Jacqui Murray's Blog, page 154
February 27, 2014
Book Review: Crimes of Memory
Crimes of Memory
by L.J. Sellers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If Crimes of Memory (Thomas & Mercer 2013) is your first L.J. Sellers’ Detective Jackson mystery, be patient. I’ve read all nine books in this series (see my review on Rules of Crime) and it took me a bit to get used to the unique introspective style of this thoughtful detective. He is clever, intelligent, and caring, not necessarily in that order when he’s fighting crime. In his world, his life is as important as the crime he’s fighting. By that I mean he cares how his job–the long hours, the lawless people, even the mental anguish it puts him through–affects those he loves. In many series, authors deal with that by destroying any semblance of a personal life their heroes have (read Alex Berenson’s latest John Wells thriller, The Counterfeit Agent–you’ll see what I mean). In this series, Sellers actually tries to mesh job and personal in a workable formula.
In Crimes of Memory, Detective Jackson struggles with several seemingly disparate crimes (a body stuffed in a storage container, a bomb explosion at a factory) in the aftermath of his ex-wife’s death, his daughter’s grief, and his personal struggle with ‘is it all worth it’. Even as his own life seems headed for a breakdown, he can’t stop himself from following the clues, making connections, and ultimately solving the crime. Since this is a series, there is no real ending to the story, just a sense that there’s a light in the darkness that might not be an attack helicopter.
If this were my first Detective Jackson book, I might rate this a three or four star book, wishing Jackson was more like other lawmen heroes–hard-bitten, jaded, cynical, driven to protect the world. But there are a lot of great books that deliver that character. Here, I get change, an unusual character, a peak into how a family life can mesh successfully (if rockily) with saving the world. That’s worth five stars and a recommendation to read the entire series.
More mystery book reviews:
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: book reviews Tagged: detective series, mysteries
February 25, 2014
How Your Characters Might Recognize an Emotion Part I
Emotion, as much as any other part of a story, must be shown, not told. How much more effective is it to say
He clenched is fists until his fingernails dug painfully into his palms
…rather than
He was so angry, he saw red.
I’ve collected a list of actions characters display and participate in to communicate their emotions. Some are culled from other author’s writings–how they effectively communicated the emotion (effective for me, anyway) and others from books on body language. You’ll find some are in the main character’s POV; some from that of one who is watching. They help me make sure my character’s body language is in sync with what they’re feeling.
Here’s emotions A-F. Emotions G-Z are in the next post.
Please note: Where I add the section ‘You might write it this way’, these snippets are taken from published books I’ve read. Don’t use them! Simply let them inspire you.
Anger
What emotion do you see and why?
cold anger,
clenching jaws or grinding teeth
uncovering the teeth
headache
stomach ache
increased and rapid heart rate
sweating, especially your palms
feeling hot in the neck/face
shaking or trembling
dizziness
Emotionally you may feel:
like you want to get away
irritated
sad or depressed
guilty
resentful
anxious
like striking out verbally or physically
Also, you may notice that you are:
rubbing your head
cupping your fist with other hand
pacing
getting sarcastic
losing your sense of humor
acting in abusive/abrasive manner
craving a drink, a smoke or other substances that relax you
raising your voice
beginning to yell, scream, or cry
You might write it this way:
anger steaming behind him like coal smoke from a power plant
a stiff and righteous anger
Dangerous stillness about him
Faceful of bad attitude
testosterone that oozes like rank body odor from the kind of man who likes to throw his weight around
His hands were balled in fists, his arms and shoulders trembling
Its not like that, she said feeling defensive
Rachel loved to make lists. Now she ticked off my deadly sins on her fingers as she talked.
Dangerously close to pushing a button most people didn’t know existed
Felt his stomach tighten
swallowed a string of profanities
through clenched teeth
Anxiety
Photo credit: Peacock and Presley
Sweaty palms.
lip-compressionhttp://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/ten...,
lip-bite,
tongue-show,
tongue-in-cheek;
hand-to-hand, hand-to-body, and hand-behind-head hand-to-face
You might write it this way:
a smile limped across her face and back into her pocket
the air of a person clinging to a wall of soap
Her wounds were superficial, but her anxiety went bone-deep
Handshakes, tight smiles, a little awkwardness
Astonishment
the eyes and mouth opened wide, the eyebrows raised
Concentration
frown or wrinkle beneath the lower eyelids
You might write it this way:
Once he starts watching, a croc gnawing on his leg can’t get his attention
Tasted the interval of the delay for the presence of precious metal. His assay said: gold
Willed himself to his knees, struggled to his feet, and spun, disoriented and dizzy, searching for the way out
Deception
covering the mouth with the hands
rubbing the side of the nose
leaning away from you
micro shrug
voice pitch increases
Liars, he says, use more “negative emotion” words (hurt, ugly, nasty) and fewer first-person singulars
Depression
Recent Loss – through death, divorce, separation, broken relationship, loss of job, money, status, self-confidence, self-esteem, loss of religious faith, loss of interest in friends, sex, hobbies, activities previously enjoyed
forehead is wrinkled in the middle, but not across the whole breadth, as when the eyebrows are raised in surprise.
Change in Personality – sad, withdrawn, irritable, anxious, tired, apathetic Change in Sleep Patterns – insomnia, often with early waking or oversleeping, nightmares Change in Eating Habits – loss of appetite and weight, or overeating
Fear of losing control- harming self or others
Low self esteem- feeling worthless, shame, overwhelming guilt, self-hatred, “everyone would be better off without me” No hope for the future – believing things will never get better; that nothing will ever change
Other things to watch for- Suicidal impulses, statements, plans; giving away favorite things; previous suicide attempts
You might write it this way:
Her high cheekbones were sunken. Her eyes were dark circles staring out with bewilderment and fear, the bright blue color terrifyingly dim
A heaviness, a cloud of depression and weariness, seemed to draw all of Ashton’s features downward
He could see the weight in her walk
Like an emotional sticky tray
Like an emotional Venus fly trap
I felt weightless and anonymous
Youth left waiving from the platform as the train pulled out
His voice had the pallid, toneless quality of his skin
A sullen barista
Defiance
hold body and head erect, square shoulders and clench fists
Disgust
Photo credit: evidence-based living
curled upper lip
narrowed or partly closed eyes;
side-to-side head-shakes;
protrusions of the tongue.
guttural sounds (“ach” or “ugh”), a
nose is drawn up and wrinkled
sneers or snarls at another
Doubt
throat-clear is a nonverbal indication of doubt
Excitement
heart race
breathing quicken
cheeks flush
skin tingles
pupils dilate
You might write it this way:
If I’d had a tail, I’d have been wagging it like a dog getting a pat from his owner.
An intoxicating brew of fear, awe and ecstasy
Fear
tight musclescold hands or feet
fluttery stomach
shortness of breath
diarrhea or frequent urination
lower pulse rate
general feelings of weakness or in extreme cases, complete freezing-up, or paralysis
trembling lips or trembling body
fast heart beat, sweating
Fear may show in
release of apocrine odor
increase in heart/breathing rate
crouching, crying
faster eye-blink flashbulb eyes , staring eyes with dilated pupils
the fear grin, tense-mouth
hair-bristling, squirm cues
tightened muscle tension
§ sweaty palms throat-clearing
an audibly tense tone-of-voice
You might write it this way:
Her face had gone pale, her eyes glassy with fear. Her arms trembled
Staring in doe-eyed disbelief
Frisson of fear (delicious)
The maid looked even more nervous now and Pat instantly felt sorry for her. Someone wasn’t treating her right. You could always tell that with people
Zeke felt the jittery spike of adrenaline shoot through him and his heart banging against his ribs.
My breath was trapped somewhere in my body.
Her head throbbed steadily and her throat was rough and dry
Smacking of his heart against his ribs, the sweat-damp shirt clinging to his shoulders, the salt tinge burning his nostrils
Sweat was pouring off his forehead
Ground his molars
Sure the guard was able to hear the bass drum that was booming in my chest
He had not even a passing acquaintance with fear
Hovered on the brink of panic, keeping it at bay one breath at a time
My paranoia was bleeding outward
My blood just ran cold
Her stomach was in a knot and her throat was dry
When Calibrisi left, Jessica stood up and walked to the door, shut it, then stood for a moment and leaned against the door. She shut her yes and stood still. Then she walked back to her desk. She sat down, and stared at the phone.
a smile limped across her face and back into her pocket
the silence screamed at them
Lying
Listen for a subtle delay in responses to questions. An honest answer comes quickly from memory. Lies require a quick mental review of what they have told others to avoid inconsistency and to make up new details as needed.
Be conscious of their wording. Verbal expression can give many clues as to whether a person is lying, such as:
Lowered heads indicate a reason to hide something. If it is after an explanation, then he may be lying, unsure if what they said was correct Look into their eyes. Liars will consecutively look at you and look away a number of times.
People who look away while you are talking to them are thinking about something else.
Using/repeating your own exact words when answering a question
NOT using contractions
Avoiding direct statements or answers
Speaking excessively in an effort to convince
Speaking in a monotonous tone
Leaving out pronouns (he, she, it, etc.)
Speaking in muddled sentences
Allow silence to enter the conversation. Observe how uncomfortable and restless the person becomes.
Change the subject quickly. While an innocent person would be confused by the sudden shift in the conversation and may try to return to the previous subject, a liar will be relieved and welcome the change.
Watch his throat. A person may be either trying to lubricate their throat when he/she lies OR swallowing to avoid the tension built up
Watch hands, arms and legs, which tend to be limited, stiff, and self-directed when the person is lying. The hands may touch or scratch their face, nose or behind an ear, but are not likely to touch their chest or heart
See if they are telling you too much
Can you add to this list? How do you convey emotion in your characters?
More descriptors for your writing:
113 Ways to Characterize Your Protagonist
Jacqui Murray is the editor of a technology curriculum for K-fifth grade and creator of two technology training books for middle school. She is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy midshipman. She is webmaster for five blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, IMS tech expert, and a weekly contributor to Write Anything and Technology in Education. Currently, she’s working on a techno-thriller that should be ready this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
Filed under: characters, descriptors, writers resources Tagged: body language, characterizations, characters, emotions
February 23, 2014
Ten Commandments from Richard Bausch
I recently started a Writer’s Workshop with Richard Bausch. I–and ten other future-great-authors–get to spend about two hours a week with this master of short stories, pithy novels, and literary fiction. Over the fourteen weeks this will take, I intend to share his wisdom and my epiphanies with you. So far, I find him wise, entertaining, human, approachable, humorous, interested and interesting. He has an identical twin brother, so I must be careful not to confuse the two (though Richard provided a clue to differentiating). More on this later.
I’ll start with this I found on his website, what he considers the Ten Commandments for writers. I must admit–I haven’t read most of these anywhere else. And having read them, I wonder why:
Read: “You must try to know everything that has ever been written that is worth remembering, and you must keep up with what your contemporaries are doing.”
Imitate: “While you are doing this reading, you spend time trying to sound like the various authors — just as a painter, learning to paint, sets up his easel in the museum and copies the work of the masters.”
“Be regular and ordinary in your habits, like a Petit Bourgeois, so you may be violent and original in your work.” — borrowed from Flaubert
Train yourself to be able to work anywhere.
Be Patient. “You will write many more failures than successes. Say to yourself, I accept failure as the condition of this life, this work. I freely accept it as my destiny. Then go on and do the work. You never ask yourself anything beyond Did I work today?”
Be Willing. “Accepting failure as a part of your destiny, learn to be willing to fail, to take the chances that often lead to failure in the hope that one of them might lead to something good.”
Eschew politics. “You are in the business of portraying the personal life, the personal cost of events, so even if history is part of your story, it should only serve as a backdrop.”
Do not think, dream.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone, and learn to keep from building expectations.
Be wary of all general advice.
I love #1. I admire him for #7. Which do you like best?
More articles on writer tips:
Writers Tip #61: Advice From Elmore Leonard
Writer’s Tip #31: 10 Great Ones from Roddy Doyle
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: writers tips Tagged: bausch
February 20, 2014
5 Reasons I love Research
When I write, I have no control over when I will need to research and when I’ll write-write-write. And if I need to search for detail, there’s no telling how long it’ll take. I’ve been known to spend a week–ten days–uncovering the information my story requires. I don’t know what it is until I find it. It’s like a Rubik’s cube–pieces pop into place when I have the right stuff.
Truth, I love research. I get lost in it. I read and read and read until I get a sense of the world that is that character, setting, time frame–whatever it is. I know when I’m done, but more importantly–I know when I’m not done. I just keep digging. And I love it. Why? Research:
answers questions. I’m chatting with friends about global warming. We-all wonder–how much hotter is it today than it used to be. I jump on Google and find out–the Global surface temperature increased 0.74 degrees in the last hundred years. I read a bit further and find out it’s cooler today than two million years ago. We’re in an ice age. That’s confusing. I either keep reading or put it on my ‘todo’ list for later.
gives me ‘insider knowledge’ about whatever I choose. When I’m visiting the Florida Everglades, it’s good to know crocodiles have been around over 200 million years. That means they aren’t likely to become extinct before my trip is over. I think about it and decide they do fit their environment pretty well, even if that ‘environment’ is disappearing.
Puts me in the driver’s seat–I know stuff no one else does. Everyone has a friend whose debate technique is only one fact deep. When I throw detail at them, they don’t know what to do. (They either insult my lineage or make excuses.)
ignites my imagination. I’m out there, exploring a world that fascinates me, not knowing what I’ll find, and suddenly one detail pushes my creativity one way or another. Something I’ve uncovered about a street or an artifact turns the story a direction I didn’t expect and the plot begins to rewrite itself. I love that! Well–I do love it if it’s early enough in the process. If it’s the eleventh hour, not so much–though I still go with it. You must, right?
I love the high I get from learning new stuff, solving problems I didn’t think I could. It’s like nothing else in the world.
Here’s what I was researching three years ago and last year. Here’s what I’m researching for my new book (which is non-fiction):
the Maker Movement–do it yourself is back, big time. People all over the country are doing stuff themselves and exulting in the effort.
MOOCs–Massive Open Online Courses–all the rage in education right now. They’re mostly free, provide lots of information, and are a great way to erase the digital divide–if we can get the information out there.
Genius Hour–allowing workers/students 20% of the workweek/schoolday to do whatever creative endeavor they’d like. Google began it and education’s picking it up. I’m very excited about it.
How about you? What’s snagged your cerebral attention?
More on research:
9 Reasons Why Readers Stop Reading
Some Scientist Stole My Storyline
How to Virtually Visit a Location You Can’t Drop In On
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: research, writers resources Tagged: mooc, research, writing
February 18, 2014
Can You Mix Genres in Your Writing?
Image credit: Drew Coffman
I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the differences between genres, but it’s rarely as clear as the check list makes it appear. A comment from a reader got me thinking. He asked what to do if you write in one genre and critics advise you switch to another. Tell me that hasn’t happened to all of us–especially in the early years. Here’s part of my answer:
You have two choices:
Each genre has characteristics used to identify it to readers–overarching factors that help define a story as literary fiction or thriller or steam punk. Likely, you included characteristics from a different genre in your book. It may be a new sub-genre, say, instead of ‘thriller’ it is now ‘romantic thriller’–that is fine. Just be aware that you’ve mixed elements.
You are writing in a different genre. If you like digging into the thought processes of your characters and pursuing big ideas like the difference between right and wrong, and do this while your hero is saving the world, you are mixing literary fiction and thrillers. Which is your purpose? Saving the world or one individual? Thriller readers are less interested in the psychological pros and cons of ethereal ideas, and literary fiction readers are less interested in characters that are bigger-than-life.
I thought I’d given a pretty good answer until last Monday. That’s when I joined eleven other future authors at a Writer’s Workshop with the famed Richard Bausch. At the end of the evening, he gave us a chance to ask questions. Mine: Does he think writers can effectively cross genres in their published writing? After a thorough discussion on literary fiction and ‘all the other genres’ (grouped into one), my take-away was simply that he didn’t say no. I was so sure he’d reject the idea out of hand, I almost didn’t hear him.
What do you think?
More articles on genres and writing:
How Do Authors Have Time to do All This?
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: Genre tips, writing Tagged: genre
February 16, 2014
10 Tips from The Breakout Novelist
Donald Maass’ book, The Breakout Novelist: Craft and Strategies for Career Fiction Writers (Writer’s Digest, March 2011), is a worthy sequel to his prior how-to-write books–Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction (2009).. How timely, with self-publishing the choice of not just new writers, but seasoned ones. I wanted Maass’ thoughts on the viability of going it alone as well as how to do it.
For those of you who don’t know Donald Maass, he is a veteran agent, currently head of Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York which represents more than 150 novelists and sells more than 150 novels every year to publishers in America and overseas. By his own count, he receives annually about 7500 query letters, partial manuscripts, and completed novels–99.9% of which disappoint him. This amazing statistic must be the inspiration behind his new book. The authors, he declares, are not incompetent, merely not in command of their technique. This book provides the tools to change that.
It’s organized into three parts:
Mastering Breakout Basics--how-to-write fundamentals, including exercises for the wanna-be breakout novelist. That’s right, homework. There are no shortcuts, but there are quicker ways to do it and he shares those.
Achieving Breakout Greatness–factors that vault an author to success. This includes a singular voice, tension all the time, hyper-reality, scenes that can’t be cut . If you think you know those concepts, you don’t. Maass even includes a section on how to write humor (Chapter 16), explaining how to ban banal with ‘methods of mirth’–hyperbole, ironic juxtaposition, being extremely literal, and more.
Building a Breakout Career, which addresses the nuts of bolts of agents, contracts numbers, and career patterns that work. His chapter on Numbers, Numbers, Numbers is fundamental to moving beyond the one great novel we-all have inside of us to a successful career. He itemizes:
What Breaking Out means
When to write full time and how to do that
How to build an audience (word of mouth is prominent)
What distracts you from writing (lectures, short story anthologies–these he considers ‘distractions’ from the real work of writing a novel)
How to create your voice
The life cycle of a career writer
But don’t skip the introduction. I know–we often do. Agents even recommend against prologues and introductions because so many readers ignore them. Not in this case. Here are snippets:
I’m looking for writers who can write one great book after another. Commercial novelists frequently feel pressure to manage that feat of strength…
Intuitive novelists often have markers: moments and scenes that they know must be in the book.
…the three primary levels on which novels always must be working: plot, individual scene, and line-by-line–the level that I call micro-tension
The journey can be outward or inward and, in fact, is best when it is both.
…novel has a tension deficit disorder.
If your fiction is great, then your agent will return your calls.
Donald Maass admits parts of this book are taken from his earlier books–good writing skills don’t change. These concepts are presented with passages from successful novels to show (not tell) the point. They cover every genre–memoir, literary fiction, thriller–with not just what’s right, but how a good section can go wrong. Thanks to Donald, I now have a massive list of new books I want to read.
Here are ten tips I’ll remember as I write my novels:
A breakout premise…must have the energy of a uranium isotope…
Formative reading experiences stay with us, like comfort food
No breakout novel leaves us feeling neutral
Every protagonist needs a torturous need, a consuming fear, an aching regret, a visible dream, a passionate longing, an inescapable ambition, an exquisite lust, an inner lack, a fatal weakness, an unavoidable obligation, an iron instinct, an irresistible plan, a noble idea, an undying hope…
If you truly wish to write the breakout novel, commit yourself to characters who are strong.
…as in the oft-attempted-but-rarely-successful ‘comic relief sub-plot’…
Breakout novelists hold [backstory] back for just the right moment…
If your heroine and her sidekick are standing still, it ought to be because they disagree.
One problem that can keep a novel from breaking out is a failure to draw a clear line between good and bad.
There is also the decline of editing–fiercely denied by publishers,but widely reported by readers…
…many [authors] begin their climb with no support whatsoever from their publishers.
Two other factors can work against building an audience: jumping genres and changing publishers.
…chain stores today only sell 30 percent of trade titles. Online retailers now account for 20 percent of trade sales.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to authors who wish to make a career of writing, making money doing what they love. Isn’t that the American Dream? As much as a chicken in every pot, don’t we all want paying our bills and loving our job not to be an oxymoron? Donald Maass provides the toolkit. You must provide the energy.
More tips from how-to-write authors:
Top 10 Tips for Writers in 2013
38 Tips from Digital Publishing Conference
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: book reviews, writers, writers resources, writing Tagged: donald maass, writers resources, writers tools
February 13, 2014
How to Write About Love
Because, if you’re a writer, you must. It doesn’t have to be sex but it has to take readers that direction, right to the edge of the cliff. Yes, you can leave the lurid details out, but let readers peek over the edge.
How do you do that? Start with a few decisions:
Is it platonic?
Is it unrequited?
Is there conflict?
Is it lust disguised as love?
Is it serial love? Or one-of-a-kind?
Is it kinky or traditional?
Does love bring joy or sadness–or misery?
Is the manifestation of love baby-ish or mature–goo-goo eyes and saccharin words or Paris vacations?
Is love verbal or silent?
Is this love constructive or destructive? Flowery or brutal?
what part does the spiritual play in the emotion–or is it uninvolved?
Is it a subplot or a cameo?
Is it an inciting incident or a throw-away?
Is it violent or passive?
How did it start? Online or physical world?
Are children involved?
What are the personal flaws that attracted each to the other?
You may not know any of these answers, but by the end of the book, these questions will drive the actions of the characters.
Another important questions is: What’s your genre? If you’re writing romance, you’ll have to delve into this subject much more than if you write mystery/thrillers. Romance readers buy books as much for the love lost lust as the plot. But not thriller readers. There, if the love interest is secondary to the plot, they’ll be fine. If it’s only alluded to, you will likely still satisfy them. What about literary fiction? Emotion is good. Introspective questioning is better. Romance is secondary.
Love is about emotion. That’s where you write it. How do the character’s feel? Are they distracted at the scent his love interest wears, even when worn by another woman? Or does he barely notice? The reaction of your characters must be in-character. Are they Sheldon (from Big Bang Theory) or Lolita?
When you’ve thought through the emotion, write the backstory. How did your characters meet and fall in love? See if you can answer most of the questions listed above. You may never use this detail in your novel, but it will fill out your understanding of your characters and their motivations.
Still unsure? Read books in your genre. See how your favorite authors wrote about love (because there’s rarely a novel that doesn’t at least touch on it). Take note of what seems particularly effective for you. Borrow the technique, not the words. Ask friends about love. Most people are eager to talk about new hook-ups. Pick their brains.
One final point: A bit of humor is fine. Perfect People and their Riveting Romances are boring–and unrealistic. Who among us hasn’t been stupid in love? Understanding that it is part of the human condition, that we shouldn’t take ourselves as seriously as romeo and Juliet did, got us through it. Granted, if the plot requires a psychological meltdown because of the love interest, forget the humor. It won’t work.
More help with writing emotions:
How to Show (Not Tell) Emotion–E to O
How do you get readers to trust you?
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: business, writers resources Tagged: love, write about love
February 11, 2014
What are You Doing for Valentine’s Day?
Friday’s are busy. I barely get a lunch break–the 5 free minutes between classes I must use for the restroom. Eat or pee? Hmmm…. Not really a choice.
So by the time I get home this Valentine’s, I’ll be exhausted, not interested in fighting the holiday lovers for a place at the Restaurant Table. My husband of 30 years and I will eat in, chat, catch up, and likely go to bed early (although the Olympics might keep us awake).
But, I realize most of you would like a bit more so I have a few ideas.
Here’s Valentine history, according to Wikipedia. Who knew it all started with Geoffrey Chaucer?
Three great Valentine love poems from efriend, Chris Wood. You can also drop by St. Valentine’s Day website for an entire list of heart-jerkers
Are you looking for pithy, concise Valentine sayings? Try Creating Really Awesome Free Things. Be forewarned: They belong on candy hearts. These are a bit longer, but still saccharin.
Not a mushy sort of lover? Click here for quotes with a sense of humor.
Need more substance to your Valentine sayings?
Forgot a card? Print a Valentine Scrabble gram here
Or try American Greeting’s free Valentine card creator (or 123 Greeting has a darling bear card)
Drop by Quote Garden for a romantic quote or two (“Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939)
No time at all? Need an entire message? I got you covered with St. Valentine’s Day website.
Dying to know what Michelle Obama says on Valentine’s Day? Click.
What are my writer friends doing for Valentine Day? Maybe I’ll change my plans.
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: culture Tagged: hearts, romance, valentine day
February 9, 2014
18 Tips for Memoir Authors
Over the last few months, I’ve been writing a series about genres. So far I have:
11 Tips on Writing Thrillers
19 Tips for Children’s Writers
8 Tips for Romance Writers
59 Tips for Fantasy Writers
9 Tips for Mystery Writers
10 Tips for Thriller Writers
32 Tips for Science Fiction Writers
Today, let’s talk about memoirs. What is a ‘memoir’. According to Google, a memoir is:
…a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. A n essay on a learned subject.
A lot of people confuse ‘memoir’ with ‘autobiography’. Sure, they’re similar, but with big differences. According to Linton Weeks (“It’s the ‘Me’ that Makes a Memoir an Incomplete Tale”):
“A real autobiography traffics in facts: a memoir relies on memory”
That’s the core of it: If you write an autobiography, you must be accurate. You can’t claim you took the plane to NYC when no such plan existed. Autobiographers must fact check. A ‘memoir’–that’s based on your memory. You rely on that imperfect nine pounds north of your shoulders for data. Everyone understands the story may or may not be accurate, but it’s as you remember it. ‘Facts’ are as you remember them, which may be at odds with reality. There is no apology for that and much value in it.
Another form of writing that memoirs are NOT is journaling. According to those who journal (which doesn’t include me), these chronicle a life where memoirs often focus on one event of note in that life.
Some famous memoirs–
Elie Wiesel’s Night (true stories of fellow concentration camp sufferers during the Holocaust)
Irene Spencer’s Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamists’s Wife
Do you get the trend here? As a reader, we are less concerned about historic accuracy than how the person starring in the memoir handled events. What is it like to live in a concentration camp? How could anyone agree to wed a polygamist?
If you decide to take up this writing genre, here are some tips to help you excel:
Make sure the topic of your memoir is interesting. Most people’s lives aren’t. True, the writer’s skill can make it so, but what will inspire readers to pick up the tome? You need a hook–maybe you’re Octo Mom. Maybe you raised George Will. The theme must generate enough interest to make people turn the first page.
Write in first person, from the author’s POV
The unique voice of the person telling the story should be human, approachable, and not sound like a ‘writer’.
Write narrative non-fiction, but in story form. This is similar to creative non-fiction which uses the characteristics of fiction to make nonfiction more interesting.
NPR’s William Zinsser says memoir authors should “think small” (you don’t have to provide all the details) and make a series of “reducing decisions” (same idea). And–’be yourself’, ‘think freely’
Memoirs can be written at any time in your life, about any corner of your world. It need not sum up your existence, just that event.
According to literary agent, Barbara Doyen, a memoir questions “what happened and come(s) to some kind of new understanding or lesson learned by it. The author shows us how he or she was affected by this experience, how it has profoundly changed the way (s/)he sees the world. And by extension, reading the book will change the way the reader sees the world.”
Sometimes memories are difficult to uncover. Heather Sellers, author of You Don’t Look Like Anyone I Know, suggests you just start writing. It’ll come.
Don’t worry about gaps in the history. That doesn’t matter in a memoir. Just get to the next part that deals with your theme.
Understand that when you write a memoir, you will hurt people. It can’t be avoided. They’ll disagree with your memory and that’ll upset them. Be prepared.
Can you get sued for writing your memories? Maybe you’re writing about abuse and the perpetrator’s identity will surprise readers. Yes, there are topics and reasons that could generate a law suit. Consider what you’re writing, your purpose, before publishing. Consider consequences and if you’re willing to face them. Consider whether you’d prefer to hide real names and focus on the event.
In memoirs, ‘emotional truth’ is more important than ‘factual truth’. Understand the difference.
For many people, the one book they have inside of them is a memoir.
Readers don’t connect with whining. Be substantive.
You are the protagonist in your memoir, what William Zinnser calls the ‘tour guide’.
Be honest. Don’t sugar coat, don’t tweak. Represent your memories honestly, in the raw. See what comes out.
Know how to tell a story. Don’t include the boring stuff readers will skip. Only include the meat.
Pearlsong Press’s Linda Wisniewski suggests using props to jog your memories.
What do you suggest? What works best for you when writing a memoir?
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Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: Genre tips, writers tips Tagged: genre tips, memoirs
February 6, 2014
5 Tips for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
Every year, millions of people worldwide create New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, keeping these goals will happen when Harvard wins the Super Bowl (I used to say when Notre Dame plays for the National Championship, but I had to revise my metrics last year). In fact, according to most data (read this: I can’t remember where I got this data):
… 25% give up on their New Years Resolutions after just one week?
… 80% give up on their New Years Resolutions after 20 days?
… only 8% actually keep their New Years Resolutions all year?
Here’s an example: On a group blog I write with, we were all asked to share our resolutions with the Universe in January, then check in throughout the year on our progress. No one in the entire group–read that Zilch.–achieved theirs (well, I did, which made our group 8%). The reasons were varied and left me wondering why create resolutions if you so quickly brush them aside?
Why? It makes people feel good. They want to believe their lives will be better at the end of the year than they were at the beginning. Let’s look at the top four resolutions (according to Amber J. Tresca at About.com):
Increase exercise
Be more conscientious about work or school
Develop better eating habits
Stop smoking, drinking, or using drugs (including caffeine)
These aren’t hard and still people aren’t achieving them. Who can’t ‘increase exercise’? Or ‘be more conscientious about work’? Cut out a few chips–one chip–and you’ve ‘developed better eating habits’. So given the ease with which the average person could succeed at these goals, why do they so soundly fail?
I have no idea. there are no shortage of well-meaning people who will suggest ways to keep your New Year’s resolutions. Here are five you’ve probably read:
make them specific
make them realistic
share them with others
have deadlines
make them fun and rewarding
Those sound helpful, don’t they? Problem is, they don’t work. Who out there is going to revise their resolutions to make them more specific, more realistic, meet a deadline, and then share all that with friends? I’d rather take a long walk in tight shoes. They’re as useless as those suggestions for using leftover wine to make ice cubes. Who ever has leftover wine?
I’m going to fix this for you. I have five tips that work for keeping your New Year’s Resolutions:
install a bell on your phone that rings randomly. When it dings, put the potato chip down, or jog in a circle, or ask a co-worker how you can help them (Work with me here: You don’t have to actually DO anything for them).
delegate. Then it’s someone else’s problem. You’ve accomplished your goal. Check it off.
hire someone. This has the added benefit of helping the unemployment rate.
include stuff you’ve already done. For example, if you’re not the most sociable type and one of your resolutions is to get out more, count that New Year’s party you’ve already committed to. Now you’re done. Check it off. Move on.
include nebulous goals like ‘spend less’. You can do that by skipping one Starbucks.
At the end of 2014, your friends will ask how you did it and you’ll feel accomplished, confident, and more sure of your ability to complete other goals. Check back here December 2014, let me know how you did so I can congratulate you.
More New Year’s articles:
Once a Year Blog Maintenance–Are You Up to Date?
End-of-year tech tips: Back up Your Computer
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: Todays Author, writers Tagged: new year, newyear resolutions
