A Day In The Life Of An Aspiring Author

Killing My Darlings

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:48:00 +0000

It's an old saying, but it's good advice.

Kill your darlings.

I'd heard it said many times but I never really thought about it pertaining to me. *insert smiley face*

Well, guess what? It pertains to all writers.

You love your words. You do. It may be a sentence, a paragraph, a scene or a whole chapter that just doesn't fit.

And you have to let it go.

So how do you know what to kill and what to show mercy?

I think the answer is easy. I think most of us know when we're writing things that will need to be slayed, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still suck on epic levels when we finally come to terms that we have to do it.

This is the thing: I can read my manuscript with an objective eye. Really. Sometimes everything gets a bit muddled because I've read it so many times, but I know the rules.

And I can spot a broken one a mile away. As can many of you.

Seeing the flaws or unnecessary words isn't always the hard part. It's hitting that wretched delete button that makes us want to find a tub of chocolate and drown in it.

The issue I have is that I KNOW WHEN I'M WRITING SOMETHING IF IT BELONGS OR NOT.

And, as yesterday proved, that still doesn't stop me.

Now, I sit here today knowing I have to go back in and cut all that crap (it was all telling), and find a way to show those details which WILL NOT BE EASY. But off I go, to kill my darlings.

CUT THE FLUFF. KILL YOUR DARLINGS. SAY ONLY WHAT HAS TO BE SAID.

Clarification In Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:52:00 +0000

Just a quick note today.

As I go through this draft of my WIP, I notice how important clarity is.

What makes sense to the writer may not make sense to the reader, and we need to be sure things are crystal clear.

It's called understanding motivations and goals. The reader needs to be clear on why a character thinks, does or believes something.

Sounds simple, right?

Well, not always, and this is why: We writers get so inside our novel that we can't always see it from the reader's perspective. We know the reason behind our character's actions and so sometimes an explanation is easily overlooked. We think the point has been made clear enough, especially to us since God knows we've probably read that scene a million times and we're so inside that character's head that we know them better than we know ourselves.

Thing is, sometimes you just have to say it. If a reader is left to wonder, Why? then we haven't done our job.

Think about it. Pick up a good book, one that you love. Were you left wondering why certain things happened? Probably not, because good books don't typically have plot holes like that. They get filled by the writer so the reader has a smooth ride with their book.

So I'm thinking about clarity.

For every single choice my protagonist makes, I am making certain the reasoning behind it is stated and understood.

How about you? Ever been left confused by a character's motivations? How do you avoid that in your own writing?

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:31:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday!!

I sure did. And though my break from blogging gave me a lot of much needed extra time to do all the holiday stuff people do, I missed being here.

That being said, my blogging schedule is about to change.

As most of you know, I'm trying to wrap up this manuscript so I can take the next step: Querying. I'm not sure being locked in a room with a thousand croaking, slimy frogs scares me as much...and if you understood my fear and loathing of that particular amphibian, you'd know I must really be freaked out.

And as my crit partner will tell you, I'm an over-thinking, highly analytical, ungodly critical judge of my work. I also have a pretty busy life.

Therefore, I need a little extra time in my day to dedicate to writing. Read this article by Chuck Wendig over at Terribleminds for 25 reasons I came to this conclusion :)

So! This is the thing: I'll be blogging here every Monday and over at The Writer's Resource every Thursday. For a while at least.

The point in the above referenced article that hit home the most for me was this: Your writing will never chase you-you need to chase your writing.

And so many of us do the opposite.

I've reminded myself of a dog chasing its tail more than once. I'd find myself so wrapped up in blogging or trying to find some bit of useful information, an article or link that would lead me to some great truth that would ultimately be the one thing I needed to hear to make me finish this edit, that I failed at my end goal: FINISHING. Com. Ple. Tion.

Let me tell you friends, a typed up stack of paper IS NOT completion. It's wonderful to see...it really is. It's a huge step that a lot of people never make. But even then, it's far from over. The work really just begins.

So! I'm still digging in, elbows deep in this manuscript, so I can say I'M DONE. IT'S TIME TO QUERY.

I think many of us fear the rejection and the seemingly god-awful task of hunting out an agent so much that we avoid it. We may not realize what we're doing, but by lingering in our words we avoid that dreadful step. We stand just shy of the goal, too scared to face what's to come.

Well I'm about to eat my goal for breakfast.

The New Year has brought me a renewed spirit, an abundance of ideas for future books, and most of all...a fearless attitude.

From the brilliant mouth of Chuck...(go read the post)...

Fear will kill you dead. You’ve nothing to be afraid of that a little preparation and pragmatism cannot kill. Everybody who wanted to be a writer and didn’t become one failed based on one of two critical reasons: one, they were lazy, or two, they were afraid. Let’s take for granted you’re not lazy. That means you’re afraid. Fear is nonsense. What do you think is going to happen? You’re going to be eaten by tigers? Life will afford you lots of reasons to be afraid: bees, kidnappers, terrorism, being chewed apart by an escalator, Republicans, Snooki. But being a writer is nothing worthy of fear. It’s worthy of praise. And triumph. And fireworks. And shotguns. And a box of wine. So shove fear aside — let fear be gnawed upon by escalators and tigers. Step up to the plate. Let this be your year.

Some music for your Monday!! My Moon My Man (Grizzly Bear Remix) by Feist

On Conflict

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Since I'm still elbow-deep in re-writes and crit buddy Misty Waters is holding my feet to the fire so that I can get this thing finished, I'm re-routing you guys to a fabulous post on CONFLICT.

The post, via Kristen Lamb, pretty much sums up the difference between conflict and bad situations. I once blogged about how bad things seemed to just always happen to my protagonist rather than her actively participating in the conflict. By always agreeing and doing what everyone else wanted to do in order to attain the main goal, I CREATED A PASSIVE PROTAGONIST. Can you say, BORING? The stakes just weren't high enough.

Anyway...I realized this long ago and I've fixed the issue. BUT...we can always use a good reminder.

As Kristen says...Fiction is the path of greatest resistance.

I love that.

CONFLICT ON EVERY PAGE. Do you have it?

The Gaze

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:26:00 +0000

Quick post today about the word gaze.

It's a perfectly fine word, I suppose.

But for some reason I'm beginning to LOATHE it. I think it's because it's become my Lazy-Go-To-Word when I can't think of any other way to describe my character doing something. I automatically fall back on the eyes. Because the eyes are the windows to the soul, yada, yada, yada.

BUT...at least I notice that it's a tendency and that I have to edit out most of my references to gazing because there are far too many littering my WIP. Their gazes met, his gaze roamed, her gaze shifted...ICK. Drives me nuts!

What about you? Any words you tend to rely on? Any words you've banned yourself from using?

A Note On Breaking the Rules of Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:31:00 +0000

Okay. I'm on my soapbox today, so I'll get right to it.

You can't parachute out of a plane without first knowing the rules of sky diving and how to open your parachute. Well...you could but it might not end well. Same goes with writing.

Rules are a necessary part of life. They just are. Rules give guidance.

BUT - and it's a BIG BUT - the rules are not always unbendable, especially in writing, because writing is an art form. If we couldn't bend and even break the rules, everyone's writing would be annoyingly similar. Creativity wouldn't shine through our work. BUT - again, it's a BIG BUT - a writer needs to completely understand the rules BEFORE they commit to breaking them. This is why I say study other authors work.

AND EVEN THEN, even if you know and understand the rules like the back of your hand, breaking them still isn't easy. Why? Think about this example:

You know how to use grammar. As a matter of fact, you have a Ph.D. in grammar. You can spot a dangling participle from a mile away. That's great. You know the rules. BUT...that doesn't mean you can write a book without punctuation and run-on sentences floating around everywhere. Unless your Cormac McCarthy who used it as a means of mirroring the starkness of the world he'd created in The Road. He didn't do it just because he could, he did it because it meant something to the overall novel. It was a technique and part of his style.

So...before you go destroying all the rules, make sure you know them first of all. Then make sure you know how to use them. THEN...think about how altering the rule adds to the crafting of your novel.

BREAKING THE RULES MUST BE INTENTIONAL.

Here's a couple more For Instances:

Show Don't Tell: We've all heard it a gazillion times. NEVER tell. Yet I can pick up books all day long that have TELLING throughout. Why? Because sometimes it's necessary to tell. Sometimes telling fits the scene or the moment or the character better. Not every single detail needs to be shown. If you spend six paragraphs describing a character walking to the store, you may want to rethink that passage. Was the detail important enough to be shown? Did anything happen to further character, emotional or plot development? ONLY THE WRITER can determine when to tell and when to show. The thing is...a good writer knows how to use both techniques to their advantage. Showing is always good when done correctly, but even showing can be done WRONG.

Follow A Structure: Oh my. This one is tough. I love structure. Why? It makes books flow. Makes them more readable. Makes them a little easier to write. BUT...does that mean every novel has to start with Set Up? Can they NEVER begin with the Inciting Incident? Does the Inciting Incident HAVE to happen on page 30? NO. NO. These are guidelines. That's all. Take a look at the opening page of Gone by Michael Grant which I highly recommend:

Uhm...pretty sure that's the moment everything changed. And it's on page one. Not page thirty.

The point is this: Break rules when there is a reason or need. Break rules when the act adds to the character, emotional or plot development. Break rules when it reflects the mood or theme.

If you break the rules, know why. Have a reason. And do it well.

Backing Up Your Work

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:11:00 +0000

Yesterday I had an incident with my laptop.

The internal battery died. Again.

And...it took a day's writing to the grave with it.

Auto recover did not auto recover even though it was set to save throughout the day every 10 minutes. The file wasn't saved somewhere else in my computer.

It was gone. And let me just say...it sucked.

I don't know what I could have done differently, but from now on I will make sure to hit save at least every half hour or so...just in case.

I lost a lot of good writing and even though I have great recall, I couldn't duplicate some of the what made the passage I was working on 'sing.'

So...today is just a blog about backing up your work. Computers are not incapable of error. You can't always trust them. They are not always your friend.

Save your work. Back it up on a flashdrive. Email it to yourself. Print it out. SOMETHING.

Because once it's gone it's gone.

Wanted: Help With Nook Books

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:36:00 +0000

Okay. First of all...I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving with their families and if you braved Black Friday, as I did, I salute you :) Also...I totally forgot to announce that I'd be taking a break from blogging while I cooked like a mad woman and shopped til I dropped. Sorry. My bad.

Anyway...I wanted to blog today about Nook book suggestions. As you may or may not know, I recently procured a Nook. The only problem is that I have no idea what books to buy.

When I'm in a store, a snazzy front cover or catchy title usually draws my attention first. Then, I read the back of the book. If that's good, I read the first page. If I like that I might sit down and read the first chapter. If all is good after that, the book goes into my basket and I help a fellow author out by buying their hard earned book.

With my Nook, I scroll through the library until my eyes go numb. I really haven't even checked to see if I can read samples or not. Maybe I should start there because at this point, unless it's a book I've heard of, I really have no idea which books I'll like and which ones I won't. Granted...most of the Nook books are pretty inexpensive but if you buy 5 a week, that can add up. 20 Nook books I don't care for could buy 2-5 books I love.

Soooo...I need recommendations!!

I like all books, but I'm partial to Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. No whining heroines and no people dying of cancer or any other disease. Those books are depressing to me...I prefer getting lost in a fantasy world :)

I do like Vampires, but if I read another book about bloodsuckers I might keel over. And I like some Zombie books but Zombies just aren't sexy. They're dead and they eat people. I prefer a little sexy.

I like heroes that aren't the Knight in Shining Armor type but have a little edge to them, and I prefer heroines who are smart and kick butt.

Also...I like a plot that still rocks WITHOUT the romantic element. Sexual tension is fabulous but if there isn't any other meat to the story I usually pass.

If you know of any books that fit, please let me know!!! I need something to get lost in.

Music Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Since I am totally void of any useful content to blog about today, I am resorting to my usual scapegoat - MUSIC .

If you read last week's post on my plunge into technology, you know I got an iPhone. And it's been playing Pandora ever since.

My list of stations keeps growing and new artists keep working their way into my heart. I'm a pushover for talent, what can I say?

So here are some videos from a few new bands. Well....new to me anyway :) Enjoy!! And have a Happy Monday!!

Lullaby (Mountain) by The Acorn

Bloodstream by Stateless

This Night by Black Lab

What Breaking Dawn Taught Me About Show And Tell

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

*Disclaimer: Contains minor movie spoilers*

I like the Twilight book series. I admit it with no shame. The movies are a whole other ballgame however.

Before we get to that, let me just say this: If you hate Twilight because you think Stephanie Meyer is a horrible writer, I say this: Give her a break.

She wrote for three months and ended up a freaking gazillionaire. It was a miracle. A phenomenon. I doubt ANY writer I know would turn down such an opportunity. Did the books need better editing?? Sure. Did the story seem a little forced after book one? Some think so. Was it a little cheesy? Why yes. But most of us sappy females don't care. Was Edward a little crazy obsessive and jealous? Uh huh. But he did it in such an oddly attractive way ;) Plus...the man sparkles. We all know that is important.

Anyway...my point is that I don't fault Stephanie Meyer. She was fairly new to writing and she had an idea that would sell and a publisher that didn't insist proper edits be done before shoving her manuscript between a nice cover and rushing it to the shelves. Ultimately, the responsibility falls on us writers I suppose, but I just always try to look at things from both sides. Can you imagine her excitement? She probably didn't even think about how many times she used the word incredulous. So...I cut her some slack.

Now...back to the film.

Breaking Dawn pretty much disappointed me more than I ever imagined. I wasn't expecting an Oscar winner but come on....Constant soap opera background music for 117 minutes??? I wanted to stuff popcorn in my ears.

And don't get me started on the goofy talking wolves or the absolutely horrific dialogue or ridiculously un-scary Volturri. I could go on for days. Maybe the writer part of me took over and analyzed every second.

Or maybe it was really just that bad.

The movie did have some really pretty settings and some funny moments that made me laugh. I also liked the nervous pre-honeymoon scene. AND...the special effects transforming Bella from a healthy 18 year old to an emaciated girl pregnant with a vampire baby were pretty awesome.

The movie also did a good job of reminding me of something about my writing: Show, don't tell.

It was as if the director only chose the highlights of the book to use as scenes, which I guess makes sense, but what about the stuff in between? Those moments of deliberation and thought when characters decide what to do - when they come to a revelation or moment of truth? For instance...Jacob - speaking to Esme - says...and this dialogue is not exact but close:

"You would die for her?"
"Of course. We're family," said Esme.
"I can see that. Like a real family. Real as the one I was born in to."

So what's the big deal??? YOU NEVER SEE HIM ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. There is never a moment when you see the revelation occur on his face before this statement. This is TELLING in film instead of SHOWING. It happened over and over and over. The audience is TOLD what's going on rather than SHOWN. We writers learn this when we study nonverbals and action beats. Sometimes it's what's NOT SAID that tells us the most about what a character thinks or feels. Actors have to learn this too. They have to actually convey meaning on their face or through mannerisms. Tough job.

The point is, it bothered me that the movie didn't show things developing. They just were. The only thing I saw brewing in the background was Charlie's understanding that something more is going on with Bella. You see it on his face when he's at Billy Black's. It's not stated, but you know.

So - all in all the movie did not do it for me but I did get a good reminder of why it is soooo important to show and not tell.

Showing involves the viewer/reader discovering. And that's what a journey of any character is, right? A discovery? And we want to be involved....not a bystander watching from the sidelines.

Now...some music for your day....I love this song :)

A Giant Step For The Technologically Resistant

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:31:00 +0000

Well...I did it. No...my husband did it.

He gave me a great shove into the technological world this week by buying me an iPhone (my friends will be happy) and a Nook.

If you've read my blog you know I'm technologically resistant. I claim to be a little technologically challenged too but that's not entirely true. I'm actually pretty handy with computers. I just resist having everything in my life digitalized. Yet here I am...with everything I need in the palm of my hand.

I haven't had my own cell phone in years...by choice. You may also know from previous posts how leery I am of eBooks - not that they aren't a fabulous way of selling books - they are - it's just that I worry about the printed book. So, for me, owning an eReader is a big deal. You can laugh, but so did those who thought vinyl records would never become obsolete. Change freaks me out, I guess.

Anyway...I am now connected and ready to join the legions of people who swear by their eLibraries. I will still buy printed books - especially those I fall in love with or the ones with pretty covers I can't resist or the rare copy found in the antique book store. Odds are good I will own TWO copies of my favorite books...the eBook and the actual print. I can't help it...I can't turn my back on all those amazing homeless books out there.

What about you? Have an eReader? Love it? Hate it? Do you still buy print books?

And some music for your day :)

Do You Have A Fear of Commitment With Your Writing?

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:49:00 +0000

I am quite possibly the most indecisive person on the planet. No joke. I should come with a warning or something.

Give me a Cheesecake Factory menu and it may take hours for me to decide what to eat. I end up ordering and - for the remainder of the meal - wondering if I should have chosen something else. A big, fat steak sounded good, but what if the Chicken Romano is better??

I'm the same way with my writing.

Right now I'm re-writing Act I. And each day, with each new scene, I end up questioning myself.

Have I chosen the best option to get that part of the story across? Is this the way it should go??

I tell myself that there are a million and one ways to tell a story but only one of those ways is the best. I think that's the reason I fear committing to any one route. It's why writing the beginning has been such a stumbling block for me.

I'm simply scared it won't be perfect.

So how do we know when it's the right choice? Is there a way to know? I always fear that my doubt in my decisions is a sign that something's not right, that I should be 100% certain and confident.

How about you? How do you know when a scene or particular plot path is right? What signals alleviate the fear to commit?

Are You A Cheater?

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Okay...I admit it.

I'm one of those people that likes to flip to the end of a new book, read the last couple pages and THEN begin reading the book.

I don't do it with all books I read, but with the majority I do cheat. Knowing the ending creates more desire in me to know how the characters make it to that point.

I also have to admit that I have skimmed boring pages or whole chapters in books. If the author ends up getting off track and it's all telling or back story, my interest has been known to wane.

BUT...one thing I have never done - that I can recall - is skip through all the stuff between character's dialogue.

The fabulous Jessica Lemmon left a comment on Monday's post (dialogue tags) about how she read somewhere that many readers actually do SKIP the good stuff in between.

That's mortifying to me.

But then again...I read the ending first :) I'm no saint.

What about you? What are your book reading bad habits??

How Many Books Have You Read This Year?

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:14:00 +0000

Yesterday, I read Roni Loren's post A Dangerous Side Effect Of Becoming A Writer, which talked about how we writers tend to slack on our reading when we're Balls to the Wall with our writing.

Well...I've been Balls to the Wall for a while now and yes...my reading has slowed and I hate it. I believe reading is what fuels our writing. And here I am...nearing the end of the year and I've only read 22 books.

These are a couple of my problems:

I can't find anything to read - LIE. I have a bookcase FULL of books I haven't read. Thing is, I read everything, but I'm so in the zone right now I only want GOOD paranormal romance/urban fantasy. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated ;)
I've become highly critical - TRUTH. I've said before, I study the writing when I read now. It's become a habit. Poor character development? Sagging middle? Fall apart plot? I find it. And it makes me want to quit reading. I think it's just part of being a writer. It's what we do. We know what to look for, and if it isn't there, our radar goes off. I've put down more than one book because of this issue.
I'm a Repeat Offender - TRUTH. If I love a book, I've been known to re-read it. Even more than once. I'm like that with movies too. I've seen Lord of the Rings about 50 times. Each one. I've re-read a handful of my faves this year.

I thought I'd list the books I've read in 2011:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Vampire Academy Series Books 3, 4, & 5 by Richelle Mead
Germline by TC McCarthy
Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow
Making Waves by Tawna Fenske
Gone by Michael Grant
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong
Inferno by Dante Alighieri
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
The Fever Series - 5 Books by Karen Marie Moning
The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
Secrets of Story Structure by Martha Alderson

I think that's it (not mentioning the ones I've re-read and the books I've critiqued & beta read). A total of 22 books. By the end of the year I wanted to reach 50. Doesn't look like that's happening unless I start picking up picture books ;) Maybe 30. That's doable.

What about you?? What keeps you from reading? How many books have you read this year? I really want to know...it amazes me how many books some of you people ingest LOL.

In Defense of Dialogue Tags

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:03:00 +0000

This weekend I read a book I thought I would love.

The opening pages hooked me.

There wasn't a single dialogue tag. Not one. The nonverbals were epic.

But then I kept reading.

Eventually...about 30 pages in...it felt like one big run-on sentence and I found myself a little distraught.

I'd imagined genius at work on those pages...and to a degree I guess it was. It 's a lot of work putting setting, action and physical characteristic description between bits of a conversation in dialogue and NOT being redundant and NOT using he said or she said or anything anywhere close to that. (For help on nonverbals, click here).

We all know there are better ways to SHOW our characters in a scene, but for some of us, it's a task.

So...as I studied those opening pages, (cause that's what I do now...I study the writing when I read, LOL), I felt as if I was about to add some great tool to my writing toolbox. A big, fat hammer.

I found no such thing. It was more like a rusty nail.

I realized that, as a reader, I really like dialogue tags. They break up passages. And I know...everyone says they are unnecessary, but I can't help but like them. I think they get a bad rap. Maybe it's because I've read so many books with them that reading one without them simply felt wrong.

I like he laughed and he growled. I like she said, hands fisting at her sides. I even like I asked, warily.

These tags SHOW me something without being too wordy. Sprinkled PURPOSELY, they add to the text by breaking it up and clarifying who's speaking. That was my problem with the no-dialogue-tag book. Sometimes there were three or four paragraphs between the character's dialogue and I simply forgot who was speaking and what had even been said. I ended up backtracking to see who said what. I also often didn't get a good sense of the characters or setting. There was so much intelligent language and so many metaphors that I found myself focusing more on the actual words in between than the dialogue itself or the people behind it.

So...my conclusion? I guess I like my dialogue mixed. I enjoy good nonverbals, but I like everything to have meaning. And of course...I use dialogue tags. I just use them in moderation. Here's an example from my WIP:
_____________________________________________________________________

I'm still not sure if it was bravery or stupidity that made me do what I did next. I wanted to go. Felt I had a right. It was my mother we were looking for. He'd said I was a liability until I knew how to properly use my powers, a death waiting to happen. But I had to try.

"Where do you think you're going?" I shouted. "I'm not staying behind. Not again." Control. I had it, right? He had to do what I said yet my heart thundered against my rib cage anyway. Controlling him was like controlling a wild tiger. Not impossible, but dangerous as hell and requiring lots of practice of which I'd had zero. If only I had a cage and a whip.

Body rigid at my words, Gabriel stopped moving toward the door. His boot heel creaked against the old wood floor as he turned. It was a slow, deliberate movement that reeked of barely tamed violence. Electricity saturated the air of the drafty room, every hair on my body raised in alarm.

Finally, that mass of hulking man faced me once again. "Don't. Even. Think It." His words rumbled from the deep, dark place I was sure I would some day have to visit. After seeing the brutal look on his face, I didn't want today to be that day. I wasn't ready and I knew it.

I just stood there, losing the battle of deadly gazes happening between us. Fear crept up and leaked from my eyes. Great. Just great. It was a single, lowly tear, but it was enough to give me away. I wanted to wipe it with my sleeve but didn't dare acknowledge it.

There wasn't an ounce of discomposure in his own eyes. Not a glint of anything but I-could-eat-you-for-supper lurked in those black irises blazing down on me.

"Fine," I blurted, half out of fear, half out of anger. "But I expect a report in the morning."

The left corner of his lips twitched with the threat of a mocking laugh, but it had no chance of survival on that mouth. The electricity in the room lingered, bouncing off me like a thousand tiny needles.

Then he took a heavy step in my direction.

A hot hand grasped my chin and pulled me forward and up on my tip toes until our faces were a fraction of an inch apart. I could feel him even more now, like he'd crawled inside me. My skin wriggled and twitched from the contact.

"I report to no one." His breath whisped across my lips like heat from a flame. "Don't mistake your control for dominance. It's my job to keep you alive and your gift simply keeps me from killing you myself. That's it. Nothing more. Never, ever forget that." He let go and backed away, his eyes still trained on me like a weapon.

And then he left. Without me. Again.

I'd come here for his help, not to be made prisoner and most certainly not to be useless in the search for my mother. I sank onto the bed, grabbed a pillow and covered my face as I let out a frustrated scream into the down.

I promised myself one thing: I would get off that damn island one way or another.

With or without Gabriel Roman.

______________________________________________________________________

What about you?? How do you feel about dialogue tags? Do they annoy you when reading? Have you ever read a book that used NONE? What's your writing rule for dialogue tags?

Why Bloggers Should Be Stalkable

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:02:00 +0000

Okay...Just a little blogging food for thought today since I'm elbow deep in rewrites:

BE STALKABLE.

If you want people to visit your blog, they have to have an easy route of access. For some it's Facebook. For some it's Twitter. Some want to see you everyday in their e-mail and some check their RSS feeds through Google Reader.

What does that mean?? It's simple. You don't have to do any of the above, but if you want more readers, you should seriously consider giving them access to you.

I visit a couple dozen blogs every week and I'm always amazed at how many I can't follow through Google Friend Connect (that little box of faces you see in my sidebar). That's how I check the blogs I follow. The feed shows up in my blogger dashboard every day.

That being said...I'm also always amazed at how many people follow me via RSS feed. That number is always more than my Friend Connect.

So how do you make yourself stalkable?

Know your RSS feed. Need help? Click here.
Add follow buttons to the top of your blog so they are visible. For instructions on adding the buttons I have, click here. (Don't like those? Google it. There are tons.)
Add Google Friend Connect to your sidebar. Quite handy.
If you don't choose the buttons I have, make sure the ones you select have an e-mail option.
Get on Facebook. Link your blog to Facebook so that every time you post, it goes straight to your feed.
Be a Tweeter. (Great writing community!) Simply Tweet each post. There is also an automatic Twitter feature, but I prefer manually Tweeting posts so I can add different hashtags as I see fit.

Boom. By doing these six things, people can access your posts via RSS, e-mail, Google Friend Connect, Facebook and Twitter. You give them options and yourself visibility.

If you don't like Facebook or Twitter, that's fine...Do what makes you happy. But be sure to give readers the other methods to follow you.

That's it. Over and out ;)

Happy Writing Everyone!! And if you're Nanoing, I send you lots of cheers!
Have a great weekend...
Charissa

Blog Hop!!

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:32:00 +0000

This is my first time EVER to do a Blog Hop and I really have no idea what I'm doing ;) But here goes....

If you don't visit Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog regularly, you should 'cuz he's pretty awesome and he's the man behind Insecure Writer's Support Group!

So this is my insecurity for the day:

I'm worried I will NEVER fix the beginning of my novel. Yes...I said NEVER.

I'm a pretty confident person and it takes a lot to knock me down, but the beginning of this book has not only body slammed me, it's now sitting on my chest like a thousand pound weight.

I love Act II and Act III, but that nasty Act I is laughing at me, telling me this is an impossible feat because I can't beat it. It taunts me every time I sit down to write.

My insecurity is that I CAN'T get it right...that I'm lacking something...some ability...some insight...some vision.

And I know that it's just fear talking but oh my....fear can be a massive opponent.

Which I will slay.

When the time is right.

Happy Writing Everyone...
XOXO,
Charissa

**Wanna join in? Just add your blog to the Linky List below :)

For Those About To Nano...

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Tomorrow it begins.

The mad dash to the end of the month with a 50,000 word manuscript in hand.

Since I have never Nanoed...Nano'd?? Anyway, since I've never done it, I really can't give advice that will be of any benefit to those writers participating out there EXCEPT this...Know the high points of your novel going in....the tent poles that hold the whole thing up. Then fill in the spaces between. For help with the structure of your novel, visit these links:

The Eight Sequences by The Script Lab
Elements of Three Act Structure - Writer's Resource
Screenwriting Tips For Authors - Writer's Resource
And DON"T FORGET TO GIVE YOUR CHARACTER A GOAL...Read here and HERE.

You guys are awesome for taking on this challenge, and though I'm not participating, I think I will adopt a daily word goal (er...rewrite goal) of at least 1000 words a day for the month of November. That should put my WIP really close to the next phase...which is sending it to my beta readers and CP's.

So....BEST OF LUCK TO ALL YOU NANOERS!!!! I hope you write a best seller.

XOXO and Happy Writing!!!

Charissa

And The Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:04:00 +0000

First of all...thanks to everyone who commented to win The Plot Whisperer's New Book!

I didn't do any fancy shmancy method of drawing names this time :) I simply put all the names in a hat. If you tweeted, you got extra entries. So...without further adieu...

The WINNER of the $15 Amazon Gift Card is:

Sherrey!

And a copy of Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson Goes To:

Jen Daiker!

I'll be emailing you, ladies!

In Which I Rant About Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:01:00 +0000

I know I don't normally blog here on Thursdays but I needed to vent and blogging is a great way to let out my steam and tomorrow is dedicated to revealing the winner of The Plot Whisperer Book Giveaway. So...I'm simply throwing this post out there for my own benefit.

This morning's writing session went downhill fast. By 11:00 I had a headache and was so disgusted with the scenes I was working on that I simply shut off the computer and went to take a long, hot bubble bath.

Bubble baths normally drain my mind of cluttered thoughts and allow me to focus.

Yeah. That did not happen today. I think my bubble bath lasted all of 15 minutes. In that 15 minutes I did manage to identify my problem, but the solution? Light years away.

So...I got out, put on my robe, wrapped my hair in a towel and piled up in my bed. A nap sounded good. I'd been up since 4:30. Maybe a nap would fix my problem.

I was wrong again. I woke up after a whopping thirty minute rest.

It was lunchtime. Maybe I just needed to eat. Food is good.

Unfortunately, it's been a rough week. I've had about a gazillion things to do and no time to do it in. One of those things is a trip to the grocery store. I heated up some leftover chicken, grabbed a bag of Doritos, poured myself some Coke Zero (I know...pointless since I'm eating Doritos) and decided to write this rant.

This is my problem: The beginning of my novel is my NEMESIS. Has been since day ONE. And this is why.

I think all of us writers have to know what we like to read before we're ever really happy with what we write. I've heard writers ask..."Is it okay to love my work?" My answer? You better love your work. If you don't, why will anyone else?

And I have scenes that I love. Scenes that I enjoy reading. And then there is this mess of crap at the beginning that I loathe. If I read it in any other novel I would cringe. And that's not okay. I've sort of got this thing about loving my work. I HAVE TO. ESPECIALLY the beginning. That's when we hook the reader, whether that's an agent, publisher or unsuspecting shopper at Barnes & Noble. It doesn't matter...that's the chance we get. If we lose them there, chances are they won't keep reading.

But it's not even that pressure that's getting to me. It's the fact that I simply don't like what I'm writing and I'm the only one that can fix it.

Like I said...we have to know what we like to read before we're happy with what we write.

Example: I love for the inciting incident to act as a great divide between "life before" and "life after." I like for those two epochs to contrast greatly. Why? It shows great change. It sucks me in. I get all gooey and addicted to novels that start like that. It's just a preference.

My favorite novels do this. They show me the comfortable BEFORE. The normal. Then, they let me experience the moment of change. That moment or event, (the inciting incident), creates a great fissure in the character's world and they are alerted to a "new world" and called to adventure. From that point, there is no going back. Things are forever changed. That fissure is too great for them to ever return back to that life. They might get close, but things will ultimately never be the same.

I like that separation from the "life before" to be distinct.

That moment in my own novel is NOT.

That's why I'm so annoyed today. And it's not a simple change. A simple rewrite of the scene won't fix it. In order to make that distinct separation, what my MC knows of the "new world" before the inciting incident must change. I've given her too much knowledge of that "new world" beforehand to make the inciting incident a big enough deal to please me as a reader.

Everytime I read my opening scenes I get bored. The contrast in my character's world isn't great enough to excite me.

And I'm the writer. Only I can fix it. Yet I'm not sure how just yet. Other things hinge on my MC knowing certain details about the "new world" in the beginning which I guess, makes it not-so-new. That's where the problem is.

In order to fix it, other things have to change. Things I love.

So...needless to say, the beginning of this novel is making me a basket case.

But...I WILL WIN. I will figure it out, God help me.

How about you? Are beginnings easy for you? How do you feel about the first Act in a novel? What does it have to do to hook you?

An Interview With The Plot Whisperer

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:01:00 +0000

If you've been reading my blog lately, you know I have a little writer love for Martha Alderson, aka The Plot Whisperer. Martha Alderson has worked with hundreds of writers in sold-out plot workshops, retreats, and plot consultations for more than fifteen years. Her clients include bestselling authors, New York editors, and Hollywood movie directors. She lives in Santa Cruz, CA. Follow her blog, workshops, vlog, or follow her on twitter and facebook.

This woman is AMAZING. As a matter of fact, she's SO amazing that she offered to do an interview with me :) Her amazingness also made me decide to give away a copy of her book today along with a $15 Amazon Gift Card. If you are looking for books to add to your writing resources, this one is a MUST.

I loved this book so much that I've now labeled it as my Writing Bible. I've been wanting one of those and now I have it!

I suppose we all learn differently, but for me, Martha's way of teaching works. Not only does she TELL you the correct structural path for a novel, but she SHOWS you examples. I am a visual learner, so this technique allowed me to compare my own WIP to the examples she used. By using examples of some pretty impressive works, she also shows that her method is not just theory but a tried and true way of writing a good book.

CW: Hi Martha! Thanks so much for doing this and congrats on such a phenomenal book.

MA: Hi Charissa, thank you for this opportunity to meet your friends and followers and to introduce writers to your blog who are following along on the Plot Whisperer blog tour. And thank you for your generosity of offering a free book giveaway AND an Amazon gift card!

CW: Your structure of the Universal Story suddenly made everything click into place in my brain. The three phases you discuss, Comfort & Separation, Resistance & Struggle, and Transformation & Return made clear for me what the primary focus of the beginning, middle and end of any novel should be. Of the three, which do you think writers struggle most with and why?

MA: What a joy to hear that the concepts of the Universal Story in The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master resonate with you. Yay!

The greatest struggle comes in the middle of the story both for the story and for writers, too. The middle involves struggle and obstacles and fear and uncertainty, and… a death is involved. Writers resist the anguish by dawdling too long in the safety of the beginning.

The Universal Story whispers of evolution which involves change and change is never easy. Change involves surrender and acceptance. These are not easy traits to embrace for either the protagonist or for writers. The more you struggle and resist the further away you drift from the true prize when your protagonist and you each reach the climax and accomplish your goals.

CW: I was resistant to plotting for a long time. I even welcomed the label of pantser. Once I began learning structure that changed. My tendencies were to write deeply developed characters yet I am highly analytical and detail oriented. I was a pantser by nature (or laziness), but became a plotter by necessity. After reading your descriptions of left-brained vs. right-brained writers under Challenge 2: Not All Writers Are Created Equal, I realized I have a balanced brain. My friends would disagree ;) However, I think the right side of my brain dominates. What tips can you give writers to learn how to overcome their writing tendency weaknesses so that both sides of their brain work together?

MA: I believe you have hit on one of the best strategies for writers to use to overcome their writing weaknesses and support both sides of the brain to work together in balance. Explore and discover who you are as a writer.

What skills and strengths do you bring to the craft of writing?

Which ones will you benefit from learning in the course of writing your story?

The more conscious you are of your strengths and weaknesses the better able you are to understand what builds your energy to write and what kills your enthusiasm and passion for your story. You can unplug from the feelings of alienation and uncertainty by not taking personally the challenges that confront you. The more you know about your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, the wiser you become at spotting them as opportunities to grow and change.

CW: One of the things I did when I began writing again was writing backstory so that I could better understand my characters, their emotions and fears. I found myself bringing too much of that backstory into the beginning of my novel. I thought the reader needed ALL that info. I quickly learned that was a no-no. How can a writer determine which parts of the backstory to include in their novel?

MA: I recommend writing the first draft all the way from the beginning to the end one time with absolutely no back story other than how that back story influences the protagonist’s reactions in scene in real story time.

CW: This question is from Reader Jessie: Do you have any tips for tying stray characters into the plot line?

MA: Hi Jessie. Thank you for your question. I recommend drawing a plot planner line for the secondary characters above the master plot line. Next, plot out the sequence of the secondary character’s plot lines true to the timeline of the master plot. This way you can “see” the entire story with all its parts to better determine how to tie stray characters into the plot line.

CW: And from Reader Wendy: Why do you think so many writers struggle with determining the protagonist goal?

MA: Usually writers who struggle with determining the protagonist’s goal also struggle in determining their own goals, too.

Many of us drift through life, doing the next thing that has to be done as determined by those around us, by society, our families, jobs, and our relationships. We often have a big picture vision of our lives and where we are headed yet struggle to bring that vision down to its measurable parts.

Practice goal setting by creating concrete and measurable goals for yourself. Write them down. Then break the long-term goals into short-term daily goals. Write those on your calendar and follow day-by-day.

The more you practice on yourself, the better you will become at creating concrete measurable goals for your protagonist. The more you practice on your protagonist, the better you will be at creating goals for yourself.

Happy plotting,

Martha Alderson aka Plot Whisperer

Many thanks to Martha for this fabulous book and for visiting the blog today!! Be sure to comment to enter to win the book and gift card. Also...I'm sure Martha would be happy to answer any questions about her book or plot that you might have.

You can also check her out today over at Sherri Petersen's blog, Write About Now. Tomorrow, Martha will be hosted over at Vivian Lee Mahoney's blog. For a full listing of blog tour stops, including the final stop with Debbie Ridpath Ohi, click here.

Music Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Okay, so I know Music Monday isn't a regular thing around here but I'm writing hot and heavy today and I needed a short post :) I'm attempting to finish the rewrite of my WIP by the end of November so I can get that draft out to all my beta's and critique partners.

So!!! That being said, here's some music for you. You may love it, you may hate it. I'm aware my music taste isn't for everyone :) But...who knows? Most of you know how I feel about music and writing so take a listen. Maybe one of these songs will inspire you or make you think of one of your characters.

Happy Monday & Happy Writing Everyone!

**And don't forget that Martha Alderson will be here Wednesday!! I'm sure she'll be glad to respond to comments so be sure to visit. PLUS...you could win her book and a $15 Amazon Gift Card. FREE STUFF is always good! Especially this book!

Getting To Know The Other You

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:20:00 +0000

I've been reading Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson aka The Plot Whisperer to prepare for next Wednesday's book review and interview with the author.

I won't spoil that post but I will say that if you have not commented to win a copy of this book, you are doing yourself an injustice. Unless you plan on buying it anyway. Because you need it. It's like a writing Bible. Seriously.

One of the things that the book made me ponder was how much I've changed since I started writing. And then that question made me ponder whether or not I changed at all. Maybe I just got to know the other side of myself.

Think about it. Martha points out that most people's tendencies are dominated by either the left or right hemisphere of their brain. I loved that she included this in her book...psychology was my minor in college.

Left brained writers tend to be more analytical with their writing. They focus on details and think in language more than pictures. They like to write action, and writing in a linear fashion comes naturally. These thinkers like structure. They are plotters by nature.

Right brained writers see the big picture but have a hard time breaking a story into its parts. They think in pictures and much of their writing centers around developing characters and emotion. These thinkers despise pre-plotting. They tend to work things out as they go...they are pantsers by nature.

Now...even though one side of our brain may dominate and our nature may be one way or the other, we have to remember that we do indeed have that other side. Some of us are a good mix of those two sides. BUT... if one side dominates, we have to be able to tap into the resource that is the other half of our MIND.

A while back I posted about how I was a pantser by nature and a plotter by necessity. Never has a statement been so true.

When I started writing, I definitely thought in pictures. I wrote thousands of words of backstory on my characters to aid in their development. The idea of plotting made me kinda queasy...and not because I really believed it would limit my creative ability.

I was lazy.

But then I started studying story structure in depth and the truth hit me in the face. Kristen Lamb says it best:

Say I want to make chocolate cake. My end goal is a chocolate cake. So I set out cooking, but I don’t want to use butter, and I don’t like eggs, and definitely no flour and I just can’t bring myself to use chocolate. Instead, I want to use vanilla pudding, and slices of bananas and top it off with vanilla wafer cookies and LOTS of whipped cream.
So you say, “Wait, but you aren’t making chocolate cake.”
And I say, “Well this is how I make chocolate cake.”
And you say, “But, you just made banana pudding. That’s NOT chocolate cake.”
And I get huffy and reply, “Stop judging me. Maybe YOU make chocolate cake differently, but everyone needs to do what works for them.”
You would think I was a lunatic. Yes, I made a dessert….but I didn’t make a chocolate cake.

I wasn't making chocolate cake. My novel did not have the story structure seen in thousands of published novels. Many writing rules can be bent if you know when and when not to bend them. But not this one. Unless you get really lucky or happen to be Cormac McCarthy or Stephen King, stick to the rules. Basic story structure IS important - like it or not.

Can you write a book without it? Sure. But think about books that you read and put down only to leave them to collect an eternal amount of dust. Often times the stories that don't sync with us are the ones with a weak structure.

NOTE: Being a pantser does not necessarily equal weak structured writing. I know pantsers with an internal storytelling mechanism that automatically puts that structure in their writing. I'm envious. I have to work at mine.

SO! For me, the task became to learn structure and actually apply it. I guess you could say I balanced my brain LOL. Most people would disagree.

Here are two more quotes by Bill Phillips from a previous post I wrote. I LOVE THESE QUOTES.

I had to tap into the left side of my brain because that seat of my pants part of my mind was dominating and causing me to create one big mess of words I couldn't make heads or tails of. It's the left side that makes me so analytical. It's that side that allows me to write dialogue with ease (as long as it's in 1st person). It also makes me a perfectionist with my writing, a characteristic of the left I need to tone down because my inner editor annoys the hell out of me.

With my right side running the show, I wrote in sporadic scenes. I still struggle with that. The details were in the background. The big picture blocked my view of all the little parts that make it up. Now I have to work to focus on those little details because they are all the parts of the whole.

I like where this journey is taking me. My novel morphed once I began incorporating a little structure. Plotting may not be for everyone, but I needed it - for my sanity and to help me finish this book.

What about you? What kind of writer do you think you are? Left brain or right brain? Both? What's your take on structure?

Don't forget to comment to enter to win a copy of the book!! You can comment on this post, next week's interview/review post or here. I'm also giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card...You can add to your writing craft book collection :)

Don't Be A Social Networking Bully

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:54:00 +0000

It's pretty simple. Least you'd think it'd be.

Social Networks are NOT made to dis other writers/authors/bloggers/people.

They aren't made for you to announce how right you are and what a fool everyone else is by making examples of said fools.

I don't care how many gazillion followers you have, or how many times you call yourself an 'expert', or the fact that your name is on a BOOK.

*WHOOPEEEEEE*

What do I care about? What makes me follow you? What will make me promote you as an author? What will make me suggest your book to my friends????

Being . A. Decent. Person.

Yesterday I witnessed 3 different social entities (ones I didn't even know, but still) get picked out of thousands and used as examples of "What Not To Do." I won't go into detail about these people or the person who called them out because - huh...look at that - I'm being nice.

And in all honesty? I wanted to smack myself because on first pass I didn't even notice the slam put on these people. I even gushed about the post.

But the more I thought about it, the more it ate at me even though it had nothing to do with me and I didn't even know these people.

(I'll always root for the underdog...just so you know).

It bothered me. Obviously - I am blogging about it - but the reason it made me so annoyed was simply this:

You can say what you gotta say without slamming other people.

There are faces behind all those blogs and Twitter handles. Real LIVE people who are working just as hard as you to build a social platform and network to simply give their hard work a little support.

So just be freaking nice. It's not that hard.

Share your opinion ALL DAY LONG. Shout it from the rooftops. I will admire your spirit.

But the moment you get too high on your horse and start belittling people who don't necessarily follow you and all your advice, you can count me out.

That's one less person willing to go the extra mile for you, and if I'm correct, there will be others whom you alienate with your bullying as well.

So...my rant for the day is over...

Stay humble and JUST BE NICE.

Places To Find That Perfect Critique Partner

noreply@blogger.com (Charissa Weaks) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:57:00 +0000

Visit me on The Writer's Resource today for a great list of online resources where you can meet other writers and hopefully find the perfect CP!!