"No man can climb beyond the limitations of his own character." John Morley
When developing a hero in your fiction writing, it's important to make sure he's flawed. As in real life, this character should be imperfect. If he's good looking, smart, compassionate, loves children and animals, has a high paying corporate job and volunteers all his spare time working in orphanages and soup kitchens, your hero is too perfect. In other words, too boring!
Spice up your hero by flawing him with arrogance, or a hot temper. Perhaps he's a recovering alcoholic who struggles daily with his addiction. Maybe he was an abused child, and now carries the psychological scars that prevent him from building a meaningful relationship. Could he have suffered trauma (seeing his family killed), could he have been abandoned as a child, could he have been betrayed by a friend?
The possibilities are endless! Transform your hero from plain turkey on white, to turkey on crusty bread with sharp cheddar, salty anchovies, hot peppers and black olives! (Anybody else hungry for a hero sandwich, or is it just me?)
Who's your favorite fictional hero?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Warrior Writing: Strategic Change
"Act like a man of thought. Think like a man of action." Thomas Mann
Recently I had the awesome experience of attending New York Times bestselling author Bob Mayer's "Warrior Writing" workshop.
I learned several valuable lessons, but the most important one for me focused on change.
What holds you back? YOU! And you can change you. According to Bob, if you aren't where you want to be, you must change. We've all come to a crossroads when we realize that in order to make something happen in our careers, some type of change must occur.
We may not like the change. We'll struggle with it, and perhaps deny that we have to change at all. Then we'll experience anger as we realize that the change is for the best. We'll bargain with ourselves about the best way to change, hoping there will be an easy way, then become depressed when reality says easy isn't best. If we're wise, we'll accept the change and work hard for it.
Change isn't just thinking differently, although this is the first step. And think about this: To make is externally motivated. To become is internally motivated. The successful become.
All of us can change. But we need to show change, not just talk about it. And change requires three things to happen:
Recently I had the awesome experience of attending New York Times bestselling author Bob Mayer's "Warrior Writing" workshop.
I learned several valuable lessons, but the most important one for me focused on change.
What holds you back? YOU! And you can change you. According to Bob, if you aren't where you want to be, you must change. We've all come to a crossroads when we realize that in order to make something happen in our careers, some type of change must occur.
We may not like the change. We'll struggle with it, and perhaps deny that we have to change at all. Then we'll experience anger as we realize that the change is for the best. We'll bargain with ourselves about the best way to change, hoping there will be an easy way, then become depressed when reality says easy isn't best. If we're wise, we'll accept the change and work hard for it.
Change isn't just thinking differently, although this is the first step. And think about this: To make is externally motivated. To become is internally motivated. The successful become.
All of us can change. But we need to show change, not just talk about it. And change requires three things to happen:
- A Moment of Enlightenment
- Making a Decision
- Implementing a Sustained Action
The five stages of change include:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Moment of Enlightenment (MOE): This happens when you experience something never experienced before. Or, when you experience something you have experienced, but it affects you differently than ever before. Think light bulb going on above head.
By itself, the MOE is not change, just a mementary awareness. Denial often blocks MOEs. Anger stops MOEs when it is actually an indicator of an MOE. And bargaining dilutes MOEs.
Decision: Because of the Moment of Enlightenment, a decision is made. But it may not be a good decision. So you're either stuck with the decision (externally imposed change) or you stick with the decision (internally motivated change). By itself, a decision isn't change, but just a fleeting commitment. Bargaining can dilute a decision, and depression can cause you to give up a decision all together.
Sustained Action: Because of the decision, behavior is changed. The changed behavior is sustained long enough to become a habit. In the military, this is called training. Sustained action leads to change. Sliding back on the five stages of change stops this. Acceptance isn't easy because your reality has changed!
Time to expand your comfort zone, by going into your courage zone. Courage is needed on the path to changing you and developing your self confidence!
As mentioned earlier, Bob's workshop was awesome! It was also inspiring and encouraging! Be sure to check out Bob's "Who Dares Wins" homepage at http://www.bobmayer.org/ so you can become a warrior writer!
Are you ready for change?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Everything's Peachy!
Summer is my favorite time of year. I'd rather be hot than at all cold any time! Although summer doesn't officially begin until June 21, it's unofficial start is Memorial Day--and that's good enough for me!
With summer comes an abundance of fresh fruit: watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, cantelope, and more!
When I was growing up, my mom always made a variety of fresh fruit cobblers and pies during the summer. I'm not nearly as Martha Stewart like as she is, but I can make a luscious peach cobbler. This recipe is low fat and delicious! Serve warm with a scoop of fat free vanilla ice cream, or fat free evaporated milk! Enjoy!
Peach Cobbler
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 t cornstrach
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1/2 cup water
4 cups sliced fresh peaches (can use canned)
1 T lemon juice
1 cup flour
2 T granulated sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup fat free plain yogurt
3 T lowfat margarine
1 slightly beaten egg
1/4 cup skim milk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In medium saucepan combine brown sugar, cornstarch and nutmeg. Add water. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add peaches and lemon juice. Heat through. Remove from heat and set aside.
For topping, stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in yogurt and margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk. Add to dry ingredients just to moisten.
Turn filling into 8x1 1/2 inch round baking dish or 1 1/2 quart casserole. Spread on topping. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. Serves 6.
What's your favorite summer fruit dessert?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
With summer comes an abundance of fresh fruit: watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, cantelope, and more!
When I was growing up, my mom always made a variety of fresh fruit cobblers and pies during the summer. I'm not nearly as Martha Stewart like as she is, but I can make a luscious peach cobbler. This recipe is low fat and delicious! Serve warm with a scoop of fat free vanilla ice cream, or fat free evaporated milk! Enjoy!
Peach Cobbler
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 t cornstrach
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1/2 cup water
4 cups sliced fresh peaches (can use canned)
1 T lemon juice
1 cup flour
2 T granulated sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup fat free plain yogurt
3 T lowfat margarine
1 slightly beaten egg
1/4 cup skim milk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In medium saucepan combine brown sugar, cornstarch and nutmeg. Add water. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add peaches and lemon juice. Heat through. Remove from heat and set aside.
For topping, stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in yogurt and margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk. Add to dry ingredients just to moisten.
Turn filling into 8x1 1/2 inch round baking dish or 1 1/2 quart casserole. Spread on topping. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. Serves 6.
What's your favorite summer fruit dessert?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Pitching to an Agent
I'm happy to report that my first experience pitching to an agent was a very pleasant one. I had the opportunity to do this at the Lori Foster Reader and Author Get Together in West Chester, Ohio. For an excellent rundown of this event, check out Renee Vincent's blog at http://bit.ly/dhtdQO.
Before attending the conference, I asked several writers for advice about pitching. Some of the most important things I learned were:
Before attending the conference, I asked several writers for advice about pitching. Some of the most important things I learned were:
- Prepare, prepare, prepare!
- Do your research. Make sure the agent you talk to represents the type of book you've written.
- Be in love with your story, know it inside and out, and be enthusiastic about it!
- Prepare a two to three sentence summary of the book, complete with hook, description and word count.
- Be prepared to describe something that makes your book unique.
- Be prepared to explain your target audience and age demographic.
- Be prepared to tell what authors your writing style resembles.
- Be preparedd to ask the agent questions, such as, "What are you looking for in a first time author?"
- Be professional. The pitch is like a job interview.
- You really won't know what to expect!
I felt prepared. But after pitching my three sentence summary, the agent only asked one question, specifically about my book, that I hadn't expected! Even though my answer wasn't polished, since I hadn't anticipated that question, the agent still expressed interest and asked me to submit a few pages and a synopsis. Of course she can't commit to anything until she's read my material to determine if it's a proper fit for her agency.
Overall, the pitch was a positive experience, and the agent I spoke to was kind, approachable, and gave me her undivided attention. My best advice to anyone pitching--be prepared, because you really won't know what to expect!
What's your best advice for pitching to an agent or editor?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Research: Sometimes People Can be Your Best Resources
"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." Zora Neale Hurston
Lately, I've noticed lots of questions popping up in the Writers Digest Fiction Writers online community that deal with research. As a former librarian, this is one of my favorite topics!
As writers, we want to be accurate with our information, so we won't look ignorant to our readers. But our mission is writing, not research, so we have to be careful not to let our research become a time drain from our writing.
Somtimes, when trying to nail down facts to add credibility to a story, you can run into a dead end. When you've exhausted all print and online sources, calling the library can be the next possible step--or, how about seeking information from an expert?
Not long ago I asked my husband's advice on a scene I'd written involving a dynamite explosion. My husband knows explosives, but he's not an expert--he just built bombs as a kid. Miraculously, he still has two eyes and ten fingers. After I read my scene, he ripped it to shreds. Granted, at that point, I hadn't done any research. I'd only used what I'd seen on TV as a guide--never a good idea. My husband couldn't answer all my questions about dynamite, so my first in-house stop was an encyclopedia, and then the Internet.
Although I found lots of information, I couldn't find the answer to every single question I had in order to write a believable scene. Instead of going to the library, checking out a bunch of books and investing more time, I decided to locate a human resource--someone who could give me more than I'd find in a stack of books for the particular episode I wanted to create. After playing around for a little while online, I found an International Society of Explosive Engineers. With local chapters all across the country, I called the chapter chairman closest to me.
Understandably wary, he informed me that usually, he couldn't answer questions unless someone had gone through the proper channels. After trying to convince him that I really wasn't a terrorist, he asked me to explain what I was looking for, then told me he'd decide what he could answer. After the first few minutes, he realized I was safe and literally had no clue, whatsoever, about explosives.
He taught me more about dynamite than I'll ever need to know. My source even provided a more realistic scenario for what I was trying to describe, as well as a way to kill off a bad guy in the aftermath of an explosion, while the good guy survives. This contact gave me 45 minutes of his valuable time, answered all my questions, and let me pick his brain!
Nothing like communicating with human resources the good old fashioned way--talking! Sometimes that can be the most useful research out there!
Do you have a fun adventure in research to share?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
Lately, I've noticed lots of questions popping up in the Writers Digest Fiction Writers online community that deal with research. As a former librarian, this is one of my favorite topics!
As writers, we want to be accurate with our information, so we won't look ignorant to our readers. But our mission is writing, not research, so we have to be careful not to let our research become a time drain from our writing.
Somtimes, when trying to nail down facts to add credibility to a story, you can run into a dead end. When you've exhausted all print and online sources, calling the library can be the next possible step--or, how about seeking information from an expert?
Not long ago I asked my husband's advice on a scene I'd written involving a dynamite explosion. My husband knows explosives, but he's not an expert--he just built bombs as a kid. Miraculously, he still has two eyes and ten fingers. After I read my scene, he ripped it to shreds. Granted, at that point, I hadn't done any research. I'd only used what I'd seen on TV as a guide--never a good idea. My husband couldn't answer all my questions about dynamite, so my first in-house stop was an encyclopedia, and then the Internet.
Although I found lots of information, I couldn't find the answer to every single question I had in order to write a believable scene. Instead of going to the library, checking out a bunch of books and investing more time, I decided to locate a human resource--someone who could give me more than I'd find in a stack of books for the particular episode I wanted to create. After playing around for a little while online, I found an International Society of Explosive Engineers. With local chapters all across the country, I called the chapter chairman closest to me.
Understandably wary, he informed me that usually, he couldn't answer questions unless someone had gone through the proper channels. After trying to convince him that I really wasn't a terrorist, he asked me to explain what I was looking for, then told me he'd decide what he could answer. After the first few minutes, he realized I was safe and literally had no clue, whatsoever, about explosives.
He taught me more about dynamite than I'll ever need to know. My source even provided a more realistic scenario for what I was trying to describe, as well as a way to kill off a bad guy in the aftermath of an explosion, while the good guy survives. This contact gave me 45 minutes of his valuable time, answered all my questions, and let me pick his brain!
Nothing like communicating with human resources the good old fashioned way--talking! Sometimes that can be the most useful research out there!
Do you have a fun adventure in research to share?
Follow me on Twitter: @maria_mckenzie.
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