Pre-Release Sneak Peek #1 At Motley Education

Can you believe Motley Education releases in fifteen days? No, I can't either. But to quell a bit of my own excitement - I hope it helps yours, too - I'm releasing a teaser here and there over the next two weeks.  
As promised, here's your first sneak peek into the world of Motley Education.  And who better to greet you than the driving force for the story? 
Meet Ebony 'Jade' Charmed:

I'd tell you about her, but she's insisted on sharing the deets about herself her way. Nothing like a know-it-all tween, eh? So I'll let the back of her trading card speak her words: 

There you have it! STAY TUNED next week, when I share sneak peek #2 with you. 
Want to be part of MMGM ~ Shannon Messenger's genius plan to give middle grade reads their just due? Click HERE to join in and for the other participants.
What do you think of Ebony? (Be care what you say because she can find you ... even once you're a ghost.) 

Testing The Length Of Reader's Loyalty

Can testing the length of your reader's loyalty by axing a beloved character go too far?
This is a somewhat unconventional post for me here on Writer's Alley. As you know, I normally talk about picture books all the way to young adult literature and mingle in a post about motherhood every-so-often. Not today.
Well, kind of but not really. 
I will eventually wrap the dragon's tail back to its children's storytelling head and tie everything in a neat little KidLit bow. But indulge me for an adult second, if you would. 
I'm going to use an example of storytelling from an adult tale that I recently was forced to ponder. This particular story is from a series of books, but I've been introduced to it through television - the HBO series Game of Thrones. (If you watch the show, great. If you don't, it really doesn't matter for this discussion. This isn't about the show, but about a method of writing. HOWEVER, if you watch the show and need to catch up you might want to stop reading in case I toss in a spoiler or two.)
There are a few First Rules of Storytelling I've gathered since I began writing full-length tales. 

1. Strong opening - show, action, in-the-moment, current world
2. Intriguing world building - visual, unique, eventually changes in some way
3. Memorable main character(s) - multi-dimensional: emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, economically - be real 
4. Distinct voice - adds to MMC's appeal
5. Agitating Antagonist - love-to-hate, hate-to-hate, hate-to-pity, etc...Endless possibilities

Very simple and brief. We can expound upon those forever another time. Today I want to focus on character(s). And for a series like Game of Thrones there are a multitude of vital MC's via numerous story lines, thus the reason I'm not solely focusing on one MMC from #3 above.

We all know that developing a character isn't all about making him a positive entity or complete eye-candy in a story. Frankly, loads of us rather create the antagonist - the villian, the evil-doer, nature-gone-bad. They're fun to 'play' with and toss at your MC for an intriguing reaction. But both Hero MC or Vulgar Antagonist must have layers to his personality, beliefs ...See #3 above. You need not look hard to find either in the numerous story lines within Game of Thrones. There are so many strong characters carrying so much personal baggage it's almost insane. And beloved. We adore that. 

OMGosh, I hate that character ... That did not just happen to him ... I feel horrible for her ... I could go on and on with emotions conjured by witnessing the boulders tossed at some of these characters. As watchers and readers we hate, love, despise, pine for, encourage, chastise, cheer on, and grow with each fictional life. We take ownership of them, feel responsible. We are moved, which is awesome! 

And despite times when writers take a beloved character to a dark place we never imagined, we understand it's necessary. Life isn't easy. It doesn't hand out a warm blanket when your car breaks down on the side of the road during a snowstorm. And it surely doesn't deliver a fully-cooked turkey dinner to you when you already spent your paycheck for the week on bills and have nothing left to buy food. 

Writing in hardships for our characters is the main ingredient that makes the world they live in tangible. Their reaction makes them real. It gives a watcher/reader something to grip on to, relate to, and escape into. But is it possible for a writer to take a beloved character too far down a dark road of no return? Is it possible, especially within a story like Game of Thrones with a multitude of MCs, to create a character who is untouchable, who isn't expendable, and who death should never come for? This is fiction, where all things are possible, right? But are things all possible in fiction for your story to survive ... really?

If you're creating a franchise, a story monopoly, do you think it would be wise to take one of your most successful story lines and abruptly end it? Kill it off, even though a lot of your popularity and the popularity of the tale rides on that story line/character? 

Yes, I'm referring to the Jon Snow debacle from this week's episode. I am a firm believer that reality must happen in fiction for fiction to be reality. But killing off Jon, at least for this fan/writer, was a wrong choice. As a reader, I NEED at least one reliable within a story. Everything can't be chaotic all the time. It's like in childhood, when I needed my toy stuffed frog. (I like frogs. So what?) Someone could have poured dirt in my hair in the sandbox or bullied me off the swing at the playground. I might have had the flu or lost my TV privileges to my younger brother. At the end of the day none of that mattered as long as my frog was with me in bed to sleep. All set right with the world. 

So, yeah, maybe Jon Snow was my stuffed frog. (Sounds wrong, but go with me here.) As a viewer, I need him. His character is my anchor, my steadfast, my assurance that when all else goes wrong the world still has something right in it. Does that mean that Jon Snow's existence within the story should have been void of heartache and tragedy? No way. Up until this point in the story, whether television or books, Jon traveled a road of potholes, twists and turns, battles, uncertainty, and disappointments. At times, it was hard watching him struggle as he had to, but it was necessary for his growth, the forward progression of the story, and to stabilize the other story lines. 

What made JS untouchable to extinction/death for me? His character was longing, jaded, tainted, torn, suffering, lovable, honest, gentle, lonely, strong, selfless, and brave - the pinnacle of multi-dimensional we all strive for in developing characters. Mostly, he held integrity like no other. And in a stained world like Game of Thrones, integrity is rare. But desperately needed in the small doses that Jon gave. 

Rumors that his character really hasn't met his end and will somehow be resurrected began surfacing directly after the infamous episode ended. If they're true will I feel differently? I'm not sure. If so, I might eventually catch up on story lines and start watching again, but never with such fervor and passion as I did before. I am now a distrusting viewer/reader. 

I feel betrayed by the writing, almost jaded like How dare they do that to him? He's the story's one and only steadfast. What kind of roller coaster ride do they think I signed up for? Now mind you, I was a viewer of The Red Wedding, which was absolutely devastating. It took me three boxes of tissues and a week to recover from that episode. But, despite my horror of losing some of the most beloved characters that make up that story, I was able to find value in their ending and move forward with the show. 

At the end of Jon's death scene - which was totally lame and felt like an afterthought, btw - I made no noise. Didn't scream or cry or anything. I simply turned off the power and whispered under my breath "I'm done." 

What do you think? Is it possible to create a character who is not expendable, maybe one you can bend and prod and twist and burn but who is untouchable and imperceptible to death for the good of the story and the love of your readership? How far can you test your reader's loyalty to your story?

Zzzombies for a Featherbrained Friday!!

As I mentioned last week, I have like (yes, I just used 'like.' It's Friday, and I regress back to the '80s on Fridays), a bazillion book reviews and Graffiti Promotion author, book, and/or character promos to release. So, the responsible action I should take is to release one today.

Um...yeah. Nope. Not happening.

Want to know why?

Of course you do.

I saw this movie trailer yesterday and just had to share. The moment I finished watching it I knew this story will be one our YA and even MG writing community will chat about, dissect, and study the structure, world building, and character development for some time to come.


Why is that?

Because when I began watching it, the movie looked so dang lame in that my-husband-rented-another-stupid-flick sort of way. But I kept watching, and something about the second half of the trailer intrigued me.  The idea of emotions and true feelings changing a person is a great concept, universal, and what we all look to inject into our writing. Now, the real test will be in the How the material is delivered. Guess we'll see...

Anybody up for catching this flick when it's released? 

My Wig Is On Perfectly Crooked

Characters can make or break the success of a story.

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie where you absolutely despise one of the characters? What about the hero you just can’t bear to see lose or the underdog who’s backstory is so gut-wrenching that even if they committed murder you’d still love them?

Sure you have. We all have. But why? What makes those characters resonate with us?

A relatable, emotional connection was established by the writers and filmmakers. They were able to get you to invest yourself and stake claim in the character. And if this is done well, they will also get you to connect qualities from a character with someone in your world. It might be your mother or the dog you and your BFF used to dress up in dog clothes. Or maybe the babysitter you had when you were twelve. You might even see a bit of yourself. The possibilities are endless.

Uniqueness, an element that makes the character stand apart from others, was surely also used. Take Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice. Her unique quality was her confidence and dogged opinions, which was only strengthened by the world she lived in where it was not popular to be an outspoken woman. A unique quality doesn’t have to be different in itself, just different to the other characters in your story.

Characters who make a story work are believable, flawed, and on some level emotionally jaded. Now, emotional jaded could be as simple as a character having a spider fall on her head as a young child while sleeping in a camp and developing a terrifying fear of the Arachnid. (Not that I ever experienced such an event.) Or it could travel the extremes of depression or anguish over a death, accident, or other traumatic and personal event.

The trick is to make the reader believe said character is haunted by his/her past, present, and possible future ~ whichever of these apply to your story.

How is that accomplished? Before you begin meshing the lives of your characters together in their here and now, give them – at varying degrees:

• A PAST worth telling and exploring. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries here. But remember, this past should help motivate the character forward in their current story world. It should help force a change.
• 
  
• A FAÇADE worthy of description, both inwardly and outwardly. Paint a picture for the reader, but do it gradually throughout a few chapters. Nibbles always make the eater hungrier. Give them a meal, and they fill up quickly.
• 
  
• A CHARACTERISTIC different from any other character in your story. It can be subtle or in-your-face. Play with it. Honestly, this is one of my favorite things to do, while I write.
• 
  
• A CONFLICT that will NOT be cured within the pages of this particular story. It could be a Doritos fetish from one character that totally aggravates another character. Kind of silly, but workable, and it can add flavor to scenes.

Obviously most of this should be concentrated on your main characters, but developing secondary characters even a little can add depth to your main characters that you can use and bounce off of. And who knows, if you accomplish success with this first story you just might be asked to do a sequel. You’d have surface material on the secondary characters that you could develop more deeply.

So tip your characters’ wigs now and again. Change the color. Give them a hat of a different texture, unexpected. Make me want them to succeed or fail. If you accomplish this, either way, you’re story will be remembered. (Repost from my guest post on Misha's site. 05/12)

Hoped you enjoyed this Featherbrained Friday post! What do you have to add about the emotional connection between reader and character? 

The Red-Headed Step-Child

Being in the middle never feels like much fun.

There's monkey-in-the-middle, being sandwiched between other sweaty football players during a tackle, or standing dead center among other crazed fans at a rock concert. Can you see the red-headed step-child cringing?

We begin school at the elementary level, where everything is new and exciting. The end of our educational journey consists of high school and post-secondary colleges, at a time we're maturing, planning, and dreaming of what to do with our lives.

But what about the middle - MIDDLE GRADE?

What is it about being 12 to 14 that makes life so different? That is a question middle grade writers must ask themselves whenever beginning a story. So let's explore and give us something to chew on.

Middle grade is:

• where we have one foot in childhood and one the first step to adulthood.
• where we're beginning to discover who we are and who we'd like to be.
• where most begin to mature physically, causing awkwardness in body movements.
• where attitudes develop, wanting more independence yet still needing to be cared for.
• where we begin to see we have a place in the world and spend lots of time watching how others fit into their world.
• where peer pressure, popularity, and structured clicks usually begin. 
• where realizing there's more in the world then just 'me' is just annoying.
• where the line between male and female becomes more pronounced.
• where the world begins to get bigger.
• where everything is a big deal.
• where drama begins.

Now, use these prompts to inspire ideas to add to your middle grade manuscript. Not a MG writer? Take a stab at it anyway. 

How could you use these to develop your young adult or adult characters? Can you add to my list? 

To check out more topics about MG literature, click on Shannon Whitney Messenger's badge for more links!!

Dressin' Up Halloween Style

Being Friday, I felt a little silly was in order and decided to follow in the footsteps of some pretty special sisters - Lisa and Laura Roecker. Can anyone else say TGIF?? I've loved what Matt over on QQQE has been doing with exploring all that goes creepy and slimy, bullish and ornery in the night. So I figured why not take a peek at playing dress-up with some of our favorite Halloween creatures. Or even better. Why not highlight a few costume ideas?

I found most of these on the internet so credit goes to those brave souls who uploaded their ideas to a few different websites.

First off, I'm going with Jail-Bait Lindsey Lohan - all you need is an orange jumpsuit which can be made out of a sheet, a long blond wig, lots of cheap spray tan, massive freckles, eyeliner from HELL, and browliner gone wrong. Feel free to carry a ziplock baggie with aspirin and a half-empty bottle of JD.

You could be Charlie Sheen - khaki shorts, a two-toned bowling shirt from your local salvage mart, high socks (just because), and loafers. Grooming is the key, here. A shaggy head of hair and bushy eyebrows - don't forget to glue some fake fur to your chest and have it creeping up your neck. Carry a half-full glass of gin and yell "Winning" all night long.

Then there's Lorena Bobbitt. *sniggers* Picture this: white nightie dripping in fake blood and streaks of blood coating both hands and face, hair all disheveled. In one hand, you carry a clear glass jar with...you figure out what to use inside. Hee.... and label the jar: "Bobbitt, John." 


It's All Hollow's Eve, right??


Have a fab weekend, Alleywalkers. Hope this helped you better prepare yourself for the Halloween parties this weekend and Halloween itself on Monday!!


Maawwhhhhhahhaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Things That Go BUMP in the Night...

Halloween is upon us, which is the perfect time to explore creatures that give us the willies. My least favorite creature is revealed at the end of this post. It's totally lame. But I'm me. :) So what about the other creatures, the one's writers have used through the ages to make us pull the covers over our heads or squeeze the death out of a pillow?

Matt over on the QQQE highlighted a few of my favs the other day. Go Vampires! Go Zombies! Go Werewolves! (although I prefer the term Lycan and have made mine glow like smoldering copper with eyes swirling in colors. There. Take that sparkling vamps!) I won't revisit any of these, but feel free to hop over HERE to read his take on them.

I figured I'd start out soft and spotlight an Angel. Angels can appear as flesh and spirit--clouds of mist and lights. It's said they are heavenly messengers, sent from Above, to guide and protect the mortal world. But don't think that makes Angels all fluffy and feather-coated. No way. Angels are fierce in whatever mission they are given or undertake. They are warriors, bent on winning.

Makes you wonder what the real difference is between Angels and Demons, huh?

If you're a paranormal/sci fi/urban fantasy writer, why not try creating a different take on an Angel? 

Next up is a mythical being not so angelic: the Banshee. Gaining a visit from a banshee could likely be the Death of you, forecasting Death or the coming of Death. Their most common disguises are a young woman, an old lady, or a matron, but some believe they can appear as animals, too, primarily in witchcraft. It's also been written that they can be seen in human form, which is probably the reason us MOMs might have heard the phrase, 'My mom is screaming like a banshee.' Banshees are known for their wailing, but also for their low-pitch, which can be as harsh on the ears.

What about a Leprechaun? A leprechaun is said to have all or some of the following: smaller stature, likes green (really??), drinks heavily and is a tad ornery, enjoys thievery but is a totally tool if caught. He'll hand over his treasure and pretty much kiss your feet.

FYI: I've been doing some research on the whole leprechaun subject. The second of the two YA novels I'm currently working on is a take off that old children's story - Rumpelstiltskin. Shh...don't say it, just like Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice... *slaps hand over mouth*


'K, time for me to fess up, right? Drumroll and the crowd leans forward in their uncomfortable opera house seats...


Spiders.


Yuck! There is not much in this world that will freak me out, but seriously, I will totally wig if I see a big one. Ugh...like a wolf spider. I had one of those on the back of my leg when I was pregnant with my second child. Want to see a pregnant chick do Kung Fu and leap in a single bound?? 


Yup. I did it. 

Featherbrained Friday: Character Props

On Wednesday over on Oasis for YA, I wrote a post about conflict within a story. Lots of that post focused on character conflict. Recently, I found this photo on Facebook. I'm sure you might have seen it. Did you do it? What were your results?


I thought it'd be fun to use this as a tool to develop our characters all while adding conflict. It's also something you can chew on over the weekend.

When I first took this little quiz, Happy/Patient/Outgoing/Sweet were the words that caught my eye. Accurate?? Sometimes, I suppose. So what if I built a character using these adjectives.

If the character was female, she might be the girl in high school, who hovers just beneath the general population's radar. Not very interesting. But what if I took these adjectives and added fear of large crowds with a stuttering issue? Then I made the character male and voted him in as the surprise new class president?

You can play with this. I'm sure you understand what I mean.

So using the face above, I gave my eyes a second chance to see something different. This time I came up with: Insecure, Thoughtful, Naive, Restless. Um...Accurate?? Totally different then my first attempt but nonetheless probably dead-on at times.

Once again, I could throw a wrench into that even foursome and have a female character, whose dad is some high-powered attorney, and have her framed for stealing cars. But she is naive. Did she do it? She's also insecure. Would she be strong enough to claim her innocence anyway?

Who knows? But that would be for the writer to decide.

This weekend, take a moment and use this silly tool. Think about your characters and what you'd like to accomplish with them and through them. I know it's fueled a new facet to one of my characters.

  Happy weekend, Alleywalkers!

Hearts,
S~

A Character Interview

Most of you know me as Ana, one of Sheri's master creations. *adjusting the suede satchel at my hip that Sheri insists I wear.


Don't get me wrong. Being a fictitious character isn't all about the ball-n-chain of my creator making me submit to scenes I'd rather not go through or dialog I'd rather not say. Trust me ~ I've had my fun with my so-called 'In -charge' master. *I'm laughing way to easily, right now. My bad, Sheri. It also has it's perks, like meeting other fictitious characters and comparing notes.

As in Sammy, my friend from Ciara Knight's newly published novella Loves Long Shadows. Sammy's pretty cool, for a fallen angel suffering from amnesia. 


So Sammy, what gives with the whole amnesia thing? 


I so wish I could remember Heaven and why I fell, but it isn’t meant to be. Every time I try to remember something I’m overwhelmed by human emotion. I hope to remember what my angelic gifts are so that I can help my brother fight demons, or figure out my purpose here on Earth.

Wow! That's pretty rough. And I thought I had it bad, being abandoned by my mom when I was six--well, not really abandoned, although that's the way I've chosen to see it. My amnesia is selective. I'd rather see things my way...but that was before I met Viktor. 

You live a pretty normal life with your Earthbound mother, Grace, right? Did you just 'wake up' and realize you were more than human, or did you always know?

I fell from Heaven only a few months ago. *shivers* The only memory I have of the fall is flashes of lights and feeling like I’m being suffocated by my own skin. Then, I’m waking in a cold grass field near Alex, my brother, in Montanta. It was rough until Grace found us. She’s great, been a caregiver to fallen angels for decades I believe.

Lucky Grace found you. She sounds amazing! I live with my dad, whose idea of care-giving is a sooty fireman's hug, and a hotdog and a beer while watching a baseball game. He does love me, though. Just misses my mom, which is totally lame in my opinion. I mean, she's been gone for ten years. And they say girls are dramatic. 

What do you long for the most?

To return to Heaven. Even though I don’t have my memory, flutters of emotion stir each time I try to think of my life before I fell.

Sounds like something more than no memory of Heaven and a reason for your Fall is keeping you from Heaven? Maybe a threat?

*Nods head. Forras, a local head demon. He’s powerful and full of evil. I’m still not that great at spotting demons but I can smell his sulfuric odor from down the beach.

It feels like there's more - a secret?

*Sighs, but answers anyway. I have feelings for someone who hangs out with demons. Alex warned me to stay away, that demons could easily manipulate me because of my new human emotions.

Oh. I guess Sheri and Ciara were right. We do have something in common: you have feelings for a dude, who hangs out with demons, which messes with your human emotions. So not in your best interests. And I have feelings for a guy who manipulates my empathic ability, making me feel, which is not the healthiest thing for me either. 

Let's lighten this up a bit. Signature Graffiti Wall question: Smoking hot demon trying to do good, yet you know he's bad; Do-gooder, always-follows-the-rules angel and wears a sweet expression. Or the scraggly haired human boy with amazing blue eyes, who has the average teenage problems. You remember Heaven and can take one of them with you. Which do you choose?

Wow, that’s a tough question. *Deep breath* I might be in love with a demon, but I know there is good in him. I guess I’d have to say a Smoking hot demon trying to do good. Whatever you do, PLEASE don’t tell Alex. He’s already on a rampage; he’d kill Boon if he knew. 

Your secret is safe with me.

Thanks so much for having me here today. Ciara and Sheri were right. We should Skype or FB. I just learned about them a week ago. Maybe you could help me figure out what SMH and JK mean. J

Haha...sounds great!! Maybe a blogfest, too!

Seriously folks, check out Sammy's story on Turquoise Morning Press | Amazon Kindle | Smashwords | Bookstrand | All Romance Ebooks/OmniLit, and her creator, Ciara on Facebook, Twitter, & Goodreads.

"Who Am I," cries my MC!! June 24th

When I first saw this blogfest announcement on my amazing author-friend Kris Yankee's Adventures That Score site, I knew participation was a must for me. I'm somewhat indifferent to blogfests. If one catches my interest I'll join in; if not, I won't. The ones I really take advantage of are those that make me think as a writer, hone my craft, explore who I am and even better explore my characters.

That's why I am so excited for today's blogfest. I want to thank the host of said fest, Elizabeth Mueller. She's a peach and so talented!

Our job is basically to become one with our main character and answer three vital questions, delving into the essence of who he/she truly is. As a former theater/dance junkie, I just love this stuff!!

*Pause while downloading Main Character....bleep, bleep...bleep....*

Hi everyone!! I'm Anastasia Tate, but my friends call me Ana--which, by the way, I would advise. (I'm grinning. No worries.) The long name is too sophisticated for me, a girl who'd rather climb a tree or shoot hockey pucks at my best friend, Josh, than wear a gown to some gala where I get chased in the woods by entities unknown and end up in my lead counterpart's arms. (Hint, hint: Sheri makes me go to a gala. #stickstongueoutatcreator.)

What is my greatest fear? Love and abandonment. After my mom disappeared when I was six years old, I gradually learned that people are fallible and fickle, changing with the wind or a snippet of influence from others. Trusting them can be risky. Watching my dad slowly melt over these past ten years has only added to my fear and also to my confusion about relationships. You'd think with as young-looking as he still is he'd be out there, dating. Good gosh, most of the girls my age coo when they see him. #waygrosstobeachildofahotparent

What is my biggest accomplishment? Finally embracing my secret empathic ability to see auras and sense the emotions of others. Yeah, read that again: ...feel the emotions of others... That's a charmed ability to have in high school. The mishmash of emotions ramrodding just one teenager is bad enough. Picture a whole school of them.

But that part of my ability only started a year ago during my freshman year. As my luck would have it, I accidentally strolled into the guys' locker room while the senior football players where having a meeting. The crass and vile emotional sentiments coming from them would have probably knocked me over if I hadn't passed-out from my own embarrassment. #feltreallystupid


What is my biggest regret? I'd have to say, not listening to my gut or in my case--my sticky note: the place inside my head where I keep info or thoughts I'd rather avoid. Down deep, I knew my empathic ability was a gift not a curse because it's who I am. We all have certain gifts for a reason--or so my new friend Sara tells me. At first I wasn't buying that gibberish. But now, I'm starting to understand. I've always seen the world through others' glasses, too busy running from the real me. Accepting myself has given me the inner peace I longed for, not to mention a cool pair of Ana eyeglasses. #bewhoyouaremeanttobe

Now, how long that will last is up for grabs. Sheri's giving me another ride in a sequel to Marked Beauty. I might need a pair of binoculars for this journey. #thinkscreaterisoddbutloveheranyway


Make sure to hustle over to see the other MCs who are getting their due, today!! So, what's your MC's biggest regret?? 

Flour to Kneed Characterization

 Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs.  Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger.  If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.  ~Dale Carnegie ~

Behind every great character is their past. What made them who they are at the moment you open the front cover of their story. I'm talking about behind the backstory, molding experiences not included in the actual manuscript. And as much as I'd planned on exploring this topic in a series beginning today, it will have to wait until next Tuesday. But there is purpose in using this lead for today's post.

Most of you know I'm a major ice hockey fan, that my dad coached for years, and that three of my four children currently still play. I've spent most of my childhood and now adulthood in an ice rink--part of my backstory. So it should come as no surprised that I was glued to the TV on Wednesday night watching the Boston Bruins play Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks for the Stanley Cup Championship.

I tip my hat to the Bruins, who are 2011 Stanley Cup Champions!! 

Credit for photo

This team's journey took them through an entire season of ups and downs, three game 7 series, and finally to winning the coveted crown of Stanley Cup Champions. Each played a part, moving them forward in their story. Every element of your character's backstory is designed to serve the same purpose. If one part doesn't do it's job or is muddled, the ultimate goal can't be accomplished. For the Boston Bruins, that goal was winning the Stanley Cup. For you as a writer, it's crafting irresistible characters as rich on the inside as on the outside. A writer can begin stacking the odds in their favor of achieving that goal even before the character starts breathing on the page--and that's behind the backstory.

So I leave you with the quote above and this brief post to ponder. Apply it to yourselves as writers and also to your characters. You are both valuable and worth it. 

(I'll be in NYC & Atlantic City next week with the hubs for a conference he must attend. I'll try my best to pay you visits and continue working. Enjoy your weekend!!)    

Character Faces on Eggs

Check out this picture. How funny (or tedious depending on how you look at it) would it be to draw the faces of your characters on eggs? Seriously. I know it sounds silly, but could you do it? How would you do it? What makes your characters, YOUR characters yet THEIR own person?

This week on Oasis for YA, I discussed Voice: how it defines a character, how to use it, and ways to improve voice in your writing. The piece revolved around characters. 


Character as Setting ~ This is a fantastic post by Literary Agent Vickie Motter. She gives concrete examples of when setting, used as a character itself, can positively fuel a story. My thought was, "How do you know when you've accomplished this?" She mentions taking your story out of the current setting and plugging it into another setting. If the story doesn't work in the new setting, then you've accomplished 'setting as a character' in your story.


PK Hrezo of My Fiction Addiction posted some interesting questions every writer can ask themselves about their character(s) to get to know them better. In order to write about them and speak for them, you MUST know them. They come from the writing course she's taking taught by best-selling Author Bob Mayer.


I'm going to post each question and use one of my characters, Viktor, to answer each for myself. Feel free to play along with one of your characters and tell me if you discovered anything new.


1.  What is the identity your character shows the world?
Well, seeing how he's hiding, I'd say he shows quiet arrogance.
2.  What identity does this character claim for himself? How does he/she view themselves?
He's guilt-ridden and, even after all these years, still angry about living under the constraints of his cures. He views himself as unworthy of a cure, after everything he's done.
3.  What truth is buried so deep, your MC doesn't even realize it?
Although he's been forced to do things he didn't want that hurt others, his heart has always been in the right place.
4. What first impression does your MC create?
Excluding him being cute, he seems stuck-up and mysterious.
5.  How would your character's acquaintances describe him/her?
Odd, distant, and weird...
6.  What circumstance would make him/her act contrary to his norm?
 If he finds someone to love him despite his wrong-doings, and they are in danger.  


Dah, dah, dah!! So I did it. Now you give it a try. This is really great when you're starting a new WIP or bringing in a new character to your story. If the character is a new one being introduced into a WIP, try adding a few questions like:


1. Does this person fit into a stereotype already in the cast of characters?
2. How would this person react to pain, joy, teasing, etc..?
3. What is this person's purpose? Outward motivation? 
4. Does this person's inner motivations matter to the story? If so, how?
5. How will this character interact with those already established?


Remember, you are in the driver's seat of your characters. They are people you'd want to know or not; want in your life or not. They are the annoying driver who drives way to slow in front of you every morning while you're rushing your kids to school, or the sweet cashier at the convenience store who always has a smile on her face.


What do you like about them? What annoys you? Use your experiences in real like to relate to your characters--even when the character is setting. There are plenty of real-life settings that annoy or comfort me. Yes, I chat with my make believe folks all the time. I like them...or I like to hate them. Either way, I MUST build each a solid foundation if I expect them to stand on their own and make the reader say, "I think I've met this guy before."


And maybe you'll decide to give that egg painting experiment a try. Just picture how much fun it'd be getting rid of the characters you don't like. Oh, the egg-drama. 

Unstoppable Characters

Before I begin, is anyone else's blogger dashboard acting all wacky? Normally, it refreshes itself so I can get to all your new posts. Mine, lately, doesn't refresh even when I hit my refresh button in my browser. Weird. Maybe it's all the snow we're being bombarded with, up here. *shrug*


What is an Unstoppable characters? 

The other night, the hubs and I watched the movie UNSTOPPABLE. We've always had movie date nights just for us, alone in the 'man cave'. We've got dim lighting and  surround sound that could challenge any theater. (Hubby is way into electronics.) We also have our own movie theater popcorn maker. Makes the cozy room feel even more like the inside of a cinema, tapping into the senses of smell, taste, and touch. You get the picture. 


Since I've been writing, I not only read books with a keener eye, I also watch movies under a new internal microscope I didn't know I had. This new instinct gives movie night a whole new glow for me.


The movie was suspenseful and had lots of action. That's not what I'm here to chat about. I'm not offering up a review. Here's the movies log line:

With an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, a veteran engineer and a young conductor race against the clock to prevent a catastrophe.

Pretty basic, right? Seriously, that line truly sums up the film. It was all about two guys on a train trying to stop another train. Period. Plain Jane. It was so simple it almost scared me. So why did I sit there and watch the entire film? There wasn't much of a story. 

Characters. That's why I stayed.


Simple, tid bits of backstory were weaved in at just the right times, making me want to know more. Not so much about the train, train conducting, or the inevitable danger that must be coming but the two men who'd just met. We're first introduced to them in their setting--something that defines who they are as people. Major important element in beginning our novels. 


-Start the character in their Setting. This tells me something about who they are as people and how they react to their environment. 


These characters' stories were simple. Family issues (I won't say because I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen the movie.) and not too complex psychics or wants out of life. Two simply guys on a train.


Characters don't need to be complicated to be interesting or to draw a reader to want to know them. They don't need to have such a thick onion peel that when the layers are being stripped during the story the reader gets lost. The only criteria is that they feel real, like you could stand behind them in line at the grocery store or that they might like the same toothpaste you use.


Sometimes simple gives a jolt to the character development throttle - Unstoppable, making the reader need to follow the story. I'm still pondering what made me like these two guys and why I ended up rooting for them. Honestly, I think it's because they were so down-to-earth real. And that perception was given to me through how and when those simple tid bits about them were fed to me.


I plan on expanding upon this post about Unstoppable characters. But for your interest, here's a great Post  on this same subject I found last night. 


Are your characters Unstoppable? Are they simple? Complex? How do you handle their development?  

I KILLED HIM!!

Tears welled up in my eyes.


My heart pounded.


Sweat beaded on my skin, yet my mouth went dry.


There was nothing left to do,


For he must die.


A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE.


I did it. I killed off a character. Boo-hoo. He was someone's brother and son, someone's friend and cousin. He had a girlfriend--yeah, I wacked her off, too. 

Obituary~until a new home is found

Embree Miller ~ 19yr-old young man with biceps the size of tree trunks. His curly hair clung tightly to his head,  but stray ringlets jiggled across his tan forehead. The rings of light exuding off him were always studious and nothing like his outer veneer, which was bigger and more like Popeye up close.


A self-proclaimed botanist and plant lover, he was a real earthy guy. One would believe him a tinkerer of metals and engines, but his true love was found in germinating flowers and creating new herbs.


And then there was Regina, his significant other ~ 


A 17yr-old brainchild, she fashioned the cutest cropped cut, worn behind her ears. Her chestnut hair shimmered in highlights. The green of her eyes was vibrant, and she had a bounce to her stride. Short and stocky in build, she loved to wear baggy sweatshirts but well-fitting jeans. The pencil laced behind her ear was usually all the jewelery she needed to wear.


But do not mourn forever, beloved. They will be sadly missed, for the time of their absence. We will trudge forward, in hopes that both will be resurrected in a sequel to Marked Beauty.   


Just believe... 

I have so much more to tell you, but can't just yet. Hee....


So, tell me about those characters you've had to say a fond farewell to. Was your heart broken??

Muse Online Conference 2010

I've never been to a writer's conference. *hangs head, shame shadowed disgracefully* I've only been involved with one writer's group that could meet in person. I live in the freaking willywacks luscious fields with all the Fall foliage and deer prancing in the backyard, my friends.

(Really, I do. My house sits in a nice neighborhood, but our lot has a wooded area behind it. Yeah, the deer like it.)

Over the past eight months, I've had a way cool crit partner, and a few who weren't so cool ~ not that I'm any prize. :( I've become involved with awesome organizations like SCBWI and writing communities such as YAlitchat, Teenfire, and Inkwell.

But I still haven't made it to an illustrious writer's conference. I've heard about BEA and SCBWI Summer & Winter conferences. And then there was all that talk about ComicCon and God knows what else. I actually was registered for the awesomesauecesome WriteOnCon--it's initial unveiling. Yeah, life happened and I had to miss the entire week. Blah.

But guess what???? Guess, guess, guess!!

I'm FINALLY attending a conference. Yay!! Online at bat. The Muse Online Writers Conference. I hear it's been running for a few years now,  *winky* and that it's pretty sweet.

I registered like, um...forever ago. I'd almost forgotten about it until the gracious lead moderator emailed me some info and a password I guess I need to 'get in'.

Yeah, I'm thinking online is a good thing for me. At least the presenters and my other class hordes won't have to see my paling face. Hey, I can pass-out because of my skittish nerves and no one will be the wiser. *teeheeing*

So, wish me luck this week and if you don't see me around this is the reason. I'll miss you all. I have a great book review I wrote for Sourcebooks, coming out on Wednesday, and another post on Friday. We're taking another week off for our Q & A with a YA.

Have you been to a writers conference? In person or online? What was your favor element about it? 

GET NAKED! SEGMENT 2

Okay, so it's really not part II of my Get Naked series. I had intended on getting that post written forever ago but the Alleyway has been taken over by author interviews and book reviews. It's been great, but time for a break.


So instead of my using my original road map for exposing my otherwise private parts, I'm implementing a tagged session. Yeah, I've been asked to join in on 4 THINGS by Kari over on

 Under the Fairy Dust. *Sigh* I must oblige. *cheeky grin, hoping you all aren't bored with the goodies about me*

4 THINGS

...in my purse: sm. notebook, pen, lipstick, & mini flashlight--don't ask.


...on my desk: magnet about great women, Dove chocolate wrapper, Withering Heights, & wooden blocks that spell out WICKED ~ Oh, yeah.


...I've always wanted to do (but haven't yet): gone white-water rafting, jumped out of airplane, swim in the Pacific, & visit Greece ('hi' Jess!!).


...I enjoy very  much at the moment: the quiet, catching up on blog posts, seeing Kate--knowing her surgery was a major success, & thinking about sleeping.


...song I can't get out of my head: 
Lips of an Angel
Lay Your Hands On Me
The Crow and The Butterfly
& that old McDonald's song: Big Mac, Filet-o-fish, Quarter pounder, French fries...


...you don't know about me: 
I was a Catholic school girl
I had two nicknames in high school: Meech & Sherbear (gosh, I always hated that one)
I was Homecoming & Prom Queen (I've got a great YA story about this one) 
I've been bitten in the face by a dog--twice. (Yeah, pretty similar to the nose thang I still have to come clean about.)   


Was that a tad too BARE for you? LOL. 


So, here's the deal: I'm tagging any of you reading this post who have not yet been tagged or want to share info about yourself. Have at it...You're on the honor system and the Alley has eyes.....

Ooh, and enter my Scare Me writer's contest for October!! And go check out iggi & gabi for their Weekend Blog Party!!

Characters: Like A Deck of Cards

Sometimes life hands us an unexpected card in our deck. The same holds true for our characters. We dream, think, imagine them: their faces, preferences, and attitudes.

Not sure about you, but I have a few real-life cards myself. A few are battered and stained, and a few are strong and bold. Yeah, I have a few embarrassing ones, too. All of these make me who I am. The same is true when we develop our fictional characters.


Their life experiences--the infamous back story--plays an intricate part in your plot line and probably your subplots. They mold, highlight, and set boundaries encompassing your book. 


So similar to real life. However, there are always those cards in the deck that are different. Look at your characters. What cards would they covet and cherish? What's important to them? What makes them deeper than the next paperweight?

Using myself as an example, my other cards would  be the ones that represent my titles in life, what defines me: one being - motherhood.

My eleven-year-old daughter, Kate, is having major surgery this morning. No panicking. She'll be fine.

About a year ago, she started complaining about foot pain. Being ten years old at the time, we figured it was growing pains. Remember those? 


I was told that when I was ten and my legs wouldn't stop aching, and then at age thirteen when I kept passing-out...'It's that time in a young girl's life' was what my parents were told. (Great MG character flaw. Just sayin'.)

Kate's a very active girl. Can you blame her? She has THREE brothers. Have mercy. You want to talk about survival of the fittest; live in her world for one day. Point being: she's one tough cookie. But finally, her pain couldn't be brushed off as the natural stretching of limbs or the onset of the numerous tween body mortifications. And when I noticed bunions forming on the knuckles of her big toes, I knew something was up. 

(Bunions - what a nasty word, and I love words.)

After waiting three months to finally get into the specialist, we discovered that her bunions were a result of a more serious issue. Katelynn has what are called Kidner Feet.

Here's the medical diagnosis that will bore you to pieces: Kidner procedure includes surgical removal of an accessory navicular bone and then re-attachment of the attentuated ("loosened")posterior tibial tendon, by drilling a hole through the navicular bone and re-routing the posterior tibial tendon through the hole and then "plugging" the hole with a piece of bone. This will now keep the tightened tendon in place and help support the arch. (as written by Dr. David S. Wander, 10/27/06 on an online forum.) 

Sounds gut-wrenchingly painful and disgusting, doesn't it?? 

So basically, she has an extra bone on the inside of each foot which inhibits the tendon that runs along her shin to the top of each foot. This tendon supports a proper arch, but because it can't do it's job properly her feet are flattening out and her knuckles are separating = bunions.


She also has to have another procedure performed, and I won't bore you with the technical term. ('K, so I couldn't figure out how to spell it. Sue me.) Anyway, during this procedure a 'donor piece of bone' will be inserted into her foot structure.


You heard me correctly: a DONOR bone...yup, from a previously deceased soul.


Now remember, she lives with guys. Not much grosses her out. Well this did. Her face was priceless when the surgeon told her. She's now had time to digest this fact. 

The doctor will perform all three procedures and sling her up in a cast, which she'll be a prisoner to for approximately eight weeks. This should be fun. Hah. Haha. She'll miss at least TWO weeks of school, so just imagine the work we'll she'll have to make up. Oh, and she has to have the other foot done, too!! 


Lucky us. 


The left foot will be done within the next year. The two procedures need to be done at least six months apart to give the first foot time to heal properly. She'll need that foot fully recovered to support her body weight while the second foot heals.

Now back to those cards of life or your characters lives I mentioned earlier. 


The scenario describe above or a similar one could apply to any fictional character. One of your characters could stumble onto or be hit with such an obstacle that their deck of cards jumbles, becomes unrecognizable to them or changes them dramatically.

Have you ever given any of your characters a physical or psychological handicap that challenged your writing? 


Challenged you to think outside yourself? Any famous characters you can think of? 


I immediately thought of RAINMAN. How brilliant was that?

Major BTW: I've also reviewed Eight Grade Bites, by Author Heather Brewer  over on Oasis for YA, today.

Sheri Splatter: Although I will continue to post next week, I may not get the chance to surf the blogosphere and visit you. I apologize. I have no idea what condition she'll be in after surgery. Know you are in my thoughts, and for gosh sakes would someone keep track of the things I miss. I hate missing your posts!! 

Tapping Feet & Fingers...<3