tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25258390487687294262024-03-13T22:01:55.160-07:00The Rich Writer<i>How to Thrive on the Writer's Road</i>Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.comBlogger518125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-26479929218789007072011-07-01T09:12:00.001-07:002011-07-01T09:12:53.865-07:00Five Writing Lessons I Learned From TV<p>I used to spurn TV. Why would I waste all that time sitting in front of the tube when there are so many other things to do in life? Why not spend the time writing, instead?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fYuw9PpcmqQ/Tg3yA63Vl3I/AAAAAAAACdo/i1VYDAVu3qg/s1600-h/3245498261_093141423b3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="3245498261_093141423b" border="0" alt="3245498261_093141423b" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IW2o4F7zSJQ/Tg3yBQ-elPI/AAAAAAAACds/WAaRbDNaX6I/3245498261_093141423b_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="253" /></a> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahreido/">*Photo credit</a> <br /></p> <p>Well, despite that lovely black-and-white vision of the world, I now watch the occasional TV series. Why? From a writer's perspective, there are numerous reasons to indulge in this visual form of storytelling: <a name='more'></a> <br /> <br />1. Keep up with what's current—in fashion, language, hot topics, humor...the list could go on. If you're writing fiction that occurs in the present, you need to keep abreast of current trends. <br /> <br />2. Character. Although I'm a great fan of people watching for helping to create my characters, analysis of characters in a movie or TV show lets you see how the writer/actor creates a clear, complex character with relatively few details. Next time you watch a movie, pick a character to analyze. What is that character's archetype? What details does the filmmaker provide that lead you to that interpretation? It may surprise you how little information the actor and director use to create an incredibly clear character portrait. That's what we want to do—what we <em>need</em> to do—when writing fiction. <br /> <br />3. Plot structure. I love watching the series Castle, in which a mystery novelist (the magnificent Roger Fillion) partners with a NYC homicide detective inspire his writing—and the more I watch, the more I start to see patterns in the structure of the episodes. The first suspect is never the bad guy...except when the director decides to stand the plot on its head. The second suspect will seem to have insurmountable evidence stacked against him—until a clever plot twist reveals that he, too, is innocent. Richard Castle will always face some sort of dilemma on the home front, which parallels and provide insight into the main story line. Analysis of movies and TV episodes can give you ideas to strengthen your own story line. <br /> <br />4. Tension. I'm surprised at the ways actors and directors evoke tension on the screen. It's never the big disasters that get me—a mushroom cloud, although devastating and frightening, is impersonal until you show its impact on the individual. On the other hand, one person reading a message—a bad report—might move me to tears. As you watch, learn to identify the ways directors build tension. Back at your desk, experiment with their techniques in your writing. <br /> <br />5. Broaden your idea pool. As writers, everything we see, read, watch, or imagine has the potential to inspire our writing. When I'm stuck with a plot conundrum, reading a novel will often provide the needed spark to get me going again. When a character refuses to cooperate on the page, watching a similar character on the screen can help me figure out what isn't working. </p> <p>6. Theme. The best shows, in my opinion, are those that explore fundamental truths about the human condition. Theme seems like a tricky and nebulous concept, but pay attention to the next show you watch: at some point, one of the characters will probably state the episode’s theme outright. The pared-down context of a TV episode is a great place to identify theme and how the writer explores it in the course of the story.  <br /> <br />TV and movies can be brain-numbing, if you approach them mindlessly; they can also give you a glimpse into how other creatives solved problems of plot, setting, pacing, and character. Try enjoying story in a different sort of format. You might be surprised by the results!</p> <p><strong><font color="#000080">Do you have a favorite TV series? What makes it “work” for you?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-19295257438506358402011-06-22T09:23:00.000-07:002011-06-22T09:23:03.093-07:00The Bad Boy: Girls Really DO Like Them Best<p>The “bad boy” has a long-standing place in YA literature. He’s mysterious, alluring, dangerous, sexy—and it’s deliciously thrilling to experience the vicarious thrill of a heroine falling for him, whether it’s a good idea or not.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8IWsTv47_Bk/TgDGG0v8gsI/AAAAAAAACdY/5JGN1oPFzOM/s1600-h/lel4nd23.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="lel4nd-2" border="0" alt="lel4nd-2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JcmBud8M7rs/TgDGHWPuMiI/AAAAAAAACdc/JmU7z9_fgAM/lel4nd2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="253" /></a> </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lel4nd/">*Photo credit</a></em></p> <p>But I’ve always thought that, in real life, women wouldn’t find the “bad boy” image quite as appealing. It turns out I’m wrong.</p> <p>A new study from the University of British Columbia suggests that women find happy guys less sexually attractive than either moody or arrogant men. From the <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/uobc-hgf052011.php">press release:</a></p> <p><font color="#000080">In a series of studies, more than 1,000 adult participants rated the sexual attractiveness of hundreds of images of the opposite sex engaged in universal displays of happiness (broad smiles), pride (raised heads, puffed-up chests) and shame (lowered heads, averted eyes).</font></p> <a name='more'></a> <p><font color="#000080">The study found that women were least attracted to smiling, happy men, preferring those who looked proud and powerful or moody and ashamed. In contrast, male participants were most sexually attracted to women who looked happy, and least attracted to women who appeared proud and confident.</font></p> <p>I’ve wrestled with creation of two different “bad boy” characters in my writing. In one case, I wanted him to be a smooth-talker who wins the girl, but is a jerk underneath; in the other, I wanted the guy to seem street-smart and untrustworthy, but be gradually revealed as a sweetheart. I want to create characters who are romantic—maybe even a little dangerous—but also real. I DON’T want to glamorize a stereotype, when real life bad boys aren’t necessary good relationship material…but reading about them can be fun.</p> <p><strong><font color="#000080">What do you think? Do you write about the bad boy character? Is “bad boy” a veneer or a true-to-the-core description of your character?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-12846966899345029652011-06-20T05:50:00.000-07:002011-06-20T05:50:00.334-07:00The Writing Life: Using the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly<p>If you’ve stopped by my blog lately, you’ve probably noticed that things have been a bit quiet. Between a sick kiddo and an exceptionally large amount of freelance work, my blogging time has been sadly limited. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-umO6h3_nPyI/Tf0P02Ykp9I/AAAAAAAACdA/E2_DI8B7lqE/s1600-h/Lel4nd%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lel4nd" border="0" alt="Lel4nd" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-i7NcSeEegd8/Tf0QCBjeqMI/AAAAAAAACdE/gOBlR1IB3tQ/Lel4nd_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="247" /></a> </p> <p>I’ve also had little time to write—but I’ve been so busy "living life” that without realizing it, I’ve filled up with ideas and inspiration that are now itching to emerge on the page. I’ve been collecting bits and pieces over the past weeks: characters, settings, conversations, emotions and how I experienced them physically. I feel like my creative pond has been restocked, even though I wouldn’t have expected a time of stress and busy-ness to recharge or refresh my muse.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p><a href="http://jodyhedlund.com/">Jody Hedlund</a> has a fantastic post where she discusses the fact that life—including the tough parts—enriches our writing: <a href="http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-reap-benefits-from-painful.html">How to Reap Benefits From the Painful Moments of Life</a>. Here’s a taste:</p> <p><font color="#800000"><strong>Keep life in perspective.</strong> It’s short. We don’t have forever. Remember the things that matter most, especially when we’re discouraged by rejections, low sales, or stinging reviews.</font></p> <p><font color="#800000">I know one of my writing strengths is that I’m a passionate person. I’m passionate about life, about cats, about baby squirrels, about my family, about <em>many</em> things. I feel things deeply, which comes with the <em>deeper </em>heartaches but ultimately<em> higher</em> highs.</font></p> <p> <br /><font color="#800000">Hopefully, the more passionately we feel things, the more passionately we can live out the time we have on earth, and the more life we can bring into the stories we write.</font></p> <p> <br /><font color="#800000">I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: <strong>When we write, we pour out our hearts and souls; when we live, we fill our hearts back up.</strong></font></p> <p>Sometimes it’s easy to dismiss the painful or stressful or too-hectic parts of our lives as obstacles to writing. I find it incredibly encouraging to remember that<em> everything</em> I experience enriches my words. <em>Everything</em> informs the stories, characters, settings, and plots that I create. Even the crazier parts of life.</p> <p><strong><font color="#000080">What about you? Are there parts of your life that you feel <em>don’t</em> enrich your writing? Or do you feel like everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly—enriches the stories you have to tell?</font></strong></p> <p><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lel4nd/">Lel4nd</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-45782926706074878732011-06-17T08:59:00.001-07:002011-06-17T08:59:14.158-07:00The Writer’s Survival Mode<p><a href="http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/">Kelly James-Enger</a> has a rule for never missing a freelance writing deadline: <a href="http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-ive-never-missed-deadline-and-how.html">she never, ever, ever accepts more work than she can handle</a>. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W0Dr5JqURhw/Tft5yvMU64I/AAAAAAAACc4/664AxAw6SP8/s1600-h/P9301949%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P9301949" border="0" alt="P9301949" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7bAF2rPGwdM/Tft50SyRnSI/AAAAAAAACc8/bLKWCO6XJZk/P9301949_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="369" height="278" /></a> </p> <p>So far, that's seldom been an issue for me. I mean, I stay plenty busy, but most of the mix consists of my own, more flexible projects—books, queries, article ideas, reading (mustn’t forget the reading pile). Not so at the moment. Right now, I'm swamped. I’ve had a steady stream of freelance work this year plus a host of unexpected family-related things, and (like a true freelancer who is dependent on work for bread), darned if I'm going to ask for anyone to cover my freelance projects unless I <em>can't</em> complete them. </p> <p>Except that burnout ain't such a great thing, either. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I like to think of myself as having a “Survival Mode”, where I prioritize resources and tasks and shut off power to all nonessential systems like laundry and cleaning, and even, sometimes, writing, exercise, self-care, and other things important for mental and physical health. It works in the short term, but not on a long-term basis. I am very, very, very happy to report that although I’m still busy, I’m back to writing. It feels like waking up. </p> <p>All this makes me wonder: what do other freelancers do when life descends and they can't meet a deadline? Even for the most-organized, it has to happen sometimes. </p> <p><strong><font color="#004080">Has this happened to you? Do you have a “Survival Mode” for times when you feel overwhelmed? Does Survival Mode backfire if it goes on too long?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-68948267039924832432011-05-25T07:25:00.001-07:002011-05-25T07:25:43.452-07:00Finals! (and Other Teenage Troubles)<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Td0RYaLvkOI/AAAAAAAACcc/vjslHtsBvEk/s1600-h/bookworm%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bookworm" border="0" alt="bookworm" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Td0RY3sa3_I/AAAAAAAACcg/jDAUHc7w_vk/bookworm_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>FINALS. They have descended on our kids—and, therefore, on the entire household, a week of exams preceded by what seems like two months of building stress, final projects, deadlines, and kids with too little sleep. It brings back memories of my own high school career—the intense emotions of being a teenager coupled with the stress that comes with knowing that what I did <em>mattered</em>, like, for the rest of my life. Teens are in that awkward middle place where they want to be in charge of their own lives—and yet, at the same time, they don’t. Being in charge is scary. Being grown-up is scary. The stakes are starting to get higher.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I often wonder if today’s teens face a more difficult transition than I did. In today’s world, you don’t just take your SATs; you have to take a class first in order to be competitive. You don’t just deal with friends and classmates (and bullies) face-to-face; you also deal with them online, on Facebook, MySpace, blogs, and email. You don’t participate in activities and sports solely for enjoyment; you pack your schedule to overflowing to round out your college apps. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Td0RZF6N1BI/AAAAAAAACck/nH3h-QwKdrk/s1600-h/grads%5B14%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="grads" border="0" alt="grads" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Td0RZnt36YI/AAAAAAAACco/ozMNOy1FClg/grads_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="210" /></a></p> <p>But beneath all the surface specifics, I also wonder if the difference between being a teen today and being one ten, twenty, thirty years ago is smaller than it appears—because even if the world has changed, people haven’t. </p> <p>Here’s what I mean: have you ever been super stressed out? Way too many appointments, meetings, and after-school activities to juggle, maybe, or a rush of work deadlines just before a big trip coupled with sick kids, or…fill in the blanks with your own overload experiences? During the stress experience, the cause (whatever it is) can seem huge and overwhelming. </p> <p>But fast forward to another memory, one that goes beyond ordinary stress—a death in the family, a friend in the hospital, a cross-country move, a wedding. I don’t know about you, but in my experience, when life hits me with the Big Stuff, all the day-to-day stressors fade into the background. The house is a disaster, the lawn needs to be mowed, the refrigerator is empty, the bills unpaid—and those don’t even register on my stress-o-meter, because they really aren’t that important in the big picture of life. When the Big Stuff resolves, I always get a few happy weeks when I remember that all the stressful details of life aren’t actually nearly as big a deal as I usually make of them. </p> <p>That’s why I wonder if being a teen today is, ultimately, very much like it was twenty years ago, or even a hundred years ago. The <em>things</em> we stress about change; the stress experience does not. The experiences of uncertainty, fear, confusion, first love, bullying, dealing with parents, and figuring out who you are—those stay the same. And that’s why I write for them—to explore those experiences and, hopefully, help them to make sense.</p> <p><strong><font color="#000080">What do you think: is being a teen today more difficult than when you were a kid? Is the pressure more intense, or just different?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-38962043491659177212011-05-20T01:10:00.001-07:002011-05-20T01:10:36.906-07:00People-Watching with Purpose: Twenty Tips<p>I’m a huge fan of people-watching. The more we watch, listen to, and try to understand real people, the better we’re able to get inside the heads of our characters.  </p> <p><img style="margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline" align="left" src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/geofflove/1.1248657838.mr-potato-head.jpg" width="215" height="322" /></p> <p>I wrote earlier this week about the <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/05/mix-and-match-characters.html">mix-and-match art of character creation</a> and how you can collect details from friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, and strangers. Once you’ve collected a nice selection of show-stopping specifics, you can play around with them the way you might play around with a Mr. Potato Head, popping in different eyes, glasses, financial crises, psychological profiles, crazy relatives, and so on. </p> <p>People-watching can yield other types of inspiration as well. It’s a fantastic way to get past first draft plot snags and a rich source of ideas for complications and surprises and…well, you get the idea.</p> <p>The next time you need to replenish your pool of creative ideas, take yourself someplace with people, grab a latte, and enjoy some quality time with your idea notebook. Here’s a list of people-watching possibilities to get you started—use these as a jumping-off point, if you’d like, but above all pursue the details that inspire. Enjoy!</p> <p><strong><font color="#800000">Twenty People-Watching Tips</font></strong></p> <a name='more'></a> <ol> <li>Choose a location your character would normally frequent and observe the people there—or choose a location your character <em>wouldn’t </em>normally frequent and observe. </li> <li>Choose a crowded location for your people watching foray: a busy shopping mall, a fairground, a festival, a city street...or pick an isolated spot away from crowds and craziness. </li> <li>Choose a noisy location, like a concert or McDonald’s play place…or pick a spot that’s quiet. How does the noise level affect different individuals?</li> <li>Take a ride: people-watch on a bus or train. </li> <li>Look for people who look out of place. What is it that makes them stand out? Their physical appearance—cleanliness, type of clothes, age, gender, ethnicity? Or is it something more subtle, like the way they stand or fidget or look around? Capture the details.</li> <li>Look for people who fit in. Why do they “fit”?</li> <li>Identify emotions: pay attention to nuances of facial expression and body posture. </li> <li>Apply a stereotype: using your first impressions, identify people who (at first glance) fit stereotypes such as ditz, brain, druggie, geek, theater lover, popular kid, overbearing father, grumpy teacher, harried mother. </li> <li>Got some stereotypes in your line of sight? Good. Now identify what physical traits made you jump to the stereotypic interpretations.</li> <li>Flip the stereotypes: imagine how the real person might be completely different from the stereotype you just assigned. Look for surprises and contradictions.</li> <li>List what different people are doing. Interpret their actions, assigning both an obvious motive—he’s parking the car so he can go grocery shopping—and a less obvious motive—he’s parking the car because he’s evading the police.</li> <li>Now assign the most outrageous motives you can imagine.</li> <li>Imagine what criminal act each person could commit. What would drive them to that act?</li> <li>Search for relationships: discover how people relate to each other. What gives away peoples’ connections?</li> <li>Search for tensions. What relationships might be wearing thin? What are the signs?</li> <li>Search for happy interactions. What are the signs? </li> <li>Eavesdrop on arguments. What body language goes with it? Do they try to disguise the disagreement?</li> <li>Write down what people are saying: turns of speech, dialect, word choice, unusual conversation topics. </li> <li>Notice physical characteristics of voice: high, low, throaty, too loud. Take notes on any that inspire.</li> <li>Observe how different people interact with their environment. What bothers them? What do they enjoy? How much do they try to control the world around them?</li> </ol> <p><strong><font color="#800000">I’m sure you have some creativity-inspiring questions to add. I’d love to hear them!</font></strong></p> <p>~Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-41507540508235245662011-05-15T23:48:00.001-07:002011-05-15T23:48:57.794-07:00Mix-and-Match Characters<p><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" align="right" src="http://api.topthatpublishing.com/mobile/mixedupcreatures/images/gallery/c9db197c9a484b57c901bf7af9e22f92.jpg" width="213" height="320" />I played with a cool “puzzle” as a kid: three blocks stacked on top of one another, with a rod threaded through them so they can rotate independently. The result is a 3-cube stack with a different picture on each of the four sides. The top third of each image shows a head, the middle third a body, and the bottom pictures the legs and feet. </p> <p>Line up the images, and you have four simple characters: for ex., a cartoon tiger, alligator, hippo, and monkey. You can also twist the blocks to connect the monkey body to the hippo head and alligator legs, or connect the alligator body to a tiger’s tail and a monkey’s head. (Now, of course, this puzzle is available as a smart phone <a href="http://www.topthatpublishing.com/things-to-do/mobile-apps/mixed-up-animals">app</a>….)</p> <p>Sometimes I think character creation works the same way: you borrow the geeky appearance of one person, add in the always-in-motion high energy of another, mix in a quirky turn of speech you overheard in the elevator and the girl-next-door’s fluorescent pink high tops…and pretty soon you’ve pieced together your protagonist.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Okay, maybe it’s not so simple, but the principle is valid: assuming that each character you create is a collage of people you’ve met, observed, heard about, or read about—with liberal application of exaggeration and creative interpretation—you can improve your character-creating ability by increasing the number of “puzzle pieces” you can choose from. </p> <p>This is why people-watching is such a great skill to develop—the real world offers an endless supply of character inspiration that can be much stranger than fiction. Here are some categories of character details you can collect for your inspiration file:</p> <ul> <li><strong><font color="#008000">Appearance. </font></strong>Go beyond standard eye color, hair color, height and weight to more memorable details—look for unusual features and play with unusual comparisons to create the image you want. “Skin the color of ditch water”, for instance, is a heck of a lot more interesting than “brown”. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008000">Carriage.</font></strong> I like to study the kids in our local orchestras to see how they sit, stand, and move. One teen boy has dark hair that falls past his nose; during a concert, he looks half-wild as his hair whips around his face. Some kids slump; some sit at the edges of their seats; some slouch as if embarrassed about their heights. Pay attention both to how people carry themselves and what that reveals about their characters. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008000">What they carry. </font></strong>This can say tons about a person—and spark a story or three along the way. I’m still wondering about the guy I saw riding a motorcycle with an upright vacuum cleaner strapped to his back…. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008000">How they speak.</font></strong> Do your characters tend to all sound the same? This is a great way to collect interesting expressions and ways of speaking. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008000">Personality. </font></strong>Pay attention to the nuances—people aren’t stereotypes, and the most interesting details are often the most surprising. Search out the contradictions. </li> </ul> <p>I’ll write more about people-watching on Wednesday. Meanwhile, I’d love to hear from you: <strong><font color="#800000">Where do you get inspiration for your characters?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-44098165605479315472011-05-11T01:11:00.001-07:002011-05-11T01:11:03.914-07:00Stylish Blogger Award!<p>A nice surprise awaited me on Monday—my first-ever blog award, gifted to me by Mel Chelsey over at <a href="http://caledonialass.blogspot.com/">Writings, Musings and Other Such Nonsense</a>. I’m not sure my blog is “stylish”, exactly, but hey! I’ll take it!</p> <p align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eVEeUZJV9qQuCPxLIDQp0vCHn9vxD8iiwcKlD3hugXVhZJK04cjN1y0FIH8DLjE__mpsqpiGNdnsA8Vac6XZcs4AqcgdipdRFXI24wyjcyYUydKIzPXzYOEam3606rS92qzAIcU065fb/s320/blog_award%252C_stylish.jpg" width="196" height="196" /></p> <p>The rules seem to be 1) I get to pass this award along to five other bloggers, and 2) I need to tell you seven random things about myself. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p><strong><font color="#000080">Random Things…</font></strong></p> <ol> <li>After years of not owning a television, I’ve been lured into watching a few series via Hulu and Netflix. Purely for writerly research, of course (cough, cough…) </li> <li>I love to sing. I mean, really <em>really</em> love to sing. Certain tight harmonies—or when a chord resolves—makes something unknot inside me, this physical shift that makes me happy and teary all at once. (Hmm, could this be why music plays such a role in my fiction?) </li> <li>I grew up on a farm and spent most of my life living in the country until we moved into town about eight years ago so kids would be closer to school…and our “town” house still doesn’t feel like home. I’m looking forward to moving back to the mountains! </li> <li><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TcpElObA_RI/AAAAAAAACb0/ctWYdrCInqQ/s1600-h/parkour2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="parkour2" border="0" alt="parkour2" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TcpEls5ayiI/AAAAAAAACb4/zff84PQeuNU/parkour2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a>I want to learn parkour.* </li> <li>I love the perfume <em>Red</em>. Unfortunately, it does not love me. When my sweetheart bought me a bottle for my birthday (also Valentine’s Day), I sprayed it on and seconds later had hives swelling my eyes shut…just before leaving for our romantic evening out :). </li> <li>I’m a <em>Firefly</em> fanatic. And a Joss Whedon fanatic. And I love Nathan Fillion, too, and think <em>Castle</em> is one of the Best Shows Ever. </li> <li>My favorite dessert is Italian Cream Cake—made from scratch, with lotsa butter and pecans and cream cheese frosting. It’s a pain to make, but wow, it’s delish. </li> </ol> <p>Now to pass on the award…this was difficult, because I’ve been finding so many terrific blogs lately! Oh, the agony of decisions! Here are my choices, though. Please check out these fantastic writing blogs:</p> <ol> <li>Kelly James-Enger at <a href="http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/">Dollars and Deadlines</a>, a great resource for anyone who freelances, particularly those who write nonfiction </li> <li>Andrea Mack at <a href="http://andrea-mack.blogspot.com/">That’s Another Story</a>, where you can find lots of information for writing middle grade fiction </li> <li>Jill Kemerer of <a href="http://jillkemerer.blogspot.com/">Jill Kemerer, Exiting Safe, Chasing Fantastic</a><em>, </em>for writing information and inspiration </li> <li>Rachael Harrie of <a href="http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com/">Rache Writes</a> for everything you want to know about writers’ platforms</li> <li>Patrick at <a href="http://artistsroad.wordpress.com/">The Artist’s Road</a> for interviews, articles, and thoughts on creativity and art </li> </ol> <p><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcogomes/">Marco Gomes</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-3833124620479051542011-05-09T19:29:00.001-07:002011-05-09T19:29:25.180-07:00When Characters Lie: Eight Questions to Ask<p>Do your characters lie? Lies can lead to additional untruths, misunderstandings, problems that grow bigger each time the character tries to solve things—in other words, lies are a terrific way to build story conflict.</p> <p>Having your character lie is a terrific plot device—but one that can backfire if you aren’t careful.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Tcii_YG3qSI/AAAAAAAACbk/hFexJzl3ik0/s1600-h/nealcaffrey%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="nealcaffrey" border="0" alt="nealcaffrey" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TcijAPI8pbI/AAAAAAAACbo/z0WfF0JPm10/nealcaffrey_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Here’s what I mean. In the TV series <em>White Collar</em>, con-man and FBI “consultant” Neal Caffrey tells the occasional untruth. You’d expect as much from a con-man, but the funny thing is that he’s more likely to get what he wants through charm and wit than by lying; and when he has something to hide, he’s more likely to do so by keeping his mouth shut than by concocting an explanation. When he does lie, it’s always for a good reason: to protect someone, to accomplish a purpose that can’t be accomplished otherwise, to hide information from someone he doesn’t trust.</p> <p>The result? Neal may be a con-man, forger, thief, and professional smooth-talker, but he makes a decent, loyal, and (mostly) trustworthy friend.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TcijAZi46iI/AAAAAAAACbs/I5-LlLqEy-4/s1600-h/Chuck-season3-WIDE%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Chuck-season3-WIDE" border="0" alt="Chuck-season3-WIDE" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TcijA9WyNJI/AAAAAAAACbw/jeMlZHDn1Oc/Chuck-season3-WIDE_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="162" /></a> In another of my favorite TV series, <em>Chuck</em>, our hero is loveable in oh-so-many ways…but as an unlikely spy, he ends up in the position of lying to friends and family on more than one occasion. Sometimes it works. Sometimes his lies create great conflict and amusing situations. But sometimes, (sorry, fellow Chuck fans) I want to give him a good shake—not because he lies, but because he lies when he doesn’t have to do so, to the people he should be honest with. </p> <p>The first time he does this, the viewer thinks he’s making a bad choice. The second time, we wonder what he’s thinking. The third…well, I stopped watching the series at that point.</p> <p>Lies are an important storytelling tool, but make sure to use them in a way that doesn’t annoy your reader or make them dislike your character. Next time your character wants to embellish the truth, consider these questions to keep your story on track: </p> <ol> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Does your character lie often?</font></strong> Dishonesty doesn’t just make other characters distrust your hero—it can make the reader distrust (or worse, dislike) your hero as well. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Does the lie have a purpose? </font></strong>On the other hand, if your character lies to protect someone else, to keep an important secret, or because he thinks it’s the best thing to do, this can spark terrific inner conflict. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Does the lie have a purpose for plot or character? </font></strong>Like every story event, a lie needs to forward the plot or reveal something about character—or, even better, do both. What does the lie do for your story? </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Has your character lied in this sort of situation before? If so, did it make things better? </font></strong>If a lie (or theft or cheating or…you get the idea) works once—if it gives the character a short cut solution to her problem without repercussions—then she’ll be tempted to try it again. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">…or did the lie make things worse?</font></strong> Don’t insult your reader’s intelligence by letting your character make the same mistake over and over—if a lie doesn’t work the first time, he better think twice before setting the same type of situation in motion again. He may decide to lie again, but he’ll remember his previous failure and perhaps try a different approach. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Does the lie lead to more lies? </font></strong>We’ve all seen it happen: one “little” lie leads to another, which leads to another, and so on, until the character is mired in a web of untruths. This can be a great way to complicate life for your character. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">What are the consequences for discovery?</font></strong> Creating clear consequences for the lie raises the story’s stakes. Discovery might mean failing a class, losing a friendship, losing respect, getting kicked off the soccer team, losing a job. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">What would bring your character to ‘fess up?</font></strong> Dishonesty may make your character less likeable, but if your heroine realizes the error of her ways—or decides to do the right thing, or decides her lie is hurting someone—and decides to tell the truth, she wins our respect. A moment of truth can be a great place for your character to show strength and growth. </li> </ol> <p><strong><font color="#000080">What characters have you seen lie? Did it work or did it flop?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-25718128576727012442011-05-04T06:11:00.000-07:002011-05-04T06:11:00.115-07:00How Plot Development Is Like Navigating a Maze<p>It struck me, as I was working my way through my latest first draft, that plot development is very much like navigating a maze…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbsbmK8_sPI/AAAAAAAACa0/hb07M8BeIy4/s1600-h/maze2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="maze2" border="0" alt="maze2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Tbsbmo3II5I/AAAAAAAACa4/8TdsMuhOrJE/maze2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="287" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mecookie/">Mecookie</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> <p>…and the similarities give some insight into how to tackle a tricky plot problem. </p> <ul> <li><strong><font color="#800000">A methodical approach can work—but sometimes you just have to go for it. </font></strong>As an avid “plotter,” I usually know in advance the course I want my book to take. There are moments, though, when the muse tugs me off the beaten track. I always follow! </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Sometimes you have to go down dead ends. </font></strong>No matter how well you’ve planned your route, sometimes the only way to know a particular path leads to a dead end is to go there…and sometimes the only way to know a scene doesn’t fit is to write it. Those efforts aren’t wasted: now you know where *not* to go! </li> </ul> <a name='more'></a> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbsbnAnOBSI/AAAAAAAACa8/zk0MJYstJp4/s1600-h/maze%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="maze" border="0" alt="maze" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Tbsbni0fFmI/AAAAAAAACbA/p9T7FIlulQE/maze_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="389" height="261" /></a> </p> <ul> <li><strong><font color="#800000">A view from above helps—sometimes you need to get the big picture to figure out where to go next. </font></strong>Have you ever explored a corn maze? They often have a tower or raised platform somewhere near the middle, where you can look out over the whole thing, see where you’ve been, and see where you have to go. Sometimes I need to do the same thing with my book, spreading out plot points on my floor or <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/02/seven-strategies-to-keep-momentum-when.html#more">taping them to my wall</a>. It helps! </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">If you take the most direct, most obvious route from point A to point B, you miss surprises along the way.</font></strong> Whether you’re writing a book or exploring a corn maze, the joy is in the journey. Arriving at the finish line isn’t the point. That’s why corn mazes usually contain surprise “treasures” along the way. A dead end might not take you closer to the end, but it may lead you to a farting outhouse or a tower for a birds’ eye view. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Sometimes it’s easier to figure out the best path by starting at the end and working your way backward.</font></strong> This might be cheating when working a maze, but it works—for mazes and for plots. Can’t find your way forward? Start at the end of the story and consider what needs to happen for you to get there. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">The better you know every possible twist and turn—including the dead ends and loops—the better you can map out the final route you want to take. </font></strong>I spend a lot of time exploring plot dead-ends and writing scenes that won’t make the final cut; it’s nice to know that time isn’t wasted.  </li> </ul> <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Whether you’re a “plotter” or a “pantster,” there are times when you need to figure out how to get past a tricky plot knot. What approaches do you find helpful?</font></strong></p> <p>:-) Cheryl </p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-74286294735709769292011-05-02T05:36:00.000-07:002011-05-02T05:36:00.186-07:00Up Your (Story) Game: Seven Tips<p>I wrote last week about <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/04/games-in-boys-books.html">games in middle grade fiction</a>—especially in books that appeal to boy readers. Great, you may be thinking, but how do I do that? </p> <p>If you’re like me, maybe you weren’t the most athletic kid in the PE class…maybe you were more likely to spend your spare time with your nose in a book than kicking around a soccer ball...</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbgqPhGo4yI/AAAAAAAACas/pBCWr-eO6OM/s1600-h/bookworm3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bookworm" border="0" alt="bookworm" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbgqQI1DBdI/AAAAAAAACaw/g8d-T41UtPU/bookworm_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="383" height="288" /></a><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/434pics/">kainr</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em> </p> <p>But if you write for young readers, you don’t want to limit yourself to fellow geeks and bookworms (much as we love them). And that means that many of the kids in your intended audience will love games: sports, contests, puzzles, challenges, games of all forms and shapes and sizes. Actually, even geeks and bookworms love games—different ones, maybe, but still games. So why not consider whether a game might play a role in your next project? For instance, a game can…</p> <a name='more'></a> <ol> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Illustrate a character’s strength or weakness. </font></strong>Without Quidditch, Harry wouldn’t have nearly as many opportunities to to shine. Quidditch is also where Harry gets to show off his abilities on a broomstick—an essential skill later in the book. Sometimes a game can be the perfect place for your character to excel when he’s failing everywhere else. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Advance your plot.</font></strong> J. K. Rowling also uses Quidditch as the backdrop for multiple major plot points. In the first book, Quidditch is the setting for one of the first attacks on Harry—revealing both that someone is out to get him and throwing out Snape as the red herring. Later, Quidditch is the vehicle that brings the entire wizarding community together in one place. You can also use an ongoing challenge to unfold a secondary plot that mirrors your main story. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Provide a familiar forum in which to endanger your character. </font></strong>Your readers understand the idea of games and competition. They also understand that a “game” can provide opportunity for physical intimidation; actions that wouldn’t be tolerated on the playground are easily dismissed on the playing field.  </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Subject your hero to public humiliation. </font></strong>When a game is public—and especially when others are counting on the character to help them reach victory—the opportunities for failure and humiliation multiply. You can up the stakes by making your character’s challenge public—and a game is one vehicle with which to do so. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Depict unique features of your world. </font></strong>When your story takes place in unfamiliar territory—whether that means 18th century England, a fantasy setting with werewolves, or modern day Peru—you need to take every opportunity for world-building. Games can reflect a culture’s wealth, beliefs, and priorities. For instance, in <em><a href="http://www.obrien.ie/author.cfm?authorid=244">Epic</a>, </em>an action-packed novel by <a href="http://conorkostick.blogspot.com/">Conor Kostick</a>, members of a peace-loving society use a massively multiplayer online computer game for conflict resolution. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Create character depth. </font></strong>When you think of your main character’s interests and abilities, is there an area where he can excel? An area where he might, willingly or unwillingly, compete? Just as you might give your character a hobby, you can give him a competitive arena that he cares about. </li> <li><strong><font color="#800000">Create puzzles for your character to solve. </font></strong>In <em>Chasing Vermeer, </em>author <a href="http://www.blueballiettbooks.com/">Blue Balliett</a> presents her characters with puzzles and pentominos (mathematical puzzle pieces) on their quest to recover a missing painting. And, of course, Harry, Ron, and Hermione each have to overcome a challenge during the climax of <em>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone</em>. Ron triumphs in the chess game; Hermione solves a logic puzzle; and Harry races his broomstick to capture the needed key. Games and related challenges can add creative plot twists and turns to your story. </li> </ol> <p><strong><font color="#0000a0">If you have more ideas about how to use a game to further story, additional examples, or inspiration to share, I’d love to hear from you!</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-81626353168190100112011-04-29T07:24:00.000-07:002011-04-29T07:24:01.283-07:00Using Archetypes to Create Characters<p>It’s been on my list for a while to write a post about character archetypes and how they can inspire your writing…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbeAgWbCUXI/AAAAAAAACaM/_3nRtl6mnJI/s1600-h/writersblock%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Writer’s Block" border="0" alt="Writer’s Block" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbeAg9owbnI/AAAAAAAACaQ/9F8fkFtf-7g/writersblock_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="370" height="246" /></a> </p> <p>…but Mark Nichol over at <a href="http://www.dailywritingtips.com/">DailyWritingTips</a> has such a comprehensive <a href="http://www.dailywritingtips.com/use-archetypes-to-create-literary-characters/">post about character archetypes</a>—including the use of horoscope signs, Jungian psychology, Shakespeare characters, and the “personality enneagram” for character inspiration that instead of writing my own post, I’m going to point you over there. </p> <p>Here’s a taste:</p> <p><font color="#000080">In essence, any literary character is drawn from one or more archetypes. An archetype is basically the pattern for a character, associated with a trait or a concept. Archetypes are most easily recognized in genre fiction — science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller — but they are applicable to any fiction, whether of high or low literary aspiration. The key is to select one or more archetypes as just the first step in character building.</font></p> <p><font color="#000080">But there are many types of archetypes from various belief systems and other sources. Try, for example, associating a character with one of the figures from the Chinese zodiac — boar, dog, dragon, horse, goat, monkey, ox, rabbit, rat, rooster, snake, and tiger — each of which is endowed with a complex array of both positive and negative traits….</font></p> <p>See? Don’t you have to go read the rest?</p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p>:-) Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-30281515061122773592011-04-27T06:14:00.000-07:002011-04-27T06:14:00.385-07:00Games in Boys’ Books<p>I’m racing forward with the first draft of my latest middle grade fantasy…and learning things left and right as I go. Is it just me, or do other writers find the writing process a terrific teacher? Since I’m writing middle grade fiction right now, you all get to hear about my middle grade fiction insights <grin>.</p> <p align="center"><font color="#008040"><strong>****DRUMROLL….Here it comes….BOYS LOVE GAMES!****</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbeKUf0HOuI/AAAAAAAACaU/vo7u48U0eEI/s1600-h/boy%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="boy" border="0" alt="boy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TbeKU-q83tI/AAAAAAAACaY/uSrKclZfPc0/boy_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="311" /></a><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/way2go/">Jerry</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> <p>Okay, maybe it’s not *that* revolutionary an idea, but I think it’s worth keeping in mind if you write middle grade stories. Games can be a great way to add action, explore theme, develop character, and engage the ever-elusive boy reader.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Games feature prominently in several great books for middle school students. </p> <ul> <li>In the Harry Potter series, the sport of Quidditch provides a backdrop against which Harry is challenged both mentally and physically and, ultimately, triumphs. J.K. Rowling uses the Quidditch pitch as a place to develop characters, ramp up conflict, and reveal key plot points, all woven in with the action and tension of a game. </li> <li>In <em>Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief</em>,  Rick Riordan unfolds plot and develops character via a game of capture-the-flag—fought with real swords. </li> <li><em>Hunger Games</em> revolves around a game gone horribly wrong—a “game” that is a life-and-death challenge for our heroine, but because it’s a game, is filled with an unending stream of creative challenges. </li> <li><em>Ender’s Game </em>(not really a middle grade book, but still read by many middle schoolers) prominently features a teaching “game” that—SPOILER ALERT—turns out not to be a game at all. </li> </ul> <p>Games don’t fit into every story, but a tool this powerful deserves consideration. I’ll write more about how to use games on Monday. Meanwhile, are you wondering if I put a game in my book? You bet!</p> <p><strong><font color="#004080">What about you: Do you incorporate games, sports, or other types of play into your writing? If so, why?</font></strong></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-62620497454625093432011-04-25T06:46:00.000-07:002011-04-25T06:46:00.731-07:00Writing from Your Character’s Point of View: 5 Guidelines<p>In my current work-in-progress, I’m writing from the POV of a 12-year-old boy. <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/04/finding-your-voice-seven-tips.html">As I wrote earlier</a>, finding his voice has been a challenge! And since I’m writing in first person, I have to stay in that voice ALL THE TIME—when he speaks, <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/04/writing-your-characters-thoughts.html">when he thinks</a>, even in the details I include when describing setting and other characters. </p> <p align="center"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="squirrel" border="0" alt="squirrel" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/Ta7_2tXz_PI/AAAAAAAACQc/ElBVb7loYJE/squirrel_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="356" /><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/exfordy/">exfordy</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> <p>Despite my love of writing flowery description, 12-year-old Elliot probably won’t think about the way light reflects golden from the many-paned window, and even he does happen to notice flowers growing alongside the path, he certainly won’t know that they’re tiger lilies unless I’ve already shown him to have a love of horticulture. (He doesn’t. He loves squirrels.)</p> <p>I never get voice perfect on a first draft, but keeping the following guidelines in mind can help me get closer. On a rewrite, these guidelines help me analyze whether the voice is consistent and believable—or whether it strays into author-speak. </p> <p><strong><font color="#008080">Five Guidelines for Writing Character’s POV</font></strong></p> <a name='more'></a> <ol> <li><strong><font color="#008080">What does your character TYPE notice?</font> </strong>A typical 12-year-old’s attention can be captured by friends, games, food, and, occasionally, school. On the other hand, he probably won’t notice his sister’s new hairstyle, the wrinkles on his t-shirt, or the school books scattered across the living room floor. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008080">What does your SPECIFIC character notice—what sets him apart? </font></strong>One way to bring setting detail into your writing without sacrificing voice is to explore the things that will interest your character. For instance, my 12-year-old, squirrel-loving protagonist notices trees and the creatures that live in them. He could point out a squirrel nest and would know when a pair of starlings were harrying a squirrel. This sort of detail brings the scene to life as well as providing insight into your character. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008080">How do your character’s opinions reflect in his observations?</font></strong> Description from a character’s POV is a great way to show attitude and bias. Does he like his math teacher? If so, he’s more likely to notice pleasant details like a smile, twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks. If he hates the teacher, he’s more likely to notice negative details—greasy hair, a lined face, boots that look like they could break fingers. Even a neutral detail—the teacher’s habit of humming under his breath—can be described as endearing or annoying. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008080">What’s your character’s emotional state?</font> </strong>We’ve all experienced it: grumpy people tend to notice the negative whereas happy people tend to notice the positive. Frightened people are more likely to jump at shadows and creaking floorboards. Portray your character’s emotional state both by what he notices and by his interpretation. </li> <li><strong><font color="#008080">How does your character use language?</font> </strong>Now that you’ve figured out WHAT your character would notice, how his pre-existing OPINIONS and biases would impact his observations, and how his EMOTIONAL STATE affects his interpretations, you’re ready to think about how he would EXPRESS what he notices. Let him draw on his experience for analogies. Incorporate characteristic phrases, gestures, and speech rhythms (yep, I’m talking about voice again!) not just into his speech and thoughts—incorporate them into the narrative itself. </li> </ol> <p><strong><font color="#008080">What about you? How do you stay in your characters’ POV?</font></strong></p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-57300298376059910072011-04-20T05:59:00.000-07:002011-04-20T07:38:04.451-07:00Mining Real Life for Story Ideas<p>I've <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2009/11/barefoot-burglar.html">written previously</a> about reading local news coverage to inspire plot, setting, and character for my last work-in-progress. Well, another amusing tidbit—filed away when I read it last fall—is making its way into my current book: <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/24/woman-fights-bear-with-zucchini-wins/">“Woman Fights Bear with Zucchini, Wins”</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TaSu5ryoPxI/AAAAAAAACPw/7K3NoZhsy8U/s1600-h/bear%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bear" border="0" alt="bear" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TaSu6FJnc0I/AAAAAAAACP0/fIjiv-qeGMg/bear_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="275" /></a> What more could a story desire?</p> <p><strong><font color="#008080">Do you incorporate news items, overheard conversation, or intriguing-looking characters into your writing? What sources inspire you?</font></strong></p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> <p><em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/http2007/">http2007</a> on Flickr Commons</em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-87518457524577747242011-04-18T05:35:00.000-07:002011-04-18T05:35:00.970-07:00Crafting Believable Villains: 52 Questions to Ask<p>If you read much writing advice, you probably know that villains are supposed to be believable, well-rounded , and not necessarily evil. (And if you haven’t read that writing advice, now you know.) But how do you go about creating such a believable-yet-villainous character? Plunking a black hat on your bad guy is oh-so-much easier!</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/372133559_28b6be470f.jpg" width="370" height="248" /></p> <p>When in doubt, I like to start by asking questions—so I figured I’d share :). Don’t feel the need to answer them all; instead, ask and see which evoke answers that surprise or inspire. Happy writing!</p> <p><strong><font color="#004080">52 Questions to Ask Your Villain</font></strong></p> <a name='more'></a> <ol> <li>Where did you grow up? </li> <li>Who took care of you? </li> <li>When you were a child, who did you love? </li> <li>Who acted as mentor?</li> <li>Who did you trust? </li> <li>Who betrayed your trust? </li> <li>Who hurt you? How?</li> <li>Did you seek vengeance or are you still trying to please them?</li> <li>Is there anyone in your life who you currently trust?</li> <li>Is there anyone who you currently love?</li> <li>Is there anyone who you currently need? How do you feel about this need?</li> <li>Do you have any friends? A lover? </li> <li>Who do you desire to protect? </li> <li>Who is your greatest hero? </li> <li>Who is your nemesis? </li> <li>Do you have a pet? What kind? </li> <li>Do you have a hobby? What do you do in your spare time for enjoyment? </li> <li>What do you love? </li> <li>What do you hate more than anything? </li> <li>What do you fear more than anything? </li> <li>What makes you angry? </li> <li>What are you ashamed of doing? </li> <li>What are you ashamed of being? </li> <li>Is there something in your life that irritates you daily? </li> <li>Is there something that you can’t forget? </li> <li>What do you want more than anything? </li> <li>What are you willing to do to get it? Hurt someone? Lie? Steal? Kill? </li> <li>What would you die to protect?</li> <li>What would you murder to gain?</li> <li>From whom do you hide your actions? </li> <li>What do you hide from yourself? </li> <li>What dream makes you wake in a cold sweat?</li> <li>What dream brings you peace?</li> <li>How are you admirable?</li> <li>Do you believe what you’re doing is right?</li> <li>Do you believe the world owes you?</li> <li>Do you believe the world is out to get you?</li> <li>Do you want to pay someone back for hurting you?</li> <li>What do you deserve?</li> <li>What do you need?</li> <li>If you can’t get what you want, will you despair? </li> <li>If you can’t get what you want, will you attack?</li> <li>When angry, do you fly into a rage? Or do you simmer in silence until the time’s ripe for vengeance?</li> <li>What emotional need drives you? The need for love? Respect? Success? Domination? Safety? Belonging? Self-esteem?</li> <li>Do you respect yourself?</li> <li>If your home was destroyed and you could save only one thing, what would it be?</li> <li>What is a ritual you engage in daily?</li> <li>What goals do you pursue?</li> <li>How are you like your nemesis/the main character?</li> <li>How are you different?</li> <li>How do you admire him?</li> <li>What do you despise about him? Or do you care about him at all—perhaps he’s simply in your way?</li> </ol> <p><em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dariuszka/">dariuszka</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-60144904020901600102011-04-15T20:32:00.000-07:002011-04-15T20:32:00.098-07:00Writing Your Character’s Thoughts: 3rd Person Limited POV<p>On Wednesday, I wrote about the importance of showing your characters’ thoughts in your writing—especially your main character’s thoughts—and gave examples for a first person point-of-view narrative. But what about third person narrators? How do you portray a character’s thoughts here without a constant stream of “he thought this” and “she thought that”? Here are some ideas… </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4XURLJ1mI/AAAAAAAACPQ/RtfvGF1dgLo/s1600-h/iStock_000007354779XSmall4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="iStock_000007354779XSmall" border="0" alt="iStock_000007354779XSmall" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4XUyKiYPI/AAAAAAAACPU/h0UCP-27zew/iStock_000007354779XSmall_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="331" /></a><strong><font color="#800080"></font></strong></p> <a name='more'></a> <p><strong><font color="#800080"></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#800080">Third Person Limited:</font></strong> In this point of view, the narrative is written as if someone is peering over your main character’s shoulder to tell the story. (Examples below are from Cassandra Clare’s <em>City of Bones.)</em></p> <ul> <li><font color="#808000"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4XVdnSxvI/AAAAAAAACPY/DzSBO7u-_vE/s1600-h/cityofbones4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="cityofbones" border="0" alt="cityofbones" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4XV1Bl4MI/AAAAAAAACPc/srtK7ijaqOU/cityofbones_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="161" height="244" /></a> Recount a memory:</strong></font> “An image rose in Clary’s mind. Her mother’s back, not quite covered by her bathing suit top, the blades of her shoulders and the curves of her spine dappled with narrow, white marks. It was like something she had seen in a dream…” In this case, the author specifically tells the reader that this is a thought. </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong>Tell what your character thinks indirectly:</strong></font> “Simon’s band never actually produced any music. Mostly they sat around in Simon’s living room, fighting about potential names and band logos.” Here the author doesn’t say “Clary knew” or “Clary thought”, just dives straight into the info. </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong>Tell what your character thinks directly:</strong></font> “She sometimes wondered if any of them could actually play an instrument.” </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong>Write thoughts as pseudo-dialog: </strong></font>“<em>Okay,</em> she told herself. <em>Everything’s fine.”</em>  Authors sometimes denote thoughts with italics, but it’s a technique best used sparingly. </li> </ul> <p>I love the examples above because in every instance, Cassandra Clare uses Clary’s thoughts to accomplish multiple purposes. In the first, she paints a picture of Clary’s memory while simultaneously doling out important plot information. In the second and third, she breaks up the narrative with a bit of humor while showing Clary’s attitude toward her friend Simon. In the last, we see Clary trying to reassure herself, but in context, her thought only heightens the tension.</p> <p><strong><font color="#800080">Which of these techniques do you use in your writing? If you have other examples, I’d love to hear them!</font></strong></p> <p>:) Cheryl </p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-16671431850502375882011-04-13T11:25:00.000-07:002011-04-13T11:25:14.215-07:00Writing Your Character’s Thoughts<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4MsePZanI/AAAAAAAACOg/vFPQFZjPAOo/s1600-h/iStock_000016072830Large4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="iStock_000016072830Large" border="0" alt="iStock_000016072830Large" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4Ms8JOz9I/AAAAAAAACOk/1A_cEj0A91o/iStock_000016072830Large_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="180" /></a> Character thoughts are a powerful tool for any fiction writer—but one that many don’t, well, think about. What can you accomplish by writing your character’s thoughts? For starters, you can:</p> <ul> <li>Introduce problems or worries </li> <li>Explore relationships </li> <li>Expose insecurities </li> <li>Show the logic that drives a decision </li> <li>Illustrate bias </li> <li>Develop the character’s voice </li> </ul> <p>Great, you say, but <em>how</em> do I do those things? It depends on your chosen point of view. Here are some examples for writing in first person—I’ll have some third person limited examples for you on Friday.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p><strong><font color="#800080">First Person:</font></strong> This is probably the easiest point of view in which to share what your character is thinking, because the narrative is basically a running commentary of the main character’s story. You can make this point of view work for you by taking care to insert your character’s opinions, blind spots, judgments, biases, fears, loves, etc. into the writing. </p> <p>There are several ways you can reveal your main character’s thoughts when writing in first person:<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4Mto7IIwI/AAAAAAAACOo/bchEObJZ-kI/s1600-h/FOL31%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="FOL31" border="0" alt="FOL31" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4MuHKgqaI/AAAAAAAACOs/v94yURCr5ks/FOL31_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="148" height="244" /></a> </p> <ul> <li><strong><font color="#808000">Ask a question: </font></strong>“I cringed. Why did bad news always have a way of leaking out?”* The author shows the Kat’s reaction both with her physical response and the question she asks silently rather than out loud. </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong>Report a thought: </strong></font>The above could be written “I cringed, wondering why bad news always had a way of leaking out”—less direct but also effective. </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong>Play out an internal argument or show a character’s inner struggle:</strong></font> “<em>I’ll show you some post-birth delirium</em>. I felt like leaping over the desk and pouncing on her, sinking my three thousand dollars’ worth of orthodontia into her shoulder. Instead, I gritted my teeth and breathed in deeply through my nose. I would not let her get to me. I was not attached to this place anymore.”* Here the author italicizes the first sentence to show that the thought is directed <em>at </em>someone—almost spoken, but not quite. The rest of the paragraph shows Kat’s inner dialog as she talks herself back from the edge. </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4MueyOwNI/AAAAAAAACOw/O6U-qQOHTIk/s1600-h/teach%20me%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="teach me" border="0" alt="teach me" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ4Muxs09VI/AAAAAAAACO0/aQ1Tyn19ymo/teach%20me_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="161" height="244" /></a>Show a character figuring something out:</strong></font> “For the first  time I realize I have no idea what I’m going to do. This is the thing that smashes me. My whole life I have always had a plan, but now I have no plan. Only a raging need. A need for what? What can I hope for?”** </li> <li><font color="#808000"><strong>Reveal voice with a sarcastic—but unspoken—comeback:</strong></font> “Like there would be a next time…Yeah. The invitations to assist would come pouring in.”* </li> </ul> <p><em>* </em>Examples taken from Denise Vega’s YA novel, <em>Fact of Life #31</em></p> <p><em>** </em>From R. A. Nelson’s YA novel, <em>Teach Me</em></p> <p><strong><font color="#800080">What about you? How do you expose character thoughts in your writing?</font></strong></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-56768415457876872922011-04-11T06:50:00.000-07:002011-04-12T11:56:25.749-07:00More Thoughts on Voice<p><img style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; display: inline" align="right" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5512936359_4a99291a41.jpg" width="240" height="240" />Thanks for such a <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/04/finding-your-voice-seven-tips.html">great discussion</a> last week on voice, what it means, and how to find it! Blogging friend Charissa Weaks was inspired to write more on the topic on her blog in the post <a href="http://charissaweaks.blogspot.com/2011/04/difference-between-voice-style-and-tone.html">“The Difference Between Voice, Style and Tone.”</a></p> <p>Here’s a taste:</p> <p><em><strong><font color="#008080">THIS IS A BROAD TOPIC WITH EVEN BROADER OPINIONS AND I'M ADDING ANOTHER TO THE HEAP.</font></strong></em></p> <p><font color="#008080">Why is this such a vague area?  Well...because there is no specific definition for it, so everyone defines it in their own way - <em>which is exactly what I'm about to do!</em></font></p> <p><font color="#008080">After Googling around I came across several articles about voice and style and tone.  Some people see the trio as separate entities and others see style and tone as a part of voice.</font></p> <p><font color="#008080">Maybe they are the same thing...I don't know...but in my eyes <strong>they are not.</strong></font></p> <p>Visit her <a href="http://charissaweaks.blogspot.com/">blog</a> and join in the discussion!</p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> <p><em>*Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uggboy/">UggBoy*UggGirl</a> on Flickr Creative Commons</em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-16019500698669665132011-04-07T11:04:00.001-07:002011-04-07T11:04:51.133-07:00Finding Your Voice: Seven Tips<p>Despite the oft-repeated advice for authors to write for a single audience (to build that elusive brand), many childen’s writers write for both middle graders and young adults. <a href="http://www.denisevega.com/">Denise Vega</a> entertains middle school students with her novels <em>Click Here (to find out how I survived seventh grade)</em> and <em>Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages)</em>, but reaches teens in <em>Fact of Life #31</em> and the soon-to-be-released <em>Rock On</em>. (She also writes picture books, but only because she’s an overachiever <grin>).        <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ38v5MKqHI/AAAAAAAACOY/8N8ZzoeNKKM/s1600-h/Pictures8.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Pictures" border="0" alt="Pictures" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZ38wWRLeDI/AAAAAAAACOc/q8DsSsFESNE/Pictures_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800" width="386" height="332" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Fantasy author <a href="http://www.sfwa.org/members/bell/">Hilari Bell</a> targets younger readers with fast-paced adventure in <em>The Prophecy</em> and <em>Wizard Test</em>, but writes for a more mature audience in books such as her latest release, <em>Trickster’s Girl</em>. How do they do it? How does one change from a young voice to teen and back again?</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I’m thinking about this question because I spent the past year writing and re-writing a contemporary young adult novel—and trying to write in an older character’s voice—and now that I’m drafting another middle grade novel, the voice won’t come out as young as I think it should. </p> <p><img style="margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyWW9UNbv2LKBsQqA17FgB4gEATWJohwdNHC3ZEb6KtK1K4X6Swv3vHrkqdGtLov9wSGZlYD5iZ2eEX4zrP4duBwJapCIMxW_yQcXoXHBvg8KBF5k9YnaT7ljIsH8CCu3uTlJfU_VXrQ/" width="226" height="150" />It made me question whether I’m writing the right story. Should this actually be a young adult novel? Should I write about a teen protagonist, possibly female, instead of a male seventh grade student? Worth considering—but the answer turns out to be “no”. The story is best suited to a younger audience. So…I need to get my voice in line.</p> <p>How do successful authors manage to switch writing voice to suit their audience? How do <em>I </em>pull this off? I don’t have a set-in-stone answer, because this is a work-in-progress; but here are some strategies I’ve found helpful:</p> <ol> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>Collect “mentor books,” great reads that are aimed at your  target audience. </strong></font>These aren’t necessarily to re-read, but to inspire. Pick a page or chapter to enjoy; notice how the author handles pacing, dialog, character thoughts, and description. </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>Post a sticky note in your writing space (originally inspired by children's author </strong></font><a href="http://www.rllafevers.com/books.html"><font color="#000080">R.L. LaFevers</font></a><font color="#000080"><strong>): “It’s the voice, stupid :)”</strong></font> Keeping this reminder close at hand helps me ask whether I’m writing what a kid would find important or if, for instance, I’m indulging my love of description. </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>Journal or free write from your main character’s (mc) point of view.</strong></font> This is a low-pressure way to practice focusing on what he thinks and observes. </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>Journal or free write memories of your 12-year-old self.</strong></font> By mining those memories, I can slide more easily into my mc’s head. </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>List your mc’s worries and fears. </strong></font>Ask what will be top of his mind in school, biking home, hanging out with friends, seeing his sister, eating dinner with his family. </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>Eavesdrop on local 12-year-olds (preferably with parental permission <grin>).</strong></font> There’s no better way to remind yourself of a young person’s priorities, humor, and interactions with others than by hanging out with them. </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>When all else fails, keep pounding out that first draft.</strong></font> Often I don’t nail my character’s voice until I’ve completed that first draft—and I give my permission not to do so. I know I can fix and tighten on the rewrite. </li> </ol> <p><font color="#000080"><strong>What about you? Do you write for different audiences? Do you have any tips to share on finding your character’s voice? </strong></font></p> <p>:^) Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-23775571621320321002011-04-04T09:15:00.001-07:002011-04-04T09:15:57.530-07:00Care and Feeding of the Discouraged Writer<p>Jami Gold's recent post <a href="http://jamigold.com/2011/03/have-you-ever-been-tempted-to-give-up/">Have You Ever Been Tempted to Give Up?</a> is thought-provoking and true. In a weird way, it’s encouraging to realize that even published, successful authors struggle with this question. </p> <p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3309217425_5730cfb0cb.jpg" width="370" height="246" /></p> <p>Jamie’s post ends with a question: <font color="#000080"><strong>“What pushes you to the edge of giving up (lack of time, rejections, something else)?  What things help motivate and encourage you (a support system, wanting to prove something, finding successes wherever you can)? ”</strong> </font>Visit her blog to see what other writers have to say.</p> <p>Have I ever been tempted to give up? Absolutely! As has every writer in my critique group. As has every writer I know personally. And yet, most of us don’t. What keeps us going? I think the answer depends on <em>why </em>we’re tempted to quit, the way different illnesses respond to different treatments. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p>In my experience, there are several factors that can push me to the edge:</p> <ol> <li><font color="#800080"><strong><font color="#000080">Too much rejection/too little affirmation:</font> </strong></font>This ailment is best treated by interaction with other people. Turn to your critique group, writer friends, Twitter tweeps, or a trusted first reader for encouragement and perspective. Or read the thoughts of a successful author in writing books like Anne Lamott’s <em>Bird by Bird, </em>Jane Yolen’s <em>Take Joy, </em>or Stephen King’s <em>On Writing</em>. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Physical exhaustion: </font></strong>When a writer is juggling multiple jobs and responsibilities—as most of us are—sometimes we spend so much time living inside our heads that we forget to take care of our bodies. Are you physically worn out? Try treatment with a brisk walk, plenty of water, a restful foray into nature, or a good night’s sleep. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Mental overwhelm: </font></strong>When juggling too many to-do’s—writing or otherwise—it’s easy to get mired in too-much-to-do-itis. Overwhelm is not conducive to creativity. Treat with a hefty dose of self-kindness, lightening your load, word play, and small, achievable writing goals to help you rediscover the joy of writing. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Negative creative balance: </font></strong>In her book <em>The Artist’s Way, </em>Julia Cameron describes the source of an artist’s creativity as a “creativity pond”, something that can be overfished and emptied if we don’t take are to refill and restock. If you spend too much time working—even doing work you love—you may discover that your muse is not longer speaking to you. Treat with Artist’s Dates, infusions of beauty and sensory delights, and creative stimulation such as a conference, class, or writing book. </li> </ol> <p>Sometimes, you have to have faith and keep pressing forward; other times, mere willpower is not the answer. If you’re tempted to give up, ask yourself why. It might help you puzzle out the best remedy for what ails you.</p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> <p><em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vegaseddie/">Paolo Camera</a></em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-55658883074280805822011-03-31T14:36:00.001-07:002011-03-31T14:36:48.328-07:005 Tips for Getting Back in the Groove<p>Spring Break! Those two words take me back to memories of school—and a few days’ freedom from it. What do you think when you hear those words? Sunshine? Beaches? Sleeping in? </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZTz6cgO0wI/AAAAAAAACNw/qSfb63v9nKI/s1600-h/100_0008%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0008" border="0" alt="100_0008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZTz64pHp_I/AAAAAAAACN0/F-VncW2DSKg/100_0008_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="392" height="293" /></a>This year, our Spring Break involved four days of camping, hiking, and biking in the desert of Moab, Utah, where it rained and snowed and didn’t fit the typical Spring Break imaginings. No high-speed internet, no cell phone coverage, no electricity…just lots of time to explore, read, play card games, and hang out. And it was wonderful. </p> <p>But now here I am, back at my desk, trying to figure out what the heck I was working on when I left. I’ve written before of the <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/02/seven-strategies-to-keep-momentum-when.html">importance of keeping your writing momentum</a>—but everyone has those times when, for whatever reason, you’ve had to take a break from the page. How do you get back in the groove?</p> <a name='more'></a> <ol> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Refamiliarize:</font> </strong>Re-read your work in progress (WIP), plot outline, setting notes, character bible—whatever writing you’ve done on the project, re-read and re-group. Fill your subconscious with story details and watch what happens! </li> <li><font color="#000080"><strong>Immerse:</strong> </font>Find a block of time with minimal distractions, a time when you can take all the time you need to wrap your head around your project and start writing again. </li> <li>Or <strong><font color="#000080">Start Small:</font> </strong>If diving back into your WIP gives you a panic attack, try re-entering the work with small assignments. <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/03/ten-reasons-to-practice-freewriting.html">Freewrite</a> a scene or a bit of backstory, or set a small #writegoal with <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/03/ten-gifts-of-twitter.html">Twitter friends</a> for encouragement and accountability. </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Avoid Excuses:</font> </strong>It’s hard to take time to write after a break. I know—I’m studiously ignoring the laundry that still needs to be put away. But I also know it can wait. I know that if I worked a desk job, I’d put in my work hours before tackling housework; my writing time deserves the same respect! </li> <li><strong><font color="#000080">Think Nike:</font></strong> <em>Just Do It!</em> Sometimes it’s hard to get started on projects, but remember: every word you write is a word that takes you nearer to your destination. The sooner you start moving again, the sooner you’ll rediscover your groove. </li> </ol> <p>Happy writing, everyone! </p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZTz7QRuM-I/AAAAAAAACN4/p5v2d00welk/s1600-h/100_0004%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0004" border="0" alt="100_0004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TZTz73jo1rI/AAAAAAAACN8/eAPLlB19vIo/100_0004_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="333" /></a></p> <p><em>*Lily, rock-climbing poodle extraordinaire. Note the dog booties: the rock’s sandpaper surface wears out the pads on a dog that runs as much as this one. The booties helped—although she ran holes in them, too!</em></p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-79142606601196404702011-03-23T12:09:00.001-07:002011-03-23T12:09:21.002-07:00Spring Fever!<p>I love this time of year, when daffodils are playing tag with crocuses and the weather hints at warmer days ahead. I keep heading outside to write—until the wind blows, anyway, because although sixty degrees F is warm in the sun, it is NOT warm in the wind.</p> <p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY36zClV5XTgvqYg5mFalCJ9uJMVMZnxnLnmf3g7G6dOHXvrrp_u8NFS2Sfu41M77dV69vbWGemJk5rAQ0d5mw3ZA5rRQV4OKhYp4TMKi01QTB-5aMDvzb221CQm813-tVv8IjHU_XVAY/s720/P3112289.JPG" width="389" height="292" /></p> <p>Add in Spring Break for the kids, and life’s looking pretty good. But—I fear I will be absent for a bit longer, because of a pressing need to have fun with my family :0). </p> <p>Until next week, Happy Spring, everyone!</p> <p>Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-19792260484506561152011-03-17T08:48:00.001-07:002011-03-17T08:48:02.700-07:00Ten Reasons to Practice Freewriting<p>Many writers I know think of freewriting as writer-style therapy—a way to get worries out of your head and onto the page. However, freewriting has so many more applications. The <a href="http://flwi.unl.edu/index.html">Faculty Leadership for Writing Initiative</a> at the University of Nebreska-Lincoln defines it as “<strong><font color="#008080">an invention strategy where students write for a certain amount of time for the purpose of generating ideas…”</font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TYItLwOaOyI/AAAAAAAACNA/3Mq8TmrVMC4/s1600-h/iStock_000006789833XSmall%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="iStock_000006789833XSmall" border="0" alt="iStock_000006789833XSmall" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TYItMk-khlI/AAAAAAAACNE/8d8AZEl8FOo/iStock_000006789833XSmall_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="242" /></a></p> <p>Great. But what does “generating ideas” really mean? The truth is that I don’t *want* new story ideas when I’m supposed to be editing my current work-in-progress. New story ideas = distractions, so if that’s your view of freewriting, you’ll probably shove it on the shelf until you’re ready for a new project (or a new therapy session…) And that would be a shame, because freewriting has a lot to offer writers at all stages and skill levels. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Here are ten ways freewriting can help you grow as a writer—and provide tangible progress on a wide variety of writing projects.</p> <ol> <li>Access your subconscious: Like meditation or dreams, freewriting allows your mind to wander creatively—while you capture the process on paper. </li> <li>Silence your internal critic: Try this “Just Do It!” exercise at the <a href="http://writesite.cuny.edu/projects/stages/start/freewrite/index.html">CUNY writing web site</a>. Practice makes it easier to ignore your internal nay-sayer. </li> <li>Clear your head for creating: when you “brain dump” the worries and stresses that clutter your mind, you make space for creativity. </li> <li>Discover answers to plot questions </li> <li>Find your character’s voice </li> <li>Discover what your character thinks, hopes, dreams, and fears. Discover what motivates her thoughts and actions. </li> <li>Explore the memory of an experience you’ve had, especially an emotional experience: This provides material for you to draw upon when your character experiences something similar. </li> <li>Explore an experience you *haven’t* had: freewrite about how you imagine something would feel—something your character will experience—in order to get inside your character’s head. </li> <li>Keep up your <a href="http://cherylreifsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/02/seven-strategies-to-keep-momentum-when.html">writing momentum</a>: in contrast to polished prose, freewriting can take place in bits and pieces of time when you might be too busy for “real” writing. </li> <li>Practice writing faster: it’s a skill you can develop. </li> <li>Sidestep writer’s block (okay that’s more than ten, but I couldn’t decide on which one to cut….) </li> </ol> <p>Convinced to take freewriting off the shelf, dust it off, and give it a try? I’ll post resources and how-to’s this weekend.</p> <p><strong><font color="#008080">What about you? Do you use freewriting in your writing process? If so, how?</font></strong></p> <p>:-) Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525839048768729426.post-38699140283002900942011-03-13T16:14:00.001-07:002011-03-13T16:14:03.839-07:00Twitter Resources<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TX1PuLKQO0I/AAAAAAAACMo/OCFkZOpF_U0/s1600-h/P4221652%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P4221652" border="0" alt="P4221652" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__O-9yzKx50w/TX1Pup2VfxI/AAAAAAAACMs/ztbe1VejXpk/P4221652_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="331" /></a></p> <p>As promised, here are a few of my favorite Twitter resources:</p> <ul> <li>Inky Girl: <a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/a-writers-guide-to-twitter/">Guide to Twitter for Writers, including list of writing chats</a> </li> <li>Inky Girl: <a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/twitter-chats-for-writers/the-basics/what-is-a-slow-chat-where-can-i-find-slow-chats.html">About slow chats</a> </li> <li>Emlyn Chand on Novel Publicity: <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/2011/01/use-twitter-to-promote-yourself-as-a-writer-here-are-10-tips-to-make-the-most-of-your-experience/">A Beginner’s Guide to Twitter-10 Tips</a> and <a href="http://emlynchand.com/2011/02/23/the-busy-writer%E2%80%99s-guide-to-twitter-boost-your-tweet-efficiency-and-get-back-to-writing/">The Busy Writer’s Guide to Twitter</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.makealivingwriting.com/2011/02/16/writers-win-social-media/">How to Get Noticed on Twitter</a> on Make a Living Writing </li> <li>Media Bistro Learning Annex: <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/13-reasons-why-you-didnt-get-followed-back_b1635#more-1635">13 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get Followed Back</a> </li> <li>Mashable: <a href="http://mashable.com/2009/05/17/twitter-hashtags/">How to Get the Most Out if Twitter #Hashtags</a> </li> </ul> <p>There are many, many more, but these are a good place to start. Happy writing and Tweeting!</p> <p>:) Cheryl</p> Cheryl Reifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.com0