Book in a Month Pt 20: BIAM Recap

Thanks to all of my new blogging friends, this has been an amazing journey. I never cease to feel so much awe at how encouraging everyone has been. I have really enjoyed getting to know other writers, it is so awesome considering 6 months ago I only showed my writing to a couple of people. Thank you so much. I couldn't have done this without you.

I want to thank all of those who have been with me through the whole Book in a Month challenge. There are too many people to list. Special thanks to the peeps who have personally reached out to cheer me on. Triple rainbows to you, my friends!

I made a page for the BIAM Recap here.

The Book in a Month Dare:
Now it's your turn. I propose a dare, for anyone out there who is brave and willing. Would you try writing a Book in a Month? If you have done this, in the process of it, or are thinking about it, let me know!

Book in a Month Pt 18: Writing Dialogue

"Hey, there is one subject you haven't talked about yet."
"Which one is th-"
"The one you've been avoiding!"
 "You're right," I whisper, unable to meet the piercing gaze of my accuser.

As you can see from my attempt at dialogue, why I have been avoiding the subject. Nevertheless, dialogue is vitally important to creating a story. I've done a little research, and here is what I've found. 

Dialogue should be used for two things:
1. Revealing more about a character.
2. Moving the plot forward.
Ideally it will do both of these things!

Great dialogue mimics real life conversation but with all of the boring parts taken out. 

Include descriptions:

• The character's voice.
• Mannerisms.
• Nonverbal communication.
• What the character is doing while they are talking.
• What is going on in the setting around them.

 Reveal character through dialogue:

• What does the character's voice sound like, what is their vocabulary?
• Do they speak in short sentences, are they normally quiet or talkative?
• Do they use slang? 
• Are they a stickler for correct grammar?
• How do they show their emotions?
• What is their posture?
• What is their facial expression?
• How are they responding physically?
• Do they use their hands to gesture when they talk?

Does each character sound different? Could you tell who spoke the words even if you didn't see the name?

A few more tips:
Include conflict/tension in dialogue as much as possible, or something that will lead up to conflict.
Read books with great dialogue and study them.
Avoid, the "floating heads in space." 

"Recite your dialogue out loud. It sounds different than in your head." - Michael Pierce

Links:

Holly Lisle: Dialogue Workshop

Writing World: Punctuating Dialogue

Creative Writing Now: How to Write Dialogue that Works

The Write Blog: The Secrets of Writing Great Dialogue

Wishing on Daisies Progress: Rough Draft is Finished!
Finished Status: 20,139 words
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Complete. 
More posts on this to follow! I have been slow to get back with everyone and post awards, but this should start to get better in about a week.

Do you have any tips for dialogue? Your thoughts are most appreciated.

  If you have a post about dialogue I would love to read and share it.

Book in a Month Pt 14: Choosing a POV

Choosing POV or "Point of View"

POV Struggles

Wishing on Daisies is written in 1st person, but now I am wondering if it should be 3rd person limited. At some point during the writing process I always seem to have a struggle with POV. Did I choose the correct one? Should I change it? I have heard other writers struggle with the same issues. Dealing with this uncertainty can create frustration that sucks up valuable writing time. Here is the information I have gathered on the most popular POVs to help you decide which one would be best for your story.

Why so Tense?

• Present tense has more immediacy but can be prone to drawing the reader out of the story if something doesn't sound right. 
• Past tense is more common but lacks the sense of immediate "in the moment" feeling of action.

Book in a Month Pt 12: Inspiration to Write!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh was created to encourage one another and share things that we're dealing with in our writing ventures. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! To join, click on the IWSG pic on the right side of my blog and post the first Wednesday of every month.

Stop by Beautiful Chaos  TODAY to get a free (hard copy or ebook copy) of Eldala. There are 19 books available, so don't miss out!

It's 9:30 at night, I'm exhausted. I just spent a half hour browsing the internet.. but golly freakin' gee wilikers Batman. I'm gonna write!!

So, get yer inspiration here, get pumped up, and write something! Let's do it!

Book in a Month Pt 10: Creating a Theme

Blogspiration is a new weekly meme hosted by GrowingUpYA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. 

Now that I started writing, I'm on a roll!

I have to fight off frequent attacks from The Banes of Creativity. There are two in particular that have been aggressive:

The You Suck Duck, who quacks, "This Sucks! What are you thinking? This writing is pure gar-bage!"

The Distractinator, who tells me I should drink coffay, wash the dishes, talk to my roomies, read, pet the cat, pretty much anything besides write.

When The Banes come up, I think the best advice is to just, "keep calm and write something." Don't let them win!

Wishing on Daisies 
Current Progress: 3621 words
Chapter 1, 2 - Complete. 
Chapter 3 - In Progress

Creating a Theme: 

Theme is the message of the book, or the moral of the story. It's basically what you want to share with others. The main plot of the story should connect to the theme. I think with Wishing on Daisies the theme is something like "Believe in yourself, because you are more beautiful and powerful than you think."

What do you think about Theme? Do you try to consciously think of the story's theme, or do you let a theme naturally develop?

Book in a Month Pt 7: Creating Character Bios

Characters have always been a little more difficult for me. If anyone had suggestions on developping characters let me know! I always struggle with coming up with answers and backgrounds for them. Some people interview their characters or write a diary entry from the point of view of their character. What great ideas!! I made a short character bio for each of the main characters. Here is what I have come up with so far.

I used 45 Master Characters by Victora Lynn Schmidt to figure out the archetypes for my characters. It is a great resource!

Kora Valdez

Main Character

Personal Inspiration: my teenage self, and a mix of several friends

Archetype: maiden

She goes through a rite of passage, she will be forced to stand on her own two feet

She cares about her relationship with her mother, who is now deceased

She never felt close to her father but now she has to move to Seattle to live with him

She enjoys adventure, fun, freedom, being unique

She’s a good listener, tries to help others

Loves: reading, art, swimming

She needs to find her inner voice, and inner strength

Fears: being in the spotlight, being noticed, people

Making decisions, losing a friend, being controlled

Appearance:

Average build and height, a little on the thin side

Long black hair

Slightly crooked teeth

Aquiline nose

Brown eyes

Style:

She doesn't have much of one , until she meets Michelle

Sebastian Chevalier:

Love Interest

Personal Inspiration: a mix of several friends
Archetype: a woman’s man/ knight

Very down to earth,

Athletic, he plays football at the high school

Outgoing, fun, a charmer

He is close to his mother, and looks up to his father as a role model

He loves animals/pets

A very honorable soul
He feels pressured by parents etc, to conform

Loves: I am not sure yet - but it isn't football, (maybe music, or photography?)

Fears: Letting his parents down, letting his friends down, being himself

Apperance:

Athletic build

Tall heigh

shaggy, dirty blond hair

blue eyes

sturdy jaw

broad hands

Style:

Loose tshirts with jeans

Shorts, athletic shoes

Book in a Month Pt 6: Finalizing the Rough Plot

I just completed my rough plot. Phew! I know that it will probably change a lot once I start writing but I will use this as a guide. Yay!

Here is the first three chapters of the finished rough plot:

Wishing on Daisies 

Prologue - Dreaming

Dreams of being a mermaid as a child

Chapter 1 - Moving In

Kora moving in with Dad because mom died. They lived in Midwest

Kora is now in Seattle– mom wanted ashes cast to the sea.

Cute meet: Sebastian is over to help Dad

Sebastian finds a daisy and gives it to Kora, tells her about football/athleticism.

Conflict: Kora is very shy, nerdy, low self esteem

Sebastian invites her to go swimming at the lake

Mom said to never go near the lake or natural water, “unclean” “unsafe” dangerous? Promise me, she said.. (maybe it starts the change? and/or its age that starts it?)

Kora meets Michelle – neighbor, her age. They become fast friends.

Chapter 2 - Day at Eden Lake

Michelle gets Kora out of her shell, gets her clothes etc, makeup, hair cut

Michelle teases, “don’t let Sebastian see you.”
At the lake with Michelle tries to convince Kora to join the swim team, Michelle wants a friend with her

In the water Kora starts changing, greenish/blue skin (thinks she is just seeing things)
Kora thinks she's just imagining it
Sebastian asks what is going on, Kora tells him Michelle's idea for swim team. He really likes the idea
Kora embarrasses herself around Sebastian

Brittney arrives and takes Sebastian away

Kora decides to join the swim team

Chapter 3 - Swimming

School starts
Sebastian starts hanging out with Kora between practices and waiting for bus, in hall. etc.
Conflict: Kora is worst swimmer on the team

Brittney laughs and tries to get the others against her. Elizabeth the coach gets on Kora's case to work harder. They will be facing their rival team in the next meet
Kora starts getting attention at school from other guys but she’s not interested

Brittney: mocks her, talks about going to creative arts school, swimming scholarship?

Britney tells her to stay away from Sebastian

Kora goes to the lake to unwind, she practices swimming, She sees scales but thinks she must be dreaming

Thanks to everyone for your patience and encouragement during the next month during WriMo!

Book in a Month Pt 5: When Your Story Speaks, Listen

Revelation Station #3

Kora: I want to be a mermaid.
Andrea: no, this is a contemporary story.
Kora: I'm a mermaid, deal with it.
Andrea: thats not fair!
Kora: what can I say, sometimes life's a beach.
Andrea: Ok fine, but I want the story to be sunny, fun loving and witty.
Kora: This is gonna be a dark YA paranormal romance.
Andrea: But-
Kora: talk to the fin!
Andrea: hehe, ok that was funny.
Kora: If you start listening to me, this will go a LOT easier for the both of us!
Andrea: Alright fine. You win, fin-girl.
Kora: Good. Now listen up, here is how the story is going to be..

Damn. It sucks when a main character is so demanding.

*Question for You*

Since its getting all mermaid up in here, do you think Wishing On Daisies still fits as a title? Kora thinks a new title would be better and its hard disagreeing with her. Any suggestions for a different name would be appreciated! Thanks :)

Book in a Month Pt 3: Tough Questions Every Writer Should Ask

Revelation Station #1

I thought I would be OK with writing Wishing on Daisies as a YA Contemporary Romance but something about it didn't seem quite right, I was excited but not totally excited.

I think I missed the magic. You know, shape shifters, witches, spell-casters, something. I love fantasy and the paranormal so much.

Amandini from Abbso-fraggin-lutely suggested that I think about adding some magic in, even if it was just an element of the imagination in the character's minds.

Then it hit me.

Book in a Month Pt 2, Using A Plot Skeleton

For the last two days I've been working on a basic plot for Wishing on Daisies. At the same time I'm also working on the characters. It seems like plot and characters go hand in hand, doesn't it?

Here is the plot structure I am using, it is a mash of different ones I've found: 

The Three Act Plot Structure for Romance

Act 1

1. Intro/The inciting incident
2. Conflicts introduced
3. Cute meet with the love interest

 Act 2

1. Beginning to fall in love
2. Conflict added/intensified
3. The final confrontation is foreshadowed
4. First love or intimacy scene
5. Stakes are raised for the dark moment

 Act 3

1. Dark moment, they break up or love seems doomed
2. Final confrontation and resolution
3. Happily ever after! Woo Hoo!

What is the overall Mood/Tone?

Is there other sources of inspiration for the story?

• Myths or legends 
• Artwork
• Music

Some Great Books:

The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel

By  Christie Craig and Faye Hughes

Excellent for different plot structures and general advice, this is an all-around great guide for writing romance.

You Can Write A Novel

By James Smith

A simple, quick to read book for turning your dream into a reality. It also has plenty of advice for making your novel more salable.

Do you have any go-to resources or books that you like to use when developing a story?

Book in a Month Pt 1, Developing The Story Concept

Next month is dun dun dun... JuNoWriMo amd CampNaNoWriMo. I have decided to write a Book in a Month and blog about it for those who may be interested in doing the same thing. I have tried to write a book in a month before and failed, but this time I have a good feeling about it. I can do it!

I am going to share my journey here in hopes that it may help others, and provide some new ideas to try. 

Week 1: Story Preparation
Lets start with Story Concept and Inspiration

I originally wanted to write a YA romance, and chose my memories of swim team and my first love as inspiration. The title, Wishing on Daisies was actually inspired by the cover that I purchased pre-made from Jacee DeLorenzo. She does great work.

Title: Wishing on Daisies 
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

POV: First person with lots of humor (hopefully) 

My New Book Covers From Sweet N' Spicy Designs

I commissioned these amazing covers from Jaycee DeLorenzo at Sweet n' Spicy Designs. I am thrilled beyond belief! The one for The Falcon Prince is a custom cover. I love it soo much. It is going to keep me motivated to finish my story and make it the best it can be. I want my story to be worthy of this beautiful cover.

Wishing on Daisies is a pre-made cover. I've had a YA romance story in the back of my mind for some time and I thought it would be perfect for it. The story originally had no daisies in it, but I loved the picture so much it inspired me to include a scene where the love interest gives her a daisy.

Check out Jaycee's amazing work. If you want a cover for a finished story, want the motivation to finish a story, or looking for something to inspire a new story, I highly recommend her.