Give Us an Anchor

Okay, before I forget. This weekend there a HUGE, massive author signing event happening at Barnes and Noble in Orem. (330 East 1300 South, University Crossings Plaza, Orem, UT) This event goes from 1-4 pm. AuthorPalooza = 40+ authors (including yours truly), lots of books, bookish-type fans and bloggers, bookmarks and treats. Come check us out and buy some autographed books. You know you want to.

New topic:

The other day I was helping my daughter with her creative writing homework. She was having an issue with pronouns and split infinitives, and we ended up in a discussion about how stories have to be clear. You can’t just expect people to assume that the super hero is a good super hero unless you say so. Unless you tell the readers he is actually punching the villain as opposed to the elderly lady the SH is supposed to be saving.

This discussion included me asking her something like fifty questions about her 500 word story. What was the old lady doing while this happened? Where is this happening? Are there other people around? Witnesses maybe? What do the main characters look like? How do they feel? What are they thinking? What happens next? What are the consequences to the actions of the hero? The lady? The villain?

Her answers continued to be a baffled, “I don’t know.” To which I then replied, “Well, if you’re going to write a story about these people, you should.”

Or she would answer, “The old lady is running away, of course. Everyone knows that.”

I had to explain, “No, everyone doesn’t know that. Not unless you tell them. That’s your job as the storyteller.”

Short lesson of the day. Just because we—as writers or authors—see things happening a certain way in our heads, doesn’t mean our readers understand that vision. It’s up to us to paint a clear picture of setting, characterization, and plot. Good writing requires that the readers feel anchored and secure within the pages of your book.

So. Do you agree? Disagree? Think I’m nuts? Discuss.

AuthorPalooza and Things I Love, Day 2: Being an Author

In keeping with my goal for the week, I'm stopping for a minute to reflect on the things I love. I'm thinking about AuthorPalooza on Saturday, and how it feels to sign my name inside a book I created. Well, okay, so I helped create it anyway, since I wasn't alone in the work.

And how it will feel to have my name on the cover of another book I can then sign. It makes me think back to what has happened since I started writing, and the incredible growth I've experienced. All the people I've met who are now my friends. People I might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.

These people are another group of friends for whom I'm eternally grateful. And whether I'm close to them or just getting to know them, my author friends are special to me. We're there to help each other learn and grow and become successful in the writing and publishing industry. I love them all.

At the signing event on Saturday, there were 40 of us, and I was so proud to have met most of the other authors. The rest...well, I've met them now. I think. Most of them. (It's entirely possible I missed someone, and if you're that someone, I'm so sorry! Track me down next time and we'll meet for real.)

Before everyone left, I took a few minutes and ran around the store snapping pictures. Granted, I was in a hurry (because I left my signing table and we'd had a steady stream of people) so some of these are blurry and bright--but pictures are still pictures and I'm happy to have them.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today, I love being an author and creating stories from life experience and pure imagination.