Breach of Trust

Authors tell me a new writer learns much from reading books in their chosen genre. I'm convinced that's true. DiAnn Mills has a new release this month called "Breach of Trust," which helps me in characterization with duel roles for the main character. She weaves heightened conflict throughout memorable characters' lives.

DiAnn teaches fiction mentoring workshops. If you ever have a chance to attend one, be sure to take advantage. For now, read her latest book.

An expert in characterization, DiAnn brings to life an ex-CIA operative who small town Oklahoma residents know as sweet librarian Paige Rogers. Read DiAnn's dialogue, study her sections of internal thought. Though a reader knows Paige's past, he still gets lost in the realism of her cover. Daniel Keary lives as a believable villian with a weak spot for kids. As a mother myself to a man who's a football/baseball coach, I can tell you DiAnn captures the world of a small-town football coach in Miles Laird and also that of a dreamy hero.

I highly recommend this book for fun, and for learning. It's available now in most book stores or on Amazon.

Manners & Customs of Bible Lands by Fred H. Wright, © 1953, Moody Institute of Chicago

The writer, like any other craftsman has a set of favorite tools. I have been featuring a few resources that I find to be invaluable in my writing and personal Bible study.

While I aspire to publish Christian fiction, I do quite a bit of script writing for a local drama ministry. You can peruse at few at www.dramadrash.org, and I invite you to do so. You will see that most of my titles have a biblical theme. I’ve also written several biblical exegeses, also on this website, which require a thorough research of reliable sources.

One well worn and dog-eared text in my collection is Fred Wright’s Manners & Customs of Bible Lands. In this book, Wright covers such topics as dwellings, foods and dining, hospitality, daily activities, dress, marriage and family, illness and death, occupations, and other topics too numerous to mention.

One reason that I continually refer to this book is because Wright is concise and doesn’t waste my valuable time with long, windy dissertations. He covers the basic facets of each area, and the facts are very easy to find and extract.

Included in this study are the peoples surrounding Israel in the Middle East, which is helpful for comparison and drawing conclusions about the origins of some customs and traditions. I derive an appreciation of the historical landscape that the Master lived and taught in two thousand years ago.

Wright writes in simple, easy to understand terms and adds wonderful illustrations. Rendering this book even more functional are an extensive bibliography, index, and scriptural index.

Many books on Biblical customs have been written since Manners & Customs of Bible Lands, I still rely heavily on this text for my personal and professional research.

TECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER BY DWIGHT V. SWAIN

“This book provides solid instruction for persons who want to write and sell fiction, not just to talk and study about it. It gives the background, insights, and specific procedures needed by all beginning writers. Here one can learn how to group words into copy that moves, movement into scenes, and scenes into stories; how to develop character, how to revise and polish, and finally, how to sell the product.” ~Back blurb of book.

The contents of the book include: Fiction and you; The words you write; Plain facts about feelings; Conflict and how to build it; Fiction strategy; Beginning, middle, end; The people in your story; Preparation, planning, production; Selling your stories; You and fiction.

This book teaches writers about motivation-reaction units, scene and sequel, building conflict, building character emotions, and plotting. Each lesson in the book delves the writer into a deeper understanding of the craft. Why are these devices important for a writer to learn and utilize correctly? Let’s hear from Swain himself, “This is because said devices have proved effective in making stories enjoyable and /or enticing to readers. The selling writer, as a commercially-oriented professional, can’t afford to write copy that isn’t enjoyable and /or enticing.”

I’m going to be totally honest with you. This is by far the hardest book I’ve ever read. I’m still not quite finished with it. Every paragraph reminds me of a college text book with academic narration. However, these techniques are essential learning tools.

I think I have finally mastered the motivation-reaction units in the point-of-view character in dialogue. I thought I’d never get it. I’m now stretching my legs in learning scene and sequel techniques.

Techniques of the Selling Writer is out of print. But don’t despair. If you can’t find it on E-bay or Amazon.com, there are some wonderful authors who have taken the information from the book and has written it in everyday English for easier understanding.

Check out these links:

Camy Tang has a series of Dwight V. Swain articles on her Story Sensei Blog:
http://storysensei.blogspot.com/2005/08/smallest-picture-motivation-reaction.html

Randy Ingermanson, Ph.D.
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/scene.php

Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors

Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors
Lecture Series
Margie Lawson


Sometimes in life an opportunity comes along that you know you were meant to accept. The announcement for an online class called Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors by Margie Lawson appeared on a writers’ loop the first week in January. I clicked on the link, read about the course, and enrolled before procrastination let the opportunity slip by.

Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors is a four-week, nine lecture series developed by Margie Lawson. She begins by asking the student to identify her own self-defeating behaviors. The remainder of the course addresses how to overcome those practices and attitudes that prevent a successful approach to writing. About twice a week, a lecture, averaging between twenty and thirty pages, is posted with assignments to be completed. Author interviews at the end of each lecture address their advice about writing.

One thing I recommend is keep up with the homework and read the student responses posted online. I took a previous course and quickly fell behind because I didn’t work on it every day.

Margie Lawson could publish her material as a book and spare herself the time and effort it takes for the interaction of an online course, but she includes answers and comments on student work to help them understand and grow while taking her class.

I’m glad I seized the opportunity and took the course because I’ve identified my self-defeating behaviors that kept me from pursuing my dream of being a writer. I’ve already enrolled in another class on Empowering Characters’ Emotions. I’m also thinking of taking the Deep Editing class again, but this time I’ll keep up with the lessons.

You can read more about the online courses she conducts and her speaking schedule by logging on to www.MargieLawson.com. Go for it. You’ll be glad you did.

Conflict, Action & Suspense

Conflict is that dreaded ingredient for which each of us searches. If a writer has a good solid plot and loveable characters, but has no conflict, the story fails.

To the end of deepening the conflict in my stories, I recently read "Conflict, Action & Suspense" by William Noble. He started by comparing our school days show and tell sessions as a way to portray information in an interesting format. Better to bring your pet duck to school rather than tell us what the duck looks like. Noble offers examples of good and better, active and passive which helps us get his points.

I love dialogue, so enjoyed chapter five, using yes/no or well, maybe along with the threat of the unsaid to heighten conflict and/or suspense. From the step by step method, we learn the use of atmosphere and mood. Character development adds spice of its own. Will the character be able to stand against the storm coming? So far, I've tackled only one suspense manuscript, but when I wrote it, I wished I'd had the chapter on sublety and misdirection. Sherlock Holmes could be fooled with this approach. Add in how Noble uses time and place along with pacing, and we have a real helper for our problems with conflict.

I recommend it as a tool to keep on hand for reference when the story becomes boring.

Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PH.D.
As writers, we struggle with enough challenges like time management and writer’s block. We need all the tools we can find to alleviate the frustration and help us get the perfect words on the page. For instance, have you ever wanted to come up with alternative wording for such clichés as pass the buck, right-hand man, or the cat’s meow but did know where to look? The Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases is the reference you need, but you may not be aware of its existence!
The Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases is a list of ten thousand multiword entries with synonymous phrases, organized alphabetically in conventional thesaurus format. This reference is another tool I employ to avoid using worn-out or repetitive phrases and to add distinction to my writing. It is easy to use and can be a life saver for those times when I can’t seem to put a finger on the wording that I want to use.
This reference not only helps with my writing but also my research. I can retrieve more precise information when I enter alternative phrases on the “Google” search bar.
At the back of the book, the author includes a very handy phrase maker—a list of words that can be paired with specific synonyms—perfect for freshening up any hackneyed phrase.
Along with the Flip Dictionary, also by this author, I highly recommend Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases for writers.

Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood

Ever since I attended Margie Lawson's ACFW workshop on Empowering Character Emotions, I've hungered for more information on character's visceral responses. I intend enrolling in Ms. Lawson's month-long course in character's emotions. Until then I'll read books on the subject.

Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood is the first book I read. After a short introduction and chapter on tightening fiction, the reference begins. Thirty-eight different emotions are outlined.

Each chapter of emotion offers a lesson on the sentiment, giving "good" and "bad" examples of prose. The chapters end with exercises to stretch the readers writing skills.

This is a decent reference tool to have among your how-to books. However, if you want a more in-depth study on how to write character's emotional responses, sign-up for one of Margie Lawson's online classes.