Anne Patrick's Blog, page 25
October 23, 2010
Shawna K. Williams Shares Her Thoughts About Rules
Shawna K. Williams shares her thoughts about rules, rules, and more stinkin' rules (and why those rules can interfere with the heart of the author's story.) Reposted with Shawna's permission from Michelle Sutton's blog.
About Shawna...
I'm a lot of things, so I'll list them according to importance; I'm a Christian, a wife, mother, friend. I'm also a teacher, writer, artist, rancher, and animal lover. These last few kind of jostle for my attention, and what's more important one day, isn't the next. I think that's true with everyone.
(Michelle's intro.) Please welcome Shawna as she shares her heart for Christian fiction written by imperfect people and for imperfect people. People who need healing hearts because they are broken and hurting. People I write for, and that Shawna writes for. Real people. If you enjoy this article, please pass it on.
Learning to accept criticism is a must for writers, and constructive criticism is often welcome. After all, we seek to continually improve at our craft. But sometimes the criticism goes beyond suggestions for phrasing and description and hits at the heart of what we write, perhaps even hitting at the heart of who we are, questioning whether it's appropriate or not -- Christian or not.
The reason I often hear for excluding certain behavior by characters in a story is that as Christians we are to keep our thoughts pure, so by writing about shameful topics we are introducing temptation (impure thoughts) into the minds of our readers. I understand and respect this view, and it's why I try to be immensely careful in how I portray certain subject matter. Having said that, if this is a reader's main concern then I don't recommend my books. They aren't written with this as the primary purpose. They're written for people like me.
So, here's the short version of my story. I was brought up as a church going gal, three squares a week. There were rules; no stealing, killing, drinking, swearing, dancing, smoking, lying, associating with sinners, and absolutely no sex outside of marriage. Matter-of-fact, it was best to pretend like it didn't exist within marriage either – just to be safe, let's not talk about it period! I'm sure I'm leaving a few rules out, but these were the biggies.
There were rules for worship also. First, church service; don't miss it or you're going to hell. Second, no instrumental music in the building or everyone is going to hell. Third, don't smile, clap, or show any outward display of emotion. It's disrespectful and you'll go to hell – put your hands down and stop crying. Fourth, wear a dress if you're a girl and a suit and tie if you're a boy – always your Sunday best, unless it's Wednesday – because it's a show of respect and you don't want to go to hell. Fifth, stick to the schedule; three songs, prayer, two songs, offering and communion, two more songs, prayer, sermon, invitation song, announcements, prayer, two more songs, dismissal prayer. To depart from this was a huge controversy. That's right; you might go to hell for it.
No gossip, as a rule, didn't apply because how else would everyone know who was breaking all of the other rules; and without gossip how could they safe guard others against breaking the rule to not associate with sinners? If they associated with sinners then they might be influenced to become a sinner, thus breaking even more rules and becoming one that others can't associate with. Catch the reasoning?
For a long time I did my best to be a good girl and obey every one of these rules, but for some reason these rules failed in helping me to build a spiritual relationship that would sustain me. As a matter-of-fact, I mostly felt guilty all of the time, questioning every action and thought and always finding myself to be a disappointment. After a while, I got tired of feeling guilty. If this was what it meant to be a Christian, then never mind. I could feel bad about myself without the help. Thus I began a pattern of behavior acting out my self-hatred. I didn't understand that God gave me rules for my protection, not my condemnation. Nor did I realize that not all of the rules listed above came from Him, and there was something of major importance left out.
Over the years I bounced from one form of destructive behavior to another. I'm hesitant to talk about it openly, but happy to do so privately. If anyone wishes to ask me anything, I'll include my email. My self-loathing escalated to a point that I was sure that God could never love me. When I thought about church I was overcome with a sense of rejection. I was a rule-breaker. There was no love or warmth there, and certainly not any form of understanding. My problem was that there was something wrong with me that wasn't wrong with others. I was a screw-up, always had been, and always would be. The church would be quick to remind me of such. I had never been taught that God provided a way to cover my inadequacies. Yes, I had heard of Grace; no, I didn't understand it. I believed I was alone.
God never lets anything go to waste, so He didn't let go of me, and through the course of time, events, and people He placed in my life, I finally began to understand His great love. He also convicted me that my misspent years shouldn't to go to waste either, and that I should use them to reach out with understanding to others like myself, so that they would know that they aren't alone. God sees them, hears them – loves them.
For a number of years I did this on a personal basis. Then I was led to write. I was already a reader, mostly of nonfiction, but I did have a few favorite authors in the secular realm. I also loved Max Lucado and Beth Moore. I hadn't read Christian fiction; however, I knew that I wanted to write it. My faith was entwined with me, a part of me, and I couldn't write anything else. It was clear that to write it, I needed to read it, so I picked up several books, anxious to begin this new journey in my walk with Christ. Suddenly, I was that teenage girl again, full of self-doubt and loathing, wondering if I'd been kidding myself about being a Christian and if everything about me was wrong.
The books I read were sweet, the characters pure; they quickly repented at the first sign of an ill-conceived thought, and always at the front of their minds was God's will. They never questioned, got mad – at least not seriously mad -- nor did they disobey. Their thoughts were always on the surface, innocent and controlled -- never conflicted. They said the right things, did the right things and the endings always worked out happily ever after. I couldn't relate to the good guys -- and what was worse is that sometimes I could relate to the bad guys!
It may sound silly to become so discouraged over the stories within books, but this was Christian fiction. It was about Christians and none of the characters seemed anything like me, except for the occasional bad guy.
Was I a Christian? I tried to be. Maybe God was still disappointed with me. Could I ever please Him? Did He love me? Was Grace for me, too? All of these questions played through my mind years after having thought they were resolved. I started to question whether writing was a foolish dream, whether I was "good" enough, and whether I even had a purpose in God's eyes.
Fortunately, a little ways down the road God managed to work a few books into my hands that gave me hope – books written for people like me. What a great feeling that was! To be reminded of Grace. Around that same time I discovered Michelle's group, Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers. I was delighted to find that there was a whole world of people like me who craved to know there were other Christians like them. We were a group of imperfect people who wanted to serve God by reaching out with a passion-driven purpose, proclaiming His Grace, and using our imperfections to do it. There were others like us God wanted to reach. This was our calling.
My intent with this post isn't to bash Christian fiction with pure characters. It's great to have that example to strive for, and I encourage writers whose passion is to write this to continue. There are many people who are encouraged in their daily lives through such wonderful stories. But I do hope that those same people can understand that there are others out there, Christians, non-Christians, Christians in crisis, who need to know that God hears their pain and understands. Authors like me strive to write stories from the heart, pure in honesty and love – if not in content – in the hope of reaching beyond the pages, wrapping a comforting arm around a hurting soul, and saying, "I know, and so does He." Our kinds of story are needed too.
Michelle says, "Amen, Shawna!"
And so I!!!
To contact Shawna (as offered above) e-mail her at Shawnawilliams@allegiance.tv
Note from Anne - I just have to say how much I loved seeing this post. Shawna has hit on a subject that I myself have been dealing with on one of my books. We aren't perfect, people! Why should we have to pretend to be in our writing?
About Shawna...
I'm a lot of things, so I'll list them according to importance; I'm a Christian, a wife, mother, friend. I'm also a teacher, writer, artist, rancher, and animal lover. These last few kind of jostle for my attention, and what's more important one day, isn't the next. I think that's true with everyone.
(Michelle's intro.) Please welcome Shawna as she shares her heart for Christian fiction written by imperfect people and for imperfect people. People who need healing hearts because they are broken and hurting. People I write for, and that Shawna writes for. Real people. If you enjoy this article, please pass it on.
Learning to accept criticism is a must for writers, and constructive criticism is often welcome. After all, we seek to continually improve at our craft. But sometimes the criticism goes beyond suggestions for phrasing and description and hits at the heart of what we write, perhaps even hitting at the heart of who we are, questioning whether it's appropriate or not -- Christian or not.
The reason I often hear for excluding certain behavior by characters in a story is that as Christians we are to keep our thoughts pure, so by writing about shameful topics we are introducing temptation (impure thoughts) into the minds of our readers. I understand and respect this view, and it's why I try to be immensely careful in how I portray certain subject matter. Having said that, if this is a reader's main concern then I don't recommend my books. They aren't written with this as the primary purpose. They're written for people like me.
So, here's the short version of my story. I was brought up as a church going gal, three squares a week. There were rules; no stealing, killing, drinking, swearing, dancing, smoking, lying, associating with sinners, and absolutely no sex outside of marriage. Matter-of-fact, it was best to pretend like it didn't exist within marriage either – just to be safe, let's not talk about it period! I'm sure I'm leaving a few rules out, but these were the biggies.
There were rules for worship also. First, church service; don't miss it or you're going to hell. Second, no instrumental music in the building or everyone is going to hell. Third, don't smile, clap, or show any outward display of emotion. It's disrespectful and you'll go to hell – put your hands down and stop crying. Fourth, wear a dress if you're a girl and a suit and tie if you're a boy – always your Sunday best, unless it's Wednesday – because it's a show of respect and you don't want to go to hell. Fifth, stick to the schedule; three songs, prayer, two songs, offering and communion, two more songs, prayer, sermon, invitation song, announcements, prayer, two more songs, dismissal prayer. To depart from this was a huge controversy. That's right; you might go to hell for it.
No gossip, as a rule, didn't apply because how else would everyone know who was breaking all of the other rules; and without gossip how could they safe guard others against breaking the rule to not associate with sinners? If they associated with sinners then they might be influenced to become a sinner, thus breaking even more rules and becoming one that others can't associate with. Catch the reasoning?
For a long time I did my best to be a good girl and obey every one of these rules, but for some reason these rules failed in helping me to build a spiritual relationship that would sustain me. As a matter-of-fact, I mostly felt guilty all of the time, questioning every action and thought and always finding myself to be a disappointment. After a while, I got tired of feeling guilty. If this was what it meant to be a Christian, then never mind. I could feel bad about myself without the help. Thus I began a pattern of behavior acting out my self-hatred. I didn't understand that God gave me rules for my protection, not my condemnation. Nor did I realize that not all of the rules listed above came from Him, and there was something of major importance left out.
Over the years I bounced from one form of destructive behavior to another. I'm hesitant to talk about it openly, but happy to do so privately. If anyone wishes to ask me anything, I'll include my email. My self-loathing escalated to a point that I was sure that God could never love me. When I thought about church I was overcome with a sense of rejection. I was a rule-breaker. There was no love or warmth there, and certainly not any form of understanding. My problem was that there was something wrong with me that wasn't wrong with others. I was a screw-up, always had been, and always would be. The church would be quick to remind me of such. I had never been taught that God provided a way to cover my inadequacies. Yes, I had heard of Grace; no, I didn't understand it. I believed I was alone.
God never lets anything go to waste, so He didn't let go of me, and through the course of time, events, and people He placed in my life, I finally began to understand His great love. He also convicted me that my misspent years shouldn't to go to waste either, and that I should use them to reach out with understanding to others like myself, so that they would know that they aren't alone. God sees them, hears them – loves them.
For a number of years I did this on a personal basis. Then I was led to write. I was already a reader, mostly of nonfiction, but I did have a few favorite authors in the secular realm. I also loved Max Lucado and Beth Moore. I hadn't read Christian fiction; however, I knew that I wanted to write it. My faith was entwined with me, a part of me, and I couldn't write anything else. It was clear that to write it, I needed to read it, so I picked up several books, anxious to begin this new journey in my walk with Christ. Suddenly, I was that teenage girl again, full of self-doubt and loathing, wondering if I'd been kidding myself about being a Christian and if everything about me was wrong.
The books I read were sweet, the characters pure; they quickly repented at the first sign of an ill-conceived thought, and always at the front of their minds was God's will. They never questioned, got mad – at least not seriously mad -- nor did they disobey. Their thoughts were always on the surface, innocent and controlled -- never conflicted. They said the right things, did the right things and the endings always worked out happily ever after. I couldn't relate to the good guys -- and what was worse is that sometimes I could relate to the bad guys!
It may sound silly to become so discouraged over the stories within books, but this was Christian fiction. It was about Christians and none of the characters seemed anything like me, except for the occasional bad guy.
Was I a Christian? I tried to be. Maybe God was still disappointed with me. Could I ever please Him? Did He love me? Was Grace for me, too? All of these questions played through my mind years after having thought they were resolved. I started to question whether writing was a foolish dream, whether I was "good" enough, and whether I even had a purpose in God's eyes.
Fortunately, a little ways down the road God managed to work a few books into my hands that gave me hope – books written for people like me. What a great feeling that was! To be reminded of Grace. Around that same time I discovered Michelle's group, Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers. I was delighted to find that there was a whole world of people like me who craved to know there were other Christians like them. We were a group of imperfect people who wanted to serve God by reaching out with a passion-driven purpose, proclaiming His Grace, and using our imperfections to do it. There were others like us God wanted to reach. This was our calling.
My intent with this post isn't to bash Christian fiction with pure characters. It's great to have that example to strive for, and I encourage writers whose passion is to write this to continue. There are many people who are encouraged in their daily lives through such wonderful stories. But I do hope that those same people can understand that there are others out there, Christians, non-Christians, Christians in crisis, who need to know that God hears their pain and understands. Authors like me strive to write stories from the heart, pure in honesty and love – if not in content – in the hope of reaching beyond the pages, wrapping a comforting arm around a hurting soul, and saying, "I know, and so does He." Our kinds of story are needed too.
Michelle says, "Amen, Shawna!"
And so I!!!
To contact Shawna (as offered above) e-mail her at Shawnawilliams@allegiance.tv
Note from Anne - I just have to say how much I loved seeing this post. Shawna has hit on a subject that I myself have been dealing with on one of my books. We aren't perfect, people! Why should we have to pretend to be in our writing?
October 21, 2010
Writing Tip of the Week - Write What You Don't Know by Theresa Danley
Perhaps every serious writer has heard the advice, "write what you know." Actually, this line may very well have been elevated it to the ranks of golden rules for writers.
Well, I would like to bring attention to the old cliché that rules are meant to be broken.
Okay, okay, I understand and agree that there is no substitute for knowledge and experience in the subject you are writing about. Your writing can only be enhanced by focusing on what you know. But may I suggest a subtle change of pace?
Could your writing benefit from what you don't know?
What I'm recommending is a simple change of scenery, especially if you've reached a stagnant point in your writing. So what kind of detour am I suggesting? Well, how about a couple of options, starting with good old fashioned research.
Wait! This isn't as painful as it sounds!
Perhaps there's been something you've heard or seen recently that caught your attention. Maybe you found something intriguing, but know nothing about it. This could be opportunity knocking at your door! Use that little spark of interest and do a quick internet search to learn a little more about that subject. You may find a whole new world opening up to you. Case in point, my archaeological thriller, Effigy, came about through research on an entirely different project!
Discovering a new subject can be exciting, but discovering a new genre can be challenging. Each genre has its own set of standards. When we write romance, for example, we know that our readers expect to find romantic elements within the story. If a romance writer chose to explore the thriller genre, perhaps that author can take something away from their new-found genre and punch out a great romantic thriller.
Blending elements from different genres isn't a new concept by any means, but I think our own personal writing can benefit by experimenting in different arenas. The goal isn't to become genre jumpers, but stepping out of our own comfort zones once in a while can provide valuable lessons. For example, while writing Effigy, certain areas of the story became heavy in action with little dialogue shared between the characters. To help remedy the situation, I learned how to turn the story into a screenplay. Because of the rigid structure of screenwriting (the story must be condensed to approximately120 pages - the equivalent of 120 minutes of an average movie – not to mention the majority of the story must be carried through dialogue), I not only found ways for my characters to talk through the action, but I also inadvertently discovered ways to cut the excess from the book and tighten the story. This was a huge advancement for someone who knew nothing about writing movies!
Researching a new subject and learning a new genre are just two ways you can refresh your interest and excitement for writing. Through learning comes knowing, which brings us right back to that golden rule. Maybe we're not breaking any rules after all!
Bio:
Theresa Danley lives along the hi-line of Montana where she keeps busy raising her family, riding horses and writing to satisfy her interest in history and archaeology. She is currently completing a sequel to EFFIGY.
Well, I would like to bring attention to the old cliché that rules are meant to be broken.
Okay, okay, I understand and agree that there is no substitute for knowledge and experience in the subject you are writing about. Your writing can only be enhanced by focusing on what you know. But may I suggest a subtle change of pace?
Could your writing benefit from what you don't know?
What I'm recommending is a simple change of scenery, especially if you've reached a stagnant point in your writing. So what kind of detour am I suggesting? Well, how about a couple of options, starting with good old fashioned research.
Wait! This isn't as painful as it sounds!
Perhaps there's been something you've heard or seen recently that caught your attention. Maybe you found something intriguing, but know nothing about it. This could be opportunity knocking at your door! Use that little spark of interest and do a quick internet search to learn a little more about that subject. You may find a whole new world opening up to you. Case in point, my archaeological thriller, Effigy, came about through research on an entirely different project!
Discovering a new subject can be exciting, but discovering a new genre can be challenging. Each genre has its own set of standards. When we write romance, for example, we know that our readers expect to find romantic elements within the story. If a romance writer chose to explore the thriller genre, perhaps that author can take something away from their new-found genre and punch out a great romantic thriller.
Blending elements from different genres isn't a new concept by any means, but I think our own personal writing can benefit by experimenting in different arenas. The goal isn't to become genre jumpers, but stepping out of our own comfort zones once in a while can provide valuable lessons. For example, while writing Effigy, certain areas of the story became heavy in action with little dialogue shared between the characters. To help remedy the situation, I learned how to turn the story into a screenplay. Because of the rigid structure of screenwriting (the story must be condensed to approximately120 pages - the equivalent of 120 minutes of an average movie – not to mention the majority of the story must be carried through dialogue), I not only found ways for my characters to talk through the action, but I also inadvertently discovered ways to cut the excess from the book and tighten the story. This was a huge advancement for someone who knew nothing about writing movies!
Researching a new subject and learning a new genre are just two ways you can refresh your interest and excitement for writing. Through learning comes knowing, which brings us right back to that golden rule. Maybe we're not breaking any rules after all!
Bio:
Theresa Danley lives along the hi-line of Montana where she keeps busy raising her family, riding horses and writing to satisfy her interest in history and archaeology. She is currently completing a sequel to EFFIGY.
October 17, 2010
Sharon Donovan Interview & Book Giveaway!
I'm thrilled to have Sharon back with us! As many of you know she has been battling some medical problems the past couple of months, so it is indeed a joy that she felt well enough to answer my questions. Let's begin with her bio:Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.
Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. Echo of a Raven, a narrative non-fiction about her struggles with diabetic retinopathy, received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee for best inspirational of the year. Other books by Sharon Donovan are Mask of the Betrayer, Touched by an Angel and Lasting Love. Her Biggest Fan and Charade of Hearts are coming soon from The Wild Rose Press. You can visit Sharon at http://www.sharonadonovan.com/ or write to her at: sharonad@comcast.net
[Anne] Sharon, you have a new book out, please tell us about it.
[Sharon] Her biggest Fan is a mystery suspense. Someone is stalking New York Times best-selling author Tess Kincaid. She receives a letter with the words scribbled in red. "I'm your biggest fan." And when she returns to live in her seaside manor after her father's suicide, she feels someone watching her from the bell tower. One night when the clock strikes midnight, Tess spots a flaming ball of fire rolling through a forest of grandfather redwoods and cedars, straight for her home. But when the fire department arrives, and there is no wildfire spreading through the hills, Tess questions her sanity.
[Anne] I've been hearing some wonderful things about your book, what inspired you to write this story?
[Sharon] My mother. She lived in a small coal mining town called shamrock where a ball of fire appeared on a hill every night at midnight. While the mystery was never solved, the legend lived on…a writer's dream.
[Anne] Sounds very spooky! How did you go about researching your book?
[Sharon] Research is everything, and I did my share for this book, including taking psychology classes to get inside the mind of a killer. I also questioned a homicide detective who described a crime scene investigation, types of guns used by the force and how to obtain a confession from a killer. I just kept pushing doors until they opened.
[Anne] Yes, research is very important, and it sounds like went far and beyond to gather yours. Do you have anything new in the works?
[Anne] YES OLIVER'S STORY COMING THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS CHARADE OF HEARTS
[Anne] Awesome! I know he's been very excited about it. If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Sharon] Tess as she has many of my personal traits as drinking hazelnut coffee and being a cat lover.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[Sharon] HAWAII BUT THAT'S OLIVER'S STORY
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Sharon] SUSPENSE
[Anne] Well of course! Okay, name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Sharon] FRIENDS INTERNET AND COFFEE
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Sharon] Never give up on a dream.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Sharon] http://www.sharonadonovan.com/
[Anne] And where can we purchase your wonderful books?
[Sharon] The wild rose press.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Sharon] I will give a download of HBF to one commenter.
[Anne] How generous! Thank, you Sharon! It is so good to have you back, Sharon. You really gave us all quite a scare. I'm glad you're doing better and I wish you much success with Her Biggest Fan. Okay folks, start commenting.
October 14, 2010
Writing Tip of the Week - BAIT 'EM, HOOK 'EM, AND KEEP 'EM by Angelica Hart and Zi
Anglers know that live bait will entice a silvery scaled beauty to bite. As writers we're baiting literary hooks, hoping to persuade a few readers to jump into our books. The hook should not be just the first sentence of a story but should exist throughout the story. Here are a variety of great ways to catch and keep a reader, for unlike anglers, writers try to never, ever let a reader's attention get away.
THE PERFECT CAST
Make the first sentence outrageous or terrifying or amusing, anything but lame or boring. This is your lure. It must sparkle. It must be irresistible.
Example: First line from CHASING YESTERDAY
The Atlantic whispered to Elizabeth in endless, hypnotic gushes of harmonic, consistent sound, ageless sound.
Notice this sets the tone, a haunting quality. Plus, it immediately identifies the heroine and gives a glimpse into her mood as well as the story's location.
JIGGLE THE LURE
Tempt them further with the first paragraph, don't give a reader a chance to glance away. Offer something amiss, something that will give chills, conflict, confusion, mystery, but mostly have them questioning.
Example: First paragraph from KILLER DOLLS
Under the blanket of a cloudy night an older rusty white Dodge van bounced along the dirt boreens adjacent to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Proceeding slowly, lights off, the driver was dressed in black, black hair jutting from a ski cap. The vehicle converged into a wooded area, it known for frequent fornication by lovers who had only a car and no money for a room. This evening, most likely because it was after 3 AM, it was vacant.
The reader will want to know why the driver is in an isolated area in the middle of the night, why are his lights off, why is he dressed in black? Inquiring readers want to know.
CHUM
To ensure they continue onward, keep your sentences clean, keep the tension sharp, remember active verbs, action words, and be aware of the writer's favorite mantra, show don't tell. You're chumming, leaving lush bits and pieces of bait that keep the reader questioning what is next.
Example from SNAKE DANCE
She would not, could not, allow herself to be caught, yet there was something inside, something that tugged at her, whispers from a time she chose to ignore that hinted at thrill, promised dark splendor.
This creates tension as well as empathy for the character. She is being hunted, and as much as she resists, there is also temptation. Which will she choose? Will she have a choice?
PRESURE BITE
The end of every chapter, and when possible each scene, there should be something to pull the reader along. Create a sense of urgency. The writer's enemy is the bookmark. You don't want a reader to find a convenient place to stop reading.
Example from THE GARROTE FACTOR
(A) She studied the contours of his chiseled lips, the searing depth of his gaze, and then back to his lips, slightly parted, inviting, tempting. All thought to resist fled. All sense hitched a ride with it. Without true volition, her lips crashed against his.
This is the perfect time for a chapter or a scene break. At which point, a writer should interject a totally different scene, one apart from the main characters.
This is part of the first paragraphs of the scene that followed:
(B) Though having knowledge of David Masters' reputed history the younger man appeared also to be in awe of him. That truth of David Masters should have easily challenged that awe with loathing because the man was evil.
Like a lure being trailed through the water, the reader will follow along, yearning to find out what happens after the kiss. At the same time, they begin to have an interest in the new characters. To keep the momentum going, scene (B) should end with a hook as well. See (C).
(C) "Join me or die. Let me be your guide. The world holds no place for a weak or contemptible person, a fool. Be one with me."
"I can't. I won't."
Pensive for one brief moment he nodded. "Rory," called Masters. The man quickly entered the office. "Our friend here has asked to be this evenings' entertainment."
Now, the reader will want to know what happened to the young man. This is a technique that will keep a reader hankering for more, scene after scene, chapter after chapter.
To reiterate, the hook is something that should be a constant throughout the book, keep the reader guessing, keep them wanting more until the very last line, and if you intend a sequel, even that last line should be a hook.
Reel 'em in!
Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS
SNAKE DANCE
CHASING GRAVITAS
THE FABLE OF SIN-SIN-CINDERELLA Series
angelicahartandzi@yahoo.com
angelicahartandzi.com
Champagne Books: http://www.champagnebooks.com/
THE PERFECT CAST
Make the first sentence outrageous or terrifying or amusing, anything but lame or boring. This is your lure. It must sparkle. It must be irresistible.
Example: First line from CHASING YESTERDAY
The Atlantic whispered to Elizabeth in endless, hypnotic gushes of harmonic, consistent sound, ageless sound.
Notice this sets the tone, a haunting quality. Plus, it immediately identifies the heroine and gives a glimpse into her mood as well as the story's location.
JIGGLE THE LURE
Tempt them further with the first paragraph, don't give a reader a chance to glance away. Offer something amiss, something that will give chills, conflict, confusion, mystery, but mostly have them questioning.
Example: First paragraph from KILLER DOLLS
Under the blanket of a cloudy night an older rusty white Dodge van bounced along the dirt boreens adjacent to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Proceeding slowly, lights off, the driver was dressed in black, black hair jutting from a ski cap. The vehicle converged into a wooded area, it known for frequent fornication by lovers who had only a car and no money for a room. This evening, most likely because it was after 3 AM, it was vacant.
The reader will want to know why the driver is in an isolated area in the middle of the night, why are his lights off, why is he dressed in black? Inquiring readers want to know.
CHUM
To ensure they continue onward, keep your sentences clean, keep the tension sharp, remember active verbs, action words, and be aware of the writer's favorite mantra, show don't tell. You're chumming, leaving lush bits and pieces of bait that keep the reader questioning what is next.
Example from SNAKE DANCE
She would not, could not, allow herself to be caught, yet there was something inside, something that tugged at her, whispers from a time she chose to ignore that hinted at thrill, promised dark splendor.
This creates tension as well as empathy for the character. She is being hunted, and as much as she resists, there is also temptation. Which will she choose? Will she have a choice?
PRESURE BITE
The end of every chapter, and when possible each scene, there should be something to pull the reader along. Create a sense of urgency. The writer's enemy is the bookmark. You don't want a reader to find a convenient place to stop reading.
Example from THE GARROTE FACTOR
(A) She studied the contours of his chiseled lips, the searing depth of his gaze, and then back to his lips, slightly parted, inviting, tempting. All thought to resist fled. All sense hitched a ride with it. Without true volition, her lips crashed against his.
This is the perfect time for a chapter or a scene break. At which point, a writer should interject a totally different scene, one apart from the main characters.
This is part of the first paragraphs of the scene that followed:
(B) Though having knowledge of David Masters' reputed history the younger man appeared also to be in awe of him. That truth of David Masters should have easily challenged that awe with loathing because the man was evil.
Like a lure being trailed through the water, the reader will follow along, yearning to find out what happens after the kiss. At the same time, they begin to have an interest in the new characters. To keep the momentum going, scene (B) should end with a hook as well. See (C).
(C) "Join me or die. Let me be your guide. The world holds no place for a weak or contemptible person, a fool. Be one with me."
"I can't. I won't."
Pensive for one brief moment he nodded. "Rory," called Masters. The man quickly entered the office. "Our friend here has asked to be this evenings' entertainment."
Now, the reader will want to know what happened to the young man. This is a technique that will keep a reader hankering for more, scene after scene, chapter after chapter.
To reiterate, the hook is something that should be a constant throughout the book, keep the reader guessing, keep them wanting more until the very last line, and if you intend a sequel, even that last line should be a hook.
Reel 'em in!
Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS
SNAKE DANCE
CHASING GRAVITAS
THE FABLE OF SIN-SIN-CINDERELLA Series
angelicahartandzi@yahoo.com
angelicahartandzi.com
Champagne Books: http://www.champagnebooks.com/
October 13, 2010
Fire and Ash receives Best Book ratings from LASR!
Fennel at Long and Short Reviews gave Fire and Ash its highest rating. He's a snippet - "This is a beautiful, yet hard-hitting story, fluently written, presenting characters you fall in love with, and ensures you'll keep it on your shelf permanently and re-read often, which is why I have given it a Best Book rating." Read the whole review here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/10/fire-and-ash-by-anne-patrick.htmlThank you for the awesome review, Fennel!
For those of you who have been curious about my progress on A Familiar Evil, I finally finished the first draft. Whew! And it's going to be a doosy. A funny note – I had to change my heroine's name three times *grinning*. The reason being I'd already used the name Kate, well Katie, in Sabotage. So I changed it to Morgan...then I realized I'd used that name in Journey to Redemption. The heroine's name is now Jordan. And yes, I've checked, I haven't used it before. Tip to future writers out there, always keep track of your character's names. I now have a chart with all the ones I've used.
All my edits on coming releases are finished too. Yaay! Now I can get started on the second book in my 'Wounded Heroes Series'. I'm really excited about this series. Most of the books take place on a fictional island off the coast of Maine called Dauphine Island. No, I'm not joining the paranormal frenzy *grin*. You won't find any vampires or wolves. All of my characters are human. Each book will be a stand-alone with previous characters making cameo appearances. For instance, Hope & Nick from my Christmas short story (coming in Dec) will be in the series. Each story is about a wounded hero. For instance Deadly Foe is the story about a former army medic struggling with PTSD who has someone trying to kill her. Not all are military heroes, though, some are in law enforcement or other emergency services.
Well, that's all the news I have so I'm going to get off here and get back to work. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week.
Happy reading!
Anne
October 12, 2010
Check Out My New Book Trailers!
Journey to Redemption – Available now at most online bookstores!
Sabotage – Coming in November!
Christmas with Hope – Coming in December!
Sabotage – Coming in November!
Christmas with Hope – Coming in December!
October 10, 2010
Author Interview w/Miss Mae
Author Bio: All of Miss Mae's romantic mysteries, "Said the Spider to the Fly", "When the Bough Breaks", "Dove Island", and "See No Evil, My Pretty Lady" are award winning best sellers. Her latest, "Catch Me If You Can" has already received a top rated five-star review. Tantalizing trailers, and more information, is readily available at her website: www.missmaesite.com Miss Mae also enjoys writing humor and non-fiction articles. Besides her monthly contributions to the ezine American Chronicle, some of her publications can be found in The Front Porch Magazine, Good Old Days, and WritersWeekly. Her alter ego, M.M. also has her first children's/humor book, "The Mishaps of Gum Drop Island" available in digital download at Smashwords, and now in print at Amazon.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[MM] My newest book is "It's Extraordinary, My Dear Winifred". This is the latest version of my previously titled, "It's Elementary, My Dear Winifred". I removed it from the market for a short time while I re-edited. In the process I also changed the title.
Here is its blurb:
Do bizarre and unusual mysteries only occur in imaginary tales?
Amateur sleuth Winifred Merryweather, along with dashing newspaper reporter Remington Hawthorne, find themselves in the throes of a real life mystery when they're plunged in the bowels of a dark and ancient castle. Booby-traps abound with disappearing floors, hidden sliding panels, and spider-webbed shadowy corridors.
Danger threatens to steal Winifred's very breath -- or is that the annoying allure of Remington's flirtatious charms?
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[MM] I absolutely adore mysteries, always have since I was a young girl thrilled with the secrets of the Nancy Drew stories. Maturing more so in my teens, I discovered the Victorian tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm a great Sherlock Holmes fan. So, with the Winifred story, I contrived to create a puzzler set in the times and days that Doyle created.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[MM] I have a wonderful crit partner, author Hywela Lyn (her website). Since she lives in England, but was born Welsh, she provided all the gems and details I needed with regard to scenery, certain phrases, etc. Also, I'd like to mention that when I needed detail for the clothing of the period I questioned Brian L. Porter, author of "A Study in Red -- The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper". He's an expert on such matters.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[MM] A novella titled, "Miss Penelope's Letters". It's about halfway written.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[MM] I love all my heroines, of course, but if I could only be ONE of them, I'd have to choose Darlene from "When the Bough Breaks". And you ask why? Hmm, you've not read about her love interest, Parker Shane? Ooh, la la, I'd LOVE to be in Darlene's shoes when Parker makes his moves! LOL
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[MM] Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow, where do I sign the papers??? LOL Shew, this is hard as I'm not knowledgeable about today's stars. Who would portray Winifred? Let's see…she may be a bit old for the part, but someone as attractive as Julia Roberts. Robert Downey, Jr. (too old as well, I guess) for the part of Remington. But at least you can get some visual of how these characters should look.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[MM] I love James Herriott's books. They're wonderful, and so delightfully amusing.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[MM] Chocolate, decaf coffee, my pets!
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[MM] I am at all sorts of places. My website (for both Miss Mae, and M.M.), Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Coffee Time Romance, LinkedIn, etc.
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[MM] They are all in print I'm happy to say. You can purchase them off Amazon, though I'm also offering autographed copies straight from my website. For digital ebooks, some of them can be found at Smashwords.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[MM] Yes! Please let your readers know that I am a huge animal lover. Because of this, I have a regular Monday feature called "Doggy Tales". That's the title, it doesn't mean all the articles are about strictly dogs. I share little anecdotes about my canines because that's the only animals I currently have. But I would love for others to contribute stories about their wonderful friends. If they want the world to know about that special companion in their life, please write me and I'll get it on my blog ASAP.
Thanks for having me, Anne!
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[MM] My newest book is "It's Extraordinary, My Dear Winifred". This is the latest version of my previously titled, "It's Elementary, My Dear Winifred". I removed it from the market for a short time while I re-edited. In the process I also changed the title.
Here is its blurb:
Do bizarre and unusual mysteries only occur in imaginary tales?
Amateur sleuth Winifred Merryweather, along with dashing newspaper reporter Remington Hawthorne, find themselves in the throes of a real life mystery when they're plunged in the bowels of a dark and ancient castle. Booby-traps abound with disappearing floors, hidden sliding panels, and spider-webbed shadowy corridors.
Danger threatens to steal Winifred's very breath -- or is that the annoying allure of Remington's flirtatious charms?
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[MM] I absolutely adore mysteries, always have since I was a young girl thrilled with the secrets of the Nancy Drew stories. Maturing more so in my teens, I discovered the Victorian tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm a great Sherlock Holmes fan. So, with the Winifred story, I contrived to create a puzzler set in the times and days that Doyle created.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[MM] I have a wonderful crit partner, author Hywela Lyn (her website). Since she lives in England, but was born Welsh, she provided all the gems and details I needed with regard to scenery, certain phrases, etc. Also, I'd like to mention that when I needed detail for the clothing of the period I questioned Brian L. Porter, author of "A Study in Red -- The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper". He's an expert on such matters.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[MM] A novella titled, "Miss Penelope's Letters". It's about halfway written.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[MM] I love all my heroines, of course, but if I could only be ONE of them, I'd have to choose Darlene from "When the Bough Breaks". And you ask why? Hmm, you've not read about her love interest, Parker Shane? Ooh, la la, I'd LOVE to be in Darlene's shoes when Parker makes his moves! LOL
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[MM] Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow, where do I sign the papers??? LOL Shew, this is hard as I'm not knowledgeable about today's stars. Who would portray Winifred? Let's see…she may be a bit old for the part, but someone as attractive as Julia Roberts. Robert Downey, Jr. (too old as well, I guess) for the part of Remington. But at least you can get some visual of how these characters should look.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[MM] I love James Herriott's books. They're wonderful, and so delightfully amusing.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[MM] Chocolate, decaf coffee, my pets!
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[MM] I am at all sorts of places. My website (for both Miss Mae, and M.M.), Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Coffee Time Romance, LinkedIn, etc.
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[MM] They are all in print I'm happy to say. You can purchase them off Amazon, though I'm also offering autographed copies straight from my website. For digital ebooks, some of them can be found at Smashwords.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[MM] Yes! Please let your readers know that I am a huge animal lover. Because of this, I have a regular Monday feature called "Doggy Tales". That's the title, it doesn't mean all the articles are about strictly dogs. I share little anecdotes about my canines because that's the only animals I currently have. But I would love for others to contribute stories about their wonderful friends. If they want the world to know about that special companion in their life, please write me and I'll get it on my blog ASAP.
Thanks for having me, Anne!
October 7, 2010
Writing Tip of the Week: Making the Scene by Fran Shaff
Remembering a few basic essentials about writing scenes can be very helpful when crafting a new story.
Essential 1. Every scene needs a goal.
Essential 2. Scenes start with conflict.
Essential 3. Scenes end with conflict.
Essential 4. Scenes MUST move the story ahead.
Essential 5. Usually it's best to use only one point of view per scene.
Look for these scene essentials in this excerpt from A PARTNER'S PROMISE, my award-winning young peoples' novel. Previous to this scene, Axel, a homeless boy in 1880s New York had been in a fight. He'd been injured and unable to work to earn his food so he stole a loaf of bread. He was arrested.
Axel appeared before a judge later in the afternoon the day he was arrested.
Judge Thomas, a stern-looking man with glasses and a mostly-bald head, studied a paper as Axel stood silently before him.
"This report says you stole a loaf of bread," Judge Thomas said, peering over the top of his glasses at Axel. "Is that right, boy? Did you steal a loaf of bread?"
"Yes, sir," Axel said, looking down and placing his hand over his stomach.
"Speak up, boy. I can't hear what you're saying!" Judge Thomas shouted.
Axel raised his eyes and looked at the judge. "Yes, sir. I was very hungry."
"Hungry, were you? That's no excuse for breaking the law. If you want to eat, you should work for your bread. You young people must learn." Judge Thomas stared hard at him. "What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. O'Grady?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I do work. I'm a newsie, but another boy beat up my friend and me and took our money. I have been too hurt to work. I ran out of food, and I was so hungry, sir." Axel prayed Judge Thomas would accept his explanation and give him a chance to pay for the bread when he could work again.
"I'm not your mama, boy. Your problems are your problems, not mine," Judge Thomas said firmly. "If you steal you go to jail. It's as simple as that. Besides," he added, running his gaze over Axel carefully, "if you got yourself beat up, it's your own fault. You Irish are always causing trouble."
Axel wanted to cause the narrow-minded judge some trouble right now, but he couldn't. Instead, he swallowed back his anger and meekly replied, "Please, your honor, sir, please don't send me to jail. I'll pay for the bread."
"I thought you didn't have any money."
"I don't, but I'll work again soon. I'll pay for the bread when I can work again."
"Not good enough," the judge said, shaking his head. He looked at the papers before him. He rubbed his chin and thought a moment before he went on. "You got any folks?"
Axel shook his head. "My parents are dead."
Judge Thomas nodded slowly. "I suspected as much," he said, staring down at Axel over his glasses. He stroked his hand along his jaw and narrowed his focus on Axel. "Have you heard about the trains which take orphans west to be placed out in new homes?"
He not only sold newspapers, he read them too. He'd seen stories about city children finding new homes in the country. "Yes, sir, I know of them."
The judge took off his glasses. "If you'll agree to go to the Children's Home and wait there to be sent west on the next train, I won't send you to jail."
Axel felt as though an anvil had fallen on him. Jail or leave New York City. How could he stand either one? No matter which he chose he'd have to leave Nate.
"Well, boy? What will it be?"
He decided there was only one choice he could make, and it wasn't jail. "I'll go to the Children's Home, sir, and take the train west." He spoke in a firm, decisive voice. He wanted to be sure the judge wouldn't change his mind and put him back in jail.
"Fine," the judge said, putting his glasses back on. He wrote something on his papers. When he finished writing he looked up at Axel and pointed his finger. "Don't you try to run off either. If I see you in this court again you'll go to jail for sure." The judge turned Axel over to a police officer and told him to take the boy to the Children's Home right away.
Scene essentials 1. While the goal is not revealed until late in the scene, it's easy to see Axel's goal is to stay out of jail.
Scene essentials 2. Conflict doesn't rise much higher than that between a judge and an accused person.
Scene essentials 3. Conflict at the end of the scene is even higher than the beginning. Though Axel has achieved his goal, staying out of jail, it has cost him his best friend.
Scene essentials 4. There is no question this scene moves the story ahead. It evokes lots of questions for readers, but the main one is: what will happen to Axel when he leaves everything familiar and goes to a strange new land?
Scene essentials 5. The entire scene is told through Axel's point of view.
With writing, as it is with many other pursuits, it is always important to remember basics.
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Paperback:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Partners-Promis...
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Pa...
E-Book:
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Pa...
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Essential 1. Every scene needs a goal.
Essential 2. Scenes start with conflict.
Essential 3. Scenes end with conflict.
Essential 4. Scenes MUST move the story ahead.
Essential 5. Usually it's best to use only one point of view per scene.
Look for these scene essentials in this excerpt from A PARTNER'S PROMISE, my award-winning young peoples' novel. Previous to this scene, Axel, a homeless boy in 1880s New York had been in a fight. He'd been injured and unable to work to earn his food so he stole a loaf of bread. He was arrested.
Axel appeared before a judge later in the afternoon the day he was arrested.
Judge Thomas, a stern-looking man with glasses and a mostly-bald head, studied a paper as Axel stood silently before him.
"This report says you stole a loaf of bread," Judge Thomas said, peering over the top of his glasses at Axel. "Is that right, boy? Did you steal a loaf of bread?"
"Yes, sir," Axel said, looking down and placing his hand over his stomach.
"Speak up, boy. I can't hear what you're saying!" Judge Thomas shouted.
Axel raised his eyes and looked at the judge. "Yes, sir. I was very hungry."
"Hungry, were you? That's no excuse for breaking the law. If you want to eat, you should work for your bread. You young people must learn." Judge Thomas stared hard at him. "What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. O'Grady?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I do work. I'm a newsie, but another boy beat up my friend and me and took our money. I have been too hurt to work. I ran out of food, and I was so hungry, sir." Axel prayed Judge Thomas would accept his explanation and give him a chance to pay for the bread when he could work again.
"I'm not your mama, boy. Your problems are your problems, not mine," Judge Thomas said firmly. "If you steal you go to jail. It's as simple as that. Besides," he added, running his gaze over Axel carefully, "if you got yourself beat up, it's your own fault. You Irish are always causing trouble."
Axel wanted to cause the narrow-minded judge some trouble right now, but he couldn't. Instead, he swallowed back his anger and meekly replied, "Please, your honor, sir, please don't send me to jail. I'll pay for the bread."
"I thought you didn't have any money."
"I don't, but I'll work again soon. I'll pay for the bread when I can work again."
"Not good enough," the judge said, shaking his head. He looked at the papers before him. He rubbed his chin and thought a moment before he went on. "You got any folks?"
Axel shook his head. "My parents are dead."
Judge Thomas nodded slowly. "I suspected as much," he said, staring down at Axel over his glasses. He stroked his hand along his jaw and narrowed his focus on Axel. "Have you heard about the trains which take orphans west to be placed out in new homes?"
He not only sold newspapers, he read them too. He'd seen stories about city children finding new homes in the country. "Yes, sir, I know of them."
The judge took off his glasses. "If you'll agree to go to the Children's Home and wait there to be sent west on the next train, I won't send you to jail."
Axel felt as though an anvil had fallen on him. Jail or leave New York City. How could he stand either one? No matter which he chose he'd have to leave Nate.
"Well, boy? What will it be?"
He decided there was only one choice he could make, and it wasn't jail. "I'll go to the Children's Home, sir, and take the train west." He spoke in a firm, decisive voice. He wanted to be sure the judge wouldn't change his mind and put him back in jail.
"Fine," the judge said, putting his glasses back on. He wrote something on his papers. When he finished writing he looked up at Axel and pointed his finger. "Don't you try to run off either. If I see you in this court again you'll go to jail for sure." The judge turned Axel over to a police officer and told him to take the boy to the Children's Home right away.
Scene essentials 1. While the goal is not revealed until late in the scene, it's easy to see Axel's goal is to stay out of jail.
Scene essentials 2. Conflict doesn't rise much higher than that between a judge and an accused person.
Scene essentials 3. Conflict at the end of the scene is even higher than the beginning. Though Axel has achieved his goal, staying out of jail, it has cost him his best friend.
Scene essentials 4. There is no question this scene moves the story ahead. It evokes lots of questions for readers, but the main one is: what will happen to Axel when he leaves everything familiar and goes to a strange new land?
Scene essentials 5. The entire scene is told through Axel's point of view.
With writing, as it is with many other pursuits, it is always important to remember basics.
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Paperback:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Partners-Promis...
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Pa...
E-Book:
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Pa...
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
October 3, 2010
Author Interview with K.J. Dahlen
Please join me in welcoming mystery and thriller author K.J. Dahlen. Here's Kim's bio: Kim lives in a small town (population495) in Wisconsin. From her deck she can see the Mississippi River on one side and the bluffs, where eagles live and nest on the other side. She lives with her husband Dave and dog Sammy. Her two children are grown and one has children of her own and for that fact she feels blessed. She loves to watch people and that has helped her with her writing. She loves to create characters and put them in a troubling situation and just sit back and let them do all the work. They surprise even her at times. They take on a life of their own and the twists and turns become a story. She found she liked mystery/thrillers the best. She likes to keep my readers guessing until the very end of the book. Kim writes under the pen name: K.J. Dahlen
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Kim] I grew up a reader. I read everything and anything to discover what I enjoyed the most. The only problem was I enjoyed everything. When the plots all started to become the same, I thought I could write a more intriguing story and that's what I did.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Kim] The Prophet, I got the idea for the Prophet from a simple question… "Has he asked you to convert yet?" I filled in the rest of the book from that question. I filled in the outline in one weekend and the book came together quickly.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Kim] I had the first part of this story done but I realized it needed something more, I wasn't quite finished. Then I realized I needed to continue the story so I wrote the second part and everything came together nicely.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Kim] I do the outline first then if I need any questions answered I look it up. Questions like, what is the area like where the stories take place, or how to forge a sword, or police procedure.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Kim] Yes I actually have more than one something in the works- Whenever I get an idea for a new book I have to write it down. I have several more books in the works that I hope to get the chance to work on.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Kim] I am a plotter, but the plot can and often does change as the story unfolds. At some point the characters take over and I never know what they will come up with. Sometimes they take the story in an all together different track.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Kim] I can't choose just one, but if I had to I would choose to be Zoey, a forensic anthropologist. She can take a skull and create a face of the victim. She speaks for the dead in a way no one else can. She is in a couple of my books yet to be placed with a publisher.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[Kim] I would go to St. Augustine, Florida. I've set a book up down there and I would like to see the place for background research. The internet has the facts but I'd like to get the feel of the place. That's just as important if not more important.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Kim] The Prophet- Michael Weatherly- he has charm like the character.
Michael Roanne- I'd like to see David Boreanaz- he's a strong character.
Rheta – Angie Harmon- she can be a bitch when she wants to be yet soft when she needs to be.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Kim] I like anything with a good plot.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Kim] I would have a hard time giving up my coffee, Dove Chocolates; and a good idea for a story
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Kim] Never give up and take a critique as another way to help you grow as a writer. Sometimes what the critic is telling you will work, sometimes it doesn't but at least try.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Kim] www.kjdahlen.com My books can be found at www.roguephoenixpress.com and www.buckscountypublishing.com and at www.avalon.com You can also find them on Amazon
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Kim] at www.roguephoenixpress.com; www.buckscountypublishing.com; www.amazon.com; and in December @ www.avalonbooks.com
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Kim] I love being a writer and the feeling I got when I became a published author was something I'll never forget. When I held my first book in my hand the feeling only intensified. By the end of this year I'll have ten books out there and I hope next year I'll have even more.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Kim] I grew up a reader. I read everything and anything to discover what I enjoyed the most. The only problem was I enjoyed everything. When the plots all started to become the same, I thought I could write a more intriguing story and that's what I did.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Kim] The Prophet, I got the idea for the Prophet from a simple question… "Has he asked you to convert yet?" I filled in the rest of the book from that question. I filled in the outline in one weekend and the book came together quickly.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Kim] I had the first part of this story done but I realized it needed something more, I wasn't quite finished. Then I realized I needed to continue the story so I wrote the second part and everything came together nicely.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Kim] I do the outline first then if I need any questions answered I look it up. Questions like, what is the area like where the stories take place, or how to forge a sword, or police procedure.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Kim] Yes I actually have more than one something in the works- Whenever I get an idea for a new book I have to write it down. I have several more books in the works that I hope to get the chance to work on.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Kim] I am a plotter, but the plot can and often does change as the story unfolds. At some point the characters take over and I never know what they will come up with. Sometimes they take the story in an all together different track.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Kim] I can't choose just one, but if I had to I would choose to be Zoey, a forensic anthropologist. She can take a skull and create a face of the victim. She speaks for the dead in a way no one else can. She is in a couple of my books yet to be placed with a publisher.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[Kim] I would go to St. Augustine, Florida. I've set a book up down there and I would like to see the place for background research. The internet has the facts but I'd like to get the feel of the place. That's just as important if not more important.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Kim] The Prophet- Michael Weatherly- he has charm like the character.
Michael Roanne- I'd like to see David Boreanaz- he's a strong character.
Rheta – Angie Harmon- she can be a bitch when she wants to be yet soft when she needs to be.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Kim] I like anything with a good plot.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Kim] I would have a hard time giving up my coffee, Dove Chocolates; and a good idea for a story
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Kim] Never give up and take a critique as another way to help you grow as a writer. Sometimes what the critic is telling you will work, sometimes it doesn't but at least try.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Kim] www.kjdahlen.com My books can be found at www.roguephoenixpress.com and www.buckscountypublishing.com and at www.avalon.com You can also find them on Amazon
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Kim] at www.roguephoenixpress.com; www.buckscountypublishing.com; www.amazon.com; and in December @ www.avalonbooks.com
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Kim] I love being a writer and the feeling I got when I became a published author was something I'll never forget. When I held my first book in my hand the feeling only intensified. By the end of this year I'll have ten books out there and I hope next year I'll have even more.
September 30, 2010
Choosing Active or Passive Voice - Why Should We? By Rebecca J. Vickery
Editors and Publishers always say: "SHOW, don't tell!"
Why? What is the big deal?
The simple answer I received over and over again: "Our readers want action. They don't want to be told what happened, they want to be drawn into the action. They want to escape into the story and experience it through the characters."
Active and Passive Voices are the difference between showing and telling. What are Active and Passive Voice?
Active voice, when written well, draws the reader in, lets them share in the story, and involves and excites the emotions. It SHOWS what happens. The characters live the story and take the reader along.
Passive voice, through the use of passive verbs and sentence construction, pushes our readers back, removes them from the action, and makes them sit in their chair while being TOLD what happened.
A very smart lady once asked me, "Would you rather swim in the pool or sit on the side and watch others have fun in the water?" Her point being: Active is swimming in the pool and Passive is watching others swim in the water. A simplistic way of saying it, but I'm a simple kind of gal. My quandary is I really do think there is the odd time when watching is better, but I must admit, normally I'd rather be swimming.
Then is Passive Voice always wrong? Should I always choose Active Voice over Passive Voice? Many of my sentences just don't sound right without a "was" or an "is" or even a "has been".
This answer by Dennis G Jerz (http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/grammar/act-pass.htm) was one of the easiest for me to grasp:
The Passive Voice Is not Wrong - Passive verbs are not automatically wrong. When used rarely and deliberately, the passive voice serves an important purpose. Use them to best effect in these instances:
When you wish to downplay the action: example - Mistakes will be made, and lives will be lost; the sad truth is learned anew by each generation.
When you wish to downplay the actor: example - Three grams of reagent 'A' were added to a beaker of 10% saline solution. (The writer avoided switching to first person involving the use of "I" by using Passive Voice.)
When the actor is unknown: example - The victim was approached from behind and hit over the head with a salami.
How do we, as writers, make sure we are showing rather than telling?
A short refresher on verbs and sentence structure might help. After all, it's been a while since high school and/or college English for most of us.
Choosing Active or Passive Verbs? The voice of a verb indicates the strength of the subject in a sentence. It tells us whether that subject takes action or receives action. There are two possible voices: active and passive. In the active voice, the stronger form, the subject of the sentence takes the action of the verb. Our army won the battle. The subject army is strong since it takes action. This sentence uses the active voice. In the passive voice, the weaker form, the subject is acted upon. The battle was won by our army. In this sentence, the subject battle is weak because it receives the action of the army. It takes no action of its own —a battle cannot win itself — and so the sentence uses the passive voice.
Learn to recognize the differences in Active/Passive sentence structure.
Mr. Jerz (http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/grammar/act-pass.htm) once again had some useful information:
How to Recognize Active and Passive Sentences
Find the subject (the main character of the sentence).
Find the main verb (the action that the sentence identifies).
Examine the relationship between the subject and main verb.
Does the subject perform the action of the main verb? (If so, the sentence is active.)
Does the subject sit there while something else (named or unnamed) performs an action on it? (If so, the sentence is passive.)
Can't tell? If the main verb is a linking verb ("is," "was," "are," "seems (to be)," "becomes" etc.), then the verb functions like an equals sign; there is no action involved -- it merely describes a state of being. The sentence is neither Active or Passive (but in most cases editors and publishers consider them passive as they show no action - use these sparingly in creative writing)
The most helpful advice is to write. Write a short paragraph then dissect what you write as above and see if it is active or passive and why. See which you like best and which gets your message across to your readers.
Happy Writing!
Rebecca J. Vickery can be found at:
http://romancewithatwist.com/
http://rebeccajvickery.com/
http://victorytalespress.yolasite.com/
Why? What is the big deal?
The simple answer I received over and over again: "Our readers want action. They don't want to be told what happened, they want to be drawn into the action. They want to escape into the story and experience it through the characters."
Active and Passive Voices are the difference between showing and telling. What are Active and Passive Voice?
Active voice, when written well, draws the reader in, lets them share in the story, and involves and excites the emotions. It SHOWS what happens. The characters live the story and take the reader along.
Passive voice, through the use of passive verbs and sentence construction, pushes our readers back, removes them from the action, and makes them sit in their chair while being TOLD what happened.
A very smart lady once asked me, "Would you rather swim in the pool or sit on the side and watch others have fun in the water?" Her point being: Active is swimming in the pool and Passive is watching others swim in the water. A simplistic way of saying it, but I'm a simple kind of gal. My quandary is I really do think there is the odd time when watching is better, but I must admit, normally I'd rather be swimming.
Then is Passive Voice always wrong? Should I always choose Active Voice over Passive Voice? Many of my sentences just don't sound right without a "was" or an "is" or even a "has been".
This answer by Dennis G Jerz (http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/grammar/act-pass.htm) was one of the easiest for me to grasp:
The Passive Voice Is not Wrong - Passive verbs are not automatically wrong. When used rarely and deliberately, the passive voice serves an important purpose. Use them to best effect in these instances:
When you wish to downplay the action: example - Mistakes will be made, and lives will be lost; the sad truth is learned anew by each generation.
When you wish to downplay the actor: example - Three grams of reagent 'A' were added to a beaker of 10% saline solution. (The writer avoided switching to first person involving the use of "I" by using Passive Voice.)
When the actor is unknown: example - The victim was approached from behind and hit over the head with a salami.
How do we, as writers, make sure we are showing rather than telling?
A short refresher on verbs and sentence structure might help. After all, it's been a while since high school and/or college English for most of us.
Choosing Active or Passive Verbs? The voice of a verb indicates the strength of the subject in a sentence. It tells us whether that subject takes action or receives action. There are two possible voices: active and passive. In the active voice, the stronger form, the subject of the sentence takes the action of the verb. Our army won the battle. The subject army is strong since it takes action. This sentence uses the active voice. In the passive voice, the weaker form, the subject is acted upon. The battle was won by our army. In this sentence, the subject battle is weak because it receives the action of the army. It takes no action of its own —a battle cannot win itself — and so the sentence uses the passive voice.
Learn to recognize the differences in Active/Passive sentence structure.
Mr. Jerz (http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/grammar/act-pass.htm) once again had some useful information:
How to Recognize Active and Passive Sentences
Find the subject (the main character of the sentence).
Find the main verb (the action that the sentence identifies).
Examine the relationship between the subject and main verb.
Does the subject perform the action of the main verb? (If so, the sentence is active.)
Does the subject sit there while something else (named or unnamed) performs an action on it? (If so, the sentence is passive.)
Can't tell? If the main verb is a linking verb ("is," "was," "are," "seems (to be)," "becomes" etc.), then the verb functions like an equals sign; there is no action involved -- it merely describes a state of being. The sentence is neither Active or Passive (but in most cases editors and publishers consider them passive as they show no action - use these sparingly in creative writing)
The most helpful advice is to write. Write a short paragraph then dissect what you write as above and see if it is active or passive and why. See which you like best and which gets your message across to your readers.
Happy Writing!
Rebecca J. Vickery can be found at:
http://romancewithatwist.com/
http://rebeccajvickery.com/
http://victorytalespress.yolasite.com/
