“Ask the Doc!” We at Book Therapy care about your WIP, and its problems… We know that getting along with your characters can be a challenge. They’re moody, or introverted, or maybe they simply don’t want to cooperate with your plot. Worse, sometimes they refuse to come out and play! We understand…and want to help!! Here’s your chance to get real advice from book doctors trained to help you fix your fiction. What is your MOST VEXING issue in your current wip? Go to the Ask the Doc entry form, write your answer, and be eligible to win a copy of NOAH LUKEMAN’s THE PLOT THICKENS — 8 WAYS TO BRING FICTION TO LIFE~ ! A fascinating book about CHARACTERIZATION and how to create juicy conflict. A MUST HAVE for […]
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Prescriptions: Breaking through Writer’s Block Week 1
Most writer’s blocks, and problems with story have to do with motivation, lack of greatest fears and greatest dreams of the main character. You’ve got a great idea – a great character, a great problem, a incredible theme…but you’re half-way through the book and suddenly, you don’t know where to go. Your scene seems boring, flat, and suddenly you’re looking at the entire book wondering how you got into this mess. This happened to me on my second contracted book Tying the Knot. It was the early days, and I still hadn’t figured out how to structure a novel, how to break past my writer’s block. I was home, on furlough, doing a lot of traveling, and somehow I had to fit in writing. However, I was just blank. I […]
Read the RestSelf Therapy: Tweaking an idea
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 RestDoctor’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 […]
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