Janet Tronstad - Dry Creek & Other Stories discussion
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Tips for Writers -- Character, Action, Plot
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JanetTronstad
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Jan 22, 2012 04:44PM
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I will keep this in mind, Janet. Thanks so much!
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I use to write, have one story on my blog, but quit, too much stress got in the way, but when I did write, I loved it. the links below, Ninahttp://ninasatmyhouse.blogspot.com/se...
Janet Tronstad wrote: "Come back, Mary, when I've had a chance to get my thoughts together so I can post a tip or two."I certainly will! Just finishing reading Michael Phillips, "Wild Grows the Heather in Devon"! I am on a high.
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I generally see a scene in my head and that gets me going. My recent Return to Dry Creek scene was that an old pickup comes to a stop at the edge of the small town and the occupants just look into the town. I thought about why they were hesitant to enter (that brought me to the idea that maybe one of them had committed a crime, gone to prison, and was now back again). I thought about what might make that unique (so I came up with a woman who had served time for murder). In order to figure out why the other person was there, I decided he must be her son and that he had come to protect her.
I hope that gives you an idea of how I start to plot my books. Some writers start with an idea, but I always seem to start with a picture in my head. Any other writers that read this are welcome to tell how a book starts with them as well.
I'll talk some more about writing in the next few weeks, but I am working hard on my next book (Gracie's story in the Return to Dry Creek series -- she's the mother in the first book).
Thanks, Janet, I am going to continue working to see if I can get enough done for the next Contest at ACFW. If not, there is always another sometime! God's time may not be mine and I know that, too! I hope your days are productive and I will pray for you.
Janet--that's a cool way to get an idea for a book. : ) And what a moving story!Basically I just wait until I hear something in my head and write it down. .
Jillian wrote: "Janet--that's a cool way to get an idea for a book. : ) And what a moving story!Basically I just wait until I hear something in my head and write it down. ."
That would be! That's how it always happened when I had to write short stories and stuff for school. lol I would talk myself through it. :D
FYI I subbed for my second graders today that I student taught with and we learned about dialogue and voice today. :D I explained that you had to make the reader picture it in their mind and hear the voices of the characters by the way they wrote things. It was fun! Plus, I got to see my babies again!
Awesome, Jennifer! It must have been so wonderful to be with them again. And cool re the writing lesson : )LOL re talking to yourself while you write--yep, me, too!
Thats cool about subbing today. any leads on work yet?
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Janet Tronstad wrote: "It's time for another tip -- how to write a compelling character is also critical in a book. I have a few check points for this. One, make sure the character has a wound 'of the heart' -- somethi..."Thanks Janet for the tip
Thanks for the second tip! I am looking at that right now!
Jillian wrote: "Awesome, Jennifer! It must have been so wonderful to be with them again. And cool re the writing lesson : )LOL re talking to yourself while you write--yep, me, too!"
lol yeah, I have missed them! Had them 3 days this week.
Ausjenny wrote: "Thats cool about subbing today. any leads on work yet?"no leads yet....no one is hiring. Word on the street is they are about to fire a bunch of the older teachers and higher newer ones for less pay....
Thats sad for the older teachers although I guess if you can get a job would be nice for you. hopefully some of them want to retire.
"no leads yet....no one is hiring. Word on the street is they are about to fire a bunch of the older teachers and higher new..."They would love to do that at the school where I teach but the teachers' union wouldn't let them get away with it.
"FYI I subbed for my second graders today that I student taught with and we learned about dialogue and voice today. :D I explained that you had to make the reader picture it in their mind and hear the voices of the characters by the way they wrote things. It was fun! Plus, I got to see my babies again!"
Interesting that you taught second graders about dialogue and voice. I teach enrichment classes at our school and I taught my second graders about showing versus telling. We're going to make some good writers out of these little guys. Maybe that will be my legacy ... I may never get published myself but perhaps some of these budding young writers will!
Jan Marie wrote: ""no leads yet....no one is hiring. Word on the street is they are about to fire a bunch of the older teachers and higher new..."They would love to do that at the school where I teach but the teac..."
Yeah, they learn about things I never touch till like 5th or 6th grade...already doing fractions and will learn about division and multiplication. It's crazy what they expect them to learn and comprehend even in Kindergarten! I intern with Kindergarten one semester and they learned Present, past and future tense verbs...yeah, they so didn't get it! Too young.
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"2 quick questions, Janet. (or other published) How soon in your opening chapter should you have conversation and/or address the conflict? I have done some refining in my first 500 words and working on the next for the ACFW contest! Thankx, Mary"
I am just facing that question in the book I'm working on now -- the answer is very soon, as soon as you can. Squeeze the beginning as much as you can. I like to have everything set up in the first page at least -- the first paragraph is better. You don't have long to 'grab' a reader.
Janet Tronstad wrote: "Mary had a question elsewhere and I'm answering it here. This is her question:"2 quick questions, Janet. (or other published) How soon in your opening chapter should you have conversation and/..."
OK, I will look one more time to see if I can change things around or move things up! Thanks. I am attending the My Therapy Class online. I am thankful for so many published authors that want to help the newbies. I am going to do the "Genesis".
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http://www.heartbeatthemagazine.com/A...February issue of Heartbeatthemagazine,com, by Mary Young Robinson
Hope you enjoy reading this article! Love, Mary
Janet Tronstad wrote: "Mary -- my first writing tip is that there is no one way to write a book. Having said that, I can tell you how I start a book. I'm not sure I recommend it as THE WAY, but it is the way it seems t..."Janet, I just finished the second book in this series and it was so emotionally moving, one of the most deeply touching books I've read from LI, next to Jillian's McKaslin (sp?) books and Linda Goodnight's Grace series about the three brothers who were separated. I sobbed and sobbed during parts. My husband rolled over in bed and gave me the strangest look. I was so choked up, I could only gulp. LOL! Then the next scene I'd be cackling my head off. Especially at some of the antics of the heroine's child in book two. Soooo good. I am amazed at how you three authors in particular make me care so much about your characters that I have to constantly remind myself not to pray for them because they're not actually real. LOL! Loved Gracie too.
Cheryl
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Hi, All. My mother-in-law, 94, fell a few times and has a hematoma on the brain. She is in a Rehab, but she isn't doing well, loss of memory, understanding, hallucinations. We are driving from Boise to Spokane tomorrow to pick up my husband's cousin and then on Monday all drive to Bellingham (Lynden), WA. If she makes it through the week, she will be in a nursing home. She moved back to WA from Boise last year to live with other relatives and out of Assisted Living Care. This follows a time of delirium with my own 94 year old mother after she thought men had broken in the Assisted Living with a gun and stole her pens and pencils, TV remote, and a few other small items. It has been a busy month! Please pray for us this week on the road and for his mother's salvation before she draws her last breath...I pray, "Lord, please reveal yourself to Eileen in her weakened condition and hold her in your arms."
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OH, Mary! We are praying and agreeing with your prayers.Hugs!
Cheryl
Thanks, Ladies. Your prayers are precious to me and my husband.
Mary wrote: "Hi, All. My mother-in-law, 94, fell a few times and has a hematoma on the brain. She is in a Rehab, but she isn't doing well, loss of memory, understanding, hallucinations. We are driving from Bo..."Praying for you all Mary.
Praying for your family Mary
Hi Janet! Hope you are okay!
