Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 102
April 25, 2012
Method Writing – Are YOU Oscar Worthy?
Song of the Day: Drive By by Train
I recently discovered I could be a star in Hollywood. Yep. Look out Angelina 
Jolie, there’s a new super watt actress in town. Well…maybe not. But after reading an article in the March 2012 issue of Romance Writers Report and hearing a presentation given at my local RWA® chapter last month on Method Acting, I thought it was time to write my Oscar acceptance speech.
What is Method Acting you ask? It is a group of techniques used by many actors to create the genuine thoughts and emotions of their characters. These professionals go deep—integrating themselves into the lives of their character rather than simply performing them. There are plenty of books and resources on the subject, so I won’t go into great theatrics here. But I will share how the very same exercises can be awesome tools for writers.
The procedures:
Relaxation – Relax your body to allow the mind to work. Ohmmm…
Sense memory – It’s been pounded into our little writer brains, use all your senses. Recall a similar experience. Utilize it at the most rudimentary level and work to relive stimuli in every detail.
Concentration – Must…stay…focused…must…stay…in the…moment
Magic if / ‘as if’ – the ‘what ifs’ of a scene meant to make the author believe the scene and everything in it are real and thus provoke honest reactions
Objects – focal points, real or fantasy, anything that allows the writer to avoid distraction, leading to the unconscious behavior and steady concentration of the writing. I prefer to focus on the ripped body of David Beckham.
Substitution – We can’t allow personal feelings to disrupt or detract from those of a character and expect readers not to notice. Use the power of concentration, grasshopper. Personalize your thoughts with a substitution to overcome the bias.
Animal exercise – We can learn so much from the characteristics of beasts—how they move, their appearance, whether they are dangerous or docile. These traits we can translate into powerful descriptions for human ones. Roooar!
Song and Dance –This exercise is meant to remove the unconscious behaviors and replace them with unbridled conventions. Break out the dancing shoes and the Taio Cruz Dynamite CD.
Private Moment – Let your inner voyeur loose. Overcome personal inhibitions to write about private moments and behaviors.
Speaking out – No, this isn’t a political protest or public outcry. It’s verbally recognizing concentration had been broken and getting back to business.
Moment to Moment – we allow scenes and action to move the story forward as opposed to sticking with our original view of the plot. I don’t know about you, but my characters are constantly surprising me.
Justification – There must be a reason why the characters say and do the things they do for their actions and reactions to be real. This, of course, is not how we women operate at any given moment without proper doses of chocolate or margaritas, right ladies? But for the sake of the readers…
Affective Memory – Cover me! I’m going in. Going in deep. This exercise 
conjures up the deepest, and sometimes most painful and frightening, personal experience to capture raw emotions. In all my research on Method Acting, every resource comments on this practice either being a dangerous or pure genius procedure. Many in Hollywood have said Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker in The Dark Knight affected him so intensely, it led to his fatal use of prescription drugs meant to alleviate his demons.
Given Circumstance – understanding all preceding method parts are tied together by the theme/spine, moving beyond the superficial
Shy of singing and dancing like a fool in my office, I was surprised to learn I have been doing my own version of Method Acting techniques in my writing. Each procedure I have utilized at some point—some such as sensory and affective memory, more than others. In order to convey moments of genuine emotion and action/reactions, I have conjured up incidents in my own life that have paralleled similar responses. Let’s face it, I’ve never watched a loved one twirl at the end of a noose, nearly drown, or face the Grim Reaper head on. But I have been traumatized by death, I have been truly so frightened it stole my breath away, and I have stared down the barrel of a gun (which incidentally royally pissed me off). Lucky for me, I have loads of experiences to draw from in which to recreate exactly what my characters are doing and feeling.
How about you? Do you use any or all of these techniques? I’d love to hear from you.
April 24, 2012
MuseTracks Link of the Week – Editing
Here’s a cool link. Pro Writing Aid is a great companion to any writer’s toolkit. 
This handy-dandy site is software that edits writing. It gives reports on overused word, sentence variation, cliches, redundancies, repeated words and phrases, alliterations, pacing, and much more. Just paste in your text and Wha-lah! You’ll see the areas needing improvements.
Check it out and see if it works for you.
April 20, 2012
MuseTracks Guest – Susan Muller – Payback is a Dog Named Lady
Boy, do we have a special treat for you today. Author Susan Muller, a total hoot and all around sweetheart, weaves a true tale that is certain to make you flinch and laugh. Without further ado…
Payback is a dog named Lady
By Susan Muller
Two weeks before Christmas, my best friend/back-fence neighbor/walking buddy was having a hard time. Her husband was ill and, to make matters worse, no one could figure out what was wrong with him. After several trips to the hospital, she told the doctors to keep him until they knew what to do.
In an attempt to be a good friend, I suggested we go to Starbucks for coffee. She couldn’t leave the house because she was waiting to hear from a doctor so I went to her house for tea instead. Now, I’m not allowed to have caffeine, and being the good friend that I am, I didn’t want her to feel bad when she didn’t have anything to offer me, so I took my own decaf tea bag.
Ruff!
She and her dog met me at the door. The dog, a large mixed breed, barked when I rang the bell, but now wagged his tail. They’d had some trouble with the dog in the past, but had recently had him “snipped and clipped,” and she had bragged several time about how much calmer and less aggressive he was. HA!
I stepped inside, said “Hi, Rex,” let him smell my hand and turned to talk to my friend. With no warning growl, no raised hair, he lunged at me and grabbed my hand. I’m not talking a playful nip. It was a full-out chomp. It took all her strength to wrestle him outside while I ran into her kitchen and got some ice.
“Do you need to go to the doctor?” she asked.
“No, no. I’m fine. It’s not even bleeding.”
“Um, yes it is,” And with that, an arc of blood shot about a foot across her kitchen sink. It looked like a water fountain, only red.
Many things were going through my mind simultaneously. Oh look. I didn’t know it could do that. That’s not enough blood to bleed to death, is it? This can’t be good. And finally, I’ll bet she’s not thinking about her sick husband now.
We used paper towels, pressure, and an ice pack, but she thought I should go to the hospital. “Oh, no. I’ll be fine in a minute.” I was laughing, shaking, crying, shivering, all at the same time.
“We really need to check it,” she insisted.
Not on your life was I removing that pressure again. But she kept insisting and I lifted the paper towel wad. Yep, still shooting blood like a miniature geyser. Maybe I did need to do something about it. I started to reach for my keys, but to do that I’d have to release the pressure. Okay, she could drive me home in my car. Wait a minute. I have cream colored leather seats. We went in her car.
Four hours and three stitches later, I was home from the ER. In the state of Texas, you have to report a dog bite, it’s the law. I tried to fudge, but the police were at her house before the last stitch was in. I feel terrible about this, but they decided it would be best to put the dog down. They have a two-year-old granddaughter and it was too dangerous to have an untrustworthy dog. I’m so glad I could help out by being a test subject. (Actually, I am, but don’t tell her that.)
Today, my finger is fine. My horribly disfiguring scar is in the wrinkle of my knuckle and can only be seen if I bend my finger and hold it under the light while wearing my glasses. At the ER, it galled me, but I had to say zero when they asked my pain level. Still, I managed to milk my injury for all it was worth, so I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. Well, I do, but not for the reason you think.
My friend and her husband swore they’d never have a dog again. The next day, he brought home a black and white stray from the junk yard. They named her Lady. Unfortunately, the Lady was a Tramp: anemic, emaciated, flea ridden, and pregnant. My friend wrote a blog about the whole incident and called it “The $500.00 free dog.” I told her to give it time, the dog could make it to $1,000. I was wrong. They’re closing in on $2,000 by now.
Check out Susan's new release!
Now, my friend is a semi-well known writer–okay, she’s quite well-known, but this is my story and I’m demoting her—and she has many readers who follow her blog. She had forty-two comments when I quit looking. Not twenty-one with twenty-one replies. No. Forty-two separate people who said how sad about her dog, and wasn’t the new one sweet and hope you husband is feeling better.Guess how many asked about her poor, injured neighbor? Not one. Zero, zilch. Not even, “It’s a shame she bled all over your nice clean kitchen.”
Next time I go over, I’m not taking my own tea. She can just feel bad when she has nothing to offer me.
Follow Susan at www.susancmuller.com
The Secrets on Forest Bend Available from www.soulmatepublishing.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble.
April 19, 2012
Real Numbers, Real Authors- No BS
Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before or behind. ~Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic, December 1957
Today’s post might look deceptively short. I assure you, it will take you quite awhile to do the information stored here any justice.
I asked some of my friends to send me any numbers they’d be willing to share on their self publishing venture and I hit the jackpot with Suzan Harden who sent me the articles that I’ve included here today. I thought about compiling the data and and spitting it back out, but it’s best just the way it is- it’s the honey pot of all honey pots of data!
http://selfpublishingsuccessstories.blogspot.com/2012/03/self-publishing-success-stories_27.html
I hope you all read through these articles and study the numbers. An educated author will always trump the one who simply throws stories up for sale.
Again, I want to give a BIG shout out to my friend Suzan Harden for providing the links. It’s always nice to know that folks are willing to help!
April 18, 2012
Hump Day Kick Start – Nude Model Edition
Hump Day Kick Start for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or just a visual treat.
Song of the Day: Pray for Me by Sixx A.M.
What fun! A picture worth a thousand words.
Who is our nude model? A college student hard up for fast cash? Professional model branching out? Greek demigod zapped to there by the goddess girlfriend he just angered? A celibate monk on the losing side of a bet?
And how about those nuns? Are the really nuns? Perhaps they are an elite team of special fores agents on a secret mission to oust an underground nude modeling smuggling ring. The possibilities are endless.
Could you turn a little more to the left, please.
Tell me your take on today’s prompt. I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Don’t worry, you can repent later. 
April 17, 2012
Link Of The Week
http://www.averycan.blogspot.com/
Today’s link has absolutely nothing to do with writing. It has everything to do with appreciating your life and celebrating every moment that has been given you and your family.
Celebrate your bucket list!
Celebrate the quiet everyday moments you have with people you love.
April 16, 2012
MuseTracks Guest – MK Chester – Surrender to the Roman
Whoo boy, do I love a good Roman romance. Lucky that I happen to know an another author who does, too–MK Chester. MK is our special guest today and she has brought with her a tantalizing excerpt.
Take it away, MK!
I’ve got a thing for Rome!
I do. Might as well just admit it. I have a thing for a lot of historical eras, but Rome? That’s one of a kind. Let me be clear. I don’t mean modern-day Rome, or Vatican-centered Rome. I mean the Rome of Caesars, generals, gladiators, and…did I say gladiators? Oh, well, hot men in leather underpants (with miraculously little chaffing). Who can look away?
I can’t. In my latest historical romance, published by Caria Press, we take the might of Rome in the form of one of her most esteemed (fictional) generals, Marcus Decimas Cordovis. He’s fresh off a victory in the Dacian Wars and returns home only to find his household in an uproar. The cause? A new Dacian slave, Ademeni, the daughter of the slain king who has sworn to avenge her losses. Take a peek:
As she came into full view, Marcus struggled to hold on to his thoughts. Ademeni’s red dress and headscarf made her ivory skin glow, her midnight hair more lustrous. When his fingers itched to touch those long strands, he curled his hands into fists instead.
“You wished to see me, dominus?”
Marcus narrowed his gaze. Though her tone attempted to appease, her strict posture said otherwise. She wanted a fight, but only on her terms.
“Are you well?”
She offered a faint smile. “I am well.”
He circled her. “What do you teach my daughter?”
Looking straight ahead, she said, “I teach her Latin.”
“Perhaps you should help me become friends with her again.” He stopped behind Ademeni, admiring the curve of her neck. When he drew closer, she shivered.
“And you were last home…how many years ago?”
Her soft-spoken question speared his heart, and his defenses fell into place. “That matters little.”
“Such things always matter to a child.”
Marcus faced her again, scrutinizing her, hoping to find some flaw in her argument. In her skin. She held his gaze as if she knew of what she spoke. “That may be. It would not be wise to come between us.”
“Or what will happen?” She lifted her chin. “You’ll leave her again?”
“I did not ask for you.” His words slipped out before he weighed their force. She pulled her brows together, as if taken aback by the news.
She did not need long to recover. “So you would leave me in the care of your brute, Tertullian, to whatever end he chose?”
No. “He swore he harmed none on the road.”
She shook her head. “He is a liar. And what of those in his own house?” Her body tensed, ready to pounce.
She knew Tertullian had claimed her sister. A spark of danger lit the room. Marcus took a step backward. “I have no control of his house. I have control of my house.”
“It does not seem you have control of either, dominus.”
He paused. The gods mocked him. “I did not ask for you.”
“Yet here I am.”
He cut to the heart of the matter. “And you wish to kill me, to take your vengeance on my family?”
“You are my enemy.” Her bold gaze slid down his body, then upward again, where she met his eyes. She did not hide her disdain. “My father and brothers are dead, my family has been destroyed and my country is in your hands. 
Should I not wish to kill you?”
“Such are the fortunes of war.”
“So they are,” she agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. “For everyone.”
I want to thank the MuseTracks authors for hosting me today, and I hope to see you all in the sands of the arena J
You can find me on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.MK.Chester
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_K_Chester
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/mkchester
Website: www.mkchester.com
You can find Surrender to the Roman on:
Carina Press: www.carinapress.com
Amazon: http://ow.ly/9UC8m
Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/9UCiJ
April 12, 2012
Do You Want To Make Money? Help Yourself!
Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head. ~From the movie Finding Forrester
Do I want to write as a business?
This is a question that has plagued my brain for quite awhile. I’m so very lucky because I don’t depend on writing for a viable source of income and that’s a luxury. I recognize that. While I struggle with wondering whether I want to put a passion to work, I’ve learned some very important things that an author should understand if they want to make a go in this industry.
The first thing to ask yourself is if you know your genre. I know a lot of you are shaking your head and telling me to start with something a bit more advanced. I’d like to, but too many authors haven’t studied their genre well enough and make basic mistakes that turn off readers. Have you read books written in the same vein as yours? Do they sell well? What aspects of one book make it a better seller than another? Are there things that readers come to expect and love in that genre? Is it in your book? I know we all want to write about the things we love, but let’s face it, if your book is about something that has a very narrowed window of interest, you might have a tough time making it into a viable seller.
I started this journey wanting to write a category romantic suspense, but my characters wouldn’t let me keep the story within the confines of a category book. (At the time, I didn’t even know it was called “category” and that it had all those rules attached to it!) I seem to write bigger suspense/thriller types of stories and with the encouragement of many people who read my pages, I started to swing towards all out non-romantic suspense. There was a problem. I didn’t read that type of book.
After jumping in and raiding my husband’s book collection, I discovered two things. Those books were awesome and I didn’t want to write one. I liked the stories, but I always found myself wanting more romance infused into the book. I finally came upon writers like Brenda Novak, Roxanne St. Claire, and Allison Brennan who wrote big suspense with a romantic thread running through the stories. I’m also happy to say that they sell quite nicely. Know yourself. Know your market. Do your homework.
Not all of you will agree with my next assertion. You need to spend money to make money. Spend some money on a professional editor and for a professional design of your book cover. Begin with your critique partners, have some beta readers give you feedback and then send your work to an editor. It will cost money, but it should be money well spent if you get a reputable editor. Don’t ever, ever, ever rely on just yourself to edit your work. I can almost guarantee that you will not have a polished product.
If you want your book to be placed next to a professionally published book and the reader not be able to distinguish any difference between the quality of the two, then find a cover designer. Unless you have a degree in marketing and are a computer genius, you will be able to spot a homemade cover a mile away. I believe this is almost more important in the virtual world of selling than in the real world. All you have to capture their attention right off the bat is that tiny picture showing up on their screen. Spend the money- make it professional. I know an author who put her book up for sale with a cover she put together for little to no money. It wasn’t bad, it was actually quite attractive until you compared it to others professionally done in her genre. Despite that, sales were fair and then she hired a designer and re-published the book with its new cover. Sales soared and she started receiving fan mail. Does a cover make that much difference? YES!!!!!
Once there’s a refined, sleek looking product the author needs to publish it. You have two choices at this point. You can hire a company that will do the work for you or you can educate yourself and do it. Most of my friends are doing this part themselves and saving money. If you don’t think this is for you, there are many companies willing to take your money. Some are quite reasonable and others will charge you a huge amount. It’s just like anything else. Do your homework and research the options. I’m of a mind that if you can figure it out, then give it a try.
This is the beginning of the business part. Are you still with me? Are you scared? Are you excited? The next two weeks will be spent talking about marketing, looking at actual authors’ numbers, and can you truy make a living doing this?
** Spoiler Alert** Yes, you can! It takes research, trial and error, and a whole lotta chutzpa. 
April 11, 2012
Steven Tyler, Noodling, and Pirate Dreams
Song of the Day: Dream On by Aerosmith
The other night I had one of those dreams that make you go huh? My best pal 
was Steven Tyler of the awesome rock band Aerosmith. For you whippersnappers who don’t know who Steven Tyler is, I roll my eyes and blow out a frustrated sigh. Steven Tyler is that long-haired, hippy-looking judge on American Idol. But I digress and return to my dream. Steven Tyler and I were noodling for river monsters. That in itself offers all sorts of comedic innuendos. Go ahead and crawl that dirty mind of yours from the gutter.
You may be asking what in the world is noodling. Noodling is fishing for catfish using only your bare hands. Yeah, I know. A little unsettling. You may also be wondering why I was noodling catfish with Steven Tyler. Got me. I’ve no idea why. But wow – what an imagination.
Dreams can offer a great springboard for inspiration. Much like a photo (insert shameless plug for MuseTracks’ popular Hump Day Kick Start), a movie scene, a quote, a song, or even a passing stranger, a vivid dream can uncover a fount of creativity.
My debut novel (insert another shameless plug) BLOOD AND TREASURE is an example. Long before I became a writer and before Pirates of the Caribbean hit the silver screen, I dreamed nearly the entire first chapter of BLOOD AND TREASURE. It was such an adventure that it defied what dreams do when we wake. It didn’t fade away like fog in the morning sun. Instead it clung on until I finally wrote it down on paper months later.
In the same vein, I once had a dream starring Johnny Depp. I bet I’m not unique, right ladies? (And I suppose if I was being honest, I’ve had more than one dream of the sexy actor.) That dream spawned a romantic comedy short story. This was also the story 
that had my creative writing college professor challenging me to become a novelist. Silly professor. I never back down from a challenge. Since, I’ve penned several more short stories based on the antics I live through in the realm of Slumberland.
Now, you may be curious to know if Steven Tyler and I were successful in noodling for catfish. I’m happy to say we were. We also caught several electric eels. And we celebrated with a cold beer. Ah…good times, good times.
Have you ever had a wild, crazy dream you’d like to share? For authors, have you written a story based on a dream? I’d love to hear from you.
April 10, 2012
Link of the Week – The First Line
We’ve all heard that the first line in a book is so important. A writer only has seconds to grab an audience, to make them want to read further. This week’s link does something different with the first line.
The First Line is a literary journal of short stories each staring with the same beginning line.
http://www.thefirstline.com/index.htm
And I quote…”The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place.“
Any writer, no matter their genre or writing style, can submit to the magazine. It’s truly a fun experience and I highly recommend writers to try their hand at this unique journal’s prompts.
