Lisa M. Lilly's Blog, page 6
November 4, 2019
The Witch S1 S3
This episode of Buffy and the Art of Story covers The Witch, Season 1, Episode 3.
Buffy and the Art of Story is for anyone who wants to learn more about plot, characterization, and other story elements by watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Every discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).
Story Elements in The Witch
In this podcast episode we’ll look at how Buffy handles:
Opening Conflict
Story Spark (a/k/a Inciting Incident)
The first major plot turn at the one-quarter mark
The Midpoint
The twist at the three-quarter point
The Climax
Falling Action
Continuing character arcs
We’ll also talk about some highlights from the Buffy Season 1 DVD commentaries by Joss Whedon.
The 7 Season Plan
Buffy and the Art of Story plans to cover every episode of Buffy in order and spoiler-free — except at the end so I can talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.
Down the road there’ll be a Patreon account where you’ll be able to get a free story structure template. As a patron, you’ll also get access to bonus episodes.
Those episodes will include Buffy-adjacent stories (such as key Angel episodes). Also films or TV episodes that are intriguing from a story, theme, or character perspective.
Requests will be welcome.
Next Up: Teacher’s Pet, S1 E4
More On Story Structure
The plot points in Buffy and the Art of Story are outlined in detail, and with additional examples, in Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting And Writing Your Novel. Workbook, ebook, and audiobook editions are available.
Episode Transcript
Coming Soon. (I promise, as Buffy might say.)
FYI, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.
The post The Witch S1 S3 appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
October 30, 2019
The Harvest S1 E2
Today on Buffy and the Art of Story: Season 1, Episode 2, The Harvest.
For writers and other story creators interested in looking at Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes one-by-one to see how plot, characterization, and other story elements work (and very occasionally don’t).
Every discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).
Story Elements in The Harvest
In this podcast episode we’ll look at how Buffy handles these story elements in the second half of the 2-episode pilot:
The commitment and reversal at the story mid-point (where the episode begins)
How the plot turns at the three-quarter point
The way characterization affects plot, particularly leading to the final battle
The Climax
Falling Action
Story questions that keep us watching
In the Spoiler section, more on Darla, Angel, Giles, and a little bit of misdirection
Also some highlights from the Buffy DVD commentaries by Joss Whedon on Willow and Darla.
The 7 Season Plan
Two down and too many episodes left to count!
Buffy and the Art of Story plans to cover every episode of Buffy in order and spoiler-free — except at the end so I can talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.
Down the road there’ll be a Patreon account where you’ll be able to get a free story structure template. As a patron, you’ll also get access to bonus episodes.
Those episodes will include Buffy-adjacent stories (such as key Angel episodes). Also films or TV episodes that are intriguing from a story, theme, or character perspective.
Requests will be welcome.
Episode Transcript
Coming Soon. (I promise, as Buffy might say.)
P.S. For more fiction writing tools you can check out my non-fiction books, which cover story structure, finishing a novel in one year, and character development.
FYI, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.
The post The Harvest S1 E2 appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
October 25, 2019
Welcome To The Hellmouth S1 E1
Buffy and the Art of Story starts with Season 1, Episode 1, Welcome to the Hellmouth.
For writers and other story creators who want to learn more about plot, characterization, and other story elements by watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Every discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).
Story Elements in Welcome to the Hellmouth:
In this podcast episode we’ll look at how Buffy handles:
Prologue
Exposition
Opening Conflict
Story Spark (a/k/a Inciting Incident)
The first major plot turn
The story mid-point
We’ll also talk about some highlights from the Buffy Season 1 DVD commentaries by Joss Whedon.
The 7 Season Plan
Buffy and the Art of Story plans to cover every episode of Buffy in order and spoiler-free — except at the end so I can talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.
Down the road there’ll be a Patreon account where you’ll be able to get a free story structure template. As a patron, you’ll also get access to bonus episodes.
Those episodes will include Buffy-adjacent stories (such as key Angel episodes). Also films or TV episodes that are intriguing from a story, theme, or character perspective.
Requests will be welcome.
Next Up: The Harvest, S1 E2.
Episode Transcript
Coming Soon. (I promise, as Buffy might say.)
P.S. For more on story structure you can check out Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting And Writing Your Novel.
FYI, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.
The post Welcome To The Hellmouth S1 E1 appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
Welcome To The Hellmouth (Podcast Ep 1)
Buffy and the Art of Story starts with Season 1, Episode 1, Welcome to the Hellmouth.
Every discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).
Story Elements in Welcome to the Hellmouth:
In this podcast episode we’ll look at how Buffy handles:
Prologue
Exposition
Opening Conflict
Story Spark (a/k/a Inciting Incident)
The first major plot turn
The story mid-point
We’ll also talk about some highlights from the Buffy Season 1 DVD commentaries by Joss Whedon.
The 7 Season Plan
Buffy and the Art of Story plans to cover every episode of Buffy in order and spoiler-free — except at the end so I can talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.
Down the road there’ll be a Patreon account where you’ll be able to get a free story structure template. As a patron, you’ll also get access to bonus episodes.
Those episodes will include Buffy-adjacent stories (such as key Angel episodes). Also films or TV episodes that are intriguing from a story, theme, or character perspective.
Requests will be welcome.
Episode Transcript
Coming Soon. (I promise, as Buffy might say.)
P.S. For more on story structure you can check out Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting And Writing Your Novel.
FYI, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.
The post Welcome To The Hellmouth (Podcast Ep 1) appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
September 11, 2019
Happiness, Small Changes, And More Than One Job
Recently I was interviewed by Joanna Penn about juggling multiple careers, happiness, and stress management on The Creative Penn podcast.
I loved talking with Joanna. Through her blog and podcast she’s been encouraging creative people and sharing information for over a decade.
Among other things, we talked about:
Solving problems or meeting challenges through many small changes or actions rather than one big fix
Changing the questions we ask ourselves to focus on solutions rather than problems
Creating more joy and lowering stress and anxiety through reliving what’s already great in our lives
The pluses of having more than one career or pursuit that you love
You can listen here.
Happiness, Anxiety And Writing As A Second Career With Lisa Lilly
You can also find more on these topics in Happiness, Anxiety, and Writing: Using Your Creativity To Live A Calmer, Happier Life.
The post Happiness, Small Changes, And More Than One Job appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
August 22, 2019
The Fractured Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery No. 3) Cover Reveal
The cover for The Fractured Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery No. 3) features the Chicago Temple Building.
The 21-floor gothic skyscraper in the heart of downtown Chicago is home to Seminar, a shadowy company whose key leader is dead.
The prime suspect is a long lost friend of Quille C. Davis. In a desperate midnight call, he begs Quille to help.
The Fractured Man – coming November 4, 2019.
Visit here or the Q.C. Davis series page for updates.
The post The Fractured Man (Q.C. Davis Mystery No. 3) Cover Reveal appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
July 24, 2019
Q.C. Davis Mysteries In Large Print
One thing I love about ereaders is that I can adjust the font size to make it bigger. (It’s especially key now that I need reading glasses.)
But sometimes I really prefer a paperback book.
That’s why I decided to create Large Print paperback editions of the first two Q.C. Davis mystery/suspense novels.
The Worried Man (Q.C. Davis 1)
The night before they plan to move in together, Chicago stage-actress-turned-lawyer Quille finds the man she loves dead in his apartment.
Suspicious of police based on bitter experience, Quille vows to uncover the real story behind Marco’s death.
The closer she gets to the truth, though, the less likely she’ll survive to tell it….
The Charming Man (Q.C. Davis 2)
Chicago lawyer Quille still grieves the death of the man she loved, but agrees to help a friend search for a missing college girl.
The search takes her to an aging apartment complex that looms on the edge of the Chicago River.
Cut off from the authorities by the worst blizzard in the city’s history, Quille must find the missing woman before a killer does.
And before anyone else ends up dead.
I hope all types of eyes enjoy!
P.S. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t add any cost to you, the reader.
The post Q.C. Davis Mysteries In Large Print appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
July 10, 2019
A Man In Search Of A Ring (Or Is He?)
“None of them jumps out at me.” Joe glanced at his phone. Nearly eleven.
He’d spent hours researching online over the weekend, so he hadn’t thought finding the right ring would take more than forty-five minutes. An hour at most.
Now he worried he’d be empty-handed tonight. He had lunch plans with a new client at twelve-thirty and a conference call after that. He could fit in more shopping late in the day, but he needed to stop at the grocery store, too. To get steaks for dinner.
“Try a closer look,” the salesman said.
The man had a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard and wore a powder blue sport coat. But he hadn’t introduced himself or asked Joe’s name, something Joe always did when he met a potential client. He was a good financial adviser, but no matter your track record people needed to get to know you before they handed over their money.
The salesman’s keys clinked on the glass as he unlocked the case. He took out the ring Joe had spent the longest time studying.
Its round single carat diamond shone under the banker’s lamp. Good clarity and color. Simple elegance in a white gold setting. Exactly what Joe had thought he wanted.
“You can return it if she’d rather choose her own,” the man said.
“That must be a big occupational hazard this time of year.” Joe set the ring down. “I read that a lot of couples break up right after Valentine’s Day.”
The article had been in today’s Wall Street Journal, front page, the small column in the bottom center that was always human interest. Joe looked at everything else on his phone or tablet, but that one newspaper he liked to read in print.
“On Valentine’s Day too,” the salesman said. “Took my wife to Geja’s last year. You been there? Perfect romantic setting.”
Joe nodded. He’d taken Heather there in December.
The light in the iconic Lincoln Park restaurant came mainly from flickering candles, small sparkling lights over arched brick doorways, and flames under fondue pots. He had no doubt a lot of people got engaged there.
“This young guy actually gets down on one knee and holds out the ring. The girl stammers, stutters, says no. Turns out he flew in her entire family to surprise her. They were in the next room over and saw it all through the archway. Embarrassing for everyone.”
Joe’s eyebrows rose. He couldn’t believe the man had told a story showing a reason not to buy a ring. “I’m not worried about being publicly rejected. We’re cooking in.”
The salesman got one part of selling right. He laughed.
***
Joe strode north, the opposite of the direction he needed to go for his lunch date, to the 900 North Michigan shops. He’d pay more there because of the high rent location. But maybe he’d get a salesperson who could help. At forty-two he’d had serious relationships, but he’d never shopped for a diamond.
No one but Heather had made him want to.
He’d started thinking about it the first time he took her to the ballet. It had been like magic the way her eyes had lit up. And at a White Sox game last summer, the last in a bad season, she’d cheered for every player, no matter how he played. He’d never heard her yell at anyone.
Soon after the game, they’d first talked about getting married. In a roundabout way. He couldn’t remember how it started, but they’d both agreed that if they ever moved in together they’d want to be engaged first.
A month or so later, Joe found himself searching real estate listings. If they did move in together, he decided he’d sell his condo. He’d owned it for six years and loved it. But he didn’t want Heather trying to fit into his space. He’d been on the other side of that in his thirties, and it had led to endless arguments about closet space. Which had probably been a symptom of the other issues, but he still thought getting a place together was the best way to start.
Heather agreed. The question was where.
He preferred the quiet enclave in the Fulton River District where he lived now. She liked the West Loop, a neighborhood too noisy for him. And too filled with condos built in a rush in the mid-2000s with cheap materials. Chicago developers back then had been scrambling to cash in on the housing market bubble before it burst.
They’d almost settled on River North on the border of the Gold Coast. Close enough to bars and restaurants for Heather, but a few blocks nearer the quieter, tree-lined streets leading to the Newberry Library for Joe. Then, in December, Heather had surprised him with a trip to Aruba when she knew he’d planned to spend the holidays in Chicago with Quille. They’d worked it out. Compromised. And had a good time on the trip, too, because Heather always had a good time.
But she hadn’t said anything since Christmas about moving in together.
***
“C’est magnifique.” Carole, the owner of Café des Livres, set an espresso on the small marble table in front of him, her thin gold bracelets jangling. “Valentine’s gift?”
“Yes and no. More like a placeholder.”
Joe turned the ring sideways. The ruby at the center, surrounded by small crystals, deepened to blood red in the sunlight streaming through the window. He’d bought it at Swarovski and been ten minutes late for his lunch.
“Ah, you propose and then you shop together,” Carole said.
Joe returned the ring to its box, shut it, and pushed it to the side of the bone white demitasse cup. “You think Heather will mind? That I don’t have the real ring?”
Carole slid into the seat opposite him. Her perfume’s sandalwood undertones mingled with the espresso’s dark roast, full-bodied aroma.
“No. If the man is right, the ring matters not. Also, every woman wants to choose her own ring regardless. And, finally, what woman does not love Swarovski?”
As Joe sipped the espresso his shoulders dropped and his jaw muscles relaxed. He’d had a long conference call in his office near the Board of Trade this afternoon, and through it he’d craved this taste. He’d passed two Starbucks and a Hero’s coffee bar on the way here.
“Quille might not,” he said.
To finish reading No New Beginnings join the author’s email list and get No New Beginnings and other bonus materials free.
Check out the Q.C. Davis mystery/suspense novels:
The Fractured Man (coming soon)
The post A Man In Search Of A Ring (Or Is He?) appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
June 26, 2019
4-Book Box Set, 5 More Days, 99 Cents (Sale On Awakening Series)
This week The Awakening Complete Supernatural Thriller Series is on sale at a special price.
If you haven’t finished series yet (or started it for that matter) it’s a great time to get it. The ebook editions of the complete 4-book series are 99 cents through Sunday, June 30, 2019.
Kindle
Kobo
Nook
Apple
GooglePlay
If you’d like a doorstop (or just love print), feel free to check out the paperback edition (but sorry, that’s not 99 cents).
Then And Now
I finished the series in 2017 and released the box set edition in September.
It feels longer ago than that, maybe because lately I haven’t written in the supernatural, fantasy, or occult genres. I’m sure I will again at some point, but right now I’m well into the third book in my new Q.C. Davis Mystery/Suspense series.
Also, a lot has changed in my neighborhood. I live near Printers Row in Chicago, which is where one of my favorite Awakening series characters, Sophia Gaddini lives. (And where my new protagonist, Quille, lives.)
Happily, Dearborn Park, right down the street from Sophia, is still beautiful:
A block from Sophia’s townhomeWhy This Sale
Every once in a while I run a 99 cent sale on an ebook edition of one of my books. It’s fun to share the book with new readers.
It’s also fun to see it climb different charts. Especially when it hangs out for a while with books of favorite authors like Stephen King or Neil Gaiman:
No. 1 Horror
More important, it’s a nice way for new readers to find my novels.
Whether you’re new to the series or a long-time fan, thanks so much for joining me in the world of The Awakening.
The post 4-Book Box Set, 5 More Days, 99 Cents (Sale On Awakening Series) appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
June 19, 2019
Technology And How A Thirty-Something Character Grocery Shops
I have a problem with technology. And age.
Quille, the main character in my current mystery/suspense series (the Q.C. Davis series) is nearly 20 years younger than me. Because of that age difference, she almost certainly uses technology differently than I do. Not only in her law practice but in her day-to-day life.
Including when she shops.
So today, all in the interest of character research, I checked out Amazon Go.
Walked out with these items.(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t add any cost to the buyer.)
No Driving Through (Or To)
In some ways, I am like Quille. We both live near downtown Chicago.
She’s never owned a car. And I, despite being in my early 50s, haven’t owned one for the last 20+ years.
So, like my character, I walk a lot and use public transportation. I also belonged to a car sharing service long before it was common.
So, like Quille, it’s rare that I drive to a grocery store. Or any store. Which is why I thought Amazon Go with 3 locations within walking distance was worth checking out.
Money v. Time
Quille has a lot less time than I do.
A former child stage actress turned lawyer, she runs her own law firm and, these days, is becoming something of an amateur sleuth. That means it’s harder for her than it is for me to use a grocery delivery service.
For delivery service Peapod, for example, you need to be home for at least a two-hour window. Three is better, as traffic is hard to time and it’s not unusual for drivers to be early or late. That was a real challenge for me when I practiced law full-time (which generally meant 50-65 hours a week). I suspect it is for Quille as well.
The Pluses
What I loved, and I’m sure Quille would too, is that there are no checkout lanes at an Amazon Go store. And, from an aggravation perspective, the most important thing is there are no self checkout machines.
You don’t have to scan your items as you juggle money or credit cards or your wallet and you don’t have to start over if you hit the wrong button because there are no buttons.
Instead, when you walk in you scan the code that was provided when you downloaded the Amazon Go app. As you walk around the store any items you pick up are added to your account. If you put them back on the shelf, they’re taken back off.
The best thing is that when you leave the store you just leave through the gate. Amazon automatically registers your exit and sends you a receipt for your purchases. Mine included only the items I picked up and all the prices were correct.
The charge went automatically to the credit card I had chosen through the app, which is the same one that all my Amazon purchases default two. This was so much easier than any other store I’ve been in.
I figure Quille would love this even more than I do because she is probably more used to shopping online and getting items without interacting with people.
Also, while the prices weren’t supercheap, they cost less than the convenience store around the corner from me. And most items were cheaper than the major grocery stores near me, Peapod, or Target.
The Minuses
What I didn’t like was that the store is small, so the grocery items struck me as more similar to convenience store fare than a grocer.
A quart of milk. Hummus. Yogurt. Chips.
There was a lot of prepared food. I found a package of trimmed and washed fresh green beans and lots of premade salad options. There were no loose apples, pears, cucumbers, or other fruits or vegetables.
I’d love to see Amazon expand the concept to include those types of items.
I suspect for Quille, though, the many prepared items would make up for the lack of grocery items. She’d probably pick up a meal kit on her way home from a deposition so that she could make dinner without too much trouble. She also might like the trays of sushi, at least in winter when it wouldn’t get warm on the walk home, and premade salads and sandwiches.
On the other hand, prepared items means more packaging than if you shop at a farmers market. It did seem to me, though, that overall Amazon Go did a pretty good job on packaging.
Compared to other grocery stores or convenience stores, for instance, it seemed to me there were more items wrapped in plastic wrap rather than plastic containers and more cardboard and paper generally than plastic.
The Verdict
While it won’t replace my grocery shopping, I’ll probably head to Amazon Go the next time I need a quart of milk, a few containers of yogurt or hummus, or a few different types of cheese. (The cheese selection was surprisingly good for a small store.) It’s so much quicker and more convenient than anywhere else that I could get those types of items and the prices are reasonable.
As for my mystery/suspense series, probably not what Amazon was aiming for, but I can definitely see an Amazon Go location as a great setting for intrigue.
Perhaps Quille will meet a murder suspect in the dairy aisle, or have a quiet chat near the chips and cookies with a witness (of any age).
The post Technology And How A Thirty-Something Character Grocery Shops appeared first on Lisa Lilly.
