Posts
http://www.amazon.com/THE-STARS-BLEED-AT-MIDNIGHT-ebook/dp/B00N758R96
Don't forget D.G.'s post on it:
http://dghudson-rainwriting.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-stars-bleed-at-midnight-and-bear.html
Don't forget D.G.'s post on it:
http://dghudson-rainwriting.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-stars-bleed-at-midnight-and-bear.html
THE BEST REVIEW YOU'LL NEVER READ ON AMAZON
Sandra Thrasher sent me a review of my book that she doesn't feel right putting on Amazon
since she is my best friend, but I just had to share:
since she is my best friend, but I just had to share:
"Heady, sardonic, yet compassionate -- with an unpredictable cast of lovers, liars, killers, and clowns, THE STARS BLEED AT MIDNIGHT entertains even as it reflects upon the instability of identities.
It is a thoroughly entertaining book by a classic talent."
But enough about me ... on to a real talent: Patricia Briggs:
Her latest: SHIFTING SHADOWS is a volume of short stories centering on her secondary characters in her world of MERCY THOMPSON.
The intros to those stories are mini-lessons on how to write. If you buy only one book this month:
Buy mine, but buy hers next month! :-)
SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Her book got me to reflecting upon them. Could yours support a short story centering on them? They should.
ARCS
Each of your supporting characters should have one. Not in your novel. That would give you mental hernias.
No, but in your mind. They should be real not CARDBOARD CUT-OUTS of personalities.
Your protagonist is defined by his interactions with those around him.
And if those around him are shallow, he or she will only be able to have shallow relationships. The reader will become bored.
And if those around him are shallow, he or she will only be able to have shallow relationships. The reader will become bored.
PERCOLATE
How do you do that you ask. Percolate.
You let the different characters and the rough image of your novel's actions slowly work through your conscious and unconscious mind.
You let the different characters and the rough image of your novel's actions slowly work through your conscious and unconscious mind.
Too many writers rush into their novels in the heat of a great opening scene or bit of dazzling dialogue.
By all means put it down on paper or in Word, but pause and reflect for a few days maybe even .... shudder ... a week.
But if the fire is hot within you, ignore me completely. I am used to that treatment from beautiful women.
After all, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde in SIX DAYS!
TAKE KINDERGARTEN
You enter one person, meet those irritating mysteries, other human beings, and emerge a drastically different kind of person.
This happens again and again and again in the lives of us all.
A fact which irritates me when an author says she cannot write a sequel for the arc of her heroine is finished.
I want to say: "Is she still breathing? Then, another arc is just beginning!"
I want to say: "Is she still breathing? Then, another arc is just beginning!"
THE WORLD YOU WANT VS THE WORLD THAT IS
Most of you know the term "Mary Sue"
The term "Mary Sue" comes from the name of a character created by Paula Smith in 1973 for her parody story "A Trekkie's Tale"
The story starred Lieutenant Mary Sue
("the youngest Lieutenant in the fleet — only fifteen and a half years old"), and satirized unrealistic Star Trek fan fiction.
("the youngest Lieutenant in the fleet — only fifteen and a half years old"), and satirized unrealistic Star Trek fan fiction.
You can write a MARY SUE novel, too.
Twilight is basically one and spawned a depressingly large number of copy-cats!
Twilight is basically one and spawned a depressingly large number of copy-cats!
The wallflower or outcast who, up until now has been ignored or ridiculed.
Then comes the new kid: dark, handsome, mysterious ... and madly in love with the wallflower.
Then comes the new kid: dark, handsome, mysterious ... and madly in love with the wallflower.
You can write a novel whose world is what you would have it to be.
And if enough readers want the same kind of world, it will be popular.
And if enough readers want the same kind of world, it will be popular.
But it will not resonate with truth. It will be mental cotton candy. And if you write enough of it, it will make you and your ability to create ill.
ANTI-MARY SUE NOVELS
Then, there are novels where every part of the universe sucks,
the heroine is the doormat of her world, incapable of not making mistakes. She IS a mistake.
the heroine is the doormat of her world, incapable of not making mistakes. She IS a mistake.
I know we often feel that way,
but if we look down and our shoes are on the proper foot, then we have done at least one thing right.
but if we look down and our shoes are on the proper foot, then we have done at least one thing right.
All of us write of the world as we believe it to be.
But we must work hard to NOT write of the world that our fears believe it to be.
But we must work hard to NOT write of the world that our fears believe it to be.
Like Mrs. Briggs' title to her short story collection, SHIFTING SHADOWS,
the world is a shifting dance of shadow and light.
If we find our novel all light or all dark,
we are making it unrealistic and without the music of life that will sing to our readers of the truths we must find for ourselves in the darkness.
we are making it unrealistic and without the music of life that will sing to our readers of the truths we must find for ourselves in the darkness.
Excellent review Roland. Congrats.
ReplyDeletethat's a lot of good advice too. And so colorful too :)
Donna:
ReplyDeleteI am trying to make it easier on the eyes of my readers and still keep my black background. :-)
It was a really great review. I had to share since it would not be on Amazon.
I thought I would try to help my friends if I could.
So good to have you visit! :-)
Congratulations on the review!
ReplyDeleteNo Mary Sues in mine. And yes, I try to create arcs for the secondary characters, which often does leak onto the pages.
Or at least carries into the next book.
Alex:
ReplyDeleteThanks. It won't be on Amazon since Sandra didn't want to appear prejudicial, though she is my harshest critic! I just wanted to share since I knew it was her honest appraisal.
Mary Sue's would be eaten in my novels ... literally! :-)
Having arcs in your mind for your secondary characters does make the next books easier and the interactions in the present flow more naturally, too.
Wow. She has a way with words! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteEdge of Your Seat Stories
Nice Jesse Cook trailer. Classy with a Latin flair.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the glowing review!
Raquel:
ReplyDeleteSandra has an IQ of 154 and it shows in her review, doesn't it?
She was published before I was actually.
D.G.:
Yes, I've always loved that video. It was uplifting to get that review from Sandra who is my harshest critic when she has to be! :-)
Thank you for allowing me to guest on your blog!!