Is Your Book Different?

Tell Me A Story

Book promotion - I hate it.

When promoting a novel, you must persuade readers and reviewers that your story is distinctive and unique. As an author, if you don't understand why your book is unique, then they won’t either.

Here are some things you might ponder on, before trying to explain your book:

• What makes you believe your story treats an old theme with a new twist
• In what way does your book serve a market that other books in the same category do not
• If your tale isn't different, why did you write it?

To become successful, your book needs to be innovative, distinctive, fresh, and stimulating - be sure to let people know just what those attributes are.

Your book needs to have a reason for being there. Undertaking that dreaded book promotion, is an ideal time to explain things. Make sure readers understand why they should read your story, and what they will get from it if they do.

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Publish Post

Looking for a good read? Try:-

Short Moments - collection of 10 short stories

or

Past Sins - Contemporary fiction 

The Essence of Action, Plot, and Change

Tell Me a Story

I've been asked several times about action and plot. There seems to be some confusion regarding action. 

Janet W. was adamant that there would be NO action in her romantic novel. HER romance was going to be of the old-school, all hearts and roses. I had to disagree.

It is ESSENTIAL for every story to have action; be it romance, mystery, thriller or short story there must be action. Don't throw your arms up, action doesn't necessarily mean the 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' type that modern blockbuster films seem to favour.

Action

• Action does not imply that protagonists should always be on the go.
• Action does not mean constantly shifting the setting for your story.
• Action emerges out of conflict between characters and/ or circumstance.
• Action comes about through contradictory beliefs and qualities that gradually emerge and become apparent.
• Action means an escalation of circumstances.
• Action drives the story onward. A story is always about change; without change, there is no story.

 

Change, should be especially true for central characters, by the end of a story central characters should have grown in some way …. be it better or worse, they should have developed. This is action.

 So if action and change are what drive the story forward, what does the plot do?

Plot

• Plot is the arrangement of actions.
• Plot is the progression of fascinating happenings that cause change.
• Plots MUST be sensible and valid. Twists of fate and acts of God are not allowed in modern writing!

Hope this clears things up a little.

Generating Tension

Tell Me A Story - writing tips

 From time to time, I’m asked how to go about generating conflict in a story. It isn’t magic; it comes about when a certain mixture of elements in a story, are correctly balanced.

Creating Tension
I can’t claim this to be complete, but here’s a short list that might be useful as a starting point for creating tension in stories.

1. The aims of the central characters should be contradictory, and mutually exclusive.
2. The central characters should be fighting to reach their separate goals autonomously, and to the detriment of the other.
3. The path your characters take in reaching their goals becomes the foundation of action. You should exploit the actions and contradictions - take full advantage to heighten the tension.
4. The plot should have a poignant side.
5. Strong feeling shouldn’t merely be narrated in characters; show by reactions, don't tell.
6. Emotions that you invoke in your readers are what count most.
7. It’s essential you understand the feelings you wish to stir in your reader before you write. You must write with that emotion in mind at all times.
8. The theme of the story should be one about which you care deeply.
9. You must be affected by your characters, and caught up with what happens to them.
10. You should believe in your characters and empathise with their struggle. If you don’t, how can anyone else. Your work will lack the oomph that tempts people to turn pages.

As a final thought, a time restriction can also heighten anxiety. Having to complete something vital, before it adversely affects characters, is often a good way of creating tension.

Keep Characters Authentic

Tell Me A Story - Tips

I loathe it when I’m reading a novel, and a protagonist, for no logical reason, does something out of character. I recently tossed a book to one side because of it - no, I'm not citing names, I don't want a lawsuit in my face, but I’m sure you know what I'm talking about.

Characters should seem authentic.

Most of us have seen it at some time. I wonder how some authors get away with it. For heaven’s sake, we are supposed to think that characters are REAL. If a character is withdrawn they're not about to make a career in television presenting, are they? They wouldn't do it in real life, so why in a story.

I’m an expert on shyness. I'm quiet (well mostly), I am definitely not an extrovert. In fact I was interviewed on a radio chat show a while ago, and was full of panic. I dislike being the centre of attention - so why put fictional characters in ludicrous situations? It simply does not work.

Character's aspirations and responses should always be consistent within the framework of the story. Don't allow them do phoney things just to make a shoddy passage seem better. Your readers might start reaching for another book if you do....

Make your characters authentic. Make them plausible! Keep your readers turning those pages.



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Romantic Suspense

Mastering Descriptive Writing

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Short Moments: Heartwarming Short Stories
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
All About Write - 10 Top Writing tips
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Tell Me a Story


For some reason, a lot of wannerbe writers go over the top with their descriptive writing. In general, you should curb your enthusiasm for 'purple prose'.

Cut out those flowing passages and get back to nitty gritty words. Never use three words when one will do.

Don't waste time searching for obscure words, use plain English.

Get rid of those cute adverbs and adjectives - they kill your story.

For more, read How To Master Descriptive Writing


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How to format a book

Format a book

Tell Me a Story - manuscript submission guidelines
















Format a book

The way an editor first perceives a book decides its prospects with that publishing house forever – it might sound severe, but I’m afraid it’s true.

A quick glance at your book will make or break it. Editors in publishing houses are innundated with manuscripts, and they are only human - little things can sway them. Wouldn't it be terrible if it was tossed to one side without being read, simply because it didn't pass an editor's eye-test or it fluffed on the submission guidelines.

Don't let yours be one of them - learn how to format a book in this Bukisa article - 20 Things You Should Know About How To Format A Book

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To Write a Better Story

To Write a Story

Tell Me a Story - hints and tips

To write a story.

So, you've struggled against all odds and have finally managed to write a story. Quite rightly, you’re over the moon that it's now complete - yet is it....

It’s a hell of an achievement to write a story, most wannerbes rarely make it to the finishing line, so you deserve a pat on the back in your own right. However, that first draft will seldom be equal to the exacting yardsticks laid down by most publishing houses.

What then must you do to bring it up to the standard required? What extra is demanded of you?

20 Ways To Write A Story Better

....Now you can polish your manuscript until it shines....


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Mastering the art of Story Characters

Tell Me a Story - article













Story Characters - The critical component

Plot characters, story characters, call them what you may, they are the most important ingredient in your story.

You might strive for a perfect adventure, but unless your readers equate with your story characters there is no story. If readers don't care what happens to the characters, the tale will flop. So what can you do...... Well you can try reading this ..... 7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing


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Ingredients of a plot

Tell Me a Story - hints and tips

The Plot of a Story











Plot of a story

A lot of stories fail simply because the writer hasn't controlled the ingredients. There are certain elements that a plot must contain in order for it to be successful. Success is never guaranteed, but you can at least give your manuscript a fighting chance by following these guidelines.

Need to get that plot of a story in order? Not quite getting it together? Maybe you need to take a peep at this Bukisa article --- How to become a writer - Ingredients of a plot


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Tell me a Story


If you're set on becoming a writer but never seem to get the opening right, take a look at this article on Bukisa ... BECOMING A WRITER

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Getting over Writer's Block

Tell Me a Story - writing tip

If the surge of ideas has faded, if your writing feels trapped or awkward, if you’ve hit the dreaded writer’s block, maybe you’re just not paying attention to your subconscious.

The waking mind

When you hit a sticking point, it sometimes means the plot is flawed and your subconscious knows and has slowed down. You’re still forging ahead as if the storyline is okay, and simply think you’re having a bad patch. The idea that your scheme might be wrong hasn’t trickled through to your waking mind yet.

Sometimes it’s better to step back and take another look at your plot. Re-assess your ideas; are there other scenarios that might work better?

Allow it to be processed

Search through your running notebook of questions on the story (you do keep a notebook of things that need answering or resolving at a later date don’t you). Feed the ideas into your mind, try reversing the roles, chew things over. Ask yourself questions about the problem you've hit.

Now put the whole thing to one side. Take a walk, feed the dog, go shopping, do anything except write. Allow time for this fresh material and the questions to be processed by your subconscious. Let it poach and boil whilst you do something unrelated. Take a holiday.

Nourish your mind

Feeding crude material into your mind can be intriguing and very worthwhile. The more you nourish your mind, the more probable your subliminal dynamic will be there to help.

Lying dormant within your notebook, or sometimes in what you’ve already written will be a clue to the problem. Give it time to bubble and eventually the answer will doubtless appear.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook

Give yourself permission to write crap

Tell Me a Story - writing tip

AJ - Do you have any suggestions for those of us perfectionist/ slowpokes who have a hard time NOT editing as we write? Basically I write crap. I have to keep editing it away.

Hi, Billie. Thanks for contacting me. I can only suggest that because you understand your problem, the answer virtually lies in your own hands. Recognizing that you’ve hit an obstacle is certainly the first step - and even the best writer churns out crap in the first draft.

Some writers become drunk with their own words and don’t recognize what they’ve written can have anything wrong with it. They are deluding themselves. Their writing will remain crap.

Words have worth

Maybe your problem is the opposite in that you don’t believe your words have worth. If that’s the case, then you too, are deluding yourself. There is something of worth in everything you write. Amongst that crap will be a gem, and if you clean it up it will sparkle.

Once you acknowledge a first draft, warts and all, is an essential part of writing, maybe you’ll face it more philosophically and proficiently. No one is going to read your first draft. It’s for your eyes only, a scribbling of basic ideas.

Force yourself to write.

Striving for the ultimate is an essential part of success, but you really shouldn’t let it get in the way of putting that precious story down. Be hard on yourself. Force yourself to simply write until the draft is complete. When the draft is finished, you can give yourself full-rein to edit. You can be as harsh as you like – in fact, you should be severe. Stories are not written, they are re-written.

Overcoming the problem.

Years ago I had trouble with putting profanities into my work.

I overcame the problem by writing a whole story using the most foul-language I could dream up. I let it flood out; in fact, I overdid the writing. The story was unreadable because of this overuse of swear words, but it cured me.

Maybe you could try something similar with, say, a version of your very own NaNoWriMo. Set your own target then write like mad for a month – forget quality – forget story content – just give yourself permission to complete a novel-full-of-crap within a month.

Expect crap, write crap; be satisfied with crap - but you might be pleasantly surprised. You might even have a story you can use sometime – and you might just be cured.


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• Romantic Suspense

Writing - Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Tell Me a Story - question

Hello, AJ. I'm having a dilemma. I think it's descriptive power syndrome. I over-describe things (maybe) and get stuck right after writing a great descriptive paragraph and become unable to continue the plot. Every thing I start to write results like that. Please do recommend me methods or tell me tips to overcome my problem. Thanks.

Hello Aiman from Singapore. Thanks for sending this in. Descriptive Power Syndrome, mm.... That's a new one on me, I guess you not only recognize you have a problem, but have named it as well. Perhaps you’re talking about what in the past was called ‘purple prose’.

It seems to me that you almost have the answer in your own hands. Most people don't understand what the obstacles are with their writing and that's where their actual problems lie. Once they KNOW they have a problem, they work on it and polish it away. You seem to understand exactly what is wrong - so let's try to see why you can't get over it.

Edit it away

Most authors simply get on with writing their story and return later to edit away the crap. Don’t imagine that writers produce a beautiful piece of work hot off the press. Stories aren’t written, stories are re-written, several times. Everyone has to edit the rubbish away. The trick is recognizing what the rubbish is. You already seem to understand this.

Let's try a plan

Okay, so maybe the real problem lies in planning. I know I hammer this a lot, but a lot of hiccups in writing come about because of insufficient preparation.

If you make an outline of the story before you start to write, you won’t grind to a halt because any sticking points will be ironed out in the planning stage. A plan doesn’t have to be all-inclusive, it can be as sketchy as you like. Just make one. The worst plan is better than none at all - and the plan can be altered at any time to accomodate new ideas.

Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Some writers claim that making an outline inhibits their flow of writing, that their creative juices are stunted. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. Once you know where the story is going, you can write free-flow then wham! Words just fall off the ends of your fingers.

A plan is merely a guide, a map of where you want to go; it isn’t the journey, it isn’t writing. Writing is where you release the juices and the flow of creation comes into it’s own.

Good luck - and let me know how you go on.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story
• Romantic Suspense

Do writers go to college

Tell Me a Story - question time .

AJ, Do writers need to go to college? I mean people who write books. Not technical writers or journalists or anything. I'm talking about the author of a fantasy series, a book full of laughter, a tragedy, a romance, a thriller, whatever. If so, what kind of degree do you need to be one?

Hi Demi. Some universities certainly offer courses on creative writing, but a degree isn't necessary to be a successful writer. I do actually have a degree, but it isn't related to media in any way, so it doesn't count.

All skills have to be learned.

As my interest in writing deepened I realized that I needed to understand the principles involved, so I studied numerous books on creative writing. I also completed a correspondence course on writing.
Very few people are born with the ability to put a coherent story together. Everyone has to learn, either by years of experience and disappointement, or by studying what has gone on before and proved to be successful. Remember, any skill worth it's salt has to be learned. If every man-jack could write, would it really be worthwhile doing?
Artists don't just pick up brushes and paint successfully; they study for years. Sculptors, musicians, dancers and actors are the same. Why should any sane person think it's different for writers?

All artists are craftsmen. Not all craftsmen are artists.
Writing is a craft. Like all crafts it can be learned, but an apprenticeship has to be served. To turn that craft into an art that readers will take seriously takes something extra - and that is what keeps writers striving - the search for that extra dimension. This can only come when you thoroughly understand the principles involved.

Formal tuition.
Admittedly some writers don't go down the path of FORMAL training, instead they 'teach' themselves through years of reading and attempting to write. Don't be fooled by tales of 'overnight' success - generally it involves years of closet writing before the 'magical' discovery.
Formal tuition cuts those years down, you get to understand the why and wherefore of what you're doing, and if you participate in a course, you have a guiding hand too - feedback is a very important element of writing.

A different slant.
If you’re interested in studying, you should at least search for modern books on the writing craft. There are numerous available to choose from. As with everything, it's down to personal preference which book will suit you best, so maybe purchasing one or two will be preferable. I had about three on the go at once, at one time, each taking a different slant and emphasis, but each good in it's own right.

Good luck with it Demi. Hope it all goes your way..

• Next post on Tell Me a Story
• Romantic Suspense

The forward motion of verbs

Tell Me a Story .

I've just found this quote and I think it sums up a lot about writing style. It neatly encompasses one of my pet rants. In my opinion, a number of published writers would do well to take note.

Forward motion in any piece of writing is carried by verbs.

Verbs are the action words of the language and the most important. Turn to any passage on any page of a successful novel and notice the high percentage of verbs. Beginning writers always use too many adjectives and adverbs and generally use too many dependent clauses. Count your words and words of verbal force (like that word “force” I just used).

WILLIAM SLOANE

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Kelly Corrigan - A success story

Tell Me a Story - success

Last year more than 560,000 books were newly put into print in the United States alone. This is a cake of which everyone wants a wedge; a cake that many people seem to think is thickly layered in cream – it isn’t.

• Writers are required to be business people.
• Writers are expected to sponsor themselves.
• Writers are expected to create a household name.
• Writers are expected to market themselves.

For most of us, this isn’t what we entered the world of literature for. We are creative souls, not entrepreneurs. For most of us, the world of business is anathema.

Publishers will enthusiastically campaign for big names authors of course, but for the majority of authors it's a work-it-out-for-yourself universe of generating book trailers, Web sites, blogs, and social networking.

Just occasionally, someone shrugs off the bands and blazes a trail that everyone else wants to follow. Kelly Corrigan is one such person. Take a look at her incredible journey and take heart.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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The source of writing

Tell Me a Story - writing ideals.

The source of powerful writing, in fact perhaps the source of all creative writing, is frustration.

Writing is born from an innermost and overwhelming urge to communicate. Writing is a longing to share ideas and concepts, to transform the concealed into the perceived; to express, relate, and in the end fashion new understanding.

Writing realigns our thinking and gives us new ideas. Writing can transport us and make the world of imagination real.

Those lucky enough to share the words, listen to a different part of the same discussion - each of us creates a different world from the same writing. That is the ultimate excitement of books. Each one of us creates a perfect world from those words, a world that exactly fits our own ideals. It can never be bettered.

Long live words. Long live writing.

Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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Why writers should blog

Tell Me a Story - opinion

Anyone who's thinking of writing a book ought to write a blog. Whether you've completed your 'great work' or just thinking of starting, writing a blog is a good idea.

• But why waste time writing a blog when you could be doing productive work?

Well for starters, any writing is productive. Look on a blog as practice for the real thing. The more you're used to putting words together, the easier it becomes.

Web presence.

However, don't run away with the idea that you'll suddenly have dozens of fans just because you blog. It isn't that you'll even have regular followers at the start, but eventually you'll build up a 'presence' on the web. It's slow, it's time consuming, but over time it starts to happen.

Your name will gradually filter into the 'ether' and hopefully be remembered by some.... and I've read that a book - in fact any artifact - needs to be seen at least seven times before a prospective buyer becomes a firm purchaser.

So start early - your name is what you want sell .... not just a book.

If you DON'T blog.

1. If you DON'T blog, your name won't be known in the blogosphere.
2. If you DON'T blog, you can't possibly have a ready-made following.
3. If you DON'T blog, other writers who are bloggers won't know you exist.

If you DO blog.

1. If you DO blog, there's a chance that some editor or publisher will notice your work .... Okay, okay, I know it's a remote possiblity, but who'd want to miss an opportunity like that.
2. If you DO blog, readers will see how professional you are and have a chance to develop a relationship with you
3. If you DO blog, agents, editors, and publishers appreciate a writer who is ready to promote their own work, and the Internet is far and away the most efficient way to accomplish this.

All in all, I suppose it's rather like a lottery ticket. If you don't purchase you'll never win....

So, get stuck into that blog. At the very worst, a handful of people might start to recognize your name.... and at best - well you could just have a ready made readership waiting for that book.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story.

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Creative writing - dialogue

Tell Me a Story - Dialogue.

AJ, can you help me? My dialogue never seems ‘real’. Have you any tips you can share?

Hi, Pauline. You're right to pay attention to it because dialogue is VERY important. Your novel needs to contain around 50% - 60% dialogue to keep it moving along.

I know it sounds trite, but try listening to the way people talk. Study the selection of words, and the tempo used. People don’t speak in long sentences, so make sure you write your dialogue in short, sharp sentences.

As you listen, decide which of those spoken words are actually suitable for your writing. In real life, when we meet someone, we greet each other with worn-out phrases, asking how they are, etc. This is monotonous stuff.
Readers are intelligent and understand that small talk occurs – they simply aren’t interested. They want to get to the substance of the conversation without everyday fluff. Remove the minutiae; give the readers what they want.

You also need to append dialogue with body language. Without body language, readers can’t always appreciate the value of words. Readers need to see the protagonists in their mind's eye as they talk - do they grimace, smile, frown? Body language can completely alter the meaning of words.

Adding body language can also alter the pacing of the work. There are times when brisk dialogue is necessary, and times when we want to slow it down. Describing body language can slow it quite subtly without altering the substance.

One thing I must point out. Be VERY careful if your character has a dialect. Writing in heavy dialect can become distracting and time-consuming, and most readers tire of it quickly - one of the rare times when you should TELL, not SHOW.

Hope this helps a little, Pauline – and good luck.

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• Romantic Suspense

How many time do authors rewrite manuscripts

Tell Me a Story - anwers.

Hi, AJ. I’ve heard that most authors rewrite their manuscripts before getting published. But just how many times does an author rewrite a manuscript to get it to the point where they are pleased with it?

Hi, Jonathan, nice to hear from you. The thing is, it isn’t often an author simply dives in to rewrite the whole thing, well at least none I know, does.
Most authors make adjustments here and there which over time could build into major changes. Just occasionally they scrub out whole passages and redo them. If an author doesn't like the way a section sounds, or like the way the story has developed they simply have to tweak.
Panic.
'Without Reproach' was re-written several times - I lost count. I even rewrote the first three pages on the VERY morning I was to hand the manuscript over. As you can imagine, it drove me into panic. The publisher’s editor was very good though and not only allowed me to do tiny adjustments whilst it was in the editing stage, but to change the way it ended just before the editing was complete.
However, when the book hit the market, I wished I wished I'd done it all differently.
Like most creative people, I don't think authors are ever satisfied.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story - JK Rowling.

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Looking for a good read? Try:-

Short Moments - collection of 10 short stories

or

Past Sins - Contemporary fiction