Last Monday I mentioned a not too secret tip for fleshing out characters in fiction through their relationships. Over this past weekend, suspense author Hallie Ephron taught me--okay, me and a couple hundred other people at Saturday’s meeting of the Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA) more ways to take our characters to new heights.
The daughter of screenwriters, sister of three other writers, including the late Nora Ephron, she insists she’s a late bloomer as a writer, having had a first career as a teacher. But after co-writing a mystery series, she struck out on her own with 2009’s Never Tell A Lie. It became a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark mystery award, and Ephron hasn’t looked back.
And to the question of which is more important in genre fiction, plot or character, her answer is, both. “You can’t have story without character and you can’t have a character who doesn’t do anything.”
High on her list of “must-haves” for page-turning novels like hers are “characters the reader cares about--a main character who is intriguing, is someone we haven’t met before, and not clichéd. . . It is critical in suspense that the reader is able to identify with the main character, but it shouldn’t be a homogenous character. He needs a past with something bad in it that he’s trying to get right, this time.”
That something he (or she) wants to get right is a goal. And like good New Year’s resolutions, that goal needs to be concrete and specific.
Enter the “ruby slippers,” Ephron’s term for tangible symbols of a character’s goal.
In our writing exercises she repeatedly batted down, the in the nicest possible way,
authors’ attempts to define character goals in abstract terms. “You don’t want a book where what the character wants is, for instance, ‘safety.’’ The goal must be personified, she insisted. And although not all stories lend themselves to the device, “it’s great to have a physical embodiment, something loaded with emotion,” to symbolize the character’s goal.
Coming from a family of screenwriters, she chose an illustration from the movie, The Wizard of Oz, the story of young girl Dorothy, swept into the land of Oz, who longs to return home. To accomplish that, she needs the pair of magical ruby slippers worn by the story’s villain, the Wicked Witch.
The ruby slippers become the tangible symbol of Dorothy’s goal of returning home. And also of the witch’s ability to thwart Dorothy by keeping control of the slippers.
Similar rules apply if the character’s goal is family, a good name, freedom, even love, all, if possible, embodied in a tangible symbol which the character longs to keep or find, and the character’s antagonist also covets and has to power to steal or destroy. The symbol can be a person, Ephron concedes, as long as it isn’t the character herself.
In her own work, Ephron cites an example from Never Tell a Lie, her breakout book.
“My character wears around her neck a charm her grandmother gave her. That becomes the thing that the person who wants her baby takes from her.”
For more about Ephron, her books and her writing classes, see http://hallieephron.com/.
And while you’re at it, join me in meditating on a symbol for what your characters most long for.
(Next Monday -- More about suspense writing? Or local mystery writers’ lunch with Dallas Morning News columnist, book reviewer and editor Joy Tipping? I’m still weighing the possibilities.)
Showing posts with label Dallas Area Romance Authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dallas Area Romance Authors. Show all posts
Monday, January 27, 2014
Monday, March 11, 2013
Wordcraft -- Cherishing the backlist
I always appreciate your comments on posts. (And I’m okay with links to your site, as long as they’re relevant and clicking on them doesn’t set off alarms in my computer’s security system!) But a recent comment was an especially welcome surprise because it referenced a post written nearly a year and a half ago. Like last Monday’s post about the life still left in previously published stories, it was a reminder of the life in all words.
In fact, every week, I find readers looking at words published weeks, months, sometimes years ago. I hope they read those posts with as much pleasure as I had writing them. And if you’re trying to draw readers to your blog, or direct them to your other work, or simply make contact with others of like mind, look for ways to amplify the power of your blog’s backlist.
The only secret I’ve found to writing what other people want to read is to write what I’d like to read. It’s been a joy to share information about outings, writing and old books. And an even greater joy to see so many of you with those same interests.
How can we find each other? Don’t overlook the obvious -- search terms. Or tags, labels, whatever your blog format terms them. Some blogs I subscribe to use every search term the authors can think of. It’s probably lucky for me that my host, Blogspot, limits me to 200 characters. Typically, I use one or two general terms and several specific ones. You want search engines to find your blog, but not bury it under twenty-six pages of Google, Bing or Yahoo results.
Readership jumped when I added illustrations. As always, I’ve only been able to keep them coming because they’re fun for me.
But the blog format I chose for its succinctness won’t keep illustrations up indefinitely. Not being able to stand losing them, I began posting them on Pinterest. If you’re a camera nut like me, or if you enjoy trolling copyright-free sites for something out of the ordinary, such as the eighteenth century trompe l'oeuil collage illustrating this post, your boards don’t have to be the same stuff you see everywhere. Be sure to post a link to your website or blog. People find me from Pinterest. And I find those who love what I love.
More literary/writing updates: If you’re journalistically inclined, take a look at the writing competition of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writing Conference. The annual North Texas conference sponsors contests in three nonfiction categories -- reported narrative, personal essay, and book manuscript. Cash prizes and chances for publication. This year’s deadline is June 8, 2013. For details, see http://journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference/writing-competition/.
Need help to prep for this big conference? The Dallas Writer’s Garret typically hosts Mayborn preparation classes. Although the Garret’s spring 2013 calendar doesn’t yet list Mayborn specifically, it does include several classes on nonfiction writing. For specifics, see www.writersgarret.org/.
Or if you like romance, here’s a free event -- a multi-author book signing sponsored by the Dreamin’ in Dallas Conference of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, the evening of March 29. For details about this and the DARA conference, see
www.dallasromanceauthors.com/.
In fact, every week, I find readers looking at words published weeks, months, sometimes years ago. I hope they read those posts with as much pleasure as I had writing them. And if you’re trying to draw readers to your blog, or direct them to your other work, or simply make contact with others of like mind, look for ways to amplify the power of your blog’s backlist.
The only secret I’ve found to writing what other people want to read is to write what I’d like to read. It’s been a joy to share information about outings, writing and old books. And an even greater joy to see so many of you with those same interests.
How can we find each other? Don’t overlook the obvious -- search terms. Or tags, labels, whatever your blog format terms them. Some blogs I subscribe to use every search term the authors can think of. It’s probably lucky for me that my host, Blogspot, limits me to 200 characters. Typically, I use one or two general terms and several specific ones. You want search engines to find your blog, but not bury it under twenty-six pages of Google, Bing or Yahoo results.
Readership jumped when I added illustrations. As always, I’ve only been able to keep them coming because they’re fun for me.
But the blog format I chose for its succinctness won’t keep illustrations up indefinitely. Not being able to stand losing them, I began posting them on Pinterest. If you’re a camera nut like me, or if you enjoy trolling copyright-free sites for something out of the ordinary, such as the eighteenth century trompe l'oeuil collage illustrating this post, your boards don’t have to be the same stuff you see everywhere. Be sure to post a link to your website or blog. People find me from Pinterest. And I find those who love what I love.
#
More literary/writing updates: If you’re journalistically inclined, take a look at the writing competition of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writing Conference. The annual North Texas conference sponsors contests in three nonfiction categories -- reported narrative, personal essay, and book manuscript. Cash prizes and chances for publication. This year’s deadline is June 8, 2013. For details, see http://journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference/writing-competition/.
Need help to prep for this big conference? The Dallas Writer’s Garret typically hosts Mayborn preparation classes. Although the Garret’s spring 2013 calendar doesn’t yet list Mayborn specifically, it does include several classes on nonfiction writing. For specifics, see www.writersgarret.org/.
Or if you like romance, here’s a free event -- a multi-author book signing sponsored by the Dreamin’ in Dallas Conference of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, the evening of March 29. For details about this and the DARA conference, see
www.dallasromanceauthors.com/.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Wordcraft -- Writing conference roundup
Last Monday’s roundup of literary festivals was intended primarily for readers (including readers who are writers). Today’s is full of craft for writers, although I often think serious readers can benefit from knowing how writers do their job. Writers of science fiction and fantasy should note that because the 2013 World Science Fiction Society’s convention (Worldcon) meets in San Antonio this summer, nearby Austin will not hold its summer ArmadilloCon this year. ArmadilloCon will return in 2014. FenCon in Dallas is scheduled later than usual as well, to avoid conflict with Worldcon.
March 29-30 -- Dreamin’ in Dallas, convention of the Dallas Area Romance Authors. Doubletree Hotel in Richardson, 1981 N. Central Expressway. I have not attended, but the cost ($149 for early registration by non-DARA members) looks reasonable and includes an appointment with an agent or editor. For registration, list of participants, and additional information, see www.dallasromanceauthors.com/conferences/.
April 5-6 -- Houston Writers Guild Conference (spring). Sugar Land Marriott Town Square Hotel, 16090 City Walk, Sugar Land. I attended this in 2012 and found the workshops and speakers worthwhile. Appointments with limited number of agents are available for additional charge. The Guild also sponsors short story anthologies. For information, including costs, see www.houstonwritersguild.org/.
April 26-28 -- Poetry at Round Top, 248 Jaster Road, Round Top. Workshops and critique groups. Limited number of private consultations with a publisher available. I have not attended, and am afraid I tend to slight poets, but this is a well-respected conference. See http://poetryatroundtop.org/.
May 4-5 -- DFW Writers Conference, Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst. Cost ($259 for early registration through February 4) includes one agent consultation. Conference sponsor DFW Writers’ Workshop is considering adding additional agent consultations for an added fee. I attended this the last two years and found it informative and helpful. For registration and additional information see
http://dfwcon.org/.
June 21-23 -- Writers League of Texas Conference, Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs, in Austin. The big one in Texas. Early bird reduced registration through tomorrow, January 15. Agent consultations may be added for additional fee. I have attended this and found it helpful. Also sponsors a manuscript contest. See www.writersleague.org/.
July 12-14 -- LexiCon Writers Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, 3110 Colorado Blvd., Denton. This conference began in 2012. Although I did not attend, the workshops on topics related to mystery and crime writing looked appealing, and I hope to attend this year. Includes panel of agents and publishing representatives. See www.lexi-conwritersconference.com/.
July 19-21 -- The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. As the name implies, this conference sponsored by the North School of Journalism is aimed at nonfiction writers. At this point, information on the 2013 conference is limited. For updates, see
http://journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference/.
October 4-8 -- FenCon, Crowne Plaza Hotel Dallas, 14315 Midway Road (actually in the Dallas suburb of Addison). A science fiction and fantasy convention with a writing workshop and short story contest. This year‘s writing workshop leaders, Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden, are editors for the publisher Tor. Con membership ($30 early registration for adults) is required. I have attended this several times and found it helpful. Last year’s additional charge for the workshop was $25, but 2013 additional is yet to be determined. For additional information as it becomes available, see www.fencon.org/.
March 29-30 -- Dreamin’ in Dallas, convention of the Dallas Area Romance Authors. Doubletree Hotel in Richardson, 1981 N. Central Expressway. I have not attended, but the cost ($149 for early registration by non-DARA members) looks reasonable and includes an appointment with an agent or editor. For registration, list of participants, and additional information, see www.dallasromanceauthors.com/conferences/.
April 5-6 -- Houston Writers Guild Conference (spring). Sugar Land Marriott Town Square Hotel, 16090 City Walk, Sugar Land. I attended this in 2012 and found the workshops and speakers worthwhile. Appointments with limited number of agents are available for additional charge. The Guild also sponsors short story anthologies. For information, including costs, see www.houstonwritersguild.org/.
April 26-28 -- Poetry at Round Top, 248 Jaster Road, Round Top. Workshops and critique groups. Limited number of private consultations with a publisher available. I have not attended, and am afraid I tend to slight poets, but this is a well-respected conference. See http://poetryatroundtop.org/.
May 4-5 -- DFW Writers Conference, Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst. Cost ($259 for early registration through February 4) includes one agent consultation. Conference sponsor DFW Writers’ Workshop is considering adding additional agent consultations for an added fee. I attended this the last two years and found it informative and helpful. For registration and additional information see
http://dfwcon.org/.
June 21-23 -- Writers League of Texas Conference, Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs, in Austin. The big one in Texas. Early bird reduced registration through tomorrow, January 15. Agent consultations may be added for additional fee. I have attended this and found it helpful. Also sponsors a manuscript contest. See www.writersleague.org/.
July 12-14 -- LexiCon Writers Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, 3110 Colorado Blvd., Denton. This conference began in 2012. Although I did not attend, the workshops on topics related to mystery and crime writing looked appealing, and I hope to attend this year. Includes panel of agents and publishing representatives. See www.lexi-conwritersconference.com/.
July 19-21 -- The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. As the name implies, this conference sponsored by the North School of Journalism is aimed at nonfiction writers. At this point, information on the 2013 conference is limited. For updates, see
http://journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference/.
October 4-8 -- FenCon, Crowne Plaza Hotel Dallas, 14315 Midway Road (actually in the Dallas suburb of Addison). A science fiction and fantasy convention with a writing workshop and short story contest. This year‘s writing workshop leaders, Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden, are editors for the publisher Tor. Con membership ($30 early registration for adults) is required. I have attended this several times and found it helpful. Last year’s additional charge for the workshop was $25, but 2013 additional is yet to be determined. For additional information as it becomes available, see www.fencon.org/.
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