Robin Mahle's Blog - Posts Tagged "robin-mahle"
Finding Your Voice - Writing in Third Person
How many times had I started a novel in first person, only to backtrack and change to third? A few times, but it was a few times too many and it didn't take long to learn my lesson that it was no easy task, changing POVs mid-stream.
I just couldn't find my voice. While I appreciate that the reader can closely relate to a character in first-person stories, it only means that I, as the author, have to work harder at accomplishing this same task in third-person narrative.
In my novels to date, I have written in third-person limited. That is, narrating from the main character's point of view; never shifting to the thoughts or feelings of another character, unless it is "perceived" by the main character.
However, I have read a few novels lately whereby the author's approach to point of view is unique in its switching from character to character. (I do read quite a bit as is a job requirement!) One such novel, Tom Rachman's, The Imperfectionists, is a great example of how switching points of view work. Gillian Flynn's, Gone Girl is another example of this approach. I have considered this style and will continue to play around with changing things up in my future novels.
However, sometimes I believe a narrator speaking to the reader, conveying the vast levels of human emotion in a character, can work just as well in third person limited. I also prefer past-tense narrative, overall. Present tense just doesn't connect as well with me as a reader and I'm not sure I could successfully convey it to my readers, were I to experiment with it. Again, some writers can absolutely make it work, as noted above.
One example of how effective third-person, past-tense can be is evidenced here in this quote from Robert Ludlum's The Ambler Warning:
"There was a warmth and a humanity to her that he desperately craved right now, the way he craved oxygen."
I had to dig for that one, but I think it sums it up. It is exactly the perfect tone for the reader. The narrator makes the reader feel like he/she is that character. I can imagine that the reader takes a deep breath at the mere mention of craving oxygen, as I did when I read it.
An author searching for her voice finds that it eventually comes with time and experience. I, of course, am only beginning this journey, but I look forward to discovering a variety of ways to give my readers the ability to feel my characters; to live through them as I do.
In the end, I believe it is the personal experience of each reader and how they best interpret a story and make it their own. Ultimately, this is what every author wants--each reader to create a world entirely of their own unique perspective.
I just couldn't find my voice. While I appreciate that the reader can closely relate to a character in first-person stories, it only means that I, as the author, have to work harder at accomplishing this same task in third-person narrative.
In my novels to date, I have written in third-person limited. That is, narrating from the main character's point of view; never shifting to the thoughts or feelings of another character, unless it is "perceived" by the main character.
However, I have read a few novels lately whereby the author's approach to point of view is unique in its switching from character to character. (I do read quite a bit as is a job requirement!) One such novel, Tom Rachman's, The Imperfectionists, is a great example of how switching points of view work. Gillian Flynn's, Gone Girl is another example of this approach. I have considered this style and will continue to play around with changing things up in my future novels.
However, sometimes I believe a narrator speaking to the reader, conveying the vast levels of human emotion in a character, can work just as well in third person limited. I also prefer past-tense narrative, overall. Present tense just doesn't connect as well with me as a reader and I'm not sure I could successfully convey it to my readers, were I to experiment with it. Again, some writers can absolutely make it work, as noted above.
One example of how effective third-person, past-tense can be is evidenced here in this quote from Robert Ludlum's The Ambler Warning:
"There was a warmth and a humanity to her that he desperately craved right now, the way he craved oxygen."
I had to dig for that one, but I think it sums it up. It is exactly the perfect tone for the reader. The narrator makes the reader feel like he/she is that character. I can imagine that the reader takes a deep breath at the mere mention of craving oxygen, as I did when I read it.
An author searching for her voice finds that it eventually comes with time and experience. I, of course, am only beginning this journey, but I look forward to discovering a variety of ways to give my readers the ability to feel my characters; to live through them as I do.
In the end, I believe it is the personal experience of each reader and how they best interpret a story and make it their own. Ultimately, this is what every author wants--each reader to create a world entirely of their own unique perspective.
What Will He Find? - Beyond the Clearing Excerpt!
With one week to go, I thought I'd post a little snippet from my upcoming release! Look for it on Amazon on 3/26!
BEYOND THE CLEARING
Tony grabbed his rifle from the locked storage cabinet. He had a bad feeling and didn’t know what to expect and so it was better to be prepared. These parts were known to be home to black bears and mountain lions. This concerned Tony greatly if Mrs. Sylva had decided to go for a late-night stroll or pre-dawn walk. Mountain lions primarily hunted during those hours. But, it was the bears that posed a much bigger threat, especially if Mrs. Sylva encountered a mother with cubs.
He brought the beefy little machine to life and rolled out towards the wilderness. It didn’t take long for him to reach the outskirts of the compound and he continued on, searching for anything that might suggest someone had recently traversed the area outside the known trails.
Perhaps she’d gotten lost. It was a logical assumption, especially if one did not have the sun to guide them in any way. Tony highly doubted that Mrs. Sylva traveled with a compass. Most of the people that came to this place were city-dwellers in search of spiritual guidance; a magic healing power that could help free them of their past transgressions, or release their tortured souls from the confines of daily suburban life.
Tony had reached a point where his vehicle could no longer be of use. The narrowed trails would have to be taken by foot through this part of the mountainous woods. The winds last night might have taken whatever clues were left, with the exception of a few boot prints he had spotted at the bottom where his ATV remained. It was a shot in the dark, but it was as good a place as any to start looking for Mrs. Sylva. Fortunately, the rains came in sparse last night and parts of the area hadn’t been touched at all. He felt fortunate even to find any prints. Best to see where they led. This area was on the “do not enter” part of the resort, due to the rough terrain. So, finding prints at the base might mean someone who didn’t want to be found just might come up through this restricted area.
Although the skies were clear now and the sun shone brightly on this early morning, these backwoods, where the brush was thick and the trees were high, allowed for little light to seep in. The large pines and boulder outcrops nearly blocked out the sun.
He held his rifle in his right hand and made his way through the trees and rocks. The ground revealed more footprints and he followed them until reaching an unusually flat piece of ground, a clearing, where the prints ended. He had worked for the resort for the past two years and couldn’t ever recall seeing this place before. Many of these parts were off limits to the guests. But as a man who needed to know his surroundings well, this former Marine left nothing to chance and continued on with caution.
BEYOND THE CLEARING
Tony grabbed his rifle from the locked storage cabinet. He had a bad feeling and didn’t know what to expect and so it was better to be prepared. These parts were known to be home to black bears and mountain lions. This concerned Tony greatly if Mrs. Sylva had decided to go for a late-night stroll or pre-dawn walk. Mountain lions primarily hunted during those hours. But, it was the bears that posed a much bigger threat, especially if Mrs. Sylva encountered a mother with cubs.
He brought the beefy little machine to life and rolled out towards the wilderness. It didn’t take long for him to reach the outskirts of the compound and he continued on, searching for anything that might suggest someone had recently traversed the area outside the known trails.
Perhaps she’d gotten lost. It was a logical assumption, especially if one did not have the sun to guide them in any way. Tony highly doubted that Mrs. Sylva traveled with a compass. Most of the people that came to this place were city-dwellers in search of spiritual guidance; a magic healing power that could help free them of their past transgressions, or release their tortured souls from the confines of daily suburban life.
Tony had reached a point where his vehicle could no longer be of use. The narrowed trails would have to be taken by foot through this part of the mountainous woods. The winds last night might have taken whatever clues were left, with the exception of a few boot prints he had spotted at the bottom where his ATV remained. It was a shot in the dark, but it was as good a place as any to start looking for Mrs. Sylva. Fortunately, the rains came in sparse last night and parts of the area hadn’t been touched at all. He felt fortunate even to find any prints. Best to see where they led. This area was on the “do not enter” part of the resort, due to the rough terrain. So, finding prints at the base might mean someone who didn’t want to be found just might come up through this restricted area.
Although the skies were clear now and the sun shone brightly on this early morning, these backwoods, where the brush was thick and the trees were high, allowed for little light to seep in. The large pines and boulder outcrops nearly blocked out the sun.
He held his rifle in his right hand and made his way through the trees and rocks. The ground revealed more footprints and he followed them until reaching an unusually flat piece of ground, a clearing, where the prints ended. He had worked for the resort for the past two years and couldn’t ever recall seeing this place before. Many of these parts were off limits to the guests. But as a man who needed to know his surroundings well, this former Marine left nothing to chance and continued on with caution.
What I've Learned in the First Six Months
December 20, 2013 was the last day of my old life. The last day I went to work for someone else, working in a field I had been a part of for twenty years.
I was free to dedicate 100% of my time to writing. That’s the dream, right? I had published two novels while working a full time job and of course, raising my kids and now it was time to take my writing career to the next level. How lucky was I?
Since then, I’ve published a third novel and am now editing my fourth. What I’ve discovered is that I have never worked so hard in my life! I thought that juggling writing, an office job and family was hard. Well, it is, but the truth is, I always had that stable income to depend on. Writing was a passion that I squeezed in when I had the time.
Of course, this new life of mine would not have been possible if I didn’t have such a wonderfully supportive husband. He carries the burden now, believing in me that someday I’ll earn as much through my writing as I did working in my old career, maybe even more.
My first step was time management; setting up a writing schedule. I had grand plans of working out in the mornings after getting the kids off to school, then writing until they got home, where I would dedicate my afternoons to helping them with their homework and doing fun things together. Funny thing was, that didn’t actually leave that much time to write. A few hours, at best. Not good.
With writing as my only source of income, the pressure was on. I still had to contribute to the family till. I couldn’t let my husband bear the entire burden. So, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I needed to work harder than I ever had before to build on the momentum I’d created through the release of my first two books. That writing schedule just wouldn’t do.
So, now it’s summer. The kids are home from school and I haven’t worked out, (virtually at all) in about six months. Not the end of the world, right? The problem is, I have found myself spending up to ten hours or more a day on my writing. That’s great. That’s dedication! But, it has come, I believe, at the expense of my family. The kids wonder when all the fun stuff will begin.
Balance. That is what life is supposed to be about. I’ve lost that balance, as many who take on the behemoth task of achieving self-employed success, probably have as well. I have been in such a hurry to build my new and much loved writing career that I have begun to lose sight of why I chose this life to begin with.
My mantra for the next six months: Success will come, don’t rush it. Spend time with the kids before they’re too old and don’t want to spend time with me. Remember to take care of my body as well as my mind. Continue to work hard, but be careful not to burn out. Always remember why you love writing.
These are my goals for the future. I don’t need fame or even fortune. I just need people to enjoy my stories and to earn a decent living. We all want to do what makes us happy. I’m one of the lucky ones and I intend to remember that!
I was free to dedicate 100% of my time to writing. That’s the dream, right? I had published two novels while working a full time job and of course, raising my kids and now it was time to take my writing career to the next level. How lucky was I?
Since then, I’ve published a third novel and am now editing my fourth. What I’ve discovered is that I have never worked so hard in my life! I thought that juggling writing, an office job and family was hard. Well, it is, but the truth is, I always had that stable income to depend on. Writing was a passion that I squeezed in when I had the time.
Of course, this new life of mine would not have been possible if I didn’t have such a wonderfully supportive husband. He carries the burden now, believing in me that someday I’ll earn as much through my writing as I did working in my old career, maybe even more.
My first step was time management; setting up a writing schedule. I had grand plans of working out in the mornings after getting the kids off to school, then writing until they got home, where I would dedicate my afternoons to helping them with their homework and doing fun things together. Funny thing was, that didn’t actually leave that much time to write. A few hours, at best. Not good.
With writing as my only source of income, the pressure was on. I still had to contribute to the family till. I couldn’t let my husband bear the entire burden. So, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I needed to work harder than I ever had before to build on the momentum I’d created through the release of my first two books. That writing schedule just wouldn’t do.
So, now it’s summer. The kids are home from school and I haven’t worked out, (virtually at all) in about six months. Not the end of the world, right? The problem is, I have found myself spending up to ten hours or more a day on my writing. That’s great. That’s dedication! But, it has come, I believe, at the expense of my family. The kids wonder when all the fun stuff will begin.
Balance. That is what life is supposed to be about. I’ve lost that balance, as many who take on the behemoth task of achieving self-employed success, probably have as well. I have been in such a hurry to build my new and much loved writing career that I have begun to lose sight of why I chose this life to begin with.
My mantra for the next six months: Success will come, don’t rush it. Spend time with the kids before they’re too old and don’t want to spend time with me. Remember to take care of my body as well as my mind. Continue to work hard, but be careful not to burn out. Always remember why you love writing.
These are my goals for the future. I don’t need fame or even fortune. I just need people to enjoy my stories and to earn a decent living. We all want to do what makes us happy. I’m one of the lucky ones and I intend to remember that!
The Inspiration for Katie Reid (Redwood Violet Series)
This was a guest blog post that I wrote some time ago, but I thought it fitting to post on my own blog this time around. I have begun writing the third book in the series and, after almost a year having passed since book two, I needed to reacquaint myself with Katie’s world; her ideals and her strengths. It also serves as a reminder of why I created Katie Reid.
In an age where many young girls consider the pop stars and reality TV stars of today to be role models, I find it increasingly important to bring to light female characters that are far from being shrinking violets and who know that they are more than just their physical selves. Women who are not only capable of standing on their own two feet, but often take the lead in situations that even some men would fear.
Katie Reid, the heroine my Redwood Violet series, is just such a character. However, when we first meet her, she is still naïve to the ways of the world. But, she is young and idealistic and never had a strong female influence while growing up. At least, that’s what we are led to believe. It’s much later that we find out differently.
It can be difficult to create a female character who is strong, yet vulnerable; who is powerful, yet fearful and one who can maintain the idealism of love and family.
We see some of each of these qualities in Katie. Some characteristics are prevalent early on and others develop as we watch her struggle with a difficult reality from which most people would run.
My inspiration for Katie came from an assortment of influences. Of course, my mother was perhaps my biggest influence. She overcame a painful past and raised her daughters to be confident and independent. I have also grown up with an amazing group of female friends who are just about the strongest women I have ever met. It is primarily with their support that I am here today talking about my novels.
But when we watch Katie evolve; transform as a result of her discovery, we see the woman inside the girl emerge. Her strength grows beyond what even I could have imagined.
I guess you could say that I have a very idealistic view of how women should be. I believe we all should stand tall and confident; never fear what others think of us and always be true to ourselves. I’m not sure that I always behave that way, but when I start to second-guess my actions, I look to my characters for inspiration. They keep me strong and I, in turn, pass that strength along to my own daughter. I try to teach her that she does not need to conform to societal expectations. She can be happy with a partner in an equitable relationship, maintain a career of her choosing and pass along these same traits to her own children one day.
I believe this is how Katie Reid would live her life.
In an age where many young girls consider the pop stars and reality TV stars of today to be role models, I find it increasingly important to bring to light female characters that are far from being shrinking violets and who know that they are more than just their physical selves. Women who are not only capable of standing on their own two feet, but often take the lead in situations that even some men would fear.
Katie Reid, the heroine my Redwood Violet series, is just such a character. However, when we first meet her, she is still naïve to the ways of the world. But, she is young and idealistic and never had a strong female influence while growing up. At least, that’s what we are led to believe. It’s much later that we find out differently.
It can be difficult to create a female character who is strong, yet vulnerable; who is powerful, yet fearful and one who can maintain the idealism of love and family.
We see some of each of these qualities in Katie. Some characteristics are prevalent early on and others develop as we watch her struggle with a difficult reality from which most people would run.
My inspiration for Katie came from an assortment of influences. Of course, my mother was perhaps my biggest influence. She overcame a painful past and raised her daughters to be confident and independent. I have also grown up with an amazing group of female friends who are just about the strongest women I have ever met. It is primarily with their support that I am here today talking about my novels.
But when we watch Katie evolve; transform as a result of her discovery, we see the woman inside the girl emerge. Her strength grows beyond what even I could have imagined.
I guess you could say that I have a very idealistic view of how women should be. I believe we all should stand tall and confident; never fear what others think of us and always be true to ourselves. I’m not sure that I always behave that way, but when I start to second-guess my actions, I look to my characters for inspiration. They keep me strong and I, in turn, pass that strength along to my own daughter. I try to teach her that she does not need to conform to societal expectations. She can be happy with a partner in an equitable relationship, maintain a career of her choosing and pass along these same traits to her own children one day.
I believe this is how Katie Reid would live her life.
How I Fell in Love with Writing Mystery and Suspense
To answer this question, I need to take you back to the beginning. And when I say beginning, I mean when I was about nine years old and my older sister and I watched the movie, The Omen, when we weren’t supposed to. It was on regular television, but I can tell you that it still scared the bejeebers out of me! To this day, I can’t listen to the theme music!
Fast forward to my teenage years and there was my mom, who read a book every two days or so, horror mostly, and with me asking if I could try one out. Up until that point, I’d read a lot VC Andrews and was growing fond of the darker stories. She gave me a copy of Stephen King’s Christine. Holy cow! For my young mind, that book was awesome and creepy and terrifying. I loved it!
After that, I consumed just about every King book I could get my hands on. Then I turned to Dean Koontz and Thomas Harris a little later on in life.
So with those influences, one would think I would write horror, but the thing is, I just don’t have the right combination of brilliant yet gruesome prose. I kind of wish I did. Instead I opted to write stories that held the best elements of those stories; suspense tossed in with mystery and just a hint of fear to top it off. Sometimes, those can be just a terrifying as reading books filled with blood and guts and things.
With my latest novel, Landslide, I think I’ve managed to write a story with an appropriate blend of suspense and mystery and thriller. I hope readers will want to follow the lead character, Claire McKenna, through the difficult and frightening situations in which she finds herself entangled. It is, I believe, a page-turning and suspenseful story!
Fast forward to my teenage years and there was my mom, who read a book every two days or so, horror mostly, and with me asking if I could try one out. Up until that point, I’d read a lot VC Andrews and was growing fond of the darker stories. She gave me a copy of Stephen King’s Christine. Holy cow! For my young mind, that book was awesome and creepy and terrifying. I loved it!
After that, I consumed just about every King book I could get my hands on. Then I turned to Dean Koontz and Thomas Harris a little later on in life.
So with those influences, one would think I would write horror, but the thing is, I just don’t have the right combination of brilliant yet gruesome prose. I kind of wish I did. Instead I opted to write stories that held the best elements of those stories; suspense tossed in with mystery and just a hint of fear to top it off. Sometimes, those can be just a terrifying as reading books filled with blood and guts and things.
With my latest novel, Landslide, I think I’ve managed to write a story with an appropriate blend of suspense and mystery and thriller. I hope readers will want to follow the lead character, Claire McKenna, through the difficult and frightening situations in which she finds herself entangled. It is, I believe, a page-turning and suspenseful story!
