Tag Archives: Wordsmithsix.com

Stockpile People

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Stockpile People

By Rory C. Keel

 

A writer needs to have a stockpile of people. No, not like in the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but a file full of descriptions, characteristics and quirks of real people.

The truth is that all characters are based somehow on actual people. Think about it, even the characters you invent are based on elements taken from real people. The people you place on the page come from someone that you, as the writer, have seen or come in contact with, either personally or by hearsay.

The Gathering

To place these characters on your page, you must own them, every part of them the good, the bad, and the ugly. To do this you need to try and understand real people. Interact with them, watch them and observe their condition in life. When you finally know them, they are yours. Gather them up and stockpile them by writing them in a file. They will be glad to repeat their behaviors on the pages of your writing.

Roryckeel.com 

 

Don’t Be Fooled: Writing is HARD Work

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Don’t Be Fooled: Writing is HARD Work

By Natalie Bright

Without a doubt, writing is the hardest work I’ve ever done. I was remembering the other day about the other jobs I’ve held in my lifetime. Waitressing comes in at a close second, but physical labor doesn’t exhaust me the way an intensive brain workout does.
Writing a story forces you to dig deep emotionally. You can’t hold back for your character’s sake. They deserve all that you have, and so do your readers. The roller coaster ride of emotion in finding the right words can leave us drained.  We’re writing straight from the heart.

On the other hand, there is the practical side of writing which involves marketing, promotion and selling your novels. This is a totally different mindset.  The WordsmithSix Critique Group has been meeting together for almost six years, and I completely trust their wisdom and suggestions in regards to my work. As much as I love them however, there are times that I may not choose to do anything that they say. This side of writing is ruled by my head. As the creator, you alone, must know what’s best for your writing career.

From your heart, you create stories that feed your soul.
From your head, business must be business.
Two completely different notions that now more than ever, today’s authors must embrace and understand if they want to be successful. How crazy is that? Writing is not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.

Write onward!

A New World

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

A New World

By Nandy Ekle

J.K. Rowling. What more can I say? This author invented an entire culture that captured the hearts of children, young and old, all over the world. Of course, she is best known for the Harry Potter books, which has effected every person on the face of the earth for the past 20 years. Whether you’re a fan of Potter World or not, you’ve heard of them and the lingo created and used by those who do adore them.

Having just gone through all seven books again, for the umpteenth time, I was once again amazed by the brilliance of Ms. Rowing’s story-telling abilities. Her style in these books, having been written for children, is easy and comfortable. And the stories meld together perfectly. The first two books are really more about background, but nowhere like an information dump. The real story actually starts in book three. This is where the story gets a little darker, more serious, down to the nitty gritty, you might say.

By the time you get to the seventh book, Ms. Rowling’s genius really shines. The first half of that book is Harry, Ron, and Hermione wandering around England trying to solve the mystery of what comes next and why. This half of the book is actually a very clever review of the first six books. Every place they go, every person they meet, every situation they encounter is due to something that happened before. Re-reading this just a couple of weeks ago, the absolute brilliance of how she accomplished this took my breath away.

In the middle of the book, after the characters are captured, a tragedy occurs which brings all the events from the past together and awakens the hero. Ms. Rowling once again hits her readers straight in the heart as Harry embraces his destiny and becomes proactive. Instead of hiding and avoiding the world, he stands up to become the leader he’s been told for the past seven years he is meant to be.

The war begins. In a last burst of sheer nerve, Ms. Rowling pulls no punches as she subjects her young readers to a tragedy which hits very close to home, which leads to the most shocking fact we all forgot the whole time we were following the entire tale. It is this one tiny forgotten piece of the story that comes into play in the final confrontation which makes us look up from the page in total amazement and say, “Oh, yeah! That makes perfect sense!”

Now, J.K. Rowling is known for the Harry Potter books, as well she should be because they are incredible. However, she has authored several other books which are also excellent reads, though not intended for younger readers. A Casual Vacancy is the story of what happens to a town after the sudden but natural death of a councilman. Imagine laying a bed sheet on the ground and placing several stuffed animals around on the sheet. Now you and three of your friends each take a corner of the sheet, raise it up in the air and shake it. Then let go of the sheet and see what happens when it floats back to the ground, and where do the stuffed animals end up? This is what reading the book is like.

Another thing about Ms. Rowing is she has a pseudonym. She has written a series of three detective stories under the name Robert Gilbraith. If you like mystery stories, you should read these. The first is Cuckoo’s Calling; then comes The Silkworm; and then Career of Evil.

 So, if you love the cleverness of a story set in a world that charms the universe, or if you love the epic thrill of the hero’s journey, or if you just want to know what all the hype is about, read the Harry Potter books. If you want something more mature, try Casual Vacancy and the three mystery books (hopefully a fourth will follow as she left us hanging off a cliff).

Tag Words: J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, A Casual Vacancy, Robert Galbraith, Nandy Elke, nandyekle.com, wordsmithsix.com

Character Arc

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Character Arc

by Adam Huddleston

 

Continuing on my theme of literary terms, let’s take a quick look at “character arc.” It is simply defined as the inner transformation of a character over the course of a story. No matter what external forces are acting upon the character, it is the inner journey that creates the character arc.

A few examples: The character “Red” from the film “The Shawshank Redemption”. At the beginning of the story, the hardened inmate believes that there is very little light left in his life. He makes the comment that hope is a dangerous thing and can drive a man insane in prison. By the end of the tale, he has adopted the philosophy of his new friend, Andy Dufresne; that hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.

Frodo Baggins from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy begins the tale very comfortable at home and not believing that he has much bravery inside of him. After a long a deadly journey across his world, he becomes much more mature and sure of himself.

Finally, Han Solo from the “Star Wars” saga. When we first meet Han in Episode 4, he states that he has no belief in the “force”, that it is simply a collection of tricks. In the recently released Episode 7, he has learned that the “force” does exist. He even admits to another character, “Crazy thing is… it’s true. The Force. The Jedi. All of it. It’s all true.”

Aspire to infuse a character arc in the characters that populate your story. Your fans will thank you.

Happy writing!

Books

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Outtakes 243

Books

By Cait Collins

 

Recently I received an invitation to a baby shower. I pulled the gift registry and was thrilled to see a selection of books on the list. A few days later an invitation to a baby shower for my new niece arrived. Instead of cards, the parents asked for a book with a note from the giver written inside.

Wow! In a world where everything is electronic, these first time parents are asking for books to help educate their infants. I respect their thoughtfulness and desire to give these little ones a head start. Nourishing the mind is just as important as nourishing the body. Baby Girl 1 has a book of Disney favorites, and my niece has a selection of some of my favorite Little Golden Books.

Book selections for babies are far from limited. Dr. Seuss, Disney, Aesop, Winnie the Pooh, animal stories (remember The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Chicken Little, and the Little Red Hen?), The Berenstain Bears, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, board books, touch-and-feel books, books with sound are just a sampling of the available offerings. And with the abundance of material, just think of all the memories you create when you take the time to read to your child.

Here’s another thought. Keep a journal of special moments and add photographs to the book. It will be a treasure for both you and your child. Best wishes Moms, Dads, and Little Ones.

 

Find the Perfect Name with Scrivener

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Find the Perfect Name with Scrivener

By Rory C. Keel

For several years now, I have been using the Scrivener writing program to do my writing. For me, it is the greatest program that allows me to outline, storyboard, edit and write all within a neatly organized package.

With all the bells and whistles, it would be hard to list them all or explain how to use them in one blog. However, I do want to share some of the interesting features this wonderful program holds.

Have your ever written a story with a character that needed a better name? You know, the Bob or Sally that would really make your story a bestseller if they had a better name.

Well, Scrivener can help you find that perfect name. Tucked neatly away in the Writing tools is a built-in name generator.

Here’s how you find it. Above the tool bar find the word “EDIT,” follow down the menu until you see the word “Writing Tools.” When you place your curser over the word a side menu should appear, and at the bottom you should see the “Name generator.”

With the click of your mouse or scroll pad, the Name Generator should appear in a small window.

The first decision you will need to make is how many names do you want the program to generate? You will see a scroll bar numbered from 1-500, simply slid the marker to number you want to choose from.

Next you will notice the small gear button near the bottom of the window, click it. At this point, you need to make several other choices, such as do you want MALE or FEMALE names? You can set alliteration options, number of forename or surnames, initials, and obscurity level of the names.

You will also find a menu to choose the ethnicity of the name you wish to find. Once you check the appropriate box or boxes, find the long button on the previous menu that says “Generate Names,” and click. The blank screen will suddenly fill with names from which to choose the right name for your character.

I hope you find the perfect name.

Roryckeel.com

Meet the Author – Melanie Miller

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Meet the Author

 

Since the creation of WordsmithSix as a critique group, we have evolved in many ways. While every member is like family and brings their own valuable insights to the group, sometimes there are changes. Some of our members have moved on in their life’s journey, however their contributions continue to influence our writing forever. Others have filled the empty chairs and have started their journey into the world of writing.

Each member of WordsmithSix is excited about our writing journey. For the next few weeks we will dedicate a Sunday blog to letting our readers know a little more about who we are. Each author will be asked a few questions to help you understand their desire to write and what motivates them. Maybe their answers will influence you in your writing.

This week we want to highlight a young writer who has been a recent guest at our critique group. She has a great talent and we are sure that you will be seeing her writing in the near future.

Please welcome Melanie Miller.

Hello!

  1. When did you start writing?

I started writing in High School. My first attempt at writing a novel began when I was only a sophomore.

  1. Why did you choose the genre you write?

I write Young Adult Fiction because I love reading it, and I want to write something that my younger brother will enjoy.  Young Adult has some of the most fluid and dynamic characters–seeing how these characters grow and change makes me happy.

  1. What’s the best thing you’ve done to help your writing?

I went to the West Texas Writing Academy in 2015. Being there connected me with a bunch of writers and help me see that my writing aspirations were fully within my grasp.

  1. What’s your writing routine like?

Procrastination. I find that I am most inspired to do creative writing whenever I have something else that needs to be done. Like taxes. But normally, I will drag my self out of bed at six in the morning and write until I have to go to class.

  1. How do you reach that personal place that allows the writing to flow?

I usually go somewhere where I put on my headphones and sit with no distractions or friends trying to talk to me. After ten to thirty minutes of gutting out the words, things start to flow.

  1. Are you an outliner?

I don’t think I can be impartial when answering this. Whatever answer I come up with would be muddied by by own egocentric bias. Still. I would like to think that me and my writing style are different, but then again, who wouldn’t?

  1. What has been your biggest writing challenge?

Finding the will power to actually write. Actually sitting down and writing is the hardest thing in the world. There are a hundred-thousand distractions, especially if you work on a computer.

  1. What are you working on currently, future?

I am currently writing the first draft of my first novel. I also have tentative plans for two more books using this same world and main character. I also have several other commenting worlds and storylines that I plan on exploring in the future.

  1. What advice would you give to new writers?

Forge connections with writing groups. Once you get yourself in a strong writing group, it gives you reason and motivation to writing, even if that motivation is only to not be embarrassed by bringing in shoddy work or no work at all.

  1. What’s the most positive thing you could tell writers today?

The publishing business is becoming more and more accessible. With ebooks and online publishing, it is increasingly likely that your book will be published in some form or manner.

The Constant Reader

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POST CARD FROM THE MUSE

The Constant Reader

By Nandy Ekle

Anyone who reads Stephen King recognizes what a “constant reader” is. If you haven’t heard this phrase before, it’s the term of endearment Mr. King gives his fans, especially those of us who have been around since the 1970s, when Carrie came out, followed by Salem’s Lot, and then The Shining.

So what is it about his work that we crave? Some of his stories are unbelievable, some border on absolute silliness. But I find myself devouring even these as if they were coated with the fudge syrup I pour generously on my ice cream.

Well, I can tell you exactly why this genius’s words keep me glued to the page. And it’s exactly what I just said. He’s a genius with words. When a writer can make you gag with disgust after one sentence, that’s talent. If, after reading a page or two from a book, you find yourself hiding all the alphabet letters from the refrigerator, you’ve been immersed in greatness. If a hotel becomes a living character in a novel, and standing in the door of the hotel makes you feel like you’re shaking hands with a celebrity, that’s the work of a word genius.

My personal favorite Stephen King book is The Shining. In my opinion, this book is a masterpiece. I’ve read it more times than I can count, and I find a new layer every time I open the cover. The last time I read it I noticed something I had never noticed before. The first three or four chapters are back story. However, he does not info dump on us, the readers. What he does is place us inside the characters’ heads. We see, hear, feel, taste, smell, everything they do. And it’s in this state we learn why the characters are the way they are. And it is so real that it took me 30 plus years to analyze it.

In some places during the reveal of this backstory, Mr. King writes continuously without the interruption of punctuation. I believe the absence of commas, periods, and even spaces between words gives the feeling of swirling, as going down a drain.

And that’s incredible.

So, hear’s to you, Mr. King from a consummate Constant Reader.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

MacGuffin

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MacGuffin

by Adam Huddleston

 

Last week, I presented a blog concerning a plot device known as the “red herring”. This week, let’s quickly look at another: the MacGuffin.

The term, often incorrectly attributed to Alfred Hitchcock (though he did use it often), refers to a main goal that the protagonist is pursuing in a story and which may or may not be important to the overall plot. I retrieved these examples from Wikipedia: the meaning of “rosebud” in Citizen Kane (1941); the NOC list in Mission: Impossible (1996); the Rabbit’s Foot in Mission: Impossible III (2006); the Heart of the Ocean necklace in Titanic; and the mineral unobtainium in Avatar (2009).

Hitchcock did have an interesting quote concerning the MacGuffin:

“It might be a Scottish name, taken from a story about two men on a train. One man says, “What’s that package up there in the baggage rack?” And the other answers, “Oh, that’s a MacGuffin”. The first one asks, “What’s a MacGuffin?” “Well,” the other man says, “it’s an apparatus for trapping lions in the Scottish Highlands.” The first man says, “But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands,” and the other one answers, “Well then, that’s no MacGuffin!” So you see that a MacGuffin is actually nothing at all.”

I hope this adds to your writing vocabulary!

9 Helpful Tips for writing:

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9 Helpful Tips for writing:

  • Avoid difficult words, which the reader might have difficulty in understanding
  • Avoid moralizing
  • Don’t force your point of view on the readers. In other words, let the characters say what you want to say
  • Don’t inform, show
  • Include the five senses (hear, smell, touch, see, speak) to rouse the reader’s emotions
  • Avoid unnecessary details
  • Be innovative
  • Use active tense, not passive
  • Read your text aloud and listen for jarring notes

Roryckeel.com