Category Archives: Fiction

October 11, 2011 · 8:42 pm

Writing Classes?

Tomorrow I’m teaching a quick class on characterization at the Jewett House for the Idaho Writer’s League. It’s something I’ve had to learn and build on top of by taking classes myself. But the most helpful thing to me was learing it through writing. I’ve written two full novels, two shorts, and several partials that I’ve set aside or am currently working on.

I highly encourage all writers out there to read books on writing, but taking classes on writing can be helpful in its own way. The feedback that other writers give you can be helpful. Of course there’s always that one person that can be overly picky or critical, so I give you my blessing to ignore them. But, without the help of critique partners, I wouldn’t already be on my third novel. If you tend to hear the same suggestion over and over I suggest you look into considering their advice. Remember, every publisher is looking for something a little different from the last. Keep pushing and learning!

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Filed under Fiction, Flow of Life, Non-Fiction Paranormal, The Writing World

September 20, 2011 · 8:33 am

A New Publishing Category?

I love this, because it pertains to me. “Upper YA/New Adult (17-22 yo protags) that will appeal to crossover audiences.” I’ve been finding this in the submissions area for publishers lately. I’ve been struggling with one of my novels because I wrote it to be Young Adult, but many beta readers felt that it was just a smidge too high of the category. However, in the respect of intimacy and language, when comparing it to other Paranormal YA giants out there, my manuscript looked like a kitten compare to a lion.

But now I know where I belong. The New Adult category for crossover audiences. Yay! These categories are pretty empty at the moment, and publishers have sent out the call. Will you be my competition? 😉

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Filed under Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

August 8, 2011 · 2:24 am

Be Fiction, But be Real

What does it mean to “be real?” How could you be “real” if it’s supposed to be fiction? I’ve run into this too many times recently and it’s bugging me. So I figured I’ll share what I’ve learned.

To be real is to not throw stuff into your book that’s just not gonna happen. I’m not talking about fantasy here. If a dragon flies out of the shadows every time the wizard hiccups I’ll take that. I’m talking about placing your character’s in situations or have them make really stupid decisions that 99.9% of the population would never do. The other .1% is hopped up on laudanum and probably deserves to be wiped off the page…

Authors do this for a few reasons; more words, more conflict, or they just don’t know any better. Ten years ago you could get away with this; today, not so much. And it irritates your readers.

Here are some examples –

A girl is being burned at the stake for breaking into the Duke’s keep and stealing clothing and jewels. She worries only of her honor, and that of the Dukes, and says nothing as she fries to death.

This is completely unbelievable to me, especially when all the girl had to do was yell out “I’m the Duke’s bastard child!” You know what? They’d cut her down in a heartbeat and apologize profusely to her and the Duke. Nobody’s pride is that big. If the character really must die then poison her, have her tongue cut out or have it be an accident.

A more current example –

A college age girl has been in New York for two months and is preparing to go to her idol’s concert for the first time. However, the girl is horrendously bad with directions. She and everyone around her knows this. Her super-hot male best friend offers to take her since he’s already going and knows the way. But she’s so embarrassed she says no. On the way she gets lost (of course) then sees something paramount to the plot that she would never have seen if her friend were there.

Yeah, not gonna happen! Believe me, the girl would have gone with her hot guy friend. Trust me. Please. Her embarrassment would not have been greater than the love of her idol, and she would not have risked going it alone and getting lost. If she really must get lost to see this paramount thing then have the girl and her friend get separated, or at last-minute the guy might have some emergency that will make him bail on the date. But she would not say no.

Your characters can be pretty stupid at times, just like all of can be. But please make it believable stupidity 🙂 Your readers will thank you for it.

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Filed under Fiction, The Writing World

July 15, 2011 · 12:51 am

The Garb

I love this quote by Frank Delaney— “One article of clothing – even the texture of the fabric: tweed, silk, creased linen – will describe an entire character.”

There you have it. ‘Nough said.

Okay, maybe I have a few words to tack on that. Let me throw out a few characters and see if their clothing comes to mind. Sherlock Holmes, Lestat De Lioncourt, and Cinderella (before the fairy godmother).

Could you see what they were wearing? In most cases the author only need mention the article of clothing at the introduction of the character, then make little references here and there.

Sherlock is famous for his tweed. The vampire Lestat for his love of red velvet, and Cinderella had her tattered linen. (at least I think it was linen) The clothes say so much about a person. Now, what about a silk scarf on a man? It’s black, neatly creased and hanging open around his neck. Can you see the rest of his attire? Or even the weather as he walks down the sidewalk?

Hopefully you’re not imagining a hot summer day with a surfer in sandals. You might imagine a handsome man in a business suit. Maybe the sidewalk’s wet? Or snowy? He holds a briefcase in one hand and the latest issue of Wall Street tucked under his other arm.

Have fun thinking of clothing, and describing them. I know I will.

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Filed under Fiction, Non-Fiction Paranormal, The Writing World

June 16, 2011 · 4:20 pm

The Quote

While cruising through some submission guidelines to a large publisher they asked- “What’s the standout line in your book?”

Do you know yours? It can be from any character, so long as it draws emotion and/or really rings true to the reader. It’s that line that a random stranger can say and you automatically know what book they’re talking about. Here are some good ones-

“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb.”

“The boy that lived.”

“Sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.”

Lol. I’m starting to see a pattern with the quotes that pop into my head. Think I read a lot of YA? Yeah… Did you get any of these? One is Twilight, two is Harry Potter, and three is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

I read on a sign in front of the doughnut shop the other day “People doubt their beliefs, but believe their doubts.” I loved this quote. It rang true to me. I almost want to steal it. I can see my hero standing in the driving rain, holding firm his ground. He shouts to his lady love as she walks away from him, dejected and broken-

“Some people doubt their beliefs, but believe their doubts, Cami.” His chest heaved in his soaked through white button-up. Blond hair clung to his face. “I never thought you would be one of those people. I know the truth and I’m not backing down.” Cami’s muscles went rigid. The clack of her heels on the wet pavement silenced as she turned around. He held his hand out to her over the sleek black top. “What you’ve experienced is just a bump in the road, baby. We can get through it. Let me remind you why you believed in those things.”

Sigh… I’m enjoying the romance genre lately. Anyway, if your characters don’t give you a great line look online for a great
quote. You can even borrow one from a classic movie. Just remember to give credit where credit is due!

The Cursed Monkey’s Paw

I first heard this tale through a Japanese anime called XXX Holic (the XXX doesn’t mean the same thing in their culture as in ours!) Epasode 8 entiled “Contract.”

A young woman comes ito possesion of the mummified Monkeys Paw. Knowing that the legeneds of it are evil, she disregards them, believing she has a strong character that cannot be influenced. The Paw’s finger’s break each time a wish is made, giving the owner five wishes. One of her wishes comes accidentally when she almost misses her subway train. A woman throws herself on the subway tracks, stalling the train due to the woman’s suicide. Another wish comes when she asks that her term paper might garner attention and respect from the proffesors. The Monkey’s Paw switches her paper with that of the classes genious. She is then accused of theft and plagerism, and dismissed from the class. This is the most current version of the story I’ve found so far.

When I did the research farther I was surprised to learn The Monkey’s Paw is actually a short story written by English author W.W. Jacobs, published in 1902. In this original version the story involves Mr. and Mrs. White and their adult son Herbert. The parents wish for money, and are given it as a compensation for their son’s accidental death. A week after the funeral, Mrs. White’s grief is so great she wishes for her son to came back to life. And he does, as a zombie, pounding on their door. Read the full story here at- http://www.americanliterature.com/Jacobs/SS/TheMonkeysPaw.html

It was also retold as an Alfred Hitchcock special in 1965, and has been feature in several other venues. For more informatin I highly recomend http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey’s_Paw. This is a fascinating bit of fiction and I hope it can influence other writers imaginations.

Have a great weekend everybody!

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Filed under Fiction, Japanese Tid-Bits, Paranormal Fiction