Announcements and Tea

I know I have neglected my blog for a couple weeks, but I’m going to make up for it. I even brought some tea.

Most of you know that I started this blog to help other writers, because that’s what I am; a writer, but that’s not all that I am. I’m also a director and 3D artist in a few Machinima communities. Machinima is the use of game engine technology to film movies, trailers, commercial, and even book trailers. It started out with people capturing scenes in video games and editing them together with film editing programs to create short movies. Of course, with some video games there can be copyright issues. Recently, a few new companies have sprung up that use video game engines, but instead of games they have created programs that look like games, but are used exclusively for filming. I’ve made a few book trailers with their programs and I’ve been working on a series based on one of my YA fantasy novels. The two that I mainly use are Moviestorm and iClone. They are inexpensive, especially if you calculate the cost of filming a “live action” trailer with the equipment, sets, and actors.

The reason I am bring up these programs is because a friend of mine, M.D. McCallum just published his first book – iClone 4.31 3D Animation Beginner’s Guide. The Guide teaches you how to use iClone in a comprehensive step-by-step process. I began reading the book last week and next week I will do a complete review.

Mike, M.D. McCallum, knows nothing of my review so let’s try to keep this to ourselves for now and maybe I’ll tell you about the new book he’s working on if I can squeeze the details out of him. It’s very hush, hush and top-secret, but I hear it’s in the fiction genre…but don’t hold me to that.

What do you think about using video game engines to film book trailers?

Read any good books lately?

All About the Foreword

Foreword

 

Definition:

The definition of a foreword when used in book writing is a preface or an introductory note, as for a book, especially by a person other than the author.

Wikipedia gives a longer description – a (usually short) piece of writing sometimes placed at the beginning of a book or other piece of literature. Written by someone other than the primary author of the work, it often tells of some interaction between the writer of the foreword and the book’s primary author or the story the book tells.

What is the point?

The point of the foreword is to give credibility to the author and/or the book. Credibility leads to more sales for the author.

Examples:

If I were writing a book about dealing with anxiety then I would want to have the foreword written by a psychologist or psychiatrist who has worked in that field and has successfully used the techniques I have written about.

A crime novelist writing a recreation or “based on a real crime” story might have their forward written by someone who worked on the actual case.

A fiction writer might find another author, preferably one who is or was successful, in the same genre, to writer their foreword.

Who needs a Foreword?

New authors, non-fiction (such as biographies, histories, scientific book, text books, and how-to books), and historical fiction are some examples that would benefit from a foreword.

Foreword Tips:

1. A foreword is always signed.

2. If there is both a foreword and a preface, the foreword appears first; both appear before the introduction, which may be paginated either with the front matter or the main text.

3. Forewords are typically short – no more than 1-2 pages.

 

Recap:

The foreword is not written by the author, but by an expert to give credibility to the author and/or subject matter. This credibility will help increase book sales.

 

Did you find this post helpful?

What do you think about forewords?

What is a Prologue and is it Necessary?

Prologues

What is a prologue?

Prologues are part of the front matter in a book. The front matter can consist of the contents, foreword, preface, acknowledgement, introduction, dedication, and prologue. I will go into the others at a later time. For now let’s focus on the prologue.

The definition of a prologue when used in book writing is a preliminary discourse; a preface or introductory part of a discourse, poem, or novel. Got it? If not Wikipedia gives a longer description – an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information.

Meaning

The main point of a prologue is to supply background information that is important to the story. If you are writing a historical novel you might use a prologue to give the reader a perspective on setting and the characters involved. Some fantasy and sci-fi writers use them to introduce the reader to the world and aliens or creatures they created.

Prologues are generally not written from the main character’s point of view. Instead, they are usually written outside of the main story. An example would be the prologue to Stephen King’s Needful Things, which is written from a man who lives in the town, but doesn’t have anything to do with the story. He sets up the story in the prologue by revealing secrets the key players have been hiding then ends by hinting that something bad is about to happen.

Does Every Story Need a Prologue?

No. Every story does not need a prologue. Most stories work well without them. Most background information can be revealed in the chapters. If your story doesn’t need a lot of background, your prologue is written from the same point of view as the other chapters, or you’re just using it to hook the reader then you probably don’t need one.

When deciding to use a prologue or not ask yourself these questions:

Do I really need all this background information? If your story makes sense without all the background information you may not need a prologue.

Is there information that can only come from another character’s point of view? If the story is being told from, say, the hero’s point of view and you need to reveal facts that only the villain or another character knows then you probably need to keep your prologue.

Past experience. If something happened in the past that can’t be quickly revealed and has a lot of bearing on the story then you may need to add a prologue.

Recap

To recap prologues are generally used to reveal background information about the setting, your main character, or other key characters in your story. Whether you need one or not depends on how well your story flows without one and where/when your story takes place.

Did this blog post help you?

What are your thoughts on prologues?

Helpful Tips for Choosing Character Names

Have you ever been stuck for a character name? I know I have. When I first started writing I didn’t give a lot of time to names. I would simply use the first one that came to me. Maybe it was because the stories were short or perhaps I wasn’t that attached to them, but as my writing began to develop the names became more important.

When I started asking questions about character names in writing circles, from professors, or published authors I got confusing, conflicting answers. After weeding through all of this information and misinformation, then taking a look at what authors have done and are doing I came up with some tips that should help you the next time you have to choose a character name.

Genre Specific Names

If you are writing a western, pirate adventure, sci-fi, or fantasy novel you’re going to want to use different names than if the story was more modern. When I think of westerns I think of names like Joe, Clancy, and the famous Billy the Kid, but a pirate story might have names like Jack, Will, or the famous Black Beard. On the other hand sci-fi makes me think of distant galaxies and strange alien names while fantasy tends to lean more toward older names of maybe the 16th or 17th century.

When writing sci-fi and fantasy authors should be careful that the names aren’t clunky and hard to read. The story could be great, but if a main character or villain has a name like Xvgalvex the reader could wind up stuck trying to pronounce the name and lose interest in the story.

Appropriate Names

Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you have chosen the name Robert for your main character. Is that name age appropriate? If your main character is an adult and either part of high society or has an important job then you might use his full name. On the other hand if he is a child, teenager, or even a young adult shortening the name to Bobby or Robby might be more appropriate. Bob or Rob might be used by an adult who prefers a more informal name.

Age and social standing are going to have a lot to do with your character’s name. If, for instance, you are writing a story based in Victorian England social standing is going to have a lot to do with your character’s name. Mary would be a name more inclined to a maid while Elizabeth would be a name associated with high social standing.

You can search through popular names by century or era. If your story is based in a different country make sure to add that country to your search.

Names with Meaning

Choosing a name with meaning for your character requires that you know your character well. Was it important that she was born at night? Maybe the name Luna would suit her. Is it important that she’s strong? By ending the name on a “k” or “t” you can create a strong, powerful name.

Maybe your main character is a wood nymph or a fairy and a name like Lake or Sage would work better. If your character isn’t strong a softer name might be more appropriate.

There are many sites that carry lists of names and their meanings. They can be found through a quick search.

How to Find Names

Here is a list of some sites that I found that might be helpful when choosing a name for your next character:

A – Z list of names and meanings http://www.meaning-of-names.com/

Popular baby names by year http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

16th Century Norman Names http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/cateline/norman16.html

How do you choose your character’s names?

5 Ways Writers Can Recharge Their Batteries

5 Ways Writers Can Recharge Their Batteries

You’ve heard the old saying “a writer writes,” so what do you do when you find yourself staring at a blank page and realize that your mind, like that page, is a complete blank?

Although writing isn’t physical labor it’s just as taxing. There are going to be times when we find ourselves mentally depleted. So, what can we do when our batteries run down? Over the ten years I spent writing I have found 5 ways to recharge my batteries.

Take a walk

Take a stroll through your neighborhood and look around at the buildings and the people. I have found that there are a lot of ideas right outside my door.

Is that man window shopping or could he be casing the place?

A woman texting might become a jealous ex-girlfriend or a hired killer checking on her electronic payment.

Your neighborhood could be full of ideas. So, if you’re feeling a little drained taking a walk might sort you out.

Change of Scenery

Sometimes all you need is a simple change of scenery. I spend a lot of time writing at my computer in my room. I do it because it’s convenient. I have my desk, computer, keyboard, and anything else I need right there, but sometimes it can become monotonous. There are times when I have sat down, looked around, and immediately felt board with my surroundings.

What I have found that helps is to take my writing elsewhere. If you have a laptop take it with you or if you don’t have a laptop grab a pen or pencil and a notebook. You can go to the park, a local pond, river, or one of those high points that overlooks your city. You may find that your creative juices flow much better with new scenery.

Read Something

I get a lot of my ideas from books, blog posts, and even newspaper articles. A good way to recharge your batteries is to stop looking at that blank page and take some time to read a book, some blog posts, or a newspaper.

I have often been inspired by a side character in someone’s story or a choice I think the main character should have made and newspapers are full of great ideas for mystery novels.

Pull Out The Photo Albums

We all have stories in our past. Going through family pictures, whether they are digital or in physical albums, is a great way to remind ourselves about those stories.

What’s the story behind that pimple your sporting in your eighth grade photo? Why is your prom date looking across the room instead of smiling at the camera? What happened during that vacation to the lake when you were 12? Take one of those memories and turn it into a story.

Feel free to exaggerate, it’s fiction. Maybe someone called your prom date’s name and that’s why he’s looking across the room, but in the story your arch enemy might have slipped him a love potion and now it’s up to you to save him.

Go Out

Sometimes my batteries run down because I spend too much time writing and not enough time socializing. Humans are social creatures. So, take time out to go out and have fun.

Writing is a lonely business so make sure you cut loose every once in a while with your friends. Go down to the pub, bar, bowling alley, wherever your friends hang out and join in. It will make you feel better and by the time you get home you should have at least one story to tell.

I hope you find one or all of these strategies useful. Keep your batteries charged and keep writing.

What do you do to recharge your batteries?