Archive for the 'It’s All About Writing' Category
Push em back, push em back, way back!
December 21, 2005 | It's All About Writing
It’s a great Bears (Go Team!) defense team cheer and precisely what you should do with backstory when you’re writing fiction.
What’s backstory? It’s the life chronicle of your characters. All of your characters. Every person in your novel has a past. They think, feel, and act based on their history. Some backstorys are important like the hero and heroine while others are so minor they don’t matter in the full scope.
You’ve written your characterization, which is Thursday’s talk, and now you’re good to go. Wrong!
My Brazen Vixens online group is always willing to read a member’s work and constructively correct the flaws. Kate Lang, (check out her blog at katelang.blogspot.com for a great read) the leader of our pack, sent me an insightful e-mail after reading my first chapter.
“A suggestion is to perhaps cut back on backstory a little. I’d like to see your heroine’s issues be a mystery to me as a reader. After reading the first chapter there’s no mystery. I understand her, I understand her issues, and I know her history. Let her be more of a mystery, don’t tell me everything, let it come out in dribs and drabs.” Kate’s words made me think.
Beth Anderson and Yasmine Phoenix, my critique partners, are brutal with sloughing off. At our next meeting I broached the subject. They both agreed it was “too much, waaaay to soon”. These buds made me think even more. To these three authors I am forever grateful.
This is what I finally learned;
If little Johnny peed his pants in third grade and the teacher shamed him in front of his class, we don’t care. It’s only important as a brief mention or a thought timely planted in the story. Johnny knows what he did and the reader only wants an indication if it brings out some deep dark secret which leads him to act as he does in your book.
This is what I finally figured out to correct my problem;
1 – List all the high points from your characterization. (Don’t panic; remember on Thursday we’ll discuss characterization.) Skip the height, weight, etc. You only want the important events, ie;
a. Johnny peed his pants
b. He feels shame whenever he wears brown
c. He won’t talk in front of groups
d. He has a fear of public bathrooms
Get the idea?
2 – Write your story and drop in a line of backstory here and there but only where it’s appropriate.
3 – Cross out the line from your list after you’ve used it and note in the column which page it’s on.
This method taught me to sprinkle in the backstory for the proper effect and not put the reader in a coma.
Don’t worry, there will be pages in your book with plenty of backstory, but if the timing’s right it’s fine.
Sloane
And then along came Jones…
December 20, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Just a gigolo everywhere he’ll go is our very own Forrest Landry (check out his blog at forrest-landry.blogspot.com, dry wit is his specialty) who has joined the That Whores and come out to admit he is an And Then Gigolo. So Forrest, today is dedicated to help you shake your habit or else it’s the 2×4 with spikes. What can I do? I teach these authors everything I know and they still know nothing!
And then along came Jones… Good line if you like the Coasters’ old song but in writing it’s a major no-no. And then is a filler and shows a lack of writing ability. If you want to be a published writer you must know your grammar.
Let’s look at an example;
Jeff stood, shoved back his chair, and then stomped from the restaurant.
It should read;
Jeff stood, shoved back his chair, and stomped from the restaurant.
OR
Jeff stood, shoved back his chair, then stomped from the restaurant.
Either way works and is grammatically correct. By using and along with then your throwing in an unnecessary word which makes the sentence weak and unprofessional.
Here’s the thing, we all speak one way but must write another. We use all kinds of word combinations Webster would freak over. Hey, he’s dead so who cares? Your editor, dear author, the person you want to impress with your vast talent. Kick the habit and it will help you get published.
Back to the highlighters and yet another new color! Will the excitement never end?
Go through your manuscript marking every and then .
Re-read each sentence using and or then. You might be surprised to discover neither word is necessary as a comma may suffice.
Don’t lose heart. My first mss reminder me of kindergarten and the first finger painting class. I used every color in the spectrum and then some. I should have framed a few pages from that old mss. They would have served as a healthy reminder of how far I’ve come.
Tomorrow we’ll work on backstory and controlling it. Until then, Happy Writing!
Sloane
And that’s about that!
December 19, 2005 | It's All About Writing
As promised I’ll explain the That Whores, Jenna Howard and Sherrill Quinn. Check out their sites on the links page. These two fine authors have just come out of the closet admitting a that lust. I’m proud of you little Vixens. It took incredible inner strength to admit you have a problem. Now quit using it improperly before I beat the hell out of you both with the 2×4.
See the title of this blog? That’s the correct usage of the word. That is defined as the one mentioned, indicated, or understood. So if you write;
There was an important English test in Johnny’s class yesterday. The one boy that sweated over that test was really stupid.
You’ve almost got it but the sentence should read;
There was an important English test in Johnny’s class yesterday. The one boy who sweated over that test was really stupid.
That refers to a specific test therefore it is correct grammar.
Another incorrect example is;
He glanced up and saw that mounting passion had tinged her cheeks.
It should read;
He glanced up and saw mounting passion had tinged her cheeks.
Yes, I know there’s an ‘ing’ word but sometimes they are necessary.
That can also refer to people replacing who and whom. You should only use that in this manner if your characters are talking, as in the example below.
“The man that saw you is kind of cute,” she said with a wink.
We could go on forever with examples but you have the idea and it’s time to shrink your manuscript even more. You get to use a new highlighter color! Aren’t you excited?
Go through your mss and mark all the that‘s.
Re-read each sentence aloud omitting that. You’ll be surprised how much better the sentence will sound.
It’s very important you break yourself of the that habit. It shows a lack of professional writing skill and English grammar. Editors don’t like writers who are lacking.
Sloane
Honey, I Shrunk My MSS!
December 16, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Today is adjective day. Wait your turn you ‘that’whores until Monday. My sweet ‘and then’ gigilo, you have to wait for Tuesday. To everyone else reading here, I’ll explain on the above mentioned days about these insane people.
Adjectives are necesssary when you write, but they are a tool you must keep in control. They are best used in love scenes or when you need to soften the character’s thoughts or deeds.
Following is an example of what not to do;
Her hands were flying, tossing everything into the drawers.
It should read;
Her hands flew as she tossed the clothes into the drawers.
The new sentence is clearer and shows more action. Look on the bright side; your reader won’t stop mid-book to run for the toilet and it’s one less reason for the editor to send you the standard form rejection slip.
Go through your mss with a highlighter in a different color than you used for the adverbs. You’ll love the how pretty your pages look. I guarantee, unless you’ve had some serious 2×4 time, there will be an inordinate number of highlights.
Poor Beth just about pulled the last of her blonde hair out when she read my first draft with all the flowery crap. The dear hung in there and taught me to slowly read aloud, sentence by sentence, what I’d written. If the line was sing-song or gagable, it got a rewrite or the axe. Believe me, it won’t kill you to delete.
To thank her for all her hard work, and it was, I sent her a bouquet from the florist. The card was signed by ‘Ly’ and ‘Ing’. Her husband wasn’t happy and wanted to know, “Who the hell is this Ingly guy, and why’s he sending you flowers?”
Have a great week-end and I’ll be back Monday.
Sloane
Lose Those Old Friends
December 15, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Let’s talk about adverbs.
When I first started writing fiction, mystery crime writer Beth Anderson foolishly offered to read my WIP. Beth noted many first-timer mistakes and made it her job to teach me. A better day there has never been. She laboriously went through the mss marking all the corrections in thick red ink. At the end of it all she wrote me a note apologizing if she had hurt my feelings.
Not a snowball’s chance. It was the best education I’d ever received because Beth took the time to explain how adverbs weaken the sentence and feel of the scene unless it’s an emotional time for the H/H.
Here’s an example of what not to do;
“You can be very outspoken,” he softly commented while tenderly reaching for her hand.
Makes you want to stick your finger down your throat doesn’t it? Imagine if there were twenty-five plus ‘ly’ words on the same page. Bad ratio to the 250 words on every typed manuscript page.
This is what it now reads;
“You can be very outspoken,” he said as he reached for her hand.
Simple, cleancut, and ready for the editor. Here’s the solution;
Go through your WIP.
Highlight every adverb in the color of your choice.
Re-read your sentences, one at a time. Can you say it better, smoother, stronger by eliminating the dreaded “ly”?
Keep your adverbs to two a page and only if they are necessary. Chances are you can and your novel with be a thousand percent better.
Sloane
Thanks, Jeanne, for screwing in my light bulb.
December 9, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Everyday a blogger must come up with something relevant to say to the world. It’s a daunting experience but not as scary as the writer who needs 50,000 words to produce a manuscript. And they better be damn good words or the work is committed to the slush pile. Forever.
I’m in this eternal editing mode that makes me crazy. The outline is there, chapter by chapter, scene by scene. The novel is completed and backed up more times than babies are conceived in a year. So why the hell can’t I pull the damn thing together and get it finished?
The Brazen Vixens and my critique partners are behind me 100 percent. My daughter, son-in-law, and Studly encourage me daily. All these people think I can do more than sit on my flabby rear and grow gray hair. What is the problem, I ask myself as I waste more time on Spider Solitaire?
The answer jumped into my brain after Jeanne Laws, the editor of Passionate Ink, asked me to write an article for the January newsletter. I AM AFRAID OF SUCCESS. Horrifying thought, isn’t it? Out there with the Big Girls, treading in unknown water, sinking and gulping for air. Panic Time.
Who wouldn’t want money pouring in on a regular basis? Or the joy of meeting new people at book signings who praise your humble words? It’s every author’s dream.
I wrote an excellent story with meaning and depth. It should be read by more people than the friends I’ve badgered. So damn it, I will set a goal; every day, without fail, one chapter will be edited to the best of my ability. Excuses just go away. Find some other sucker to plague.
And to all you fine editors who read this blog daily; ignore my cold feet. Don’t be concerned I’m a one-book-wonder. Never let it bother you that all those pitches you accepted will be for nothing. Sloane Taylor has identified her problem and will conquer. Yep, right after this next game of Spider.
Sloane
David & Teddi Traveling to the Land of Rejection
December 1, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Yesterday was a writing bomb that let rip a sound heard around the world. Well, at least the world of Teddi and David.
I worked for hours, literally HOURS, because it’s time for David to grow a conscience. Yes, he feels guilt but not as much as I do for not expanding his 139 word POV into at least 500.
It just doesn’t work! Every new word sounds eactly as it is – filler. Editors do NOT like filler. As we all know, every word has to move the story forward. My extra words offer insight to his character but even had me nodding off. I can just imagine if my critique partners or the Brazen Vixens ever got a hold of this crap. There’d be more 2×4’s and crops waving than flags on the Fourth of July.
So it’s decision time. Do I shoot myself in the foot to meet a word count or do I do right by my hero? Have to do the right thing. If the editor doesn’t like his angst in a well-written, tight 139 words, she’ll tell me. Maybe she’ll even say it’s good. And maybe I really will wake up tomorrow and be a natural blonde!
Ah well, back to the delete key.
Sloane
The Best is Yet to Come!
November 29, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Last night the critique meeting went great. Beth and Yasmine showed me how to clean up the rough spots in this on-going saga. So once again I’m back on track. I must admit, I was pleased when they reacted to a line just as I’d hoped. It’s a thrill when your reader gets those little nuances tucked in a scene.
This morning I ‘m ready for bear, hmm, bare. Yes, definitely bare because David and Teddi are now hot on the path to gratifying sex. Yes, the road will be bumpy. It has to be – it’s a romance. But there’s a hellova lot of fun along the way.
Time to get back to writing. Teddi’s in the middle of a fantasy where David is licking and sucking. The poor woman can’t be left out there with her nipples puckered and her vagina throbbing for too long.
Sloane
PRESSURE
November 28, 2005 | It's All About Writing
This day is insane and passing much too fast. Since early this morning I’ve written, scratched out, rewritten, and scratched out even more. Triskelion Publishing is patiently waiting for the rest of this manuscript and tonight is my critique meeting. If I don’t have something worthwhile Beth and Yasmine are going to flail me alive. I might as well carry my own whip to save Beth the time digging for hers. And if I don’t really get the lead out of my ass, Triskelion is going to tell me to take a hike.
Where the hell did I ever get the idea I could write fiction? Oh yeah, I remember. It all started when these words began to bubble inside me.
You see all my writing friends hear these great voices or see these amazing hunks who tell them what to write. All I get is bubbling words that half the time make me want to puke! Yet somewhere in the chunky garble are a few beauts. Pearls of wisdom? No. Just words blending together to tell a story of sensuality and a not so young woman who finally comes alive.
Of course it’s a romance. But it’s filled with sexual tension and passion, not to mention a few explicit scenes that have me craving a cigarette by the time I finish typing.
This writing business is tough. It requires stamina, creativity, patience, dedication, and a strong determination to stay focused. I know I can do it. I want to do it. Dammit! I WILL do it.
Now what the hell was he doing with that naked woman stretched out on the love seat? See? It’s all in staying focused.
Sloane
