Ten Ways to Keep Sane While Writing

Today, Karen Walker from Following the Whispers is going to amuse you!

Her book, Following the Whispers, came out as an eBook recently and I downloaded my copy last week. I confess, I’ve never really read a memoir before, but so far hers is really powerful! This is her final tour stop, so please show Karen how much the Ninja Army rocks!

Karen would like to share with you 10 Ways to Keep Sane While Writing…

Alex, thank you so much for hosting me on this, the 10th and last stop on my book blog tour. I appreciate all you do for other writers. Here are 10 ways to keep sane while writing:

1. Even if you feel like it, don’t pull your hair out during revisions. You will need it while waiting for responses to your query letters.
2. Keep a journal of your feelings as you write, re-write, query and wait. Your family and friends will be forever grateful that you have another outlet for your whining and crying.
3. Even if you think you are finished, remember either a critique partner or an agent or an editor will most likely find more revisions, so don’t throw away the valium just yet.
4. Did I say valium? I don’t drink or take drugs, so I stay sane by stuffing my face. Oops, no, I don’t do that anymore either. Sheesh, I’ve run out of addictions to keep me sane.
5. Do take mini breaks throughout the day. Not kidding here, folks. Mini-breaks really do preserve sanity and help creativity and energy flow.
6. Honor your distractions: TV, blogging, computer games, doing laundry, defrosting the refrigerator, whatever will keep you from pulling out your hair because you want to listen to #1 above.
7. No matter what anyone tells you, Spider Solitaire is not an addiction. It will keep you sane. I promise.
8. Listen to your inner voice, but make sure it’s the wise one, not the one that screams at you, “Who do you think you are that you believe you can write?”
9. The way you know which voice to pay attention to is your insides feel calm when one is speaking and they usually churn upside down when the other shouts.
10. All kidding aside, get yourself a good, solid support system--this online community is great for that. Sharing with others is the best way to keep sane.


Visit Karen at Following the Whispers

Any other suggestions for keeping sane? I vote Hot Tamales and lots of them!

When New Ideas Attack – Plus News and a Cool Image!

When New Ideas Attack - not to be confused with When Animals Attack.

First, some cool announcements!

India Drummond’s book, Blood Faerie, just came out – congratulations, India!

Mel is looking for beta readers! Check out her site at Writings, Musings, and Other Such Nonsense for details.

Elizabeth Mueller is hosting a MC Blogfest and Giveaway!

And don’t forget the It’s All Fun & Games Blogfest this coming Monday!

It’s Fantastic Friday Writers again, with my partners Elizabeth, Anastasia, J. D., Deirdre, M. Pax, and Jeffrey.

Today – how to keep up the flow of ideas without abandoning current project.

This is Captain Ninja Alex’s Everything but the Kitchen Sink method:

When those new ideas hit in the middle of a project, dump them in your manuscript!

You heard me! Toss it into the mixture and see if the idea works. Hey, you don’t want those new ideas distracting you from your current manuscript, do you? Put them to work in your project rather than let them take over your imagination and attention. If the idea fits, great! If not, set it aside.

Does it work? Hey, I did it with the sequel to my book. Every time something new struck me, I threw it in the story. I tossed everything but the kitchen sink at Byron. (Thus the name!) And since my critique partners actually liked the results, I’d have to say affirmative!

Anyone care to share a method that’s a little less hap hazardous? I feel this post needs a disclaimer – should not be taken in place of real writing tips.

Now before I dash off to the theater to see the new X-Men movie, let me leave you with a really cool image – “Fifty Baddies.” Can you name them all? (I got forty-six correct.) Visit creator Robert Ball’s Draw the Line for the full sized image and the answers…

Listen to the Voice of an Expert

I may be an author, but I’m still too new in this game to provide certified writing tips. Movie tips YES, writing tips NO. So, I brought in an expert!

Clarissa Draper posts the most sensible, easy to follow, and enlightening writing tips on her blog – Listen to the Voices. (She’s also providing first chapter critiques for those who are interested.) I asked if she would be so kind as to provide some writing tips for my fellow bloggers and writers, and she agreed without forcing me to grovel or beg. (Thanks, Clarissa – it’s not a pretty sight!) Enjoy!

5 Keys to Realistic Dialogue

I used to be horrible at dialogue. Then somebody told me I should write a chapter of dialogue to practice. So I did. Not only that, I wrote a whole book. Dialogue only. And it's one of the best stories I've ever written.

Dialogue alone can make you cry, laugh, think, and throw your book against the wall. Dialogue is moving and well written dialogue is powerful. I doubt you want to write a whole novel in dialogue just to practice. So instead, why don't I just tell you what I've learned.

1. It should always move the story forward.
2. It should make sense to the reader - ever jump into a conversation and have no idea what they're talking about? Yeah, I don't like it either. So, don't do that to your reader.
3. It should end. Who wants to read an hour's worth of conversation?
4. It should tell us more about the character - dialogue is a great place to glean insights as to a character's voice and characteristics.
5. It should be interesting and meaningful - this means you should keep backstory out of your dialogue unless it's vital to the plot and moves the story forward. Also, keep your opinions out of it. Just because you're vegetarian doesn't mean all your characters are and that they want to make a point about it in every conversation.

No one wants to read this:

"Hi, Jane, what are you carrying?"

"Hello, Martha, I went to Johnson's grocery story on Fourth Street, near your house, and bought groceries. You know the place... your brother got shot in that store with a revolver five years ago, during a robbery. Remember?"

"Oh yes I remember, I went into a deep depression and had to be hospitalized for three years. They preformed shock therapy, did you know? I never thought I would make it out alive. I petitioned to the government to stop such treatment for a year and had no response."

"I helped you with that. We worked long hours, late at night to prepare signs and petitions. I hate the Republicans, they are a bunch of crooks. In 1964, the started a war that I felt never needed to be fought."

Thanks, Clarissa! Everyone please visit her site, Listen to the Voices.

And I am visiting Jeffrey Beesler’s World of the Scribe on Thursday and sharing about my writer's doubts. Stop by and snark at my insecurities...

Writing Exposition and Description

I don't claim to possess expertise when it comes to writing. I follow numerous bloggers who excel in that role and can direct you to their sites. However, I do know what I like to read. (And I'm sure that reflects in my writing.)

I'm not a fan of lengthy exposition or description. A basic account is all I require. I have a good imagination and can fill in the details. (Must be all those movies I watch - I've a lot of images upon which to draw!)

Some authors are masters of descriptions, using eloquent words and phrases. It's an art form I admire. However, without action or character interaction, long expositions bore me. I appreciate what the author is trying to convey, but it's dull reading.

What really gets me is when an author describes an item or scene in detail that has no relevance to the story. An entire page devoted to a character that just flits in and out and is never seen again I can do without. I recall one book where the author spent a whole page describing a character's dress - and then she was gone. Like a UFO sighting, except less interesting. (Okay, not interesting at all!)

Heavy description will never be my style. I know there's areas in need of improvement, like world-building, but I don't intend to become the next Dan Simmons with my writing. (Unless someone wants me to write a book about the lovely Kate Beckinsale, and then I will do my best!)

What about my blogger friends? How much exposition do you like in your reading or writing?

Dudespeak

I was inspired by B. Miller's post yesterday regarding romance. Seems he was experiencing some challenges with the romantic aspect of his novel.

Don't worry, Miller, I would feel challenged as well! Don't think I could write a love scene. My 'romance' would sound stilted and awkward. I only know 'dudespeak,' so coming up with soft, feminine words would be difficult.

I don't notice details as much, either. Perhaps I should say some details. I can pick out the notes in a guitar solo and understand computer programs. But what color are the dishes in my cupboard? I'd have to go look! And what did I have for dinner last night? I think it was chicken... But women can remember what they had for dinner three years ago and on what color plate! Trying to place all that detail stuff a female character would see appears a daunting task.

I think every writer experiences difficulty in one or more areas. The trick is playing on our strengths, not our weaknesses. I knew details and romance from a female point of view was not my strength. So, call it cheating, but there's virtually no female characters in my first book. I decided I needed to find my voice and style first, and then expand from that point.

What do you find challenging? Do you have a difficult time seeing things through the eyes of the opposite sex? Do you struggle through this or just play on your strengths?

And if anyone has any tips for Miller, please bop over to his site and help him!

Character Motivation

One thing that's crucial to a good story is the main character's motivation. It's pretty much what drives the story.

And it's one thing to drop a character into a situation. I can think of dozens of books that feature a reluctant hero. But what motivates that character to stay the course?

Perhaps a character is given choices. His ultimate desire and motivation should determine his path. Perhaps he selects the wrong road to travel? Maybe he even gets sidetracked and forgets his original motivation.

What if there is no choice? What if our character has only one path? I often think that's similar to real life. We have a goal, a motivation, but our ideal route of choice isn't always the one provided. Or the journey just isn't how we'd envisioned it.

Motivation has a variety of forms and sources. Interior or exterior. Emotional or logical. Past events or future dreams. A combination of those forces and occurrences can fuel our character's motivations.

Character motivation is probably the one thing I considered the most when writing my book. Events of the past, most notably those outside of their control, motivated my main characters. Throughout the story, I kept referring back to their motivation - was it apparent in every scene? Did their actions and behaviors line up with that drive? For me, it was like a gut check to make sure I was still on track.

How strongly do you follow through on your character's motivations?
Do you like highly motivated characters in your books?

Just Alex pondering on writing...

Writing Tips from Expert Marvin Wilson!

Today I am happy to host my first guest - writer, author, & editor, Marvin Wilson!

Stop Butting In

Having a strong and unique voice is considered a good quality in an author. It is one of those intangibles that keeps readers coming back for more. But novice authors often have a rookie habit of "butting in" to the story to interject their own thoughts and/or information. It can be a jarring disruption to the story line. Here is an example:

John walked past the flowering shrubs, enjoying the smell. Forsythias are what he was smelling; they are indigenous to Southeast Michigan. He spotted Mary standing next to the water fountain, walked up to her and said, “Hi, Mary.”

Mary’s face lit up as she said, “Oh, hi, John, long time.”

~~~~~

See how the second sentence is just stuck in there? It stops the story's forward motion while the author tosses in a fact. It is better to deliver information by letting the characters do the talking - like this:

John walked past the flowering shrubs, enjoying the familiar smell. He spotted Mary standing next to the water fountain, walked up to her, and said, “Hi, Mary.”

Mary’s face lit up as she said, “Oh, hi, John, long time. Mmm, what is that lovely scent in the air?”

"Forsythias. They grow all over this part of the state."

***

Here's another example, one right out of a manuscript I recently edited-

Mark, the Attorney General Prosecutor, took his turn to speak. He assured the judge that the Texas Department of Public Safety, a division of the Texas Rangers, was part of the investigation. He also said his office was coordinating with the Rangers, and that pre-coordination had been made with the adjoining county to prosecute the case. This is what the Texas Local Code provides for if the case is against the District Attorney. He stated for the record that if Byar County failed to respond to the charges, the Attorney General Office was prepared to assume prosecution responsibilities.

~~~~~

The bold red sentence, and that's how it stuck out to me when I first read it, is this author spouting off his knowledge of Texan judicial procedure. Nice that he's doing his research, but no need to stop the story dead. The fix is easy. Read it rewritten like this:

Mark, the Attorney General prosecutor, took his turn to speak. He assured the judge that the Texas Department of Public Safety, a division of the Texas Rangers, was part of the investigation. He also said his office was coordinating with the Rangers, and that pre-coordination had been made with the adjoining county to prosecute the case. He cited the Texas Local Code which provides for such relocation if the case is against the local District Attorney. He stated for the record that if Byar County failed to respond to the charges, the Attorney General Office was prepared to assume prosecution responsibilities.

***

Now the information is seamlessly woven into the story, with the author nicely "butting out." With this minor adjustment, his character is able to deliver the information within the performance of the scene.

# # #

Marvin D. Wilson is the author of three published books, I Romanced the Stone (Memoirs of a Recovering Hippie), Owen Fiddler, and Between the Storm and the Rainbow . The novel, Owen Fiddler, received the prestigious AVATAR award for excellence in spiritual books. Wilson has had articles published in multiple Ezines, and has been interviewed on hundreds of blogs, radio and TV shows, both over the internet and on the airwaves. He is a prolific blogger, posting daily on his internationally popular blog at The Old Silly’s Free Spirit Blog .

Wilson is a family man, married for thirty-four years, with three adult children and six grandchildren. He has been around the block of life several times, through the ups and downs, and has survived in good enough spirits to desire to write about life, to write about living life on purpose. Wilson is a self-described “non-religious, dogma-free, Maverick spiritualist Christian.” He writes books that deliver spiritual and inspirational messages in an engaging, thought provoking, often times humorous, more than often irreverent, sometimes sexy and even ribald way, through the spinning of an entertaining tale. Marvin D Wilson is an editor with All Things That Matter Press and does freelance editing as well.

Contact Marvin:
E-mail: marvwilson2020@gmail.com
Twitter: Paize_Fiddler
Facebook: Marvin Wilson
Blog: The Old Silly’s Free Spirit Blog

Thanks again, Marvin Buddy!