Tuesday, July 28, 2009
July 2009 archive
Dan Reeves, former NFL coach, was on ESPN touting his new book and talking about his various teams’ appearances in the Super Bowl. One of his players made the comment to him that it was often more fun getting to the Super Bowl than it was to be there.
Passion drives us in some aspect of our life, to do something we love even without the promise that we’ll make money or be famous for it. Making pies, fixing car engines, finishing every last crossword puzzle clue. What is the passion that drives your character–on that she could do all day, every day, miss meals and never make money from that fills her emotionally? Why does she have this passion, what does it reveal about her, and is there a way to work it into your story as a plot event?
Monday, July 27, 2009
7/27 WIP Tip: Need a Manicure?
Until LeBron James came on the scene, I was ridiculed and teased for being a lifetime nail biter. Once the cameras showed him chewing his nails on the bench, no doubt a manifestation of nervousness, my family finally stopped picking on me. (Bullies!)
Nails–their care, upkeep and usage–can reveal a great deal about our characters. Get a picture of your character’s nails in your mind. What do they look like? Why? How does the state of her nails reveal something about her character?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
7/26 WIP Tip Sunday: Goals
Because behind every writer is an impressive set of goals…
Make a writing plan for the upcoming week. Take into account your schedule and obligations. How many words or pages will you finish?
Share your goals as comments so we can cheer you on. You can do it!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
7/25 WIP Tip Saturday: Published Authors
Published author? Click on the “For Authors” tab above and request 1, 2 or all four author interviews for WIP readers. We’ll send them off and schedule your responses as an upcoming post. Feel free to pass us along to your other published friends. Everyone loves an author interview!
Unpublished author? Click on the “Contact Me” tab above and send me your most pressing writing questions. Craft, business, creativity…hit me with your best shot! I’ll use your questions as upcoming posts.
Friday, July 24, 2009
7/24 WIP Tip: Run Away With Me…
Today is a rainy, crappy day here in Ohio. I have an essay I need to finish by tonight, but couldn’t manage to convince myself to write anywhere in my house. Everything was blah, depressing, unmotivating. Instead, I chose to escape to a local coffee shop to reinvigorate myself and my prose. It was the perfect escape for my mind.
When your character needs to escape, where does she go? Somewhere physical or mental? Or both? Why does she go there? How does it change her mindset? How did this place become her place of escape? What things can she do there that she can’t do in her normal environment? Are there any places in the plot you can get her to come here to reveal something about her character?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
7/23 WIP Tip: The Songs In Her Head…
I was born with music in my blood. I love everything to do with music (80s rule!!) but I can’t write with music (music with lyrics) in the background. Today I came to a coffeeshop to write with my iPod loaded with instrumentals, but I found myself able to work on my essay with Paul Simon in the background. I even found myself singing along to one of his songs I haven’t heard in over two decades.
What music makes your heroine sing? Even if she’s in a place where singing out loud isn’t acceptable, what song on the radio would make her sing? (or hum?). What does that song reveal about her character? Is there a way that song can play into your story’s theme?
**
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
7/22 WIP Tip: Misperceptions
Last week I watched a movie with my brother with a main character in the middle of two groups of people: one group thought he was an FBI agent, the other group thought he was with the internal affairs group. (A third, smaller group, thought he was a criminal).
In every story, there are misperceptions that affect plot and character. Someone in your story has a misperception that affects your story in some way. Who is it and what problems will this cause?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
7/21 WIP Tip: Characters in Nature
If you had to choose one element in nature to mirror or parallel your character, what would it be and why? What about the rest of your characters?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
7/19 WIP Tip Sunday: Goals
Because behind every writer is an impressive set of goals…
Make a writing plan for the upcoming week. Take into account your schedule and obligations. How many words or pages will you finish?
Share your goals as comments so we can cheer you on. You can do it!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
7/18 WIP Tip Saturday: Published Authors
Published author? Click on the “For Authors” tab above and request 1, 2 or all four author interviews for WIP readers. We’ll send them off and schedule your responses as an upcoming post. Feel free to pass us along to your other published friends. Everyone loves an author interview!
Unpublished author? Click on the “Contact Me” tab above and send me your most pressing writing questions. Craft, business, creativity…hit me with your best shot! I’ll use your questions as upcoming posts.
It's pretty simple, really. I'm a writer who loves writing about writing, and sharing all the tricks of the trade with other writers. And when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. I have a hunch you know what I mean :)