Y is for Yes

Way back around the middle of the month, on 'N' day, Kate Larkindale wrote a post about saying 'No'. She had some great thoughts on the matter, and I'm a lot the same way. It's not just that I dislike disappointing people, I also love learning new things and pursuing opportunity. So especially at work, I have a hard time saying no because...what if I miss out?

The funny thing about this is we hear 'No' so often in our lives. It's one of the first words so many children learn and it doesn't stop there. It exists in the rules we're raised on, the colleges and jobs we apply for, our romantic lives, and (very worst of all of course) the publishing world.

"No, I'm sorry this just isn't right for me."

"No, we won't be publishing your story, thank you for submitting."

"No, we really don't think a story about a pink shirt with green polka-dots is considered speculative fiction just because the clothing is ugly and on display in a mall. Please don't submit again."

The word 'No' is kind of a downer. Like an epic downer.

That's why today instead, I'm telling you all Yes.

Regardless of what you're working on, be it writing, a tough project at the office, a thesis, coursework, all of it.

Yes, you can do this.

Yes, you can finish that novel.

Yes, you can make that presentation the most wicked, awesome thing anyone has ever seen and blow their socks off.

Yes.

You know what the difference between a writer and a published author is? The published author didn't give up.

Yes, you should keep pushing because you're that awesome, and that talented, and your ideas are epic, and no one can tell your stories quite the way you can, and damnit, that counts for a lot.

The next trick is, you have to accept this gift. Use this Yes for all it's worth and abuse the hell out of it today. It's yours to keep.

What are you going to use your Yes for today?

Yes, you earned this.

Update: Check this out as well from Janet Reid and Ira Glass.

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X is for Xenovocab

From dictionary.com:
xeno- a combining form meaning “alien,” “strange,” “guest,” used in the formation of compound words.

So xenovocab would be strange or alien words. In this case, those that don't belong. Okay, yeah, I made up a word because I couldn't find one that said what I wanted it to. But that's part of being a writer, ne? Creating worlds and objects and characters and words that don't exist so we and the people around us can experience something new.

(I wish I had saved the links to these, but I'll paraphrase and it should get my point across pretty well, even if it misconstrues the original writers', which it shouldn't, but it might).

Someone was talking the other day about the worst piece of writing advice a teacher had ever given them. It was in regards to writing realistic dialogue. The teacher had said just listen to the dialogue around you and mimic it. The writer disagreed with this concept because a lot of dialogue has unnecessary elements in it. Tangents, pauses, irrelevant thoughts, etc.

A few months back, someone else was talking about how Twitter had made them a more concise writer. It forced them to self edit because if you only have 140 characters, you have to make sure you're using each and every character to its maximum efficiency.

Combine these two thoughts and the world around us is teaching us something we all need to pay closer attention to as writers. I know I do. When you talk to someone else, either face to face or on the phone, the conversation is real-time. You don't have time to filter your thoughts, and you frequently add in extra words. That's the way verbal communication has been since the start of time.

Writing dialogue isn't technically verbal communication. It's a written representation of verbal communication. Like email, texting, Facebook, twitter, chat rooms, you get the point. When we only have so much time or space to say what we want to say, our priorities become different.

For instance, if you're exchanging letters with someone, and you know you're only going to get to talk to them once that week, and the entire conversation has to be encapsulated in a single typed (or even handwritten) page, you're going to put more thought into what you do and don't say. Out of all the things you want to share, you'll focus on those that are most important to the conversation.

Same with any of these other digital communication outlets. Sending a text message? You're only using vital thoughts and words.

This is my new measure for writing dialogue. My new way to eliminate extraneous scenes, thoughts, words, dialogue, everything from my stories. If it doesn't belong in written correspondence - relevance wise - it doesn't belong in my stories.

Of course, given some of the rambling I do in my written correspondence, I might should use other people as a ruler instead, but...where would the fun in that be? ;-)

What are some real world things you use to keep lessons learned in mind?

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W is for Wicked

It's a little late in the day for a blog post, and it's a shame because earlier today I had this wicked guest post in mind from my brand-newest character Karen. She's a little different than the other women I've written, but still entertaining.

But she doesn't want me in her head right now. So instead, a wicked video from The Offspring, 'Want You Bad' (and, the theme song for the relationship between two of my other characters, Zach and Rae)



Do you have a favorite wicked character in your own writing or someone else's?

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V is for Viral

This is absolutely the most important thing you will view in the next two and a half minutes (assuming you watch the entire thing)



The concept of viral is something that fascinates and enthralls me. If you could figure out the formula, you could get people to do your advertising for your for minimal production costs every time you wanted to promote something.

The marketing minded part of me is amazed with how cost-effective it can be when done right. The writer in me is infatuated with what it says about human nature. The internet makes it real easy - especially with instant gratification tools like Twitter and Facebook. You see something cool, sick, funny, wrong, sad, happy, or any passionate emotion, and you can share it with everyone you know in a matter of seconds. From anywhere if you have the right electronics.

But it's just a revamped version of the age-old gimmick of testimonials. Ever pay attention to the walls in one of those restaurants that has old-time ads all around? They're littered with testimonials. People bought because their neighbors, friends, and favorite celebrities bought.

Viral is the same concept, but doesn't just tie back to selling product any more. Thing is, with books you really hope it will. I figure there has to be a formula to it. Nothing simple or straightforward. It largely depends on demographic - your audience. A sexy blond in a red string bikini moving seductively around a bar mixing a drink is probably not the way to garner attention for your YA novel about the gay football player who hides his sexual orientation because he's afraid it will destroy his chances of an athletic scholarship.

But there is one basic element that anything viral has to have - it needs to speak strongly to an emotion. It helps if its something people feel passionate about, but as long as it tugs a feeling to the surface that outshines other instances of that feeling that day, it's got that key element.

So that's all we have to do as writers, and we were doing that anyway, right? Make people feel something. Make it a more powerful feel than anything else they've felt that day. So intense that they want to tell everyone they meet about what they felt. It doesn't hurt if you've got a killer cover to go with it. Or a trailer. Or just a blurb or a blog, or some pictures on a Facebook page.

Of course, you have to make sure the one or two thousand people see it first, to guarantee your changes of it getting shared and spread, but once you do that...viral book, right?

If only it was as simple in execution as it is in concept. What make you click a link from a friend, or follow a suggestion on a social networking site?

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U is for Ubiquitous

Ubiquitous: /yo͞oˈbikwətəs/ Adjective: Present, appearing, or found everywhere: "his ubiquitous influence"

Just like these actors that I think would make excellent leads if I were to cast for my story Serious Game 2.0.

But I've jumped the gun a little. Let me explain. Alexis Fittinger is hosting the epic and amazing Now Starring blogfest today. The concept is pretty simple, and one I adore:

1. Choose 4-6 of your lead characters.
2. Let us know a little bit about what each of your characters looks like.
3. Then, pick any actor or actress, they’re all at your disposal.
4. Finally, apart from their appearance, what about this particular performer makes you think they’ll do your baby justice. What’s that special something that makes them perfect for the part? Their attitude? The way the walk? Their voice? Let us know.

The story itself isn't anything like Uriel's Fall. It's contemporary fiction:
Zach and Scott have it all: money, fast cars, and their pick of women. When the betrayal of a childhood friend threatens to destroy the software company they built from scratch, they realize being at the top means a longer fall before hitting rock bottom. Now they have to decide if it’s worth the effort to rebuild both the company and trust they've lost, or if simple surrender is the quickest route to the inevitable conclusion.

Mackenzie didn't think following the URL on that dollar bill was big deal. It's thrown her world into disarray, threatening her notions of reality, conspiracy, and one-night stands. Meeting Scott complicates things further. She's struggling to find answers running out of time in a world where online media has made instant gratification an expectation. If discovering the truth behind the online infection doesn't kill her, her love life probably will.


Here's my cast of main characters. Of course, none of these images are mine. I found them all through the friendly world of Google images.

Jude Law as Zach Johnston

I admit, it took me a long time to find an actor for Zach. He's blond, he's about 5'10", and he's got this attitude about him that means he can sell anything to anyone. Except when Rae's involved, but that's part of the fun.

Then Ay said "Jude Law. Perfect choice." I saw those gorgeous eyes, and I knew she was right. I'm a sucker for pale eyes against a dark pallet. And there's something about the way he holds himself, even in still shots you can see that confidence, tinged with something more passionate underneath.





Nathan Fillion as Scott McAllister

This was a tough call for me. I tried to fill the role by searching for 'sexy brunette male' and it just didn't do it. And no offense to Nathan Fillion - because I adore the person he projects to the public - but he's a little older than my characters, so it's not quite the perfect match. All my people are in their late 20's.

But everything else about him is so Scott. Scott is just a little taller (maybe 6'0") and was a quarterback in high school. He played football for his dad, but kept (mostly) in shape even after he left home. He's a solid, hard core, gaming geek. But since he grew up with money, and with Zach as a best friend, he's picked up some habits a lot of the more timid gamers of the world don't exhibit. It's a graceful combination of awkwardness and arrogance. And if you've read his guest posts, you know I adore him.


Charlize Theron as Lorraine (Rae) Dillon

Like with Scott, I did a search for 'blond'. And did not expect to find this. Chalize Theron has some distinct facial features and I wouldn't have imagined Rae looking so...exotic is the only word I can think of for it. But I found this picture and knew it was right. The haircut, the smile, the clothes, it's all Rae.

Rae is shorter, maybe only 5'4". In high school she went through a phase where she was hooked on Japanese cartoons, and dyed her hair blue and picked up the nickname Rae, because it was much more distinct than her boring old real name. For the most part she's soft-spoken. Except when she's around Zach. Something about him brings out the inner rage and she can't help but fight back, so she has to be be both demure and spunky depending on the situation.


Jewel Staite as Mackenzie (Kenzie) Hatch

I didn't actually set out to make this a half-Firefly cast. But I'd been trying to find the right person for Kenzie, and no one I looked at was quite right. Then Kaylee (Jewel Staite) came on screen and I knew that was it. The perfect look for Kenzie.

Biggest difference, Kenzie has multi-colored hair. Green, red, and purple, that she frequently pulls back into pigtails. She's aggressive, intelligent, and frequently perceived as rude because she insists on honesty. But she can be sweet when the mood is right.



So that's my cast of characters. Do you have any tricks for getting a clearer image of your characters when you're writing?

And don't forget to go check out all the other celebrity shots on everyone else's posts.

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