What Lilith means to me

Everything I have ever written represents a part of who I am. But no story has ever been more personal to me than the Lilith Mercury series. The story is told from her perspective, but she is more an expression of myself than a work of fiction. 

The scars Lilith carries are my own, both the ones you can see, and the ones you can't. Her thoughts, her emotions, even her hobbies are my own. Every trauma she experiences represents a similar experience in my life. Not literally, of course, but emotionally.

The men in her life are not there because she is a raging slut, nor do they represent men in my life. They represent different aspects of myself, therefore, they are no less a part of Lilith than her own heart.

Marco is everything I wish I could be, and everything I ever wanted. He is a true hero. He is tough when he has to be. He is kind. He gives a lot of himself to others and knows exactly what he wants. This is why Lilith turns to him for direction. 

Dracula is my pain. He is my broken heart put onto paper. After everything is stripped away, when I am emotionally bare, he is the monster that remains. He is immortal, wounded, and lonely. He is the emotional equivalent  of everything that has caused me pain and how it changed me. That is why Lilith turns to him for comfort. If anyone understands pain and loss, it's Dracula. 

Bade is my fantasies come to life, and I don't mean sexually. He says and does exactly what he wants, even if he knows it is wrong sometimes. Bade is always true to himself and that is why Lilith is drawn to him.

Alek represents my dreams. He can make people's dreams come true, even if it is only in their mind. He has the wisdom that I often wished I could have and gives the guidance that I often long for. That is what Lilith sees in him and why he is her confidant. 

Elijah is my innocence. He is everything good in me and everything I feel that I have lost. He is the same for Lilith and that is why he means so much to her.

Lilith's powers say more about me than they do about her. She can take away the pain of others because that is something I have often longed to do. She heals with her emotions because I wish I could use mine to do the same. 

Lilith wants more than anything to be normal, to be loved, and accepted for who she is. She is drawn to all the parts of her soul that are missing. 

No, that doesn't mean that all these characters are or will be her lovers. (Some will be.) It means they are there for a reason.

Perhaps through growing as a person/character she can learn to accept these aspects of herself. Through writing her story, perhaps I can as well. 

Maybe I shouldn't be this honest about myself and my writing. I just want people to know why I care so much about this series and why it matters to me.

I've been busy

I wanted to take a few minutes and give a quick update. As anyone who has kids knows, summer vacation can be busy. Not in a bad way, I've just had lots to occupy my time besides writing. I've been catching up on video games (when I can get a turn LOL) and spending massive amounts of time snuggling my dog, Roscoe. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Other than that, I spend a good amount of time each afternoon carrying roughly 30 gallons of water to my pumpkin garden. (Thank goodness for the recent rain!) It's fun, but hard work. The temperatures here have been insane. With the exception of getting to spend more time with my son, I hate summer.

I'm sitting here daydreaming right now about that first hint of fall in the air. I wonder when I'll wake up and realize that the seasons have changed? They aren't as predictable in the south as you might think. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it.

At the moment, besides daydreaming about fall, I've just started editing my latest novella. I'm going to give it a thorough polish before submitting this one. Why am I not self-publishing it? Because as I've said before, I believe a little bit of both traditional and self-publishing is good for exposure. The more I can increase the chances of readers seeing my name, the better.

I'll also be adding some word count, fleshing out descriptions and such. Normally, I don't add much when I self-edit. There are very few changes from my finished draft to the final product. I usually look for errors and re-word a thing or two. However, writing during summer vacation leaves holes in descriptions. LOL I've found this out the hard way. It's more difficult to focus with people in the house and video games roaring in the background. Therefore, this story is getting some extra effort in the editing department. After all, I want this to be a good representation of my work before I send it in.

I've already got my synopsis drafted too, so that's a plus. Synopses are not the monster many people make them out to be. I try to think of it as a "movie review" of my book that delivers the entire plot as precisely as possible. That mentality has made writing a synopsis easy for me. I don't think of the book as "my baby." I think of it as my product and look for the best way to describe my product from beginning to end.

Speaking of my product, I'd best get back to that editing while I've got the time. I just wanted to give a quick update. Happy writing!

Catching up, and a guaranteed way to get more work done

I just realized it's been a while since my last post. Wouldn't want anyone to think I dropped off the face of the earth or anything. Ha. Ha. Ha. If you've been reading my blog lately you might see that I've had a lot of issues staying motivated. Not just with writing, but with life. It's often very difficult to stay positive. However, I've found something that really works. Stay off the internet and don't watch the news. Seriously.

I've been spending drastically less time online and I feel fantastic. I see just enough news to know what's going on in the world, and then I turn it off. I log in to Facebook maybe once or twice a day (this is a lot less than usual for me), but I don't read every post. Why? Because many are negative and they will only bring me down. That may sound rude or harsh, but you gotta look out for yourself.

I've also been checking my email from my phone. It makes the process simpler and I'm not chained to the computer.

This strategy has so far helped me start a garden, clean my yard, write more words per week, and spend quality time with my son.

When I turn off the computer and write by hand, it amazes me how much better my work is. By the time I turn on the computer to type it all up, I have even more to add and embellish. It's fantastic!

On another positive note, I've been working out more. By turning off the computer, I'm not wasting so much time on things that really weren't helping me get any work done. Now I'm getting into better shape AND I've got a novella that's coming along nicely.

Oh, and my pumpkin garden is looking great! If you can't tell, I love fall. October is my favorite month, and Halloween is my favorite holiday. I spend all year looking forward to that first hint of fall in the air. *sigh*

Here are the varieties I'm growing this year. Blue moon, Atlantic Giant, and Moonshine. Of course, there will be regular Jack-O-Lanterns as well as some mini-pumpkins called Jack-Be-Little. As of right now, I've got 73 healthy plants.

Get up swinging

As I sit here in the middle of the night, unable to sleep (obviously Ha. Ha.), I started looking over my recent blog posts. I gave more than a little thought to ... well, my thoughts.

It's time I stop complaining and worrying about things I can't control. No matter what I do, I really can't control sales. I can't control the reactions of other people, personally or professionally. Those things are out of my hands just as much as the weather. Well, I do know a pretty good rain dance, but you get what I'm saying.

The only thing I have complete control of is me and my reactions. I'm tired of worrying and complaining. It makes me feel weak and I don't like that either. If there's one thing I'm not it's weak. I'm a fighter. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it as many times as I need to in order to remind myself to get off my ass and get back to work.

A new story idea came to me yesterday evening. I made a few notes, but this new idea won't shut up. I'm going to put my current book on hold (because I've made notes through the ending already) and I'm going to work on this. The new idea looks like (from my notes) that it might be a novella. I've got some pretty sexy things going through my head, and I'm going to write the shit out of them.

One of my trainers, years ago, taught me something very important. Well, he taught me a lot. But this one thing has so many applications besides combat. He said that if you hit the ground for any reason, whether you're knocked down, or you fall down to avoid a hit, you better get up swinging. You never know when one of your punches is gonna land. And you never know when that one hit will be all it takes to finish the fight.

I've had some books that have sold and continue to sale very well. But I'm still looking for that one hit. The book that takes me and my work to the next level. Here I go again, getting up swinging.

What actually works to increase book sales?

The truth is (in my best Sherlock Holmes voice) I haven't the foggiest. As I try desperately to manage my time more effectively and not write myself to death, it turns out I'm worrying myself to death. You wouldn't believe all the factors that run through my head about why a book may or may not appeal to my audience. I'm tearing my work apart and that is never a good thing.

I can tell you for sure what doesn't work, everything I've tried so far. Advertising in every form I've tried thus far has been absolutely pointless. I haven't seen a definite increase in sales from any one thing. I've seen a temporary jump here and there that might be because of an online ad, but who knows. There isn't any way to know for sure. Print ads have been the biggest waste of money so far, especially if you hire someone to format your ad, and then (of course) you have to pay for the ad space. A very small ad in a magazine that targeted my audience and got good circulation cost me about $220. My sales on that book for the quarter were only around 300 copies. There was only an increase of roughly 50 copies more than usual. Not worth $220.

I keep doing my best to write quality stories. I know that I put the work in and I have faith in my work. I write the kinds of things that I would enjoy reading. That's got to be worth something, right? At least I'm not turning out crap and expecting people to buy it. I'm putting my heart and soul into my work ... and sales are down. But hey, at least I'm selling a product I believe in.

Lately, that's all I've got. I try to share advice here that I think will be of value to other writers. The truth is, sooner or later, you're going to be hitting your head on a brick wall too, wondering why your books aren't selling.

It's not just my self-pub titles either. Sales are down with my publishers as well. And from the other authors I speak with from time to time, it's the same for them. So, I can take a great big breath and calm down a little. This doesn't mean I suck, right? No, I really don't think so.

I have no idea what to think. I'm going to keep plugging away on my weekly word count goal and try to figure out my next move. Should I proceed to self-pub my next title like I was planning? Or would it be helpful to try submitting it to a large publisher? If they offered me a contract, would that help me gain more exposure? It's possible, but there's no guarantee. Then again, my titles on Amazon could sale like crazy overnight. It happens all the time for no apparent reason.

As you can see, I have no clue what to do next. The only thing I know for certain, is I'm going to keep working on this book.

Time management for writers

If you're anything like me, the hardest part of writing (many times) is finding the time. There all of these other things on your list. People who need you, things you need to do for yourself, etc. The hardest part about time management is learning what is and is not a good use of your valuable time. That's another key step, realize that your time IS valuable. You provide a valuable service. You, as a writer, entertain people. You help us escape for a few hours. You give us a ticket to our mental vacation. Make no mistake, that is a very valuable service.

Hopefully, hearing some of the things that are helpful to me in managing my time will help others. It seems like I got more accomplished as a writer when I worked another full-time job. Why? Because I didn't feel as compelled to do everything around the house. Plus, people assumed I was tired when I got home. Ha. Ha. Ha. Sad but true. When you work from your home, many times others will assume you aren't busy or haven't had as tough a day as they've had. That's just the way it is. Perceptions vary and there's nothing any of us can do about it.

I struggle with time management, but I finally feel as if I'm starting to get somewhere. This is what I've been working on lately.

I'm currently (right this moment in another window) leaving all the yahoo groups from which I receive no benefit whatsoever. Why am I doing this? Because I'm tired of sorting through all the digests in my email. When I got my first publishing contract, I was thrilled about sharing my excerpts and news in yahoo groups. I made the mistake of thinking these groups would be as awesome as the old MSN groups. Nope. While I will (of course) remain in my publisher's groups (because I DO benefit from those), most everything else, I'm leaving. I have yet to find that posting excerpts or even participating in general helps sales in the slightest. I have studied this closely over a period of years and listened to what others had to say on the subject as well. The end result: Yahoo groups don't help you sell more books. Therefore, I have determined this is not a good use of my time. I mean no offense to anyone running a yahoo group. This is a business decision, not a personal one. I think I'm also going to delete my old group or turn it into a mailing list or something.

Online forums besides yahoo - While these can be fun, I've also found no concrete benefit here either. It would appear that my posts in other places of this nature get less and less views. I'm remaining on one of my favorite forums simply because I like the people I've met there. I've severely limited the time I spend on this because (usually), I am the only one there.

I've also left Triberr for the same basic reason. I saw no real benefit. No increase in sales or anything else. While I've heard others say it worked for them, the majority of people I hear from have experienced similar results. It is difficult to find a tribe that is suited to the interests of your Twitter followers. Many times the members of your tribe won't even post your stuff. Not to mention, some tribes add nothing but extra drama to your life. I don't know about you, but I'm not looking for drama unless I go to the theater.

I am active on Facebook, but not to the extent I was before. It's important to keep in touch with friends and to make yourself available to readers. But you don't have to live there.

Playing Castleville is NOT a priority. HAHAHA!! Seriously, I've battled with this one. I still play, but once again, I've severely limited my time.

I've done hours and hours of research, trying to find what magically makes books sale. Many people who read ebooks (my primary format) no longer read print magazines. Even when you find an online magazine that reaches your target audience, whether or not your ad will lead to sales is a shot in the dark. Obsessing over this was NOT a good use of my time. The only thing I can control is putting out another quality book. THAT I can handle, so THAT is where my focus is.

Scouring the net for any and all mentions of me and my work was also NOT a good use of my time. So, I stopped. Cold turkey. There is negativity everywhere, no matter what your profession. You will encounter enough without any help whatsoever. Don't go looking for it.

Exercise is a must. Make time.

Doing things with my family, is a good use of my time. (Like that pumpkin garden I love so much.)

Mowing the yard is a good use of my time. So is writing my next chapter. Do one or the other. Make a decision, do it well and stop obsessing over the one you didn't choose.

Another thing that has helped me is to set a word count goal for the week. I've only been doing this for a few weeks now, but it has helped tremendously. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I make that goal AND get my house clean.

All these things are continuing to help me manage my time. Since I can't afford a national ad campaign, the only thing I can do is write my next book and make it a good one. Until I figure out what advertising works best, I can no longer afford to experiment.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to work on meeting that word count goal for the week.

The best way to reach your goals

I'm sure we've all wondered about this before. It doesn't matter if your goals are personal or professional, or a mixture of both. Everyone has wondered how to get there faster.

How am I qualified to answer such a question? Well, I've reached several of my own personal goals. I'm a multi-published author. I've got books with 3 different publishing houses (one of them is Ellora's Cave, that has recently gotten some very good press). I'm not rich by any means, but I'm earning more on royalties each year. (I've been published for almost 5 years now.) I've also started to self-publish some books recently. Yes, I do plan to continue working with a traditional publishing house, as well as self-publishing.

As for personal goals, I will share one of my biggest and most important (to me). I've lost 34 pounds since this time last year! I am so excited about that. It didn't happen fast and there was a lot of hard work involved. I'm still working toward where I want to be. Just like my writing career, my body is a work in progress.

My point isn't to brag, not at all. I've worked hard to be where I am. I may not be on top yet, but I'm getting there. I am proud, sure. But I'm not full of myself.

So, how have I come so far and what has this got to do with reaching your goals?

The very best answer I can give is this: Help others to reach their goals and congratulate them when they do.

Long before I was a published author, I was excited about the prospect of one day writing my own books. I didn't read popular authors and scoff, "Oh, I'm so much better than them. Their writing sucks. Blah, blah, blah." I didn't write scathing reviews online because I felt they were competition or out of flat out jealousy. (Or any other reason.) I've certainly read more than a few books that I didn't like. However, I never felt the need to bash them in public. There are plenty of people who I'm sure loved them.

I approached the task of writing my first book (and signing my first publishing contract) with humility. I am honored that people would take the time to read my books and I am so far beyond thrilled to hear when someone enjoys one of them.

I am happy for my fellow writers when they get a new contract, or a great review. It is exciting to see so many movies based on books too! That gives me hope. Ha. Ha. Ha. I don't sit there wondering, "How the crap did that happen?" I think how awesome it is that there's a chance it could happen to me too! My odds are no different than anyone else's, and neither are yours.

When I was at my highest weight, I was happy for my cousin who started running and losing weight. It hurt to look in the mirror and see an image I was less than proud of, but I never envied her. I was proud of her. I cheered her on and I still do. She's a marathon runner now and I'm so happy for her! I'm training to be able to run a 5k and someday soon, I'll be right there with her.

My point is, whatever your goals are, don't belittle other people who might get there ahead of you. I assure you, the climb isn't easy. No one is ever handed anything, even if it may look as if they are. None of us knows what goes on behind the scenes in someone else's life. You have no way of knowing how hard they worked to get where they are and it may not even be that far ahead of you anyways.

We all have our own battles. Everyone who reads this post is fighting for something. Maybe you want your voice to be heard, like having your book published, or you're struggling to get into better shape. Maybe you are fighting for some cause that is deeply personal to you. My point is, everyone is fighting for something.

In light of sounding like the biggest hippie in the world, we should stop fighting each other and offer support instead. (This applies to personal and professional goals, not world domination. That's bad.) If someone accomplishes something you would dearly love to do, congratulate them. Do it sincerely, not out of spite or with a snide remark. You'll be surprised how great it will make you feel.

What goes around really does come around, whether you believe in karma or not. I put out what I hope to get back one day.

I support those I admire, and those in my field. I don't belittle my fellow author and I don't begrudge all the miles my cousin has ran that I haven't. Ha. Ha. I'll get there soon enough.

Why am I in such a hurry?

Does anyone else remember that old song, "In a hurry and don't know why?" I think it was by Alabama. Part of the lyrics say, "I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die. But, I'm in a hurry and don't know why." Kind of depressing. Anyway, my point is this, I find myself rushing all the time. I hurry to finish the laundry as if my life won't be complete without a clean house. Ha. Ha. Ha. Okay, so I have a touch of OCD. I often try to do everything on my "To Do" list all in one day, even though the list can be quite long.

I don't know if I'm addicted to a sense of accomplishment or if I lack the ability to relax. The new book I started a few weeks ago, Bound by Blood, I've made a conscious decision to put it on hold. I don't have writer's block. (I don't believe in it.) I know exactly what's going to happen, I'm just not ready to write it yet. I want to "live" with these characters a bit longer. I want to get to know them better so that I can tell their stories more completely. You can tell if a writer really understood the world and the characters by the emotion (or lack thereof) in any story. I want mine to be complete.

This is a choice I made. I did it on purpose. When will the story be ready? I'm not sure. It might be tomorrow or it might be a few months from now. So, why did I start working on it again yesterday? Because I'm impatient. By the way, I put the project back on the shelf after making some important notes. Nothing wrong with notes.

It seems like I'm always in a hurry to do something. I lack stillness. Now, I'm not talking about the kind of stillness like sitting on your butt and eating chips in front of the television. Ha. Ha. I'm talking about stillness of mind.

The older I get the more I have this unexplainable sense of urgency to get things done, to accomplish something truly wonderful and/or noteworthy.

When I wrote my first novel in 2007, that was right in the middle of a truly stressful time in my life. Not because of writing, but other factors. For example, I had a chain of horribly stressful jobs that took their toll on me mentally and physically. Not to sound like a whiner, but I haven't worked with the public since March, 2010 and I am only now beginning to feel like I've recovered. People are so awful to each other that it takes my breath away. Being professional and preforming your job to the best of your ability doesn't count for shit and it certainly doesn't give you any job security.

When I began writing full-time, it wasn't only because I was working toward my dream, it was out of necessity. Two years later, I don't feel like a different person. I feel like my old self. You know, the me before I became bitter and wounded by repeat encounters from "Assholes R' Us" card carrying members.

Things are improving for me by the day and for that I am truly thankful. Still, I can't seem to shake this sense of urgency. Maybe it's because I worked for an obsessive compulsive lunatic for 4 years who breathed down the back of my neck every second. Sometimes I think that may be the case.

The rest of the time (when I'm not suffering from PMS) I realize that if I suffer permanently from dealing with those jerks, then they win. I can't let that happen. If it takes 1000 workouts and hours of meditation, I will learn to calm down and take my time. Damn it, I'm going to lollygag if it kills me! LOL

Just because I don't have a new book come out every month doesn't mean readers will forget I exist. Besides, I've had 2 new releases this year already. Not to mention, all my backlist books that I'm re-editing, adding content to (in many cases) and re-releasing. Plus, I'm working on getting into the best shape of my life. At least, that's my goal.

As writers if we don't take time to read works besides our own, watch favorite (or new) movies, and experience life, we miss the chance to refill our creativity.

So, here's the reality I keep telling myself, I'm not on a deadline. No one is breathing down my neck to finish this book. My readers will enjoy it more when it is all it was meant to be, and so will I.

Once again, I'm sharing this because I truly believe I am not the only writer who has feelings like this. Hell, I don't think you have to be a writer to relate to me. I think ALL people who have to work for a living go through things like this.

Plus, yesterday (April 26th) was my birthday and I tend to look more harshly at my accomplishments (or lack thereof) when another year has past.

But has a year really passed, or just another day? The day before my birthday was just another day. And you know what? So is my birthday. I didn't suddenly age a year in one day. It happened gradually, day by day, minute by minute. That's how a life is made. It's how success is built. It's how winning is done.

Now, who wants ice cream? Oh, right, I'm lactose intolerant. Really, I'll stop making jokes now. I promise.

Writing, stress, and Rocky Balboa

I'm sure you've been wondering why I haven't been blogging more often, right? Ha. Ha. Well, whether you've missed me or not, here's what's up. I'm still here, I just needed a break.

Anyone can get burned out on any job, regardless of how much you love it. Between dealing with my private life (nothing bad, just lots going on), trying to get my yard in shape, trying to get MYSELF in shape, AND writing a new book, AND promoting my older works, AND editing some previously published books for re-release later this year, AND looking for photos appropriate for cover art for those books, AND dealing with a rash of bitchy reviews, AND ... Oh, hell. I lost track of all the "ands," but you get the point.

I'm tired. It's very stressful when you're working your ass off and can't understand why sales aren't higher. The majority of my reviews are good. I get nice emails from readers all the time. The feedback from my editors is positive as well. What the crap, right?

Who knows? Either way, it was really taking a toll. I already have insomnia off and on and lately it had been more on.

Last week was spring break for my son. I spent lots of quality time with him and his Xbox. Ha. Ha. Ha. And I loved it. It made me realize how very much I needed to take a break.

Honestly, I don't even want to LOOK at a book for a few weeks. If I'm going to continue writing, I want to be able to do that to the best of my ability. I want readers to enjoy what I publish, not just suffer through it. In order for me to do my very best, I've GOT to start taking breaks.

I see comments online all the time where people are going on about how they write EVERY day. When I'm working on a project, yes, I try to write some on that project every day. However, I work best if I take some time between books. That's what works best for me. That time could range from a few weeks to a few months. It all depends on how insistent my next project is.

I've written some of my best stuff after taking three months off in the middle of a book. I needed the time to remember the joy of writing. If the joy is gone and it's become just another job, the book will never be what it could. I want my works to all live up to their potential in my eyes. I want to know that when I have a book published I wouldn't have done it any other way. So, regardless of what critics say, it is a quality product, and I KNOW that if it's what readers are into, the majority will enjoy it.

This is going to sound cheesy, but I'm going to take a little time to get my joy back before I finish my work in progress. After that rash of nasty reviews, I took some time to seriously consider if I wanted to keep writing, if remaining in this business was worth it.

Here's my answer, I'm a writer. I write. It's not just what I do, it's who I am. I don't know how to be anything else. If I worked at a store, I'd be a store worker who dreamed of writing. If I taught classes, I'd be a teacher who dreamed of being a writer. And doing either of those things would make me miserable. I would still tell these stories, even if they were for my enjoyment alone.

The second thing that I would miss is meeting new readers. I've met some great people I otherwise never would have known if they hadn't enjoyed my books and decided to write to me. Some have become friends and I treasure that.

Not to mention I've got a series I haven't finished yet. I don't want to disappoint everyone who has been patiently waiting to see what happens to Lilith Mercury and her band of merry werewolves. LOL

Okay, so they're not all merry, but you know what I mean.

Everyone gets down sometimes. People get stressed and overworked. Even people who have their dream job need to rest. I'm going to end this post with a quote that I find has lots of personal meaning for me. I've been a kickboxer for more years than I care to share. Besides being a writer, I'm a fighter. Rocky Balboa never fails to inspire me. Yet again, cheesy but true. Hey, there's nothing wrong with being cheesy sometimes.

Rocky Balboa is worth watching, by the way, even if you don't like the other Rocky films.

At one point in the movie he tells his son, "You ain't gonna believe this, but you used to fit right here. [taps on the inside of his hand] I'd hold you up and say to your mother, 'this kid's gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid's gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew.'

And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilege. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did.
But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!

Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life."

Excuse me while I pick myself up again.

Is this stuff contagious?

Something awful is spreading around the internet. It's not a zombie virus, but it also seems to attack the brain. I'm talking about the way authors are treated.

It seems that people are supposed to be able to say anything they like and never have an author respond. Reviewers are getting nastier by the second. And I'm not just talking about how they treat me. This is an epidemic.

Everywhere you go (where books are reviewed) someone is getting flamed. Whatever happened to professionalism? Or even just courtesy for someone else's feelings?

I am sick to death of people saying that an author should have a thick skin. Don't give me that crap! People behave horribly and I'm supposed to just ignore it?

Sure, if someone doesn't like an element of the book, I can brush that off. One random person will always feel differently than the majority. That is normal.

I don't know what's up with people attacking authors these days. I wrote to a reviewer (for the first time EVER in my life) to say that I found her words hurtful. I was polite and professional. I pointed out why I felt that way and I did this PRIVATELY not on her blog. I felt I had the right to express my opinion.

I got back the most horrible flaming email. Apparently, having an opinion these days is interpreted as starting a fight.

It's enough to make me want to get out of the business. This is sickening. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Some reviewers feel slighted if the author doesn't respond to their review. Others are upset to know the author read it, even if the review was great.

No matter who you are or what you write, someone will always hate it. To make matters worse, anyone with internet access can say and do any damn thing they want. There is also an entire generation out there that manners do not apply to, or so it seems. I don't even think they've heard the word.

It's very discouraging to someone who tries to take the feelings of others into consideration.

Sure, this is my dream ... but I wonder more and more if this overly drama queen inhabited industry is one I want to stay in.

I'm a writer, so I write. It's who I am. What the hell am I supposed to do? I sometimes want to quit, but I don't know how.

I may never offer a free read again

I have decided to unpublish my short story, Eaten by The Wolf. Apparently, people are signing up just for the purpose of leaving bad reviews on this one. That's what I get for trying to give people something for free. You just can't be nice to anyone without having it thrown back in your face.

Thank you very much to everyone who left positive reviews and comments. Please don't think I don't appreciate you. I really do. Your support is what keeps me going.

Having said that, I don't need the kind of negativity this story is generating. And for the most stupid reasons at that. I'm currently working on turning this into a full-length novel. I can't work on that while assholes are signing up just to leave reviews that say it's "the worst thing they've ever read."

Seriously, when they have no other reviews and it shows they've been a member for only a few days, you can't tell me that's not someone being a jerk just for the sake of being a jerk.

Why would they do that? What is it about me that's so offensive? Are they jealous of me? I'm not making a lot of money. I don't live in a big house or have lots of cars. What the hell are they jealous of? And if not jealousy, why do they hate me? What the hell have I done to them?

I make a point to be nice to other people, especially within the same industry. I do my best to help others and offer advice when it's asked for. I know I haven't done anything to deserve this.

So, to the author or authors out there behind this (because I know you are) ask yourselves why are you really doing this? What do you get out of it?

I wanted to give people a sample of my writing. Nice to know no one wants it.

Goodbye Matt

Today I'm going to share something very painful in the hopes that I will never have to deal with this again. Writing is my therapy many times, so I'm going to write about it.

Years ago, I had a friend. A very dear friend whom I thought of as a brother. His name was Matt. From the time I was in 6th grade (changed schools) until my early twenties, we saw each other often. Hell, we just lived around the block from one another. I loved him with all my heart. He was family to me. Even after I got married, my husband really liked him too. We used to all hang out and go places together. My parents loved him too.

Then one day in 2002 when I was on my way to work, I stopped at a gas station in town. There was Matt. He told me he was moving. He'd gotten a better job somewhere but promised to keep in touch and visit. I hugged him that day with a heavy heart. I smiled and wished him well, but something inside me knew, I would never see him again. I was right.

One day he was my best friend, the next he'd dropped off the face of the earth. With all the technology we have today I know that seems impossible. But it isn't. I've not been able to find him on any social networks. I checked for listed phone numbers in the general area where he moved. But he wasn't there anymore. In 2006 I found an address way down in Florida where I sent a letter, trying to reach him. If he got it, I never knew.

Over the years I have dreamed of him until I can no longer take the heartbreak. These dreams are never exactly the same. They normally consist of me seeing him somewhere. Damn, it's good to see him. We talk about our lives, catch up. Then, when I go to hug him goodbye, I realize it's only a dream. I wake up with my heart broken all over again.

It's 4:50 a.m. and I've just woken from another such dream. I can't take it any more. I just want to let this go. He may have moved a lot, but I have lived in the same house, on the same street. Until recently, I had the same phone number. And my parents still have the same number. He hasn't called. He hasn't written. He hasn't stopped by. As much as it hurts to admit, maybe I wasn't as important to him as he was to me.

I'm writing this to say goodbye. Stop haunting my dreams. I'm tired of waking up crying. Dreams of you have a way of showing up when I feel lonely and I need you most. It's cruel. I'm sick of it. This ghost of a memory that feels so real has got to let me be. So, wherever you are, Matt .... I'm tired of missing you. Goodbye.

Life doesn't get in the way

I’ve never had writer’s block. I’ve had annoying things happen that kept me from writing when I wanted to. I used to say that I had “life block” or that my life was getting in the way. Then I realized something, my life was the reason I could write. All those pain in the ass incidents sparked my creativity … eventually. It is because of my life that I have anything worth saying.

So, I’m not going to say anymore that life gets in the way of my writing. You either make a choice to live your life or let it pass you by. For a writer, letting it pass you by is (in my opinion) a grave mistake. After all, if you haven’t lived, how could you possibly write about other people’s lives?

So what if I don’t write a book in a month like I used to? I’m taking more time for myself, getting in better shape. And you know what? I feel great. For the first time in years I spend more time feeling good than bad. And my writing is better for it. Now when I do find a few minutes to write I have more to put into it.

People will ask sometimes how long until my next book. (I love those letters, by the way.) Now the answer is most likely when I have something else to say. When I have something inside of me worth letting out. When my latest vision of vampire perfection can no longer be denied. LOL

Seriously, take the time to live your life. You won’t regret it. But if you put all your love into your work (whatever it is) there will come a time when you regret that decision. Save a little love for something else, like yourself. (This includes spending time with your family. To me, spending time with people you love is loving yourself. It’s a good investment.) You deserve it.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

I’m inspired to do a lot of things by my dreams. I've created characters and even written entire stories based on dreams. Dreams can lift your spirits or remind you of something you forgot was important.

Just like Jiminy Cricket said, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” I know it’s a cartoon, but take a minute to think about that. To me (when I awoke from a dream a few days ago with this song on my mind), it was profound. Sometimes dreams are just dreams, but other times, they are the desires of our heart, played out like a movie in our sleep.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep.” I haven’t heard this song since I was a child, yet somehow I remembered the words. In my dream I was watching what appeared to be hundreds of falling stars. It wasn’t apocalyptic or anything like that. They were drifting to earth like glitter. Naturally, I made a wish. As soon as I made my wish, I could hear the song. After not having watched Jiminy or heard his song in over 20 years, I take this as a sign. Good things are coming my way. So, go ahead, be inspired by your dreams. I think it’s important for everyone to have a dream. Maybe even more than one.

How much do reviews matter to you?

I've often wondered how important reviews actually are. I try to look at it objectively and not just from the perspective of an author. So, I'll answer the question as honestly as I can from both perspectives.

As an author, it's wonderful to know when someone loved my book. However, it's also more likely that people who HATE it will leave a review. I'm not sure why this is true, but it seems to be. People who love the story seem more likely to send me an email. Don't get me wrong, I greatly appreciate this. Kind words do wonders for encouraging me and keeping me motivated to do what I love. I suppose the people who leave bad reviews do so because they just want to "hate and run." LOL Sending an email might actually open up *gasp* a dialogue between them and the author.

Constructive criticism is often difficult to hear, but totally understandable. Everyone sees things differently and has different opinions. However, bashing an author on a personal level is horrible and should never be considered a review. As a rule, I don't respond to reviews. I have broken that rule once when someone actually called me names. That's right, they attacked ME, not THE BOOK. Still, I was professional and to the point. And I only responded ONCE. (By the way, that review was removed by the site for violating policy. Yes, it was that bad.)

Also, it seems that many bad reviews are planted delibrately by others who seek only to make the author and their work look bad. Why anyone would put such effort into bashing someone else is beyond me, but it happens.

I've read in several blog posts and online discussions that reviewers are uncomfortable when an author responds, even if it's to say "thank you." So, unless someone draws my attention to a review they posted, I don't even do that.

I sincerely appreciate someone taking the time to read and review my work. I read a post yesterday in which the individual said they thought it was tacky for an author to post links to "great reviews." Seriously? We aren't allowed to gush when someone totally gets us and what we were trying to say?

Anyway, as an author, I think that reviews only matter to me when they are in reference to my books. (Sorry, didn't mean to go into a rant.)

As a reader, which I've been all my life, I tend to overlook reviews for the most part. Most of the time, I've already made up my mind to purchase the book based on a few factors.

1. The cover art must catch my attention. I'm sorry to say, but I really do judge books by their cover.

2. Price is the next thing I look at. I'm most likely to purchase the book if it's under $5. The cheaper it is, the more likely I am to buy it.

3. The blurb. I read the book's description. If it sounds like something I might like, the cover looks good, and the price is right, I'll buy it.

Beyond that, I might glance at the reviews, but they have only once changed my mind. That was because I saw a book had rape in it, which I have no desire to read about. (Or see in a movie for that matter.)

Even before I was published, I only glanced at reviews if I was bored or had a spare minute. And they still didn't matter to me. In particular the really bad, ranting and raving reviews (in my opinion) only made the reviewer look bad, not the author.

So, that's my 2 cents on the subject. How much do reviews matter to you?

10 things you might not know about me

I thought it would be fun if I blogged about something ... well, FUN. You know, just for the heck of it? Just because I take writing seriously doesn't mean that's all I ever talk about or blog about. Let's face it, there's more to the world and to life than one topic. On my blog you will encounter all sorts of randomness. LOL

Now, here's 10 things you might not know about me. (In no particular order.)

1. I tried to fly once when I was 8 yrs. old. Epic Fail.

2. I have always loved to read and write about vampires and werewolves. It's not something I did to be "popular," or to stick with any trend.

3. I used to have a coffee cup that said "I'm saving myself for Tom Selleck." LOL Don't know what happened to it. I should get a new one made:)

4. I can think of few things more peaceful than a clear, cool night with the full moon shining down.

5. I was one stripe from a black belt in Krav Maga (and another mixed style) when I stopped taking classes. If I'd finished my last stripe, I'd be registered as a weapon.

6. I think Chuck Norris' beard is sexy.

7. Hulk Hogan told me to take my vitamins once when I was a kid. Seriously. He patted me on the head and everything. LOL

8. I don't have a foot fetish or anything, but I DO notice feet. If someone takes care of their feet, it's a good sign they take care of the rest of themselves. The sight of freaky unkempt toes will make me scream. It's so nasty!

9. Beauty and The Beast is my favorite fairy tale, followed closely by Red Riding Hood.

10. I love drama, the theatrical kind. Not stupid bitches who talk trash. LOL

Now, you know a few more random things about me. Wasn't that fun? Talk of drama makes me feel the urge to practice my bitch slap. Well, off to take care of that.

We should build each other up, not tear each other down

I do not understand the need some people seem to have. We've all met or in some way encountered them, people who thrive on negativity. Regardless of your religious beliefs (because this is NOT a post about religion), most people will agree that we shape our own reality to some extent.

By that I mean if you are a cruel, mean-spirited, abusive person, you will inevitably draw others of like disposition to yourself. You get back what you give out. I for one don't want to plant that kind of seed.

I've seen it too many times in my own life to not believe. Naturally, random things will happen. People will say cruel things you didn't deserve. Why? I don't know. But what I do know is that they are probably miserable. Those who lash out most, do so because of their deep levels of depression, jealousy and/or despair. That's not my speculation, it's a proven fact. Misery it seems, really does love company.

But you know what? If you're a positive person, they won't be sharing your company for long. Them or their misery.

Positivity counts! It really does. I firmly believe that you get what you expect to get out of life. Believe every day (and say it out loud) that good things are coming your way. Declare boldly that you are a success. You deserve nothing less.

Those people who lash out for no reason and deliver cruelty to others are digging their own hole. Years from now when you are prosperous and successful, they will still be miserable.

The way to success is not to tear others down, it's to lift them up. I treat others the way I would want to be treated. No, I'm not perfect, but I support my fellow authors. I speak kind words to those who need to hear them and unless severely provoked, I'm not an asshole.

The best way to get what you want out of life (like say kindness from others as an example) is to give it to someone else. I feel sorry for those who feel compelled to give out nothing but bitterness and spite.

Life is too short to waste time being miserable or trying to make others that way. I want to be happy. I choose to be happy. And I refuse to let anyone ruin my happiness.

A day in the life of a full time writer

Before I get started with this, let me say again that I love what I do. However, I'm often put-off and sometimes entertained by what most people think a writer does all day. Some (like my relatives) think I do nothing at all. In this post, I will be brutally honest and share what my life was like just a few days ago.

Currently, I'm working on editing/polishing a book I plan to release through Amazon at the end of the month. (I feel I need to work quickly on this project, because I never know when my editor might get back to me on my new release with Ellora's Cave.) My goal for the day was to edit 2 chapters and possibly put in some additional description in a few places.

5:30 a.m. - My husband leaves for work. Though I don't hear him, he wakes up our dog, Roscoe (a little black wiener/chahuahua mix) who then proceeds to lick me in the face for 5 minutes while I insist, "No, Roscoe, I don't need any sugar!" In the back of my mind, I know I should get up and get started on the book. But, I'm exhausted. Roscoe and I go back to sleep.

6:00 a.m. - I awake to the sound of a gunshot. Ah, the joys of living in the country during hunting season. While cussing the idiot who fires shots before dawn, I fall back asleep.

9:00 a.m. - Oh, shit! I overslept. Roscoe is asleep under the covers, snoring. I leave him and go into the room across the hall to turn on my computer. While the computer boots up, I start some coffee and get out my notes on the story I'm working on.

9:30 a.m. - I've approved all the posts in my tribe on Triberr, started a load of laundry and still haven't opened my book. So, I open it and scroll to the page where I left off yesterday. I decide it's about damn time I get a cup of coffee.

12:30 p.m. - I've edited about 7 pages, the beds are made and half the laundry is finished. I've also had three cups of coffee and I'm wired. I should take the time now to workout, but I really need to have this book ready by the end of the month. I decide it's time to wake up the dog.

1:30 p.m. - While I eat lunch (heat and eat ramen noodles) I search online for the perfect pictures that I will use to create the cover art. I do this and the rest of the household chores for the next few hours.

3:30 p.m. - My mom drops off my son after picking him up from school. (He spent the night with her.) He is eager to see me, play the Xbox, and get a snack. So much for editing for a while, but at least I found the right pics for the cover art. We proceed to blow shit up (in the game) at a phenominal rate. LOL

6:30 p.m. - After a long, hot shower, I have dinner cooking while I at last get back to my book. Ahhh, Mr. Tall, dark, and sexy is right where I left him. At least some things can always be counted on. The house is surprisingly quiet. My son and dog are both in his room, watching a movie. I actually get to edit a chapter and a half!

8:15 p.m. - My husband is home. This means I won't get another opportunity to write/edit unless I want to piss him off. (Because he thinks he's being ignored) I go in to turn off the computer while everyone else eats dinner.

I've gotten sidetracked by some idiot on Facebook. For some reason he seems to think it's appropriate to discuss my religious beliefs (or what he thinks I believe) in public. After being very pissed off for about 20 minutes, I delete his posts and get on with my life. I really hate assholes.

Now, I scan the book, make a note of the page I'm on and turn the computer off. I did accomplish my goal and clean my house. But somehow I don't feel like I've done much. I go back to face my most hated chore, washing dishes.

While I wash the dishes I wonder if any of my promotional efforts for my latest book have paid off and whether I should try the same techniques for this new book. My mind is buzzing with the possibilities.

Even as I try to sleep a few hours later, all I can think about is what I've done right and what I've potentially done wrong. I am a writer 24/7.

It's not glamorous, but it's who I am. Not all days are this bland, but this is typical. It isn't exciting unless you count reading a great review or seeing that your sales have improved.

I wouldn't trade it for the world.

This is about writing, but what if I put porn in the title?

Okay, you can stop laughing and/or rolling your eyes now. One blog post of mine had the word porn in it, over a year ago. I find it hilarious that this particular post (which wasn't even about porn, but merely used the word) gets so many hits. That's sad.

This post is, like I said, about writing. My writing to be specific. I can't tell you how tired I am of people (mainly relatives) asking me if I "still write about werewolves and stuff." Yes, I do. What part of paranormal romance author are they not understanding? I've worked for 4 years to try and build an audience. I want people to think of paranormal romance when they read my name. Why the hell would I throw 4 years of work down the drain? Wait, that wouldn't be thrown, it'd be flushed. Anyway, you get my point.

That would be stupid! First of all, my loyal readers expect paranormal when they get one of my books. That means, I'd need to come up with a new name to write a different genre. THAT would mean I'd have to do TWICE the marketing. I don't think so! According to my family, contemporary romance is what I should write. Good grief. Obviously, they've never looked at my bookshelf or even paid attention to me as a person.

No offense to those who write contemporary romance and to those who enjoy reading it. I'm just not one of those people. It doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. No matter how great the writing may be, I find it boring. It's just not my thing.

I want to scream every time a relative says, "Why don't you do a regular romance?" Regular meaning contemporary. Um....maybe because it doesn't interest me!

"Well, there's lots of people that don't like that kinda stuff." (Meaning what I write.)

"Then they shouldn't read my books!" Seriously, that's what's great about free will.

I can't seem to make them understand that I cannot write something that doesn't interest me. Before I was ever a writer, I was a reader. I have never liked "regular" anything.

When I was in elementary school, I liked ghost stories. In high school my interests progressed to romance novels (mostly medieval because that came closest to my gothic tastes), and horror. Soon after I discovered sci-fi and as a young adult I finally found some vampire romance books. It was like a light going off in my brain. THIS is what I'd been looking for all along. This thing called paranormal romance combined everything I loved about fiction. It was perfect!

I've known since I was 6 years old that I wanted to tell my own stories someday. Well, someday is now and I love what I do. The sad thing is, it's only a matter of time before someone reads this, takes it completely out of context and starts a whole shitstorm again. (I can't find my umbrella.)

Why can't I just be who I am? And why after 32 years do none of these people know me?

P.S. I have no intentions of ever writing anything "normal," so don't ask. Ever.

How to get your novel started Part 4

This is going to be a very long post.

Writing your book

By now you should have your book planned. You should have a working outline and at least some idea of a title. We’ll be discussing:

How to create memorable characters
Setting and description
Transitions

Transitions

Transitions are the key to making your writing flow. They’re what makes your book “readable.” Transitions are words and short phrases which are normally found at the first of a sentence. They are to ensure that the reading experience is smooth and effortless. (Don’t use them too often though, or your editor will kill you. Seriously, they have a dungeon for people who use these words too much.)

Here are some examples:

Furthermore

On the other hand

So

For example

Otherwise

Because

Afterwards

Then

And

But

Basically

Later

While

In the meantime

Nevertheless

Equally

Apart from

Indeed

In fact

In conclusion

While writing, try to use transitions often to help readers follow your train of thought. Notice I used the words “and” and “but”? Forget what you learned in school about never using these words at the start of a sentence. One shows that a further supporting statement is about to be made and another shows that an opposing statement is about to be made. And if anyone doesn’t like it, tell them to see me. Ha. Ha. This goes back to writing like you speak. (As long as every sentence doesn't begin with "and or "but.")

Writing with Flair

Of course, like I’ve already said, the best thing you can do to add flair is to write like you speak. A straight-forward conversational style will ensure that your work reads well. If you’re a good conversationalist, then you’ll probably be a good writer.

Writing this way is also the quickest way to get your book finished. I mean, how many times are you speaking to someone and pause for weeks in between? Never right? If you know what to say, you have less trouble finding how to say it.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind as you write:

Try to avoid clichés. These are tired phrases like “he ran like the wind” or “she wiped the floor with him.” They are often seen as lazy writing, simply because they have been used so much. They’re a little bit like the tomatoes you left in the fridge for too long, they’ve lost their freshness. (And could possibly be growing mold.)

Vary the length of your sentences. This is to avoid monotony. You also need to suit the pace and tone of what you’re writing. If you’re writing an action sequence, for example, your sentences should be shorter and more precise. Just like the uppercut your character is about to throw.

In particular avoid long, long, long, long, sentences with lots of commas. Use full stops.

Besides length, vary your sentence construction. Normal sentence structure is subject-verb-object. To maintain pace and readability, it’s best to maintain this most of the time. But sometimes it’s alright to change things around a little.

Avoid repeating a word within a sentence or two. Unless you’re doing this deliberately for effect, it is unpleasant to read. You also don’t want to go overboard trying to avoid using the same word again. For instance, don’t call a cow a bovine quadruped to avoid using the word “cow” again.

Avoid using a long word when you could use a short one instead. Use the longer one if it’s the only one appropriate. This has nothing to do with the intellect of your readers, so don't be offended. Writing simply flows better if it isn't bogged down with lots of loooooong words. I hate to read something where the author obviously threw in a bunch of big words just to make themselves or their point seem more important.

Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. Adjectives are describing words like hot or cold. Adverbs normally end in “ly” and tell how something is done. (Poorly or splendidly.) For example, instead of saying a vast amount of water, say an ocean. Or instead of she yelled at the top of her lungs, she screamed.

Avoid using old-fashioned words. Even for comic effect. Words like quoth and perchance should only be found in Shakespeare.

Keep punctuation simple. All you should need for the most part are full stops, a few commas, and question marks. When writing for a general audience, most people could give a rip if you know how to properly place a colon or a semi-colon. Some people even find them distracting.

Use figures of speech to bring your writing to life. The best known figures of speech are metaphors and similes. If you can do this with an original flare, it will help the reader to see the character or situation in a whole new light.

With a simile, the comparison should be explicit. No, I don't mean raunchy. A comparison is obviously made.

I like to give unusual similes. Like someone growing on you like a fungus.

Metaphors are used more artfully. They are often referred to as imagery. These figures of speech should evoke vivid images in the reader’s mind.

Here is an example from Red, book one in my Werewolf Hunter Series.

The beautiful summer day had begun to turn as ugly as my mood. Through the doors to the balcony, dark clouds could be seen gathering. Technically, it was still spring, but when the temperature reached nearly eighty degrees every day, I called it summer. That’s the only thing about Florida I wasn’t fond of; I did not deal well with the heat. But, you can’t have everything, and living in the middle of nowhere, with almost no neighbors, I was probably surrounded by some of God’s best art work. As I walked out onto the balcony, surrounded by deep red roses, I marveled at the fact that there were people who did not believe in the existence of a higher power. I watched the storm clouds rumble and swirl, looking like a bruise mingling with the blue of the sky. I had the urge to get a blank canvas and some paint. Yes, God existed, and he was an artist. In my opinion, anyone who doubted that need only watch one sunset. Every day the countryside around me was painted with the same masterful hand in a slightly different portrait.

The first few rain drops began to fall around me, making the roses look like bobbing little red heads as the rain bounced from their petals. I closed my eyes, tilted back my head and let the rain wash away the bad memories.

No, this book isn’t about religion. Lilith just happens to mention her belief in God during this segment. The question is, could you see the rain bouncing off those roses? Could you picture the storm spreading across the sky?

Another quick note: Don’t work too hard to come up with figures of speech. It isn’t worth it. Besides being a waste of time, if the comparison you make isn’t completely obvious, the result could be unintentionally comical.

Similes and metaphors should be used sparingly. But if you come up with a few good ones along the way, they can help to make your words more easily understood and make your book more fun to read.

Tips specifically for fiction writers

Characterization

Characterization goes hand in hand with conflict. These are probably THE most important parts of the story. After all, you can’t have conflict without characters. The reason people enjoy fiction is because at some level we are able to identify with one or more of the characters. You start to put yourself in their shoes and keep reading to see how they work things out.

And if you had characters without a conflict, you’d have a really boring book. Think back to one of those cheesy old scenes in a black and white movie where two characters run toward each other across a field of wildflowers. Boring right? Who are these idiots and why aren’t they having an allergy attack from all the pollen? If everything worked out right and bad things never happened to good people, it would make an extraordinarily dull read.

Everybody wants and occasionally has strokes of good luck. But we also have setbacks. That’s just part of life. And though readers do read to escape reality, you shouldn’t leave it completely behind. Everything doesn’t always go right and this should be true for your characters.

If everything is always perfect in the lives of your characters, readers won’t be able to identify with them and won’t be the slightest bit interested in what happens to them.

Most truly great fictional characters have been flawed in some way. All of them have problems (conflict) and work to overcome them. For fiction to be successful, it is essential to have characters who have flaws as well as strengths and who experience conflicts and failure as well as success.

Character and conflict interweave to form the plot.

Example: Werewolf Hunter Series – Red

Lilith Mercury is a werewolf Hunter who is not exactly human. Marco Barak is an alpha werewolf looking to change people’s perceptions of his kind, and snag a new alpha female in the process. After a passionate encounter in his club one night, Lilith can no longer deny her attraction to the wolfman. Her job is to kill him, but it breaks her heart to think of causing him harm. Once The Wizard Council agrees to hear Marco’s proposal for the enactment of the werewolf code, things might change, not only for werewolves, but for Lilith. Soon they will both discover that anything worth having is worth fighting for.

PLOT SPRINGS FROM CHARACTER

So, how are you supposed to create these memorable characters from which your plot develops? First, you need to get to know them and I suggest doing so before you start writing. You need to know what makes them tick, their strengths and weaknesses, background, hobbies, etc.

Picture someone in your mind, a character perhaps. Not a celebrity or someone you know, but someone you’ve made up. If you don’t have anyone in mind, then make someone up right now. I’ve found that it’s easier to write in response to a question, so I've got an exercise to help you develop your character.

The exercise will follow this section in the next post.

If you do this exercise, by the time you get to the end, you should feel like you’re getting to know this character. Some of the questions may not apply to your character and that’s fine. This is just to help you get an idea of who they are. You don’t have to know the answer to every question and some of them will even be answered as you write the story.

Now think of a problem this person would want to avoid more than anything. It could be based on their worst fear or their dislikes. Think how the person involved would attempt to resolve the situation. What would they do and what would be the consequences of their actions?

The better you know the characters, the easier the outline and the story will be to write. If you are familiar with your character’s personalities and backgrounds, any one of these can be used to create conflict.

Creating well-rounded life-like characters is important. You might want to complete the questionnaire for all of the characters in your book.

Keep in mind that for your book to be successful, the main character or characters must also be someone readers will find likeable, at least on some level.

Here are some more ideas for creating likeable and memorable characters.

1. Show their softer side – have them do something kind.

2. Make them the underdog – people always root for the underdog, so make the odds stacked against them.

3. Put them in big trouble – the more trouble your character is in, the more the audience will be drawn in.

4. Make them good at what they do – even if they are an assassin, let them take pride in it. (maybe even be the best in the business)

5. Give them a dark past – this could tie into their regrets. We’ve all done things that we regret, having this in a character also makes them easier to identify with.

6. Give them a sense of humor – this not only makes the story easier to read, but makes the characters more believable. They don’t have to be a comedian, they just need to not always take themselves so seriously.

7. Give them flaws – real people cannot identify with perfect people. Give them a drinking problem or a fear of heights … something to overcome.

8. Give them someone to love – it could be a lover or their child, or even their dog. But everyone, no matter how bad they may be, needs someone to love. Yes, this applies even if you’re not writing a love story.

9. Let them have something in common with the reader – this could be a nosy neighbor or a boss who’s a jerk. Just as long as it’s something that a lot of people can identify with.

10. Make them rebels – this goes along with being the underdog, just do it with attitude.

Of course, you don’t need to use all of these for every character, but you should use some to make the characters easy to identify with and realistic.

Show, don’t tell

I didn’t invent this phrase. It’s used in lots of writing classes. And it’s probably the best piece of advice I can give you.

Don’t just tell them what’s going on in a scene. Describe it. Show it to them. Try to think of your novel as a movie. Rather than just telling your audience what happens, show it to them in a few vividly portrayed scenes.

Show scenes through the eyes of a viewpoint character.

Don’t include asides which can only come from the author.

Have as much dialogue and action as possible.

Keep reportage and reminiscence (flash backs) to a minimum.

Write most of your story in the character’s presence.

Avoid having characters tell one another about events – if it’s important show it happening instead.

Why the words you choose are so important

People don’t just want to see your world. They want to hear it, feel it. They want to take in the sights, taste the food, hear the music. They want to be able to feel the changes in temperature and observe the animals.

If you can’t describe the place like you’ve been there, the reader will know the difference. They can only get as deep into the story as you do.

Setting and description

Try to include these in the dialogue. Blend them into the narrative. Avoid a three page description of a dirt road. (Seriously, I read that once.) Rather than stop a story in its tracks to provide a full description of the setting, give a few well chosen details and let the reader fill in the rest for themselves.

The character outline can be found in the next post:) I may have to do that one tomorrow.