in and makes you think. It's more then something you enjoy-it could be something that frightens you.
'Camouflage' was inspired by the New England landscape, however the story developed into a science fiction. People are unique. How we react to things varies, and this leads to endless possibilities during the creation process.
When you're inspired by something, you want to explore it-ask questions about it. I wondered what we would do if something extraordinary but deadly was found in the forest. The questions would not leave me and I had to tell the story.
If you're thinking of writing but not sure of what to write about. Think about what inspires you, and let your imagination run wild!
'Camouflage' was inspired by the New England landscape, however the story developed into a science fiction. People are unique. How we react to things varies, and this leads to endless possibilities during the creation process.
When you're inspired by something, you want to explore it-ask questions about it. I wondered what we would do if something extraordinary but deadly was found in the forest. The questions would not leave me and I had to tell the story.
If you're thinking of writing but not sure of what to write about. Think about what inspires you, and let your imagination run wild!
October 11, 2018
Criticism
Learning to love criticism significantly helped me on the way to finding a publisher. Not just accepting being told what doesn't work but really looking for it.
Criticism is hard to hear because it's usually given as a negative statement and nothing more. In life if you're pleased with something, the last thing you want to hear is someone telling you why it's bad. But if you're working on a book, the critic may have discovered something about your work that's fallen short. It would then be up to you to explore what they said and potentially improve the story. So, I see it as an opportunity.
I'm grateful for all the criticism that I received during the writing process. It made 'Camouflage' a more thrilling story.
Criticism is hard to hear because it's usually given as a negative statement and nothing more. In life if you're pleased with something, the last thing you want to hear is someone telling you why it's bad. But if you're working on a book, the critic may have discovered something about your work that's fallen short. It would then be up to you to explore what they said and potentially improve the story. So, I see it as an opportunity.
I'm grateful for all the criticism that I received during the writing process. It made 'Camouflage' a more thrilling story.
October 9, 2018
Writer's Block
I'm thinking about the concept of writer's block.
When you're writing a story, I believe the most important thing is how the story is told. If a writer is saying they don't know what to write, they are putting themselves before how the plot develops. They are interjecting themselves into something instead of listening.
It makes me think authors need to be storytellers first.
When you're writing a story, I believe the most important thing is how the story is told. If a writer is saying they don't know what to write, they are putting themselves before how the plot develops. They are interjecting themselves into something instead of listening.
It makes me think authors need to be storytellers first.
