James Ross's Blog, page 10

Which Candidate is the Best Character?

 For those of you who enjoy the political process, or just those of you who live within the borders of Florida and have seen an endless stream of campaign commercials on your television over the past week, you know that today is the Florida presidential primary.  The four men who are still contenders for the Republican nomination are hoping for votes from the panhandle down to Miami Beach.

Politicians are featured in all of my novels, as I find their egos and their grandstanding to be fascinating and they make for great literary characters.  So, here is my question for today.  If you could select one of the four men on the Florida ballot to use as a character in your next book, who would it be?

Will you choose former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who seems to be the favored candidate although no one seems too excited about it?  He's got that clean cut, conservative appeal that makes him a stately patriarch for a family.

How about Newt Gingrich?  His critics argue that you are never really sure what is going to come out of his mouth next, and that could make for some great moments in a novel!  And, of course there is the marital history that is simply a literary goldmine.

Another option is Rick Santorum.  He is calm and consistent.  You probably aren't going to dig up a bunch of dirt on this guy, so perhaps he would make a good straight man next to some of your more wild characters.

And, of course, there's Representative Ron Paul.  If he ever showed at the clubhouse in one of my novels, I'm sure that some of the regulars would love to sit around and rail against the government with him!

So, who's your pick?  I'm not asking for the one who would get your vote; I just want to know which one offers the most writing inspiration!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

The Meaning of Names: Football Edition

Tomorrow, there will be two football games played to determine who gets to participate in Superbowl XLVI in Indianapolis on February 5.  Even though golf is my game of choice, I love all sports and often incorporate athletics into my books.  Thinking about the teams who will be involved in these two matches, I had some thoughts about the "what's in a name" concept and how these four organizations can tap into their own personality traits based on their team nickname.

The 49ers -- The name conjures up images of the Wild West, of rugged men who took to an unknown part of our land in hopes of striking it rich.  They don't use the traditional playbook because they are looking for new ways to win, and they will elbow the opposition out of the way to end up with the spoils at the end of the day.

The Giants -- Men on this team are expected to stand above the rest.  Whether 5' 7" or 6' 3", they just somehow appear larger than most with their bravado and their talent.  I picture large human shadows covering the field when these guys run out of the locker room. 

The Patriots -- These guys stand for something.  They are looking to establish a team that is stronger, braver, and smarter than the rest.  And, apparently, if they look to their head coach as an example, they are fighting for the freedom to cut of the bottom halves of the sleeves on every sweatshirt they own.

The Ravens -- Despite the fact that this team is led by a defensive player who allegedly attacked someone with a knife, their name actually is one that makes me think of quiet introspection.  They are named for a poet who looked deep into the human psyche and forced his readers to confront terror.  So, maybe the guy with the knife is fitting after all!

Don't worry.  I won't watch the games tomorrow analyzing the teams, but it is interesting to think about the meaning of names. 

What is the meaning behind the name of your favorite sports team?  What images does this create for you?

Great Characters on the Screen

I have written several blog posts recently about what makes for an interesting character.  One of my favorite parts of crafting a novel is coming up with men and women who evoke a strong reaction from the readers.  This can be both a sense of pulling for a character to succeed and cheering when he triumphs over life's greatest battles, or rooting against a person who displays despicable behavior and embodies some of the worst stereotypes he hold in our society.  Either reaction means I have done my job!

Today I want to step outside the world of literature.  Whether or not we want to admit it, many of us have thought about what it would be like to have the characters in our books brought to life on the large or small screen.  So, I want to know -- who is a character either on TV or in the movies that has made a lasting impression on you?  Who have you absolutely loved or loathed?  Who made you think, "I wish I had come up with that guy"? 

How about Gordon Gekko from the 1980s classic movie Wall Street ?  Just try putting a poster of him in front of the Occupy protesters!  More than twenty yearse after the film was made, he represents everything they despise, and he does it brilliantly. 

What about Barney from How I Met Your Mother ?  He's a character who on the surface seems to be nothing but a womanizer, but also reveals himself to be a dedicated friend with a soft side.  I like when different layers of a character are exposed seamlessly and work together to make the person more "real." 

Or, there's Olivia Benson from Law and Order: SVU .  We slowly learn of her troubled childhood and the emotional walls she must create now in order to do her job, and I try to take the same approach with my characters.  Revealing parts of the character a little at a time keeps the reader engaged and replicates our experiences with people we know, as we slowly build relationships in our own lives.

Now it's your turn.  Share with us a character who you think is particularly well crafted and why!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/  
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey  

Marion "Mayor for Life" Barry Will Have His Story Told on HBO

Those who have read any of my books know that political corruption is a theme that is recurring through all of my work.  I am frustrated with the abuse of power that is so prevalent in our country and the fact that these actions often come with little or no consequences for the perpetrator.  I recently read an article about a famous politician with a background so controversial that he would make a great character for my next book if he wasn't already an actual person.

D.C. Council Member and former Mayor Marion Barry is preparing for reelection in Ward 8 of his city, where he remains immensely popular despite his temporary fall from power back in 1990 when he was videotaped smoking crack cocaine as part of a FBI sting.  "The b***h set me up" instantly became a part of the nation's popular culture and still probably remains the most quoted statements by a politician in recent history.

For those who may be too young to remember the incident or whose memories have faded, Spike Lee is looking to change all that with a movie about Barry for HBO starring Eddie Murphy titled "The Nine Lives of Marion Barry."  It will be interesting to see how Lee portrays Barry on screen, as he is both revered and reviled, depending on who you ask.

Whatever you may think of the man, it's difficult to argue against the fact that his story will make for fascinating television.  He returned from national disgrace and serving time to prison to once again hold a place of prominence in his hometown's politics.  Maybe Blagojevich will be allowed to watch from prison and take some notes! 

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/  and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey  

A Writer's Resolutions

 I can almost hear the collective groans coming from all of you as you read the question, "Are you making any New Year's resolutions?"  It seems like this annual ritual is more known for the jokes concerning how quickly we break them rather than the genuine intent with which these promises to ourselves are made.  But, we can't help but try again every year.  This time we'll really stick to it!

Whether or not you maintain that resolution to lose fifteen pounds or spend more time doing charity work or pay off your debt, there is something wonderful about taking a time for reflection . . . to think about what has happened over the year that is ending and what you hope for the year to come.

With this post, I would like to look at resolutions through my lens as a writer.  What are some things that those of us who put pen to paper (or more likely fingers to keyboard) for a living hope to do in 2012?

I will be releasing my next book, Pabby's Score, in early 2012.  So, on a personal note, I certainly hope that this work reaches many people and is well received.  Those of you who are putting new work out there for consumption next year I'm sure share my anticipation.

I would love to discover a couple new great authors in 2012.  We all know that writers are also avid readers.  I love finding other writers whose work I admire, not only just to enjoy a good novel but also perhaps to learn from their craft.

Finally, I hope to continue to work on finding balance.  How many of you wake up in the middle of the night with a story idea and rush to your computer or a notepad before the details leave your mind?  How many of you feel pressure to complete five more pages or send out one more marketing piece before you allow yourself a walk in the park or, in my case, a round of golf?  Writing is our passion and it is going to be a part of everything we do, but we need to give ourselves a break sometimes as well.

So, what are your resolutions as a writer?  What are your plans for making 2012 the most successful and fulfilling year yet?

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Illinois, Corruption, and My Setting

Anyone who has read my stories realizes that the main setting is fictitious Prairie Winds Golf Course, high atop the Mississippi river bluffs east of St. Louis. Even though most of the metro area is located in Missouri the river divides the population and the golf course is located in the neighboring state of Illinois.

Many of the characters of my stories are the unscrupulous businessmen, unethical lawyers, dishonest law enforcement personnel and corrupt politicians.  Those personalities always make for good reading!  So, naturally I took great interest in the recent sentencing of former Governor Rod Blagojevich. He was convicted of attempting to sell the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama. That's called "business as usual" in Illinois. You know, line your pockets while you're in office. The trouble was he wasn't too smart about it and he didn't cover his tracks. He was convicted on seventeen counts of fraud and lying to the FBI in the "pay to play" scheme.

What really surprised me was that U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel didn't play politics. Blagojevich received fourteen years in prison. With the guidelines established he has to serve 85% of that sentence. That's about twelve years of hard time which will make him 67 years old when he gets out. Pow!

Isn't it about time the courts and our judicial system starts coming down hard on the white-collar slime that violates the public trust? Maybe this will be the beginning of tough sentencing to those politicians who think they are immune to the very laws they create. It should not be acceptable to get elected and a few years later leave office a multi-millionaire.

It's hard to pinpoint when it all started in Illinois. Bribery, misuse of public funds for private benefit and payoffs for the awarding of contracts seem to run rampant there. Of course the happenings in the southern part of the state are nothing compared to what happens in Chicago.

Does it go back to the bootlegging of Al Capone during Prohibition? Or did it start way before that? What role does former Mayor Daley play? How about the Board of Trade? Is President Barack Obama a benefactor? Maybe it is best for all of us to stay stupid.

Before Blagojevich, former Governor George Ryan was convicted for taking bribes allowing truckers to receive commercial hauling licenses. Ryan served as lieutenant governor when Governor Jim Thompson served the office. Was it a coincidence that Thompson was the manager of the law firm that defended Ryan? How do they explain the deaths of six people that were killed at the hands of an unqualified driver? Do these elected officials have no remorse?

Prior to that, Governor Dan Walker was involved in the savings and loan scandals of the 70s and was convicted for making fraudulent loans to himself. Before him, Governor Otto Kerner, Jr. was convicted of double digit counts of bribery, conspiracy, perjury and income tax evasion.  The list of criminal offenses from the Illinois governor's office is quite amazing. It looks like the FBI should set up an office across the street from the Capitol building in Springfield.

The state of Illinois certainly has provided an opportunity to create unforgettable characters with questionable reputations. You'll have to pick up one of my books to see if they land in prison like their real-life counterparts!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Tim Tebow Would Make a Wonderful Literary Character

I realize that I'm not exactly the first writer to share my take on the Tim Tebow phenomenon that is sweeping the nation, but I think I bring a unique perspective to the conversation -- I wish I had thought of him as a character for my books!

For those not familiar with Tebow, he is the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos who was a mid-season replacement for the struggling Kyle Orton.  Since taking over behind center, Tebow has led his team through mulitple comeback victories that would have seemed unlikely individually, but have become an outright sensation after occurring week after week.  He performs without any amazing skill for the first 50 minutes of the game, and then seems to turn on the magic. 

Some have wondered if God has His hand in the games, as Tebow is outspoken about his Christian faith, always thanking God after games and kneeling on the sidelines.  Others just think he is the type of quarterback who only has a few good drives in him a game.  And, there are those who simply blame the opposing teams for bad play. 

Whatever the case may be, Tebow is a fascinating person.  And, all of the news stories have me thinking about how Tim Tebow would be a great character for my novels.  I often pull inspiration from sports in general, not just golf, to explain the drive and the passion of the men and women I share on my pages.  How great would a professional athlete whose play may be inspired by God and who causes millions of people to discuss issues of faith and tenacity and dedication be in a novel?  I love the fact that the controversial issues I put front and center in all of my novels probably lead my readers into some heated discussions after they close my book, and I know that a "Tebow-like" character would have such an effect.

Have you been following the Tim Tebow story?  What do you think of his unlikely success and both the adoration and criticism that he has been receiving from both the fans and the media? 

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course, Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey  

Writing Styles--Screenwriting Versus Prose

Here's a confession. Before my first book, Lifetime Loser , was written I worked on the screenplay. Huh?

That's right. My approach was opposite from the traditional "writer goes to Hollywood" story. I wrote the screenplay first. I had a wild story with outrageous characters floating around in my head. When I relayed it to a good friend, he said, "That would make a great movie!" The comment forever stuck in my mind.

Two years later, after a golf trip I said, "Today's the day."

He said, "For what?"

"Today's the day I'm going to start that movie."

That night I went home, joined an online screenwriting club and attempted to learn an art that is so much different than writing prose. It was suggested that I get Final Draft, a screenwriting program, which is a leader in the screenwriting industry. Done. Now what?

I stumbled . . . obviously. Learning the program and commands and format was an eye-opener. But, several months later, what I thought was a masterpiece was completed. The next step was to have it critiqued. That was followed by enough red ink to make two Sharpies proud.

It was time to go back to the drawing board. Two more rewrites followed. My reviewer agreed that I had a compelling story and characters, but my screenwriting left a lot to be desired. I'm sure it did. That style of writing is different than anything a person who sits down to write a novel can imagine.

My next step was to hook up with a professional screenwriter. We discussed everything under the sun and spent a great deal of time on character arcs and themes. We had a major chore before us. The story had approximately ninety characters and lasted fifteen years. It was a nightmare.

We persevered. My rewrites numbered ten. It got better, but was certainly not up to "Hollywood" standards. That adventure took the better part of two more years. What next? I'm stuck in the Midwest and safely tucked away from industry contacts. "How do I generate interest in this screenplay and sell this thing?"

"The book."

"I don't want to write a book."

"You asked."

After chewing on that for three months I finally admitted to myself that I wasn't doing anything else at the time and I did have quite a story to tell. There was a big need to fill in the blanks that were cut out of the "movie." The screenplay provided a wonderful outline for my first novel.

What did I learn? Writing prose, although difficult, is much different and a whole lot easier for me. They both are tedious yet worlds apart in styles. One tells the story with words. The other tells the story through pictures. But they are the same in that both create visuals.

Eight months later the sense of accomplishment was unmatched after finishing Lifetime Loser , the book. My first novel was complete. I was hooked. In succeeding years, four additional novels were born. My writing has improved. My character base has grown to over two hundred. The setting has expanded.

What's left on this journey? It might be time to take a short break. Marketing for five books is very time consuming and involves a great deal of effort. The online and eBook world has exploded. Coming up with a story, complete with plots and subplots and characters, taxes the mind.

But I'll reveal a little secret that has been tucked away in my mind. I did revisit my screenplay, which has spent some time buried in a lot of files on my computer. It might be time to go back to work on that unique form of expression.

Can I tackle that challenge? You bet. Can I fix it to the standards that a screenplay requires? That remains to be determined. However my desire to take Lifetime Loser to the big screen was how this endeavor started. That's a dream that I'd like to bring to fruition.

Will that happen? Who knows? It might. As any writer can tell you with the familiar cliché, "Keep writing."

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

A Literary Agent Versus a Publicist -- Enlighten Me

Someone help me. It doesn't make sense. Authors write. Their work is reviewed, critiqued, and sometimes even ripped apart by friends, family members, and complete strangers in order to end up with a great manuscript. Once the body of work is ready, many authors compose query letters. Then, despite all of the preparation, the rejection occurs. Are we all that lousy at our craft?

In today's writing world, are literary agents that important? Do they help you sell books? Not that I can tell. Will they get you a publisher? Supposedly, but with the advent of self-publishing, why is that important?

A publisher eventually will turn to the author to sell books anyway. Why is having a Big Six publisher important? Granted, many of us strive to land a large publisher. Think about it, though. Why is it a necessity to be hooked to a corporate giant? I guess they help promote through their literature, trade shows, advertising and distributing. It used to be that a big-name author would be the leader that would allow a publisher to get a hoard of lesser known authors into a book store.

However, things have changed. Book stores are being boarded up. The Internet has taken over. Hardback and paperback books are being replaced by eBooks. Online booksellers are the wave of the future. The bricks and mortar on the corner book store are falling to the ground.

So that comes back to the original question. Why is having a literary agent that important? What do they do if authors can self-publish and sell eBooks via the Internet?

Maybe having a publicist is more important in today's writing world than an agent. I'd like to hear your thoughts about that. Doesn't coming up with a strategy to market make more sense in getting your word out?

Or, if the funds are limited, maybe the best course of action for an author is to do self-promotion. In that case is it possible for an author to utilize the Internet and publicize traditionally enough on this own to make a difference?

Publicists put together PR campaign plans. They act as a liaison between a client and the media. Their connections can be used to land radio gigs or television talk shows. A publicist helps to promote a brand and make it more visible in the marketplace. In a nutshell they create -- buzzzzzzzzz.

So we are back to the beginning. Help me. I'm confused. What is the best way to go? As authors we all want to explore ways to get our word to the public. We seek more readers. We reach out to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube and a host of other online social networking sites. Who has the answer? If there is no set acceptable standard, then what is one to do?

I'd love to hear what has been successful for some other authors. Give me some feedback!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: www.AuthorJamesRoss.com
Twitter: golfnovels and JamesRossBooks
Publisher Website: www.Xlibris.com and www.nightengalepress.com
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase link: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Rewrites and Editing and Proofreading . . . Oh, My!

We're coming up to the all-important stage of my latest novel, which will be released very soon. As any author knows it is tough enough to write a novel that has well over 100,000 words. The writing of a book takes an idea, planning, some sort of an outline and concrete thoughts concerning how to tell the story. That's not to mention specific character development and how these personalities will be shared and interact. These are all very important ingredients that work together to form a manuscript.

But then the fun begins.

If you are a writer/author and you want to put your work in front of people, then you are very much aware that several sets of eyes need to examine your work before the final product hits the market. Mistakes will remain if you do not have others review the copy. A professional editor is essential. What stays? What goes? What needs to be reworked? What needs to be told in a different way?

But, there is more.

Even after rewrites and major edits have been performed, the actual proofreading of the manuscript needs to take place. I go over my text a minimum of five times and have done it as many as twelve times. That's just me. I'm a stickler for details. My proofreader goes over the document four times. Thank goodness we double space the rough copy! We'd really be cross-eyed if we didn't have the extra white area. Spelling and sentence structure is one thing, but looking for periods, commas, apostrophes and quotation marks can be a living nightmare.

And we're still not done.

My publisher works on the font size, the margins and the spacing. A pdf version of the story is generated. Then my proofreader and I get a final opportunity to correct any errors in the copy that will be going to print. If you haven't caught a punctuation error by then --- well, this is your last chance. Normally that process has to be done with quick turnaround.

Any published author realizes that a reader will find an error somewhere and that will be one of the first comments about the book. But, this imperfection won't be due to a lack of effort. 

To my fellow writers out there--how tedious is your editing and proofreading process?  How many sets of eyes review your work?  How many times do you read through a manuscript yourself?

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: www.AuthorJamesRoss.com
Twitter: golfnovels and JamesRossBooks
Publisher Website: www.Xlibris.com and www.nightengalepress.com
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase link: http://golftwitt.com/46ey