Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Navigating the Land of Make Believe

Every author has their own method when it comes to writing a story. You hear about plotters and pantsers (those who write by the seat of their pants). You hear about story boards and outlines. Me? I live in the land of make believe. I often see scenes or interactions, but not always the big picture. I don't always know where the story is going. That's the case with my current work in progress.

Sometimes, I'm very structured, which makes the job much easier. Other times, I have no idea what comes next. Scratch that, I have an idea, but only the barest of bones. I generally know the theme of the story, where the story needs to go. But aside from that, it's like playing Barbie doll. I put the characters on the page and make it up as I go along.

When my creativity falters, I have a tendency to make notes, plot points to cover. Free form outlining, in a manner of speaking. When I know where the story is going but it isn't clear, I write directly in the story about what needs to happen rather than paragraphs that "are" the story. Sometimes, I hear the dialog in my head, and I write that down to spur on the words around it. Those notes often turn into brainstorms of "Wait a minute. If this happens, then that has to happen." And sometimes those notes serve as a vehicle to get me writing. Once the words start, more and better words tend to follow. Some notes make it into the story, and some don't. When I'm really at a loss, I have a girlfriend I bounce ideas off of. I'll switch to my email program and start writing to her about the problem I'm facing, and oftentimes, in the course of explaining it to her, a flash of brilliance strikes me and I've solved my own problem. It's about stepping into my imagination and getting the engine started.

In my current work in progress, I'd reached a point where my main character needs to face her fears. Unfortunately, I didn't know what she was afraid of. I went over the usual phobias with a complete lack of interest, but then I thought about how intimidating big dogs can be. Which led me to one of the background characters who wanted to be a canine handler. Instant conflict! (I love it when a story comes together!)

Writing without an outline is like taking the long way around the block. You might get lost, but you might also discover routes you never knew existed. Each path has its own rewards, and I could argue the benefits of both methods. When writing to a deadline, outlining is a better road to your destination--it gets you there faster. Without that constraint, taking the uncharted path can often be an entertaining diversion, or a frustrating exercise in losing your way. 

The takeaway message to all of this is that even if you don't know what comes next, what to write, write something. "Something" almost always leads to something more.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

I'm a Subscriber 🎜🎝 (wait, that isn't how the song goes...)

Last week I got a notice that the subscription service that goes with my blog is going away. Or updating. Or I'm not exactly sure what. You know, the one where you sign up and it emails you that I have a new post? So I tested the sign-up widget and it threw me an error. Brilliant.

Instead of writing the next Hillendale book, which I have been working on, I spent most of my day chasing down options. For those of you who subscribe, the email you got this week will look just slightly different, but assuming I did everything right, it should still notify you in a similar fashion. For those of you who have tried to subscribe and couldn't (because I'm not sure what's up with the old service or when it decided it wasn't going to work anymore), there's a new option to do so in the right sidebar now. 

In updating to the new service, I had to learn "new stuff." Generally speaking, I like learning new things. I'm a closet techy, which means I like simple programming. I'm MOS certified for Access (not sure if that even means anything anymore). I used to write the HTML for my webpage years ago. I had a friend who helped me learn SQL for another application I helped design. The downside is that because I don't do that every day, I spend twice as much time figuring things out as I used to when I did it on a more regular basis. Now, my website is built with building blocks and templates. Much easier and faster. I don't have to worry about mis-typing a code or missing a closing command. 

And now that I've fixed the broken widget (or at least I hope I have!), I need to get back to writing. Anyone else looking forward to the next in the Hillendale series? Did you love the other ones? (Don't forget to leave a review. This author thrives on positive reinforcement!) 😁

"Definitely my favorite... Characters were well drawn." - Amazon review of INTERRUPTED MAGIC

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Out and About

For those of you who don't follow me on Instagram, I regularly post photos of what I see while I'm out walking. My neighbors have beautiful gardens which put me to shame. I've never been an avid gardener--I have a black thumb, although I try.

Last year I promised myself my yard wouldn't be the ugly one on the block anymore. It's neat, trim, tidy, but after surgery a few years ago when I wasn't able to get down on the ground, I stopped planting annuals. Year before last, I realized I WAS able to get back to the ground, and was kicking myself for not planting at least one veggie plant, so last year, I planted several. Aside from the ones I shared with the rabbits (they found my plants pretty quickly), I managed to grow some very delicious tomatoes. Funny fact, when I pulled the tomato plants at the end of the year, there was a rabbit living beneath one of them! I tugged and tugged and tugged, stopped to take a breath, tugged once more and dislodged my tenant, who went scampering off across the yard. 

This year, I'm trying to get ahead of the game. Instead of waiting for everyone else's gardens to bloom, at which time it will be too late to start my own, I've picked some perennials to plant, and some annuals, as well. My neighbors give me so many things to enjoy along my walk, it's time I returned the favor. 

Cross your fingers for me. Hoping my black thumb doesn't sabotage my plans!


Haven't killed my azalea yet!


Buy it here!
And while you're here, a quick reminder that the fourth Hillendale novel is available! I'd love it if you'd give it a read.




Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Say what? - Writing Dialog

In one of my early books, my critique group called me out for an "odd" phrase that I'd incorporated into the story--people don't talk that way. The thing was someone had said that very same thing to me once--and yes, I found it odd. That's how it crept into the book. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I made it a point to establish that yes, the character on the receiving end found it odd, yes, it was an odd thing to say. The fact that it was odd was the very reason it stands out. The fact I remembered it years later gave my character reason to reflect on it in the story.

My father always used to comment that a little piece of me found it's way into every story I wrote. That's certainly true. Authors draw on their experiences. This is where I state very clearly, and loudly for the people in the back, my writing is NOT autobiographical. I write from a common experience. We've all lost someone close to us. Death is something we can all relate to. Most people have had their heart broken at one time or another, or had a critical misunderstanding. When I write my books, I find the things people have said to me resonate as loudly as the things that have happened to me, and those comments are what cross the boundaries into fiction. They are often random observations that are just slightly off from what you'd expect. It jars, but as it enters the fictional story, it's important to make the reader aware the characters KNOW it jars, and why. On it's own, it comes across as an eccentric author writing something odd. 

A prime example, and the one referenced earlier, was "It was nice to have known you," the first time someone is introduced. The comment reflects on the person speaking it, and it has an effect on the receiving end, as well. It came from someone I've come to know as subtly passive-aggressive. When I pointed it out, the person with me didn't think it so odd (I have two critique partners who disagree). But the person with me was accustomed to those types of comments. In theory, the speaker hasn't said anything wrong, but it does state that they don't expect to see you again, or perhaps expresses a hope they don't see you again. I'm not going to unravel the layers, the whys and why-nots, even after I've come to understand them. It wasn't mean-spirited, just... odd. It does give the person on the receiving end pause, and sticks long enough to reflect on. The "what was that supposed to mean?" effect. 

Dialog is an effective tool for this very reason. Characters say something, but is there a hidden subtext? How they speak and how they formulate a phrase says a lot about their characterization. How a seemingly innocent comment can turn into a roadblock for the character on the receiving end. The way the words are interpreted also speak to characterization on the receiving end. What does the character do with this passive-aggressive jab? 

In another of my books, I incorporated a comment an insecure character says to another which puts that insecurity on display. Odd comment to make, but it reveals a lot about that character's personality. Another comment yanked from the real world. How the character on the receiving end responds to it also shows their personality. Are they sympathetic? Does it make them feel superior? These subtleties define personality. Characterization. Words as a stimulus and as a response. They show who characters are in a story.

Whether a character overreacts, or fails to react is up to the author. For my part in the non-fiction world, I tend to not react when someone says something odd simply because I do find it odd. I want time to think about what they said and why they said it. Curiosity. Analysis. I find it interesting enough to mull, however it was intended, and (be careful what you say to me) I store those odd comments away to plunk into stories for my characters to overreact to. Or to give them internal conflict or hidden attraction. 

Has anyone ever said something odd to you that made you stop to wonder what they "really" meant?