Thursday, April 29, 2010

Abnormal Behavior & Pavlov's Doggie

PSYCH 101 for Writers and Their Characters Continued
                 
\Q 3— How does ‘abnormal behavior’ enter into the realm of crime writing and fiction in general?

Answer: Have you read any one of my books? OK…risky word phrase this ‘abnormal behavior’ as you have to ask then what is ‘normal’ behavior in a species that ‘won’ out as the meat eater of all the great apes? Authors are forever dealing with perceptions of what is right and what is wrong, what is good, what is evil, and the common error of taking things at face value. Is writing and painting and creating ‘abnormal’ in itself since, like actors, all artists have to be driven and obsessed to become a player in this field? This question may be too complex to answer here, but let’s keep exploring.

Appearance is seldom what it seems in a novel, especially a mystery or suspense or thriller. Societal norms are taken to task. Since I write about murder and often times serial murder, murder is my stock and trade, my INC. This means ‘abnormal behavior’ is my bread and butter but once removed as I have killed no one except on a stage. My evil antagonists are always into aberrant and sickening words and actions; what he says, thinks, and does is who he or she is (see Final Edge for the worst female killer in all the history of books! Laurelie Blodgett). Such characters are motivated by sick fantasies, mania, fear, psychological disorders, obsessions, phobias, actual physical deformities, actual illnesses just as are Shakespeare’s worst villainous scum like Iago. They are motivated often by ‘abnormal’ beliefs, but often such ‘abnormal’ beliefs come out of popular cultural beliefs, legends, even religion as in anti-religious behavior on a grand scale. Some sick beliefs have a foothold in historical fact about mankind–as in cannibalistic behavior, perhaps even necrophilia–sex with the dead. Certainly there are enough scatologically disgusting elements about mankind and his history to provide fodder for many, many an aberrant behavior or belief system or ‘nutty’ fantasy, desire, want, goal.

I don’t have to mention Stephen King and Anne Rice made a killing on abnormal behavior, do I? Still there is a fine line at work here. Abnormal can slip over into caricature and unintended funnies in the blink of a Cyclop’s eye if one is not careful. How far from the ‘norm’ can our ‘abnormal’ Grandma Grimwood go before she becomes a twisted Dickensian comical granny?

In books about psychotics, sociopaths, organized and disorganized killers of every stripe there is great latitude in defining abnormal, but in all cases the sociopathic monster has to have its\his\her roots in humanity and where we’ve come from…from the primitive lizard brain to the present…roots are sunk deep. This is why the abnormal among us, in the end, are human after all. Humanity swings a wide arc across the rainbow from purity to the unspeakably vile and no author can turn away and not see this if the story demands it. Those who do turn a blind eye to the absolute end of the spectrum, the deepest rung in the pit miss an entire part of the human condition and it’s like being color blind, missing an entire spectrum of the rainbow itself.

OK…believe it or not.

Robert W. Walker
author Killer Instinct, Fatal Instinct and Dead On
Thanks so much and find me on facebook, twitter, myspace, and at www.acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com and do leave a message here.

Annoying Characters! by DL Larson

If I was to create an annoying character that included many of my pet peeves, she might turn out to be something like this:

She'd be in her early thirties, wearing dirty pajama pants and a ratty Tshirt with the saying, "51% Angel, 49% Bitch ... Don't Push Me." The temptation to do just that makes me shake with anticipation. Her fingernails are bright pink, freshly manicured and her two preschoolers have bedhead, and it's nearly noon.

Beneath the sign on the library wall "Please turn off your cell phones," she yaps loudly into her tiger-striped phone, laughs even louder and acts as if everyone in the room should hear her enticing conversation as she proclaims she can't do a thing with her boys. 'It's HOPELESS.' Of course the children are across the way pretending their ears don't work, but know she's just given them permission to misbehave. So, of course, as if prompted, they start acting out!

She returns her books to my desk, ignoring the puppet fight her boys have instigated. I immediately retrieve my cleaner because the books are so sticky I couldn't possibly put them away without wiping them first. The DVD is either broken, chewed, stepped on, or empty. She makes no excuse, simply shrugs her shoulders when I tell her of the problem. "Oh, one of the boys wanted to play with it. I told them not to. They never listen." Then she too as if in a play, turns to her boys, "Now Mrs. Deb is mad at us. We owe her lots of money. We can't go to McDonald's until we pay her." The boys in unison drop to the floor, wailing, nary a tear squeezed out from their performance, but mom is really getting into it now. "I told you not to break the DVD. I told you Mrs. Deb would be mad at you." I now have the over-powering urge to rip her stupid Tshirt off her chubby body and wear it myself! "And now, we can't take out any more books or DVDs because we owe her so much money." More flaying about from the boys, their wails crescendo and other mothers decide it's time to leave. I smile, wishing I could escape too.

I hand out suckers or treats to my little friends as quietly as I can, but no, I did not succeed and the two naughty boys want suckers tooooooooooo! I don't reward bad behavior and so ignore them. I know five minutes without mom these boys would act perfectly fine, but mom loves drama and so once again Mrs. Deb becomes the bad guy in her performance. "Mrs Deb is mad at you. She's not going to give you suckers."

If ever there was time for parental intervention this is it. I approach the boys, squatting down to their level, ignoring mom. "Timmy, Johnny, what do you like best about coming to the library?" We sit for awhile there on the floor as the boys talk over each other, but their faces are eager and animated. We talk about treating things gently, we talk about protecting books and DVDs so we can use them again and again. We talk about where broken books and DVDs go when they don't work anymore. Mom is back on the phone ignoring us and for that I am truly thankful. The boys and I make a pact to try harder to be careful with books and DVDs from the library. Their little faces look earnest and I smile, bribing them a bit. "If you put all the puppets and puzzles away like you found them, I bet I could find you each a sucker." They scramble to accomodate me.

Mom is laughing again, saying, "Mrs. Deb just got the boys to pick up their mess. I don't know how she does it. They won't do a thing I say." I grit my teeth and return to my desk, knowing my little talk won't last long because mom would rather live in chaos.


I don't know if I could stand to use this annoying character in a book, but I sure feel better getting her on paper and out in the open. Even perfect jobs like being a children's librarian has its icky or rather sticky situations.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I'll Tell You What Annoys Me - By Morgan Mandel

I thought I'd do a fun exercise today. I'll mention a few habits people have that annoy me. You do the same in the comment section. Then anyone who wants to can combine some here and make either a villain or quirky character. Of course, real villains have some redeeming qualities, as do quirky characters, but for our purposes, the more annoying the better.

That's an Istock photo on the right by the way, not me. (g)

Okay, I'll Tell You What Annoys Me -

People who spit on the sidewalk. That is so gross.

People who hunt in their purses or pockets for change instead of just giving the cashier a bill or credit card. They think they're doing a good deed, but are actually holding up the line.

Your turn - What annoys you?

For More Fun, visit my personal blog at http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
or join me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Thanks - Morgan Mandel

Monday, April 26, 2010

Spring Fling 2010

Spring Fling 2010 turned out to be an extremely wonderful conference! We had a great time and already look forward to the next one. Since we were so busy this weekend and I have no energy to blog here is a little view into the conference:


Margot & DL


Debra and Morgan




Julia Quinn & Cherry Adair


Debra, Kat (our editor) and me!



DL & Margot at the booksigning




Debra St. John at the booksigning
Spring Fling chairperson Pamala Knight, Cherry Adair and Me!! (Notice the shirt? It's one that my personal shopper Miss Casey picked out for me. You can't see the giant medallion that is covered by my name tag, but trust me it's there and I almost knocked myself out putting on the shirt!!)
Thanks for letting me share a wonderful conference with you.
Best,
June


Thursday, April 22, 2010

Pavlov's Dog is Wagging its Tail for Writers

Robert W. Walker’s Psych 101 Questions -- Over time, I have considered these 10 questions that delve into the relationship between psychology and writing the novel, and being a novelist. In other words, what has psychology got to do with imagination and creating whole worlds populated with people out of ink marks on a page? The following questions and answers delve into the psychology of the author himself, and eventually will also ask about the psychology of characters an author creates: This is Psych 101 for Authors and readers interested in the craft and creative impulse.

Q#2 -- How does 'abnormal behavior' enter into the realm of creative writing and fiction?

Answer: Have you read any one of my books? OK...risky word phrase this 'abnormal behavior' as you have to ask then what is 'normal' behavior in a species that 'won' out as the meat eater of all the great apes? Authors are forever dealing with perceptions of what is right and what is wrong, what is good, what is evil, and the common error of taking things at face value. Is writing and painting and creating 'abnormal' in itself since, like actors, all artists have to be driven and obsessed to become a player in this field? This question may be too complex to answer here, but let's keep exploring.

Appearance is seldom what it seems in a novel, especially a mystery or suspense or thriller. Societal norms are taken to task. Since I write about murder and often times serial murder, murder is my stock and trade, my INC. This means 'abnormal behavior' is my bread and butter but once removed as I have killed no one except on a stage. My evil antagonists are always into aberrant and sickening words and actions; what he says, thinks, and does is who he or she is (see Final Edge for the worst female killer in all the history of books! Laurelie Blodgett). Such characters are motivated by sick fantasies, mania, fear, psychological disorders, obsessions, phobias, actual physical deformities, actual illnesses just as are Shakespeare's worst villainous scum like Iago. They are motivated often by 'abnormal' beliefs, but often such 'abnormal' beliefs come out of popular cultural beliefs, legends, even religion as in anti-religious behavior on a grand scale. Some sick beliefs have a foothold in historical fact about mankind--as in cannibalistic behavior, perhaps even necrophilia--sex with the dead. Certainly there are enough scatologically disgusting elements about mankind and his history to provide fodder for many, many an aberrant behavior or belief system or 'nutty' fantasy, desire, want, goal.

I don't have to mention Stephen King and Anne Rice made a killing on abnormal behavior, do I? Still there is a fine line at work here. Abnormal can slip over into caricature and unintended funnies in the blink of a Cyclop's eye if one is not careful. How far from the 'norm' can our 'abnormal' Grandma Grimwood go before she becomes a twisted Dickensian comical granny?

In books about psychotics, sociopaths, organized and disorganized killers of every stripe there is great latitude in defining abnormal, but in all cases the sociopathic monster has to have its\his\her roots in humanity and where we've come from...from the primitive lizard brain to the present...roots are sunk deep. This is why the abnormal among us, in the end, are human after all. Humanity swings a wide arc across the rainbow from purity to the unspeakably vile and no author can turn away and not see this if the story demands it. Those who do turn a blind eye to the absolute end of the spectrum, the deepest rung in the pit miss an entire part of the human condition and it's like being color blind, missing an entire spectrum of the rainbow itself.

OK...believe it or not.  Am sorry as I had promised Abnormal Behavior.  Will have to hold on that...Pavlov chewed my notes. Will get to it. Meanwhile, next Friday right here I will take up Question #3 which is:  How does 'health and stress' play a role in fiction writing?

Catch my new ebook on Kindle - Killer Instinct, a Dr. Jessica Coran novel...in fact her first introduction, and by the way, do DO do leave a comment!
Rob Walker

http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/
http://www.makeminemystery.com/

A Reporter's View! by DL Larson

If a news reporter stopped by the Chicago North's Spring Fling this weekend, this might be what they could report ...

'Today we are at a writer's conference, in the northern suburbs of the Windy City, Chicago Illinois. We're standing in the hallways of the Hyatt Conference Center as attendees mingle about. Most are women, dressed in casual yet professional attire and all seem to know one another. At least they are smiling and chatting with one another. All looks well. Coffee and fruit is in abundance as well as donuts! Interesting choice, something for everybody.

'The crowd is dispursing, the conference is about to begin. Most have entered a large room where the speaker is a New York Times Best Selling Author, Cherry Adair. Excitement fills the room. Introductions are being made, this woman must be a hundred years old to have accomplished so much in a lifetime. But no, she's before the platform, not looking old, but stylish and friendly. She has everyone's attention with her easy manner. Attendees are laughing and taking notes, enjoying the talk. This is not your typical boring conference. Something is happening here.

'Oh, wait, someone is leaving! How could they leave now when things are going so well? Let's follow her.

'She's just emerged from the ladies room. Perhaps we've misjudged her need to escape. Her breathing seems irratic. Now she's digging through her bag. She extracts a mint. Perhaps that will calm her. She's walking now, slower, as if she's contemplating something. She has a small card in her hand and nodding as she reads it, still walking. Where's she going? The ballroom is the other direction. She can't leave now. She'll miss out on this wonderful experience.

'She's stopped at a table where another woman is waiting for her. They exchange pleasantries. We'll have to move closer to hear the actual conversation. But we'll move cautiously so as not to scare her more. She's pacing now, something is obviously bothering her. Time seems to hang in suspension.

'The door behind the table opens. Another young woman slips out, smiling, beaming actually. She smiles at the nervous woman. "Don't worry, she's really nice and easy to talk to. She asked for the first ten pages of my manuscript."

'The two women hug. One leaves, the other waits to be chauffeured inside. Who's in there? What is so exciting about ten pages of a manuscript? Let's see, if we peek at the sign on the door, we might determine what's going on. Oh, it's for everyone to see, no need for espionage. The sign reads: Pitch Sessions with Diana Fox, of Fox Literary Agency.

The moderator motions to the nervous woman, but wait, she's not nearly as nervous as she was a moment ago. What happened? The moderator smiles and the not nervous woman steps across the threshhold and into the room. A voice calls, "hello, come on in. Nice to meet you." The door closes.

We don't know how long this woman will be behind that door, but approaching us is another woman who appears to have swallowed a jumping bean. She sits at a nearby chair, tapping her heels againt the carpeted floor. The door opens again.
Everyone turns. The woman is smiling, shyly, and winks at the woman waiting.
"She's great. You'll like her. She gave me the best ideas." The woman walks away, back toward the ballroom. A nervous giggle escapes from the one still sitting. Her legs are crossed now and a twinkle has settled in her eyes. She's going to be okay, the jumping bean has dissolved. The moderator is motioning to her and with a deep breath and an excited smile the woman joins her at the door.

'Whatever is happening here is contagious. It's like a wildfire, jumping from person to person to person. We'll keep you posted on further developments, but for now, we're heading back to the ballroom and Cherry Adair.'

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Can Cover to Cover Recover? by Morgan Mandel

Tuesday morning I was shocked to hear from Mark Everett on streaming audio from WJJQ 92.5 FM in Tomahawk, Wisconsin that Cover to Cover Books and Gifts had caught fire on Monday and suffered extensive damage. Whether or not it will reopen is unclear.

Last May, I held a book signing at Cover to Cover, where it's owner, Dawn, graciously hosted me. Along with books, the store carried all sorts of other fun items, such as deep fried peanuts in the shell. For seven years, Dawn and her husband, Vic, worked hard to make their store a success.

It's sad to see their efforts go up in smoke. I hope somehow they can recoup their loss and go on again at the current location.

I was scheduled to sign books on Saturday, May 8, at Cover to Cover, but fate has a way of stepping in when you least expect it. Maybe someday I'll be able to visit Cover to Cover again, but time will tell.

For now, I'll share some pictures of the store with you. The first is with me and Dawn at the counter, then there are outside views, plus a fun one by their bench taken last October.

Here's a link I found about the fire from an email I received Tuesday from Publisher's Lunch:
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100420/WDH0101/4200598/1981

Morgan Mandel

Time Management

Ah, a challenge to us all, but especially those of us who work fulltime and write and teach - and volunteer way too much. I've always wondered about those who say they are bored and have nothing to do.

Did I mention several writers conferences, putting in a garden, and taking on more responsibilities at work? Yes, mine is a hectic life but I'm having so much fun and even though I really need to cut back on some things, it's tough to decide which ones to give up, so I'll keep them all.

So, if you really are bored and can't find anything to do with your life, don't worry. I'm probably doing enough for both of us.

Hope to catch you at a writer's conference soon.

Check out Chicago's Spring Fling this weekened. Info at the link below:

www.chicagospringfling.com

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Live and in Person

Hi All,

This is going to be short and sweet today, as I have about a million and one things to do...at least it seems that way.

This week I'm continuing my mini-blog tour to celebrate the release of WILD WEDDING WEEKEND!
Here's where I'm at this week:

Monday (4/19) Emma Lai Writes (A resechedule from earlier in the month.)
Tuesday (4/20) Terry's Place

On Friday and Saturday I'll be appearing at the Chicago-North Spring Fling Conference in Deerfield, Illinois. On Saturday, there will be a book signing featuring over 40 authors from 4:30 - 6:00. If you're in the neighborhood, I'd love to have you stop by to chat!

Hyatt Regency Deerfield
1750 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL
LeClair Ballroom

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Saturday, April 17, 2010

A Taste of Italy by Margot Justes

I'm meeting with Susan Miura this afternoon to go over our 'Taste of Italy' presentation, and this is the perfect opportunity to segway to Venice and begin my travel blogs.

Getting to Venice is not difficult, hop on a plane to any central European city and transfer to a small plane bound for the Marco Polo airport in Venice.

It took a while to get my bearing, my nickname Wrong Way Rodal is well founded, I get lost easily and have a hard time with left and right, and we won't discuss North, South, etc.

I wanted to get an ACTV 72 hour pass, that would allow me to take the bus to the center of town and more importantly would allow me to use the vaporetto at will. I asked and received a blank stare, a finger pointing to a sea of faces, no kiosk selling anything, just tourists looking as lost as I was. One person actually answered in Italian, and since I spoke in English and don't speak Italian it presented a slight problem. But we smiled at each other and I thanked him in Italian. Grazie goes a long way but unfortunately not to a place that got me a ticket.

The fact that I spoke English, had this totally lost look on my face, was at an airport, lugging luggage behind me and hoping against hope someone would take me for a tourist, nope, no one did. Odd that.


I kept walking a bit further, probably in a circle, although nothing looked familiar and I didn't get that- been there done- that European Vacation 'look kids Big Ben' feeling.

Finally, I got lucky and bought the three day pass and took the bus that took me to Piazzale Roma, the central hub where it would appear all travelers converge.

From there it was walking distance to our hotel the Boscolo Bellini, the hotel was just steps away from the Grand Canal in the Cannaregio district.


Going up and down the various bridges was a treat, the luggage thumping, bumping and groaning as the was person pulling the darn things. That would be me.

The area was perfect, the hotel was not, at best it lacked a personality, however the people at the desk were gracious and helpful, and the location more than made up for the shortcomings of the hotel.


My first day was spent wondering through the maze of tiny alleys and streets in hope of finding the elusive Piazza San Marco. You guessed it, even following the clear markings and arrows, I got lost, but found that getting lost in Venice is a delight, and you're never really lost in Venice, every street is an historical treasure and eventually you'll get to the Grand Canal. However, that day Piazza San Marco eluded me.

Next door to the hotel was a remarkable Romanesque church and it so happened that there was a concert that night right in the church. It was fantastic. All in all, an incredible first day in a wondrous city.


Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Creating Point of View by DL Larson

If it's spring, then it's writing contest time. I've spent several hours in my gardens cleaning things up, but just as much time judging a writers mystery contest. At this point I don't know which is more rewarding. Both have exhausted me in a good way.

I wish writing was as easy as removing dead leaves so new life could shoot up. The common link, I believe, is digging deep. The entries I read in the mystery contest have all held my interest - but character development has been the stumbling block to make the stories feel real. I discovered a common thread - the reluctance or lack of getting to know the characters the writer has created.

When a character is created the writer has to ask tough questions to turn said character into a three dimentional person. Basic elements of age, sex, looks are easy to decide, and background and goals need to be decided as well. But the reader needs more to become involved with a story. Personality flaws and strengths help the reader relate to the character; this is the glue readers need to become invested in the story.

The writer then has to take another step. The step is to stop thinking and start feeling as the character would. Intimate insight from a character is the golden egg every writer searches for. Sharing the characters thoughts brings the reader right into the scene, seeing the action through the characters perspective and point of view. To react as a real person would, to travel the emotional stream of chaos that clogs each persons thoughts makes for great reading. If the writer doesn't feel the emotions of his/her characters, the reader won't feel them either.

If the character doesn't smell the greasy burgers when he walks into the cafe, the reader won't smell a thing. If the character doesn't feel the silkiness of a baby's cheek, the reader won't become involved in the sentiment of such an action. If the character isn't woken by birds chirping out his window, the reader can't relate to the scene. If the character doesn't taste the burnt gravy, the reader won't sympathize with such brave behavior.

Character development is more than skin color, height and job status. It's personality development. I stop thinking of my characters as make-believe. I refer to them by their names. Joe and Annie have marital problems that only true love will mend; Wade is an alien, but Tracy adores him anyway despite the fact he's forgotten who she is; Ruf wants Hattie but doesn't want to admit it to himself or anyone else. He'd be horse-whipped if he touched her, she's only fifteen. My characters are real people; I gave them life; I don't intend on letting them move about as if they were puppets. They're real. They share their darkest and most private thoughts, they react as you or I might in any given situation.

Point of View is about giving each character life. Don't be like Dr. Frankenstein and create a character that can only lumber around stiff legged and not think for itself. A writer is a creator, and the purpose of writing is to connect with others. Using point of view is a great way to accomplish such a task.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Spring Morning - What Do You Notice? by Morgan Mandel

Since it's so important to include the five senses in descriptions when we write, I decided to do a writing exercise this morning. It was simple. All I did was try and notice what was going on around me as I walked Rascal.

Here are some of my early morning observations from living in a medium sized suburb of Chicago:

What first struck me was the smell of fumes from a jet that had already flown by. Sometimes the fumes are so strong, I can almost taste them. This time it wasn't too bad.

I felt a cool breeze swirl around my hair. Later, the temperature might clime to eighty as predicted, but to start out, it was only fifty-something.

Next, I heard birds chirping. I couldn't tell what kind they were, but there were many, nothing like the bird sounds of winter, which are almost non-existent..

As I walked Rascal to the corner, I noticed a car pull up. A dog across the street barked as the driver threw a rolled up newspaper out the window. I heard the plunk as it landed.

A jogger ran by. I felt the pull on the leash and I had to hold tight, as Rascal felt threatened.

When I continued on, I couldn't help but admire the scents and sights of spring flowers. I noticed daffodils and tulips gracing partially green lawns.  

I saw a light turn on in one of the houses. Someone else was rising early.

The gate creaked as I re-entered our yard.

I walked into the house only to hear a commercial about spring home fix-ups and news about people being shot on the South Side of Chicago.

Now, what about you? What do you notice on an early Spring morning?

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Why I write

This is a question I ask myself periodically because as anybody who does write - at least those writing for the fiction market - it can be not only lonely but full of rejection.

So, why do I write? Well, it enriches my life. Not in terms of significant financial gain - yet, but in so many other ways.

It’s a process that helps me explore ideas, thoughts and even worlds that are not necessarily available to me in my everyday life. I can use my imagination and explore all kinds of worlds and places. I can work through all the emotional aspects of human nature and relationships, whether good, bad or evil. Often in interviews, writers - particularly crime/mystery/thriller writers - will state that they get to kill someone in their novels without going to jail. Most of us can probably relate to that.

But we can also do good. We can bring life to a range of worlds, ideas and fantasies for others and give them the reading ride of their lives. This is not just for children - although important - but adults as well.

I remember as a kid reading Jules Verne and then seeing the movies. Both were fun experiences but reading allowed me to stay within myself and at the same time use my imagination to safely explore the world Mr. Verne was offering. I fear that fewer children today get to experience such reading joy because for all that Harry Potter did for this effort, there is still a dearth of encouragement for children to simply read. Competition is fierce for their attention from so many other sources and while those other sources have merit, reading needs to remain a top priority.

Reading develops the vocabulary, social and brain skills of children in ways that other processes can’t. Our challenge as adults and as a society is to figure out ways to bring balance to our children’s lives with regard to all the entertainment options that they have. Yes, I said entertainment because too many regard reading more as a chore than a source of entertainment.

Just as fast food led to less time at the family dinner table, and therefore communicating with one another, advances in technology have led to less time reading.

Balance is the key and once a child learns the joy of reading and what fun it can be, the world becomes a better place for all.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Spring Clean Up

It was a glorious day here in the Midwest yesterday. Sun shining, birds chirping, perfect temperatures.

I spent most of the day outside cleaning up the yard. It's one of my favoite times of year, when we clear away the last traces of Winter's debris to find new growth ready to burst forth. It's always a pleasure to see the possibility of beauty beneath the layers of yuck from the previous year.

Editing a manuscript is a lot like that, too. Words get layered on as I write, and later I need to go back and dig down through all of that to expose the beauty of the story underneath. It's a time to clear away passive voice, intruders, and all those pesky "ly" words.

Trouble is, I've been doing a little too much clearing away and not enough layering these days. Instead of moving forward with my WIP, I keep going back and editing the part I've already written.

Don't get me wrong, the weeding part needs to be done. But unlike my yard, I don't think my story's quite ready for it yet. There's still so much more to tell, but I'm having some trouble getting it told. I guess doing the polishing is keeping me in touch with the characters and plot, but I'd really like to be getting more words down on the page instead of changing what I already have. There will be a time for that later.

After all, as Ecclesiastes tells us: To everything there is a season and time to every purpose under heaven. I just need to take one season at a time.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra

www.debrastjohnromance.com

Now available: WILD WEDDING WEEKEND

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Eyvind Earle by Margot Justes

I've written a few blogs about art, and I just realized not once have I said a word about my favorite contemporary artist, Eyvind Earle.

For more years than I'd care to mention or remember, I have loved and coveted his work. I went through a period where anytime I could get my hands on his Christmas cards, I would buy a box and never send them out, because I couldn't bear to part with them.

There is something magical about his style. It's nature and yet not. Colorful, stunning in the grandeur of the landscapes he often portrayed, but you can still see the illustrator at heart. His work is simple, elegant, almost Oriental and yet not. The colors are vibrant, alive, brilliant, the combination is simply magnificent.

I finally own a small numbered serigraph, my prize possession, and dare I say it, I want more.
When I was in San Francisco a couple of years ago, I visited Carmel and stopped at Gallery 21, the gallery now owned by his estate, since Mr. Earle died in 2000 at the age of 84.

His career started early, in fact I read that at the age of 10 he was already very prolific. His career included a stint with Walt Disney as an assistant background painter. His work for Disney included Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty, among others. But it is his later efforts that truly show a master at work.

Someone wrote that his style is lyrical, and I would never associate lyrical with art, but it fits, it flows, it moves you. It is indeed lyrical.


If you're interested in seeing some of his work, just Google Eyvind Earle, and I promise you will not be disappointed.


Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

Friday, April 9, 2010

Pavlov's Dog Pants for Writer Care

PSYCH 101 for Writers & Their Characters - or Pavlov’s Dog for Writers
                                          by robert w. walker

Professor of creative writing and psych buff, I will be providing 10 Psychological concerns for you & your creations for the next ten weeks each Friday, beginning with #10 & working down to #1  for ten teeth-gnashingm fingernail bitiing weeks. Let the mystery of the psychology of your characters work for you as it has for me.

Over time, I have considered these 10 questions that delve into the relationship between psychology and writing the novel, and being a novelist. In other words, what has psychology to do with imagination and creating whole worlds populated with people out of ink marks on a page? The following questions and answers delve into the psychology of the author himself, and eventually will also ask about the psychology of characters an author creates: This is Psych 101 for Authors and Readers interested in the craft and creative impulse.

Q #1:

As a writer, how does knowledge of writing help you? In short, how did you come across your knowledge of writing novels?

A: Anyone can learn to learn, or rather take steps to learn more about a topic--any topic. I learn best via doing, as in teaching. You teach it, you learn it. The more a writer comes to own knowledge, the higher his or her WQ--writing quotient.

IQ tests are indicators of potential, but it is motivation that drives us to learn the lessons of such things as research, analyzing data, accurately reporting or using information in a story. As for learning about the creative process, whether it's in writing or another art form, one gains experience only in doing, not unlike shooting baskets long enough will teach you how to shoot. When you practice to become a wordsmith, there're years of apprenticeship involved. Some of us began when just children. Being born as a silver-tongued genius is rare. Most writers must work to overcome failings, stuttering starts, self-conscious writings, and a slew of problems. In fact, writing is in a real sense all about self-analysis. Only after much study and painting oneself into corners and many missteps does a writer see the path to sentences that sizzle, snap, crackle, and pop or just plain sing. Lessons such as "if you can't make it sing, at least make it clear" come hard won only after gobs and gobs of hard work and fun and play with words and language.

Working with words on a daily basis is the only way I know of how to improve oneself as a writer. With each new novel or short story I write, I am reminded of lessons already learned and that I need to learn more; the more you know, the more you need to know. Only through hard work, determination, persistence, and sometimes pestilence over long years in the field do you easily pick the fruit. If you can't get thee to a 'nunnery' or a 'university' where they will sweat you in a writing program in boot camp fashion, then create your own rigorous program, and if you make it last as long as I did, four years, it might take. I would not ever trade in my PQ--persistence quotient for any amount of IQ. There is also the little matter of MO--motivation quotient. Let us not forget the EQ--experience quotient either.

This has all been directed at the author\writer\creator, but intelligence and knowledge play a huge role in character-building as well, not to mention reader intelligence and knowledge. Otherwise good characters who represent their careers and fields in many books seem lacking in knowledge of said field or career. A truly great character is partially great because she is so clearly knowledgeable (Ahab knew his whales!) in her field as with a medical examiner or detective. As for intelligent readers, they are the ones who both understand what we writers write and love us for it no matter who we have to kill off, no matter how tough things get, knowing we must 'sacrifice' for the good of the story.

Q#2 -- WE TAKE UP NEXT FRIDAY is : How does 'abnormal behavior' enter into the realm of creative writing and fiction? Or are we all nuts?

Catch my new ebook on Kindle - Killer Instinct, a Dr. Jessica Coran novel...in fact her first introduction, and by the way, do DO do leave a comment!

Rob Walker
http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/
http://www.makeminemystery.com/

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Speaking Engagements About Social Networking

On March 28, I took my show on the road and spoke at the Niles Public Library about Social Networking for Fun and/or Promotion. Here's one of the photos taken before the program. I always like to snap some at each event as mementoes.

I want to thank Maryellen Essig from the library for including me in their Inside Writing and Publishing lineup there. I had a great time. The audience was responsive and asked salient questions, which fortunately I was able to answer.

I'll be speaking on the same topic at the Schaumburg Township District Library on May 13 from 7:30 - 9 pm. I'll be thinking up some fresh material to add to the mix from the other program. Stop by if you can. You're welcome to ask questions and/or add to the information pool.  

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Sunday, April 4, 2010

It's Here!


Much to my overwhelming (dancing around the living room) joy, Wild Wedding Weekend is here! The Wild Rose Press released it as an Early Bird Special, which makes it available now in print form. Electronic formats will be available on Friday, April 9 (its original release date).
To celebrate its release, I'm heading "out" on a mini blog tour throughout the month of April (and sneeking a little bit into May.) Here's where I'll be this week:

Tuesday, April 6: Nine Naughty Novelists

Friday, April 9: Emma Lai Writes

Friday, April 9: Dayana Knight Author Spotlight

For a complete tour list, check out the Blogs link on my website.

Now I'm off to get that Easter ham on the grill.

Happy Easter and Happy Reading!

Until next time,

Debra

www.debrastjohnromance.com

Saturday, April 3, 2010

a Lovely Weekend by Margot Justes

We've had some wonderful weather the last couple of days; a perfect start to the weekend, or so I thought. My daughter is home and we were going to go to the Art Institute and dinner downtown.

The bleary, rainy and cold morning changed our plans, so instead we went shopping at Northbrook Court, got a pair of colorful beaded sandals; just the thing I couldn't wear today, because it was cold and rainy. We went to Costco, my home away from home and came back long enough to drop off the packages and go pick up a Sushi dinner.

All in all a terrific day, and tomorrow I'm joining the rest of my family and friends for a brunch. Now much time for writing, but I'm spending time with family and friends, and you can't beat that.

Last weekend, I actually wrote eight perfect pages in A Hotel in Venice. I would have written more, but they wouldn't have been perfect. I keep telling myself that, made a couple of changes in A Hotel in Bath. I don't think I'll ever put it away until it is sold. And it will be sold.
Again, that is what I'm telling myself.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

Friday, April 2, 2010

Brave New World of Publishing Oneself - Indie Go! Revisit All Those Rejected Tiles w/an Eye to Publishing Them! by Rob Walker

In the past when an agent exhausted his or her avenues and contacts, a manuscript was put up on a shelf or in a drawer, and I would go onto another story. I have always come back to those orphaned tales, however—tales not altogether forgotten, tales that call out to find an audience, and I’d tinker and rewrite and re-submit, sure that someone somewhere would see the value in the story that I saw right along.

When I began writing at an early age, I wrote the kinds of books I liked, those boy’s adventure tales inspired by Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, stories set during historical moments with panoramic vistas as backdrop. But once turned down for the fiftieth or sixtieth time by editors, what happens to a good book shouldn’t happen to a good book. But as rejections pile up, you move from writing what does not appear to be profitable or marketable or currently in vogue or “does not fit our current publishing program” (designed to keep you out) –a program that would keep Mark Twain out if he were alive and writing today….

So I stopped doing YA books and moved into horror as everyone at the time had a program in search of the next Stephen King…and then I moved into mystery and suspense and police procedurals when I was not discovered to be the next Stephen King (aha, no one was ever destined to be the next King). Still on my shelves, always pleading with me to get back to them, were and are these many young adult historical novels as yet unpublished and UNread. And recently, I snatched an adult historical out of the mothballs, rewrote it again for the sixtieth time, and published Children of Salem myself after getting some tough love editing done on it from good readers. That book is my top grossing Kindle title today and has sold a total of 410 copies. That’s a LOT more readers of that not commercial enough manuscript than the number who were reading it when it slept in my desk.

So what to do with my YA historical novels calling out, yearning to be FREE…to find a readership? These titles listed in the order in which they were written are:

BattleStormer – a tale of a young Viking boy who must, when his father dies, become the navigator for the ship BattleStormer. It tells the tale of the first white men to set foot on the American continent and of a budding romance.

Animiki of the Fire Nation is a Pottowatomi Indian brave story. Young Animiki must use his head to outwit the ancient enemy of his people.

The Cannoneers is set at the time of the American Revolution and is in the tradition of Johnny Tremain, but it tells the tale of how America got its first artillery together and the man behind it.

Yukon Gold is set as the title suggest during the mad gold rush to Alaska. It is told through the eyes of a young boy.

Transcontinental is the tale of a young boy who helps build the first North American Transcontinental railroad and the obstacles he faces.

Will any of these titles do well as Kindle books? I dunno…but I do know that in the older world of publishing they were destined to be Oak Tree Publication hardcovers until shit happened. They would have been published by the San Diego publishers of YAs had the company not been run into the ground by a guy named “Lord” who bought it up for a write off? Well now with the Kindle books option, a new alternate book world/dimension has opened up, an alternate universe of publishing…and it gives me work to do that will fill my summer as I rewrite, polish, and Kindlize these titles. I also have plans to continue several series characters killed off in the other publishing universe, the one that killed off Dr. Jessica Coran, Detective Lucas Stonecoat, and Inspector Alastair Ransom. I am so sure that I can revive these characters cut off in their prime with hard work and determination in the Brave New World of the Indie Author, thanks to my blood, sweat, tears, and Amazon Kindle. No waiting for what a publisher suspects might be commercially viable. No publisher could ever keep up with me, but I can.

That’s all for now. Keep writing; do find me on Facebook where we have lively discussions and a lot of humor. And now all the titles are in for the Titanic book and you can vote for your choice by going to Google and searching out Dirty Deeds – Advice.

RoboWriter Rob
http://robertwalkerbooks.com/

Thursday, April 1, 2010

OH, HAPPY DAY! by DL Larson

THREE YEARS! We've been a group blog for 1,095 days! Happy Birthday Acme Authors! Plus, we would have fizzled out, slid into oblivion or simply faded away without our followers and blog readers. Thank you for keeping Acme Authors on your TO DO LIST!
The fact we are taking a week to celebrate our existence feels pretty normal to me. At the Larson house, we celebrate birthdays with birthday week! It's not about presents, it's about taking the time to reflect, honor and spoil a special someone just a little. Think - eating your favorite junk food, no chores for a week, and mom makes your bed every morning - just because she wants to spoil you!
It's a week to feel special and realize being unique is pretty cool!

I've really appreciated the opportunity to be an Acme Author. Thank you, Morgan for inviting me to the party! I search blog sites much more than I did before, I enjoy sharing my insights and hearing about others, and I know being a blogger on Acme Authors is the reason for my own growth in the blogger world.

I also encourage our readers to tell others we at Acme Authors are here every day, sharing writer insights, stories and starting discussions with other writers everywhere. Your comments are important to us. Please continue to share your thoughts.

So my question, what are you celebrating this week? Anything special happening?
Plus, is there a writing topic you'd like to see discussed at Acme Authors? We are always looking for ideas. We'd love to hear from you.


Til next time ~

DL Larson

PS: last week I shared about Sami, a local teen severely hurt in a car accident. Sami is still in critical condition, but she is holding her own. She's still in an induced coma but responds more and more to her surroundings. We are celebrating this small victory, but a victory just the same. Thank you for your prayers.