Top 5 Writing Mistakes

I've compiled this list from how-to-write books that I've read, from boring stories that I've perused, and from complaints my editors frequently said about my own writing.

1. Flat Language

Whether it's description, dialog, action, or internal thoughts, it should be colored with personality. Even if you are writing in third person. This is how you build style.

2. Yes-Men Characters

A book can have 1-dimensional characters and still be good. These are like one line jokes--you can still get a laugh out of your audience. But flat characters are emotionless cardboard cutouts that do nothing but fill the plot. They do exactly as the author wants to move the story. A good book has character-driven plot rather than plot-driven characters.

For example, three characters, chatting together, say:

"We should go in there and steal the book."

"Good idea. I'll help you."

"And me too!"

When in the real world do three people cooperate together so easily? It reminds me of the song I hate the most in this world. "Shiny Happy People Holding Hands."

Makes me want to blow them all to smithereens.

(FYI, this is the shortcut version of my original writing of Barra planning to get the hidden book from Ashon's office.)

3. POV

"My eyes sparkled like blue gems." Um, how do you know what your eyes look like, unless your looking in the mirror? Who ever comments on their own eyes? I don't. Well, unless I'm talking to my kids. I want my kids to hear me say good things about myself, just as I say good things to them. But other than that...

Or "The door opened behind me, and Bob walked in." And I have eyes in the back of my head.

And POV rules apply to writing in third person as well. Each scene should be written from one perspective, or the reader will be pulled out of the story. Readers want to experience the story from the minds of the characters. Not from the mind of the author.

4. Telling.

I don't want you to tell me about your vacation, show me the pictures, and give me a slide show presentation. I want you to take me with you. I want to live it, experience it, taste it, smell it. I want to be there. Don't we all? That's true story telling.

5. The Prologue.

Don't tell me about your character before we even start the story. Boring. I'd rather jump right in and take off. Lace the details into the action.

Top 10 Favorite TV Shows

Good movies, good stories, good TV shows, good books, and good music are an important part of making a good author. You have to appreciate fine art to make art. 

I was about to call this post "Top 10 Favorite Movies" but then I realized, as I was making the list, my favorites weren't movies, they were shows. I guess I prefer shows because there is more time for character development. You don't have to cram or chop the details.

10. Digimon

9. Battle Star Galactica

8.  Alias

7.  Cowboy Bebop

6.  Trigun

5.  Babylon 5

4.  Full Metal Alchemist

3.  Escaflowne

2.  Heroes

1.  Farscape

What's your favorite?

My Scary Moment This Week

I posted my first short story on lulu.com this week, and then I sent an email to friends. And when it was all done, my heart was in my throat. I felt naked to the world. I had just opened myself to every kind of criticism that anyone should wish to hurl my way.

It wasn't that I don't expect criticism. Not everyone loves science fiction. And those that do may not like mine. Just because someone doesn't like my work doesn't mean that it's bad. Think of all the great books that ended up on the ban list.

No, it was more that I had just poured my heart and soul into this story. I edited and edited and carefully thought about each detail and expressed deep emotions--some mine, some my characters, all leaving me very vulnerable. I thought I'd be excited about sharing my work with the world. And it was exciting. And it was horrible too.

It's like telling someone you secretly admire how much you love them. In that moment of exposure, you give them the chance to trample you for the hope of being cherished. And now I realize that art, when expressed to the fullest, is beautiful because the artist has poured themselves into their work. It is when the artist holds back of themselves that the work is stilted, disjointed, broken.

Have I given every last ounce of who I am? Probably not. I could do more.

Announcing my First E-book Release

I published a novella, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

 

Go here for a free download:

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=3820083

 

I'd love to here honest feedback, so whether you like it or not, please leave a comment / review. Thanks!

 

Learning to Write

As a child, I read everything I could get my hands on. "Reading Rita," my mother called me. You couldn't find me anywhere without a book in my hands.

I remember getting ready for school one morning, and when it came time to leave, I balanced ten school books in one hand--just about to slip all over the floor--while my other hand held a book that I'd been reading, my thumb holding the place. And I headed out toward the car with my bunny slippers still on my feet. Oh, my mother was upset!

I think that was what spurred my interest in writing in junior high and high school, my love for reading. But I put it all aside to pursue a career in computers. Why didn't I at least dabble in writing on the side? I don't know. I call it madness to let a dream die.

With the coming layoffs and the questions about what I wanted to do with my life, I figured I would explore my dreams again. I thought about a story concept, wrote a few notes, and started typing. I didn't start with a short story or two. I decided on a full-fledged novel with two sequels.

* shaking head *

What was I thinking? Oh, I was thinking that I was good at writing. I excelled at it in all my classes, right? I aced my freshman writing class in college. I took all the advanced writing courses in high school. Yeah, I was talented. I could do this.

If I knew how hard it was going to be, I might not have started. Or maybe I would have started smaller. It was a year and a half of constant effort. I carved out time before and after work. Lost out on sleep. Stopped exercising. Slowed down on my home schooling schedule. Gained weight as though I was pregnant. And I was pregnant, only not with a child. Maybe when I finally birth this thing I can shed the baby weight. 

My husband TJ was the first editor, and he told me it was good. But that was because he could see the diamond in the ruff. He knew where it would go. He's a visionary. He could see what the end product would look like even though it was nowhere close to that yet.

My second editor Jacob was kind in his feedback but gave me some advice on content and wording. He too could see where I was going.

My third editor Joe tore me apart and left me bleeding on the floor. I had flat characters and boring dialog and boring description, he told me. I thought I had achieved great character development and all that, and I wasn't sure if I could do any better than I already had. It wasn't the criticism that hurt. It was the feeling of being lost. I didn't know how to improve what I had.

I thought about giving up, but even if I had determined to put it aside, I don't think I could have at that point. I was too addicted to writing. I couldn't stop even if I wanted to. So I went back to my notes and started thinking about my characters. This time my edits focused on the voice of each character. What were their motivations--other than what I wanted them to do?

My fourth editor was Jonathon. He saw holes in the plot. Mostly old stuff not meshing with new stuff. But that's when I started to take this whole thing seriously. It was time that I learned what it was I should be doing. I started looking for books to study on characters, on writing, on dialog, on editing.

My editors were no longer there to tell what to do. There were just there to tell me what I had missed. It all fell into place. I knew what to do. I knew how to weave a story. I understood what needed to be done to make a character pop from the page.

So I started with talent and obtained skill. Now I just need to practice. 

How It All Began

It was August 2007. The big honcho sent an email, announcing the decision to analyze the pros and cons of using a third-party offshore company to replace us. People were shocked. Angry. Depressed. Some of my coworkers had been there close to twenty years and didn't believe life could exist outside of their four gray cube walls. Most people didn't think management would do it, and if so, they were too important to be canned.

It took them until May the next year to announce their decision, but I already knew what their decision would be and that I'd be on that list. I knew this was going to happen four years before it did, and I was ready to move on.

I hated my job. I hated working for someone else, living on their schedule, punching my time card (figuratively speaking), running the same tests over and over. Computers don't talk back. People do. And I discovered long ago the futility of my job.

I discovered that when I left my first child at home with her daddy and drove away to go to work. And again, when my second was born and my maternity leave was over and the little girl refused to take a bottle and would starve all day while I was gone. And again with my third. 

My family. That is what was important.

And I prayed to be set free. And God promised to move on my behalf.

So I knew I would be free someday. And when they announced the possible layoffs, I knew I'd be on that list. I would collect my severance and go home to my family. One door closes and another always opens. There is always something new to face. A new challenge. A new phase of existence.

But what about money after the severance check was gone? What if being home with my kids wasn't possible? What if I still need to bring in money?

And that is when I was faced with the question: What do I really want to be when I grow up?