Eavesdropping on characters

 

It’s a busy time. My fantasy novel, Dragonborn, was released on Oct. 4, so I’m in the throes of promoting, sending out signed copies, and that sort of thing, while I’m working on book 2 in the series. On top of that, I’m in week five of a creative writing class I'm mentoring  over at Writer’s Village University. With all that going on on top of every day life, one thing that helps me stay energized is the writing.

This week as I read through the draft of book 2 of the Dragonborn series, I found a jump form one chapter to the next that left a hole. Too much time had past. Seven years to be exact, and while that kind of time isn’t always a problem, in this fantasy setting, it left too many questions. A transition chapter was definitely needed.

What did I do? Of course, I was tempted to procrastinate, but that is never the answer. Instead, I tackled it head on. 

• First, I wrote down the three things I needed to know. 
• Second, I placed two of the less developed characters in a scene
• Third, I threw a problem that needed to be worked out into the mix
• Fourth, I let them talk.  

The chapter not only came together, but I learned some very interesting new things from them that I wasn't even looking for! Things to use in the plot, personal things that brought depth to the characters, and even how some magic worked. I even met a dragon with a sense of humor.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt - Eavesdropping on characters

For today, choose two of your underdeveloped characters and place them in a scene. Indoors, outdoors, stuck someplace…it doesn’t matter. Just put them into a situation where they need to talk. To keep it simple, just stick with dialog. No speech tags, no setting of the scene. We don’t even need to know what they look like. Think of it like eavesdropping. Just listen in. Keep it between 400-500 words.

If you don’t know where to start, try one of the following:

• What are you doing here?
• Are you ready for this?
• I thought you knew where you were going.
• Are you mad?
• Do you know what you are doing?

You don't have to use all that you learn from this exercise in your story or book, but the backstory and history you do learn will enrich the story because you'll know the characters more intimately.  

Image credits: Personal image, pxfuel

Encourage a writer

Fiction writing is a solitary occupation. It takes time to produce a believable fictional world and characters that matter. A writer gets immersed in that world, but when they step away from the computer no one really cares about those places, relationships, conflicts or mysteries because they are not connected to them in any way.When I finish writing a story, whether it is a short story or a novel, it's a bittersweet feeling. I'm thrilled to tie up loose ends and bring closure. It is a real sense of accomplishment. But then I miss those characters. This is something I hear from other writers. 

As writers we move on to the next story with new characters. If we are lucky we have a series going that allows us to stay in touch with the characters in previous books. But while you start writing the next story, you are faced with finding someone who thinks your first story is worth publishing...or publishing it yourself. 

Once the story is published, the curtain is lifted. The story is before the public. For me, like I said, that always feels a little scary. I know that not everyone likes every genre. I'm not a horror fan, so I get that. And many of my friends are not fantasy enthusiasts and so I don't expect them to read my fantasy novels.

My fantasy novel Dragonborn dropped this past Monday, and I felt that excited but scared feeling. Yes, I have a publisher who considers Dragonborn worthy of publication, but now it is before potential readers. The people I actually hope will enjoy the story.

 

Pumping Your Muse writing prompt:

I say all this leading up to a different kind of writer's prompt for today. I am prompting you to encourage another writer whose work you enjoy. If you aren't a writer and happen to read this, I challenge you to encourage a writer today, too. Here are a few ways you can do that, but don't limit yourself to my ideas if you can think of another way, share in the comment section.

• Write a review and post it on Amazon, Goodreads, or another place where the author will see it as well as other readers. It's like a word of mouth pat on the back and helps others decide if they might want to read the book. If you want to really make an author's day, find one who doesn't have a review as yet, and be the first.
  
• Instead of just giving a thumbs up to something someone has written add a short positive comment.
• Recommend their book to others
  
• Write fan mail (or email) to an author/writer
• Ask them if they can get an autographed copy of a book
• Follow an author on any platform (Goodreads, Book Bub, Facebook, MeWe, Twitter, Amazon). This is a way to show they do have fans.
  

I'm not talking about flattering someone but telling them something that isn't true. I'm talking about a word or act of encouragement.

What inspired this writing prompt? I received my first reader fan mail post on Dragonborn today and it has energized me. Here's what this fan had to say in a recommendation they posted on FB and Amazon:

An absorbing story of dragons, clans and the characters bonding and traveling through time with them to fight evil and possibly change history. I am so immersed in the story and life brought to the characters, both human and dragon in this wonderful work of art. I find it hard to put down and though I can't wait to know what comes next, it will be bittersweet, because I never want it to end. A well written, captivating story of love, magic and adventure which I will have to have more of! If this becomes a series, I foresee a reader clan emerging as I simply can't get enough. Recommended for readers both young and old and anyone who loves an imaginative adventure. ~ Kai-Ara Lhasa Apso Kennels

These kind words go a long way.  If you enjoy someone's writing, take a moment to tell them so. Even if it is your eight-year-old. Encourage them. My tenth-grade English teacher was the first one to tell me I had a gift with words. I'll never forget her. It's your turn. Tell someone you enjoy their writing. As for me, I'm encouraged to get back to writing book 2 in the Dragonborn series!

Dragonborn available through the following outlets.

• Amazon Kindle
• Amazon print
• Smashwords
• Barnes and Noble
• Kobo
• Google Play
• Google Books
• Apple link

Opening day thoughts– Chance to win a copy of Dragonborn

 

When you hear the term opening day, what comes to mind first? (For a chance to win a free copy of my novel Dragonborn, add your first thought to the comments below.) For me, opening day brings baseball to mind. Going to Wrigley field and still wearing my winter coat as the wind whips across Lake Michigan.

 

Today, is an opening day of sorts for my newest fantasy novel, Dragonborn. It just dropped this morning across all the platforms. It’s a whole new episode in my life as a writer. And it all started with an idea that is now found in book four of the series. I liked the scene and characters but their situation raised questions. The main question was why? Why were they in that situation? I followed the trail of questions until I found all the answers I needed. Of course I’m still fleshing the story out, I know the basics. I know why and am now discovering what, who, where, and when. 

Pumping Your Muse writing prompt

Write a scene showing your opening day thought. It can be a store, first day of school, a sporting event, or any other opening day. Include some details that show where you are, why you are there, when you are there, who you are with, and what you're doing. And don’t forget to add your opening day “first thought” to the comment below or on the writing prompt link for this blog post on my FB page or Twitter @birdiesquill for a chance to win a copy of Dragonborn.

About Dragonborn

Dragons. Magic. Rents in time. Dragonborn follows the journey of the young prison guard, Ervig Greenfields, as he seeks the help of dragons to remove a curse. The dragons offer Ervig access to the Labyrinth of Times, which will purge the dark magic. But there’s a catch. Erving must take the Dragon Oath—an oath to secrecy which requires him to fight alongside the dragons for centuries, never to return to his own time.

Dragonborn available through the following outlets.

• Amazon Kindle
• Amazon print
• Smashwords
• Barnes and Noble
• Kobo
• Google Play
• Google Books
• Apple link

When you read Dragonborn, do me a favor and post an honest review over on Goodreads to let others know what you think. Thanks for your support.

Photo credits: Pxfuel, Each Voice Publishing

Signs of change meet POV

Life has seasons. The weather has seasons. Relationships have seasons. Even our perishable groceries have seasons. What those seasons look like depends on the perspective. For instance, we just entered fall. Where I live, a few trees have a kiss of color. The grass is green and still needs mowing and I still have periwinkles in bloom. 

Seasons of weather

In northern Illinois, where I lived the first half of my life, it is already dropping into the 40’s at night and only warming to the 60s during the day. When I lived in Florida, the seasons as I knew them growing up in the Midwest were turned on their head. Because of the intense summer heat, gardens were started in October. 

Life seasons

Life seasons differ too. The point of view regarding a specific season will also differ. When I was in my mid 20s I had a friend who turned 30 and just sat in his easy chair watching TV at night. At the time, I thought, “That’s what 30 is like!” But he had gone through a difficult divorce, had not children, and his dreams had been dashed. His view of 30 differed from my view of 30 when I got there. 

Different POV equals different story

I remember when my daughter went to Haiti for five weeks and a teen, to help with a number of things. One thing they did was dig a garbage pit. Another, they helped teach to garden. When she returned home just before school was to start, I had thrown away some withered tomatoes from the garden. She stared into the pale and said, “You know, the people in Haiti would eat those.” Same items, different POVs, equals a different story.

Pumping Your Muse writing prompt

For today’s creative writing prompt choose one item from the list below and write a scene that shows the change noticed by your character (or you). Then take the same item and write another short scene from a differing POV.

• Look out a window: show the same scene at two different times of life. Let thoughts of the character reflect the seasons of life.
• Show two people with a fresh relationship that is close. Show passage of time and a different perspective on the same relationship (if it no longer exists memories of the relationship).
• Use some perishable item as the centerpiece to your scene. First scene it is fresh, and the scene is full of hope and dreams. The second scene show the same item stale, spoiled, petrified, etc. Think of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations as she talks to Pip. “What do you think that is?” she asked me, again pointing with her stick; “that, where those cobwebs are?”

      “I can’t guess what it is, ma’am.”

      “It’s a great cake. A bride-cake. Mine!”

 

Photo credits: June Campbell, wikimedia

 

* * *

About The Inheritance by Donna Sundblad

Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions. 

 

The Inheritance is available on Kindle, paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Christian fiction), Smashwords and Google Books. When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support. 

About Dragonborn by Donna Sundblad

Dragonborn conjures up a winning fantasy with dragons, humans, time travel, and magic. Follow young Ervig Greenfields as he seeks out dragons to remove a curse. The dragons offer access to the Labyrinth of Times, which will purge the dark magic. But there’s a catch. Erving must vow allegiance to fight alongside dragons for centuries, never to return to his own time. He and a handful of others take the selfless oath and become Dragonborn. The Dragonborn and their dragons become seeds of change, in this epic tale, of sacrifice for the greater good. Ride along with them as they slip through a tear in time to the past to change the future.