You're The Inspiration

I was having a chat with my niece during Easter dinner about music, particularly songs and artists from the 80s.  This is a favorite subject of mine: having been a teenager during that era, I hold a special fondness for the tunes which used to vibrate the speakers in my car, shake the windows in my home (but only when Mom and Dad weren't home!), and are responsible for at least 60% of my current hearing loss.  Even today, when I hear certain songs and artists, I'm reminded of a simpler time--of people, places, and events that helped shape me into who I am today.  It's for this reason that my Forever Love Series is set in the late 1980s.  And, thanks to a 45 rpm version of "I Can't Hold Back" by Survivor, my beloved Mitch Tarrington became a musician.

Why do authors write about the things that they do?  Where do the ideas come from?  While the initial inspiration for my books was born from an actual dream, I tend to take a lot from the things around me.  Sometimes a song will spark my muse; other times, a TV show or something I observe while I'm out and about in the world.  I find that ideas and inspirations for writing are everywhere, if one will only take the time to find them.  The way to your readers' hearts may very well be found in words from the waitress at your favorite restaurant, a painting at the local museum, or the child playing hopscotch on the school playground.  Maybe doing some people watching at the local mall will inspire a new character, or provide you with some traits you can use to spice up a current one.  Will your hero sweep the girl off her feet and carry her to that mansion you pass on your way to work each day?  Or will she rescue him from a life like the homeless man you read about in the newspaper?  One never knows.

Ideas and inspirations are everywhere, and you need to be ready when one hits you.  Carry a small notebook in your pocket, handbag, or briefcase to jot down things that spark your interest.  Invest in a handheld recorder if that works better for you.  Then take what you've gathered, mix it with your own imagination, and build a world that your readers can get lost in, if only for a few hours a day.  What inspires you? Share with me in the comments.  Happy writing!

*Photo courtesy of Google Images

Try It, You'll Like It!

How many of you remember the cereal commercial from several years ago featuring a little boy named Mikey?  His brothers would adamantly attest to the fact that Mikey wouldn't try the new cereal because "he hates everything."  Much to their surprise, however, Mikey did try the new cereal and he liked it!  Mikey discovered something new, his brothers were amazed that he stepped out of his comfort zone, and the company probably sold another box or two of cereal.  Everyone was happy.

Let's face it--we've all been Mikeys at some point when it comes to our writing. We fear trying something new because, well, what if we can't do it?  What if we don't measure up to other authors or books?  What if no one reads/likes/wants to publish our story?  Let's stop right there and visit a scene from "Waiting for Tomorrow."  Mitch is trying to protect his pregnant wife from harm by insisting she take it easy on the job.  He comes up with a few "What if (this or that) happens?"  Dana's response--"What if a meteor comes crashing through the roof and hits me?  What if I walk outside and get run over by a five-year-old rollerskating down the sidewalk?  What if we have an earthquake, and I fall into a big crack in the earth?"  Her point?  We can either live our lives in fear of the what-ifs--which most likely will never happen--or we can take a chance and possibly discover something new and exciting.

So, what is it that you've been wanting to do?  Have you been yearning to explore writing another genre, delve into the task of self-publishing, organize a writer's conference or maybe speak at one?  Perhaps you're at the beginning--you have a story to tell but are afraid to get started with the writing.  You only have two choices--stay put or move forward.  The former is safe and secure, but leads you nowhere.  The latter can lead you to places you never imagined and to successes beyond your wildest dreams.  What are you waiting for?  "Try it, you'll like it!"  Happy writing!

Feeling Stronger Every Day

You've done it.  You've finished that manuscript, you've gotten published, you've won an award or two for your writing.  You've done signings, interviews, started a blog and a website, and had your picture in the local newspaper.  You've been invited to speak with writer's groups and at local conferences.  You've found success as an author, and because of that fact there's nothing else anyone can tell you about the literary world that you don't already know.  You're an expert.  All you have to do is sit back, write, and reap the benefits.  Right?

I say "wrong!"  It's my personal opinion that the absolute worst thing a writer can do is start thinking that his success means there is nothing else he can learn.  Let me ask you this:  How would you feel if your doctor stopped keeping up on the latest medical techniques and advances simply because he'd earned his degree?  Would you feel like you were getting the best possible care from him?  Of course, you wouldn't!  Why, then, as a writer, would you ever feel like you were providing the best material to your readers if you failed to continue learning ways to improve upon your craft?

There are so many resources available to us as writers that can help us be even better at the art than we are.  Writer's conferences provide an excellent way to network with other authors and learn from those who have forged the path ahead of you.  I may hear the same presentation a dozen times, but I never fail to learn at least one new tidbit that I can use in my writing.  Another great resource are what I call the "self-help" books.  Browse your local book store or online retailer and you will find a book to guide you through any literary subject imaginable.  I have several and use them often!  Join a writer's group, start an interactive blog, engage in social networking.  Do what you like, but whatever you do, don't stop learning.  You'll be surprised at how much more successful you can be.  Do you have other ideas on this subject?  Let me know in the comments.  Happy writing!

*Photo courtesy of Google Images

Just The Facts



It's happened to all of us.  You're engrossed in an awesome story and falling in love with the lead character; for all intents and purposes here, we'll call him Mitch.  (hey, don't judge me--I have to get a plug in for my books when I can!)  You learn early on that Mitch has beautiful, piercing blue eyes, the kind that grab you, hypnotize you, and pull you in for the kill.  You can almost see them yourself, and are feeling it, too.  A few chapters in, the author mesmerizes your senses even more with a scene where our sweet hero is engaged in a loving moment with his wife, and she descibes the way Mike's hazel eyes sparkle when he smiles.

Hey, wait a minute.  Did you say "hazel"?  Weren't they blue a few chapters ago?  And who the heck is Mike??

As the reader, you stop and wonder what in the world happened.  Did poor Mitch have an eye transplant the author neglected to mention, and his donor's eyes were hazel?  Did he decide to get colored contact lenses?   Did he enter the Witness Protection Program and change his name?  Did you read it wrong the first time?  You double-check.  Nope, you were right.  They were blue, and he was Mitch.  The author goofed up.

Inconsistencies in writing are actually more common than we authors would like to think, and they are something that can easily be avoided.  We sometimes get so caught up in telling the story that we neglect to pay attention to the details.  Perhaps you wouldn't do anything so drastic as what I cited in my example, but similar mistakes can definitely happen.  It can be something as simple as the way a character spells his name, what kind of car he drives, or his favorite color.  Series writers like myself have to be even more careful about using the same details in each installment.  How do you avoid inconsistencies?  The best way is to make notes of the details you feel are most important so you have something to refer to if the muse gets jumbled.  Also, should you decide at any point during your writing to change one of the details--a character's name, for example--be sure to comb through all parts of your manuscript to make sure it is changed throughout.  Ask your editor to be on the lookout for inconsistencies as well--don't let them get into print! (I accidentally had this happen--I had the wrong character refer to his wife, Cindy--and he isn't married!)

Paying attention to detail is crucial to avoiding inconsistencies that can cause your writing to appear unprofessional and unpolished.  Do you have other tips you can share?  Let me know in the comments.  Happy writing!

I Get So Emotional

As writers, it's our job to show our readers how our characters are feeling.  Like real people, our characters will most likely experience a myriad of different emotions based on factors such as their circumstances, surroundings, or interactions with others.  Unlike real people, our characters can't express those emotions without our help.  So, how do we do it?

A key point that we need to remember is that human beings express emotion in both verbal and non-verbal ways.  You can often determine one's emotional state simply by observing factors such as speech pattern, facial expression, and body language.  There are often physical and psychological changes that take place as well.  In order to properly convey the feelings of the character, a writer must take all these factors into consideration.  A good place to start is to think about the scene and what emotion the character is experiencing.  How does one express that particular feeling?  For example, if he is angry, his face may turn red, he may narrow his gaze, grit his teeth, or set his jaw.  Breathing may become rapid, he may sweat, or tense his muscles.  The character may yell, speak with an edgy voice, or even say nothing at all.  No matter what, however, more than one factor will take place to express the emotion.  Keep in mind, too, that not everyone expresses emotion in the same way.  One angry person may scream and throw a tantrum; another may sit quietly and sulk.  Be sure that your character's expression is as unique to him as it would be if he were a real human being.  Your readers will quickly lose interest in "cookie-cutter" characters.

When creating an emotional scene, a writer also needs to remember that "less is more."  You absolutely want the reader to "get into" your character and know how he is thinking and feeling, but you don't want to slow down the pace of the story by using twenty pages to do it!  Do your best to avoid long, drawn-out emotional scenes that don't keep the pages turning. Using strong indicators like body language that the reader can interpret and dialogue or interaction with other characters can help with this.  Injecting emotion into narrative is fine, but, again, be careful not to overdo.  If the writing is strong, the reader will "get the message" right away, and you will keep his/her interest in the rest of the story.

Remember that well-rounded characters make for well-rounded stories that will keep your readers engaged and coming back for more.  Happy writing!

For more info on how to show emotion in your characters, check out "The EMOTION Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression" by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

Photo courtesy of Dreamstime

Don't Fence Me In!

Since becoming a writer, I have read and heard many different 'rules' that I should be following in order to be considered a "good writer."  Strong writers never, ever use adverbs, they don't write in more than one POV, they avoid cliches like the plague, and the passive voice has them turning and running in the opposite direction.  (yeah, I know--don't say a word!)  I have no issues with any of these rules--after all, my goal is to become the best writer I can possibly be.  I want people to read my books and not cringe when they come across something that may be considered less than 'perfect' in the eyes of some in the editing community.  I want them to enjoy my stories and come back for more.  I want them to share my books with their friends and relatives.  So, I sit down at my computer and crank out prose perfect enough to win a Pulitzer prize and place me on the NY Times Bestseller list for the rest of my life--so perfect that there is no need to edit because I have followed all the rules to a tee.  Right?  Wrong!

I write.  That's what I do when I sit down at my computer.  I let my muse take control, I let the characters take me on a journey all their own--I write!  I don't worry so much about the rules.  Why?  Because rules are sometimes meant to be broken. What will it hurt if I occasionally say that Dana held Mitch tenderly, allow him to claim that his wife was "madder than a wet hornet" as he talks to his brother, or express my own unique voice and writing style in BOTH first and third person?  It won't hurt anything. And folks, I confess--I do it all the time.  It works for me, and with a book that has been read by some of the industry's most influencial people--librarians and booksellers who found my work good enough to award a prize--I must not be shaking things up too much.

Now, before you get your feathers in an uproar, let me say this: I have spoken with editors who have many, many years in the business and have been told that it's okay to break these rules on occasion.  Sometimes your work calls for the use of passive voice to make the point come across; sometimes you need to throw in an adverb or two (although, yes, I admit, it is better to use strong verbs instead when you can), and the POV thing--well, that's my style.  It comes naturally to me, and to try to change that now--completely--would be like cutting off my right arm. The good news there is, many authors are now 'breaking the rule' and doing the same thing (including Mr. James Patterson). This does NOT mean that I am condoning sloppy writing or that an author shouldn't continuously be learning and growing in order to improve upon the craft.  I'm simply saying that--well, I've already said it.  Sometimes it's okay to break the rules, as long as the result is still a well-written story that your editor, publisher, and readers approve of, and not a total trainwreck.  Don't be afraid to push the envelope a little from time to time.  Now, get out there and write!

Get In On The Action--2012 Writer's Conferences in Ohio

One of the things I find most appealing about being a writer is the ability to network with others who share my passion for the art.  No matter how long you have been writing or how well you do it, I believe that there is always something new you can learn.  I have had the honor of speaking at several writers' conferences over the course of my writing career, and I'm always amazed at the amount of knowledge I take away from them by just socializing and sitting in on the classes of my peers. 

I would highly recommend any--or better yet, all--of these fine conferences coming up in the next few months here in Ohio.  The ladies who coordinate these events are all skilled writers themselves who bring in only the best to share their knowledge with you.  Check them out, and take your writing from good to great!  (just follow the links for more detailed info on the event and how to register)


Skyline Writers' Conference--Saturday, August 18 from 9:00 am-4:30 pm in Euclid, Ohio--Claudia Taller, Coordinator--www.sklinewriters.wordpress.com/conference

Western Reserve Writer's Conference--Saturday, September 29 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm in Kirtland, Ohio--Deanna Adams, Coordinator--www.deannaadams.com/conference

Ohio Writer's Conference at True North Cultural Arts Center--Saturday, October 13 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm in Sheffield Lake, Ohio--Kelly Boyer-Sagert, Coordinator--www.ohiowritersconference.com (I will be speaking on marketing and promoting your work!)

Y-City Writers Conference--Saturday, October 13 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in Zanesville, Ohio--
Summer Clark and Rita Smith, Coordinators--https://sites.google.com/site/ycitywritersforum/y-city-writers-conference/schedule-of-events

Christian Writer's Conference--Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Amherst, Ohio--times TBA--Kelly Boyer-Sagert, Coordinator--email Kelly at kbsagert@aol.com (I will be speaking about marketing and promoting your work!)