A photo is worth 8 words

Here’s an exercise that might be harder than you think.  Find a picture online or dig through an old photo album.  It can be of anything.

Now I want you to study it.  Look at every detail, both small and obvious.  What do you see?  How does the picture make you feel?  How would you describe it to someone who has never glimpsed the picture?

After you ponder on the picture I want you to come up with a list of 8 words to describe the essence of the picture.

 

Mood, Tone, Message, Image, Purpose, for example.  It can be whatever you want.

See if in five words you can capture the scope of the entire picture.  Then I want you to share them with me.  Put your response in the comment section below.

 

I am providing a sample picture and my own words to get your started.  Have fun!

PS: this is exactly what you should do when you create a setting in your book.  Take a mental image of a room and pick 8 words to describe it.  This is a great way to practice BEFORE you write your chapter!

  This is a picture that I am using for a book cover of an upcoming book.  Along with creating a scene you also have to consider the same aspect when choosing a book cover.  Here as my 8 words to describe this picture:

Turbulent, Powerful, Deadly, Tempest, Surge, Rage, Uncontrollable, Raw    

Thank you to Salvatore Vuono for creating this picture!

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Drowning in words

Words.  You gotta love them.  They can take you to magical lands, to the depths of the ocean or to the craters on the moon. 

But what about books that are bogged down with too many words?  I can think of several off the top of my head that I skip entire chapters each time I read them.  Unnecessary words aren’t just annoying, they’re tension killers.

 

This is really easy to do, especially as a new writer.  My first book was LOADED with unnecessary words.  But at the time, I thought each and every one of them had to be there.  Boy was I wrong.

When you’re writing a rough draft, it’s ok to be as wordy as you want to get your point across.  When you begin to edit you need to chop and dice like a world class chef.  But how do you do that?

Start by looking at which words are weak or cliché.  Replace them with strong, less common words.  Think outside of the box.  And if you struggle to come up with a new word grab your thesaurus.  It’s literally my best writing tool.

EX:  I was over the moon with excitement. (7 words)

                             VS

          I was ecstatic. (3 words)

Here’s one I’ve used recently:

EX:  My mind goes haywire, struggling to focus, as he lies down behind me. (13 words)

                                      Vs what I wrote

My thoughts fragment as his length curls around me. (9 words)

Second, look at your descriptions.  Is there a more simplified way of saying the same thing?

EX:  The ugly old house is falling to pieces.  (8 words)

                                      Vs

        The dilapidated house is crumbling. (5 words)   

        You’re saying the same exact thing only using less words. 

EX:  The yellowish white haired girl grabs a lot of attention from the boys at the party with her clear greenish blue eyes and deep red lips. (26 words) 

                                      Vs

       With hair like the sun, sea foam eyes and crimson lips, the girl snatches the attention of every boy in the room. (22 words…and even this could probably be tightened up a bit if I took to the time to work on it.)

I struggled to capture a true picture of what the girl looked like until I read the second example.  We all know what the sun looks like, have seen a picture of the ocean or grabbed a sea foam crayon from our kids craft supplies.  And the lips…I’m setting a tone as to her personality by the choice in color.

Total word count saved by using edited examples: 15 words.  Times that by a 300 page novel and you’ve probably narrowed it down to 250 pages which is far more appropriate.

These are just a couple examples of ways that you can tighten your writing.  It’s hard.  I’ll be the first to admit that.  I really struggle with writing in a simplified format because it feels clipped to me.  BUT I’m getting better.  With each day that I write, every chapter I complete, every edit I endure and each book I publish, I improve.

Writing is not something you can master so stop trying.  Learn the rules of writing and let your muse run free.  Have fun.    

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Book Review: The Hunger Games

I have come to the conclusion that my experience with The Hunger Games has not been as amazing as everyone else's.  A ton of people "ooh" and "ahh" over it but I don't really get it.

Perhaps it's because this is not my usual genre.  Or because it took me 4 attempts to even make it through the first chapter.  But...after so many great reviews I decided to push through in the hopes that the book would get better.

Maybe it's just me, but pitting young kids up against each other in a fight till the death rubs me the wrong way, especially 12 year olds!  As a mom that is very disturbing.  I guess that's a good thing.  That means I'm not completely desensitized to violence.

I tend to like characters that I can relate to and Katniss was far from that.  Apart from her willingness to take her young sisters place in the games, there's little I can relate too.

She's fierce, cunning and emotionally detached to pretty much everyone in her life.  This detachment bugged me.  I get the need for that separation with her opponents, but other than her sister she was pretty much a recluse.  Even her relationship with her best friend Gale was awkward.

I must say the most disturbing part of the book for me was surrounded around the final death of the last opponent.  The entire scene made me feel sick.  Thank Ms. Collins for not going into GREAT detail on what was happening.  I don't think I could have handled it!

Knowing the essence of the book made me reluctant to invest my emotions into any character.  I didn't like this aspect because that's exactly how I like to read a book.  I want to care about them.  Sad thing was, because of this, I didn't shed a single tear over any of the deaths, which if any of you know me I'm a definitely a crier!

Overall, for my personal preferences, I would give The Hunger Games a 3.5 star rating.  It really didn't "wow" me like so many others.  I do have the second and third book on hold at the library so I plan to finish the series. I'm really hoping they redeem my standoffish view with the first one.

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When your Muse smacks you in the head...

As a writer, I've learned that what you want to happen, and what actually happens sometimes don't line up.  I had this happen a couple days ago. 

I wrote a homework assignment two months ago for my writers group that really piqued my interest.  I knew that it could some day turn into a really interesting book but I had no clue where I would go with it.  It's on my list of novels to get to at the END of the year.  After I finish the Arotas Trilogy and the Rising Trilogy.

Well my Muse decided to change my plans.  Here I am in the middle of writing my sequel to Forbidden and I am smacked up the side of the head with a brilliant book idea.  It's a continuation of my homework that I set aside!

Now I'm not just talking about only a name or maybe the first chapter. I have the ENTIRE book sorted out in my mind. 

That's insane!  And terrible inconvenient. 

I can't just drop everything to work on another book...or can I?  Should I?

This is the dilemma I have lived with the past couple days.  My head is swelling with so many ideas I can't sleep, can't focus and am pretty much zoned out half the time thinking about it.

My husband wants me to finish my trilogy, and I completely understand why.  I want it done too.  But when your Muse shoves something like this is your path I honestly think that you need listen.  Even if only for a couple days.

I have files upon files of ideas for the book.  Characters developed before my eyes.  A plot.  Book title.  Even a hint at something larger...perhaps another trilogy?  (Yikes!)

So my plan is to write as much of it down while I've got it and get back to work on Arotas.  Just because your Muse throws you a curve ball does not mean you let go of your goals.   

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Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

As some of you know, if you've been reading my blog posts, that I read a lot of teen fiction to stay in tune with the market.  And one of my favorite reads has been Andrea Cremer's Nightshade trilogy.


When Bloodrose was released, the final installment in the trilogy, I was so anxious to read it.  Problem was, my library hadn't received it yet and my local Walmart didn't carry it yet.  I was stuck!  


But as luck would have it, my library ordered the book and I snagged a copy.  In and amongst my own writing, I finished Bloodrose.  Here's my view:


I'd heard several people say that they were happy with the book because Andrea wasn't afraid to kill off main characters.  That to me makes a good author!  


The storyline flowed well.  There was action, tension and release throughout the book...with a smattering of romances along the way.  The ending made me cry, no spoilers as to why, but I was satisfied with it.


My only qualm with the book....I hated how anti climatic the "final battle" was.  I truly expected more.  But...over all a very enjoyable book, and certainly a trilogy.


A must read for anyone who enjoys teen paranormal romance books!


Star rating: 4 stars.  

Book review: J.A. Konrath's Origin

Let me preface this by saying Horror is not my genre.  Apparently I should read between the lines when I download an ebook because J.A. Konrath's book gave me the creeps on several occasions.  Well done!  Now I have to sleep with my light on!

Origin is fascinating, disturbing and darn it I can't put it down!  Even though every part of me is screaming "This is not your genre.  You hate horror!" I can't stop reading it.  Which is truly annoying because with each scene Konrath amps up the tension.  Thank goodness my nails are painted cause otherwise they'd be gone!

A brief description of Origin:

A group of scientists unearth a being of unknown origin and is transported to a secret government lab for study.  After 100 years of study, the subject wakes up.  The question is...what is he?

Bub, named after Beelzebub, is a mystery to all.  Is he Satan?  A demon?  Or an alien to our planet?

He twists and turns the scientists, playing off their fears and emotions, as he tricks them into giving him everything he wants.  And then...everything goes terribly wrong.

Bodies reanimate, demons attack and the small group of scientists are racing against the ticking clock of a nuclear bomb, the governments solution to cleaning up any mistakes.

This fast paced, and vividly descriptive story definitely got my heart pumping. 

I give Origin a 5 our of 5 stars for being a perfect example on how to create tension and never let your readers go!

   

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Pj's and My Comfy Couch

A friend of mine, Danielle Bannister author of Pulled, wrote a blog this morning that made me chuckle.  It was about the perceptions that many people have of writers.  To be honest, I had some of those myself until I actually became an author.


First off:  Writing in your Pj's.
Heck yeah I do that!  Wouldn't you?  They're comfy, forgiving on overindulgence and just about my favorite type of clothing to wear.  Come on...be honest.  If you had the option of putting on those heels and a dress to head out to the office or staying home and working in Pj's, wouldn't you choose comfort clothes hands down? 


What do you think I'm wearing right now? Ha Ha!


Second: Pacing while wrestling with your muse.
Hmmm...this was an image I had when I was younger.  I used to picture a man sunk low in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as he mentally slammed his head against a brick wall.   To be honest, I'm sure this is true for many people.  Thankfully I've really never experienced this. Ideas come easily to me.  BUT...anytime I try to set a goal date to finish, things screech to a halt.  Not because the ideas fled, but because life seems to pile up around me, screaming for attention.


Third: A room filled with crumpled papers with scrawled notes written in haste that are tossed aside.  
In the virtual word this is no longer a sustainable visual image.  Although I do have some friends who still prefer a good old pen and paper.  For me, it's a delete key and a computer trash can.  Or a massive file of odds and ends that I'm convinced will help me at some point during my career.  

Fourth: Writing a big hit must be easy since my library is full of books.
If this is real, someone please tell me how! To be honest, maybe 1% of all writers actually land a publishing contract, and even that doesn't mean instant success.  Have you ever read the stories behind your favorite authors?  How many of them managed to land that amazing book deal on their first attempt.  *Forget about Stephenie Meyer.  That's not normal!*


Some of the best authors today fight for years to find an agent.  Did you catch the key word?  It's not years it's fight.  They didn't give in to the countless rejections.  They pushed through, persevered and improved their writing skills during that time. 

People think "hey, I could be a writer" without ever truly understanding how intense it can be.  Writing a book is not an easy thing to do and getting it published the traditional way is nearly impossible unless you can show you have supporters or you are willing to let the stack of rejection letters mount high while waiting for that yes.   


Fifth: I'm gonna make it big, sell millions of copies and retire to the Bahamas.
Sounds great doesn't it?  Sure it does.  It's certainly something I wouldn't snub my nose at.  But it's not as easy as it sounds.


Want a glimpse into my life as an author?  I spend a couple hours every day blogging, posting on my author page on Facebook, checking Linked In, emailing, responding to comments and checking book sales.  And that's only online.
That doesn't include phone calls, appointments, scheduling author meet and greets, passing out flyers, designing marketing items, talking to businesses about selling my book, typing letters to libraries to see if they would include my book, keeping up with the market or talking to people one on one about what I do for a living.


Have I mentioned anything yet about writing the actual books?  


What about rough drafts, editing, creating book covers, formatting ebooks, drafting print on demand files or storing away ideas for future books?
Still think it's easy to be an author?  


BUT...there's always a but.  For you to be successful with anything you do, you have to enjoy spending the time it takes to reach that level of success.  Spending 6 hours a day behind my laptop creating quirky characters is the best and only job I could ever truly do.  It's my passion...my obsession some might say.  


It's what gets me out of bed each morning.  Why?  For love of the written word?  Yes...but it's more than that.  I write not just for myself, or for my readers, but for my family.
  
I write for my husband.  He puts a lot of his time and effort into helping me succeed with my dream and I want to give back to him.  For my son, because he gives me the inspiration I need to be the best writer I can.  For my extended family who have supported me through every agonizing step of my journey so far. For my mother, whom I know would have been proud of me if she were still alive.


These people are the ones that motivate me.  That keep me pushing on even when I want to curl up in the corner and cry because I don't think I can do it all.  I'm not perfect, and to be honest, I've got a lot of growing as an author before I can consider myself to be "good" but I'm excited to learn something new with each day that passes.


So, how have your perceptions of the writing field changed? Or have they?

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