Category: 1

Are You Using Details to Your Advantage? 03/01/2012

In my life, I’m a very detail oriented person. However, when I write, sometimes I forget about the details because I’m too excited to write the story. Details are very important—sharing too much information might bore the readers and not sharing enough could leave the readers dissatisfied, wanting to know more.

As with so many things in life I believe in finding balance in the usage of details in my books. I’m learning to meet in the middle and add more than what I did before because I was lacking in my presentation of the story.

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Sophie absently listened to the girls’ conversation and sat down at the table. Her love of architecture and design drew her eyes up to admire the big arched windows close by. She liked the secluded area where the host seated them. She took a quick survey of the surroundings and noticed the ceiling, at least thirty feet high. Massive arched and square windows lined the parallel walls. The chandeliers sparkled beautifully and that light combined with the sunshine made a glorious sight.

Alexander came over and interrupted her thoughts. “This was the hot spot since the eighteenth century. I bet you didn’t know that.”

********

Admiring the great architectural design of the room, Sophie sat down at the table and absently listened to the girls’ conversation. Alexander came over and interrupted her thoughts. “This was the hot spot since the eighteenth century. I bet you didn’t know that.”

********

Which example do you think best utilizes detail? I’m sure we’d all agree the first one does. Without going on forever, the first example gives just enough detail to pull you into the scene; whereas the second example leaves you wanting to know more detail about the “great architectural design of the room.”

How can you utilize details to your advantage? You can be stingy with your details. What? Wait a minute, you say. I know I just got done sharing that you shouldn’t skimp on details. To clarify, you need to value each and every detail you include as if it were a gold coin. You don’t want to include details just to include them. Really, every word we write should have a good reason behind it for why it’s included in our novel.

So, if you want to tell the reader that someone is wealthy, should you write?

Jasper Jenkins was a very wealthy man.

Or would you go with option two?

********

Jasper Jenkins drove his BMW (or whatever other luxury car you’d like to include) up to the iron gatehouse and punched in the security code. The gate opened and he drove down the long, tree-lined private driveway. He came to a stop near the Italian fountain and exited the car just as Nigel, his butler, came rushing down the front steps to assist with carrying the luggage inside the sprawling mansion.

********

Remember that you are creating the movie or word picture in the reader’s mind. Of course, the reader will create his or her own picture while reading—but the point of being an author is to give the reader all the details he or she needs to see the picture you want him to see…in order to correctly portray every aspect of your story in the best possible way.

Where do you stand on details? When you read, do you like to know as much information as possible or do you think less is more? For the authors, do you load on the details in your books or keep it simple?

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Are your characters made of flesh and blood? 01/17/2012

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How do you create unique three-dimensional characters that will stay with your readers long after they finish reading your book? You need to make you character just like a real person not some fictional flat character that no one will remember. This technique begins with people watching. You need to figure out why people act the way they do. What do people want out of life? How do people deal with struggles? What makes humans real and not robotic?

Of course, as you write your story, the plot line will move along but to make the characters extraordinary, you need to let your characters tell the story—and be memorable. Readers need to get inside the characters’ heads and feel what they are feeling and know what they are thinking. If you’re only telling a storyline, you’re not writing an unforgettable book.

You first need the basics: male or female, age (at least generally speaking like mid-twenties, middle-aged etc.), what’s the character’s job and basic physical appearance as well as personality. Once you get the basics then the fun part begins. Now you get to flesh out your characters. Make sure you give your character a problem; whether it is an emotional, physical or spiritual one.

What’s in a name…Naming your characters is very important as well. One of the minor characters in my book, Mr. Shipley’s Governess is the butler and I thought about naming him James; however, that’s stereotypical of a butler. I ended up calling him Nigel—British sounding but less like a butler. The heroine, Sophie, her name did not have any meaning to me. The hero, however, I called Sebastian Shipley. I was going for a name fit for a dashing, yet modern gentleman. It’s your decision on whether or not you utilize stereotypes for characters, but that won’t be very interesting to your readers and it’s especially not a good idea for your main characters. You can use some stereotypes, but the point of writing memorable characters is for you to step outside of the box and create interesting, believable, three-dimensional people.

What is your character’s personality like? Is he a strong type A person? Is she more laidback and impulsive? Don’t just say Sophie is laidback; show that she is. Show her actions that she is more relaxed and not easily bothered by change. Set her up in scenes where you can show her impetuous side and that she might drag the more reserved, Sebastian, out on an impromptu date. What are the mannerisms and habits your character will exhibit? You need to show these to your readers.

People are not perfect. If you thought that then maybe you’re living on another planet. So why would you make your characters perfect? That makes them unbelievable and that will defeat your ultimate purpose of creating the unforgettable novel. So what problems does your character have? Maybe he has anger issues or she has problems trusting men. That will affect their relationships. You need to get this out into your storyline and create scenes where such issues can be fleshed out, not just told to the readers.

Writing in deep POV is extremely helpful in achieving success in your writing. Jump into the mind of your character and bring your reader with you. As you write, it’s very effective to keep to one character’s POV per scene. If you head hop to another character, just make sure that it doesn’t jar the readers out of the scene into a tailspin of confusion. You want every aspect of your story to flow together seamlessly so that your readers are fully engaged and not confused, wanting to put the book down and not finish reading.

Do you know what motivates your characters? If you don’t know, you’ll never be able to get that across to your readers in a believable fashion. Is your character motivated by greed or love or bitterness? There are so many different aspects of character motivation that you can utilize. If he or she is motivated by greed, what made this character live like that? Share that catalyst and it will be another great factor to draw the readers in to the story.

One of the best ways to know if your characters are believable is to ask yourself: do you remember your characters? Do you want to read more stories about them? The likelihood that you care about your characters will mean that others will too. Always be open to learn new techniques for character development and don’t shy away from editors. Meticulous editing will assist you, if you’re willing to take constructive criticism, in writing the best novel. For Mr. Shipley’s Governess, I had two awesome editors through a two year period of writing / editing, who helped me see critical aspects of proper writing techniques that I was missing. Sure, I could have ignored their assistance, but I wanted my writing to be my best.

How do you flesh out believable three-dimensional characters? Are there any memorable characters from books you’ve read that have stayed with you long after reading the story?

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Don’t Downplay Editing 12/29/2011

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Some people have the gift of editing and others have the gift of writing. Some people have both gifts. I find myself somewhere in the middle. I love to write. I feel that I am a better writer, than editor; however, I know that having my work edited by a professional will make me a better writer, if I learn from my mistakes.

Since I started writing in High School, I have grown by leaps and bounds as a writer, but that’s only because I’ve been open to instruction through editing. I went to college and have an English degree. I did well in school and went on to the business of PR. When I finally got around to taking my writing seriously and finished my first book, I searched for a publisher. At the time, I did not have the funds to have my book professionally edited. Of course, I did my own edits and had some other friends (who are pretty good at editing, but not professional), review it as well. The publisher I worked with did not have a good editing system; they really had no system in place at all. I know my book was not polished, but I use that as a stepping stone.

My current book has been through many edits of my own. I submitted it to one publishing company that gave me a contract and they had an awesome editor that opened my eyes to major issues I had. I learned a great deal from that editor. That publishing company went out of business before my book was published. I’m with a great company now and I just finished reviewing the current edits that my publisher did on my book. It was another eye-opening experience. I learned so much more.

After these two major overhauls on my book, I feel that Mr. Shipley’s Governess is finally ready to take on the world!

During the first major overhaul of my manuscript, I learned that I had an issue with POV. I kept head hopping between characters. Once that was shown to me, I worked hard and made the necessary changes and the book was one more layer towards completion. During that review, I also learned that I was going about my plot line wrong. My book is an inspirational romance and the manuscript was anything but romantic. I was telling the story, but the characters were on two different continents for a good portion of the story. Once I realized that they needed to be in more scenes together, the reader is able to feel their story more; another layer completed. My third problem was that I used passive voice too much instead of active voice. I fixed that problem and ended up with another one.

During the second major overhaul that I just completed, I realized that as I was revising the manuscript to use more active voice, I removed the passive voice, but that meant that I was now starting too many sentences with “he, he, he and she, she, she.” I was so focused on the action verbs that I didn’t realize I was losing the flow of the paragraphs. So, the problem is now solved and I thank my editors at the publishing company for showing me that writing flaw. The other major flaw that I had in my writing was that I used too many “said’s” in the dialogue. For example, Mr. Shipley said, “Wait, I’ll be right there.” I learned that it’s better to rephrase that. Mr. Shipley stood up from his desk. “Wait, I’ll be right there.” The latter definitely makes the dialogue sequences have more action and follows the mantra of show, don’t tell. Once I rephrased my dialogue sequences, it was amazing to me what a difference it made.

I am currently going through the first rounds of edits on my newest book, Bella Lucia. I did my edits and am now reviewing the edits from the editor at my publisher. I am continuing to learn more each day that I focus on my writing and learning from editing.

If you are a beginning writer, it is so important for you to have a professional editor review your work. If you can’t afford to hire an editor, do your own homework and make sure you have good POV and don’t head hop. You need to use active, rather than passive voice. Steer clear of repeating words and starting sentences with he/she all the time. Make your dialogue into great action sequences. Keep your plot lines strong with characters that change and grow with the story. Don’t let the plot become convoluted.

Always be open to instruction from editors. If they see a problem, address it. Once you’ve taken an open-minded look at their suggestions, if you don’t agree, fine, then walk away from their suggestions. However, if you want to be successful, be open to constructive criticism. That’s the only way to improve your writing and grow in your craft. Your readers will thank you!

All this week, for anyone who comments on my blog posts, you’ll be entered to win an eBook copy of my book, Mr. Shipley’s Governess…my way of celebrating Christmas with you and thanking you for staying in contact with my blog. I’m truly grateful for each and every reader who stays in touch through my blog and other social media outlets.

Authors write for readers—at least, I know for sure that this author does. I enjoy hearing from you and hope you will continue to connect with me online in this New Year. I’m looking forward to sharing with you…many new authors and other’s you’ve already met…as they guest on The Mustard Seed. We’ll be hosting many contests and book giveaways, so stay tuned for more details. May 2012 be filled with overflowing blessings in your lives! ick here to edit.Add Comment

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Your words have an impact 10/19/2011

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The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
(Proverbs 18:21)

The way we speak to each other and the tone of our voices is powerful ~ life and death is in the tongue. How does this apply to the words we, as authors, write?

I believe the same principle applies ~ there is power in our words.

As authors, we take great pains to make certain that the words we write and the stories that take shape are our best work. We edit those words and reread them and then edit them again. We want our finished product to exemplify the story that our imagination birthed. Does this process apply to everything we write?

It should apply, at least to a lesser degree. Even when we write emails or texts or post comments on facebook and twitter and when we write our blogs, we need to remember the principle that life and death is in our words. When you send an email, you can’t take it back. Are you sure you were happy with the email you sent? It may not seem like a big deal, but everything we write will come around ~ do you want it to haunt you or bless you?

When you write a blog, try to keep it professional but find the balance with a sense of your personality ~ make your blog inviting to those who follow you. Remember that you are not only writing to your readers and fellow authors, but also to those publishers and book reviewers who may happen to find your blog. If you are writing with a negative attitude and bashing other authors or giving a tirade about your noisy neighbors, that won’t seem very professional to them and could turn them off. Your words could lead to a lost awesome book deal or lost great book review.

When you do an author interview, if you’re speaking on the radio, be professional, but share your own personality and give the sense that you are a friendly person. When you are answering interview questions to be posted online on a blog or magazine, remember the same principle ~ there is power in our words. Just remember that at any point in time, someone out there in the world is or could be soon looking at your interview. Don’t be negative, but keep that positive tone.

If you are at a book signing, keep to the same principle. You don’t want to let a bad day negatively affect how you speak to your fans. Always keep the filter on your mouth and think before you speak. This is a lesson we all need to continually learn day by day. Of course, I’m not telling you to act fake and not who you really are. It’s just that as an author, you do have a higher responsibility to be careful with your words, if you’re looking to be a blessing to others and not a negative force in this world.

There are so many instances where we, as authors, will need to write words and speak words. When you are writing a letter or email to a prospective publisher or agent, keep the tone professional, yet friendly. Always remain cognizant of the power of life and death in your words.

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Using Details to your Advantage 04/28/2011

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How can you utilize details to your advantage? You can be stingy with your details. What? Wait a minute, you say. I know I just got done sharing that you shouldn’t skimp on details. To clarify, you need to value each and every detail you include as if it were a gold coin. You don’t want to include details just to include them. Really, every word we write should have a good reason behind it for why it’s included in our novel.

So, if you want to tell the reader that someone is wealthy, should you write?

Jasper Jenkins was a very wealthy man.

Or would you go with option two?

Jasper Jenkins drove his BMW (or whatever other luxury car you’d like to include) up to the iron gatehouse and punched in the security code. The gate opened and he drove down the long, tree-lined private driveway. He came to a stop near the Italian fountain and exited the car just as Nigel, his butler, came rushing down the front steps to assist with carrying the luggage inside the sprawling mansion.

Remember that you are creating the movie or word picture in the reader’s mind. Of course, the reader will create his or her own picture while reading—but the point of being an author is to give the reader all the details he or she needs to see the picture you want him to see…in order to correctly portray every aspect of your story in the best possible way.

Where do you stand on details? When you read, do you like to know as much information as possible or do you think less is more? For the authors, do you load on the details in your books or keep it simple?

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Can you hear your characters speaking? 04/14/2011

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When I first started writing, I was terrible at keeping true to one character’s point of view at a time. I was a head hopper. Yes, I can admit that—now I feel so much better.

All kidding aside, my lack of discipline when it came to POV totally ruined my efforts in creating a smooth flowing story. After working with some wonderful editors, I realized my problem. It was not easy to change my bad habits, but once I actually saw what I was doing wrong, it definitely made a difference.

There are so many facets of writing well with regard to POV and as long as you start at the beginning, you’ll keep getting better at it. Don’t allow discouragement to take over. Rome wasn’t built in a day; although as my Italian husband always likes to joke, it sure fell in a day. Back to POV…it takes time to develop good writing habits. I can say this because I’ve been down the road to recovery when it comes to changing bad habits.

I’m currently working on the edits for my fourth book. I still have to remind myself that I need to get into character, just like an actor when acting out a scene. Get into your character’s head and see what she or he is seeing. Hear what she’s hearing. Smell what he smells. Touch what she touches. Feel what he feels. That is the only way that you’re going to get it right.

You need to jump into the scene with your character and almost imagine that you are that character—at least for the moment, until you finish that scene and get into the head of another character. Don’t just tell us what this character is feeling, but show the readers. Telling won’t draw the readers fully into the story. Showing will fully engage them and they’ll love your story.

What is the character thinking? What’s on his or her mind? The readers want to know that. Here’s an excerpt I’m working on for one of my current WIP’s.

She cried out in pain and lurched forward as her foot got caught in the meandering roots of an old oak tree. Landing on the ground, her hand smashed down on a rock and pain seared up her arm. Great, twisted ankle and sprained wrist in the same day—pulling through the pain, she stood up and leaned on the tree for support. She thought about Peter again. The love of her life, he was also the man who broke her heart when he chose the agency over her. Don’t think about him, just keep moving.

Almost there, only about a few hundred feet to go, she looked at her watch. She still had five minutes to get inside. Well, I guess that wasn’t so bad for an old lady. When she reached the clearing between the woods and the lawn, she stopped for a moment. No one was outside. The lawn looked like it had just been mowed. As quickly as possible, she limped through the throbbing in her ankle and finally approached the cellar door. Opening it, she reached for the railing and then turned back to pull the door shut with her good hand. It wouldn’t budge and without thinking, she put too much pressure on her sprained wrist that gripped the railing as she tried to pull the door. She grunted as pain shot up her arm and nearly caused her to stumble down the stairs.

Take it easy, she reminded herself as she looked down the crumbling cement steps of the old root cellar. This section of the house remained unused ever since Reysen bought the house, at least that’s what George told her. Looking around at the cobwebs hanging from every crack and crevice and mice droppings on the stairs and the musty stench, she realized he was right. She was not going to enjoy her journey through this dank and dirty place.

Hopefully there was electricity down here. Just make it to the kitchen. She cursed under her breath, berating herself for not finding a light switch before closing the door. Dirt and grime were not her friends so reaching out blindly groping to find a light switch along the damp walls did not make her day. Nothing on the walls met her search. Inching over on the cement steps to try the other side, a thin string swung near her nose. Ah, a good old string to pull. Finally, a lone light bulb on the low ceiling flickered to life. Please don’t burn out on me.

Not sure where to exit, she limped down the steps and tried to kick it up a notch. She wasted a few minutes just getting into this place. Scanning the room, she saw filthy rotten wood shelves lining the walls and some mason jars for canning on a nearby table. Those jars brought to mind memories of canning tomatoes and fruits with her grandmother and mother, but she hastily swept those remembrances away. Now was not the time for the past, but the present.

Finally, she reached the doorway to the kitchen. For a moment her heart dropped as she thought the door could be locked. Then what? Fighting through the pain and sweat and tension, she tried the door. It was locked. She tried to pick the lock with the pin end of the broach she wore, but as she worked and rattled it, the unexpected happened. Relief washed over her as the door opened and she saw the young assistant cook, Erica staring at her with wide eyes.

“Mrs. Hollister! Are you okay?”

She pushed her way passed the stunned woman. “Erica, I can’t explain right now, but don’t tell anyone that you saw me. Not even George, okay?”

Her blonde curly head bobbed up and down and she nervously responded. “Okay.”

Esther looked at her watch, only eight minutes left. Great, I hope this guy can keep Victor talking. Limping outside the kitchen, she carefully made the journey to her room.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any thoughts on POV, please do share. I'd love to know what you're thinking, and feeling, and smelling... ;-)

Keep Friday, April 29th on your calendar to stop by my blog again. I'll be hosting a blog party for romance authors and there will be book giveaways.

Stop back again for more details.

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Are your characters made of flesh and blood? 04/07/2011

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Of course, as you write your story, the plot line will move along but to make the characters extraordinary, you need to let your characters tell the story—and be memorable. Readers need to get inside the characters’ heads and feel what they are feeling and know what they are thinking. If you’re only telling a storyline, you’re not writing an unforgettable book.

You first need the basics: male or female, age (at least generally speaking like mid-twenties, middle-aged etc.), what’s the character’s job and basic physical appearance as well as personality. Once you get the basics then the fun part begins. Now you get to flesh out your characters. Make sure you give your character a problem; whether it is an emotional, physical or spiritual one.

What’s in a name…Naming your characters is very important as well. One of the minor characters in my book, Mr. Shipley’s Governess is the butler and I thought about naming him James; however, that’s stereotypical of a butler. I ended up calling him Nigel—British sounding but less like a butler. The heroine, Sophie, her name did not have any meaning to me. The hero, however, I called Sebastian Shipley. I was going for a name fit for a dashing, yet modern gentleman. It’s your decision on whether or not you utilize stereotypes for characters, but that won’t be very interesting to your readers and it’s especially not a good idea for your main characters. You can use some stereotypes, but the point of writing memorable characters is for you to step outside of the box and create interesting, believable, three-dimensional people.

What is your character’s personality like? Is he a strong type A person? Is she more laidback and impulsive? Don’t just say Sophie is laidback; show that she is. Show her actions that she is more relaxed and not easily bothered by change. Set her up in scenes where you can show her impetuous side and that she might drag the more reserved, Sebastian, out on an impromptu date. What are the mannerisms and habits your character will exhibit? You need to show these to your readers.

People are not perfect. If you thought that then maybe you’re living on another planet. So why would you make your characters perfect? That makes them unbelievable and that will defeat your ultimate purpose of creating the unforgettable novel. So what problems does your character have? Maybe he has anger issues or she has problems trusting men. That will affect their relationships. You need to get this out into your storyline and create scenes where such issues can be fleshed out, not just told to the readers.

Writing in deep POV is extremely helpful in achieving success in your writing. Jump into the mind of your character and bring your reader with you. As you write, it’s very effective to keep to one character’s POV per scene. If you head hop to another character, just make sure that it doesn’t jar the readers out of the scene into a tailspin of confusion. You want every aspect of your story to flow together seamlessly so that your readers are fully engaged and not confused, wanting to put the book down and not finish reading.

Do you know what motivates your characters? If you don’t know, you’ll never be able to get that across to your readers in a believable fashion. Is your character motivated by greed or love or bitterness? There are so many different aspects of character motivation that you can utilize. If he or she is motivated by greed, what made this character live like that? Share that catalyst and it will be another great factor to draw the readers in to the story.

One of the best ways to know if your characters are believable is to ask yourself: do you remember your characters? Do you want to read more stories about them? The likelihood that you care about your characters will mean that others will too. Always be open to learn new techniques for character development and don’t shy away from editors. Meticulous editing will assist you, if you’re willing to take constructive criticism, in writing the best novel. For Mr. Shipley’s Governess, I had two awesome editors through a two year period of writing / editing, who helped me see critical aspects of proper writing techniques that I was missing. Sure, I could have ignored their assistance, but I wanted my writing to be my best.

How do you flesh out believable three-dimensional characters? Are there any memorable characters from books you’ve read that have stayed with you long after reading the story?

I’d love to hear from you. All commenters today will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of my eBook, Mr. Shipley’s Governess. Thank you so much for stopping by.

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Bringing believable conflict to your fiction 03/29/2011

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How is the conflict meter in your writing? Do you have too much conflict or not enough? How do you find the balance of just the right amount to create believable tension in your story? I was not always the best writer when it came to inserting conflict into my manuscripts. My initial stories often fell flat because although I had a good story line, I did not have the right mixture of plot plus conflict.

The good thing about bringing conflict to your story is that there is no specific right or wrong way to actually get it into your story, you just need to figure out how much is the perfect amount for your story.

There are hundreds of thousands of books published every year by a variety of authors and the thing that is so unique about the situation is that every author is distinctive. Don’t copy someone else or try to model your writing after another author. Of course you want to model your work after correct grammar and good writing skills, but to bring a believable and enjoyable story to the reader; you need to find your own inner voice.

Writing a story without conflict is pointless. The reader wants to be pulled into the story to fully embrace the protagonist’s conflict and feel his/her pain as the conflict unfolds and the character pulls through it to the end—as a new person, changed and renewed in some way.

When we think of conflict what comes to mind? Usually we think about a fight or a war; or a sharp disagreement or emotional disturbance. We need to bring this conflict into our story but make sure the right type of conflict fits the genre of story we are writing about.

For example, if you are writing a romance, you’re not going to have a conflict that involves fighting and war. Your conflict will be emotional and between the two main characters. There will be a push and pull of this conflict throughout this story and it needs to be resolved at the end, not before.

If your genre is mystery, the conflict is the mysterious aspect of the story. There was a crime or murder and it needs to be solved by the end of the story. There different types of mystery novels like cozies, detective, police procedural, thriller, amateur detective etc. You need to figure out which specific genre you want to focus on and then go to town with creating and solving that conflict.

Of course, an emotional conflict can still exist in mystery novels but it is not necessarily the main conflict as it would be in a romance or a drama.

As a writer, do you find it difficult to create tension in your novels with the perfect conflict? How do you come up with the conflicts you weave into your stories? As a reader, what is one of the best books you’ve read that had a very well-written conflict and really drew you into the story?

For anyone who comments today and tomorrow and Friday on my blog posts, you will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of my eBook, Mr. Shipley’s Governess. Thank you for stopping by!

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Are you giving your readers what they want? 03/24/2011

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What do readers want anyway? They want a spell-binding story that really draws them in and they devour each page—at the end they are left wanting to read more about your characters. Sounds like a tall order but it is possible. Think of some awesome books you’ve read that have kept your attention and you didn’t want the story to end.

Let’s break down what are some key ingredients to a spell-binding novel. First of all you need compelling, believable characters. Your readers need to relate to these characters and if they don’t get to know them, they can’t relate. How do readers get to know your characters well enough to relate to them? You need to write well rounded characters. Dive deep into their point of view as you write their story. Never head hop in scenes and make sure that you allow your readers to fully embrace who these characters are.

For example, stay away from passive voice and utilize active voice. What sounds better to you?

She was running away from him.

Or

Her heart pounded rapidly and the hair on the nape of her neck stood up as she ran from the intruder.

When your characters are going through an emotional struggle, how do you portray that? You’ve heard the saying, show don’t tell, well it is extremely important to let your readers in on what is going on in your character’s mind. When writing a scene, you must only write from his or her perspective. For example, what does your character see, hear, taste, smell or feel. In one scene, you cannot jump from two different characters’ points of view. It confuses readers and does not make for a complete picture of who your character really is.

What sounds better to you?

Someone approached his desk but he focused on the file in his hands. When he glanced up, he saw her standing in front of him.

Or

Marc Abrams heard someone wearing heels approach his desk, but he ignored the intrusion and focused on the file in his hands—until he smelled the familiar scent of jasmine and roses. Not wanting to get his hopes up, he glanced over and there she stood. She looked like a tall drink of water in the desert, with her slender physique and shiny hair and piercing eyes.

The first section tells what happens but doesn’t let the reader experience what Marc experienced. When you read the second section, you are right there with Marc as he heard someone approach and then smelled her perfume. You feel his excitement, hoping it’s her. Then you get to see how much this person affects him.

Telling a good story is also about writing compelling, believable dialogue. You need to write how the character would actually speak. Not everyone speaks in correct English. Make your dialogue become a work of art.

(This is an excerpt from my current WIP, Bella Lucia.)

She smiled. “You know, you always make me feel better.”

            He raised his eyebrows. “Really, because that’s not the impression I’ve gotten from our last few encounters. I thought you couldn’t stand me.”

            “You’ve grown on me.”

            That brought uproarious laughter from him and his nervousness eased up a little. “Oh, like a fungus, easy to get and hard to get rid of—those words hurt, you know.”

            The way she scrunched up her nose, endeared her further to him. “You remembered that, huh?”

            “It’s not every day that a woman calls me a fungus!”

            “You’re not like a fungus, just a little annoying at first.”

            They settled down on the rock wall in front of the police station. “Ok, I can deal with that. I know my partner thinks I’m annoying too, but he has his own issues.”

            “Don’t we all?” The distracted look came over her face again and he took serious note of it. Before he could ask what was on her mind, she shared her concerns. “I think my boss is keeping something from me.”

Remember to also keep your facts straight. Do your research. Readers don’t like to read a book that is full of mistakes. Don’t repeat the same word a lot in your paragraphs. Just try to remember all of these rules to make your story come alive and have fun. Write and write and write and then don’t put editing on the backburner. Editing is essential to putting your best work out there.

What is one of the best books you’ve read lately? Please feel free to comment and you’ll be entered in a contest to win a copy of my eBook, Mr. Shipley’s Governess. The winner will be announced on my blog this Friday, 3/25/11.

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Do You Head Hop? 02/24/2011

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“The mark of a good writer is one who can hold two opposing opinions in his head at the same time.” ~ Source Unknown

I found this quote in a collection of quotes from Rosemary Friedman, entitled, A Writer’s Commonplace Book. I like this quote because it reminds me that a good writer can master the art of proper usage of Point of View and does not head hop from one character to another.

I used to have a real problem with writing proper point of view and I head hopped between characters; this must have driven my readers crazy. Now that I have a good sense about this and know how to write in the right way as it pertains to POV, I notice how the story flows more smoothly when you don’t head hop. This makes for easier reading and your audience of readers will appreciate your work more thoroughly.

When writing a scene, keep to one character’s point of view and you will see great results in a richer, more enjoyable novel. Allow the reader to get into one character’s head at a time. You can “hold two opposing opinions” in your head “at the same time;” however, as the writer, you must be able to let only one of those opinions reign supreme in a single scene.

How do you know if you’re head hopping? If your character can get into the other character’s head in the same scene, you’re not achieving your goal of sticking to one point of view per scene. Only write in that one scene what your character can see and feel and hear. If you start also writing what the other character can see and feel and hear, then you’re head hopping. This is confusing. It may seem like you are being unfair to the other character, but you’re only really being unfair to your own writing and to the reader.

If you stay within the boundaries of one point of view per scene, you will get more creative and you’ll find ways to get your point across with only staying in one character’s mind at a time. This will enable you to more fully develop that character. In another scene, you can stick with your other character’s point of view. This way he or she will get more fully developed as a character.

Writing without head hopping really brings your writing to a whole new level. I’ve learned that the hard way and feel that I am always learning as a writer and hope that every novel I write only gets better.

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