Write Help…When Introducing Characters

Something I recently learned was that introducing characters can be intimidating, especially for writers that are just starting out.

It can be hard to decide when is the proper moment to bring a new person into your tale, I’ve noticed a lot of new writers tend to rush it. They introduce everyone at once, sometimes even at the very start. 

The problem with this is it doesn’t give us time to step into the world of the novel. Instead it reads like a bad textbook or worst a bad list. It can end up being an immediate turn off for a reader.

The core of the issue is often that a writer will get so excited about the climax of the tale they will rush everything else, but the first pages of the novel are what tell a reader if they are going to continue reading or not. If they are not drawn into the story in the beginning then they will not care what happens in the middle of the story because they will have already moved on.

In the excitement of starting something new, we all can try to rush things because we want to get to the finished product. But when we do this we miss out on learning about our style, our own creativity and the project we are doing. 

The same can be applied when writing a novel if we rush things we will miss out on the important descriptive details, world-building and character building. If we rush things we can end up losing sight of why we started writing in the first place.

Has this ever happened to you?

If so maybe you need to step back from your project and ask yourself question:

Why do you write (or create)?

If it’s for fame and fortune such things often come to those who have put forth effort and time.

& if it’s for creating something that you wish for others to enjoy, then get to know your craft. When writing, spend time really getting to know the setting your story is in. Then imagine your characters in the normal day-to-day lives, think about what their habits are and their hopes & dreams.

In the end I think we all want to write (or create) something that we wish was already out there for ourselves…something we’ve yearned for.

If this is true of you, isn’t it worth the time to truly get to know your craft well?

Revert Back to the Basics of Childhood

(Photo credit to: Steve Wilson, on Flickr)

Do you remember when you were a kid and school seemed to drag on?

Do you remember allowing your mind to drift so soon you were flying high in the clouds?

Do you remember being able to close your eyes and re-watch your favorite movie beneath your eyelids?

Do you remember how your dreams once were?

No? Perhaps it was only me then.

My daydreams were my greatest friends as a child. They were what entertained me and made my heart giggle with joy.

They were also the very start of my storytelling.

I would weave tales in my mind and reenact them with myself as the only actor but I could see my story’s world around me, I could feel it and I could hear it. I immersed myself in the fantasy.

As writers we can use that same technique a child does freely, we can close our eyes and take a trip down the cobbled, packed dirt or grassy path that weaves its way through our tale’s world. By doing so we can find better ways of describing things because we are thinking about how it would seem to someone who was actually there.

In turn when our readers read our tale they will experience the tale not just read it; which isn’t that what we all want as readers?

Do you daydream your way through a story too? Have you discovered new ways to use this age-old method in storytelling? Perhaps next time you babysit or spend time with your own child see how they tell a story; and maybe you will be able to learn a thing or two from them.

For more daily prompts, check out The Daily Post on wordpress.

When Fiction Fails….Why Not Journal

(Photo credit to: Bob, via Flickr)

Just like we all at times need an escape from reality, sometimes we need an escape from fiction.

I know it may be hard to believe that such a thing exists; the need to escape from the worlds within our heads. I know it was hard for me to realize such a thing but even on days like this we can still dream.

At times it’s not so much a need, its more as if we feel as if all our creative energies have been suck dry. Perhaps it was a hard week, or perhaps we’ve written non-stop and we have hit that famous Writer’s Wall. When this happens we can always turn to reality for a brief hiatus.

I have always been the kind of person to start a journal but never really stick to it.

Recently though I started an online diary and suddenly I’m writing more regularly.

On the off days during the week when I have just updated my stories on Wattpad, and my blog is current; its nice to have an outlet to place my stress.

Having an outlet for every day stress helps us to not burn out when we need to get our writing done.

& guess what? It counts towards your daily word count! Isn’t that great?

So on a day when you need to vent, so that you may return to your creative endeavors with renewed vigor, you can journal while still keeping to your daily writing schedule.

Have you journaled before? Or if not what sort of things do you do to vent away the stresses of every day life so that it doesn’t disrupt your writing schedule? 

Write Inspiration: Dreams

(Photo credit to: Angela Marie Henriette, on Flickr)

Every story I’ve ever written started from a dream or at the very least a daydream.

When I was small, before I could read or write, I would sing tales as I spun them in my head. When I grew older those sung tales grew into real ones and I fell in love with storytelling.

Dreams are mysterious and hold meaning to our lives; often inspired by experiences of our day or week; thus they can be excellent fodder for the growth of a new story.

If you meld a dream and iron out the wrinkles and self-inserts; you can have a good novel on your hands.

Many an author I’ve spoken to keeps an account of their dreams, because they hold quite a bit of inspiration.

They can also can help solve plot holes in current novels.

Many a night I have gone to sleep thinking over and over about the last chapter of my story and when I woke up somehow I had a new idea to spark the next chapter.

Have your dreams inspired you to write? Have they ever solved a plot hole for you?

For more daily prompts, check out The Daily Post on wordpress.

Writer’s Wall: Inspiration

(Photo credit to Tom Byrne, on Flickr)

I’d like to talk about a problem that faces all creatives at one point or another. The block, the wall, and the dead-end. The bane of writer’s everywhere, known as: “Writer’s Block”.

I have faced this terrible enemy many a time, won some battles and lost others. But over the last couple of years I have refined several war tactics to take down this fearsome opponent.

Today starts the first in a series, “Writer’s Wall”. I will offer up a tactic per segment.

Today’s tactic is inspiration.

I have found that inspiration comes in many forms.

Often an attack will come when we least expect it; thus we must counter with similar measures.

• We need to surprise our minds. Try something new, maybe change your routine a tad. Perhaps change location of where you normally write, or go on a walk and soak in nature.
  • Our minds are like sponges; soaking in everything around us. Our settings and characters will take those memories and thoughts within our minds and convert them into actions and situations. When we change things up, it gives our minds a chance to breathe and soak in new things.
  • Additionally we gain more experiences that help us create ink splots upon our pages.

• Another wonderful sort of inspiration comes in the form of an inspiration board.
  • Either created manually in collage format or by using a pin-board on pinterest, we can begin to gather more details for our works.
  • If you would like an example of a pinterest inspiration board, here is the one for my current WIP:

Follow K.A.’s board Nanowrimo 2015: Fear Itself on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

• The final but no less important inspiration tactic I use are music playlists.
  • You can pick a certain genre of music to fit the setting of your story.
  • Many a musical playlist has helped me keep to a setting or theme of a story.
  • They are marvelous tools that can also be truly enjoyable, as well.

How do you inspire yourself? What kind of inspiration helps you when writing?

Create a Write Pattern

(Photo credit to Bob, on Flickr)

I’ve been making up stories since I was small.

Before I could write, I would make up songs with stories within them and daydream my way through far off lands.

When I got into school I discovered my love of reading and naturally over time this transformed my way of storytelling onto paper.

I tended to write in bursts during my schooling experience. I would write whenever inspiration struck, in wonderful moments where the pen held in my hand seemed to zip across my lined pages.  Those sort of writing habits fared me well in the school environment; writing between classes and scribbling down notes beside onto a notepad on my bedside table when I awoke from fantastical dreams. I wrote every chance that I got. It felt special, exciting and sometimes forbidden (when I’d write during class).

When I left school things changed. Life happened, as they say. 

I suddenly had to make decisions, I had to grow up.

My writing became stagnant for a year.
I tried some college, but it didn’t seem to stick.

It wasn’t until I started working full time, that I began to write again.
I wrote fanfiction and worked on a trilogy, neither of which I finished completely.
I never got past the 10 chapter mark, instead I was re-writer.
I wrote like that for a couple of years.

After I got married, I was fortunate to have the complete unconditional support of a like minded creative who encourage me to begin writing again. 
My method of writing that I had during my schooling years picked up once more. 

I took what I thought was to be just a breather from my series, and started a brand new idea for the wonderful time of year that is called NANOWRIMO.

I wrote nearly every day that November and had at the end of it 18k words of chronological chapters and words.

Finally I felt an achievement in my bones, and I wanted desperately to finish the story.

I had the ending crisp in my mind, and the characters had taken me on an adventure that I hadn’t ever truly experienced so accurately before.

I had also found like minded individuals on Twitter, who had cheered me on through the whole process.

Then I discovered the “Don’t Break the Chain” calendar through YouTube, and found #writechain on Twitter.

Finally it felt like all the puzzle pieces had fallen into place.

I needed to create a regular writing schedule and what better way than having a minimum word count for each and every day.

The idea was daunting at first, but  I picked a word number that I felt I could get in on even my worst day. And it worked, rest is history.

The lesson I have learned from writing every day has changed my life.

So here’s the kicker, I will not tell you that you have to write every day to be a writer.

Firstly, because that’s simply not true.

 

You write, therefore you ARE a writer.

 

But I do believe it is important to either set aside a time to write or create your own sort of writing schedule.

The main point of a writing schedule is to get you to write.
So often we can get stuck.
When you have goals, you are able to gather momentum towards fulfilling your dreams.

So what have you done to make time for writing? Do you have a writing schedule? Do you have any experiences to share. Please feel free to post below.

Rules Change

(Photo credit to caren litherland on Flickr)

I’ve been reading about writing for several years now.

I’ve read loads of advice, tips and opinions about how someone should write.

Rules like: always start with conflict, start with characterization, repetition is a bad, repetition can be good sometimes, details are important, dialogue is more important and ect.

Do you see the pattern?

The rules of writing are always changing.

There have even been some authors who have become recognized when they have decided to bend the rules of grammar within their writing.

Other books like “The Thirteenth Tale” have set away the guidelines and instead have brought us an experience full of imagery and mystery within the many details on their pages.

I have found that no matter what the genre, be it in YA, NA, or Adult, there will always be books that change the rules. 

But you might wonder, “Where is a constant? A rule or guideline that should not be broken?”

I believe there is only one true rule in writing, one that will never change.

 

Just keep writing.

 

The story that needs to be told will only tell itself if you first take the first step.

Each writer must find their own path.

The tips and advice given by other writers out in the world is there to help guide those of us who might feel stuck in one way or another. Ultimately the decision is ours and we need to find the best way of writing that suits ourselves along the way.

 

Here on this blog, I hope I can offer my experiences with writing and the various lessons I’ve learned. I hope that I may be able to help similar writers find their way around the word path until they find their own way.

The rules may always be changing in writing, but so are its authors. We seek always to be better.

Inspiration

(Photo credit: Lex McKee on Flickr)

I’d like to dedicate my 2nd blog post to several very inspiring writers and creators out in the inter-webs.

I think as a writer it can feel as if you are lost in a sea of fantastic raindrops. You will read imaginative tales and be consumed in the lives and stories of the characters others have written. Then, when it comes to your own writing you may feel as if it will never measure up to the stories that have inspired your dreams.

This blog post is for the people that made me realize that this does not have to be so. These people may not have known me personally, but their words and encouragements have resonated truthfully for me. I hope they will do the same for you.

1) Ava Jae at {Writability}
Reason for her amazingness: She has wonderful tips and advice for fellow writers. She has humble beginnings. She has known the pain of a novel not panning out the way one may wish it; and the heartache of having to put it aside. She has felt rejection. She knows how it feels to try to find time in a busy life to write. Foremost she taught me that I am a writer. I write, therefore I’m a writer.

Notable posts and videos she has created:

• Are You a Writer? 
• Why I Don’t Like the Term “Aspiring Author”
• 5 Reasons You Should Be Blogging 
• Why Writers Must Read

Ava Jae will be having her debut novel, “Beyond the Red” coming out to bookstores in the March of this year.

 

2) Faye with Write Chain

Reason for her amazingness: She has helped to create another wonderful side of the writer community on Twitter. She’s supportive and encouraging. On days where I reported the my minimum word count and felt guilty for it, she cheered me on and congratulated me on my progress.

You can become part of the writer chain at her website, Writerology.net.

Don’t let anyone make you feel inadequate because you don’t match their definition of a ‘writer’.

— Faye Kirwin (@Writerology) January 9, 2016

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3) Brian Rathbone 

Reason for his amazingness: He never ceases to put a smile on my face. His witty and creative tweets are insightful as well as fun. He is breath of fresh air that every writer needs.

Brian has written a trilogy, The World of Godsland. The books are available in e-book format on Amazon.

 

One of my favorite things about the Internet age is the ability of readers to easily communicate with writers.

— Fantasy Author (@BrianRathbone) December 1, 2015

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