tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19301052837058111362024-03-14T02:56:53.818-07:00C.F. King authorAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-40079017789477934132013-09-28T06:31:00.000-07:002013-09-28T20:17:47.905-07:00Creating conflict.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Plan each conflict scene carefully so
that it rings true. Don’t have those ridiculous scenarios where a character is
offended by the most innocuous things another character does or says. Ask yourself
if it would honestly offend you personally. Don’t set them up in stupid situations just to create conflict.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Here at least, I’m all for honestly and
realism in fiction. If a third character is creating confusion that leads to the conflict,
then that can work. But I don’t know many people that just shut up if
confronted with the person they believe wronged them. I guess a writer can make it
work, but they have to be damn clever in crafting it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Then you have to love those romances
where, despite all indications to the opposite, they just don’t believe the
other character is attracted to, or loves them. Seriously? The characters
must be blind or plain stupid. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
For God’s sake rather give them a flaw
where they just don’t see themselves as lovable. And don’t make the rejection
a reason for the other character to have a hissy fit because they don’t believe
them. I hate stories that go around in ever diminishing circles of inanities until
they disappear up their own arses in a puff of obscure dialogue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Arguments—make them cohesive and
logical. Above all, don’t make your hero or heroine look like a complete idiot
with a daft argument—it makes you, the writer, look even more stupid. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
One of the reasons why writers create
these improbable conflicts is to fill space, make the story go further. They
need to pull their heads out of their backsides and get real—be original, make it
plausible and put some work into the plot.. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
What this sort of contrived writing
tells me about such authors is that they have one thing in mind, churn out books
and hope to fool some poor sod into buying them. Why would one keep reading an
author that does this? “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.”
Chinese proverb.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-58903073072046714772013-09-14T07:56:00.002-07:002013-09-14T07:56:41.946-07:00What is mystery?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Novels
are put into genres. But what if a novel has equal doses of mystery, romance,
conflict and adventure? Then where does it fit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those
arbitrary comments aside, let’s talk about mystery today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mystery
feeds the need for adrenalin rushes, that thing that keeps us the edge, even
though it’s only words. The imagination is powerful and allows us to live, with
electrifying clarity, in the written moment</span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Mystery is the skeleton
of a novel. The novel may be pure romance, but there is always mystery of some
sort. Even if it’s simply, why she doesn't want him or visa verse, and how will
it be resolved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">If there isn't mystery, then
one has to be damn clever in crafting the story or the reader will die from an
overdose of love, sex, gratuitous violence or simply endless descriptions of
what characters see and feel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conversely, all mystery
and no meat on the bones will be anorexic, tiring. Is there such a thing as too
much tension? Do we become inured or just plain exhausted from living on the
edge? Well, vicariously that is. I think that’s possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mystery keeps us turning
the pages, but it has to be original, well planned and cohesive. These three
elements are one of the hardest things to achieve in a novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Then, of course, there’s
that phenomena where characters take on a life of their own and move in another
direction, or develop personality defects one didn't plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t confuse mystery
with conflict. Conflict is a result of the mystery, but the subject of conflict
is for another day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 165.75pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tip:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 180.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is true for any
novel. Create a document called, “Story Outline.” This should have all the
character names, their traits, habits, hair color, eye color and other
characteristics that define them. Use this document to make a chart outlining
the plot. When changes are forced, note these so that the plot can be remolded
to fit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 180.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Get the manuscript edited
or proofread to ensure it makes sense. As the author, one always has the plot
all sorted in one’s head. The reader isn't privy to this head knowledge. What
may seem quite clear to the author may not be so clear to a reader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Pay careful attention to which
character is doing what. It’s dead easy to have the names, times or places mixed,
thereby confusing the hell out of a reader.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-27978194584933560992013-09-14T07:27:00.000-07:002013-09-14T07:27:27.888-07:00Romance and those private bits<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Romance? Well, it’s tricky. You can
take the route of chaste, stolen kisses and absolutely nothing beyond a semi
passionate embrace and matrimony, which is frankly a yawn for me. Excluding Jane Austin and the like, but for me they are simply research vehicles into period dress and such like.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Then there are innuendos that the characters actually manage to get into the sack. Well, one assumes they do, or else a
stork brings the baby. But miracles happen—if you’re Mary. This scenario can
definitely be done, and spectacularly, if you’re clever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Having said that, some readers enjoy the no erection, no
breast touching foreplay. For a young adult (YA) novel this type of romance is
imperative, and I admire those writers who can carry it off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
I guess it also works for adults who've
never admitted to feeling, tear-his-pants-down or rip-her-dress-off and go at it like bunnies kinda passion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
However, your average full-blooded male
or female wants the nuts—did I just say that—and bolts. I’m not talking full on
porn, although that definitely appeals to some—boring. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
For most readers, sensual foreplay is
what excites. The power of suggestion seduces the mind, but the average romance
reader wants it all, right up to the climax and the pillow-talk after. Well, women do. Hell, they fantasize about the perfect lover. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Most adults know what goes on in the
bedroom. But do they know scintillating romance and sex? That is where the writer
comes in and delivers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
After the first flush of passion, most
couples slide into the realm of making the relationship work. Or relationships degenerate
into downright boring, or worse, become bitter and selfish. Obviously, there
are moments of passion, but it doesn't often stay at the level it first
enjoyed—life happens. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Novels are not life. They are fantasy
worlds we escape into.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Most people, especially women, like a
feel-good fairy tale romance laced with steamy sex. And there is no shortage of
that on the market, ranging from great writing to positively barf-horrible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
The trick is writing the scenes in an
original way in every scene and avoiding what look like cut and paste sections. Worse than
that is churning out what a thousand other romance writers have said before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Then there’s the dreaded “purple
prose.” This malaise seems to infect most new writers. Avoid it at all costs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
What is purple prose? It’s an
extravagant or flowery use of words, exceeding what is required to describe a
scene. Anyway, it absolutely kills the flow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
But purple prose has a buddy, “the
unmentionable private parts.” Nothing beats a throbbing member or petals of
pleasure for a fall-off-the-chair laughing experience. Call it what it is penis/erection,
vagina/clitoris or variations of these. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Intense emotion isn't necessarily conveyed
by focusing on sexual organs anyway. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Having slammed purple prose royally, no
pun intended, it’s all too easy to fall into the purple trap in the heat of the
writing moment. But thank God for editing, and there is ALWAYS a better way to say something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Tips:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Close your eyes and relive moments in
your own life that turned you on, gave you an earth-shattering thrill. Nobody
gets into your bed when you have sex. Well, unless you’re into kinky stuff. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Feel arms around you, feel your lover
in your arms. Lips touch, bodies cleave. See it, feel it, taste it, smell it,
and then write it. This works, unless you've only ever had horrible experiences.
Then your story will have to be about horrible experiences, I guess. Not exactly a feel-good novel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Get your head around the horrible
experiences and use your imagination.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Read aloud what you've written. If you
pack up laughing, then something has to change. If you blush and feel as though
you have the reader in bed with you, then you’re probably on the right track.
The key word is ORIGINALITY. Dig deep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Write the things you like or fantasize about
in sex. Interview the opposite sex and find out how they feel, what they like.
Good luck with that. Some men don’t even like to admit they masturbate, and
most women sure as hell won’t admit to it readily.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-36791247043139519722013-09-08T01:58:00.000-07:002013-09-08T01:58:48.846-07:00Ready to get naked for the critics?<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
When you put your manuscript (MS) out there and ask for a
critique from fellow writers on a website like Romance Writer’s Community (RWC)
or Book Country (BC), think of it as taking off your clothes in front of complete
strangers and asking them to tell you what they think of your body. If you’re
comfortable with that thought, then go ahead and strip. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
DON’T get naked (unveil your writing) if you’re not ready
to have your flaws pointed out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
If you receive a critique, expect to get comments like your
stomach is fat and flabby (too many adjectives) or you’re bony and need to put
on weight (add descriptions). Your critic might say your adverbs (boobs) make
your sentence top-heavy and need reducing. Alternatively, the critic says
you’re flat-chested and need fleshing out. Now, turn around. There are those
dreaded analogies, metaphors and similes that abound and bounce around like
over-sized butt cheeks in your MS. You get the picture, I’m sure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Okay, so you've decided your MS (body) is perfectly toned
and ready for publication (exposure.) You've spent months, years sweating it
out at the editing gym and know it’s good, but if you think everything is trim
and fit—think again. Gird your loins and be prepared to hear you have typos,
spelling errors, run on sentences, gawking narrators and just plain weak prose.
What? But you checked a thousand times—fifty members of your family and/or
friends checked as well. If they did, then they obviously love you dearly, too
dearly to be truthful. These critics you've undressed for are emotionally
detached and don’t know you. Professional editors are even more direct. Best
look at them as judges for a Miss/Mr. World Beauty Pageant. They’re paid to be
brutally honest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Even editors write books and may end up on one of the
critiquing websites willing to undress. If one of them looks at your MS then I
suggest you shut up, sit up and listen very carefully. Opportunities like that
don’t come one’s way often. Oh, and you’ll recognize them because they waste no
time telling you they’re editors. However, they will listen to a critic because
they learned the hard way. I'm talking reputable editors here, not wannabe editors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Develop a thick skin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Some critics are kind and only point out obvious errors—Jed’s
blue eyes that turn brown two chapters later. They will almost always say your
writing flows and the story sounds really interesting (dull) from what they've
read. They tell you the things they’d like to hear about their own MS. You
know, do unto others . . . . I don’t say this is always the case, but “interesting”
is not usually the adjective you want to hear about your MS. You need to ask
yourself if the “kind” critique is honestly what you want. I doubt it, unless
you have your head in the sand. You need to know the truth about your MS. If
it’s fat and flabby, then you need to know so you can go on a grammar diet and
hit the edit gym, or if it’s too skinny and flabby, you must eat more of the
healthy stuff—and buff up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Set aside the transparent robe of hubris and arrogance and
put on a robe of humility and LEARN. You don’t have to agree with everything
your critic says, but you do have to consider every criticism or concern. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Above all, remember that your editor/critic set aside his
or her valuable time to look at your MS and, assuming they are not emotionally
involved with you and owe you nothing, you owe them the courtesy of listening
if nothing else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Don’t get indignant because they think your writing falls
far short of brilliant—listen to their suggestions. Perhaps there is room for
improvement. No author ever writes the perfect sentence, but that is what all
good writers strive for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
It’s okay to ask why they say what they do, but hear them
out. If you still disagree, then seek clarification from expert sources before
blasting their criticism out of the water. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The people who critique your work are the vanguard for
readers. If the critic misses a typo or plot error, chances are your readers
will find it. And readers really don’t give a damn about your feelings—they
paid for your book. Readers are not like RWC, BC, or other websites like this
with monitors to ensure everyone plays nice. Once your MS is published you can’t
run to “mommy” and claim you’re being bullied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Above all, stay calm, forget the bruised ego and LEARN. Accept
the suggestions you agree with, and, after considering what they say with an
open mind, delete the stuff you don’t agree with. And NEVER be rude or dismissive. Be excited
that, because of the opinion of another writer or editor, you have the
opportunity to rewrite—the opportunity to make your “interesting” MS brilliant.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-53797450687485838902013-08-16T08:18:00.000-07:002013-09-14T08:01:22.034-07:00The Hook and other bait.<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Hooking the reader:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
This is an example of and opening
line in a first chapter—the hook:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<b>The
captain stood on the deck of his ship in torpid heat, slowly whipping his wife.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
This was an example given to me
years ago by a publisher, and I use it all the time. A number of things cause the
reader to want to read—things that hook them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
1) What era is it?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
2) Torpid heat? Where is it happening? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
3) Why is the captain whipping his
wife? More curiously, why is he whipping her slowly?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
The reader wants these things
answered. They are almost compelled to read on. Hook your reader in one or two sentences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Don't confuse this with a tagline. That is the line that goes on your blurb and grabs the essence of your book in one or two sentences. It's the one thing that will make your reader want to buy your book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Example of three great movie log lines/taglines:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Erin Brockovich – She brought a
small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Silence of the Lambs – To enter the
mind of a killer, she challenged the mind of a madman.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Bonnie and Clyde – They're young,
they’re in love, and they kill people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Hit the ground running:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
The first paragraph is the next most
important thing, then the first page, but having said that, if the first five pages
aren't fantastic you will lose the reader. Most certainly, you will lose the
publisher or agent. They are very busy and can tell in the first paragraph if
they want you or not. Then they are more convinced when the first page is
great. However, that interest wanes if the second page doesn't deliver, but
they will probably forge on for another page. After that, it’s all downhill and
your MS ends up on the slush pile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
First thing:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Under “Chapter 1” put in the era or
year and location of the story in italics. It just grounds the reader, lets
them know where they are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Put in the date you start the book,
for your own interest. (To be removed later.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-indent: 0cm;">
Make a Story
Outline:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
This is a new file you open called
Story Outline for <i>Concoctastory</i>. (<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
Bet that had you running to the dictionary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Name of hero/heroine – hair and eye
color, height, build, defining features, age, scars, deformities, habits,
twitches, tastes, occupation, likes, dislikes, traits—good and bad, ambitions,
goals, obsessions, status in society, domicile, marital status.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="text-indent: 0cm;">In fact, anything you may need to
remember as the story unfolds. This will change as time goes on, but the
physical traits will probably remain the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
As you write, add each character’s
name and physical appearance. It’s all too easy to forget that Joe had blue
eyes. One often errs and gives characters brown or green eyes later in the
book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Minor characters, like a barmaid or
footman, don’t need a name if they only make one or two appearances. In fact,
it’s better to keep names to a minimum. Only add a description if you gave them
a specific thing like eye or hair color.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
The names of ships, streets,
buildings and places must also go into this file as they crop up in the story.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Make a note of things like Elvis
borrowed $50,000 from Danny the hobo, or he gave Leonardo da Vinci a $1 tip for
opening his chariot door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Be very careful to keep names
varied—don’t have Joe in love, working with or related to Jasmine, or worse,
Josephine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
Keep another file of cool male,
female, dog, cat or bird names. I make a habit of putting the alphabet in a
list form and use only one letter per memorable character—lesser characters
aren't important, unless their relationship is too close to the character they
relate to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
The author bio, query, synopsis, letter
for agents/publishers, plus back cover blurb and tagline go in another file.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
All these files go into a folder
with the book title.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 402.1pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
Writing needs preparation like anything
in life. There is only one problem, a story can take on a life of its own and
change direction—just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-44648778208614413652013-07-27T06:06:00.002-07:002013-07-27T06:06:28.334-07:00New WebsiteMy new website has just been launched. It has my books on it and three other authors that are brilliant.<br />
A book on writing tips and techniques<br />
Three Christian romances<br />
Two brilliant poetry books<br />
My three mystery romances.<br />
Here is the link: <a href="http://www.cfkingauthor.com/">http://www.cfkingauthor.com/</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 202.4pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930105283705811136.post-70381362017510214672013-07-07T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-07T06:30:05.317-07:00Three novels released I have just released three historical romance novels. I will soon make one of them free on a five day promotion.<br />
check them out on Amazon Kindle under my author name, C.F. King<br />
link:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00D9IQTNW" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: #b8eab8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00D9IQTNW</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6zJrbzuhU5IZZUWA_wPC-JSOfhblBi4ItbqE2S7vF2vKdh3yJu3aqxvZlvelg7DeRHUPEzy4vSbWRmgk75a3S-aWmg-vFSvYktvFX0qYt7n9ITF1Fr0B9yYrSRVrtZEE8oKPKJEU2qI2/s1600/TP+book+cover03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6zJrbzuhU5IZZUWA_wPC-JSOfhblBi4ItbqE2S7vF2vKdh3yJu3aqxvZlvelg7DeRHUPEzy4vSbWRmgk75a3S-aWmg-vFSvYktvFX0qYt7n9ITF1Fr0B9yYrSRVrtZEE8oKPKJEU2qI2/s320/TP+book+cover03.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Set in Hanoverian England, <span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36pt;">circa 1745
during the Jacobite uprising. The novel is a rather dark mystery romance of 116,000 words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
A man is so
driven by revenge and righteous anger that the line between good and evil
becomes blurred and he all but destroys the woman he loves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
His life is dark,
his past is violent. He is haunted by a murdered wife and child and obsessed
with avenging their deaths. This is Marquis Blake de Montfort, the most
powerful man at court, but his power is not vested in parliament, it’s more
insidious. He’s a ruthless master spy for King George II. The marquis is hated
by men, desired by women and feared by all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The king lusts
after Tanisha Ashburn and forces the marquis to marry her. She has no idea that
she’s surrendered her life of travel and searching for antiquities for the
lusts of men and betrayal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Unprepared for
the marquis’ verbal abuse and the intrigues surrounding him, Tanisha’s life
becomes a misery. Left alone for days, she explores her new home. She stumbles
on a hidden study and surprises a handsome stranger. He introduces himself as
the marquis’ brother. Evan is everything her husband is not. Tanisha succumbs
to his seduction, but she is unaware of the dire consequences that will forever
change her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S_AIQ1McEMvLBl8w44ex1JzzSRk8ZiAzlo_IGVlVTSRX9M6NF_a5H1x9dSAG9I5_nYibCT8xU-LsYI1jZf8WCjS_IgwyJR0SXj7JIEZTluON6eVB4pw3bYps8OjC9Yrv47gKTtqwAv3X/s1600/Bohemian+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S_AIQ1McEMvLBl8w44ex1JzzSRk8ZiAzlo_IGVlVTSRX9M6NF_a5H1x9dSAG9I5_nYibCT8xU-LsYI1jZf8WCjS_IgwyJR0SXj7JIEZTluON6eVB4pw3bYps8OjC9Yrv47gKTtqwAv3X/s320/Bohemian+FINAL.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Set in Victorian England,<i>
The Bohemian</i> is a 90,000 word historical romance with humor, adventure and
erotic love scenes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Fire meets ice. The naïve Calla
Marshall is wild. Ryder Stanton is a lieutenant Colonel ruled by discipline. Calla
has never known restraint, social or otherwise. Ryder has never known anything
except restraint. He is a soldier entrenched in discipline with an eye firmly
on social correctness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
On his father death, Ryder
returns from India to take up his duties as the sixth Earl of Felton. He
resents the curtailment of his military career. But more than that, he is ill
prepared for Calla, who comes with his responsibilities. His answer to the
problem is Lady Sandering’s finishing school in Bath, a season at court and a
suitable marriage. The free-spirited Calla has other ideas. In Ryder’s wild
pursuit to control her, he completely forgets his betrothed, the correct Miss
Langford, and his life unravels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZshey2AxoAWKztAw9whb5O1SEy0iOIsYYKzMWHw62sBwR_MXWZkWhZalQ2JB0rU3ia0YsNmKh0UdoXB2nY1_tMMv9a7lTK87Onf9OptXg8cgH3CLdhmtU-XJzlG51a4Aly2z9_yXp6Nd/s1600/Breath+of+Wild+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZshey2AxoAWKztAw9whb5O1SEy0iOIsYYKzMWHw62sBwR_MXWZkWhZalQ2JB0rU3ia0YsNmKh0UdoXB2nY1_tMMv9a7lTK87Onf9OptXg8cgH3CLdhmtU-XJzlG51a4Aly2z9_yXp6Nd/s320/Breath+of+Wild+FINAL.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Set in Southern Africa, circa
1872. A 97,000 word novel of adventure and romance with notes of humor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Dara Claiborne didn't know the
meaning of no<em>, </em>until she met Oran Randall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The headstrong English
suffragette arrives in the Calvinistic Cape Colony like a whirlwind. Dara’s
outspoken opinions set her at odds with the hardworking, taciturn Oran, who
manages her father’s two wine estates in Stellenbosch. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Her ailing father asked Oran to
take Dara on a photographic safari. Oran readily agrees to his mentor’s
request, until he meets her. Not only is Dara irresistibly beautiful, but she
is a magnet for trouble. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Then her father dies, leaving a
strange will. Oran inherits one of the farms, but Dara must marry Oran or
inherit nothing except enough to support her. Viticulture and horse breeding
are Oran’s life. His mistress, Elspeth, is his only recreation. Dara’s passion
is photography. They marry and agree to lead separate lives. But Oran can’t
resist her, any more than she can resist him. They make love, but Dara accuses
Oran of rape and takes off on safari alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
So begins a pursuit through a
savage land from the Cape Colony to Zululand.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03998272727403952277noreply@blogger.com0