Ideas come and go. I’ve learned over the years the initial spark is just that, a spark, not a roaring fire that will burn long enough to write an entire book. Let me give an example. When I started writing what is Lost In NashVegas, I came up with a story of country girl who owned a fishing shack in central Florida. There was something about her wanting to buy or maintain an old house she loved. I can’t remember all of the details, but that should give you a clue. No details. My agent said, “Nope!” After brainstorming with her for a few minutes, we came up with the idea of having the Heroine be a songwriter. Okay, I can do that. I know nothing about it, but I […]
Read the RestArchive | October, 2007
Doctor’s Notes: Secret #3 to making our readers cry over our heroes!
I’ve been studying lately secrets to making my characters not only unique, but the kind of heroes that cause readers to cry over them. I’ve discovered three secrets that hold the keys to great characterization. Secret #1 is Compassion. Secret #2 is Strong Motivation. And now, Secret #3: Sacrifice – We love a man who sacrifices. Whether he sacrifices his noble cause, his dreams, faces his fears, or even sacrifices the woman he loves for the greater good…sacrifice is the key to a hero that makes us cry. Why do we love Jack Bauer – maybe some of you don’t but I do…and it’s because Jack continually sacrifices himself for others…for American, for Audrey…I for one was in tears at the end of last season. I just want Jack to […]
Read the RestAsk the Doc: Finding material for scenes
I have the big picture for my plot ~ but I am stuck on figuring out individual scenes. How do I come up with scenes that don’t drag? Good question! I am loving the new show, Journeyman, a time travel show about a guy who gets snatched (by who, what cosmic force?) to be sent back in time to “put right what once went wrong” (to quote my favorite time-travel show Quantum Leap). I love time travel shows, and this one is stellar because of the layers of relationships and trouble his “bouncing” causes. It also raises a lot of questions. Like, what if he gets killed back in time? Or what if he changes something that affects his life, or the life of someone he loves? What if he’s […]
Read the RestReading Up: Charles Martin
When my agent suggested reading Charles Martin, I bought “The Dead Don’t Dance” right away. I devoured this book. Personally, I think it’s his best. But I haven’t read the sequal, “Maggie” yet. What Martin does well is paint on the page. He’s lyrical and magical in his phrasing. He takes the time, (sometimes too much) to put emotion on the page. In “Dance” I felt the emotion and love of the hero for his wife and the pain of their devastation. In a season where fiction writing seems to be all about “tension” on every page, Martin creates a story of tension that evokes emotion on every page. In love stories or relationship stories, true emotion is just as much a drive to the story as tension or conflict. […]
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