The Character Series Part 2/5: Things to Avoid When Creating Characters
CHARACTER CLUTTER
Cut down on the number of characters you have by having one character take on the roles of others. You don’t need your heroine to have five girlfriends that keep appearing. One girlfriend is enough with two at the most. Make it simple for the reader in regards to characters to remember. Put their focus on the story and the main characters, and make it easy on yourself as well. The fewer the characters the easier it is for you to have to remember while writing.
I have a Romance/Love story novel where the leading lady meets up with her high school team for lunch. In this case, it’s okay to have several characters, but not as recurring characters. Maybe two or three show up again.
SIMILAR CHARACTERS
Along with Character Clutter, you have characters that are basically the same. You don’t need that unless it is specific to something in the storyline. When I read Gone with the Wind there are a few too many characters in the beginning for my liking, but slowly it dwindles then it picks again to similar characters in Atlanta. Yes, there is a party in the beginning so I get it, but it is still a touch difficult to keep up with at the party itself. In Atlanta, there are the matriarchs of society that are almost impossible to keep up with. They all become a blur, and perhaps that is part of the story. They are all the same. Scarlet is different and Belle Watling is different and that is why you remember them.
METAPHORS AND SIMILIES
You have the characters and you need to describe them. Be original.
A simile is when you describe something in comparison to something else.
Her skin was as pure as the white of a Magnolia petal.
A metaphor is when you say something is something, you transfer the characteristics onto the person.
Her lips were sweet red berries and he needed to taste them at least one time.
One very important thing to remember. Don’t do the literary version of the mistakes people look for in time period movies. The digital watch on the Civil War soldier. Make sure when you metaphor or simile that you keep in mind what you are using and the words you are using, they need to be time period applicable.
The Character Series Part 1/5: Creating Character Names
You have a great story idea then you begin to write and you come to that moment . . . what is the name of the primary protagonist? The problem continues as you come to each character thereafter, including secondary and incidental characters. It’s a bear of a problem even if you don’t think so right now. You may even have written the novel and now realize you have name problems.
Following are some things to consider when naming characters:
CORRECT NAME FOR THE TIME PERIOD
There are a lot of names that can be used in present-day novels because people are becoming creative or retro in naming their children. However, when writing one easy way to help immediately let a reader know if your story is in the present-day or in the past is by the names you choose to use.
Example 1
Khloe looked out over the sloping green lawn down to the path below. Would he be there this morning . . . as every morning? Would Jayden ignore her father and still pass by regardless of the threats? Did he love her that much?
Think for a moment what time period these names bring to mind.
Example 2
Mildred looked out over the sloping green lawn down to the path below. Would he be there this morning . . . as every morning? Would Edgar ignore her father and still pass by regardless of the threats? Did he love her that much?
The First example includes popular names for 2014, while the last includes names from the early 1900s. Even not knowing this information you would know the first should be set in modern-day by the names, they are not names to fit into The Great Gatsby. And Mildred and Edgar are not common names these days. Sure you could use them in a modern setting but just keep in mind how easy simply choosing names will help in having to not explain a lot more in your writing about the time, era your story is set in.
REGIONAL NAMES
We talked about using names to help set the general time period of a story, now how about the place, the region, or country? In the United States names are slowly mingling but on the whole, you can use names that will give the reader a feel for where you are headed.
Missy looked out over the sloping green lawn down to the path below. Would he be there this morning . . . as every morning? Would Billy ignore her father and still pass by regardless of the threats? Did he love her that much?
I get a rural feel from the above names. More than likely in the south.
Khloe looked out over the sloping green lawn down to the path below. Would he be there this morning . . . as every morning? Would Jayden ignore her father and still pass by regardless of the threats? Did he love her that much?
This pairing gives me a feel or the urban, probably a larger city as well.
I know, all of you could and are coming up with better examples than I am but you get the point.
BE ORIGINAL
When you do create names, even Regional ones, be original. You don’t have to go with Billy Bob to let people know the man lives in the South. Beau is a Southern name and so is Luke. One of those is a little stereotypical and the other less so. It is all up to you how you want to do it, maybe Beau is the name you want to use and it fits somehow. You want the name to stand out but also to be comfortable for the reader to say. Make sure to say the name out loud while using it in a sentence. I like the name to feel good coming off my tongue.
AVOID GENDER CONFUSION
If you really want to mess with your readers’ minds then use names that can be either male or female. As the years pass by this is becoming more of a thing. If you say Logan one may think of Wolverine the superhero or they may think of the little girl that was best buddies with their son in preschool and he pushed her in her little walker thing in between two baby beds and said “Bye-bye” as he looked around and saw his parents had arrived. Ashley and Paris are two other examples as well as Sandy. Add Morgan to that as well.
Don’t cause confusion to your readers. Make them comfortable as quickly as possible. You don’t want them to even have to think about gender, you want them falling into the story.
NOT THE SAME LETTER
Don’t have your main characters all having names starting with the same letter. You want distinction for them quickly and no confusion with any other character, especially a protagonist and antagonist.
I blog. Amazing discovering isn’t it? Being a blogger you also follow other bloggers. Sometimes you don’t know how you ended up making the acquaintance of someone, yes I can make that joke about myself but no one else can (amnesiac rights), but you are glad you did stumble upon someone. One such person grabbed my attention not only because he liked my attempts at writing, but one day a photograph he posted jumped out at me. No it did not literally leap from the page, at least I don’t think it did. Perhaps he has sort of 3D Mac power. Yes, I am afraid to say that he is one of . . . those people.
Thinking now perhaps it was 3D and knocked the memory out of me. I do have a habit of following it hitting my head. But I do have the memory that this man took a photograph that I loved enough to remember that of him and that means the world to me. Memories to me now are made more of impressions than of actual images.
So let me introduce to you, The one and only. . . wait wrong song now . . . on a mountain top, burning like a silver flame . . .
RW: Hugh, I googled your name in fun because I love your name and it has such a strength of character about it that I just knew it had to be famous. Are you the same Hugh Roberts who was in charge of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992 and was also director of Christie’s, the auction house?
HUGH: Gee, that’s really kind of you, but no, I am not him. I have many times though, been introduced as Hugh Grant or Huw Edwards (for those of your followers outside of the UK, the latter is a famous BBC news reader over here). I suppose the mix up occurs because there aren’t many of us ‘Hughs’ around. I’ve never been asked for an autograph after being introduced as Hugh Grant, but I have on the odd occasional been stared at for a long period of time and imagined the word ‘really?’ going through that person’s mind as they stand there open mouthed and gobsmacked at Hugh Grant standing in front of them.
RW: There go all of those artsy questions. Hmm . . . So you’re English . . . I don’t know why it is the English Bloggers seem to fascinate me. Beatles or the Stones?
HUGH: There’s your first ‘strike’, Ronovan. I like to refer to myself as Welsh or better still, British. I’m very proud to be British. I have nothing against being called English, after all I currently live in England and speak English, but calling a Welsh or Scottish person English, is like being at one of those self check-out machines at the supermarket and the machine says to you “there is an unexpected item in the baggage area, please remove the item” and you’ve not put anything there! You get just a little irate. Only a little, so no need to get out those boxing gloves yet . I guess you thought I was English because of the way my name is spelt, yeah? Well, OK, I’ll take that strike away then, after all it is the English spelling of Hugh I use and not the Welsh spelling as Huw Edwards uses. My parents have a lot to answer for on that one.
As for Beatles or the Stones, neither for me. I’d have to go for Bananarma,
the British all girl group with the Guinness world record for the all female group with the most chart entries in the world. Their songs bring back so many happy memories for me.
RW: Sigh . . .’your my Venus your my’ . . . oh, yes, interview. Okay now onto more serious things, well that was serious but anyway, I am a big fan of your photography which is odd because you write a lot and I enjoy that as well, but tell me about your flowers and your gardening. You don’t even have to leave your home for great photos.
HUGH: We have a beautiful garden, but to be perfectly honest with you, I absolutely hate gardening. I have no interest in it at all. Don’t get me wrong, I love to sit and relax in the garden, but when it comes to gardening, I’m about as interested as a mannequin would be viewing my holiday pictures.
RW: Then where does the garden come from, Bananarama and their Venus power? (Mind drifting to the one with the short blonde hair ‘yeah baby she’s got it’. . . sigh.) Hugh, you carry on with the interview without me.
HUGH: All the credit for the beautiful plants in our garden, has to go to my partner, John. He’s the one that grew the plants which I took the photographs of. I’ve only just started to show an interest in photography, so it’s very early days for me, but a few I have posted on my blog seem to have attracted a little bit of attention. That in turn has spurred me on to taking more and I’m beginning now to really enjoy the challenges of taking photos as much as I do with the WordPress writing challenges I sometimes take part in.
RW: Tell my Friends about where you live that produces those great flowers in your photos.
HUGH: We currently live in Hove, known by some as “Hove Actually” because of the Alfred Hitchcock 1938 movie ‘The Lady Vanishes’ when Miss Froy, one of the characters, refers to herself as coming from Brighton and then goes on to say “well, Hove actually, just down the coast”. It’s situated in the county of East Sussex and is on the south coast of the UK, just over fifty miles south of London. Many people know our bigger neighbour, Brighton, far better, but the two now form a conurbation along with some other smaller towns and villages along the coast. Hove was first established right back in the 12th century, so has been around for a very long time. We have a wonderful climate, plenty of sunshine and rain, which helps the garden blossom.
RW: And I’ll go ahead and ask for my Photo Geek Friends, what type of camera do you use? Go ahead and be all techno numbers and all of that for those that speak Cameranese.
HUGH: Would you believe it if I said I take all my photos on an iPhone 4? Well, that’s where they have all come from. I love all things ‘Apple’ and am probably a marketing dream for them. iMac, iPad, iPhone, iCloud, Apple TV, I have it all, thanks to all the Apple Vouchers I get for Christmas and Birthdays (I’m so easy to buy for, so please take note). Between us, we once had five, I kid you not, five iPads! OK, some were from the very early days and I’ve sold a few since then, but I can not walk past the Apple store without having to go inside. That’s why I had to write my latest short story, ‘The Truth App’, in honour of the staff at our local Apple store.
RW: (I told you he was one of . . . those people.) And tell us about your love of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
HUGH: Well, it’s over to my partner, John, here, because he was the one that wanted to get a dog and it had to be a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. I suppose with us both being Welsh, we had to have a Welsh dog, but it was when John first saw one at Crufts, that he had to get one. What we did not know is that these dogs are on the vulnerable breeds lists here in the UK, with less than 100 being born every year. Originally they were bred for herding cattle and I understand they are still used for that purpose over in the States. Ours is called Toby and he’s become a bit of a star over on my blog recently, having now posted two posts about some of the walks he goes on. When I wrote those posts, I wrote them as if I were him, so from his perspective, and I’ve had some really positive comments left on those posts. When my sister was over on a visit from Australia recently, she referred to him as a “little human”. I guess that’s because we do spoil him a lot, but many people have also told us what a wonderful character he has. He knows the words, walk, chicken, cheese, custard, sausage, rice pudding, and mince pies (at Christmas time) and seems to even know what day of the week it is. He’s one clever chap.
RW: Once everyone stops looking at Toby tell us where you get your inspiration from for your stories?
HUGH: Lots of places really, some strange, some not so strange. Take for example my short story, Last Train to Aldwych. Grace Simmons, the main character in that story, introduced herself and told me her story while I was doing a pile of ironing. As soon as I had finished ironing that last sock (no, I don’t really iron socks, honestly!), I sat down and wrote the story. Other stories have come from prompts and WordPress writing challenges, while the inspiration for others have come from other bloggers. I’m currently working on a two-part short story which came as an inspiration from a photo I saw on one of the blogs I follow. The author doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll be asking if I can use their photo so I can include it in the post. My passion is for writing short stories and although they do not get as many views as my photo posts do, I’m very proud of myself for not letting the fact that I have dyslexia get in my way anymore. I used to see dyslexia as a monster, but happy to say that I managed to tame it, with the help of a few fellow bloggers who really encouraged me to continue with my blog. I am so thankful to those bloggers, who I now class as friends, for all the support and encouragement they gave me. And, yes, I’ve even written a post about defeating the monster I called dyslexia.
A few other bloggers have since also confided in me they have dyslexia, and I’m now giving them the support and encouragement I received, to carry on doing what we all love to do, write.
I also get a lot of inspiration from listening to music while I write, especially when writing short stories. ‘Dreamland” by Robert Miles is currently my favourite album to write to. If I ever bumped into Mr Miles, I would certainly have to buy him dinner and a few drinks, as a thank you.
RW: Do you have a writing spot in your home? That place that you go to where nothing distracts you from the flow of creation?
HUGH: I used to have two spots, one being the kitchen, but I don’t tend to write in there much anymore now. The main spot for me is in our study. The desk looks out over towards Hove Recreation Ground, which maybe does not sound so nice, but believe me, whilst it’s not as pretty as some of the other parks we have in Brighton & Hove, it’s lovely to look out at while I am writing. It’s used by lots of people and also used a lot for sports like rugby and cricket and I have often included bits of conversations in my posts which I have overheard whilst walking Toby in there. Of course I change what I have heard, so that it more reflects how I would have said it, but it’s a source of some great conversations. If I also see an interesting person walking in the grounds while writing, I’ll give them a name and use them in one of my stories. That might put people who live in the area and reading this, off from going in there now, but just think of it this way. One day, the inspiration you gave me, may become a Hollywood blockbuster movie or best selling novel. Who am I kidding!!?
RW: That is a great view from the window, I was thinking it would be more distracting than that. You mention a book you are working on in your bio, how is that coming along and do I get a free copy?
HUGH: Of course you can have a free copy. I’d even sign it ‘Hugh Grant” if you wanted?
I started writing the book in late 2012. As a child, I had two main ambitions. I wanted to write a book and have it published, and I also wanted to have a number one hit single! The trouble with the last one, is that although I am Welsh (Welsh men can really sing you know, just look at all the Welsh Male Voice Choirs there are) I can’t sing. I’m absolutely tone deaf and, unlike dyslexia, I’ve not been able to tame it. I was thrown out of many a school choir for not being able to sing and if my parents protested with the school headmaster, then I’d get back in, but only to be given the part of playing the xylophone or, even worse, the tambourine!
I’m afraid the book has had to take a bit of a back seat since I started my blog, because that is where most of my free time now goes. I’d like to think of it as my first book, but because I’ve really enjoyed writing short stories since starting my blog, I am thinking of perhaps putting all of them into a book and self publishing them first. I will certainly go back to the book and don’t think I’ve done any harm in leaving it alone for a while. I read somewhere recently that some authors can leave finishing writing books for years, then go back to them to finishing them off and the book then becomes an international best seller.
The book I am writing is about life in London in the 1980’s and 90’s. I lived in London for 27 years before coming to Hove and the book is based on my life in the city during those times. Some of it is based on fact, a lot is fiction, but I had such an interesting and wonderful time whilst living in London, that I wanted it to be recorded somewhere, so the ambition I had as a child, may just come true, one day.
RW: Does Blogging ever interfere with your social responsibilities?
HUGH: Oh, John is going to like you for asking me this question, I can guarantee it. Did he ask you to ask this question? I bet he did didn’t he? I have to be very honest here, because after all, I’m a very honest person, so my answer is yes. Both John and myself are tidy people. We hate clutter and like everything to be in place, that’s why we get on so well and have been together for nearly 21 years, but, blogging has taken over my life. Sure, I’ll do the chores, walk Toby, empty the bin, make the beds, and all that, but I’m probably not as thorough as I was before I started my blog. I’m not saying that the house is now looking like a store does at the end of the first day of the sale, but I do rather tend to rush the social responsibilities these days, so that I can log on to the blog and start reading and writing. That reminds me, I need to descale the coffee machine before it seizes up for good. Thanks for the prompt!
RW: When did you start your blog?
HUGH: 12th February 2014, so it has a birthday which we will be celebrating next year, much to John’s amusement I might add. February is a big month for us, because not only is it the birthday month of my blog, but John also has a birthday that month, our civil partnership anniversary is the same month and, of course, who could forget valentine’s day as well?
A family member introduced me to WordPress in early February after I inquired with the family if they knew anybody who blogged? I don’t think most of them thought I was being serious when I told them I was thinking of starting my own blog and one friend even told me to be careful because of internet trolls and all that, but I saw it as a way to tell my story and write about all the various elements of everyday life I love so much. Although I have dyslexia, I seem to be able to explain things by writing them down far better than by talking about them. Starting a blog has given me so much confidence and its the perfect way to get over my views and news. Hence the blog name, Hugh’s Views and News.
RW: I notice you around the Blog Block so to speak in my reading of other bloggers and your likes and comments; do you notice a difference in style between bloggers from different parts of the world?
HUGH: Yes, hugely. Not only in the way the author writes, but also in that of the comments that are left. Reading blogs is such a great way of finding out about different cultures and how people live their lives on a daily basis. You can really get to know somebody so well just from engaging with them by asking questions and leaving comments on posts.
Perhaps the saddest thing about it though is that you can read some comments, which can be read as being offensive to some, but to others may be perfectly normal. I’ve come across that quite recently and was going to react as I thought a particular comment somebody had left on a blog I follow was rather offensive. But then I thought ‘its not my blog’ and I looked at it from the ‘other side of the coin’ and thought about the position the person who had left the comment was in. The person who owned the blog obviously hadn’t seen it as an offensive comment as otherwise they would have removed it, so I moved on, without saying anything.
RW: What type of Blogs do you tend to gravitate toward?
HUGH: I follow a lot of blogs which concentrate on one subject but I tend to gravitate more to those which contain lots of variety. My own blog contains short stories, photos, reviews, my views on life, television and commercials, as well as a few other categories. I have seen some bloggers create brand new blogs because they think having too much variety on their blog looks messy. I’m not so sure about that. Yes, if I am looking for a blog that only contains recipes, then it’s great to find a blog that contains only recipes, but I like a good mixture in a blog (no pun intended there)! I like to get to know the blogger, and by having lots of variety on their blog, I know I can achieve that because it will tell me more about them other than that they may be a great cook. So I tend to graduate towards blogs that have lots of variety. After all, they do say that variety is the spice of life, don’t they?
RW: You seem to really enjoy what you do, what advice can you give others to help keep them motivated to blog and enjoy? Do you have something like a limit of time, a number of posts per week, anything like that?
HUGH: My first piece of advise would to be to treat your blog as if it were alive. I’d better explain that a little more, hadn’t I? To me, I see my blog as being alive. To stay alive, it needs plenty of nourishment. I look at a post I have written myself, as a meal for my blog.
Because I have written the post, I look at it as if it were a meal I had prepared myself from fresh wholesome ingredients. When I press that publish button, I’m feeding my blog a good meal to keep it nourished. I look at re-blogs as ready made meals because I am not the original author.
None the less, when I re-blog something, then I am still feeding my blog and giving it nourishment, thus keeping it alive. There’s absolutely no problem in taking a break from your blog to try and get the creative juices flowing, but try not to leave it too long, otherwise it may pass away. Always consider re-blogging something you have found interesting from another blog if you have nothing to publish yourself. After all we are all told to visit, read and comment on other blogs so as to connect with other bloggers and create new openings and attract new followers.
So my first piece of advise is to feed your blog, even if it means just re-blogging something occasionally.
My second piece of advise is to connect and engage with your followers and anyone, other than trolls, who leave a comment on your posts. I always thank anyone for taking the time to read and comment on a post I have published because, by doing so, I am then engaging with them. I always answer any questions they ask me and in turn I may go back and ask them questions or for further comments on the answers I have given. I know some bloggers are going to get huge amounts of comments and won’t be able to respond to them all. but I think it sad when I come across a blog and see absolutely no response to comments from the author.
When I first started blogging, I thought I’d stick to one post a month, but that soon became two posts a month, to three and so on, because I was really enjoying what I was doing. I try and post something on my own blog at least twice a week. Of course if you are not enjoying what you doing then stop and move on to something else. That’s exactly what I did after my two year relationship with the gym fell apart.
RW: Finally for my Big Three Questions. What is your favorite scent/aroma/fragrance and why?
HUGH: Mint. I love the stuff, not only on my roast lamb, but also as an aroma around the house. It makes the whole place smell fresh and clean, which of course my house is, after you asking me that earlier question about social responsibilities.
RW: What is your favorite beverage?
HUGH: Tea. I suppose that is the Britishness in me. I love the stuff especially when I have a pack of Oreos or chocolate digestives to dunk into the tea. Pure bliss!
RW: And finally, what is your favorite word and why?
HUGH: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch – go on, I dare you to check it out. It’s a real Welsh word. If I can’t chose that word because it’s not an English word, then I’d say “Twist” Not in the dance or pain sense, but in the story sense. I love a story or movie with a great twist or two in it.
I want to thank Hugh for the interview and what I have to say was an enjoyable time. Make sure to visit and follow him at Hugh’s Views & News and also on Twitter at @RobertHughes05. Also click Hugh’s favorite Bananarama song below and watch him dance along. I like to have a little fun with those guests that have that touch of humor about them. All that’s missing are the long socks and sandals he loves to wear.
. . . asked if I would participate, how could I say no? I doubt she hears no very often. She’s a great source of a lot of writing advice. She finds the articles and then posts them with her own comments from writing experience and links back to the articles she’s found. She’s not just a sharer, she’s a liver of it, and a doer of it. She’s living in our world of writing. Definitely click the Link above the top photo for her answer to the questions I’m about to answer. I mean, she’s sold a book to a studio?
Now to me. I know . . . but it’s part of the deal. Over time answers change to the same questions of life. It all depends on where you are in whatever aspect of life is being asked about. The longer I write and blog the more the answers change and mature.
1) What am I working on?
I am a varied book of writing ideas. I continue to try and work on a YA novel revise and edit. That SHOULD be at the forefront of my priorities, followed by my New Adult/Adult Romance, then my Blog. However, with the thoughts that keep rushing to my head, my absence of impulse control and lack of filter due to a concussion the Blog tends to lead the way and is quite enjoyable.
The YA book is about siblings that find themselves in predicaments. I really can’t say much more than that. I believe it to be a fairly original idea. Perhaps it is no overly original but I like to think it is a good idea.
The Romance is actually the second in a series of a Romance trilogy I was working on. The first I began revising to put more of my voice into it, but recently realized the second is actually the better overall and that I could really throw myself into it. The main character is a man with heart and great love for the love of his life and I think I can put myself into that character and connect with him more.
2) How does my work differ from other genres?
I’ll take this by threes again. My Blog is more than a hodgepodge. If it comes into my mind it comes out of my fingertips. I’ve learned that no matter what we share on a blog that someone will find it and connect with it. It may not be a hit with everyone, but one connection is all the satisfaction one needs sometimes. My site is called RonovanWrites and that’s exactly what I do. I write . . . anything and everything . . . tastefully so or at least I hope so.
In my YA writing I try to give the young characters more depth than perhaps people realize is there. There are more layers to young people than we think. Having been a teacher and then especially having been involved in Youth Ministry I really paid attention to and WANTED to understand what those layers were. I never assumed that ‘what you see is what you get’ with a student. You can say the same about a reader.
My Romance writing is, well . . . in this second book which I want to become the main book, I do more than just give you the man’s view I give you his everything. It’s a very different sort of love story, I believe in how I handle it. It is very much how I feel about love.
3) Why do I write what I do?
On the Blog it’s a creative outlet that actually helps me with my novel writing. I’ve discovered that through all of the articles I’ve written that I have a certain voice and style that I have had trouble finding as a writer of novels. Also it allows me to release a lot of internal things that occur due to pain from illnesses and other emotional experiences.
I love young people so the YA is something I truly enjoy. I connect with young people and I really love them. There needs to be books that are better for them to read than a lot that are out there right now.
Romance and New Adult or Adult focused material is obviously something I can really get into, and this particular novel is just truly something I can become a part of because it’s already a part of me.
4) How does my writing process work?
For the Blog I’ll be having a conversation and it starts me to thinking about an article, or just a word will lead me to a poem. Even the mistreatment of my friends begins a creation. Normally whatever comes out the fingertips is what ends up being put out there. I edit very little. I give my Friends, as I call those who read my blog, my honesty.
For YA I get a general idea of what I want and then start free writing. If it’s going well then I know I have something. Sometimes I’ll end up a sketch outline over future chapters, more like quick ‘To Remember’ things. I actually keep a word document up called ‘(Title of WIP) To Remember) and quickly make note of an idea or even of something that I am writing that might change something that happened previously, and also any research that I want to do.
Romance is a bit similar to YA but I let the heart lead the way. Outlining isn’t as much on the plate. I know you might be able to do some type of rough sketch outline of a general place you want to go, but I just think that, for me using the heart in this one, I can’t outline or tell it where to go. You can’t tell your heart what to feel and you can’t tell it where to go . . . it just goes where it wants to.
After I write a manuscript I then try to walk away for a bit. Recently I even had the YA novel read by a mother and teen daughter to get their thoughts. The daughter is the target audience and the mother of course is someone who might approve the purchase or even make it on her own.
The first draft went fairly well but as I said there are a few areas I need to work on and some of those areas I discovered in conversations with the woman and her daughter. They didn’t even realize they were telling me what I needed to know at this point but it was even better than the notes that I had been given, because the book just came up in conversation and wasn’t a main thought. I was able to get what they remembered and enjoyed.
I think going back and talking to readers a deal of time after they’ve read a book is actually a great way to determine if you wrote a great story, or at least what were the great parts.
Now I am taking what I learned and revising. It’s been a few months since I’ve touched the book. It’s time.
Again I want to thank Jenna for asking me to be a part of this Writing Blog Hop. Everyone, really go check out Jen’s Pen Den and you’ll find articles with great info with links to great information as well.
Now for the next ones for you to be on the look out for their answers to the questions are:
Cyril Bussiere-You’ll recognize the name as some of you already follow his blog. This will be an opportunity to see how he writes and answers to the other questions above. The questions I SHOULD have asked. His book The WorldMight is at Amazon, click here to see it. @cyrilbussiere.
Luccia Gray-Many of us know her already through her blog Rereading Jane Eyre. Her book All Hallows At Eyre Hall is available at Amazon. Click here to see. Follower her on Twitter at @LucciaGray .
As the three come out I will also Reblog them here on RonovanWrites so no one misses them.
“I don’t care, I’m not going to like it.” Martin’s arms were firmly crossed in combat formation.
“I know, dear.”
He lifted his hands, shoulders up around his ears. The first crack in his battle formation. “Then why are we going?”
“Because we must. If we don’t, you know what they will say.” Margaret’s head bobbed with every other word.
Martin’s hand slapped down on his gray slacks. He shook his head and stared at the sidewalk. The shaking stopped, and he looked at me. “I will trade with you.”
I held my hands up in defense.
He nodded. “I thought so.” He turned to Margaret. “See, I told you. I doubt I could pay for someone to take my place.” His shoulders sagged, his eyes focused on the reliable cracks in the pavement.
“No one you ask will know what you’re talking about. Besides, if we don’t go then we won’t be able to stop off at Strom’s Deli on the way back.” She leaned forward, as if she were looking for the bus.
The shoulders straightened. Martin’s eyes lifted from the sidewalk. “Well, I guess it would look bad if we were the only ones not there. It’s not like I have any problems with it, it’s just that it’s so far away. But if it will make you happy, then okay.”
Martin stood up as he heard the whine of the bus, that sound only a bus makes. Margaret stood and looked down at me. She winked and put her arm in through the crook of her husband’s.
He helped her up onto the first step of the bus and then followed. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But so is his weakness.
“Jude and Nina are the epitome of that whole raw, unflinching love thing that most people are jealous of. That is, until Jude dies and wakes up in The Waiting Room, surrounded by other souls who are all waiting to pass over into their next life. But unlike those souls, Jude’s name is never called by the mysterious “receptionist”. He waits, watching Nina out of giant windows. He’s waiting for her. What is this place? How long will he wait? And what will happen when and if Nina does join him? The Waiting Room is a story of not just love, but of faith, predestination, and philosophy, friendship and self-actualization, of waiting.”
Alysha Kaye Author of The Waiting Room Interview
Today I’m spotlighting newly published author Alysha Kaye. Her debut novel The Waiting Room was just released at the end of June and we are fortunate to be a part of her tour.
I immediately wanted to be involved with this tour when I saw not only the premise of Alysha’s novel but also the fact that she’s a teacher. This old man holds a fondness for the noble profession.
Alysha received her BA in Creative Writing from Texas State University and was accepted into Teach America ending up in of all places, Oahu, HI. I am still recovering from that piece of information.
But even Hawaii, where she received her Masters in Education from the University of Hawaii couldn’t keep her from the her home state where she now teaches 7th Grade in Austin.
Now for the interview!
Having read the summary of The Waiting Room, I just had to start off by asking;
RW: Where did the idea for the book come from?Was it some event or what that sparked the idea?
ALYSHA: I had a dream about waiting for my boyfriend after death. I was in a strange room that looked a lot like an airport terminal. I wound up writing him a (very cheesy) poem about it and somehow, that became an entire novel! I just couldn’t get it out of my head.
RW: Alysha, I know from having been in the classroom that free time is rare, even at home. Many people don’t realize the time you have to put into teaching, unless you have a very good system in place. How do you balance teaching and writing, managing the other aspects of your life?
ALYSHA: It’s extremely hard! Teaching is exhausting, especially my lovely middle schoolers haha but I adore them. I try to get all of my lesson planning and grading done at school so that when I come home, my night is free for writing/blogging, and everything else in between.
RW: I know from reading what I’ve written things surprise me in what I learn. What did you learn about yourself while writing this book?
Take a look at the article, but there is one that is free that I don’t think they really mention here, but they might.
Youtube.com. Yes, you can do a personal video about your book, like an interview of sorts, post it and then share it everywhere you are present in social media.Put the link on everything you have. People will get a personal connection to you. Just make sure that you test it on some people, including some internet friends and see if the right feel is coming across that you want. And think about asking people for reviews of your book. They can record their response or you can put a clip of the email message in a nice form on the screen for the people to see.
I’ve seen some really cheesy, read BAD, ones done. I couldn’t even finish them and it made me not even download the free Kindle book just as a show of support.
Agents and Publishers alike want the authors to do a lot more of the marketing and promotion these days. The article tells you some easy ways and the Youtube idea is one more.
And each time you get a new review you could add it as a new Youtube clip with you reading it as it appears on the screen. Basically you have your own author Youtube channel. Remember that when naming any social media anything. Everything needs to be able to work together name wise. But that’s for another article.
Why in the world Mrs. Cindy of A Slice of Life nominated me only the Lord knows. But as I read her About The Author page I found someone that was like me in many ways. God in life, lover of History, and then it happened I read these words, “I love classic movies, especially the films with actors such as Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, and Deborah Kerr. I enjoy movies like “An Affair to Remember” and “Adam’s Rib” in which these actors starred. How does the saying go? They don’t make movies like that anymore.”
I couldn’t find the Follow quick enough. And I say Amen to that. And of course one look at her and you just have to follow that happy joy filled face.
She said she nominated me “For good, and honest writing.” She’s got a direct line to the Lord, so I am not going to say she fibbed on that one.
Here are the rules:
1.Thank and link to the amazing person who nominated you.
2.List the rules and display the award.
3.Share seven facts about yourself.
4.Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.
5.Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.
Now for the seven facts:
I have cut my own hair for over 20 years now. Imagine the money I’ve saved, not only on haircuts but all of those dates early on that said no. Think about it.
Considering I have an Amen lady giving me the award, I was baptized in my 20s by a man in his late 70s. I’m 6’1” and was 240 lbs at the time. Needless to say, I was a bit skeered, but I decided that if he couldn’t bring me back up I was covered anyway. Can I get an Amen on that one?
Since she mentioned it in her About The Author page, I’ll say it here. My favorite actor is Cary Grant, followed closely by Sidney Poitier. There are more similarities between these two men than you think. I’ve read biographies and autobiographies on both and taken notes.
One of my favorite TV shows ever is apparently Golden Girls. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. Add Designing Women to that and if I could actually watch TV now I would probably be happy for the rest of my life, oh and don’t forget the Cosby Show. Just like Mrs. Cindy said about not making movies like they used to, they don’t make TV shows like they used to either.
My favorite candy bar is the Butter Finger but I also have an affinity for the Peanut Butter Snickers. I think you see the link.
Nobody cooks fried chicken like my MawMaw. But then she can’t make homemade tortillas and grilled soft tacos either. But give me the chicken!
I make an excellent homemade grilled zucchini and squash pizza. That includes the crust and sauce–homemade that is.
“I suppose the thing most people notice about me [other than my charm and good looks – shh mum or I’ll put you in a home] is my generosity of spirit and my deep belief in sharing my opinion with anyone who will stand still long enough to hear it.
If you’re busy and don’t have time to stop and listen don’t fret I’m nimble and can expound even as I chase you down the street. I’ve recently started this blog for all those who are unlucky enough not to have the benefit of my erudite opinions in person and I would dearly love to see you at Unload and Unwind again.”
“I am firm believer that the difficult times in life can help bring out our true potentials. After experiencing a pretty crappy 18 months or so, I only look back on those times as a blessing. For those darker times, are the times which inspire me the most. Last year I became lost, but through writing (as cliché as this sounds!) I hope to find myself again. I could waffle on, but I shall save that for my blog!”
Anyone that has my blog over the past few weeks knows I am a fan of Amanda’s. I reblogged while she was on ‘vacation’. That turned out be not exactly the right word for it. Amanda has inspired me in the past with her humor and the way she puts a blog together. She’s one of the best. But it’s not always about humor, or not JUST about humor. She shows us more and doesn’t pull punches or hide anything in the article Amanda Does Thailand: Part One. I learned a lot from this one. I read it twice and will likely read it again. And the photography is amazing. You see Thailand not from a tour guide ad but from one of us.
“I’d very much like to become a published author, but mostly I want to write great stories and share the characters from my brain with others in a way that is compelling. Because, to tell you the truth, I love these people in my head….well most of them. Some of them are pretty awful and creepy, but I can’t imagine a story without them, either.”
She’s one of us. I mean that as in she’s ‘an author in the works’. I like how she shares on her site. I feel connected in some similarities in our approaches even if we don’t end up in the same places. Plus she is great and loyal follower where she follows. I honestly think if I needed someone to help me with something, like a quick blog post or anything, I could go to her and she would help. We’ve never really been in conversations like that but her actions in what she does do just tells me that. That inspires me.
“So I have set up this blog with no plan, no posts written and no idea where to proceed from here but determined to at least try and post something (if my nervously sweaty fingers don’t slip off the publish button).”
Read the article The Kindness of Strangers along with her About page and you will see why I’m inspired. Again some similarities I feel between us but she has done so much with her life, including a second blog The Happy Starfish.
“I aim to give you a greater understanding of how writing can positively effect your life and overcome issues you may have with the world or yourself. I hope to open your eyes to important news stories and maybe show you a different view point on a highly opinionated topic.”
I enjoy Steven’s site because it’s different. I like the interviews he does and the fun he has. It makes me want to explore other things to do. I have interviews in the works but his are entertaining.
“I am a writer, educator, and internet enthusiast. I want everyone to be able to experience the joy of writing, and my intention is to help people become better writers.”
You ever followed someone and keep seeing them around liking the same things you do and you just seem to share the same interests? That’s Hilary and me. Wherever I go I see her there. She’s me in a more creative mind and better grasp of writing. And she looks better too. I would note one article of hers but you need to visit and choose for yourself. I like the one about How to write Haiku, oh wait, that was a reblog of my article. Ah, she has good taste too, did I mention that?
Well that is it for this time folks. I chose a variety for you with true reasons behind the receiving of the Inspiration award.
Sometimes things come out of the blue. For me most of the do. Yes I can make a joke or two. But I only will get by with a few.
One of those out of the blue moments occurred when I received this particular Very Inspiring Blogger Award from Be Inspired. In all honesty from the site I believe I will be enjoying digger deeper into what is to be found there. Then on top of that to know who nominated this particular site makes it even more interesting, StantonSunshine.
I encourage you all to visit both sites to see why they received their nominations. I don’t think it will take you long.
1.Thank and link to the amazing person who nominated you.
2.List the rules and display the award.
3.Share seven facts about yourself.
4.Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.
5.Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.
I’ve decided to do my seven facts a little different than usual. Since this is the Inspiring Blogger Award I wanted to share some facts that I hope might inspire someone reading. And if you do go to my page and read my work, just know some of it is just getting things out of my head to get rid of it. That’s the great thing about writing, getting rid of the clutter.
The Facts:
After high school I didn’t go straight into college. I worked for a few years at various jobs. Once I was ready, I was ready. I made the Dean’s List and all of that type of thing. I mention this because some people feel pressure to immediately go to college or some feel that it’s been too long to go to college. You’ll know when.
I didn’t have the greatest biological father. A lot of people can say that. For some it may pretty much destroy their lives. I ended up with a great step-father, who I refer to as my father now. But as a result of those early years I have a love of children, not necessarily wanting to throw myself into the middle of a bunch of 1st Graders, but I love to see happy kids. Whenever I would work in a classroom of young ones the inevitable would happen . . . the lap time. Of course I would then stand up the rest of the day. I know I may look like a big teddy bear, but there are some things you just have to be aware of these days. But I’m good with kids even though I say they’re not my specialty in the education field.
The first girlfriend I had basically was using me to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. It didn’t last long. I wasn’t happy about it, but as time went by I realized some people aren’t worth the memories.
Prayer works.I know it does because I’ve seen it in action. People say things happen by coincidence. No, not so much. I’ve prayed specifics and they’ve happened. I’ve prayed for things doctors have said would never happen, and they happened. I know God doesn’t always answer us the way we want Him to, or sometimes people don’t realize the answer has been given, but it’s there. I didn’t become a comic book artist. Does that mean God didn’t answer that prayer? No, it means He said no, or it might even be a ‘wait’. But I turned to writing.
I am drawn to those who need help in some way. It doesn’t start out as such but somehow over time I discover I am in a new friendship for a purpose. Again, I don’t believe in coincidences. I may help that person to the point of mental and physical exhaustion, but I will help them. And I know that the friendship will probably move on and away at some point but I like to hope I leave the person in a better way than when I stumbled upon them.
I was about three months away from being diagnosed as diabetic when I had a fall that changed my life. I was already on high blood pressure medicine so add being diabetic to that and wow. But the doctor was giving me a chance. After the checkup I then had the fall. There was nothing I could do with my life at that point but I knew somehow that I needed to lose weight. At the next checkup after the accident I was no longer prediabetic, and I no longer am on high blood pressure medicine. I set my mind . . . no, I changed my mind to know I could do something and I did it.
I have Fibromyalgia and Migraines, along with Osteoarthritis. I’m in my early 40s. I face a future without the ability to work, and judgments of people who see a healthy me and wondering why I am a lazy bum. I blog. I share whatever comes to this odd mind of mine and somehow some of it speaks to some people. I can stop when the pain gets too bad. I don’t get paid in money, but I feel I have worth. As for being a lazy bum? It’s kind of funny. I would kind of like to wander around their home one day unannounced and see how perfect their home is and their life is. The people that count in my life understand me and that’s all that matters.
What makes some qualify as an Inspiring Blogger to me? I believe for one I have to be able to connect in some way to the person behind the blog. There also needs to be something more than just talent. I look for sincerity behind the mirror that is my laptop screen.
These are in no particular order:
Brett of Brett’s Future-A recent addition to my family of Reader Friends, Brett and I share some similarities, partly being of comparable age and insanity of having done the corporate world angle to now venture into the world of words.
Hannah at Inked Roses-I met Hannah during Writing 101 for Blogging University. I have to say that I’ve seen her comment and pop up from time to time around my blog and there is always a sense of honesty in her likes. I enjoy that. Revisiting her site for this award I am blown away by her storytelling. Her Writing 101 material is dead on and she shared things in a way I couldn’t. A great writer with a delicate touch. I want that, but I’m heavy handed and plodding. I admire her. I want her to do more. I want to see what else she can do. That wanting inspires me. Know what I mean? If you don’t want more are you inspired?
KiwiBee at Snap Thoughts-Life is an adventure for this young lady. I admire her exploring her world. Looking at her blog more for this award I am more inspired than when I first selected her. An American in Paris? No, try South Korea. From Wyoming to South Korea? Read her About to find out. I love journal entry style she uses, and the photography of the country she now lives in. Her and her fiance also have another blog together Korea Bound that I am about to start looking into.
Dazzling Whimsy– I’ve followed her blog since she began and the inspiring part is how it has become a bright and shining spot to escape to. Her photography is of everything around her with beautiful flowers and daughters, and yes the daughters are little girls with brown and or hazel eyes. So of course I was sucked into that world. Take a look at her articles and you see a Mom who loves her kids and apparently does everything possible to give them the best life she can. Who isn’t inspired by that? Also she doesn’t just share a photo she also gives a story behind it. I like that for an occasional change if the is a real story to tell. She has the stories.
I am supposed to nominate many more, but over the course of time I’ve been through many and I follow so many blogs that it’s difficult to keep all of them sorted properly. My apologies but at times the combination of concussion recovery and Fibromyalgia take their toll and now is one of those times. I will nominate others at another time perhaps once things are better but for now I believe I have given quality blogs for you to take a look at. They are different from each other and I believe you will find enjoyment with each.
Well I have to say that this is an amazing article. It humbled me in many ways. Everyone visit this link to Brett’s page and Follow him. He’s starting a life as a writer and I have to say that if this article is a beginning, then I am so far behind him that I don’t deserve to have my name mentioned in it. So yes, I say again. Click and read and Follow and also follow him on Twitter as another show of support. @BrettsFuture We all need that little shot of double espresso sometimes.
I sit here in restless repose forcing myself to relax. Mind aflutter, new venture afoot; uncertainty over my standing. In my heart the path is right. But that demon called fear casts a shadow before me.
I reflect upon the week of boldness I have just completed. There are lessons I’ve learned along the way, important reminders to guide my journey. Initial thoughts are important thoughts I tell myself as I struggle with my focus. Why is that I ask? Surely the lessons grow stronger with time, with greater experience? So I sit and contemplate why I feel this way.
Then I realize that these initial thoughts are like espresso, the initial injection in coffee each morning. That first rush after waking as you consider the long day stretched out ahead. You know that the cup you hold in your hand will not get you to the end. But that…
There is an odd attachment one gets to a song. The title alone draws me in. The lone voice. The simple almost haunting music. Finally the lyrics themselves.
Written by Paul McCartney in 1967 and recorded by the Beatles the same year, this song ended up on their Magical Mystery Tour album. The film of which was a McCartney endeavor from beginning to end. The Beatles never performed this song together live before an audience.
I am alone in my thoughts. I see things others do not. I am aware that some do not like my opinions. But I know the world keeps turning and I keep burning inside. Melancholy? Perhaps just admission of reality. Is admission of truth melancholy? Or is it acceptance so one can continue forward?
Day after day, alone on the hill
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he’s just a fool
And he never gives an answer
But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning around
Well on the way, head in a cloud
The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud
But nobody ever hears him
Or the sound he appears to make
And he never seems to notice
But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning around
And nobody seems to like him
They can tell what he wants to do
And he never shows his feelings
But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning around
He never listens to them
He knows that they’re the fools
They don’t like him
The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning around
Poetry comes from anywhere and everywhere. Not very helpful sounding is it? Let’s say you are eating cereal one morning at the breakfast table and you hear a clink in the kitchen of glasses. The sound triggers a memory, you are drawn back into childhood. A feeling comes over you of the spoon growing larger as you shrink back into childhood and become seven years old again.
Cold milk with floating Os
Clinking glasses in the sink
Shrinking tiny fingers
Pulling mind back to think
Oh those yesteryears
So simple way back when
They bring a smile to my face
Every now and then
Admittedly that’s not my best work, but as quickly as I am writing this piece today I am creating it without stopping and just letting the thoughts flow. I did not have an idea for the cereal or anything when I started typing this article. I might would go back and tweak this a bit to be better but for now I wanted you to see what can inspire a poem. And words don’t have to be beautiful stand alone words, or rhyme. By that I mean these poetically sounding words. They can just be ordinary words, which are what most of my work is.
Ordinary words touch everyone. You can understand one of my pieces instantly. That’s not to say mine are better than another persons, I just want you to know that just because you don’t think with those words doesn’t mean you cannot write poetry. You can write a poem in everyday words, and then look up synonyms and have fun with it.
Now I want to go into a recent poem I wrote and how it came about to show you the process. I dislike calling it a process because I really don’t have one. I think instead I will call it the creation of the poem. Even in my writing of this article I just let the words flow and go with it. Instead of correcting the use of ‘process’ I explained it and then created a new way of expressing my work. This is how poetry works as well.
The poem is Truth in a Picture. I needed a pick me up piece to do. I wanted to write something happy and full of life. For this I usually go to photos, sometimes of friends online but sometimes just wandering about the web. I wandered. I looked up some art paintings and happy did not happy.
The colors caught my eye, then sadness. There’s no doubt the woman is beautiful, but then you see more.
After the glimpse of color I saw the eyes and how they looked vacant and broken. It reminded me of pictures I have seen of female friends where the smile doesn’t reach the eyes.
That’s when the poem began, or perhaps it began as soon as I saw the eyes.
Thoughts came to me of what if I were the woman and knew what a man was thinking as he saw me looking beautiful but inside I didn’t even care because I knew the truth.
What if I knew why I looked the way I did? What if I knew this was my mask, my disguise?
Happy didn’t happen.
I’m not a long form poem writer very often, not that this is a long poem at all. I usually get my thoughts out as efficiently as they come to me. I looked at the painting and then closed my eyes and typed. I remembered the eyes, the nose and the lips. I thought of how makeup and lipstick are paints of disguise. I thought of how the paint attracts attention to disguise the harm caused by attention. I imagined her thoughts at each of his thoughts.
I then thought of the flip side of that and what the woman was underneath the pain and what the paint covered up. I altered the picture to show what was underneath.
Sleep circles and bruises. The colorlessness a woman feels . . . the lifelessness. I took each of the previous thoughts and made them the truth from her side.
The reaction to the poem has been encouraging in the honesty of it. I was asked how do I know what women think. My replies never really captured my thoughts. I don’t know that I do know what women think, I just know how I feel about something and then I put it into words. Somehow in this piece I contained an anger until after I was finished. The anger would have turned it into a much different piece. I’m not sure I could have written that piece.
I tend to tell a story in my poems, be it my autobiography or some societal thing that plagues my mind. I do try to have fun with it at times, but that is rare. Write what comes out of your fingertips. Let your mind take over, let your heart set the tempo, and get out of the way.
Neha, rhyme mistress and word wizard of ForgottenMeadows allowed me to be involved in this Virtual Blog Tour. Why and how she put me down as one of her choices for involvement I will never know. I’m a strange man in a strange land.
What can I say about Neha?
Her words are aloe,
Soothing broken and lost souls,
Is her magic gift.
Her poetry is varied. You never know what emotion she will pluck out on any given day, but you know it will happen. But is it her poetry that gets you? I have found the person behind the words is what makes the difference to me. Through exchanged comments and communications I find that her words fail to capture what she is. What can come close is when she opens up her site to allow others to contribute and grow as artists by joining together to create a montage masterpiece under her watchful eye. Wordsmith? Yes. Heart and much more? Definite.
Before you must suffer in my answers regarding my writing and creative process you get to enjoy the TALENTED of this show. How do you choose just three from hundreds of people you follow? I had criteria in my mind. Talent, activity, as in enough to keep them on my mind, and fascination with their passions. To me if there is no passion behind production then it’s pointless. There are many that could have been on this list, but I believe those reading this will agree with those I chose.
Mara says this about herself-“I’m apparently not happy enough to nag real people around me and feel compelled to invade also the virtual space. ” “I’m a bad photographer and worse poet, which doesn’t prevent me from sharing my creations with complete strangers.”
From those words above there is obviously modesty inside of Mara as well. Her photography is unique in that it captures more than your traditional postcard picture art you might see from some. There is life in her photography that even she is not aware of. Her eye and talent naturally finds it and I sometimes even am inspired to write a poem. I look forward to her revealing how her process works.
Oscar is . . . inspiring. Yes, he’s an author, but he more than just writes about what he loves he also brings it to life and encourages it. “I have worked with at-risk Native American youth in New Mexico for nearly ten years. My passion is two fold: creative writing and empowering Indigenous youth.” For more you must read his About page. There is so much more there.
I chose Oscar because of his passion, his writing, and his spirit. He’s not just an award winner, a scholarship winner, he’s also real. I want to find out how he does what he does. His inspiration is obvious once you have read about him and experienced his site. But I want to know how he takes that inspiration and then turns it into art.
“If you dream upon a dream, it’ll come true. I always identified with this particular song lyric/inspirational quote, because if I hadn’t worked as hard as I did, I wouldn’t of gotten so far in life.” And that is Megan. Megan is another inspirational author with books being published soon. Her true story is even more amazing than her creations. But you’ll need to read more about her to discover it all. It’s all in her site. She’s very honest and sharing of her world.
Again I want to know how one so young has been able to accomplish so much. Megan is the best example of write and don’t sweat your life. Just keep writing and get the story done. She’s taken bad and turned it to good. Girl after my own heart.
I mainly work on the content for my blog. I greatly enjoy the outlet it gives for my life. Most of what I write, even poetry, is autobiographical in nature.
In regards to works I would like published someday I have a YA adventure novel about a girl and her brother that I need to revise part of and then get into editing. But one work I really would like to attempt is transforming a Paranormal Detective novel I’ve written to include more personal feeling from how I am now. Then there is another book I have that is based on my experience with amnesia but used in a fictional adventure/thriller manner. I have no idea where that idea came from.
I have decided to buckle down and complete the YA adventure revise and editing process. This means perhaps a little less time blogging but then with me who knows. 2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I think I try to bring character realism in regards to emotions, conflicts and the like to the story more than just actions. Even the action that takes place says something about the person because of reactions, choices, and consequences. Is that different from everyone else? I don’t know, but it’s me.
I sit down with each scene and action and decide on the believability of it within the abilities of the character. Even with paranormal, fantasy, or science fiction I attempt to ground as much of the actual aspects of the characters in reality in order for the reader to connect, and in all honesty for myself to connect as well.
I don’t necessarily write for popularity but for release of thoughts and feelings I have. Descriptiveness of environment and setting is less important to me than characterization. I think I look for the reality behind the fiction.
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
For my blog I write to rid myself of pain and thoughts. The pain is the physical results of Fibromyalgia and Migraines, not necessarily some emotional trauma, although those two plus amnesia do have some impact on how I see things. I just wanted to make that clear. Sometimes it’s humor or my creations, but depending on the physical trials I am going through I find poetry especially a great outlet.
As for my novel work I believe my reasons have changed over time. At one time it may have been to be a popular writer but now it is too create a place that reflects who I am in the main characters and hopefully make a connection with readers in a way that will make them think. I believe every story has a reader waiting for it to touch and in a way heal. 4. How does my writing/creating process work?
For my poetry I sit down to an empty page, close my eyes and begin to type. Whatever is coming to my mind at that moment I just keep my eyes closed and type the words and descriptions that come to mind. I get out of the way of my mind and heart and just let it flow. Even if it is dark or angry, I let it go. I never sit down to purposefully create a dark piece. Never. I think my mind looks at something and sees what’s behind the image, or imagines what is behind it.
After that first stage I then open my eyes and see if there is something there to share. I sometimes sit down and so want to write a sunshiny piece and end up writing about pain. But somehow a few people might say they find it beautiful and I don’t really understand, or they find comedy in it. I just thank them and close my eyes for the next piece. I tell others that every piece you write has a reader waiting to find it, so don’t be afraid to share it.
Try it yourself. Just close your eyes and begin to type. As you do your thoughts will begin to form into a single line and become a message. Just keep typing until you cannot any longer.
Sometimes I will write a poem about a photograph I see as an escape from the darkness of some of my poetry. It is a much needed reprieve.
As for my novel work it is much like the poetry in that I let the characters write the story. I have an idea of who the main characters are and a basic idea of where I want it to go, but ultimately the characters determine what happens. I don’t force myself to stay on a path to my original intent. I may love a character when I create it before I start but the story ends up having that one be the one people won’t like, even I don’t like, and I go with it. I can’t change it. I have even had the main love interest end up changing within just a few chapters of beginning a project because the two people weren’t connecting.
I also put more and more of me in my work of late. At least I think I do.
Depending on the type of novel there may be a lot of research beforehand, especially if there are historical aspects that tie in with characters or the direction of the novel, such as action/thriller that involved things from WWII that affected current events.
If you made it this far, the wow. You made it through the wilderness and out into the sunshine. I want to thank Neha once again for including me. I never imagined to be involved in something like this. I do hope you all visit those above and see what I so miserably and poorly attempted to explain.
This has been linked to so I’ve reblogged it for today. It’s a bit of a truth of the women’s side of an issues. Please read, you don’t have to click like, but at least read and get a perspective.
Much Respect
Ronovan
The Daily Post Postaday asked what taste would I give up. That’s easy.
I would give up the taste of Blah. I wouldn’t want to taste Blah any longer. You put that spoonful of something in your mouth and . . . Blah happens. Food is an experience to me. Satisfy the taste buds and you satisfy the human.
Taste a truly delicious home grilled steak, or stuffed squash blossoms, then go to McDonald’s. Blah happens. Oh you think it was good before, but then you realize it is all disguised pink mush Blah. Give me spice, give me life, give me truth. Do not give me MSG and fakery.
After I came home from the hospital even I knew something was missing, but I didn’t know what. I just felt incomplete somehow. For a person suffering from amnesia that probably doesn’t sound unusual, but this was something that I just knew was missing, I could feel it.
But I only had the feeling when I went to the doctor’s office, or some type of testing. My clothes were laid out for me. I had my wallet, keys (although not allowed to drive), a 10 dollar bill, and a pen. Apparently I always carry a pen.
My belt was in place, all of my clothing was the way it should be. It really bothered me though. I put it down as possibly my not driving. Maybe I just wanted to be the driver since I always drove everywhere. Perhaps I just was not accustomed to being on the passenger side of the car looking around.
Then one day it hit me. There was a burning in my pocket. I noticed each time I left the house, not actually my own house, that my right pants pocket felt lighter than it should. There was a spot that didn’t feel right. Even looking down at my pocket when seated there was something odd about how it appeared.
A flash of yellow came to me. And that made me think of the word, ‘pecan’. I wasn’t able to speak yet but I quickly wrote it down and shoved it toward the driver. She looked at it.
“Do I have a pecan?”
“Yes,” she said.
I held my hands out and shrugged.
“I don’t know where it is,” she said.
I quickly scribbled down my flash.
“Yellow toy box.”
“Yes. I know what you mean, beside your chair.”
A few days later it arrived.
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a pecan before. They are oblong and pointy on the ends, but not this one. This one glows and looks like polished wood. When the light hits it there is character and grooves you don’t see in a normal pecan shell.
When I touched it for the first time again, the smoothness of the shell was comforting and familiar. I instantly held it to my ear and shook it. I could hear the rattling inside.
My eyes closed and I ran my finger tips around the shell slowly and could feel the ridges that you normally didn’t realize were there. Maybe they normally weren’t. Then I slipped it into my pocket and the weight was right. My balance was right. Just a few ounces but it was right. When I sat down, the sight was right.
My mind tingled with it with me again.
“For you, Daddy.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I found it for you.”
Of course the smile crossed my face and a big hug was given. “Then it goes right here and never leaves,” I said. I slipped it into my pocket. The smile crossed his face.
A pecan as a prized possession may sound a bit odd to some, but six years earlier my little son had walked up to me with a smile from the church playground and given it to me. To him it may have been just a find that day.
The grey shell had turned into polished brown like the finest piece of furniture. But this hadn’t been done by a machine. This had been done by years of being in my hands through the day, and living inside my pocket forever being polished.
Now that I had it back I was more at ease. Every night he comes to me and asks “Do you have your thing?” “Yeah.” “Okay.” He now knows how special it is to me. He knows I remembered it. He knows I know him. He knows I don’t want to lose it.
Some prized possessions may have monetary value to them, even family heirlooms, but for me, a moment of innocence that can never be captured again . . . that’s my prized possession. The pecan is a reminder of it, but the real possession is the memory of it. That’s what I have, that memory. Memories of your children can bring you back to life. That’s what happened to me.
Maybe you have a memory. Perhaps riding along with your child in your lap in a golf cart, or smiling up at you with such love in their eyes at an ice cream parlor, or giggling when you tickle them. Those are prized possessions.
. I guess you thought I was English because of the way my name is spelt, yeah? Well, OK, I’ll take that strike away 
then, after all it is the English spelling of Hugh I use and not the Welsh spelling as Huw Edwards uses. My parents have a lot to answer for on that one.
d to be a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. I suppose with us both being Welsh, we had to have a Welsh dog, but it was when John first saw one at Crufts, that he had to get one. What we did not know is that these dogs are on the vulnerable breeds lists here in the UK, with less than 100 being born every year. Originally they were bred for herding cattle and I 
ronovanwrites 