November 9, 2011 · 4:44 pm

Yin-Yang

The yin-yang is all about balance.  The Japanese are some of the healthiest people in the world, balancing out their McDonald’s to plenty of veggie plates.  Many struggle for feng-shui, or balance of large to small object to a room.  And almost all large cooperation offer gyms or have a morning stretching programs, usually outdoors.

We can use these examples in our writing.  Does the manuscript have an array of characters?  If you have a shy side character maybe toss in a boisterous one to bring up the balance.  Also, make sure your lead characters are a good balance. True masculine and feminine, soft and hard are opposites.  But if the female is all about power, and the male is fine being underfoot, then that’s not a tension building mix.  Both have to be matched, or if one is all about physical power have the other balance it out with brains.

And what about the over all story?  I have a problem with talking heads, especially on my first draft.  So I need to go back and layer inner thoughts for my characters to even out the pace.

Also, what about you?  Is your writing time balanced?  This is something I struggle with, too.  Once finished with a manuscript you should spend some time editing, then some time creating a new story.  Editing uses the left brain while creating uses the right.  If you are lacking a piece to edit, or you don’t have a new idea to spill out on paper then do something outside the writing world.  If editing then paint or craft something.  If creating then pause and play a puzzle game, like bejeweled or tetris.

Hope you have a balanced week 🙂

2 Comments

Filed under Japanese Tid-Bits, The Writing World

November 4, 2011 · 2:36 am

What Are Your Characters Eating?

I love this time of the year, cuz I love food!!!  And most of your characters should, too.  Well, they don’t have to love it as much as I do, but they should especially like one particular food item.  Or better yet, make them hate one.  Food is something all readers can identify with.  If they also hate peas or love vanilla ice cream like your protagonist, then a reader will remember that.  And don’t we all want our writing to be memorable?  What if your villain and hero both loved the same food? Or what if your hero was allergic to tomatoes, but the villain lived in a tomato farm?  The villain could even blow up the local chocolate factory, causing a river of chocolatey goodness to flow right to my doorstep.  Mmmm….  Now that’s what I call a happy ending 😉

3 Comments

Filed under The Writing World

October 28, 2011 · 11:40 pm

Craft-O-Matic

If you know some one that is a craft-o-matic with their writing, then I suggest you stick close to them.  I have a few of them, but one in particular soars above all others- author Bonnie Paulson, http://www.bonnierpaulson.com/.  She drags herself from bed in the wee hours to pound the keys and surf the net.  And I (feeling a little guilty) get to glean off of what she reaps.  She’s trying to build her craft.  She finds amazing sites, blogs and hints that show how an excellent story is crafted.  She doesn’t need all the info, and neither do I.  But, some of our other friends may.  So we share and email and text our findings and links.  Well, mostly she does it, I just pass it on where it’s needed.

You never want to believe you are the greatest writer, there is always someone better.  But seriously, if an author believes their work is flawless, then they can’t grow.  And growing, changing and learning is what the writing world is all about.  So striving to build your craft is essential. I’m thankful for my craft-o-matic bud, Bonnie.  Thanks for helping me grow!

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Filed under The Writing World

October 14, 2011 · 9:33 pm

Sending the Queries

Many authors I’ve spoken to have different ways of sending out queries.  Some do it once a day for a week.  Once they start getting rejections they send out a new query per rejection.  That way they always have the same amount out there.  Others have their list and just query everyone they possibly can.  Others send out in groups. Five to a dozen seems to be the common set.  Once nearly all of them return they send out the next set.

But, no matter how you query, just send those letters out.  At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. 🙂

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Filed under The Writing World

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?  😉

3 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, The Writing World

September 16, 2011 · 6:42 am

He Burped, She Screamed

Tag lines, what are they?

“I don’t want to,” he said.

“Well, too bad,”  she chirped

“You can’t make me,” he groaned.

“I’ll sit on your face if you don’t,” she laughed.

“I hate you,” he sneered.

“Yeah, but you love me, too,” she pouted.

See the pattern?  I did this on my first manuscript years ago.  I hang my head for the poor agent that waded through that first draft and pointed it out.  So what’s the protocol for tag lines?  One per page is preferred. Two is okay from time to time.  Three is pushing it.  And anything more is just tripping up your pacing.

When you have a conversation between two people you can usually follow who is speaking.  One good way to point out who is talking is have them perform an action.

“I don’t want to.”  Jimmy turned his back on her.

“Well, too bad.”  Sarah held up the needle and tested the plunger.  A clear liquid spurted out and dribbled down the side.

His face drained of blood as he watched.  “You can’t make me.”

“I’ll sit on your face if you don’t.”  She giggled with memories of playing football with him as children.  He was mortified she could wrestle him down and crush his face with her bony butt.

Hopefully this helps those of you getting started writing.  Good Luck!

2 Comments

Filed under Flow of Life

August 15, 2011 · 2:18 am

Why Veiled Wings?

Somebody asked me this recently, so I figured I’d do a quick post on it.  I chose the name Veiled Wings for my blog for two reasons – One, because I’d like to think that we all have a pair of wings on our back that describes who we are.  Some have downy soft feathery wings, some have black leathery wings, some are translucent like a dragonfly and others may be colorful like a butterfly.  Beyond that they may be very large or very small.  They may be tattered and broken or scarred but healed.  What do your wings look like?  Mine are very scarred, but I’d like to think they get bigger and stronger every day.

Reason two – Some how, in some way, all my paranormal characters have wings, end up getting wings, or can fly.  I don’t know how this happens, but it does.  I love flying, and my characters are an extension of me sometimes.  All I have to say is I hope they’re handing out wings on the other side when I get there 🙂

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Filed under Flow of Life

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.

3 Comments

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