Writing Emotions

While I was on the chat room last night (You use the chat room, right? Well, why not? It's super fun!) I asked the ladies what they'd like me to blog about. They threw out some pretty frisky answers - keep in mind, we were all super tired - but they seemed to agree on one thing: they wanted to learn more about writing emotion.

I'm good with that.

Emotion can suck your reader into the story. It can make them read for hours on end without coming up for air. Lack of emotion, on the other hand, will make your readers grow tired of the story. It will give them a reason to put the book down, and we don't ever want to give them that reason.

So, how do you write emotion?

1. The first thing to remember is that your characters should come across as real people. That means that they will feel every emotion a real person would feel. Use your imagination and put yourself in your character's place. How would you feel if that scenario was happening to you?

2. Every emotion has a corresponding physical reaction. If you're feeling worried, you might find your stomach clenching. If you're under a lot of stress, your chest might get tight. If you're trying not to cry, you might find your throat starting to hurt. Tap into the physical manifestations of emotion as well as the ... emotional ... aspects of emotion.

3. Don't overdo it. I frequently see authors make the mistake of over-dramatizing the moment. The character isn't just sad - she experiences waves and waves of despair and she can't stop crying and she feels broken and ... we start to lose patience. Or he hears a joke and he's laughing so hard that he's wiping tears from his eyes and he's pounding the table. The joke wasn't actually that funny ... Keep the emotion appropriate to the situation.

4. Avoid emotion words. Happy, sad, scared, whatever ... they're too flat and don't do a thing for me. Instead, show me how the character felt. Avoid "She was happy."

Okay, shall we see some examples?

Example A:  "Jenny was happy. She had just passed her history final with an A. Now she could prove to her mom that she could get good grades. She was relieved."

Example B: "Jenny looked at the grade on the top of her paper and her hands started to shake. It was an A. An A? Really? She glanced around, wondering if anyone would notice if she suddenly started dancing. Now she could prove to her mom that she could get good grades. She took a deep breath, feeling her stress drain out of her fingertips."

Okay, the first example was purposely flat, but do you see the point I'm making here? Bringing in emotion enlivens the piece. It also helps us get to know the character, and - something we all want - we get to feel some of what the character feels.

Take a scene from your book and bring in some emotion. Remember, your characters are people too, and they should get to feel just like a real person.

Grammar Tip: "Try and" vs. "Try to"

by Donna K. Weaver

Our own Laura Josephsen caught me on this one when she was reading my book, A Change of Plans. It's one of those things that, if we stop to think about it, makes perfect sense.

So, think about this commonly used idiom:

try and ....

Source: PowerPoint

Typically, what does the word "and" do? Doesn't it connect things?

I sing and dance. 

I try and ... fail? Okay, in this instance I can buy "try and".

But how about this:

I will try and call her.

I will try [what?] and call her. See what I mean? It's confusing. What makes sense is this:

I will try to call her.

Now it's clear the speaker is going to attempt something.

According to Grammar Girl, "try and" is acceptable in informal speech but should be avoided in formal writing. Well, I don't know about you, but I tend to write the way I speak (even if my editor doesn't believe me). 

I say to go for clarity. Every time.

Does this little bit of grammar trip you up? Do you think it's just a matter of time before we have a new grammar rule?

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And while you're at it, don't forget to set aside July 12th & 13th for a wicked awesome writing conference. We've got a stellar list of presenters and topics, and it's so affordable! You can register at the top right. 

Reading, Writing and Kids

       I am one of those readers who like to blaze through book after book after book. I'll read almost everything, non-fiction, self help, YA, picture book, issues books, magazines, I like them and own a lot. My bookshelves are filled to the max and books are on the floor next to it, and scattered around the house. I love the movie that plays in my head while I read a book, the feel of the paper and the satisfaction of a well thought out and executed ending. I love books. My kids love books. They love them because I love them.
       We've probably all heard the Emilie Buchwald quote: 

"Children are made readers in the laps of their parents."

I live by this. I read with my kids from the moment they are born. When we go to the bookstore, we stop by the children's section for them to look around and choose a book as well, we enjoy family trips to the library, before bed the older girls read aloud bedtime stories to the younger ones. We are a family of readers.

I love writing books. I love the characters developing in my mind and changing on the paper, I enjoy the structure of plots and predictability of a romance and creating all the tension necessary for a satisfying ending. But the reason I write is because I read. <3

Come find me on Goodreads!

Who wants to become a writer?

10 Self-Publishing Mistakes

With Smashwords, Pubit, and Kdp, it is easy to self-publish. YAY!

However, it is not easy to be successful at self-publishing. What are the mistakes people make when they self-publish?

1. They publish too soon.
Just because you finished the first or second draft doesn't mean you are ready to publish.

2. They think self-publishing is free
Expect to spend money to self-publish. Editing and covers cost money.

3. They don't have a bunch of strangers read their books and give honest feedback.
Your family usually can't give you good feedback. You need a bunch of strangers to tell you the truth. And listen.

4. They don't hire a plot editor
You need someone to check through your book who is a professional. All traditionally published books have editors- you need one too.

5. They don't hire a copy editor
Once you've made all your plot changes, you must hire someone to do copy/line edits. Even with a copy/line editor, there will be a few lingering mistakes. Don't leave this to chance. Have the cleanest book possible.

6. They slap a sub-par cover on their book
Do you know how to use Photoshop? Are you great at it or just okay? Just okay doesn't cut it. Your cover is what sells your books. You better make sure yours is great and not only to your eyes. Ask strangers. Hire a cover artist if your cover doesn't take their breath away.

7. They don't get at least 10 reviews before they hit publish
When you hit publish, you need to get reviews and fast. The best way to do that is to get about 20 people to read and write a review they send to you before your book is published. Then, the day you publish, you send a copy of the review along with link to your book page to review it. That helps give you credibility.


8. They spam everyone over and over again instead of using a team to announce their release 
People like to hear from you once or twice, but no more. You need to gather a team of 20 or so people who will announce everything for you.

9. They expect to be a millionaire with their first book
It may take a year for your book to take off. It may never take off. It may take off when you've written and published your third novel. It may take off right from the start. Make sure your expectations are set 2 years from the time you start. Expect nothing but work for everything.

10. They expect everyone to love their book
There is not a single book that appeals to all readers. Make sure you realize this and market to the right people. The best way to get bad reviews is to get the wrong people reading your book. Market smart.

Make sure you do it right if you choose to self-publish. It can be the best decision of your life or not. You decide by doing it correctly the first time.

Are you tempted to self-publish? Why?

The Calling to Write

One of the books I read when I was a little girl was a Readers' Digest Condensed version of Through the Narrow Gate, the story of a girl who decided to enter a convent and then later leave it again. It's been years since I read it so I might not be getting all the details right, but she felt called to become a nun, and then later, felt called to reenter the outside world. She has since become an expert on world religion and lived a remarkable life.

I've been thinking about "callings" today. Some people think of a "calling" as an angelic voice from on high with trumpets and crashing symbols and a thundering voice telling us what to do, and in truth, sometimes we're so reluctant to hear that it does take something pretty dramatic to get our attention. I believe, though, that most of the things we should do are spoken to us softly, without all the fanfare. 

Writing is one of those things.

You've felt that urge to write, or you wouldn't be reading this blog. You've felt stories inside you, you've heard characters talk to you. You see the world through the lens of books, and that's how you know you've been called to write - because the urge is there.

Don't ever question if you're supposed to be a writer. You know you've be less of yourself if that spark wasn't inside you. Don't let the haters talk you out of doing something you love. Don't let the critics keep you from growing and progressing. 

This is you. This is who you are supposed to be. And as for the rest of it, you'll figure that out as you go.

Keep writing, keep being yourself. It's a beautiful thing. 

Summer Workshop . . . and Character Personalization

We've got a full schedule for our Summer Writers Workshop

on July 12 & 13, 2013. You can register on the right. ------>

Characterization

As I write this post, I've also been listening to Richelle Mead's newest contribution to her Vampire Academy breakout series, Bloodlines. This is the third book with Sydney and Adrian. Now, Adrian (a Moroi-- "good vampire" who can do magic and doesn't burn up in the sun but is fatigued by too much exposure to it) is very different than human Sydney (an alchemist whose people help the Moroi but only because alchemists view them as evil and must be kept from humans)

One of the things that strikes me as I listen to these books (I'm a huge audiobook fan) is how well Mead handles the unique and often quirky personality differences between Sydney and Adrian. And I'm not just talking about the fun voice differences the reader provides.

Adrian is a recovering playboy. Kind of. lol He's funny and he's flirty and he's self-denigrating. Adrian's flawed and still finding his way as he deals with his magic (which could eventually drive him insane--literally). Some examples of his comments

“I know how devastated you must be to miss me, but leave a message, and I'll try to ease your agony” 

“Who is he?"
"An idiot," said Adrian. "Makes me look like an upstanding member of society.” 

“You look confused," said Adrian.
I shook my head and sighed. "I think I'm just overthinking things."
He nodded solemnly. "That's why I try to never do it.” 

Now the books are written in first person--from Sydney's POV--so we don't get into Adrian's head the same way, but his comments do a great job of showing the reader what frame of mind he's in at the moment.

Mead has more flexibility with Sydney because of the first person writing, but I think this is where the author excels. The things that Sydney notices and thinks about are so "Sydney." She's brilliant, analytical, and totally a novice when it comes to feelings. Even her battle scene descriptions reflect how she views the world. She's a rule keeper and even her internal thoughts reflect that--if she's trying to break into someone's apartment and the ratty fire escape looks like it needs repair, she'll wonder why someone didn't report it, all while she's hanging two or three floors above the group.

This is what we need to do with our characters. Make sure that we're capturing the uniqueness that is each one. Do you have any tips for doing that?