Characterization 4 Fiction Writers

On one of my favorite eloops, we're sharing creative writing tips, and perhaps my own thoughts my help someone? I hope. ☺

 

The balance of characters is essential, who plays what part in the whole piece.

 

Here is how an over balance can be used by the creative writer: in the film The Unforgiven, Burt Lancaster and Aubrey Hepburn star. In movies, Hepburn is often matched with much stronger older men. This emphasizes their strength, a comparison, and perhaps makes her look more feminine/fragile.

 

But in The Unforgiven, a part that Lancaster plays much stronger male lead, and Hepburn a quieter co-star, a nice turnaround or twist, would be the development of Hepburn, into a much stronger component.

 

Character turnarounds, or flaws that either get larger and more compelling, or show themselves as a strength, is one of the best techniques or TWISTS a creative fiction writer can use.

 

To me an outline of the character, their motivation, their weaknesses, also defines what clothing they would wear, upscale/casual Etc. And that includes jewelry. Their background, is another element, but just as important. What drives characters, what is their turning points, etc. is the most interesting element of writing to me.

 

The character mix also frames the leading characters, the protagonists/antagonists. The minor characters, revolving in and out of this story, weaving if you will, shows they are opinion of the leading characters.

 

An animal can also be a minor character, framing any of the characters. What is the animal’s reaction to the specific character?

 

Another character element, is what touches that character applies to what object. For instance, does his finger outline her photograph? Is that a treasuring movement? Or if he sees himself in the mirror, what does he see? This is much like Michael Jackson's The Man in the Mirror song.

 

There are many resources, for understanding characterization, including horoscope signs.

 

Three things stand out to me, as a fiction writer, that is the theme of the story, the mood, and the character mix. And anyone of these can change during the writing. And sometimes you just have to go with it....

 

 

Retooling for Writers

Amid all this Sheltering, I'm trying to catch up from the past really filled 2-3 years--Not Easy.

I've been Indy (a "hybrid" as I also have Publishers) for about 8-9 years and the path has been a hard one from the start--compared to the ease of today. I learned programming, not easy, to format books, However, now the ease using Vellum for formatting, etc., and other tools has also thickened the competition for buyers.

Back to Vellum: I cannot recommend this formatting software enough. With one .docx, you can spin out all sorts of book formats, complete with links, bios, basic ad work. However, at this time, I believe Vellum is only available in Mac format. BTW, I use an iMac and an iPad, and the crossover between the two comes just short of miracles. For instance, if in rough draft, I write something in either the iPad or the iMac, I can Save and pick it up on the other machine, whichever is convenient at the time. Over anything though, I recommend an iPad, which comes complete/free with Pages (word processor) and Numbers (spreadsheets, data keeping, etc.) and other programs.

With a large number of books (an inventory if you will), I am republishing as an Indy, some of my early books, reverted from the Publishers. The Bride Says No, now .99, a romantic comedy, is my latest updated cover, etc. Please note the meme, which is changed as needed. These are so handy, used for Twitter, Facebook and other places. !Also please note that I left the links visible. This is to show one way of marketing. Donna Fasano has been great to share her tips, as have other authors.

Now. Once you have a "meme" like this, you can edit, adapt it in many ways.

Now! #99cents

She knows the heartbreak of being jilted. When her sister dumps a grumpy rancher, Clementine just has to help…

>>The Bride Says No @CaitLondon

 https://amzn.to/2SQ0H1f

UK: https://amzn.to/2YNV0Vc

AU: https://amzn.to/2SN4NXT

iBooks: https://apple.co/2TmrjXM

Nook: https://bit.ly/2ZlY0sd

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ZjrCGJ

#romanticcomedy #humor #nook #iBook #kobo

Right now, I am retooling my early projects, and frankly seeing that I have to add easier modes. There are two sides to being an author: First=Writing/Editing/etc. Second=Ad work, a must. Currently, I am looking at FiveRR.com for helpers. Whatever you do in seeking assistants, query, query, query.  That's my very best advice.

As for covers, I did this one with Adobe Elements, which I recommend. It comes with a number of backgrounds, graphics, etc. which you might otherwise have to purchase. I did buy the entire program, rather than a subscription.

I hope that helps you. Until next time--

The Big Catch-Up Writers Tips

There comes a time...

During the sheltering-in-place slow-down, I'm working to catch up with the last 2-3 years, if that is possible. First of all, if you aren't on this enewsletter, you may wish to join it using the Subscribe button on the right.

I happen to love Blogger, which is much simpler than a full website, which I also have and it needs catching up. Did I say the last 2 or 3 years have been difficult? And now... But at blogger, an enewsletter is included. A blog, either viewable to the search engines or not, is an excellent place to start, published or not.

One Huge Tip for Blogging Beginners: Keep a folder of all your posts and someday, you may have enough to publish a book! 

Here's another big tip for writers: Use spreadsheets to keep track of your books' data, i.e. ISBNs/print/ebooks, agents, rights reverted, copyrights, contract number, publisher, pub date, agents, etc. It's easier to "grow" one as you go, than to try to compile it all at once.

Next: Get a good note keeping system, and I use notebooks, but mostly a note keeper that flows between my desktop and my tablet. I'm a Mac/IOS user, and cannot say enough about the system, a change over from PCs a few years ago. I do lots of everything on my iPad and it might be all you need, depending. NOTES is an excellent note keeper.

For ad work/published writers:  These memes and links are handy to stock up for copy/paste re-use. Thank you, Donna Fasano. But filing them properly helps, too, i.e. Romantic Suspense titles, Women's Fiction, Western, etc.

The ever important links can also be copied and pasted, i.e.:

She thought she was going mad…the whispers wouldn’t stop. And neither would he.

~Silence the Whispers~ by Cait London

US: http://amzn.to/1j5Yogd

UK: http://amzn.to/1ApnZ1i

#romanticsuspense #psychic #ibooks #nook #kobo

Here is 2 big ones:

1.) There is no escaping technology and Internet. While writers do not have to be high tech, they do need some know-how. Assistants etc. can be hired, but at sometime it takes ye olde self.

2. Make Pals. Do favors. Join. Unjoin (sometimes the fit doesn't fit). Learn.

That's a few tips, and I hope to add more. Just remember, if you write an article, blog post, etc., keep it. It will wait until you can revise and use it somehow....

Or you can write to me? I'd love to hear from you.

Notes of the Day

NOW 99CENTS

"NOTES OF THE DAY" covers it all, doesn't it?

In stressful times, I have a lot of notes, notebooks full of them, stickies, whatever. I'm sure you do, too. Right now, I am trying very hard to catch up after a few years of stress. I'm in my very cluttered office, because I've moved and I am working on a WIP, and doing ad work. I recently changed computers, no small deal to get one up and running the way you want/Printers etc. Software.

My small heater is running away because it's very cold. A towel is rolled and fitted beneath the door to preserve whatever heat possible. Ordinarily, I'd have bread rising to bake later. However, bread doesn't want to rise unless the room temperature is helped. I suppose I could have brought the 2 bowls into my office. Hmm. Too late now.

I have another blog/website which is also behind, due to the last few years and I'm headed for that next. *After* I work on my WIP. The first 2 books of my new Fresh Start trilogy were out at the top of 2018 and then things got on overload.   

NOW 99cents, THE COWBOY is a re-release and still popular, one of my first books. Limited Time Offer. (Notes for writers, read below?)

I write a variety of fiction (mystery/suspense/women's fiction, romance, short stories etc.) and this one is sheer fun and quite frankly a distraction we need in these times. I hope you enjoy The Cowboy!

Here is some ad work for my current sale, and WRITERS PLEASE NOTE THE COPY/PASTE FORM useful on Twitter and Facebook. (Shorten for Twitter). The links are not hidden for demonstration. Donna Fasano has helped me so much with ad tips, and keeping a copy of copy/paste ad work was her suggestion. I'm using Mac's Notes shared on my iPad or Mac. Note the meme, made with Adobe Elements, really useful with backgrounds.

Now #99c #FunRead for Distraction Time

>>The Cowboy @CaitLondon

“Loved, loved, loved this adorable romance!” 

Oklahoma rancher Lucas Walkington will do anything for his twin teenage girls, including appearing on a dating show as The Love Bandit. To help her sister, Chastity Beauchamp substitutes as Honey, a Heartbeats Goddess. City girl Chastity knows more about filing cabinets than men, but when she sees this delicious rancher, she wants her one chance for delight. He’s soon whisking Chastity away to greater, outer Oklahoma.

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2U9D1EY

UK: https://amzn.to/3aENCig

CA: https://amzn.to/2JwvgUq

AU: https://amzn.to/2US5a3x

BN: https://bit.ly/33XTyjM

iBooks: https://apple.co/2UPP2Q9

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2USrY33

#romance #humor #sale #weekendread #romanticcomedy

WRITERS: Please check out the labels for Writers Stuff, etc. And I hope the above copy/paste tip of Donna Fasano's helps you, too! If you read/or write Sweet Romance, be sure to check out her website for that?

Goals Checkup

Having trouble meeting your goals? Looking at last year and forward into 2020? I’m doing that now. Making that list.

Every individual uses different systems to get the job done. As for goals, some of us are over directed. :) I'm very regimented, and that works for me. 

Working a day-job full-time, singles, parents, travelers etc. all come into the timing of getting the job done. A work schedule, i.e. cleaning this day, shopping another, pot meals on Sunday/Wednesday has served me well while working a day job full time and writing—and even now as a full time writer.

My attitude has always been to Make Time for Writing, in lieu of Finding Time. “Writing” is translated as just that and does not include PR work, conferences, travel etc. Just Writing.

The right tools help. One of the biggest helps now for me in rough draft is the coordination between a desktop (iMac) and my tablet (iPad). Writing while traveling etc. is much easier, and I love a special keyboard.

Right now, after a house/state move, I'm way behind on writing/ad work etc. Hiring assists is a big deal in time management and that is on my list. Basically, I'm a list maker for everything and that is a major help meeting goals.

After a big house/state move and a family long-term illness and death which affected us all, I'm in an update mode. I’m cleaning up my binder notebooks, covers, ad work etc. Trying to pick up the pieces/threads of the last book in a trilogy. Jayne Ann Krentz once had a wonderful rule: Research/Organize/Plot the book whatever, but once you start writing, don't let anything stop you. Nora Roberts had another: I can fix a written page, but not an empty one. Both could be misquoted, but you get the idea.

Setting X-amount of pages per day is not for me. If the story is hot and you can, run with it. If not, do some job work, edit, review, make notes and then jump into it. Also never leave a story without a paragraph or line to help you pick up the story.

We can meet priorities, or come close, if we make those lists, prioritize, and Make Time for Writing. I use Notebooks/Binders to meet goals, but other can use computer programs. But scheduling Life Management is probably the biggest tip, and right now I'm working on a schedule for more exercise.

Rather than X-amount of words per day/session, I think a list of priorities might be more appropriate, and write the story as it comes to you--or as your outline/synopsis defines. That daily schedule is the best helper I know, and Make Time for Writing. If you keep on that story, keeping it warm within you, that is one BIG GOAL.

Hell on Wheels Series Excellent Study for Writers

After a move across the states, I'm catching up: I've just finished binge-watching all seasons of Hell on Wheels, and loved it. This is an excellent production, wonderful efforts by Entertainment One and Nomadic Pictures. I believe it is filmed in Alberta Canada.

As a writer of NW historical romance (I write other romantic subgenres, too and now women’s fiction), I've researched and driven across parts of the US and Canada. After seeing Hill on Wheels, I have more appreciation for the railroads traveling beside me, the difficulties of their creation. As a writer, I also appreciate the complexity of the series story-weaving, character and lives blending into a seamless piece of work. Hell on Wheels is a good study for any writer, and the editing is great, too, just enough rest and appreciate scenes vs action, segways also great.

Big Note Here: if possible, everyone should drive and explore the United States. I've driven the Oregon Trail, the Cariboo trail, studied the North West Mounted Police, the Voyagers and for traders, and some of the forts. We've got wonderful history out there, and you can almost feel the settlers pushing themselves, animals and wagons westward. The actual diaries are wonderful, filled with color, desperation and hopes.

As viewers move through different lives, connections, and deals, Anton Mount fills the bill as Hell on Wheels’ continuing series star. In his role as Cullen Bohanan, I see the very cat-like, athletic movements of the old-time Western stars, such as Burt Lancaster and Richard Widmark. The actor fit to the role is super. Whomever the casting director and/or staff is, they've done a wonderful job too. You can feel the intensity and relationship between the actors. The period costumes, weapons, sets, etc. were great, as well as the cars in the railroad. And oh my, the weather which included muddy streets, some of which people rolled in, and the scene at Truckee Pass deep with snow. I don't know where that was filmed on site, but I have driven that area/pass and appreciate the efforts taken in that scene.

Through the series, we see the people, age, change, die/or move on with their lives; it's a flow, a braid of different lives. Attention was given to the different cultures, too, which I appreciated, i.e. the underpayment of Chinese workers, human trafficking and slavery dynamics upon the workers. Also seeing Colm Meaney (Doc) maneuvering his railroad business deals, shifting around political/business dynamics was fascinating. I am not certain if/or the real character upon which his character may be based.

Take a look at Robin McLeavy’s character Eva’s costume. If that isn’t steampunk style…  Also her character’s use of herbs etc., uncommonly specific in films. She's hardened by life, yet compassionate, too. Excellent characterization.

The series editing also struck me. If it didn't count for texture/story line, it wasn't there. Too often we writers be so entranced with researching details and we forget we are writing a novel, rather than a history book. 

Hell on Wheels equals good entertainment. Thank you all.