Hope that title made you curious enough to keep reading. Today's post concerns itself with a little device writers use to break up chunks of dialogue. We're ever conscious of writing too much without pausing to let the reader digest (and savor) our words and so we look for interesting ways to make those text breaks. Conversation is linear but adding some motion into the mix can give more dimension to a paragraph. So what is this all about? Let's consider the face:
Eyes
Eyes can stare and glare, peer and leer, glower or shine
Eyebrows
Lift, arch, raise, narrow them
Lips
These can be pursed, parted, held firm, quiver, or tremble. They can be chewed upon, as well.
Creating the Passage
Now that I've got my moving body parts, let's see how this can work in a conversation.
"Jeeves," the old man glowered at the hapless servant. "Bring the brandy to the withdrawing room at once."
"Right away, my lord," the butler replied.
"Good help is so difficult to obtain these days," Lady Argyle said, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips (a double use of the device here) as she spied a wilted rose in the vase next to the sideboard.
"Indeed," piped up Fauntleroy, glaring at the back of the hapless servant as he departed on his errand.
And so forth.
Question of the Day
Authors have pet expressions. One British author's characters seem to be constantly "pulling a face." I love Jayne Anne Krentz, writing as Amanda Quick. Many of her male characters spend some time "steepling their fingers" while they ponder what to say or do.
What pet expressions do your favorite authors use? Please share them with us.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
People Watching
Coffee isn't a food group, I don't think, but it should be - along with nachos, really good wine, chocolate, and perfect peaches. If I were to create my own food pyramid, it would look wildly different from the USDA's recommended ingredients. But I digress. What I really want to talk about today is the fine art of people watching as a writer's tool.
If you've ever been stuck for the right bit of dialogue, needed a boost for a character who lacked interest, or were hunting for a viable subplot, people watching is the way to go to solve all of your dilemmas. All it takes is removing your seat from the seat of your computer chair and venturing outside to the grocery store, local coffee shop, hardware store, or any of the places people gather for whatever purpose.
Coffee shops are great people watching places. You can sit with your computer on the table and sip your grande two pump skinny vanilla latte and munch your cranberry orange scone while your nimble fingers record all manner of personality quirks, tidbits of conversation, physical descriptions, and intriguing plot possibilities.
People in shopping mode are great assets for a writer. Sit down on one of those mall benches and watch the parade of humanity stroll by just for your viewing pleasure. Note the way people walk, carry their parcels, juggle packages and children, yammer away on their cell phones. It's Writers University 101 without any tuition fees.
And then there's the random stuff that springs out of the blue. For example: We had a wood stove installed in the house this week. That involved some masonry, drywall renovation, electrical work, and painting. The first thing the electrician did was pull a screwdriver out of his toolbox and straighten all the little screws in the faceplates so they were all lined up horizontally. An obsessive compulsive trait even Monk didn't think of. That got me thinking about murder, of course, and how a small clue like that could lead.......
Where are your favorite people watching sites?
If you've ever been stuck for the right bit of dialogue, needed a boost for a character who lacked interest, or were hunting for a viable subplot, people watching is the way to go to solve all of your dilemmas. All it takes is removing your seat from the seat of your computer chair and venturing outside to the grocery store, local coffee shop, hardware store, or any of the places people gather for whatever purpose.
Coffee shops are great people watching places. You can sit with your computer on the table and sip your grande two pump skinny vanilla latte and munch your cranberry orange scone while your nimble fingers record all manner of personality quirks, tidbits of conversation, physical descriptions, and intriguing plot possibilities.
People in shopping mode are great assets for a writer. Sit down on one of those mall benches and watch the parade of humanity stroll by just for your viewing pleasure. Note the way people walk, carry their parcels, juggle packages and children, yammer away on their cell phones. It's Writers University 101 without any tuition fees.
And then there's the random stuff that springs out of the blue. For example: We had a wood stove installed in the house this week. That involved some masonry, drywall renovation, electrical work, and painting. The first thing the electrician did was pull a screwdriver out of his toolbox and straighten all the little screws in the faceplates so they were all lined up horizontally. An obsessive compulsive trait even Monk didn't think of. That got me thinking about murder, of course, and how a small clue like that could lead.......
Where are your favorite people watching sites?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Evening Out
Well, things have evened out here at writer central. The mistake review rating has been rectified and another nice one added. It was a difficult day and my stomach was tied up in knots for most of it. So, what's the lesson here? There's always a lesson, it seems. "Don't care too much." Reminds me of a Buddhist saying I vaguely remember. The first necessity is not allowing the vagaries of life to own you. In the end, nothing really matters all that much. I don't mean that to sound nihilistic, but rather that the things we worry about don't mean much in the grand scheme of things. It's a humbling experience.
Today I'll work a bit on marketing, clean house, do some writing, and wait for my girlfriend to arrive for a short visit. I'll try to put things in perspective and not care too much about the things I can't control. It's a tough lesson. I got too caught up in the moment and let it control me. I'll try to not let that happen again.
I want to write well. I also want others to enjoy what I write. It's just that simple.
Today I'll work a bit on marketing, clean house, do some writing, and wait for my girlfriend to arrive for a short visit. I'll try to put things in perspective and not care too much about the things I can't control. It's a tough lesson. I got too caught up in the moment and let it control me. I'll try to not let that happen again.
I want to write well. I also want others to enjoy what I write. It's just that simple.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
To the Valley of Despair
Well, it's amazing how quickly one's fortunes can change in this brave, new techno world. I've just received my first glowing review on Amazon. Wonderful, wonderful words, and then the reviewer got confused and hit one star instead of (hopefully) 5. So here I sit at the keyboard, helpless until it gets changed - hopefully soon. The book is just out and I've been torpedoed by a fan. Sigh.
Promotion and marketing are necessary evils for writers today, and it's not something many of us are comfortable doing. We'd much rather be sequestered, writing away, creating our fictional worlds. Maybe that's the best antidote for me today. I'm not going to look until tomorrow and hope not too much damage has been done. Sigh again.
Promotion and marketing are necessary evils for writers today, and it's not something many of us are comfortable doing. We'd much rather be sequestered, writing away, creating our fictional worlds. Maybe that's the best antidote for me today. I'm not going to look until tomorrow and hope not too much damage has been done. Sigh again.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
On Top of the World
Just found out that Headwind is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Still waiting for it to show up on Ingram, which is the distributor to Independent Bookstores. There's been a whole laundry list of stuff to do this morning and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Sent off an email to Murray, the best webguy in the universe, with additions, deletions, and changes to the website (www.karenkbrees.com). Going to add the book trailer and move some things around. I've been like a racehorse champing (chomping?) at the bit, waiting for this. And now it's time!
Now the promotion can begin in earnest. Plans are to contact all the independent bookstores I've visited over the past few months and let them know the book is now out in the world. I hope they decide to stock it. I'm gathering friends and readers for reviews to post on Amazon and B&N and that involves making sure everybody gets a copy to read.
I've ordered 50 copies from Chalet, in addition to the 5 freebies I get from them. Yipperooni!!
Sent off an email to Murray, the best webguy in the universe, with additions, deletions, and changes to the website (www.karenkbrees.com). Going to add the book trailer and move some things around. I've been like a racehorse champing (chomping?) at the bit, waiting for this. And now it's time!
Now the promotion can begin in earnest. Plans are to contact all the independent bookstores I've visited over the past few months and let them know the book is now out in the world. I hope they decide to stock it. I'm gathering friends and readers for reviews to post on Amazon and B&N and that involves making sure everybody gets a copy to read.
I've ordered 50 copies from Chalet, in addition to the 5 freebies I get from them. Yipperooni!!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
In the Mood
Besides being one of my favorite Glen Miller pieces, getting In the Mood is also part of why I pick certain books over others. I like descriptions. I like leisurely introductions. A steady diet of blood and mayhem on page one, paragraph one, line one, gets tiresome and makes me long for a gentler, more easy-going opening.
Let's talk about the weather. Most experts will advise writers to eschew descriptions of the weather in the opening segment of their novels. It was a dark and stormy nightitis, I guess you'd call this tendency. However, if you're writing a gothic romance, weather is a character. Also, if you're writing about San Francisco, and ignore the fog, you're not writing about San Francisco. Maybe it's all about pacing. I dunno.
I like weather. It's capricious. A good writer can do a lot with the weather. Guess I'm just getting tired of the sound-bite approach to everything. Shortened attention spans require shortened introductions. The next step will be shortened middles and truncated endings. I can almost visualize the approved model of the novel of the 21st century as a Tweet.
Give me weather descriptions. Give me a leisurely introduction, when I'm in the mood for one. Take the time to build that fictional world. All good things take time.
Let's talk about the weather. Most experts will advise writers to eschew descriptions of the weather in the opening segment of their novels. It was a dark and stormy nightitis, I guess you'd call this tendency. However, if you're writing a gothic romance, weather is a character. Also, if you're writing about San Francisco, and ignore the fog, you're not writing about San Francisco. Maybe it's all about pacing. I dunno.
I like weather. It's capricious. A good writer can do a lot with the weather. Guess I'm just getting tired of the sound-bite approach to everything. Shortened attention spans require shortened introductions. The next step will be shortened middles and truncated endings. I can almost visualize the approved model of the novel of the 21st century as a Tweet.
Give me weather descriptions. Give me a leisurely introduction, when I'm in the mood for one. Take the time to build that fictional world. All good things take time.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
BSP- How Much is Too Much?
Most writers know they must be their own publicity managers - scheduling book signings, orchestrating blog book tours, and doing whatever it takes to get the word out on their latest opus. Unless you're the BIG NAME, you can pretty much count on a budget of zippo from your publisher to help you in the marketing. So, what's good, what's bad, and what's ugly here?
Websites and Blogs
If you're a writer, you need a website and one that showcases your interests, gives information on who you are, what you write, and how readers can contact you. You can spend a fortune or do this on a budget. The best time to get your site up and running is before the book is out. Building your presence takes time. Fortunately, with a website, the investment of time and effort is heaviest up front. All the more reason to get this job done before your book hits the market.
Spend some time checking out other writers' websites, noting what you like and what you don't. If you find what you're looking for, contact the writer and get info on who did the site. You'll need a domain name and for a small annual fee, this name is yours forever. Best to get it while it's still available.
Blogs are ongoing and can be time-intensive. They're a good way to connect with other writers and readers. Get yourself a good title that catches the eye and put yourself on a regular schedule - sort of like flossing your teeth. Find a niche you want to blog about and get going. Again, this is best done before the book comes out.
***Put Counters on Both Website and Blog -You want to see how many people have checked you out (hits)
***Link Your Website and Your Blog - You'll double your internet investment
Signature Lines
Use the Option function on your email account and create a signature line that includes your website and blog. Add the title of your upcoming novel with the projected release date.
Twitter and Facebook
If you tweet, keep it brief. Once you've told the world you have a new book out there, how do you keep from annoying potential book buyers? If you're writing nonfiction, you can post a helpful tip or hint on your subject every day. Provide a service and you'll get a following.
Include your novel's title or cover on your profile and consider having a page for the book itself. You can ask people to become fans.
And Now for the Question du Jour: How Much BSP (Blatant Self Promotion) is Too Much?
My answer: When it's too much. Everyone has a different pain threshold, but some current practices cause me to grind my teeth. Some of my pet peeves regarding emails:
Including the cover of your novel in your email signature line
Snippets of reviews praising your book
Repeat emails to your Contact List, offering your book for X amount of dollars, plus shipping and handling
What's your biggest pet peeve in the BSP department?
Websites and Blogs
If you're a writer, you need a website and one that showcases your interests, gives information on who you are, what you write, and how readers can contact you. You can spend a fortune or do this on a budget. The best time to get your site up and running is before the book is out. Building your presence takes time. Fortunately, with a website, the investment of time and effort is heaviest up front. All the more reason to get this job done before your book hits the market.
Spend some time checking out other writers' websites, noting what you like and what you don't. If you find what you're looking for, contact the writer and get info on who did the site. You'll need a domain name and for a small annual fee, this name is yours forever. Best to get it while it's still available.
Blogs are ongoing and can be time-intensive. They're a good way to connect with other writers and readers. Get yourself a good title that catches the eye and put yourself on a regular schedule - sort of like flossing your teeth. Find a niche you want to blog about and get going. Again, this is best done before the book comes out.
***Put Counters on Both Website and Blog -You want to see how many people have checked you out (hits)
***Link Your Website and Your Blog - You'll double your internet investment
Signature Lines
Use the Option function on your email account and create a signature line that includes your website and blog. Add the title of your upcoming novel with the projected release date.
Twitter and Facebook
If you tweet, keep it brief. Once you've told the world you have a new book out there, how do you keep from annoying potential book buyers? If you're writing nonfiction, you can post a helpful tip or hint on your subject every day. Provide a service and you'll get a following.
Include your novel's title or cover on your profile and consider having a page for the book itself. You can ask people to become fans.
And Now for the Question du Jour: How Much BSP (Blatant Self Promotion) is Too Much?
My answer: When it's too much. Everyone has a different pain threshold, but some current practices cause me to grind my teeth. Some of my pet peeves regarding emails:
Including the cover of your novel in your email signature line
Snippets of reviews praising your book
Repeat emails to your Contact List, offering your book for X amount of dollars, plus shipping and handling
What's your biggest pet peeve in the BSP department?
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