Morgan L. Busse's Blog, page 9

Writing the Middle of a Novel and Lagging Stories

It’s the last Friday of the month and that means it’s time for our coffee date! This month I had a reader submit two questions, which I will tackle today. So grab your cup of coffee (or tea if you’re a tea drinker) and let’s get started!

Michael asks: What keeps you writing in the middle of a novel?

I outline all my stories before I start writing them. So what keeps me writing when I enter the middle of the story is whatever I put on my storyboard. Okay, that’s not really much of an answer ;)

One time at a conference I attended, a teacher said that each chapter should have something that pulls the reader along, whether that is suspense, the romance thread, mystery, something that will entice the reader to read the next chapter, and the next. So when I am putting together my storyboard (where I map out my story), I figure out what needs to happen next and what can I do to make it interesting. Here is a visual:

romance->suspense->make things dire->expand the romance->humor->mystery->more suspense

I usually get bored with one aspect of the story, so changing it up not only keeps me from getting bored, it helps the reader take a breather from the more intense or darker scenes by scattering a couple romance threads and maybe some humor in between.

To find out more about how I storyboard and write a novel, click here: How I write a novel.

Michael asks: How do you add interest before the climax, when stories (or early drafts) tend to lag?

If I’ve done what I explained up above well, then with each chapter I’ve made the reader start to cling to the book or kindle with white knuckles, wondering what’s going to happen next? Each chapter in the middle is like a click on a roller coaster, bringing the reader to the top where I will unleash the end in a flurry of twists and dips until we reach the end and the reader is gasping for breath :) (at least I hope so).

I think what also helps me to add interest is I plot out my story and tighten the plot before I start writing. That is where I can see the story and the potential places for boredom or stagnation. If you’re more of a write-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, then ask yourself two things as you write the chapter: is it boring? If so, which of the aspects I shared above can you add to make it not boring (enhance the romance thread? add suspense? add mystery? make things more dire for your character?). And does it add to the overall plot of the story (or is it a bunny trail)?

I hope that helps. Great questions, Michael!

Every month I answer questions from my readers. They can be personal, how to write, or about my stories. If you have a question you would like me to answer during my coffee dates, feel free to leave the question below and I will answer next month. Thanks!

Win a Year’s Supply of Christian Fantasy and Science Fiction Ebooks!

My publisher, Enclave Publishing, is giving away a year’s supply of award-winning Christian fantasy and science fiction ebooks to one lucky winner (including my epic fantasy Follower of the Word series). The contest is open until Labor Day. So what are you waiting for? Go enter! :)

http://www.enclavepublishing.com/giveaways/labor-day-giveaway-2015/

Breaking Those “Writing Rules” and Video Games

It’s the end of August and that means it’s time for another coffee date! This month I received some very interesting questions from my readers :) .

Lisa asks: What is one writing “rule” that you like to break?

To rephrase Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean, “The rules is more what you’d call “guidelines” than actual rules.” If it moves the story along and engages the reader to the end, then I say you can pretty much do anything you want with your story However, that’s not the question. So what “rule” do I like to break? I’ll share two if you don’t mind ;).

Deep POV. For those of you who are going “deep what?” deep POV is where you go deep inside the third point of view of your character. I believe in showing things through the character’s experience. But there are times when the scene becomes really intense and I need to dial it back, so I choose not to use deep POV. It’s a personal preference. I think it’s also why I shy away from using first POV. I sometimes need some space between me and the story.

It’s like this: I can really get into a movie (if it’s good). But if I’m watching something scary, I like to watch with all the curtains drawn back on a sunny day so I can pull back from the intense scenes if I need to.

I’ll also sometimes “tell” the emotion if there’s already been of heart racing, gut clenching, sobbing, or however else you want to describe an emotion. Sometimes it helps to say that a fiery rage burned inside the man’s chest instead of a fire. But that’s just me, and if my editor insists, I’ll change it. I’m a good girl :).

I also like to use a lot of description at the beginning of a scene, kind of like setting the stage, then bringing the characters on and letting them do what they need to do for that scene. There are many different thoughts on description: use only a little bit and let the reader’s imagination do the rest, sprinkle it throughout the scene, or set the stage (like I do). I learned to do this with my first editor and when he explained the “why” for it, it totally made sense for me and I’ve been a description stage setter ever since.

And since we are on rule-breaking, I want to put in a word here for my friend and former editor’s new book. Jeff Gerke‘s The Irresistible Novel covers rule-breaking and why it is important to engage the reader first and foremost. Excellent material and great for both the beginner and advance writer (and recommended by David Farland!).

Excellent question, Lisa!

Laura asks: So I know you mentioned playing video games after Heir of Hope released and I want to know what’s your favorite video game or your top three (whatever is easier)?

I never really played video games until I was watching my husband play Age of Mythology years ago and decided I wanted to join him. Since then I have played almost everything from Mario and Zelda to more complex games like Oblivion/Skyrim and Dragon Age/Mass Effect to online MMORPG’s like World of Warcraft, Star Wars Old Republic, and The Elder Scrolls online.

However, as a writer, I limit my game playing to between books. There are only so many hours in a day and when I’m writing, it is split between my manuscript and my family. But when I write, “The End,” I usually take a couple weeks off to give my brain a break and forget everything I wrote so I can come back with a fresh pair of eyes. That’s when I break open the book or game I’ve been waiting to dive into.

So what are my favorite games? Hard question because I love so many! I love the Mario and Lego games because I can play it with my kids. I have loved Zelda since forever and have played almost every single game there is. For amazing world graphics, music, and story building, The Elder Scrolls are my favorite (Oblivion, Skyrim, and their online game). The Dragon Age series is a close second, with Dragon Age 3 vying for first place with The Elder Scrolls.

And I love online games because my husband plays them and I enjoy playing alongside him. I’ve played World of Warcraft on and off since The Burning Crusade and used to play as a raid tank healer until it started taking too much of my time. And I was there the first day The Elder Scrolls launched.

Lots of good memories! Thanks Laura :)

I’m always looking for questions for my coffee dates. Have a question? Leave it in the comments below or email me and I will be happy to answer it during my next coffee date post.

How to Create a Steampunk Costume

For the last two weeks I said I would share how I created my own steampunk costume, including some things I made myself or how I cut the cost on some of my items. One thing I love about steampunk is its variety and eclectic style. There is really no right or wrong way to create a steampunk costume. The very nature of steampunk is pulling odds and ends together. So feel free to pick and choose what you want to create your style.

When I first started thinking about my own costume, I knew I wanted a corset. There is something elegant about a corset. But I didn’t want to wear a Victorian gown. I wanted something more spunky and adventurous. So when I went to choose my corset, I spent days searching out Pinterest and steampunk sites figuring out what style I wanted.

The most expensive part of my costume was my corset, but that was fine since—for me—that was the most important part. I created the rest of my costume around the corset. After searching, I settled with a steel boned, overbust, brown brocade corset and love it! For those of you wanting numbers, it was about $80. Note: you will need to take your measurements carefully in order to get the right corset.

Once I had my corset, it was time to add all the other pieces. First thing I did was search my closet for a shirt or blouse and skirt. Why buy something when I might already have what I’m looking for? I found a cute peasant shirt that looked perfect with the corset. Cost? $0 :)

Unfortunately, I needed to buy a skirt. So I started popping into clothing stores whenever I was at the mall. I knew I wanted the skirt to be brown, but I wasn’t sure about long or short. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I was able to be casual about my search. After a couple months, I found a knee length skirt with lots of creases and natural wrinkles, giving it a worn look (perfect for that adventurous look I wanted). Cost? $20.

All right, I now had a shirt, skirt, and corset, but needed something for my feet. And with a knee length skirt, I knew I wanted boots. I expanded my search to include online and thrift stores. Note: You can find some awesome things at thrift stores, so pop in and look. I ended up not only finding a pair of boots, but some small ivory kid gloves at a local thrift store. I wanted gloves too, but could never find leather gloves small enough for my hands that didn’t go above my budget. The gloves were the wrong color and not fingerless (which I wanted), but I figured at $1 I could experiment and try making my own gloves. And the boots were $3.

Dying gloves was definitely an experiment. I tried different dyes, resulting in different colors, the last one being a dark hunter green. Nice color, but not the color I wanted. My husband had one more idea and brought home some shoe polish. I thought sure, why not, and rubbed the polish into the gloves. Not only did they turn out the right shade of brown, the polish made the gloves look like leather (score!). I then cut the tips off and had my own fingerless gloves! The only problem I ran into was a small bit of the polish came off after wearing the gloves for a couple hours, but it was hardly anything and worth the leathery look.

For my head, I had a couple options (top hat, goggles, lace, etc…). Since I was going for that spunky look (and wanted something to hold my hair back), I went with goggles. I found a pair online for $10, but they were black. So I bought a can of brown spray with texture, covered up the goggle part with tape, and sprayed them a nice brown that matched the rest of my outfit.

I finally had my costume and could now customize if I wanted to. I found a wire necklace at a hobby shop and a key charm. Total: $6. I found a watch with a leather band and charms online for $2. And I found a pocket watch which I technically got for free during a bogo event, but would have cost $15.

So after months/years of casual searching at the mall, thrift stores, and online, I spent a total of $135 on my costume, $80 of it on my corset. I’m sure I could have found a skirt at a thrift store and saved even more, but $135 on a costume I will wear every year at cons, book signings, and parties is not bad :)

So how can you create your own steampunk costume without breaking the bank?

First, decide what look you are going for. Western? Victorian? Adventure? Elegant?

Second, decide what piece(s) are important enough to you to spend money on.

Third, take the time to look. The wonderful thing about steampunk is you can find all sorts of fun and strange things for your costume in places other than a costume store. Try thrift stores, army surplus, flea markets, and online.

Fourth, make it your own. Want cogs? Go for it. Want lots of lace? Go for it. Steam prosthetic? Go for it. There are not set rules for steampunk. Have fun and be creative!

Realm Makers 2015 Recap

Now that I’ve had enough rest for my brain to properly function again, I wanted to recap my time at Realm Makers while it’s still fresh on my mind :).

For those of you who don’t know what Realm Makers is, it is a conference for Christian writers of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, time travel, steampunk, etc…). And not just book writers, but screen writers, manga writers, and even illustrators. This year was Realm Maker’s third year and wow has it grown since I first attended two years ago! One hundred fifty attendees, stellar teachers including David Farland, Rober Lipaurulo, and Jeff Gerke, and lots of great classes.

This year was a different year for me. Instead of going as an attendee, I was one of the teachers and mentors. And I loved it! I loved meeting one-on-one with budding writers and brainstorming with them, helping them with their character development or story arc, or just encouraging them on their writing journey.

I also loved teaching. I have been blessed with wonderful teachers in the past and I now I am in the position to pass on what I have learned. I taught a class on how to show the gospel through fiction without preaching and participated on the fight scene panel. Both were well received and it warms my heart knowing that I helped other writers.

Of course, one of the best parts of Realm Makers is the costume banquet. I don’t know of any other conference where you get to dress up as a favorite character or genre for dinner :).  Here are some of my pictures from that evening (along with other moments at Realm Makers):

David Farland and Me :)

Fellow Enclave Authors

Steampunk!

I found Waldo!

More Steampunk!

Me and My Critique Partners :)

Realm Makers 2015 was a blast! I can’t wait until I can go back.  And for those of you interested in my steampunk costume, next week I will be doing a post on how to build your own costume without breaking the bank. So stay tuned!

Food in Fiction and Dressing like Your Characters

I’m so excited to have my coffee date this month! I had more questions come in from my readers than space, so I’m breaking up the questions between this month and next month. There are some fun questions this month, so let’s get started :)

Maegen asks: If you were to create a recipe based on any inspiration/idea from any of your books (current or future ideas) what would it be?

It’s not really a recipe, but more of something I’m curious to try. While doing research for Heir of Hope, I looked for things people would eat while traveling along the coast, something easy to find and cook. One thing that came up in my search were seagull eggs. Apparently they are a delicacy in Norway and wouldn’t be that hard to find along the coast. I never ended up using that particular food, but I always wondered what seagull eggs would taste like!

Thanks for the question, Maegen!

Lisa asks: Have you ever dressed like one of your characters?

Yes and no. I have one outfit I use for cons, conferences, and even Halloween. It’s a steampunk outfit that has slowly evolved over the years as I’ve added more and more pieces to it. When I first created my outfit, I was writing fantasy. However, last summer I started working on a steampunk series. When I dove into book two, I realized the outfit I’ve been wearing for the last few years is the same one my character wears in the second book. So maybe you could say my character dresses like me ;)

I will be sharing pictures of my outfit next week after Realm Makers, and will also be sharing a post about how to build your own steampunk outfit out of things you can find around town the following week, so stay tuned.

Thanks for the excellent question, Lisa!

The fourth Friday of every month I take questions from readers about almost everything: writing, fantasy and science fiction, even about my life. If you have a question you would like answered during my coffee dates, feel free to ask below and I will answer it at the next available date. Thanks!

You’re Not Going to Please Everyone

I had a handful of reviews come in a couple weeks ago and every single reviewer did not like my books. Ouch! Some stated why, others were left blank with less than stellar stars. What is a writer to do with reviews like these?

For a while, I walked around the house with their words bouncing around in my head. Should I have…? What if I had…? Or maybe I’m really that bad.

Then I looked up and realized something: I’m not going to please everyone. The moment I admitted that to myself, a huge load was lifted from my shoulders. Let’s face it, that is the truth. No one can please everyone. There are going to be people who don’t resonate with my story, or don’t like my writing voice, or my characters, or my descriptions, or fill-in-the-blank. That’s just life.

So what do I do? I keep writing. I have a unique voice that I’ve tried to change in the past and it didn’t work (check out my blog post Surprised By My Own Voice). I like my voice, it is who I am. It just might not resonate with others.

I will continue to write stories that I love. If I don’t love the story, it will be hard to come to my computer and write it each day for the next year.

I have been blessed to work with editors I respect and agree with. There are many editors out there with different ideas on how a story should be written. Because of that, what I write and how it is edited will not be as appealing to those who come from other schools of thought. And that’s okay.

Writing is one way I worship God. I wrestle with themes, questions, and ideas and ultimately create a story that I give back to God. Through every story I write, I am reminded of who God is, how much He loves me, and there is a reason I am here on this earth. Even if no one else picked up my book and read it, I would have joy in simply giving my story to God much in the same way a child draws a picture and gives it to her papa.

I’m not going to please everyone. I need to remember that. But that’s not my job anyway. My job is to write the best story I can and pour my soul into it. That is what I can control and will continue to do.

How about you? Do you sometimes get caught up in wanting to please everyone and feel depressed if you don’t? How do you overcome that?

Doing What’s Good for You

It’s not always easy to do what’s good for you. My husband hates vegetables. Taste, texture, even smell. It wasn’t until a couple months ago he finally starting adding them to his diet in the form of a veggie protein shake, that way he can slug his veggies down. I decided to join him in slurping those veggie shakes, partly because if we are both doing it, he’ll more likely drink it in the morning and partly because I could use more veggies in my diet.

There are some mornings I don’t want to make those shakes. And there are some mornings I would rather have something else (like a doughnut, yum!). But I tell myself, “No,” and then I go and make those shakes. And I am always glad I did!

Our morning veggie shakes, yum!

As I was making our shakes this morning, I realized how this applies to other areas of my life. There are days I don’t want to read my Bible or pray. I’m energized and ready to tackle my to-do list and the thought of pausing for twenty minutes to have my quiet time feels deflating. But I’ve lived long enough to know that I need to center my day around God, and so I head to my room, get on my knees, and pray. I never regret taking that time out each morning.

The same goes for my writing. There are many days I don’t want to write. I just want to be a regular mother and take care of my family. But if I don’t write, the story doesn’t happen and deadlines are not met. So I put aside my tasks (I’ll admit, it’s not hard to say no to laundry!), sit down in front my computer, and write out my word count for the day. Sometimes the words flow. Sometimes I feel like I would write faster if I just pounded my head across the keyboard. But in the end, I am always happy that I took the time to work on my book. Each day of writing brings me that much closer to a finished manuscript.

How about you? What do you not always enjoy doing, but you know is good for you? And how do you feel when you do it?

New Cover Reveal for The Seahorse Legacy

I am really excited to share the new cover for The Seahorse Legacy! This is one of my favorite books and I am eagerly anticipating the final book, The Sunken Realms, coming this summer :) If you want to read my review of The Seahorse Legacy, click here: The Seahorse Legacy. And don’t forget to continue on with this post to enter for a chance to win some fantabulous prizes including an amazon giftcard!

***

a Pirate , bound by a centuries-old oath 

As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein—or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract—and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.

a Knight, determined to prove her calling

Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.

a Legacy, demanding surrender

Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action—and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.

The third book in this series-within-a series, The Seahorse Legacy begins an epic re-imagining of several fairy tales, combined–including an unexpected twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. This romantic adventure will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: The Sunken Realm, coming late Summer 2015.

And now for the cover!

And for the prize: The prize package includes:

1. custom skin for reading device (or phone) featuring the new book cover

2. temporary tattoos “Official Pirate Crew — The Seahorse Legacy”

3. $10 Amazon giftcard

Click here to enter: Rafflecopter giveaway

SERENA CHASE lives in Iowa with her husband, two teen daughters, and a big white dog named Albus. A frequent contributor to USA Today‘s Happy Ever After blog, Serena is an avid reader of young adult fiction and inspirational romance and has become a respected influencer within those communities. When not engaged in her varied roles within the publishing industry, Serena can be found coaching her local high school’s Color Guard, watching action movies, and dreaming about someday living in a cottage by the sea. Connect with Serena Chase on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter (@Serena_Chase) and visit www.serenachase.com to subscribe to her newsletter and gain access to exclusive, subscriber-only content.

New Book Contract

I’m excited to officially announce that Enclave Publishing has offered me a contract for my new steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles, and I have accepted (here is a picture of me signing the contract). The first book, Tainted, is scheduled to release Spring of 2016! So be watching for more news like covers and official release dates :)