Catch-Up

Hello lovely readers,

To start off with, I know it’s been a long while since I’ve done a post just for the sake of posting, I know. My life is crazy. I’ve mentioned before that I have some serious health issues that can keep me down. Well, between that, graduation last may, and just day-today stressors…I’ve been a bit MIA. But I’ve resolved to do better. Reviews, Blog posts, Cover Reveals, and any other type of post I can think of.

While later I’ll be doing some catchup with some reviews (they’ll be shorter and sweet), right now I wanted to talk about something else. On Instagram, I’ve been participating in a Photo Book Challenge, yesterdays was Fiction. While Fiction is a broad genre, what I truly think about is world-building.

Now all books should have original plots, engaging characters and good development, but fiction, fiction truly depends on the world the author creates for it. A weak world, and the whole story could unravel with a simple tug, like loose thread.

Do Not Let Your Work have Loose Threads!!

This is especially important for Fantasy and Science-fiction writers.

What type of world is it? What is it’s history (even if it’s not relevant to the story or included every world needs a history and knowing it will help you build a more realistic universe for your story and characters)? What do the building look like? Are there buildings? What does it smell like? is it industrial? What sounds are there? Animals?? Plants? Technology? Every minute detail should be clear in your head find pictures online, or draw some to help reference.

Just as your characters should have rock solid descriptions, personalities, pasts, and trademarks, so should this environment that they inhabit.

 

Don’t forget to keep an eye out this month for a post and Review on Legend by Katy Evans and he Syndicate by Sophie Davis!!

~And Let the Ink Run Free

 

 

 

A Lesson In Character

I just finished reading a great post on characterization by Angel Lawson that perfectly describes our drive for not only unrepentant a**holes, but imperfect characters. No one wants to read the character who says all the right things and never messes up, nor the character that follows routine: when things go wrong they know immediately how to fix them.

They’re boring.

More often then not I get one of two things while reading those characters: bored with them to the point of skimming or putting the book down for another, or frustrated with them because it’s like they’re following some textbook.

I completely agree with her, reading, watching and even writing the jerk is so much fun. But the ones who are unrepentant, who own up to their actions without apology are the best, there’s oftentimes so much more depth to those characters without having to pander or reach into pools or self-pity or consternation. Characters can be sweet as well, but I don’t think that’s realistic in a person. All people are flawed, it”s the degree to which we’re flawed in which makes us different, approachable, hero or villain.

Since I feel like I’m not only repeating myself but Angel, I’m going to stop here. But I’ll just say this: Pay attention to the characters you read, who you write, which ones are you drawn to and connect with? What is it about them? Do they have a darker side, do you like that or respect that aspect in them?

Remember…

and

~Let the Ink Run Free

 

 

Reading and Writing Between the Lines: Leave a little Room

While knowing how your story is going to go and flow, you also should be aware of how to format your manuscript for today’s publishing, agents and editing.

Just like when you were back in school and the teachers would yell at you about these minute details: turn in your manuscript in Times New Roman, 12pt font double-spaced. If you remember MLA this should be an old hat by now. This brings the most convenience to not only being able to read your work unhindered but also for editing, if need be, on any device.

Swirly or creative fonts are fun, but really, when you print them, or try to read them for periods of time it becomes cumbersome.

There is so much to putting together a query and sending out your manuscript, to learn more read about it here:

Formatting Your Novel Manuscript

You should also become very familiar with editors marks, both for your own use and for working in conjunction with editors in any capacity.

And then, then will come the marketing, how to promote your book to the best advantage.
Keep Writing and Let the Ink Run Free~

A Writer’s Work is Never Done…Is It?

I am so sorry to have been MIA the past week. I was on vacation, and the ‘Wi-Fi’ service at the hotel wasn’t exactly cooperating with my computer or Facebook.

So, I’ll pick up where I left off.

There are so many questions I see authors ask their readers, especially depending on genre. But one that really caught my attention was brought up by Brittney Sahin on WordPress.

When do you end a novel? Do you make a sequel? a Series? Do you write a spin-off using characters from the original storyline?

These are questions that make plotting and mapping out your entire story and character chart. You need to know exactly where this story is going. Its okay if things are added in as you go–heaven knows you never know when inspiration will strike, but there should be some goal, some end point that your trying to weave and reach.

Once that goal is met, do not force more if there is nothing, that is where sequels come in. How long is your story? Does is have points in which it could be broken into segments? Or Would one book suffice? Could more come from this plot and these characters? either in a spin-off with supporting characters (or bring in new characters using the same universe if you’re a Fantasy writer)? Many authors have done this successfully.
One of the most recent examples is Leigh Bardugo with Six of Crows from the Grishaverse. or Sophie Davis with Exiled: Kenly’s Story from the Talented saga.

So remember, write your ending first. Decide if it can be broken up into parts and decide the ending for each part. If there is more to say, then say it. If you are going to be forcing storyline and characters, circumstances that don’t make sense or shouldn’t/don’t have to be happening then most likely your readers will pull away. It will not have the same draw as the other stories. DON’T DO IT.

Find a new book to write. new characters. But let this one lay.

Any other questions?

Keep Writing and Let the Ink Run Free~

Stories are built from the bottom up. Who’s bottom?

Does you character have character? Charisma? Chutzpah?

How do you go about creating your character? Do you flesh every aspect out, even those that will never be printed?

You should!! It will give your character more depth and bring them to life, off the page and into the reader’s home, beyond imagination. There are so many details that go into writing a character, humans, or any creature are very complex, with emotions and backgrounds. We didn’t just pop out of the snow like daisies!

Try using a chart like the one below, give as much detail as possible!!!

You can pull from it later on and thread it throughout your story. Well-built and thought-out characters are important to any story. The are the foundations which a story is built Without characters, their relationships, faults, merits, perceptions, the story is all but lost to us.

‪#‎storybuildingSaturday‬ ‪#‎characterbuilding‬ ‪#‎writing‬ ‪#‎writingtips

A Criminal Thematic Thursday

Hello!! So Welcome to another #ThematicThursday ! Do we have any Crime, Mystery, and or Thriller writers out there? Well today is for you.

Who doesn’t like a little Suspense, the angst and cagey feeling that grips you and keeps you turning page after page even though you may be scared or a little creeped/grossed out. That you’re not sure you like where this is headed but you can’t look away.

It’s thanks to these brilliant writers!

But do you how to go about writing your novel? What goes into writing a crime novel, not even making it brilliant–which it should and will be–but just the basic foundations of what makes of any Crime story?
Now Novel lays it out for you.
but a word to all writers–no matter your genre, you ALWAYS have a contract with your reader, and unless it is in an area where you can break that contract….fantasy sometimes has that perk..then NEVER try to.

http://ow.ly/Oux06

Now, now we can move into the deeper territory of HOW TO KILL YOUR CHARACTER!
Do you know when and how to kill your character? This applies to all genres now
As for the wounds and blood, learn them well and different, descriptive ways of writing them, how such things could be interlaced in your story, what red herring could intercept the true cause?

Think! Write! Let the ink Run Free~