Music

Among the most common questions posed to a writer pertains to what music we listen to while writing.

Music in and of itself is an art form. As a creative, it stands to reason that partaking in another form of art is beneficial when in pursuit of individual outlets. Like novel writing, music can transport us to other worlds and I am grateful when I discover a new artist who lifts me away with voice and melody.

I enjoy listening to many styles of music. However, when I am creating, I like listening to music that does not distract. For me, that means music that does not tempt me to visualize a story or sing along. I enjoy song lyrics as much as I enjoy stories, so they take me away from my own imaginings when I am in creative mode.

Therefore, the music I listen to when I am creating a story will often consist of classical works comprised of Mozart, Beethoven, Grieg and Strauss. I also listen to Jazz or movie scores when the mood strikes. (Kenny G holds a playlist all his own) I prefer the longer movie tracks rather than the shorter selections which are too brief to enjoy. Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone With The Wind, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly,… to name a few.

Revising my stories is another matter. When revising or editing my works, the music I listen to is entirely different. Once the story is in place, I have no issue with words. I do not have two voices to separate in my imagination so my selections expand as I return to retrace my steps along the paths laid out.

If I don’t want to use a playlist while revising or editing, I cycle through Classic Rock favorites: Queen, Bon Jovi or Elvis (Long live the king!). If I want to work with a mood for a scene or chapter, I can go with The Doors or Pink Floyd (The Wall, of course)

Relationship scenes with dialogue or constant character interactions will be accompanied by Whitney Houston, Lenka, Sara Bareilles, or Colbie Caillat. (Again, just to name a few)
Dealing with action and the climax of a book can spread out across the spectrum. For these scenes I write with Beethoven, Queen, AC/DC, Quiet Riot, Judas Priest, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath…and maybe some Kiss to settle back down. (Destroyer).

For the story resolutions and epilogues, I return to classical or cross with IZ (Over The Rainbow) or Louis Armstrong (What a Wonderful World).

Hopefully my list helps anyone interested in creating their own playlists or coming up with their own music preferences while the creative juices flow.

Ad – If you like music, you might also like reading my books since I listened to music as I wrote them and, of course, great minds think alike.

Time

Okay.  Days, weeks and (yikes!) months have passed since my last blog and despite life’s trials and tribulations, the writing bug keeps following me.  So here I am.  Onwards!

As a writer, TIME is one of the elements we must be aware of as we craft our stories.  (See what I did there?)

The standard concept of a story entails a beginning, middle and end.  However, every story has more than just a simple plot to follow.  There are sub-plots, side stories, flashbacks and many other things that shape a novel.  When crafting your novel, it is imperative to know and follow your timeline carefully.  This applies even more so when your story has no linear path to tell your tale.  What is linear time?  Linear time is simple.  You start with the beginning of your story and continue to the end.  This can be from the past to the present and then ending in the future.

If all stories were that simple, the limitations of writing would be painful.

As it so happens, writing a story does not have to happen in the present and move forward.  It can start in the past and end in the present.  Perhaps it begins in the present with your main character sitting at a park bench eating a box of chocolates before leading the reader to many adventures growing up until we arrive in the present once more to conclude the story.  (Sound familiar?)

We can also start a story at the climax of the tale.  Your main character might be in the middle of a boss fight, shooting bad guys, pulling out samurai swords and turning thugs into shish-kabob.  Then moving back to an earlier place before the story moves forward and we can enjoy the ending where the hero beats the bad guy, finds love and grows as a person.

Throughout each story we tell, a timeline needs to be in place.  We need to know what order things happen in and what order we will need to tell the story.  If your story is straight-forward and goes from now to later with no deviation then keeping track of events is not an issue.  However, if you throw in a flashback or make any reference to events that are not in the present, you need to know as much about those events as what is happening in the present.  In order to keep a reader from losing their place in the story, we must guide them through the tale with as much clarity as possible.  Make each shift in time relevant.  Use past foreshadowing to predict the story climax.

Create a timeline for yourself to illustrate the events of your story.  Make each significant event a highlight.  If you use a flashback, sub-plot or foreshadow to your ending, be sure to know how and when each event takes place leading the story where you want.  Keeping track of your timeline is essential, otherwise it will be the readers who find the holes in your plot or discrepancies in your timeline.  As story tellers, we need to find these errors first so the tales we tell can be enjoyed rather than questioned.

Whichever direction you choose in your timeline, follow it carefully and adhere to it so your readers understand each twist and turn of the world you have created.

Happy writing!

Promo!  As an added bonus to my blog, I will add a promotion for my books.  I know.  Who doesn’t like ads?

If your life could use more time and is filled with ups and downs then you might enjoy reading one of my books.  They are filled with ups and downs, good people and bad, killers and pets…  Grand things that make life worthwhile.

First Draft

Among the many nuggets of wisdom shared between writers, one is repeated on a regular basis that I do my best to agree with, but mostly see as a promotion for discouragement:

“Every first draft is crap.”

When holding a stack of paper, knowing you have filled every page with adventures of love, hate, life, death and most of all, passion – the thought of having it called “crap” is akin to being called a failure.  Creative folk are often their worst critics and constantly strive for improvement.  Like someone looking back at how they started riding a bike after years of riding, it might seem a valid form of criticism, but to someone just beginning the process...

I am currently revising and editing the first book I ever published. Do I think it was crap?  Honestly?  No.  Re-reading that story has made me recall a world I created with excitement.  A tale rekindling the thrill of writing for me at a time when I was ready to give it up. Was it written to the absolute best of my ability?  No. It was my first book, and as such - a first step.

Writing your first story is step one. If you are positive you have written a great story or are supremely confident you are a great writer, it should be known that even the gifted among us have more to do. When you write “The End” no matter how well you write, it should be clear that the process you have embarked upon has just begun.

At this point, you now have a new journey to undertake.  First and foremost, you need to look at your writing through another’s eyes.

This is an important step simply because after reading your story over and over, it becomes a part of your mental memory.  The analytical, detached observer is in the back seat playing with his cell phone and your imagination takes each sentence and constructs the rest of the story around it without even acknowledging those pesky adverbs.  Therefore, a fresh perspective is in order and you must hand off your story to get different points of view.

These wondrous people are called "First, Alpha or Beta Readers”.  They can be enlisted from friends, family or volunteers discovered through social media.  Yes, we must... (shudder) socialize.  Their help can be received a chapter at a time for more concise reviews as you go or all at once for an overview of your story.  With these reviews, we writers are given valuable insight into what a typical reader will think. A reader reveals to us what did or did not work.  Once you feel enough of them have gone through the book, you can proceed to the next step: 

Employing an editor.

This can start with a Line or a Copy Editor as both are important and both should be used. A Copy Editor will be able to tell you if the story is sound or if there are plot holes as numerous as craters on the moon. The reality of what is discovered may be painful, but necessary.  A Line Editor finds grammar, formatting and spelling errors. Sometimes both editors are listed as one so you get the best of both worlds. (Yay!)

Keep in mind: The stories we create are like shining gems discovered by our imagination. They fill our minds with possibilities and potential greatness. Those shimmering gems must be treated with care so the world discovers them in the best possible light.

As soon as you write “The End” on that last page, know that you have completed what a mere fraction of people the world over have tried. You, my friend, have written a book! That accomplishment is worthy of note and no matter what anyone tells you, you have scaled a mountain few others dared consider possible.

So remember to scrutinize anyone who says that your first draft is “crap”.

Our first draft is a first step.  When it is done, we know that we’ve navigated through the intricacies of story-telling, brought a hero to life, tossed in one challenge after another and faced each obstacle on a long road to success.  Every thread to our story has been woven with care, adjusting for every twist and turn with hopes that it all works out in the end.

So even if you must later fix grammar, story arcs or plot holes, understand this first step you’ve taken following “The End” is also the first step on your own path as a Writer.

To Like Or...

Over the past few years (Okay, decades) I have noticed a change in people around me. I am among the quiet folk, so I keep such observations to myself.

True, changes happen all the time. Weather changes from season to season. Cars change year after year. Technology changes more and more. This post, for instance, would have once been a mere journal entry or letter to the editor in some newspaper.

However, the change I mean has to do with how people like and “dislike”. I see it in Facebook and Twitter as well as Amazon and all other web sites dedicated to showing what is trending or what people are talking about.

When I went to school long ago, I recall people joining The Debate Club. It was simply a club where people would learn to argue with one another. What I remember most is how they would do this while still maintaining respect for one another. The job of each participant was simple: Find a topic that has opposing viewpoints and present the best argument so that in the end, one would be the clear winner. In order to do this, you would have to study everything about the opposite side and know why that argument is being presented. Once that is known, you take each point and do what you can to prove your point of view is better. It sounds simple, and for the most part, it is.

You could always tell who studied more because every time someone tried to argue a point with holes in their reasoning, the one who was prepared made their point more convincing. The opponent would then stutter or backtrack on their reasoning, trying to think of some way to rephrase what they said when it was clear they were losing.

Failure was inevitable.

Rare was the evenly matched debaters who could stand toe to toe and argue a point endlessly, each giving convincing arguments for their side and neither stepping back. It was a good way of showing what was truly logical and what well-presented facts could accomplish in a debate.

Over the last few years I have watched several debates that made me think of those club members. These debates were in television shows, celebrity interviews, political meetings and many web sites. Unfortunately, I no longer see anyone treated with standard respect in any of these places. Worse, I see the exact opposite. I see people on television simply yelling at one another rather than listening. I hear name calling and personal attacks that quickly deviate from any topic at hand.

In other words, rational discussions are becoming a thing of the past.

Search for a topic in a favorite site that you find interesting. It might be political in nature or religious. It might have to do with a coming movie or the price of gas. Lately, I have seen topics on police brutality and others on sexual orientation. Each of these could easily begin with a handful of comments from one person or another.   They could, but do not.  Instead, they spark hundreds, or even thousands of attacks. Not only that, but the more sensitive the topic, the more the attacks tend to escalate, becoming personal attacks, swearing, threats and in the end, the original topic has no possible means of becoming resolved calmly.

When people refuse to listen to one another, the most convincing facts cannot be heard because hate is too prevalent. That is where I see topics go to these days: HATE

It’s not just that you like this politician or dislike that one, it’s now about how MUCH you hate that politician or party or group or religion or, or, or… Hate is quickly becoming the only means of debate. We no longer bring up how much we like something or someone. We hesitate. We stop and think twice instead of allowing ourselves to like what we like.

I like the Apple iPhone. I have liked how it works since its inception and I like what it can do. It is a useful gadget and I am amazed at how technology has brought us to this level of achievement.

But…

If I go on a news site and post my praise under an article highlighting a new i-gadget, the comments that follow might begin with a simple “Me too!” but end with personal attacks against me and the store that sells it, the cashier who sold it and the company as a whole. There appears to be no one teaching respect for one another in school anymore. No care for your fellow man and no self-respect by those who post hate-filled comments online.

Why?

Where did all this come from? I would much rather find others who like something and have a discussion about what it is and where it can go from there. I would prefer to say I like the new Avengers movie and talk about the comics that had the original story followed by where the movies will go from here. Instead, I will hear about what the actors might have said or done in an interview that people hate or what the director believes or doesn’t believe and even how unrealistic the special effects or action scenes are.

Really? It’s a movie! A form of entertainment! You’re not supposed to go in and find things to hate about it, you’re supposed to go in because it looks cool and you want to spend a couple of hours enjoying the story and action so you can depart from the real world within a given bubble of time.

Sadly, discussions have continued to degenerate all around us. Rational thought continues to fade. What’s the point of learning what is true and what isn’t when all you need to do is raise your voice and make personal attacks to shut the other person down? Stores can now be shut down if they don’t cater to people demanding they violate their religion.  States are being boycotted for passing a law trying to safeguard religion in some form or another.  News stories are now used as encouragement to riot and burn cities with no consideration for order or reason.

Mindless destruction is now acceptable.

Yes, schools are at the front of the line when it comes to blame as well as parents, but politicians are now in the mix alongside the media. Those who were not around when News truly meant something and was watched by grownups for truth and world events can’t know what it was like to have a time when you could enjoy a day with friends and laugh about multiple topics… even when you took a different side.

We all have a different point of view. How can we not? We don’t live the same lives. We see different things and learn different lessons. What matters is what we do when we find someone who likes the opposite. Steak eater meets Vegan, Gay meets Straight, Democrat meets Republican, Apple meets Windows…

I like many things: The outdoors on a sunny day. Chocolate caramel ice cream. Gadgets that make things easier or more enjoyable. Writing down stories that I imagine and dream of. I also like tales of adventure, stories of true love, self-sacrifice… heroes. I even like some speeches given by politicians. Their party affiliation never matters to me and I hope it never does. If I start cheering for a team instead of a person then it is only a matter of time before that team can be switched out with those I would never want to support.

I would like to find out what it is that people like rather than the things they hate. Think of it as a balancing act. If you imagine a scale of your preferences and you load one side with things you enjoy or people you like then good feelings will follow. However, if you take the other side and overflow it with things you hate, movies you despise and people you can’t stand, religion you don't want or opinions you disagree with... Throwing one personal hatred on top of after… How long before you realize that the side you pile within you is making you lean your entire way of life in that direction until it is the only side you see?

My hope and advice is simple: Stay positive in your life by adding “likes” to yourself and to others. Add something every day to your well-being. Add to your joys. Add to the things and people you love.  Hate will subtract all of these from you if you let it.

The choice, as always, is yours.

Names

Writing a story usually involves dreaming up a scenario or event that prompts a hero into action. Sometimes, it is a group of people who are put into a situation that forces them all to deal with their own personal demons or limitations making our stories that much more engaging and that much more enjoyable.

However…

How much importance do we place on coming up with names for our characters? Do we pick the first name that pops into our mind or do we research every possible database for just the right name to use for each and every character in our story?

There are endless books available for anyone interested in the definitions or history of names as well as web sites like: www.behindthename.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/name and www.babynames.com to name a few.

The advice given to writers when emphasis is to be placed on your character’s name can cover the need to have the most appropriate name to create the necessary impact for your story or even something as simple as naming a beloved pet so as to make it as endearing as possible to your audience. In the end, it is a decision for the individual writer to make.

As for me, I gave up on researching names beforehand the day I returned to writing from my brief (20+ year) sabbatical in hell. Trust me. Hell might look all cool and glamourous, but trust me, don’t stay if you can help it.

Looking at the stories I had to tell and following them on the adventures always leaves me with more than enough excitement. When the time comes to name a character, I either throw in the first name I think of or look up a list of names quickly and use the first one that catches my eye. Also, if you ever find a name you particularly like, but don’t have a use for it in your current story, just save it for another. Make a list of preferred names and when you next have a tale to tell, the prospect of naming your characters is already done

Regardless of how you find the names, use them and tell your story. Is your hero named Bill? How about Andy or Millie? If you want a name like Stephen or Conan, don’t stop to look up how many times the name has been used. Just go with it. You need to feel comfortable with your character’s name. Don’t like Jessie? Change it. If you specifically like a name, don’t let anyone else change your mind about it. Use the name that fits and get on with telling your story.

Remember, the hero isn’t made by what name is used. The hero is made by his story and how much the reader learns to love reading and (hopefully) re-reading your tale. Who would ever remember the name Sherlock Holmes if he hadn’t become such an iconic character? How about Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Hannibal Lecter, Inigo Montoya, John Galt, or even…Bond, James Bond?

The only reason those names come up quickly in any search engine is because of the stories they were in. A hero impacts the world by facing dangers and saving lives no matter the cost. Harry is a common name, but when you say Harry Potter, the name is no longer random. It is now surrounded by his story. Frodo Baggins can bring about a discussion of adventures, orcs, battles and talking dragons.

For anti-heroes few compare with Hannibal Lecter. A villain in his actions, but a hero in his own mind which we get to know all too well.

If you mention Doctor Who, fans will immediately think of their favorite incarnation and can discuss their favorite adventures without pause. Non-fans might say they either have not watched the show, read the books or ever followed The Doctor. However, it is unlikely someone will consider “Do you like Doctor Who?” as a question about your physician.

Also, who can forget the introduction of Inigo Montoya? “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

More often than not, as a writer begins a new story, it is best to concentrate on the story rather than the names. If you have the name already in mind, terrific! If not, you can always change it if you like or simply learn to love the name that came to you as the story took shape. Once your story is complete, there’s plenty of time to search for the historical significance of your choice.

In the end, tell a great story and the name will be remembered.

Favorites

Questions posed to writers range from where they get their ideas to how they became writers and everything in between. One question in particular continues to come up regularly which I find difficult to answer.

“Who is your favorite author?”

I would like to say one name, but it so happens I have four and each is a favorite for different reasons. (Understand that they all hold my number one spot, so despite the order, they are all shining brightly in my mind’s eye.)

Edgar Allen Poe was one of the first great writers I found as I was discovering my love of stories. He crafted his poems and short stories with a mastery that I will always love. His works touched me deeply and helped me respect the written word while finding both the joy and tragedy in storytelling.

The second writer is Neil Gaiman. I discovered this amazing writer at a time when I was still obsessively reading comic books and hadn’t yet discerned what good stories were until he shared a great one. It was a comic book entitled The Sandman and I only picked it up because the cover had a hidden face that glowed in the dark. I read the story that very night and have never been the same since.

The third is Dean Koontz. I first read him when I was in my thirties and, like Neil Gaiman, I picked up the book Strange Highways because the cover drew my attention. It was glossy silver and depicted the shadow of a man standing at a crossroads. The story drew me in at once and by the conclusion had me thinking seriously about second chances. I soon found the courage to pursue my passion for writing once more. I owe Dean Koontz more than I can say, for he helped me look deep inside and discover the passion I always yearned to follow.

The fourth is an especially favorite author because his inspiration was not by his writings alone. His PRESENCE impacted me like none other. I owned several books by Ray Bradbury the day I learned he was going to attend a seminar where he would speak. When I saw he would sign autographs afterwards, I rushed out to see if I could attend. It was a full house, but I made it in and by the end of the discussion I nearly forgot about the books I carried for him to sign. His passion was so overwhelming, I could feel his energy filling the room. The intensity of his words remain with me to this day. He was a true artist who followed his dreams throughout his life. If I can hold onto a fraction of that passion when I have doubled my years, I will consider it a blessing. Mr. Bradbury, I thank you. May your works and words inspire generations of writers for all time.

There are many other authors I enjoy reading and many I hope to discover in the years to come. As far as my all-time favorites go, these four are mine. I hope yours lift you up and carry you forward always.

Know

One of the most common pieces of advice I find handed out to writers who are still beginning to develop their craft is to write what you know. I have never liked it. True, it is a well-meaning piece of advice, but it is also mostly wrong. People take the term “What we know” as knowledge and experience. While both are critical to a nonfiction writer, for fiction, writing only what we know can quickly become counterproductive.

My first published book was Science Fiction. A captain and crew on a suicide mission that no one realized until it’s almost too late. Did I have experience as a spaceship captain? No. Suicide missions? Unlikely. However, I did watch plenty of science fiction flicks in my time. Star Trek, Star Wars, Serenity, 2001, Interstellar, BSG (Battlestar Galactica for those not in-the-know) And, of course, countless books such as: War of The Worlds, Ringworld, Dune, A Princess of Mars, Ender’s Game, Starship Troopers, Battlefield Earth, The Martian and many many more.

Did writing a space adventure require experience running a ship in space? Not at all, but I have enjoyed stories throughout the years in every media you can name. Written, Drawn, Animated, Recorded, Live-Acted, Movies, Television, Online, etc., etc., etc… The greatest source of experience I discovered is the best one of all: Imagined. When you write, what’s the difference between having lived a story in your imagination opposed to living it in real life?

When it comes to fiction? None.

One of my favorite scifi shows is Doctor Who. There’s a phrase you get to hear repeated throughout the series and is often said when someone first enters the TARDIS (A ship that looks like an old police box not much larger than a shower.) As a new person enters, they find themselves – not in a confined space with barely any room to move, but in a massive control room to a ship full of corridors, pathways, distant rooms…and a pool.

The phrase? “It’s bigger on the inside.”

That’s the most important thing to realize about being a writer. We’re bigger on the inside. What we imagine is vast and endless. The physical world holds a mere fraction of possibilities in comparison to what we create inside ourselves. You can take your life experiences as inspiration, but with the right spark, you can create the most amazing characters that will remain with you and your readers for years to come.

The stories you create within come from an endless universe whose moment of creation takes place the moment inspiration strikes. The spark of an idea forms behind your eyes, producing magical realms few others can fathom.

Let’s not hold in all that magic. The world outside needs it. Share the characters you love. Share the characters you love to hate. Write the adventures you see in your dreams. Feel the magic at your fingertips and let it pour out with words and passion.

So the next time you are advised to only write what you know, just smile and accept the fact that what you know expands beyond the limits of the world outside your head. Enjoy that little secret and restrain a chuckle as you take the helm of your own starship, setting course for endless adventure.

Thankful

Since I didn't get to post this on Thanksgiving, I finally decided to do so here.  The holiday is just a date, after all.  Being thankful is something we should acknowledge year round.  I hope this finds many others who are doing what they dream and thankful for the chance to do so.

I talked to a friend not long ago about my thoughts on being a writer. It may have come up after being asked something along the lines of why I haven’t put everything on hold so I can promote my works. Whatever the case, my answer was simple: “I’m a writer first.”

The look of confusion is what prompted me to provide a more detailed explanation.

I consider social media as a way to send out virtual messages in a bottle every night via twitter and Instagram. I’m doing my best to post a weekly vlog and even though I try to post a monthly blog, balancing 10 hour work days makes it a struggle. Writing a blog to me is like writing a journal that is being shown to the world. It’s not just a thought or two tossed into the world wide web. It’s an expression of what I feel, think and hope for. It’s a way for an introvert like myself to share what’s going on between my ears.

I didn’t always see myself as a writer.

I doubted myself. Lots. I struggled for years as I worked long hours, tried different hobbies and did my best to hold onto something that made me happy. Drawing. Designing. Sculpting. Video editing and recording became wonderful outlets for my creative expressions, but inevitably they were all too hard to maintain and I left them behind.

In the end, I gave up on all of it. After one discouraging comment too many, I let it all go and descended into a daily work routine. Paying bills and living a “Normal” life became my new routine. I soon watched helplessly as all my passions dried up until I found myself working at a job that had no future while surrounded by co-workers, rather than friends and family.

It was at this time that I ran across a website promoting a writer’s challenge in November. I looked up the challenge on my 40th birthday after making myself a Jib Jab card that joked about getting old, going to the doctor, being out of shape, failing to accomplish your dreams and not writing a book.

It was funny.

I liked it at the time and chuckled at the humor. Unfortunately, I also hated the truth it held. I was a “one day” novelist. I was going to write a book “One day” and deep down inside I knew that day was never going to happen.

Seeing that challenge set for November, I decided to try one last time. I would rather have tried my best and failed than never to have tried. I was already spending my life in regret so I worked up my courage and decided once and for all, that if enough of the old passion was still inside me, I would meet the challenge. I told myself that for once in my life I was going to sink or swim. No matter the consequences, I was going to face that 30 day challenge in November and truly give it my all.

So at the end of November in 2008, I discovered two things:

First, I was subconsciously sabotaging myself at every turn.
Second, I wasn’t kidding about giving it my all.

I wrote the book in first person. My preferred point of view is third person, so I was out of my comfort zone from the beginning. I wrote only during breaks at work, meaning I had only two fifteen minute gaps in the day to write. The weekends were my catch-up times and by the end, I barely made the 50,000-word limit.

Despite the struggles, I did what I said I would. I wrote a book. I may be wrong in the following statement, but for now, it holds true. When I finished that first book and felt the finished story take shape within my mind, for the first time in my life, my imagination and dreams felt real.

That last day of November became the most important moment of my life.

I rediscovered my passion for writing. It didn’t matter how good or bad the book was. What mattered was what I felt. It was a feeling of purpose and belonging. It was a feeling of peace, as if a great longing I had been trying to find had at last appeared and I knew what I wanted to do with my life. This also brought forth a realization.

I have always been a writer.

I spent my life dreaming up stories and searching for ways to put them down. I’ve told stories using sculptures and illustrations as well as photography and video. Stories have always been a constant companion. They have always been my passion. I can only assume that it was fate that led me to find the writing challenge. The stories I once feared would fade away inside me are once more alive and well in my waking dreams.

I hope to refine and improve on my method so as to share those tales with others.

So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful. Thankful for my friends who encouraged me to follow my dreams even when I wasn’t sure they were possible. Thankful to NaNoWriMo for the challenge they posed. Thankful to my family, distant and far removed, but always in my heart.

Lastly, I am thankful to Mugwai. My dearly departed cat, who inspired me with her presence and who gave me the companionship I yearned for without realizing how much she meant to me it until she was gone.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone seeking their purpose and following their dreams. May you all find your passions. I hope you also have friends, family and companions standing by you to help you through the difficult times and celebrate your achievements.

Images

The writing process I have grown accustomed to entails many levels of involvement. As other new authors soon discover, writing the book is just step one. As soon as you are done with the story and have typed “The End” it is a great irony to find you are actually at the beginning. The steps following your book creation involve an array of publication and promotional avenues I barely grasp myself.

Don’t believe me? Well, have you seen me in the bestseller lists out there? No? Well, there you go.

Regardless, one of the things I enjoy about my process is the chapter illustrations. When I am writing a book for the first time and the story forms within my mind, I stop to think about what stands out in each chapter. What images do I see lingering in my mind’s eye after each scene? Which ones do I see clearly? Like a movie playing in my head, I rewind, fast-forward and pause the story as I examine each jewel. Once I have a number of selections to choose from for each chapter, I ask myself the most important question:

Which ones can I actually create?

Just like Blogging or Vlogging, illustrating is a learn-as-you-go process. I have always had an artistic side to me, but until recently have never attempted to put my skills to the test. Will I be remembered as the next Michelangelo? Only time will tell.  However, I am working on my craft every day. Just like writing, the skills of an artist take time and patience. I’ve got plenty of patience, despite the lack of time. So every chance I have to do something for my writing, I take it.

I’ll describe a bit of the first and last image I tackled while working on the second edition of Linked. Recently, I went back to illustrate that particular book. It is the first installment of The Cat Rule Chronicles series. Since it was a first book to a long series, I didn’t feel confident enough to attempt illustrating each chapter. There were images galore going through my mind after completing book 4, so returning to book one was thoroughly enjoyable.

The first image I tackled was the cover. It needed something to differentiate from the first edition so I altered it, enhanced it, and made the eyes far more unique. It took me longer than most other images because I needed to keep the cover as close to the first one as possible while making sure it could never be confused with that of the first edition. I made it darker, added colors and thanks to the many tools in Photoshop, didn’t struggle with the fine details or changes as I would have in the past.

The final image I put together was a cliff. I went online and saw many mountainsides and many cliffs until I found one that came close. It didn’t have the curve I needed, but that wasn’t an issue. I used Photoshop to crop the edge and turn it from a photograph into a line drawing I could stretch and shape. From there, I treated it like a canvas. The tools in Photoshop are like having every artists tool at your disposal along with every photo-manipulative tool at the ready. I re-shaped the cliff, added grass, darkened the rock and enhanced all colors. Next, I pulled up an image of a truck. Namely, the end of one. It was not as old as I would have liked, but as an illustration it would do just fine. I positioned it outside of the frame and then dragged pebbles and particles behind it with the brush tool, making it look as if it had gone over the cliff. Once the color was adjusted, I took a look a the sky and decided it needed something other than dull blue. I finally settled on a cloud covered sky with the sun hidden behind, illuminating the clouds and the sky dramatically.

I took that particular picture several years ago and was amazed at how well it converted from a photograph into an image more resembling an illustrated sky. Did I mention I like taking pictures of the sky, sunsets and scenery? It’s another passion of mine.

By the end, the illustration was perfect. I added it beneath the chapter listing. In this case, the Epilogue, and adjusted the color so it was as unified as could be. Why didn’t I just keep the images looking like photographs? I suppose with great effort, I could have done that. The problem I see is that I don’t want to make it seem as if my stories are too real. Depicting a kitten jumping out of a tree (Chapter 6) or a gun pointed at a boy (Chapter 14) would prove far more disturbing than entertaining if I chose to make them photo-realistic. Besides, not all images turn out as good as I’d like. Some are difficult despite their simplicity and others are just too busy to look good as simple illustrations. The final image of the truck over the cliff was a success which, despite the imagery, made for a good ending to book one of the series.

I enjoy the writing process and all it entails. Entering the world of storytelling has been one of hard lessons and difficulties. I am now writing, illustrating and editing my works where other writers might have multiple people handling every aspect separately. I am also vlogging, tweeting, Instagraming and, yes, blogging. I hope everyone who finds my works can enjoy something of my creations. Such passions are worth sharing.

Covers

Among the many things I have worked on since returning to the world of writing, illustrating has proved to be just as challenging as crafting the story itself. I usually begin with the cover art then go from one chapter to another, visualizing the scene as a whole and freezing each mental image I find until I have one I think would be good to work on.

When I started my first book, I used one image and kept it as the primary for every chapter. After a couple of books under my belt, I decided I wanted to see more. I felt it was just as important to have a chapter illustration as it was to have the cover image for the book.

Now, when I have a book idea, I work on the cover for weeks, assembling sketches and putting together graphics that fit what I envision for the story.

As an example, when I started writing my fourth book, Echoes of Innocence, I knew I wanted to have Tommy and Snowy on the cover facing opposite directions. The story leads them on different paths and I wanted a subtle indication for the reader. In the story, Tommy is distraught over the death of his friend and neighbor while Snowy is doing what he can to save a girl who accompanied the killer. In many ways, they are still together, but for the most part, they are seeing the world from a different perspective. With that in mind, here is how I tackled the cover design:

I always start the process of making my cover art with sketch ideas. Post-its work well for this because when I don’t care for a sketch, I can drop it and add another in its place. By the end, I have a handful of mini-sketches to work with.

Once I decide on one, I start working out how to make it into a cover. I don’t like to make illustrations that look photo-realistic. In my mind, covers that look too real remind me of romance novels. (Egad!)

Next, I find images that fit my idea. Usually I go into my archived pix folder to find something I can use. I take pictures of everything and often have what I need if I keep looking. Sadly, for Echoes, I fell short. The ripple on the ground was easy. Photoshop has tons of ways I can make ripples. There are even online tutorials that show how to do cool effects with colors and texture. Thanks, YouTube!

The problem I had was twofold. I did have the cat face I needed, (Yay!) but the cat’s body wasn’t in the correct position. I finally found an online video of a cat facing the wrong direction, but in the right position. (Well, as close as I could get) I captured the image, flipped it around then warped the body to the position I needed. Next, I put on the face I had and called it done.

Note:  If you don't have an archive of images at your disposal and need to get images, Adobe Stock Photos are good so long as you don't mind paying a little for each image.  If you're on a budget like me, there are alternatives as well.  http://morguefile.com/ is a good resource as is http://www.freeimages.com/ and http://www.splitshire.com/  Always be respectful when using the images another creative has shared online.

The next problem was Tommy. I didn’t have an image of a boy in my archives. I have friends and sunsets, flowers and landscapes, but no pre-teen boys. Searching the internet didn’t do me any favors either. All images were either copy written or not in profile. The solution came from a friend of mine who had family pictures of her grandkids. One was facing to one side in a perfect profile. The wrong direction, sure, but Photoshop makes light work of that.

Since he was wearing a baseball cap, I deleted it and created hair. (Again, Photoshop) I copied the cat’s eyes and added them to the new Tommy. From here, I began the blending process for each section. His hair needed a little lengthening, so I added a few strokes. By the end, the cat’s face looked as if it belonged with the body I assembled. The hair and position of Tommy also looked well. His eyes were just right and the ripples at the bottom had the effect I wanted.

All that was left was the title and my name at the bottom.

Finally, I copied it onto the pdf book template and that was that. Huzzah! Cover be done!

Processing...

Every writer has a process by which they tell stories. Some write only after creating an outline while others write without a plan. There are many labels for these types. Plotters and Pantsers, Architects and Gardeners, Macro and Micro Planners…

You get the gist.

For the more organized writer, you begin with an outline. Outlining involves organizing your story idea with enough detail that it becomes a manageable order of events. This is useful for chapter breaks and story arcs. Once the outline is complete, you know ahead of time what is going to happen so you plan for each twist as you go. Research is also a part of outlining. Information is readily accessible online, so printing out or copying the data makes for a much more efficient process. Maybe you need to know how bridges are made or how car windows shatter. Thanks to the internet, we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. Research might not always make it into your story, but understanding how things work makes for a better flow in the end. When you approach the process in an organized manner, research is a godsend.

For those who write with little or no organization, the process is more instinctive. It can be like reaching inside to find every block you have in your mind… then kicking them aside. Writing is the goal and little else. (Inner editors can stand in the corner and zip it.) When writing without a plan, there are no half measures possible. This process requires commitment. You take your spot in the story and just run with it. It might be at the beginning or it might be in the middle. Wherever it is, you take the scene and go. Following the characters becomes akin to taking dictation. The story becomes a movie in your head that is playing with you as a captive audience. Research is something that does not happen until after the story is done. If you have someone in your story with a serious wound and blood loss must be treated, you don’t stop to look up what the symptoms are or what must be done. You make a quick note and move on with the story. You can fill in the details later. Don’t know how to clean a gun, but your bad guy does? Look it up afterwards. When the story is done and your rollercoaster ride has concluded, you can let the editors back in. (Preferably a week or so later)

Editing will be necessary regardless of what method you use. Outlining lends itself to making more preparation, but edits are always needed. Writers don’t put down perfect words when they sit at a keyboard. Mistakes will creep in, repetitive words will happen again and again… Plot holes will grow… In the end, no matter what method you use, the story takes shape and the world you created will become your own.

What method do I use?

Honestly? Both. I outline and plan my stories that I work on throughout the year. Some will see publication soon and others will take years. I research and plan and outline with all the detail I can produce until the story is ready for me to tackle. I especially like finding quotes to add to the beginning of each chapter, giving a glimpse into what the chapter will reveal.

Then there’s November. Every year since 2008, I have taken up the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Basically, you shell out a 50,000 word first draft in 30 days. An outline would be nice for something like this, but with such a deadline looming, the best way I have found to tackle the challenge is writing without restraint. That means I have a general idea of what is going to happen as I sit down, then race the clock (and calendar). Some years are easier than others but for the most part, I’ve succeeded each time.

The point of meeting this challenge isn’t to create a perfect story. It’s to meet the word count of 50,000 words before the month of November is over. The point is to have something to work with. I can think and plan all I want, but without a written story, editing can never happen. A blank screen has no errors, but it also has nothing to work with. You need to edit and no matter what method you choose, you can’t edit until you write.

I enjoy both methods, but then again, I’m a glutton for punishment. And since I also illustrate my own books and book covers, even after the last page is written, there is still work to be done. Just like telling a tale, we recall the journey more than the destination. The journey of writing is always a worthy endeavor I enjoy each and every time.

Critiquing

One thing that writers face on a regular basis is criticism for their works. Some of us need it and some need it a lot more. This goes to both good and bad. Good writing needs good criticism to keep it up to par. It is always appreciated, even though some writers don’t always say so. We are our own worst critics, so when someone says that the chapter we wrote doesn’t work; it isn’t much of a surprise. We know it doesn’t work or we suspect it. Telling us is confirmation that allows us to go back and fix what was missed, or if already published, a good lookout for the next book.

For those of you writing a comment or critique, don’t take issue if the author doesn’t appreciate the feedback. Some of us are thin skinned and often want to write well, but don’t yet have the discipline to continue when others are being critical of our works. I was once in this position and ended up giving up my writing passion for years. (More than a decade) If not for a challenge I discovered when nearing my fortieth b-day, I likely would have continued to steer clear of writing.

Thankfully, I didn’t avoid my passion and now can continue weathering the storm of daily life with the joy of my dreams.

When receiving a critique, I appreciate all comments, good and bad. The good will always be appreciated as it tells me the story has provided enjoyment to those who read it. The bad is also worth having simply because I don’t see what you do. If a typo sneaks in, I might have stared at it for a hundred pass-overs and missed it because it was so obvious. I am thankful every time someone sees this and helps me to be a better writer. When someone points out what they didn’t like about my story, I hope that it isn’t just a general dislike. If you don’t like the kind of stories you are reading, then criticizing them makes no sense. Find what you like and help the writers you read get better. Don’t waste time disliking a genre, book or author just because they don’t write what you prefer. Move along and add to your likes. In the end, it is better for us all.

The best critiques make it clear that the reader wanted to like the story. If there was some element missing, then I for one want to know. By the time I publish, I’ve gone through my story hundreds of times and re-edited so many times, I don’t see the words anymore. I begin a paragraph and my mind is in the story. I see what I want you to see, but not always what is there.

That’s why the comments I get feel like readers tossing me nuggets of gold. Yes, they sometimes hurt. (Especially when you use a slingshot for the delivery) but I need them. They help me craft a better tale and help provide you with stories you can share.

In the end, that’s what every creative outlet is for: To share these dreams with the world and make it a little more enjoyable for us all.