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IT’S NOT PERSONAL, BUT IT SHOULD BE

December 15, 2013 by in category Archives tagged as , , ,
This morning I received three emails.
One was from a lady who in Scotland who read one of my books and joined my fan page. She wanted me to know how much she appreciated waking up and finding that I had responded to her messages.
 The second was from a man in Australia who sent me a list of things he liked about Silent Witness. He highlighted sentences that he particularly liked, but at the end of his note he said “thank you for making Hannah so intelligent.”
The third was from the woman who wrote me my first fan letter. We’ve been pen pals for 28 years. Now we communicate on the computer, but every once in a while we still send one another a card, remember birthdays, the holidays and share information on grandchildren (hers since I only have a grand dog).
The point is that what authors do is extremely personal. It begins with our characters. If we don’t feel them in our souls and translate that feeling into words on the page, our books will be enjoyed but not treasured. When we do make that magic happen and a reader reaches out, opening a personal dialogue with them will make a reader into a fan. In some wonderful instances our efforts also create a friend. 
Here are my top five rules of engagement:
1)   Know the personal history and habits of every character in your book and write as if you live and die with them.
2) When a fan writes, write back with more than a thank you. Acknowledge that you appreciate the time they took to write to you. I am always excited when someone takes the time to read my work; that they go the extra step is like having a cheerleader in my corner. I want them to know that.
3) Start a personal dialogue slowly. There are those fans that would like more of your time than others and those who wish to have a more personal relationship than you might be willing to enter into. It is up to you to set the parameters. For the most part, though, these relationships will be casual, fun and fulfilling for both sides.
4) If a reader contacts you about something in your book that touched them, expound on what got you to that place. For instance, Hostile Witness was inspired by a case my husband handled. As a criminal judge, he sentenced a sixteen-year-old boy to life in adult prison. The character, Hannah, and the plot of that book were based on this experience. It is a bit of personal information that is not too intimate but is interesting to readers.
5) Truly enjoy your interaction with readers, other authors and reviewers. Never look at it as a chore.
We are, perhaps, the luckiest people in the world. Despite the fact that our profession is solitary, the result of our labor is a book that reaches hundreds and sometimes thousands of people. When they reach back, that is the hallmark of success. Embrace real life dialogue; it is part of the joy of writing.

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Conversations with Barb and Jann

May 2, 2012 by in category Jann says . . . tagged as , , , ,

What do you read during your WIP?

Jann:   Barb, when you’re starting a new WIP, do you only read books in the genre you’re writing?
Barb:  I like to read the genre I’m writing in because it gets me in that frame of mind, that contemporary world. I especially like reading humor, which I try to write. Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jennifer Crusie both know how to construct a laugh-out-loud scene. For category romance, our own Sandra Paul (aka Sandy Chvostal) has always tickled my funny bone. I still find myself pulling out her Reluctant Hero and Domesticating Luc to see how she incorporates animals in her stories, and Linda Johnston also, with her pet sitter and pet rescue stories.
Jann:  Totally agree. You know I’m writing a series category romance, but I read anything and everything romance–historical, paranormal, urban fantasy, contemporary. But I find it’s easier to plot when I read only series romance for at least a couple of weeks before I work on a story idea.
Barb:  Since we were discussing this subject, I asked the Orange County Chapter Pros what they read while they’re writing. Ottilia Scherschel, who writes suspense, is of like mind. She says, “I always read some suspense to get my juices flowing.” She also reads craft books, and interestingly enough, her husband’s magazine American Hunter. She likes the website artofmanliness.com for “anything a man does or ever wanted to do.”  Gotta check that one out!
 Joyce Ward also stayed within her genre when she started writing paranormals, but like you, enjoys a change of pace with other genres. Erin Pryor says, “I tend to read things that are related to whatever I’m struggling with while writing…so, if I’m working on a mystery element I’ll read full-on mysteries, if I’m working on an action scene I often turn to sci-fi/fantasy. Contemporaries for friendship and banter, 19th century novels when I’m worried about tone and manners.”
Jann:  Erin has a good idea mixing the genres to draw on their various strengths. 
  
Barb:  Now, Mary Kozlowski writes contemporaries, but loves reading Regencies. She says she can keep a pretty consistent voice, so is not affected by reading in another genre. And this reading your husband’s magazines must be catching on. She reads her husband’s VFW, American Legion and NRA mags because “they have lots of interesting articles about real heroes.”
Roy (Griff) Griffis also reads outside his genre. As he says, “I don’t want to read anything in a
similar genre to avoid contaminating my vision and voice.” Research is the focus of Dolores Else’s reading, both for accurate historical information and to get a feel for the time period. 
Jann:  I have a couple of story ideas that require substantial research, and have put them aside for awhile. What I need to be doing is “writing what I know” for now. Research can be a lot of fun, but it can be very time consuming if you’re not careful.
Barb:  I know what you mean. Been there. Researching is not writing. 
Shauna Roberts, who I know would use her time wisely, finds herself so interested in some of her background research topics that she will keep reading about them after her book is finished.  She also will read articles and how-to books on the craft of writing to reinforce her writing skills.   She reads in different genres regardless of her writing, so I assume they don’t influence her voice.  

Jann:  The Pros have some great comments, and it’s interesting to see what others do. I better get back to my WIP. Remember those goals we talked about a couple of months ago? Well, I just set one with our critique group at our last gathering that I’ve got to make.

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Conversations with Barb & Jann

March 2, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as , , ,


Barb:  Hey, Jann, how’s the story coming? Got it nailed down yet?
Jann:  Well, I can tell you that my brain has been storming, that’s for sure. I have this seed of a story I’ve been wrestling with for months (soon to be a year). My plot and characters are all over the place. For years I have read and listened to some talented writers explain their writing techniques. I’ve tried out several, to the point that I’m totally confused on how to get this story on the page. I was pulling my hair out by the roots, so I sat down and asked myself this question, “which one do I feel most comfortable with?” Answer – The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. I guess it goes back to the beginning when I joined OCC and the first writing technique I was exposed to was a workshop given by Jill Marie Landis on the hero’s journey. I found the handout Jill gave us breaking down the 12 steps (but can’t locate the one she had completed with one of her books – darn it) and pulled The Writer’s Journey off the shelf and started to reacquaint myself with a tried and true concept. I have to say it’s working.  It’s slow, but working!
Barb:  That’s super, Jann! The Hero’s Journey is a great tool for a lot of writers, but I have trouble using it for some reason. I usually start out with a germ of an idea for a story, a hook of some sort, and think about it for days before I write anything down. When I’m really excited about it and can’t wait any longer, I get out a legal pad and start writing a story blurb or even a short outline. At that point I consult GMC and the three-act structure with its turning points (or plot points), midpoint, etc., to get the characters and story filled out. The three-act structure process seems to work best for me. I guess it’s my love of the movies. I can break down my favorite movies into their three acts, and frequently refer to them for inspiration when I’m stuck.  I believe the best handout I have on the subject is Lou Nelson’s Basic Paradigm Plot Definitions.  She provided it to everyone who attended her “pajama party” at OCC’s birthday bash last October. She included a blank three-act paradigm for everyone to fill out.
Jann:  Barb, I think what we can take away from this is that not one process works for every writer. I say, whatever works for you, go for it.
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X-FILES: IT’S NOT SCIENCE FICTION

August 10, 2011 by in category Archives tagged as ,

by Sharla Rae

An author on deadline will tell you that the old saying “Time is Money” is just as true with writing as it is with any other business.

Have you ever spent hours crafting a perfect description only to realize it breaks up the action? Did you delete it and then discover a chapter or two later that very description or part of it was needed?

Next time, DO NOT DELETE.

Instead, create a folder for your WIP called X-Files Title (of WIP). Example, X-Files Love and Fortune. Paste well written “cuts” to your X-Files. Make them easy to locate. Preface each pasting with its origin, that is, the chapter it was cut from along with a brief description.

Example: Chapter one – description-forest, Chapter two – dialogue – argument between Jane Dither and John the jerk.

Later, if you haven’t used an X-File entry from a particular WIP, paste it to a general Description or Dialogue X-File. Once it’s actually used, delete it from “all” X-Files so you don’t accidentally reuse it.

It’s simple and it works. And when you’re on a deadline, it’s money in the bank.

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Keep Your Characters True To Themselves

June 10, 2011 by in category Archives tagged as , ,

By Sharla Rae

Hey, who’s telling this story?

I can make my characters do or say anything I want them to.

Many beginning writers subscribe to this theory.

I hate to break anyone’s bubble but that’s hogwash.

When introducing characters, the author breathes life into them with a physical description, personality, goals and motivations. They look, act and think in a particular manner. Just like real people. If the character doesn’t stay true to themselves, their actions will make no sense and readers are pulled out of the story.

Imagine:

  •  The drunken, hardnosed character Rooster Cogburn, (John Wayne in True Grit) suddenly goes soft on Mattie Ross, Kim Darby’s character?
  • Mary Poppins takes a belt to her charges?
  • 007 gives up his cool and goes mushy over his many sexual encounters.

Would you believe it? No. Because in each case the writer showed the reader who these people are – on the surface and deep down.

Two of the most common out-of-character traps involve age appropriate problems and inconsistent behavior. Ask these questions:

  • Do my characters act their age? A mature woman or man of 30 to 35 years of age will not act, think or speak like a teen or young person fresh out of college. Recently I read a published book where a 32 year old female executive talked like a teeny-bopper when she got together with her thirty-something girlfriends of the same age. It totally threw me. Women of all ages talk a little trash with girlfriends but the nature of their conversations, even the language is different between age groups.
  • Do my characters act and react in a manner consistent with their personality?Someone afraid of heights doesn’t climb a ladder. A grouchy loner doesn’t suddenly play slap-stick jokes on people. A prissy little girl won’t want to play baseball with the neighbor boys.

If a character does something that would never come naturally to them, they must have a good reason/motivation for the change of behavior. Example: The character who is afraid of heights might climb a ladder if a rabid dog is on her heels. An honest cop might rob a bank if villains are holding his family hostage.

My favorite tools to keep my characters in line are Character profile sheets, Horoscope personality profiles and Research.

The number one rule in using these tools is: Always connect the dots between them. Character profile worksheets serve as fast and easy reminders to writers. They include a list of physical descriptions, best friends, dress, enemies, ambitions/goals, sense of humor, temper, basic nature, personal quirks, habits, talents, hobbies, family backgrounds, profession, educational background etc. .

A common weakness in these profile sheets is that they shed little light on personality. That’s why I dig deeper. I search horoscope signs for personalities that best match my characters. Whether you believe in horoscope readings or not, the personalities listed under sun signs provide a great basic outline of a particular personality.

Horoscope personalities are especially helpful in determining how a character will react to a particular situation. Example: How would a hero with a Cancer personality react if he lost all his money or fell into a fortune? Money is no joke to the taciturn crab.

There are many horoscope books but I love Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. This treasure lists the general characteristics of each sign and more. For instance, Goodman describes the Taurus child, Taurus adult male and female, Taurus boss and employee — the total personality package. She also explains how these personalities interact with each other.

What about a character’s romantic relationships? Linda Goodman’s Love Signs  is amazing. Each sun sign is listed and then coupled with all the other signs to point out what the good and bad matches may look like, why they work or why they won’t. Example: Aries with an Aries, Aries with a Capricorn, Aries with a Taurus etc. Goodman further breaks it down into the female and male of each sign. Example: Aries female with Capricorn male or Capricorn female with an Aries male etc. .

Note: While Linda Goodman has passed, her books are still available. I recently looked at another Linda Goodman book on Amazon called Linda Goodman’s Relationship Signs. The contents suggest it contains a relationship chart worksheet. Sounds very interesting!

Do your research.

Horoscopes don’t cover nitty-gritty idiosyncrasies. What if you’re writing about a thief, a slave, an ad executive etc.? Research types of characters by reading autobiographies and biographies of real people who share a similar background with your character. Writing about a serial killer? Read serial killer profiles. Writing about a Hollywood star? Read up on their lives, their business and what it’s like to walk in their shoes. Then connect the dots. Determine for instance how your Aries female will handle her stardom.

Okay, say you’ve chosen your sun sign and done your research, but the personality thing still doesn’t quite jive with what you had in mind. We all know people who don’t fit the mold and characters are no different. So, can we color outside the lines or are these personalities set in stone?

Color outside the lines but don’t let the crayon slide off the tablet.


Here’s a real-life example: My friend is a Gemini but she was born on May 24th making her very close to Taurus. Most of the time she is more Taurus than Gemini, but she does share traits of each. It’s okay to combine personalities if it suits your purpose. It actually makes for a more interesting character, perhaps one with more layers. Just make sure to outline the personality carefully and keep the character true to him or herself.

What about character arc/growth? While characters learn from experience and goals may change as the plot evolves, their basic personality won’t change. The manner in which they handle situations or problems should always reflect who they are – even when they’re pressured into something that isn’t natural to them. Connect the dots.  Like all tools, profile worksheets, horoscope personalities and research aren’t failsafe, but they are great guides for new writers and even for the seasoned writer who is writing a complicated character.

Helpful Links:

So, how do you keep your characters true to themselves?

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