Writer's Block: Author Interview Responses and Solutions

Hello everyone :-)

Today’s post is going to be dedicated to helping writers out there overcome writer’s block. Many writers will suffer from this affliction at some point in their writing career and during my author interviews I always ask the dreaded “Do you experience writer’s block and if so how do you deal with it?” I’ve gotten some great responses and thought it would be nice if they were all in one place for easy reference for those of us that have experienced this phenomenon. These are not listed in any particular order….

Claude Bouchard: “I’ve never considered it writer’s block. For me, it a mulling period, a time to ponder, sometimes needed to organize my thoughts in order to offer the best possible tale to my readers. These writing breaks are often perfect occasions to review what’s there to date, start polishing rough spots and do some fine-tuning. By the time I get back to where I was when the mulling started, I’m usually good to just keep on writing.”

David Anderson: “No, I don’t, and I suppose I am lucky. Having said that, there are days when the writing doesn’t go well. I usually try to force things along but if that doesn’t work, then I give up and do other tasks. The next day is always better.”

Rebecca Forster: “I experience writer’s block all the time. My trick is to get physical. I play on a competitive tennis team, I quilt and sew and cook – and clean the house. I think when you live in your mind as many authors do it is good to focus on the physical for a while to clear the mind.”

R.S. Guthrie: “Oh yes. More than I experience “inspiration”. It’s not a block as much as it is an empty reservoir. I need to get up and write in the middle of the night. That’s when I find my imagination most fertile. But I love sleep, too.”

James P. Wilcox:  “Writer’s block has never been a huge issue for me because I don’t have a writing routine.  As I mentioned before, I don’t get the chance to write everyday, but I am thinking about the story everyday.  I try to think through the plot, the characters, dialogue, etc. so when I do get to write I can be productive.  With that said, transitions are hard for me.  When I am moving from one setting to the next, or finish one chapter, it is difficult to start the next.  This is what I struggle with the most and causes me the most trouble.  My writer’s block is in the transitions.”

Michelle Hughes:  “I have had that horrible block and wondered if this journey into writing was coming to an end.  As you mentioned earlier I started off as a singer/songwriter so that worry always finds the back of my mind.  What if the words just stop coming, or the dreams no longer happen?  To answer your question, I have this overwhelming fear when the writer’s block comes that I will never find my way back to the words again.  If you haven't come to the conclusion yet that I get a little overly dramatic with most things, I'll just go ahead and let you know that I do.”

Lisa M. Lilly:  “I’ve never had writer’s block, but I’ve certainly had those times where my stomach clenches and it feels like it’ll be impossible to write.  Usually for me, that comes from my fear that what I write won’t be any good.  It also happens when I don’t know where my story is going.  So I tell myself that I’m just going to write something terrible, and that’s okay.  And if I don’t know what to write, I start by writing that and then musing about what my character could do next or what I might someday write about.  So something like, “I don’t know what to write.  Maybe Tara needs to go overseas.  What about that church she tried to find in Armenia?  No, I don’t think she’ll go there again….”  Once I get my fingers moving across the keys, I almost always write a scene or scenes I end up using.  If not, I try again the next day.”

Douglas Dorow: “I get writer's block sometimes. I work off of a high level scene outline, so if I get stuck, I move onto a different scene and try and figure out why I was struggling with the other. If I have writer's block it usually means there's something wrong with the story at that point and I have to figure out how to fix it or remove or replace the scene.”

S.L. Pierce:  “Absolutely.  I'm going through a pretty bad spell right now.  Unfortunately it is hitting at a very busy time so it's harder to just make myself sit and write, which is what I usually do.  I also have a writing prompt app on my phone that works sometimes.”

Maren Kaye:  “I’ve found the best cure for writers block is to get out of the house. Netbooks are great for taking to the park or the nearest coffee shop or museum. Every person you see has a story to tell and it’s just a matter of getting that initial spark.”

Russell Blake: “Not yet. I did once, on a non-fiction book I shelved, but thankfully once I'm in the story, it flows.”

Helen Hanson:  “My version of writer’s block is: what happens next?  I know how the story ends, but I don’t have a road map of every side road I plan to take.  It’s the same way I travel.  Ooh, let’s stop and see the cup flipper.  No.  We saw the gator farm last time.  How about the world’s largest porcupine?  As a writer, the journey better be fun.  If it’s not entertaining, I might as well stay home.”

Paul Dorset (aka John Cox): “Not so much writer’s block, but there are some days when I don’t write. I am a planner. I plan my stories out with pretty intricate detail before they ever get written. Of course, there are new ideas that get introduced as well, but on the whole I know where my stories are going. This means that when I write I really know what it is I’m wiring. And as long as I am in my zone, the words come.”

John W. Mefford: “As a novelist, I had days where the writing comes easy. The ideas flow like a well-choreographed musical. Other days, the thoughts are not as fluid. But I really don’t call anything in the novel world writer’s block. I take it all in and believe I can use every day of writing to enhance my story. Some days I’ll crank out 3,000 words. Other days, it’s only 500, but I might develop the idea for a cool scene. When you’re a self-publishing author, you have control of your own destiny and your own outlook.”

Dr. Edwards:  “We all hit the wall from time to time.  I used to teach my writing students—and firmly believe it myself—that there are two main sources of writer’s block.  One is when our internal censor gets the upper hand and wants to keep us away from the really interesting stuff deep inside.  The cure for this is free writing exercises where you just write without stopping or conscious thought, and it also helps to remind yourself, as Anne Lamott says, that it’s okay to write “shitty” first drafts.  The second source of writer’s block is when the well runs dry.  That’s when you need to take a break, go for a walk, hug someone, laugh, exercise and so on.”

Note: If you would like to read any of author interviews in full, just click on the link and it will take you to that author’s interview.

For other tips for dealing with writer’s block, please refer to my other two posts on the subject “Solutions to Deal with Writer’s Block” and “Writing Software Solutions”.

Have a great day!

Becky

The Importance of STRONG Characters!

Hi everyone,

Here is a question for you: What are most books centered around or written about?

ANSWER: PEOPLE!

That is why it is imperative that you create characters that are believable and “real” for your reader. Characters are the backbone of fiction and without them there would be nothing to drive the narrative along.

Bring your characters to life by getting to know them as well as you know yourself. What are they like? How would they react in a given set of circumstances? How old are they? Are they married? Do they have siblings? Do they still have the love and support of parents? What do they do for a living? What kinds of things do they like / dislike? How were they raised? How do they react in a stressful situation? What color hair/skin do they have? Do they have any scars? The list could go on and on and on!

Once you know your character, as well as you know yourself, avoid describing them all at once to your readers. Instead, offer your reader some details here and there and allow the reader to get to know the character over a period of time.  Also, avoid “telling” the reader about your character. The best way to make a character memorable is to “show” your reader who they are by what they do or how they react (e.g. if your character is someone that pinches every penny then portray them in a scene where they do just that).

When developing your character they will be more believable if they are not perfect because people are not perfect. A useful flaw to give your hero or heroin may be that they are not afraid to tell the occasional white lie. In contrast, a useful character flaw to give a villain is they are able to love something…someone.

Lastly, if you give your characters names which are distinctive, the reader is then less likely to confuse them. Using names with different initial letters is a help.

Two great resources for character development are: 45 Master Characters, which was reviewed on Mystery Writers Unite in a previous post entitled "Product Review 45 Master Characters" and The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, which I also reviewed in a previous blog post entitled "Choosing Character Names".  Both of these wonderful tools can be found by either clicking the previous links, by visiting my MUST HAVE Writing Tools For Authors page or you can order them from the picture links below:

Have a great day!

Becky

Research ~ Essential and Time Consuming

Hi everyone,

Sooner or later, every writer needs to do research of some sort, from simple fact checking to more complex investigations of settings or events. In a nutshell, research has become an indispensable part of writing for most authors.

Some writers prefer to do their research after they have completed a first draft while others prefer to do their research before they begin writing. I prefer the latter because often times the information I will garner through my research winds up having an impact on what I write. Either way is fine and each writer needs to find which works best for them. One thing is certain, regardless of which way you choose to proceed; you need to make a list of all the information you will need for your book and then find sources for obtaining it.

Here are some great resources I have used for research purposes:

Library: I know it sounds so simplistic but with the world at our finger tips, sometimes we forget that this building still exists and it is filled with a wealth of information. An added bonus: any librarian will willingly help you in your quest for knowledge. Libraries are a great source for archived copies of newspapers, journals and photos.

Internet: Of course this is a great resource for information but just be careful because it can be difficult to ascertain if the information you are viewing is really fact or fiction.

Professional Interviews: For example, if your book includes a character that is a police officer and you don’t know much about police procedure then interview a police officer. You will be surprised at how many would be thrilled to be interviewed for your book. Make sure you go prepared by getting your questions ready beforehand, bring a tape recorder to tape the interview if you can, and make sure you take goods notes (technology is wonderful unless or until it doesn’t work).

Personal Interviews (Friends, Family, and Colleagues): Have you ever run into someone that doesn’t want to share an experience they’ve been through? Most people are usually happy to talk, at length and in detail, about anything in which they are expert. This seems even truer if you tell them that you intend to use the information in a book you are writing. 

Read other Books in Your Genre: See how other authors view the setting and how they weave fact into the fiction. It's a skill, to weave the setting and background and historical information in without running off the tracks and adding to much information. This tip can be especially useful when you are trying to research a period of time that was long ago (there will be nobody to interview from that time period) and can not only provide you background material but also show you how people talked back then.

Movies: Even though Hollywood is not usually accurate with costumes or architecture, if a movie is well done it can give you a “feel” for the times at the very least.  

Museums: What a great place to see and experience things of the past. If you have an article in your book that you have never seen in your life and there is a gallery at the museum that show cases it; it is more than worth the trip to go and be able to write about what you’ve seen.

City Archives: This is a prime source for historical town / city information that is accurate.

Census Figures: People tend to forget just how many things census surveys keep track of. You can find out what the cost of living was, how many homes were being built, how much money people earned, etc,. A very valuable source of raw data!

Experience: This is the greatest (and probably most fun) research of all! If your character is a professional downhill skier and you have never skied in your life, it may be the best time to give it a try! Note: To all you mystery writers reading this, it is not permission to try and plan the perfect murder!

Don’t just file your valuable research in some old box with all your notes you’re your book. Instead build your own reference library so you can refer to the research in case you need it again. Also, when you find a great source for research, make sure you record the source (book title, author, website, journal, etc.,) so if you need to refer to it again you don’t have to waste a ton of time trying to find it.

Still feeling a little lost as to how to conduct your research? Don’t fret! There is a wonderful handbook that you could add to your “writer’s tool box” written by Ann Hoffman called Research for Writers. Feel free to visit the Mystery Writers Unite Store and pick up your copy today or click on the following link:

Research for Writers

Have a great day everyone and happy researching :-)

Becky

Choosing Character Names

Hi everyone,

What's in a name? Depending on your beliefs the answer to this question could be a lot! For example, I took a few minutes to look up my name, as well as both of my daughters names on www.thinkbabynames.com and discovered the following: 

Becky \b(ec)-ky\ as a girl's name is pronounced BEK-ee. It is of English origin. Pet form of Rebecca (Hebrew) "to bind". Often used as an independent given name, and popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Becky Sharp, heroine of William Thackeray's novel "Vanity Fair".

Megan \m(e)-gan\ as a girl's name is pronounced MEG-an, MEE-gan, MAY-gan. It is of Welsh origin. Variant of Margaret (Greek) "pearl", based on the short form Meg. Phonetic spellings of Megan are used to ensure one of the three pronunciations. See also Meegan. Actress Megan Mullaly.

Kirsten \k(i)-rs-ten, kir-sten\ as a girl's name is pronounced KERS-ten. It is of Scandinavian and Latin origin, and the meaning of Kirsten is "follower of Christ". Variant of Christine. The name has been in use in Scotland since long ago. Actresses Kirstie Alley, Kirsten Dunst.

As you can see, depending on what persona you may want your character to emulate, a name could make or break them for some readers. How do you go about choosing names for your characters? Do you pull them from someone you know (e.g. neighbor, friend, colleague, your family) or just scribble a bunch down on paper put them in a hat a draw names?

If you are like me and you feel a little lost when trying to pick that perfect name for the character in your book, perhaps you would like to pick up The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook; The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Character Names and a one-of-a-kind resource specifically designed with the writer in mind. Inside you'll find:

• 25,000+ first names and surnames, and their meanings, listed by origin
• Names and surnames from more than 45 countries
• A reverse lookup of names by meaning
• An alphabetical index of names
• An explanation of naming practices and historical context for each origin
• A list of the top ten most popular names in the United States every year from 1880-2003
• Instruction on how to create believable names that fit your characters and your story
  

This comprehensive guide also includes advice from a number of best-selling authors, including Elizabeth George, Alexander McCall Smith, Homer Hickam, Marian Keyes, Big Fish author Daniel Wallace, and others. You'll get the inside scoop on their naming methods, plus the stories behind the names of their most famous characters.

So throw out your old telephone books and baby-naming guides—The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook
meets all your naming needs!

Have a great day!!

Becky

Self-Editing EHLP!!

Wendsday....ah, the ewek is alsot done!

I guess the above sentence shows the importance of editing and of course I did it to make a point. If you are like me, you will read your work over and over again and think you've managed to get all your typos, miss-spellings and quirks out of your writing only to have it read by a friend and they find a mistake in the first chapter and you feel deflated -- DON'T because this is normal. It's always harder to see our own mistakes and that is why it is so important to edit, edit, edit.

There are several resources available for this and I've reviewed three to help save other authors and writers some time.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print

Amazon Rating: #12027 in books, 4 1/2 stars (173 reviews)

Product Description: Both novice and seasoned fiction writers can ensure themselves greater publishing success by correcting textual problems before submitting their manuscripts to an editor. This exemplary instruction manual offers readers the wisdom of two experienced editors who focus on writing/editing techniques (the mechanics of dialog, characterization, point of view, etc.). Adhering to fiction's underlying principle of "show and tell," this lively text includes both good and bad examples in each lesson. At the end of every chapter is a tip checklist to match against one's own work and two or three exercises with which to practice and reinforce the chapter's topic. A superb tutorial for anyone wanting to learn from pros how to polish fiction writing with panache.

Copyediting and Proofreading For Dummies

Amazon Rating: #37947 in books, 5 stars (27 reviews)

Product Description: Turn your knack for language into a lucrative career with must-know techniques and resources for maximizing your accuracy and speed.

Interested in becoming a copyeditor or proofreader? Want to know more about what each job entails? This friendly guide helps you position yourself for success. Polish your skills, build a winning résumé and land the job you've always wanted. Books, magazines, Web sites, corporate documents - find out how to improve any type of publication and make yourself indispensable to writers, editors, and your boss.

• Balance between style and rules
• Master the art of the query
• Use proofreader symbols
• Edit and proof electronic documents
• Build a solid freelancing career

Everyday Editing

Amazon Rating: #17676 in books, 5 stars (5 reviews)

Product Description: Editing is often seen as one item on a list of steps in the writing process—usually put somewhere near the end, and often completely crowded out of writer's workshop. Too many times daily editing lessons happen in a vacuum, with no relationship to what students are writing.

In Everyday Editing, Jeff Anderson asks teachers to reflect on what sort of message this approach sends to students. Does it tell them that editing and revision are meaningful parts of the writing process, or just a hunt for errors with a 50/50 chance of getting it right—comma or no comma?

Instead of rehearsing errors and drilling students on what's wrong with a sentence, Jeff invites students to look carefully at their writing along with mentor texts, and to think about how punctuation, grammar, and style can be best used to hone and communicate meaning.

Written in Jeff's characteristically witty style, this refreshing and practical guide offers an overview of his approach to editing within the writing workshop as well as ten detailed sets of lessons covering everything from apostrophes to serial commas. These lessons can be used throughout the year to replace Daily Oral Language or error-based editing strategies with a more effective method for improving student writing. 

Make sure your writing is the best it can be and make sure you edit :-)

Becky

The Writers Tool Kit

Ah, Sweet Thursday :-)

Earlier in the week I reviewed several different software solutions (See Writing Software Solutions) that can be utilized for writing your book, which got me to thinking about other tools us writers need to get our work done so I went in search of those too. Here are some of the essentials in my writers tool kit:

Remember when this is all it seemed you needed?

Kingston Digital 16 GB USB 2.0 Hi-speed Datatraveler Flash Drive (Never have your story only save on your computer -- always have at least one back-up)

Webster's New World Thesaurus (Great for those "brain fart" moments or to find a replacement word for repetitive words)

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition

Apple MacBook Pro MC721LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop (I love my MAC!!)

45 Master Characters (Utterly priceless book to develop unforgettable characters!)

The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile (My goal!!)

How to Write Killer Fiction (Another great resource book for writers of mystery and thrillers!) 

iScholar iQ 5-Subject Poly Cover Wirebound Notebook (I really need to decide on some writing software so I don't have to track things manually anymore...)

Post-it® Notes (Great for ideas on the fly or for arranging plot lines if you don't have software.)

What do you have in your tool box?

Becky

The Pros and Cons of Self-publishing

Hi all :-)

Now here is a big topic if debate: Self-publishing vs. Publishing House

Let's look at the "pros" and "cons" of each.

SELF-PUBLISHING:

THE GOOD (Pros)

1. Control: Self-publishing assures you that you have control over the entire process and every decision regarding your book will be made by you.  You hold all the "rights" to you work.

2. Time to Market: If you self-publish you can get your book out into the market place faster.

3. Higher Earnings: You get to enjoy higher earnings when you self-publish.

4. Time: You aren't committed to any one's schedule except your own and will  have nobody pushing you to develop the next novel.

5. Attention: Self-publishers devote all their attention to each project they work on. They work hard to promote it at every turn. This kind of one-on-one attention will not be given at a publishing house.

6. Branding / Image: Self-publishers control their branding and image, which in turn equates to having more control over the "market" that they want to entice.

7. Business Tax Deductions: Yes, in case you were not aware, you can deduct certain expenses when you self-publish your book.

THE BAD (Cons)

1. Wear Many Hats: Self-publishers have to be their own accountant, editor, packager, distributor, and sales person.

2. Marketing/Branding: Self-publishers have to become very good at getting people to want to purchase their book over someone elses book. It can be difficult with all the choices out there to convince a reader to buy your book instead of another one.

3. Time: Chances are if you are a new author, you still have a full time job and other responsibilities to tend to in any given day. You will need to find a way to fit in all the work to writing, publishing and promoting your work, which can be very taxing.

4. Money: You have to spend money to make money and you will have to put all costs out up-front, which can pull on anyone's budget strings these days.

5. Prestige: There can be a prejudice against self-publishing and many buyers will believe that unless you were able to "sell" your ides to someone else, there must be something wrong with it.

If you chose to self-publish there are some tools available to help you succeed. For example, the book entitled " Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know About What Editors Do" can help you learn how to edit your work like a professional editor would or "The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, Fourth Edition - Everything You Need to Know About the Costs, Contracts, and Process of Self-Publishing" can guide you through the process of self-publishing if you've never published a novel before. Another great tool for self-publishers is "Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers", which can help you get familiar with what you need to track for income tax purposes for your business.

TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING HOUSE:

THE GOOD (Pros)

1. Having a Team: You won't have to wear a lot of hats and the publishing house will have people that will edit, work on layout, get your book printed and packaged, have their salespeople promote your book, distribute your book and of course they have accountants and lawyers that will assist you.

2. Marketing: They have a team of professional marketers that know how to promote a book to increase sales.

3. Money: The amount you will earn as opposed to self-publishing will be less but you won't have to put any money out to see your book to market. Instead, you will usually be paid an advance and of course receives royalties.

4. Prestige: Some readers may believe that your book has more value since it was obviously "good enough" to be picked up by a publishing house.

5. Time: You won't have to worry about devoting a lot of time once your book has been finalized and is ready for print. At that point the majority of your work is done and the team begins their work.

THE BAD (Cons)

1. Loss of Control: The publishing house will own the "rights" to your work. They will decide how to package it, market it and promote it.


2. Money: You will make less money once everyone gets their cut of the pie.

3. Attention: The sales people that work for the publishing houses will not devote the same kind of time and attention to your work as you would. They have numerous books they need to promote at once.

4. Time to Market: Even once you get your book accepted, it can take up to two years before you will see your book on the shelves.

Overall, I think the decision to pursue self-publishing or to try and get a publishing house to publish your work will depend on your lifestyle, ability to part with your work, and finances.

What do you think? Have a missed anything? Add a comment and feel free to share your thoughts on the matter.

Becky

Writing Software Solutions

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian Friends :-)

As a new writer, I find it challenging to keep my book ideas organized and when your book in being written in a word processing program, such as word perfect it can be easy to lose track of the various plot points and scene by scene plays.

In addition, and I'm sure this happens to every writer out there, I find that new ideas come to me all the time that would be great for the next book I would like to write.  I've been looking for software that will assist me in my writing and not detract from it. I don't want a complicated program that will take me months to learn how to navigate.  That being said, I would like one central program that I could use to keep track of plot lines, character profiles, and scenes. It would also be nice to "store" future story ideas in an electronic format instead of in a tattered notebook.  To address this, I spent some time looking around at what is out there and thought I would share my findings.

New Novelist 2.0




It's said that with New Novelist 2.0 you are never faced with a blank screen or piece of paper, great for those that suffer from writer's block, because there are prompts and help at every turn.  In addition, you don't have to start with your introduction and work until you reach the end of your book. Instead the software allows you to jump from one part of your project to another (e.g.; character development, plot turns) or if you like you could even write your book backwards if you want! Dance around as your inspiration takes you knowing that your work is being collected in one single file together with the background, and research notes for each section. Very cool!

The New Novelist 2.0 is said to be simple to install and fun to use. It has spell check, thesaurus, Internet search, audio read back text, USA or UK dictionary selection, full word processor functionality and many more features. You can also move chapters around and fully organize your writing, write short stories or full-length novels.

The Sunday Times of London, England says "The Magic of New Novelist 2.0 is that it doesn't feel as if you're writing a book".

Practical PC Magazine says "New Novelist 2.0 should be considered an essential purchase for anyone who is ready to start a Novel".

One drawback -- only good for those that use PC's -- to bad for us MAC users :-(

Storyist 2





It seemed only fair that since the above software was only for use with PC, I would look at one that is only for use with MAC :-)

So why would I want to buy Storyist 2? I can write fiction with a word processor, right? One reason that may be worth it is because my word processor won't automatically format my novel or screenplay for submission. Something, believe it or not, I've been a little worried about since I've never submitted one before and I've been told that if the formatting is wrong it will be rejected.

It would seem that writing and formatting are only the beginning of what Storyist 2 can do for writers and it's big strength is its ability to keep you organized. For example: Orson Scott Card once wrote about a lovely scene he constructed in which one of his characters called his mother on the phone; then, during revisions, he remembered he'd made the character an orphan. He began keeping a "bible" listing all the decisions he made in the course of a story. With Storyist 2, he would have that "bible" at his fingertips, right next to the manuscript and fully searchable, so he could find out in a flash whether his character had parents or siblings. And if he discovered that it got in the way of his writing, Storyist 2 has a full screen mode that would allow him to banish it from view (but it would still be lurking in the background in case of need). Again, very cool!

Some of the other tools available in Storyist 2 includes organization of characters, plot, and settings but all the miscellaneous ideas, notes to self, reference sources, web links.  It offers multiple windows where you can display alternate views of the manuscript. You can import pictures of your characters and settings (or just generally into the notebook) and, once there, drag them into as many locations as you like. You can also link sections to characters, notes, plot points; import and export files to standard formats; link notes to one another; set up your own categories for outlines and timelines. The program comes with ample help files and a printed manual, and if you get stuck or just don't like reading manuals, you can find instant support on the Storyist 2 forums--often from the developer himself. It's said that the program is intuitive enough to start using right away, although it takes a while to master all the options it offers.

Writer's Dream Kit 4.0








As with the other two solutions, the Writer's Dream Kit 4.0 is a complete step-by-step fiction writing system designed for the aspiring writer. The good news, this product will run on both PC and MAC!

I've read that if you thrive on the angst-ridden masochism of neverending writer’s block, then you need to read no further. However, if you seek sound solutions to story development dilemmas, then your search is over––the Writer's Dream Kit 4.0 is the tool for you. As your creative writing partner, it takes you to a special place—a story development environment where together you’ll solve the plot and character problems that prevent many stories from becoming great enough to sell.

You’ll cast and build your characters, plot out your story, layer in themes with universal meaning, and put it all together into scenes to form a solid step outline. And as your mentor, the Writer's Dream Kit 4.0 will do something no other writing program can do—it predicts parts of your story based on creative decisions you make! You’ll be inspired to incorporate those ideas into your developing story and make it even tighter—with no plot holes or character inconsistencies.

I think of the three solutions reviewed, I like what Storyist 2 has to offer the most, which doesn't surprise me since it is the most expensive solution reviewed. My next best, which is probably more affordable for me, would be the Writer's Dream Kit 4.0.

Which one most appeals to you? If you have used one of these solutions, please leave a comment (in favor or against) and share your experience with other readers.

Have a great day!

Becky

Product Review - "45 Master Characters - Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters"

Happy Thursday!

I know I just blogged about this book on Monday ( "45 Master Characters - Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters" written by Victoria Lynn Schmidt) but I'm so impressed with it that I thought it was worth another mention!

I hate to admit this but up until a day or two ago I thought that I had a very strong vision of "who" the main character was in the book I'm writing. However, after reading the first several chapters of "45 Master Characters" I realized that I do still have a bit more work to do in developing my main character as well as a couple other ones in my draft.

By using some of the tools presented in this book I can bring my character from an idea on a page to a person that readers will react to and remember which is definitely what I want because this book will be the first in a series of books. I want to ensure that my main character is memorable and "45 Master Characters " has given me tools to develop what should drive someone like her, what would motivate her to move out of her usual comfort zone and what obstacles would continue to drive her character and my story. Lastly, it also guides you in terms of what type of character personalities would best compliment her so she can find her way.

To give you an idea of the topics that are covered, here is the table of contents:

1. Getting Started
1. What Are Archetypes, and Why Should Writers Use Them?
2. How to Use Archetypes 
2. Creating Female Heroes and Villains
1. Aphrodite: The Seductive Muse and the Femme Fatale
2. Artemis: The Amazon and the Gorgon
3. Athena: The Father's Daughter and the Backstabber
4. Demeter: The Nurturer and the Over Controlling Mother
5. Hera: The Matriarch and the Scorned Woman
6. Hestia: The Mystic and the Betrayer
7. Isis: The Female Messiah and the Destroyer
8. Persephone: The Maiden and the Troubled Teen
3. Creating Male Heroes and Villains
1. Apollo: The Businessman and the Traitor
2. Ares: The Protector and the Gladiator
3. Hades: The Recluse and the Warlock
4. Hermes: The Fool and the Derelict
5. Dionysus: The Woman's Man and the Seducer
6. Osiris: The Male Messiah and the Punisher
7. Poseidon: The Artist and the Abuser
8. Zeus: The King and the Dictator
4. Creating Supporting Characters
1. Introduction to Supporting Characters
2. Friends
3. Rivals
4. Symbols
5. The Feminine and Masculine Journeys
1. Introduction to Archetypal Journeys
2. Plotting the Feminine Journey
3. Plotting the Masculine Journey
6. Appendix
1. The Feminine Journey Worksheet
2. The Masculine Journey Worksheet
3. Journey Differences
4. Societal/Gender Differences

For the small investment (from $6.29 - $10.08) this writing resource it is more than worth it and I've made getting your copy easy - just click here 45 Master Characters :-)

Wishing everyone GREAT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT days!

Becky

P.S. With the tools from "45 Master Characters - Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters" maybe you can avoid needing this kind of muse? :-)

Character Development

Happy Monday!!

I met with my dear friend Katie over the weekend and we got to discussing how a character evolves and she lent me a copy of a book called "45 Master Characters" written by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, which I will now need to get a copy of because it is a very valuable tool that I will surely use over and over again!

This book teaches you how to take your characters from an idea that is very one dimensional to a character that has emotion, flaws, reactions, etc. It teaches writers how to avoid the common mistake of stereotyping their characters or from putting to much of themselves in the character they are trying to create.

I want characters that are compelling, interesting and unique in my story. They need to feed off of secondary characters and "45 Master Characters" teaches you which personality types can best challenge and shape your main character.

Simply, this book is a must have for any story teller! Order yours today by clicking on the link below.

Have a great day!

Becky

Product Review - The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder

Good morning and Happy Friday!!

I don't know how the rest of you started out writing about murder and mystery but when I started writing my book, I felt a bit lost as to what wording to use to make sure that what I was writing would play out like a real scene and would be engaging and "real" to the reader. Being that I'm not a police officer, a lawyer or a crimnologist this proved to be difficult at times. How does an investiagtion play out, what happens in court, etc. All of these questions needed to have answers and that is where The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder is most helpful!

Take a Quick Look Inside 

Even if you've already published your first book, this book is a handy little reference guide to have on hand when you need to ampu up a scene or two or just need to make sure you have the facts right. It's filled with great tips on investigating, cops, the courts, illegal drugs, the prison system and crime. Certainly worth the small investment!

Happy writing and reading to all!!

Becky