Wednesday's Writer's Tip - More on Character Development

Bringing characters to life involves making them into individuals. Another way to do this is by labeling them. So how do you do this. There are a number of ways to explore and add details to the people in your story. So how do we label people in fiction. Sometimes we do this in real time as well.

The first is appearance. Molly becomes the red haired woman with the flashing blue eyes. She's tall but not exactly slender but well-built. She is different from Susan who is short, blonde hair and hazel eyes. When giving the appearance of the characters in your story unless there's a reason they shouldn't all be blondes, red-heads or have dark hair. Maybe in a mystery you could get away with the three sultry blondes of if your characters are twins or triplets. So picture your characters as individuals.

The second way is by speech patterns. Sometimes when reading stories by beginning writers, all the characters, male, female all sound the same. Speech patterns should be individual. The way a person speaks and the words they choose often depend on many things. Their choice of a career, their family upbringing. They also can have little tells in their speech. "In my opinion," the man says many times. "Er" Uh" these are other things that can show who is speaking and makes the character more real.

A third way is mannerisms. He slicks his hair back. She chews on her fingernails. His gaze is always on the ground. She closes her eyes when she talks to anyone. These kind of manners also bring the character into view as a person.

The final way is attitude. The boy was eternally defiant. She was obsessed with perfection. He's so vain. She seems perpetually embarrassed.

Adding a bit from each area is a great way to make the characters alive. The reader will think they know the person you've created to make the story work.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Detail the lifeblood of fiction

"Detail is the life blood of fiction." While reading On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner I came across this quote and started to ponder on what it meant. Detail is part of the Writer's Eye. So what does it mean?

As a writer developing characters is an important part of what a storyteller does. That means seeing the world through a person crafted for the story. How does the character developed see what's happening around them? How do they react in any situation? What are the little tells that show the invented character could be someone the reader knows and either loves or hates?

The writer has to become that character in some way. Putting oneself aside when writing is often hard but with practice it becomes easier. I often find when I'm writing a scene from a character's point of view I may smile, laugh, shrug my shoulders at a particular point and these words appear on the paper. That's exactly how the character should react. This doesn't happen over night but often when I'm rereading, rewriting or revising a particular scene. Suddenly I'm not myself but I'm the character I've brought to life.

Having this happen is magical and sometimes funny, especially when I've managed to stay in the character. There are times when the real people in my life look at me and think I've slipped off the edge of reality. But those times fill me with joy for I know at least for me and hopefully for the readers, the character has become a person. So work hard to become the people you're creating to tell the story. This is the Writer's Eye.

Meandering on Monday With Janet Lane Walters

Meander 1 2 releases last week. Rekindled Dreams by Books We Love and A Spicy Seduction by New Concepts. Always great to see the books come out and always hope they will shoot to the top. Writing is like that. Filled with hopes and dreams. These 2 books have one thing in common and that's what happened to the major characters in the past and how that effected their lives in the present. Had fun writing each of them. They're both spicy.

Meander 2 Being pushed for time. Seems Christmas snuck up on me this year. Perhaps because Thanksgiving was so late. Then also missed one shopping day because of snow. They're predicting more for tomorrow and I don't like the idea. We've missed too many critique groups that next year we'll be going to a sort of new schedule. Didn't help that Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are on Tuesdays. Next year we'll see what happens and perhaps have to change again.

Meander 3 Working on Melodic Dreams and though the story is going well, the holidays are keeping me back from moving as fast. Every day I've done less than my quota and I wonder if this happens to all writers. At least it doesn't frustrate me too much. I'm looking forward to next year when I hope to complete four stories. Melodic Dreams, Priest of Toth, the Gemini/Cancer story and the last Mrs. Miller mystery. That's a lot of writing and I may or may not complete the run but I will see what happens. Wish me luck.

3 Blog Visit Sunday

http://babettejames.com/2013/12/09/christmas-in-medieval-england-guest-post-by-barbara-bettis-author-of-silverhawk/

http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/write-ya-characters-that-readers-love-5-tips-for-new-adult-authors/2013/12/

http://rebeccatdickson.com/2013/12/12/cut-it-out-self-editing-basics/

Saturday's Excerpt from One Day's Loving by Rue Allen

  At 2:30 PM James W. Collins V examined his pocket watch for the fourth time before he opened the door to the outer office of his law firm. “Harry, has Miss Alden sent any word as to why she’s late or let us know if she’s canceled our appointment?”

   “Not that I know. . . Oh, I clean forgot. I found this letter on the floor about an hour ago. I must not have heard the messenger, and he probably slipped it under the door thinking we were closed for lunch.”

   James bit his tongue to keep from shouting his irritation at the old clerk. Harry had been with the firm since the beginning.  While he had occasional lapses in memory and did not see as well as he once had, he knew everything about every case and client that the firm ever had. His knowledge was invaluable; putting up with minor lapses was a small price to pay.

   “Let me have it.”

   “What, sir?”

   “The letter you found on the floor.”

   “Oh yes. Now where did I put that?” Long moments were spent in searching through the various stacks of papers on Harry’s desk. The letter was finally found on the seat of his desk chair.

   “Here you are, Mr. Collins.”

   The paper was warm and slightly creased, but James took it anyway.

   “Dear Mr. Collins,

   We have…”

   “Harry get the police here at once.”

   “Why?”

   “I will explain later.”

   “Yes, sir.” Harry donned his coat and hat then searched for and found his umbrella.

   “Would you hurry, man? Miss Alden’s been abducted.”

   “What? When? How? I’d better go for the police.”

   James ground his teeth. “Excellent idea.”

   Harry made for the door, but it opened before he could touch the knob.

   A woman stood framed in the doorway. Her rain sodden hair dragged down her face and across her shoulders. Her dress was muddy, crumpled, and her neckline askew. She smelled like a whiskey factory.

   “This is no place for the likes of you. Get on your way,” ordered Harry. He shifted to block the door. “I’m going for the police.”

   “No, please. You don’t understand.” Her elocution was at odds with her odor and appearance. Tremors shook the timid voice, and James finally noticed the shivers racking the woman’s small frame. “I’m Persephone Mae Alden.”

   Harry snorted. “I doubt that. Miss Alden is a well bred miss and would never. . .”

   James finally recognized the delicate bone structure obscured by the mass of wet hair and moved Harry aside. “Forgive my clerk, Miss Alden. He’s somewhat over protective.”

   “Sir!” objected Harry. “You cannot believe this drab’s claim.”

   “If you wore your spectacles as you should, you would see that Miss Alden is no drab. I’m surprised you didn’t hear her identity in her voice. Come into my office, Miss Alden. I gather you escaped your captors.”

   “Mae, please. With all that’s happened, standing on ceremony is more effort than I can handle. And, yes, I did manage to escape, but how did you know, Mr. Collins?”

You can read more about One Day’s Loving at my website or purchase directly from Amazon.

About Rue Allyn

 

Author of historical, contemporary, and erotic romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story. She is deliriously married to her sweetheart of many years and loves to hear from readers about their favorite books and real life adventures.  Learn more about Rue at http://RueAllyn.com

 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/RueAllynAuthor

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/RueAllyn

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5031290.Rue_Allyn

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rue-Allyn/e/B00AUBF3NI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Blog:  http://rueallynauthorblog.com/

 

Friday's How She Does it with Rue Allen

We all know there are six elements of

fiction. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. I believe the first five lead to the sixth which for me is plot. What's your take on this>

 

 

 

1.        How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific method?

 No specific method. I discover them as I discover the story.

 

2.        Do your characters come before the plot? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?

I sometimes (depending on the length or complexity of the story) write out a scene chart with very brief statements of POV character; Goal, Motivation, and Conflict for each character in the scene; the purpose of the scene and it’s place in the story’s timeline. The chart rarely has more than 20 entries of 2 or three lines each.

 

 

3.        Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?

Only the HEA. I almost never know how my characters get from opening problem to the HEA.

 

 

4.        Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?

No. I do use settings I’ve been to but I also use imaginary settings, and I never use house plans. I’d go crazy trying to make the story fit a specific architecture.

 

5.        Where do you do your research? On line or from books?

Yes. I also use first person accounts (interviews), movies, television and radio.

 

6.        Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?

Yes.Because I leave myself notes as I write to cover details and plot decisions that I’m not certain of, I will draft as long as I can keep the storyline clear in my mind. If I start to lose focus because I’ve got too many blanks—spots where notes are the only story clues—I’ll go back and fill-in (which is sort of revising) until my focus is restored and the storyline is once more clear in my mind.

 

 

 

Thursday - How She Does It with Fiona Mc Gier plus excerpt from her latest novel.

Fiona had life happen and missed her two day affair but she's here today with a double dose.

We all know there are six elements of fiction. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. I believe the first five lead to the sixth which for me is plot. What's your take on this?To me, the who is the most important question. Once I have at least one of the characters clear in my mind, I can begin to write that person's life story. I love to delve deeply into inter-personal relations, and how we form attachments to one another. I've been told my stories make people laugh, and that when I'm writing a sad scene, it makes them cry.  If that happens to the reader, I probably cried when I wrote the scene also.   

 

 

1.      How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific method?

 

Many times I dream up the characters--I've dreamed up whole plots as well.  Or they're "bit players" in another book, then they take over my imagination and insist I tell their stories as well.  The series I'm working on now began with me being sad about having to leave Grand Marais, Minnesota, where we've been camping in the summer for a couple of weeks for the past few years. I hated to leave so much that I began to think how great it would be to fall in love with a local person, so you could fall in love with the area as well and never have to leave either.  That book was For The Love Of His Life, which has been getting great reviews. The two subsequent books grew from characters in that first book who want to star in their own love stories.

Characters can spring into my mind from anywhere.  A picture of someone, a voice I overheard somewhere, etc. I think about it, dream about it, then the character begins to speak to me in my mind, telling me about his/her life.

 

2. Do your characters come before the plot? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?

 I usually think up the characters first.  Then I begin to "play" with their lives in my mind, figuring out what their issues are, what happens to them, what their histories involve, etc.  So my books are definitely character-driven. Once I have a good idea of who they are, they begin to tell me what direction to take their plots. Sometimes I make an outline of sorts, but not usually.  I do research names for my characters based on their ethnicity.  I like to be accurate, and usually I'll know when I find the right name because it will "feel" right.

3. Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?

 

I know there will be a happy ending...that's a given. But it's how the characters get there that makes the book worth reading. I know who will end up paired with whom.  But sometimes I'm surprised at how it happens, when I'm writing a scene and it takes a direction I wasn't aware I was heading in.  Those are the moments I love the best, because I'm writing the book, but also reading it, and enjoying being surprised at the same time!

 

4. Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?

The houses aren't ever that important to me.  One of my earlier series had a heroine who designs houses, and she's hired by a man she used to be involved with, to redesign his new home.  That's the only time I ever gave that much thought to the actual building itself.  Otherwise the characters are what fascinate me, not the background setting behind them. 

With that being said, however, when I choose to write about an area the characters live in, it's usually someplace I've actually been to.  Otherwise I have to do some research on-line to find out what the area looks like, feels like, smells like, etc. We went to see one of my husband's favorite authors speak once, and he talked about his publisher sending him for a month to France, to do research for his latest book.  Sigh. Maybe someday I'll be famous and successful like him.  Until then, I just dream about it.

 

5. Where do you do your research? On line or from books?

See above.  I do my research on-line.  The internet is a wonderful resource!  I remember the old days of having to use card-catalogs and micro-fiche.  I much prefer sitting in my own home, sipping coffee, while I find out about any darned thing I want to learn about!

 

 

6. Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?

 I write the story straight through in a chronological manner.  I work multiple p/t jobs, still have a husband and 4 young-adult kids to deal with, and have friends who keep me sane.  I'd love to ONLY write, but with 2 kids still in college, that's not possible yet.  So if it's been a while since I was working on a book, I'll reread the previous chapter before I begin to add to the novel.  Once the story is completely done, that's when I begin to revise, revise, revise.  By the time I send it in as a submission, I've been polishing it for a long time, and it's as close to being done as I can do alone.

Note: I'm a certified English teacher, which means I got an English degree.  Long ago I used to hate revising, preferring to think that every word I wrote was perfect the first time...boy, did I have a lot to learn!  Now I'm aware that revision is my best friend!
                                                                                      *********************************

For The Love Of His Life, by Fiona McGier

 

Blurb:

When a famous action star needs to clean-up for a major role that even he doubts he can deliver, the director sends him up to a resort owned by his grandmother in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of upper Minnesota, to learn to commune with nature.  His guide is Veronica, the director's cousin, a tall, athletic woman who has the relaxed, sensible nature of someone who knows herself well.  Raul's initial clumsy attempt to seduce her makes her laugh...so he calls her fat.  Is there any hope that their relationship will progress beyond its rocky start? And can Raul overcome his partying nature to discover what is really important in life?  

 

 

 

Excerpt--PG--Their first kiss: Raul has fallen in love for the first time in his life, but Veronica thinks he's always lying because he's an actor. They're on a picnic in the woods.

 

     Raul tried to pay attention to her, but kept getting distracted watching the sun shine off of her long curls, as he imagined being able to bury his nose in her hair and breathe in her smell.  His eyes must have looked unfocused, or Veronica noticed his lack of response to her words.

     "Hey!  Are you bored?  I get the feeling you're not listening to me at all."

     "I'm listening.  I hear words...but I'm not paying attention to what you are saying."

     "Why not?"

     "Because all I can think of is how much I want to kiss you again.  Your lips were so soft and warm.  I want to taste them."

     Veronica leaned back away from him slightly, "Why?"

     "Because you're all I think about.  You are the first thing I think about when I wake up, and the last thing I think about when I'm going to sleep.  I dream about you all night...but in my dreams I call you Nee-ca."

     "Everyone else calls me Ronnie..."

     "I don't want to use a name that everyone else uses.  I want to have a name for you that's just mine.  To show you how special I think you are."

     Veronica shook her head, smiling sadly, "That's just because I'm the only woman you've been seeing lately.  You're going through withdrawals since you don't have your usual legion of female groupies throwing themselves at you.  You'll get over it when the rest of the crew gets here and people start treating you like the important movie star that you are."

     "I don't want to get over it.  I've never felt anything real for any other woman except my Mom.  But what I feel for you is growing stronger every day that I see you, and spent time with you, and learn from you how to be a better man.  I don't want that to stop."

     Veronica stared at him, "Really?"

     Raul felt his pulse racing at the thought that she was sitting still next to him, so it was only a matter of him leaning forward just a little bit and their lips would touch.  So he did.

     Veronica leaned into the kiss and closed her eyes.  Raul closed his also, enjoying the soft, warm caress of her lips.  He lingered over that first kiss, and she opened her mouth slightly to sigh.  He covered her lips with his again, and boldly licked at her mouth.  She opened it even more to allow him to explore her mouth, and her tongue met his and caressed him back.

     Raul groaned.  He balanced himself with one hand on the ground, and raised the other one to caress the side of Veronica's face, his fingers moving back into her hair to feel the silky strands that really were as soft as they looked.  Their kiss grew in intensity, the passion of the moment possessing them both. 

     One kiss became many, as Raul unleashed a tiny portion of his passion for this woman, afraid to let loose lest he scare her from responding.  She met him at every increase, her breathing speeding up as much as his was, her face beginning to have a slight flush.  She reached up both of her hands to hold his shoulders, one hand moving into his hair on the back of his neck, in a sensuous, familiar gesture, as if she knew it would ramp up his excitement...and it did. 

     Raul began to push gently, and Veronica obliged by lowering herself onto her back, still holding onto him, their lips beginning to crush each others', their tongues beginning a duel of passion.  The hand that had been in her hair now moved slowly down her neck to her shoulder, as if it had a mind of its own and knew where it wanted to be.  Veronica made no move to stop him, so he began to massage her skin, heading towards the breasts that had been tantalizing him for so long.

     "Mommy, what are those people doing?"  The almost-lisping quality of the high-pitched voice let them know there was a very young child watching them. 

     Raul and Veronica both opened their eyes wide, to stare in alarm into each others' faces.

                                                       ********************

 

Find out more at my website where the first page is my blog:

http://www.fionamcgier.com

 

My books are all available through my publishers and on trusted websites like Amazon, All-romances eBooks, Coffeetime Romance, Barnes and Noble, etc.

 

Buy links for this book:

 

http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615729210

 

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fortheloveofhislife-1209608-342.html

 

http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-Life-Fiona-McGier/dp/1615729224/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1369855652&sr=8-3&keywords=For+The+Love+Of+His+Life

 

eBook: http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-His-Life-ebook/dp/B00CMHMGXI/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1369855652&sr=8-3

 

 

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Bringing the character to life #MFRW

You have the characters in your story, but how to bring them to life. Makes a writer feel good when someone says that the characters in your story are just like people they know. Having these kinds of characters in a story causes the reader to want to read more. So, how do you do it?

The first thing to consider is  the dominant trait of the character. Think of stereotypes. The tall, dark and handsome hero, the courageous young woman, the evil wizard. There are many types of characters and setting one in your mind is the start of breathing life into the character.

The second thing to consider is how does this character fit into the story. Just what role do you want this character to play in the action. You're the director of the story. I recently set a former cop with an attitude against a heroine who wanted family more than anything. They weren't exactly opposites since he also wanted a family. But he had a temper and she had a milder attitude.  So what you're doing is setting stereotype against stereotype.  But this isn't enough to make your character seem to be a living person.

Now you need to modify the stereotype and the character begins to take on a life. Maybe they react to a situation against what the stereotype would do. The hero who seems to be the type who takes what he wants decides to step back. The heroine who doesn't allow her temper to show explodes. Suddenly these characters become more alive.

In the story, you need variety. If all the characters have the same dominant traits the story would become boring. So think variety. Creating characters with the appearance of being alive is the writer's task. There is one more way and this is what gives layers to the character. I'll write a bit about that next week.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Imitation

Years ago, I read a bit about using imitation to help learn the craft of writing. So I tied it. I chose one of my favorite writers and read as many of Andre Norton's books as I had on my shelves. In reading them I'm not sure I learned much more than enjoying good stories well written. So I tried something else. I took one of her books and an idea I had and tried to model my story on the one she'd written. Now the words I chose were my own but the pacing, the plot development, character development were based on someone else's story.

What did I learn? I learned I had my own voice as a writer. The words I chose were totally different from the ones Andre Norton had used. I also learned my eye as a writer held different images. But I also learned how to build scenes, how to find ways to reveal characters, to develop the plot line. I never did anything with this story for it was a learning expedition or a training session that I hoped would carry over to the stories I would write. I also learned writing is hard work, especially making sense of what I wanted to say. I also learned as a writer I needed to make my own choices of what stories I would spin and how they would be woven.

There are times when I hit a snag in my writing I will pick up a book by a favorite author and find a passage that intrigues me and sit down to decide where my own voice and eye will lead me.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters

Meander 1 - Being reminded of things I'd forgotten I'd signed up for has just happened and at a time when I'm not sure I can do all that must be done, I will persevere and perhaps before the day is done get to them. I've been pushing to get all my books up on my Maniac Reader page and am now down to one publisher. Also had to promote the new release Rekindled Dreams. Life is full of doing. That's life. Must start to bake a cake for tomorrow's party for the critique group and tomorrow it's more shopping.

Meander 2 Am impatiently waiting to get the house ready for the holidays and would like to put things up this weekend. We'll see how that goes. I love the sight of Christmas and the aromas, too. Have most of the stockings done that have to head off to parts south.

Meander 3 - Am working on Melodic Dreams and have finally reached almost the end of the rough draft. Word wise this is nearing 20,000 words so with revisions I should make my goal of between 30 and 40,000 words. Am liking this heroine and hero a lot. Maria is an occupational therapist and Jay is a composer of music. Once this is well on the way, I can start thinking of the next project and that will bring 2 books into re-issue and one new one. I've tried not to push myself too far ahead and hopefully that will work.