Writerly Wonderings

So I’ve started reading voraciously lately and with that comes grooving on an author’s work. KU makes it nice because you can rip through a series without the financial impact.

But today I want to talk about writing tics. That word or phrase a writer uses, or something that they do repeatedly. Some people hate it when the author does not use the word “said”. Some writers over-use ellipsis.. And that writer is me, in case you were wondering.

I was involved (according to Kindle about 30% worth) in the second book of the series when I started to wonder: What would a shoulder pop look like? It bounced me a bit out of the story as I tried different variations of the motions.

But then it kept happening. These shoulders were popping so much I started to wonder how no one dislocated a shoulder. It also bounced me out of the story, just a bit.

As writers, it’s imperative that we have readers. Beta readers are such a needed resource. Other writers can help as well if you can get over the nerves. Nerves about how another writer will treat your writing, treat you as the author. Some are worried that others will steal their words. Their ideas. Their heart and soul.

I’ve been lucky in the people I’ve met along the way. I dip in and out of Writers Village University (not an accredited school, but more of an online resource for writers to learn and make connections). I don’t go on there often, but I’ve met some great writers there.

And one of those people I met so very long ago. She has edited my work. Cheered me on. And currently we write together every day from miles away (thanks to technology. You should go check out her work– Rie Sheridan Rose.

She has called me out on my ellipsis and the lack of the word said in a story. I hope I’ve helped her as well. And when you find the right writing partner/ beta reader, sharing your story doesn’t send you into a panic attack.

Promise.

Now onto book 3 to see if all these characters are still popping their shoulders!

Ta my Lovelies!

Tension in Writing

I was reading a “Sweet” romance, which I enjoy as a whole. I like the gamut of the romance genre, but I cut my reading teeth on sweet romances as a young one.

I recently read one where the heroine and hero were alright, but there wasn’t that tension. The electricity a reader feels when they catch each other’s gaze from across the room. The story itself, and the writing was ok, it kept me reading through out the 250ish pages…

Which is short for a historical romance. Or maybe I’m just used to reading mammoth books. But if the reader is feeling the lack of chemistry, maybe it should have been lengthened.

At one point, the reader is told the heroine’s stomache fluttered at the sight of the hero. That was it. All the tension in that should have been dripping in that scene, the longing…. And all the reader received was being told about a flutter.

I used to be a less is more kind of writer. I know that description is one of my weaknesses. Being honest, I was being a lazy writer. Still am, but I’m getting better at making passes on my work as I go, adding details. Glances. A shiver down the spine. Or a golden candlestick on a mantle handed down by generations.

It’s interesting reading as both a reader and a writer. I’m learning a lot, and also enjoying myself quite a lot.

Ta, my lovelies. I’m off to find my next book.

Or maybe I should pick up the pen and write a bit in one of the two I have going on right now.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert is a romance novel that opened my eyes up in regards to writing in the characters viewpoint.

We all know about POV and perspective. At least I assume we do (if not, as with my last post, ask your question! Well get it answered! No fuss, no miss, no hate).

The male lead in the HEA is Red. Red has long, red hair, tattoos and relationship baggage. He also has an artistic talent that permeates his character. We know he’s an artist not just by the paint under his nails, but how he thinks of Chloe. He thinks of her in color and texture and warmth and light. It’s not just Chloe, either. Somehow Hibbert just slips us into an artists mind and it feels great.

But it also reminds us writers that there is more to writing in a charters perspective than just the nuts and bolts. We need to take the time to think through what a character’s passions will do to the way they think of the world. It’s both terrifying and liberating as a writer.

As one who isn’t that great as fleshing out details it’s scary. As one who loves a puzzle, it’s kind of intriguing and exciting.

Ta, my lovelies. I have a villainous hero who I need to flesh out.

It’s going to be so fun!

Description

The weather here in Northern California has been… complicated. Today was nice.

Last night it was not.

One major thing that this crazy weather has done for my writing: helped me with description. I’ve always been a little light on description, but the following have popped out of my mouth:

The wind is blowing so hard, I’m glad I’m *not* in Kansas.

There’s so much water on the ground, with the fog coming up around it… it looks like a Lady in the Lake scene— in the middle of a cow field. (It did! It was gorgeous!)

And so on and so forth.

“Oh Shit, there’s a tree in the parking lot” the phrase has a lot of heat behind it, and it was more a large limb than the whole tree. And while the parking lot is LINED with trees, these limb(s) were lying in the middle of the asphalt. My sister understood, especially when I clarified for her. But when we’re creating our scenes, we don’t have that give and take.

So. I am learning to describe my surroundings for my sister. Because it makes it so much nicer for her to have a visual when we’re talking. Just as we need to have visuals for our readers.

So. Take stock, figure out what you can practice your description on. I try to describe things for my siter, and also in my journal. As always, there’s a different flow when you’re talking as opposed to writing, but that just gives us fodder for dialog.

 

 

Descriptive

Summer is here, so of course I’m writing more. Not particularly because of the season, just need to get my writing going again. If it’s important to me, then I need to put a priority on it.

So tonight, I killed 2 bird with one stone. Took the boys down to the park, and decided to sit and write. Since I tend to lack description, especially of the physical details.

Started out well, living in the moment and writing in my little book. Then the writing circled back to the interior, to more character… but it was rooted in the moment.

It’s a beginning, and that’s all I need. That and to keep going.

I’m also circling more around the bones of the world. It’ll get there.

I’ll get there.