Randolph Randy Camp's Blog: Randy C Creations RCstories, page 12

Writing Tip: Different Voices

The thing that I enjoy most when I’m invited for a meet-the-author/ book talk event is when an aspiring writer asks for any writing tips. My number one advice for any writer is to make sure that your characters have different voices. No two people in real life sounds the same. As a writer, you must reflect this in your characters and in your stories.

For practice, try writing the same character dialogue (in a sentence or a question) three or four different ways, using the same basic words. Remember that your creative writing style will take shape as you develop your own unique use of commas, the apostrophe, and contraction words. And simultaneously, while practicing this particular exercise, you will become better at ensuring that your characters aren’t sounding the same. Hint: It’s important to note that the apostrophe takes place of a missing letter (or letters), especially when writing dialogue. Good luck with your current or next writing project. – Randolph Randy Camp

Randolph Randy Camp

True Heart

For the most part I actually do get to see the brighter side of humans, but every now and then, unfortunately, my eyes will witness the darker side of some of those around me. When I was writing the first draft of ’29 Dimes’ a few years ago I was simultaneously going through a rough emotional period in my private life whereby I had to make a major decision of whether to keep a so-called friend in my life or not. (She gave me reasons to question her true heart.) So, as I was writing ‘Vehicles’, an original song for the character ‘Teki’ in ’29 Dimes’, the lyrics just poured out of me. ‘Vehicles’ is a song about people who pretends to love and care about you only to get what they want.

Yep, we must be mindful of those we have and keep in our circle. My life changed for the better once I’d cut the ties with this so-called friend. I hope that your life is filled with goodhearted people who show you daily that they want nothing but betterment and happiness for you. It’s a wonderful feeling when you’re surrounded by people who enjoys it when you rise. And you also get a kick out of seeing them rise up as well.

Here’s the lyrics to ‘Vehicles’…

‘VEHICLES’
You pick me up…take me around
You use me up when you’re feelin’ down
Just like vehicles goin’ around and around
Just like vehicles in my town
You only need me when you’re down
Next time when you’re passin’ by
I’ll remember you…and the smile and the lie
‘Cause you’re just another vehicle goin’ by and by
Yeah, just another vehicle goin’ by and by
You hold me… You kiss me
You give me a ride
Maybe some day…maybe some way
We may collide.

– Randolph Randy Camp (from the novel ’29 Dimes: A Love Story’)

29 Dimes: A Love Story

My First Love

Writers usually live somewhat boring lives so I'm always puzzled when readers are interested in my private life. Recently, I'd received a few letters asking me if there was anyone special in my life. I've never been one to kiss n' tell but I will spill the beans about my very first love. Ready? Here we go...Well, I was 12 years old and I was watching 'Butterfield 8' at a cousin's house. When I first saw 'Gloria Wandrous' (played by Elizabeth Taylor) something strange happened to me. At that time I didn't know what hormones were but now I know that I certainly had some because my body was doing things it never done before. Yep, it's true, that day (at age 12) I fell in love...and get this, still today (at age 55) I still get all gooey inside whenever I see Liz on screen. - Randolph Randy Camp


PS: Just in case if anyone is interested, my all-time favorite movies are 'Imitation of Life', 'To Kill A Mockingbird', 'A Patch of Blue', 'Billy Jack', and 'Butterfield 8'


Randolph Randy Camp

Seeds and Harvest

When we're young and innocent we truly don't know how our lives will turn out, but I can attest to the fact that you can enrich your life by doing good deeds and by the positive seeds you sow.

Yesterday I'd received an email query from one of my readers from Hachinohe, Japan. She had read my novel 'False Dandelions' and was curious to find out if I actually had a green thumb or not. Ayane's question instantly set my mind adrift to my early years growing up in rural Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where I would sit under shade trees, scribble out short poems and jot down my thoughts and dreams. Little did I know then that those simple words were seeds...seeds that would one day grow and form a life of their own.

In 1977, when I was 16 years old, I remember sitting in my backyard writing this little ditty about a girl named Shelly who'd run away from home. At that time I didn't even have a title for those lyrics, but through the years, those few words about Shelly, in which I'd initially written 39 years ago, have taken shape and have been transformed into my award-winning story 'Wet Matches', which today is my best-selling book (of my four novels). After high school, I'd joined the U.S. Air Force, and during my off-duty and down time when I was stationed overseas in Korea and Germany, I expanded my short, untitled ditty about this young runaway girl into a short story. As time went on and I was discharged from the military, I would always find time to write and expand this short story even further into a novel manuscript entitled 'Wet Matches', as it is known today.

No, we can't predict our future and we may not always know the roads and paths ahead of us, but there's something special and inspiring to having blind faith in doing good deeds and sowing our positive seeds. And certainly I'm not monetarily wealthy from my book sales, but I do live a blessed and enriched life due to the daily feedback I get from you all. Not a day goes by without me showing gratitude to all of my readers, followers and fans from around the world. Although my books or I aren't on any national or international bestsellers' list, it's definitely gratifying to reap the true rewards of the seeds I've sown so many years ago. And I hope that you too will have a great harvest as well, as you continue to sow your own seeds.

By the way, to answer Ayane's question, no, I don't believe that I have a green thumb because I would get yelled at when I was a boy working for this neighbor lady who would pay me fifty cents an hour to weed out her flowerbeds, and many times I'd mistakenly yank up one of her precious flowers, which I naively thought was a common weed.....Stay positive Everybody! - Randolph Randy Camp
False Dandelions

Keep Your Light Burning

We often encounter people who laugh at our flaws, others who can’t wait to punish us for our mistakes, and those who constantly judge and ridicule us for our decisions and actions of the past. Sadly, there are people around us who gets a rise from their attempt to dampen our spirit and drive. I’ve experienced this quite a bit in my 55 years, and I’ll be the first to admit that it’s certainly not an easy task to stay positive in the midst of negativity. But please, whatever you do, don’t ever let anyone blow out your candle. – Randolph Randy Camp

Randolph Randy Camp

Do What You Love

Do what you love to do. Be in charge of your own life, otherwise someone else will. I used to be a talker, always talking about what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. A few years ago, I stop talking and put an action plan together to take my love of writing to a higher level. My first novel won the Quarter-Finals Prize at the 14th Annual Writers Network Screenplay and Fiction Competition in Los Angeles, and currently it’s my top selling book of my four published works. There’s a certain inner peace that comes from doing something that you truly love, and I hope that each one of you have this already or will take steps toward finding your inner peace.

And don’t let your day job define you. I understand that you must do whatever in order to pay the rent, but don’t let the designer in you, the artist in you, the executive in you, the inventor in you, or the store owner in you wither away or tire you out due to your devotion to someone else’s dream. Be the person you want to be. Do what you love to do. – Randolph Randy Camp

Wet Matches

Running Water

It’s a dream come true for me to be able to write and connect with people from around the world with my words and stories. I celebrated my 55th birthday this past week, and I want to thank EVERYONE for all of your birthday wishes and gifts. I came from humble beginnings, and I take nothing for granted. I’m always blown away by the slightest connection and interaction with my readers, followers, friends and family. I’m truly fortunate to have received emails and gift cards from folks all around the globe. It’s not too often that I find myself blushing, but this year, for some reason, my birthday wishes and gifts poured in from people and places that I honestly didn’t expect. Yes, indeed, I’m truly a blessed man.

Growing up in rural Spotsylvania County, Virginia, our family and many other families around us did not have running water (modern plumbing and sewage system inside the home). So, in taking nothing for granted, I’m very appreciative of all gifts and blessings bestowed upon me, but I’ll always be extremely grateful for my sight, the fingers on my hands, the air in my lungs and running water all around me. – Randolph Randy Camp

Randolph Randy Camp

New Roads

Several months ago I moved from New York to an unfamiliar city. Getting settled into Des Moines has been both challenging and rewarding for me. One of the rewards of this move has been the new friendships I’ve made. If you’re currently feeling stuck where you are but maybe too afraid to leave, please do yourself a favor and, at least, consider the countless possibilities and rewards when we venture down new paths and open roads. Yes, I know, starting over and the unknown can be daunting but it’s also exciting. I firmly believe that if we never take any type of risks then we can’t expect to grow and reach inner happiness. So, if you’re currently dissatisfied with where you are in life, don’t be afraid to take a step towards new roads in 2016. – Randolph Randy Camp

Randolph Randy Camp

The Beauty of Expression

Recently I was reminded of why I absolutely love writing and blogging so much. A few days ago, one of my posts was taken to a level that I found to be very interesting. It’s a wonderful thing when a reader or a fellow writer takes your original post in a total new direction or add their own angle to it, which gives it more color and depth. As long as we respect one another in the end, it’s okay with me when a viewer or a fellow blogger expresses a different opinion than my own because, overall, we all benefit from seeing a snapshot of the world through the microcosm of our blog posts. Writing and blogging are great ways to express yourself, and when others comment and share their own opinions about your initial message then your post becomes an engaging, virtual classroom in which all viewers can benefit from.

So, here’s a big Thank You to all of my readers, fellow bloggers and writers for expressing yourselves and sharing your views and opinions with the rest of us. I wish you all great success with your blogs and your other writing projects. – Randolph Randy Camp
Randolph Randy Camp

The World Needs You

What are you waiting for? The world needs you now. That special thing inside of you which is so unique was given to you for a reason, and sharing your special gift with the rest of us in this world is your purpose and the very reason you was born. So, for all of you secret dreamers, aspiring singers, actors, inventors, actresses, writers, designers, teachers, engineers, chefs, film makers, quiet and humbled artists, this message is for you.

Some of us are thinkers, full of thoughts and ideas. Some of us are talkers. We constantly talk about what we want to do or should have done. It’s time to put those thoughts and words to action and start taking baby steps toward our goals and lifelong dreams. How often have you put your dream or desires on the back burner because of others or some other reason and later regretted that decision? Could someone benefit from your talents or from what you have to offer? Could you put a smile on a troubled face? Could you brighten someone’s life with that unique thing which makes you ‘you’?

It’s time to stop talking. Use 2016 as your action year. The rest of us could be benefiting in so many different ways from your special talent. Again, I ask, what are you waiting for? The world needs you. – Randolph Randy Camp
Randolph Randy Camp