Brick Wall Obliterated

Master the Art! LDStorymakers 2010 Pt 5

I looked forward to Jeff Savage's Character Bible class and it was Awesome! There was so much info that I'll only hit the highlights here:

A character bible tracks minor things like hair and eye color, name and spelling, motivation, growth, background, etc.

The more you elevate a character, the more the reader expects to see them in your book. Anything past a physical description will elevate the character.

Each character will have their own story and character arc.

Jeff had us partner up and interview each other about out protagonist, like age, defining moment, how other characters view your protagonist, etc. The questions help create complexity.

Then we delved into our antagonist with the same questions.

Now, do I have a clear main character and do I like her? Does she have flaws? What will she learn?

My character mist be growing or regressing at all times. We will judge them by their decisions not just their actions.

My homework this weekend is to use Jeff's class notes to deepen my characters.
I don't know if I can wait! It gets me excited!

Map of How A Book is Published

Okay. Didn't know how many of you would want to know THIS much about how a book is made but here's the link just in case.

Published Book

Master the Art! LDStorymakers 2010 Pt 4

I went to Krista Marino's class, The First five Pages.

These are the notes and advice I got from her class:
No typos.
Good writing, think of the readers.
Hook the reader-raise questions, reader should be confused.
Begin in the middle of the action.
Don't answer all the questions-ditch physical description of protagonist unless necessary.
Establish your world-don't neglect setting for dialogue.

Change up your cliches: "Those who do, do. Those who don't, D.J."

Hitting The Brick Wall

Well, I've done it!
I've hit the proverbial brick wall.
I have no desire to write or edit.
My brain feels empty.
I'm distracted by everything and everyone.
Chocolate hasn't helped. Not for lack of trying. ;)


So, I'm taking the weekend off.
I received six (6!) books in the mail this week. I think that is my wall.
I want to read.
And I shall for the next few days.
Watch for my reviews!

And have a great, fantastic, wonderful weekend!

P.S. Oh! What do you do in the summertime when all the kids are home? How do you fit in writing?

Master the Art! LDStorymakers 2010 Pt 3

Today I'm posting my thoughts and a few notes from Jeff Savage's class, Villainous: Creating Characters We Love To Hate.

We compared heroes and villains. Surprisingly, they had similar traits. They are both an everyday man, have flaws, and own special powers but doesn't have to be super powers.

Motives are what separate the hero from the villain. What happened in the villains life that made them the way they are?

The best villains are like the hero if the hero had taken a different path.

Does your villain care about something that is good? That is a weakness that invests the reader.

Trying looking at the characters from different points of view. Try first person of villain, victim, hero, and minion.

How does it all end? With destruction or redemption?

Master the Art! LDStorymakers 2010 Pt 2

Notes from Janette Rallison's class: Self-Editing: Making Your Writing Shine (Sparkling Isn't Just For Vampires)
"I can fix a bad page, I can't fix a blank page." Nora Roberts

Tagline Problems:
Use 'said.'
Beware of adverb and adjective especially in taglines. Instead of "he grunted," try "he grunt with disapproval." (Putting emotion in POV will connect more with reader).

Dialogue Problems:
Don't have character tell each other facts they already know. Put it in the plot.
Don't let your characters deliver speeches.
Dialogue isn't real speech: it's better!

Sentence structure problems:
Don't overuse: is, was, were, are, am. Also watch out for: very, really, pretty, a little, just, as, shrugged, rolled eyes, or any of your favorite words or phrases.

Point of View:
First person: "I."
Third person: "She."
Don't head hop. 90% of manuscripts have this problem-be the 10%!
When using one POV, you get more deeply into one person.