[taken from the July issue of the MBT Ezine. Read more about Word Painting at: http://voicesmag.mybooktherapy.com] I love word painting. It’s the last element of texture I add into a piece before I move into polishing. It’s adding those eloquent, specific words and cadences to a sentence or paragraph that not only makes it come alive … but adds in the right emotion. A book is all about connecting to the reader’s emotions, and word painting is the finite art of wooing your words into your reader’s heart. It’s going beyond naming and telling emotions to using the painting of words to evoke the correct feeling. Let’s take a look. Here’s a piece of word painting from my current novel, Sons of Thunder: Markos speared the water. The cool lick […]
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I’m Important Too! (the care and feeding of Secondary Characters!)
The use of Secondary Characters: I’m important too!! So, I’m sitting here at my husband’s office, mulling over today’s blog, and the front desk guy (a friend named Jim) asks me, of course, what I’m writing about: Me: The Use of Secondary Characters in a book. Him: Or misuse. (he’s an avid reader). Me: (because I haven’t had my coffee yet…) Huh? Him: Well, think about it, just the name: Secondary Character. How would you like to be called a Secondary Character? They’re important, too! He’s brilliant! And right! See, secondary characters are key to a great story. Think of Watson, to Sherlock Holmes. And Danny Glover to Mel Gibson (sorry to bring him up, but again, I’m needing coffee), and how about um…Bert and Ernie? […]
Read the RestMBT Frasier Finalists Announced!
I am so thrilled to announce the five finalists for the My Book Therapy Frasier Contest! Not only did they have to compete against 42 other entries, but they competed on straight storytelling elements. Which story had the strongest opening, with all the key storytelling elements? My Book Therapy believes in the power of feedback to help writers grow in their writing craft — which is why we designed the “Frasier” writing contest for unpublished members of the My Book Therapy Voices… with a grand prize that is more than a certificate or a plaque…it’s a TICKET. Or rather, a SCHOLARSHIP to one of the My Book Therapy’s intimate yet intensive writing retreats. (A $500 value.) The Finalists of the Frasier Award Beth Vogt Wish You Were Here Can the wrong […]
Read the RestThe Essence of Hero and Heroine
Early on we learn conflict makes a great story. Conflict elicits emotion. Tension is necessary to keep the story flowing and the readers turning pages. In romance, it’s easy to put the hero and heroine in conflict with each other. They are the main players, the key figures on the stage and well, why not have them at opposite goals, fighting, arguing, hating one another. Donald Maass says, “He’s hot, she’s hot, but they can’t stand each other.” Well, true, that does make for a good story. But in our ameturish hands, a fighting hero and heroine can come across snarky, mean, petty and well, too stupid to live. What we need to demonstrate is WHY the hero and heroine belong together. What is it about her that he loves? […]
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