Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 56

Heading to the Calgary Comic Expo!

Next month is the Calgary Comic Expo which is an impressive sized con with four days of pop culture, cosplay and more. This year I am pleased to say I will be sharing a booth with Matthew Gillies of Flinch Publications. We will both be speaking at a panel about writing (time/date TBA) during the con as well.

Last year Matthew and I met at the Edmonton Comic expo and realized we share a lot of similarities (writing horror and graphic design). Matthew was also willing to spend some time to chat about his work which can be read in the interview blog post from November.

Where Are We?

Matthew and I will be at the Flinch Publication booth in the BMO Centre.



Booth Number: D03

The expo runs from April 28th to May 1st.

2016 Show Hours

April 28 – 4pm to 9pm

April 29 – 1pm to 9pm

April 30 – 10am to 7pm

May 1 – 10am to 5pm

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

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Seed Me Horror Novel Plot and Cover Reveal

For the past couple of years, I have been hinting about a new book separate from Mental Damnation. This one has been in the works since 2014 NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month) where the first draft of the story was written. I will admit… it was terrible. Possibly the worst piece of fiction I had written. In early 2015, I returned to the story and scrapped over half of the plot, re-writing it into a completely new direction. Through title changes, plot adjustments and character/visual overhauls, the Seed Me novel is finally at a place where it can be shared.

The book will be ready for the fall of 2016. I am beyond excited to get this novel out to all you horror fans. In the meantime, here’s the cover and synopsis for the new Edmonton-based horror story:

WARNING: DO NOT CONSUME

If you’re reading this, then you did not take the above warning seriously. In that case, you’re probably as stupid as me. I’m Logan, by the way. I didn’t pay attention to any warning signs either. Being an unemployed deadbeat in Edmonton with no family and getting dumped by your girlfriend for her best friend can wear a guy down. All I had was my cokehead buddy, Skip, to cheer me up.

Surprisingly, my precautionary tale was not caused by either Skip or the drugs. Let’s just say a drunken make-out session with a pale girl by a dumpster, who was supposedly pronounced dead earlier in the evening, can leave you mentally jumbled up. A good motivator to figure this scenario out is having robed cultists stalk you, asking where the girl is.

Is this an ill twist of fate? Did I bring this on myself? Is there a reason behind my misfortune? Is the moral to not make out with spooky girls behind dumpsters? Hell if I know…

More behind the scenes and sneak peeks to come in the near future. The book will have some additional media to go along with it as well (hint: musical). Keep watch for more updates!

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Defining a Memorable Character Part 3 – The Name

A name in a story is exceptionally important considering when writing, we are only working with words. Defining a name for you character is a critical step to making them memorable and should be distinctive to them.

In the previous post we discussed coming up with personality and physical traits for your character. The character’s personality properties should reflect their physical ones. If the character has conflicting traits, your reader will have a difficult time buying into them.

Complimenting a Character’s Traits.

When picking a name, it should reflect the character’s personality. If a character is a rough-around-the-edges type and takes no prisoners naming him something soft (don’t take offense to this if it’s your name!) like Greggory or Kalan probably isn’t going to fit as well as something like Ace or Maddox.

Original Name or Existing Name?

That is up to you. It can be fun to come up with a completely new word for your character’s name but think about the setting of your book. Is it a drama based in modern times New York? Making a new name probably doesn’t make sense and you’re better off sticking with something like Janet or Rick. If you are writing a fantasy or a science fiction piece, coming up with an original name would fit much better, especially if it is another race.

Pronunciation

It is one thing to come up with a really cool name for a character (especially in fantasy stories) but if no one can pronounce your character’s name then they are going to have a hard time memorizing it the story or telling a friend about the book. A couple of options for tackling this is to include a dictionary on how to pronounce the names in your story. Another option is to change the name to something more simplistic. The name should naturally flow off the tongue when speaking it out loud.

Name Generators

Stuck for a suitable name? Name generators () are all over the web for every time of theme (, , demonic, angelic, military, punk, gangster, etc.). Do a search online and you will be amazed at what you can find for name generators. Another idea is to use a baby naming book, often they include a definition for the name and pronunciation for it. You’ll have a vast pool of names to use for future stories to come.

Once again… Character sheets!

As mentioned in the first blog post and the second, a character sheet is incredibly important to keep track of your character. Now that you have clearly identified their motive and traits, you can add their name to their character sheet. Voila! Your character has been molded and ready to be brought into your story.

There are many additional topics to cover with character creation and this does go beyond just writing novels. Character creation is seen in movies, video games, comics and more. Start paying attention and make note of characters when reading or watching a movie. The more you analyze how other writers implement their characters into stories will help you do the same for yours by identifying what works and what doesn’t work in other people’s work.

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Author Simon Rose Discusses his Fantasy novel – Flashback

This week we have guest author Simon Rose from Calgary who is going to give some insight into his latest novel, Flashback – a fantasy adventure of time travel for teens.

First off, thank you Simon thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your novel.

Give us a brief introduction to you and why you got into writing.

I’m based in Calgary and am the author of ten novels for middle grade and young adult readers, including The Alchemist’s Portrait, The Sorcerer’s Letterbox, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse, The Heretic’s Tomb, The Doomsday Mask, The Time Camera, The Sphere of Septimus, Flashback, and Future Imperfect. Growing up I read a lot of science fiction, fantasy, ghost stories, short story collections, and a tremendous number of comic books. At high school, I studied a great deal of history and have retained my interest in the subject up to the present day. I also read voraciously on ancient civilizations, mysteries, the supernatural, and the unexplained. I always had lots of ideas for stories but never thought about creating stories until I became a parent. Around that time the Harry Potter books appeared, as well as The Golden Compass and its sequels, and these books inspired me to create stories about the topics that interested me.

Tell us about your novel Flashback.

Flashback is a paranormal adventure involving psychic phenomena, ghosts, imaginary friends, mind control experiments, secrets, conspiracies, and time travel with a difference. Fourteen-year-old Max is the main character but David also plays a large role in the story, even though he died twenty years earlier. After a terrifying experience in a local cemetery, Max embarks on a mission to right a terrible wrong, putting his own life in danger in the process. Flashback is available as an ebook, in paperback, and as an audiobook and can be purchased online at places like Amazon, as well as from the publisher, Tyche Books, and directly from me.

Very cool, what were the inspirations for writing Flashback?

Flashback was one of the first ideas I had for a novel, one of those ideas that you don’t really know where it came from but it sticks with you and refuses to go away. You know that you have to develop the story and keep getting new pieces of the puzzle until it all comes together. It was inspired by numerous ghost stories, books, and movies about psychics and the paranormal, past lives and hypnosis, and the concept of going back into your own life armed with your current knowledge to somehow attempt to change the previous course of events, for better or worse.

Is all of your work for young adults?

In addition to the novels, I’ve written more than 80 nonfiction books books for children and young adults, but have also written books for adults. These include The Children’s Writer’s Guide, The Working Writer’s Guide, The Social Media Writer’s Guide, School and Library Visits for Authors and Illustrators, and Exploring the Fantasy Realm. These titles are all available as ebooks or as paperbacks. I’m also a contributing author to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction and have written some picture books for younger readers.

Impressive! Do you have a preferred method to reach out to your fans?

I’m in all the usual places online, such as my website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and so on, but also connect with readers in person at local bookstores when I conduct signings, during visits to schools, at children’s writing classes, and young writers conferences, and connect with adults during my classes at the universities. I’ll also be connecting with readers in May 2016 when I’m touring schools and libraries in Montreal and Quebec City during Children’s Book Week. People can subscribe to my newsletter, which goes out once a month and has details of my current projects, upcoming events, and so on.

Beyond the books, what else do you do as a writer?

In addition to the classes and workshops for children and adults, I offer coaching and editing services for writers in all genres and conduct online writing workshops and courses, such as Writing for Children and Young Adults and Writing Historical Fiction. I also write for magazines and offer copywriting services for websites, blogs, social media, and businesses.

Do you have any upcoming work?

My tenth novel, Future Imperfect, will be published this spring. It’s a technology-driven adventure featuring teenage geniuses, corporate espionage, and mysterious messages. I hope I’ll be able to tell you more about the novel in the near future, so stay tuned. Flashback also has two sequels coming out next year, one in the spring and the third installment in the summer.

Thank you again Simon for the chat! Always a pleasure to discuss work with another author, especially another one in Alberta. Looking forward to see what the Future Imperfect offers.

You can find Simon’s work on his website at www.simon-rose.com or online at the following social media sites:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
Google +
Pinterest

 

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Defining a Memorable Character Part 2 – Traits

A character’s personality and physical traits can say a lot about them, these statistics help make it easier for a reader to identify them. Their qualities is also what makes them memorable to the readers. Think about some of your favorite characters in a book or movie, was it their physical appearance or did they have a personality that you find appealing? What made these traits attractive to you? These are the questions you need to ask yourself so you can decide how you want readers to perceive your characters.

In the previous post we covered the motive of a character, what drives your characters to do the actions that they do. If they don’t have a reason then they do not serve much of a purpose in the plot. Now let’s get into a character’s traits to really give them defining roles.

Physical Traits That Fit the Role.

Your characters are going to have physical descriptions, it helps identify them and allows the readers to visualize them. A character’s physical persona should reflect their personality, much like how people are out on the street. Just go for a walk and examine how people act and how they are dressed. To simply put it, stereotypes come from somewhere. For example, if you have a character who has tattered hair, rugged clothes and has a naturally resting scowl is probably not going to be a cheerful character.

Create a Backstory to their Appearance.

Does your character have a scar? Do they always wear gloves? What about boots with a distinctive click in each step they take? These can be iconic appearances that your character has. Just because they are ‘cool’ traits doesn’t mean it fits with the character. If you mention distinctive physical traits like these your readers are going to begin to wonder “why does this character look that way?”

This is where your storytelling comes in, you’re a writer, give some backstory to their appearance!

Love the Personality

Common words you hear shared regarding dating, also applicable to writing memorable characters. Their personality are the traits that make them behave uniquely, the way they talk, are they optimistic, pessimistic or opportunists? Do they speak in riddles making them mysterious or do they not talk a lot at all? These are some of the questions you will have to ask yourself when creating their personality. Some of these will be easy to come up with once you have defined their motive in the story. A character who is seeking revenge for their family being murdered will be jaded, possibly short tempered and very goal oriented or irrational. A personality is what will really bring the character to life to you readers. Their actions and words will make the readers buy into them.

Finding inspiration: sketches, research, and reference.

Stuck coming up with ideas, or nothing coming to mind right away? Find some inspiration. I am a very visual person and often draw a quick sketch of my characters or creatures so I can have a better idea of how to describe them. Another effective method to generate ideas for character is researching the area or time period that you are writing about. What are the people like there? Any historical figures you can find in that area/time? You can also find characteristics in real people that you know or have heard of that might fit into your characters.

Character Sheets

We talked about these in the last blog post as well, all of your traits can go onto a character sheet. This will help you be consistent with their physical appearance along with keeping note on any unique personality traits that they might have. This will continue to help make your story straight.

Defining character traits is where you will most likely spend a lot of your time. It is highly important to polish these out before you get too deep into the story. Following these steps will help avoid any potential scene rewrites because a character is acting out of their normal. Some initial groundwork can save your hours down the road.

Next blog post we will take a look at coming up with character names. Much like the physical and personality traits of your character, you want them to have a name that is memorable to the reader.

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Defining a Memorable Character Part 1 – The Motive

When writing fiction, defining a character is exceptionally important. To define one, you first need to understand their motive. If they do not have any reason for their actions your character will seem misplaced or a ‘filler’ in the storyline. This can be avoidable as long as you do some preplanning to decide why the character is even in the story to begin with. Each of your characters should help in moving the story forward. So how do you stay organized with characters and their motives?

Create a character sheet.

A character sheet is used for organizing a character’s personality and physical traits along with their objectives in the story. If they have a supportive role to the protagonist, why are they helping them? Are they related to the protagonist or do they have their own personal agenda? What about a villain, what drives them to do the evil work that they do? A character sheet helps you keep track of who they are as you write the story, basically a reminder/list of rules that define them. A personal pet peeve of mine is when a character does something “out of their character”. There is a difference between a plot twist in their personality and something that doesn’t fit, a character sheet can help you define this.

Dive into a character’s past.

Trying to decide on a character’s motive in the story can be drawn back into the past, perhaps they have had a reason dating back to their childhood or a past event that takes place in the story’s lore. Another idea is they may have an intertwined history with another character (like the antagonist), giving them reason to come into the story.

Keep a character’s true motive hidden.

A character’s purpose in the story can be transparent to the reader which will help build a recognition with them, careful though this can also make them predictable and not engaging. Masking their true intention can create mystery and the reader will want to unlock their true intentions. This will help generate interest for the reader to continue on.

Protagonists and Antagonists – Heavy Weights in the plot.

The primary hero and villain in your story aren’t too different in terms of defining their motive (presuming you have a primary antagonist). They are the main focus, meaning the rest of the story will revolve around their intentions and actions. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find their motive for progressing in the story, if you can’t, you may need to rethink their involvement in the story.

Secondary Characters – Information Givers – Plot Changers – why are they there?

Your story may have some additional characters that show up throughout the story. Some of them may be used to provide clues, reveal knowledge or shift the plot. Be careful when introducing them into the story, they need to arrive naturally in the plot. For example, if the protagonist talks to an old man in the woods who sheds light on his journey, how did the hero meet the old man? What was the old man doing in the woods? Scenarios like this can make these secondary characters appear out of place and tossed in to move the story forward. Adding the old man earlier in the story by having him stalk the protagonist on occasion will also give motive for the protagonist to confront him opposed to a random encounter in the woods.

Giving your character a motive is going to add instant depth to the story. The character will gain credibility to the reader and they’ll be accepted as a part of the plot. Keep their motives believable and in synch with the storyline, otherwise they don’t serve a purpose in the story.

Next post will continue to review defining a character by getting into their personality and physical traits, key components to creating a unique and memorable character.

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West Edmonton Mall Book Signing

The first book signing for Mental Damnation of 2016 is here.

This book signing will be featured at West Edmonton Mall Chapters. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, tshirts, button pins and of course, the books themselves.

When and Where:

Saturday, February 20th from 11:00am – 5:00pm

Chapters – West Edmonton Mall

8882 170th, Edmonton, AB T5T 4M2

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Discussion with Kelly Miles on being an Indie Author

This blog post we have guest author Kelly Miles who was willing to take some time to talk about her writing and discuss her experiences with being in the indie book industry. She has written two books available on Amazon and is active online on her website and numerous social media websites. Let me introduce Kelly to you:

Kelly thanks for taking the time to offer your expertise and experiences as an indie author. Can you give us a brief introduction about you and your writing?

Well, I’m a wife and mom of two teenage boys. I live a fairly normal life, though crazy-busy most days. I live in Tennessee, just a few miles from where I grew up. I’m an upbeat person (most days) and I believe helping and giving to others is one of the greatest joys in life. If I can make just one-person smile, then it’s worth it. I’m also a romance writer, usually with some suspense thrown in for good measure. I currently have two novels that I’ve released, Montana Sky and Back to Me, which was released this past November. I’m working on my third, Blake’s Hope, hopefully due out later this year. I have several other projects going as well, and one in particular that I’m very excited about.

What made you want to peruse being an indie author?

I don’t know that being an author was ever really on my radar. It just kind of happened. Some might know my story, but for those who don’t I will try and keep it brief. I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic congestive heart failure eleven years ago this fall. As per doctor’s orders, I had to keep a journal. It was just boring, routine stuff mainly, but eventually it turned into writing more interesting things to keep myself busy! I wrote 2 novels that have yet to be released and they may never be. I don’t know. They’re a bit more personal since they were written during that very difficult time. I keep them tucked away and hope to get back to them one day when things calm down.

As an indie author you have to do a lot of self-promotion, do you find yourself spending more time marketing than writing?

Absolutely. It’s a full-time job, but a necessary one. Being an indie author, you don’t have a publicist, or a marketing team handling things for you. You are the team. And it takes work and dedication. A lot of dedication. Social media is obviously a useful tool in today’s society and one that indie authors really need to take advantage of. I recently did a blog post on my website about this very thing. If I could say anything about marketing, it’d be this… it’s important to keep your personal media accounts separate from your professional one. You are promoting yourself and your books, not your dogs and children. They may be cute, but more than likely they will not sell your books and you will be overlooked. There are several places you can hire, of course, to do these things for you, but I always caution for authors to read the fine print and understand exactly what you’ll be getting. If you are dedicated and committed, you can do as much if not more on your own, and the best part is it’s free. You just have to be willing to put in the time necessary to be successful.

With marketing, has online or offline been more effective for you to connect with new readers?

I would definitely say online, though I’ve not given offline (mailings, etc.) a fair chance. Word of mouth is great if you know a lot of people, who know a lot of people, but even then you’re depending on others to market for you. With so many great resources available online (Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads) connecting with others is just a click away. Every share is a share to their followers. Every tweet is a tweet to their followers. It eventually gets around. There are also several author support groups you can join, which I highly recommend. You’ll need it.

You mention that you have always wanted to write and decided to bite the bullet and just do it, what was the most challenging obstacle for you?

Discipline. It’s so easy to get distracted with day to day life, especially when you have kids. I try to enforce my rule of writing 30 minutes every day, though admittedly I break that rule from time to time. I think if you make it a priority, it becomes a habit. A habit becomes routine. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a blog post, knocking out another chapter in your book, or sending a greeting card to someone. If you get in the habit of writing, it will become as natural as waking up in the morning. The more you write, the more your craft is perfected.

Did you have any advice or mentors (writing, marketing, etc.) during your journey? Or trial and error?

That’s easy… definitely trial and error. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing when I started this process a few short years ago. To me it was as simple as I wrote a book, now what? I researched as much as I could. I followed other authors and signed up on author forums. I listened and I observed. Some of it was beneficial and some a waste of time. I think each individual should do what suits him/her best. I would say the key things of importance are, 1) make sure your book is edited, edited, and edited again. I promise every time you go over it; every new pair of eyes will catch something you missed. If your writing is clunky, filled with punctuation and spelling errors, it will turn readers off. 2) Invest in a good, solid book cover. Let’s face it, we all judge a book by its cover. You need to have something that will grab the reader’s attention, not put them off. If they see a cheap cover, chances are they will think you didn’t invest that time into your writing either. Those are two of the most critical pieces of advice I can give.

If you could go back and release your first book with the knowledge you have today, would you do anything different?

Yes, I would have not been so quick to release it. It was my very first novel and I was a bit over zealous when it came to hitting the publish button. I was so excited to have it out there and nervous as well. A lot of it was personal things that had happened in my life. I think I was afraid that if I didn’t just put it out there, I never would. It’s important to sit on it for a bit. Stew on it. Let it mingle in your mind. Once it’s out there, that’s it. Sure you can revise it, but the chances are someone’s already seen it or downloaded it, and those you can’t take back. Make sure it’s exactly the way you want it to be.

Would you consider going the traditional publishing route? Why or why not?

I’ve not really ever thought about it. I’ve been please with self-publishing, so at this point I would say no. I think partly it’s fear of rejection. No one likes that, right? The other side of it is I like having a say in my work. It’s my baby. It’s what I’ve worked on day and night, and shed blood, sweat, and tears for. I like having control over something that is an extension of me. I don’t begrudge authors either way, of course. Again, I think it’s a personal choice. I would like to point out one thing. Some people have said, or feel, that unless you are represented by a publishing house that you aren’t considered an author. I wish people would drop that from their minds. There are hundreds of thousands of indie authors who are blessed with incredible talent. Amazing novels come from self-published authors every day. We should lose the stigma attached to the labels, and recognize that anyone willing to bear their soul to the world through their writing is indeed an author.

What are you currently working on?

Lots of projects are currently in the works. I’m finishing up my 3rd novel, Blake’s Hope. I am hoping to release it later in the fall of this year. Fingers crossed! I’m also working on some revisions and editing, as well as promoting other indie authors. It is truly a cause near and dear to my heart. Indie authors will be featured on my website every Friday (www.authorkellymiles.com) and will have links to their books, as well as author interviews. I think it’s important for authors to support one another and my goal is to gain exposure for all of those who wish to build their brand. I’m also doing a book tour starting in March, and a book signing coming up in May.

 

Thanks again for your time Kelly, insightful knowledge into your writing. You can find Kelly’s work on Amazon:

You can also find her on the following social media websites:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

LinkedIn

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Why You Should Keep an Idea Book

Being a writer, or anyone in a creative line of work, you probably find many ideas come to you all the time. Unfortunately ideas are dime a dozen and numerous concepts come to mind daily. Now, that doesn’t mean that they are all bad. There can be some real gems when you are inspired by something or through a dream or from a random thought.

What do you do with all these ideas?

If you tried to peruse every idea you come up with, you’ll drive yourself crazy. There simply isn’t enough time, energy or resources to do everything. You’re better off picking one and doing a good job at it. What about all of those other ideas? Keep note of the thoughts, you might be missing out on some fantastic concepts for the future. This is where having a notebook (or idea book) is valuable.

Use the idea book as a resource of raw concepts, don’t criticize your notes.

Keeping a book to jot down ideas with you on the go or by your bedside allows you to capture that thought in the moment. Idea books should be used a lot like a sketch book for drawing. They’re for exploring and keeping concepts, regardless of how rough or senseless they may be.

It’s an Assistant for Writing Blocks

Ever run into a writing block? I bet you have. Specifically when writing fiction, coming up with a plot that has an engaging storyline and characters isn’t completed on the first go. Researching for inspiration is a strong tool to hash out a direction for your story. An idea book works as a hub of inspiration from your past thoughts.

Write down plot outlines (large or small), characters, places, objects or discoveries.

It’s a notebook, use it for notes. Writing down ideas when they are most prominent in your mind will keep the idea alive for the future. Plus it’s a bit of a relief to write the thought down and get it out of your mind.

Your Notes Are For You.

You’re not presenting a masterpiece here, scribble where you want, draw pictures or jump pages. However you want to use it is up to you. The big thing is to write something down when you have a thought.

Idea books will vary greatly from person to person. I keep my current one in a line-papered book and it’s filled with point-form notes, full paragraphs and quick sketches. It comes in handy when needing to think outside the box and explore new ideas. So if you haven’t made one yet, grab a notebook and get jotting!

Getting Away!

Last week was the first vacation in 2 years – wow. As a follow up from the last blog post about creative outlets, it really helps to physically leave your regular space. This is how the vacation was born, a trip down to Banff where I was able to get out of my routine and actually appreciate my surroundings.

We spend way too much time being “plugged in” and forget to see what is right in front of us. If we go to the same places day in and day out and do the same thing, how are we supposed to grow as a person? There’s no challenge and our minds get lazy. Getting out of the city offered some time to self-reflect and familiarize with myself. Also, new beer. That was a big plus.

I hadn’t been in Banff since I was a kid so seeing it with new eyes was exciting and instantaneously I began thinking:

Banff would be a great setting for a horror story.

It’s been done already, sure, but there’s a rich history there and enough tourists that it could make quite the creepypasta (horror story). Something I’ll put in the idea sketch book.

As a compliment to that thought, at the end of the trip we found a fun abandoned gas station just outside of Canmore. We wandered around the outside of the building, explored the interior where we found a pitch-black men’s room behind a sticky door, a basement and a hangout spot with couches in the back. We chickened out and didn’t check out the basement…

Looking like there will have to be a follow up visit. Until then, it’s back to the concrete jungle.

Some additional shots from the trip.

Click an image to enlarge.