Outtakes 140

Windy

By Cait Collins

Spring tends to bring on the winds in the Texas Panhandle. We sometimes refer to blustery days as the wind driving down from the north with nary a fence to stop it. Yes, trees are scarce on the High Plains. While I get tired of bad hair days and red dirt on everything, I find the sounds and scents intriguing.

Think of the number of words used to describe the wind. Tornados, hurricane force, breezy, zephyr, blowing, howling, gusty, gentle, blizzard are among the descriptions. Each word helps to set a scene, evoke emotions, and create an atmosphere. How many romantic suspense stories are set in a blizzard? Trapped in a ski lodge, two strangers unite to survive a cat burglar and a serial killer. Their need to rely on each other to survive brings them closer together as the wind howls and the snow piles up. It may sound hokey, but a skilled writer makes it work.

Wind not only has sound, it touches, has a taste, and a scent. And while we cannot see the wind, we see the effect of its passing. We can open our arms to the gale, hide in the basement or a bathtub when the tornado blows through, or bask in the in the gentle breeze on a sunny afternoon. With all its properties, it is no wonder this weather element is often used as a secondary character in stories and books.  The wind takes on a personality when incorporated into our works.

Today the winds are battering. Even with my heavy purse, walking from the office to my car was difficult. The air temperature wasn’t bad, but the high wind made it feel much colder. My heavy sweater was not enough to keep me warm. So it was inconvenient, but it did make me think about writing Panhandle winds into my stories.

Outtakes 139

Planning for the Future

By Cait Collins

I’m a procrastinator to a certain extent. I find the things I don’t really enjoy are put off to the last minute. Unless unforeseen circumstances arise, I don’t miss deadlines nor am I late for appointments. But I’m learning there are some things that cannot be put dismissed. A writer should not avoid building his fan base.

It’s easy to think we have time to work on marketing ourselves. After all, the novel isn’t ready to publish. The magazine article hasn’t been sold. The research has hit a snag. So what if the work isn’t up for publication in the next few months. It’s never too soon to begin marketing and promoting your writing. You don’t have to break out the champagne or throw a catered party.  Start small, but remember to invest in a few essentials.

Business cards.  There are some really good computer programs that will help you design your cards, and good card stock for every printer type can be found at your local office supply store. Online services like VistaPrint offer a variety of designs at reasonable prices.

Promotional items.  Stationary stores, printing companies and office supply stores have printing services for post cards, stationery, and bookmarks. Imprinted pens, pencils, andnote pads are available through on-line services or local promotional ad sales

Handouts.  Copies of your magazine articles, book synopsis, and training materials are great to have for presentations.

On-line presence.  Create a website, start a blog, have a Facebook account. Remember social media sites, websites and blogs must be updated. Don’t load yourself down with so many online commitmenst you don’t have time to write.

Become a speaker. Prepare and present programs for schools, civic organizations, and writers groups.

Whatever you do, do not wait until three weeks before your work is published to try and establish a fan base. By starting your marketing plan at the beginning of your career, you will develop a list of contacts and fans who are already sold on you. They will be the first in line to buy that new book or attend a screening of your movie. They will promote your works and bring in potential fans. And a good writer always welcomes more fans.

Outtakes 137

I’d Vote for That

By Cait Collins

I do not consider it professional to use my social media sites or this blog to express my political views. Politics, in my experience, is an in-your-face dirty business. That said politicians, their missteps, and political events are perfect fodder for writers. Likewise, current events and the news makers work extremely well into our stories.

The LAW and ORDER franchises capitalized on major news and political events. However, the producers were careful to create characters that resembled the newsmakers but were different enough to be fictional. Video and audio disclaimers let viewers know the characters and events were make-believe. Yet the writers skillfully developed the episodes around reality. The audience was forced to examine their own beliefs and morals and decide the guilt or innocence based on the evidence and the law.

Tom Clancy was the master of the techno thriller with The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger.  Barry Eisler created political assassin John Rain. While one would think Rain would be a detestable character, he could be very likable. Unless, that is, you happen to be the bad guy. We can even go back to ancient times for heroes like Julius Caesar, the 300 Spartans, and Alexander the Great.

The use of the news and politics is not limited to drama. Saturday Night Live, The Cobert Report, and the late night talk shows are geniuses at satire. The point is, no matter how much we rave at the news and our politicians, we still buy the books and tune into TV and the movies. A smart writer will pay attention to the major news stations. We need our current events fixes to create characters and situations. We also need to stand in line with the voters on Election Day. Talk about characters! A writer might get some of his best lines by listening to voters as they wait to cast their ballots.