by Toni Rakestraw
On Sunday, July 28, I was lucky enough to guest on John's Google Hangout, Rakestraw Book Design Live Events. I had a lot of fun and we spent an hour talking about editing.
We talked about editing, who needs editing, the different types of editing, working with an editor, dialogue, and a lot more.
#differenttypesofediting, #editing, #iseditingnecessary, #whoneedsediting
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
First Person - Deconstructed
by Toni Rakestraw
Yes, we already talked about first person, but now let's really deconstruct it and examine what it means to write in first person. Let's see what it takes to do the work.
Writing in first person, as we discussed before, means that we're inside a character's head. This could be your main character. It usually is in the books I edit. It could also be their best friend, their mother, the antagonist, an observer, their dog... you name it. Sometimes it's fun to play around with perspective by altering who's seeing the story unfold.
But what is first person? When we sit down with our family or friends and tell stories of what happened in our lives, we obviously don't tell any that are novel length. We don't recount dialogue word for word, yet in a first person novel, we do. So right off the bat, writing in first person is artificial. The narrator in the story must, by definition, already know how the story ends, because we're holding the book, right? But we play along like he doesn't, and we discover what happens right along with him. First person is just a device we can use and readers accept it.
Of course, it has strict limitations, too. Let's take description, for instance. How many of you take a paragraph to describe your characters like they're on the police blotter? Aside from the fact that you shouldn't do that unless they are, in fact, being hunted by the police, in first person, would you describe people like that?
Actions also appear different in first person. They can reveal how the character feels about himself, the situation, and anyone else involved. Instead of describing how a character got out of a car and tripped over the curb, you can include how that made them feel. Did they blame the curb? The city? Did they immediately think about how it ruined their nylons? Did they scrape their shin? Are they worried that they'll disappoint the person they're meeting by their appearance now?
Every story has some form of exposition. In first person, it usually is found in the character's thoughts. There are several ways to handle it. First, you can ignore it and treat it like any other exposition you might write, regardless of whether someone would really think that way or not. This is fine if it's more important to you to get the style and image across.
You could also limit the exposition to the style your character would use, thus exploiting the first person point of view.
You could also leave out almost all exposition altogether and confining your story to only what your narrating character things about in the story.
And the final option would be to have a dual first person point of view. This is where you also have an older version of your narrator who can recall the story that has already occurred. This person would have the advantage of time to think about the what if's and the repercussions of what happened and bring them into the story.
No matter which you use, be sure to include your character's attitude. Why use first person at all if you're not going to include the character's attitude and opinions? It's the attitude that makes the character more real. It fleshes him out, helps us identify with him or want to dislike him.
#attitude, #description, #exposition, #firstperson #pointofview, #POV, #writing
Yes, we already talked about first person, but now let's really deconstruct it and examine what it means to write in first person. Let's see what it takes to do the work.
Writing in first person, as we discussed before, means that we're inside a character's head. This could be your main character. It usually is in the books I edit. It could also be their best friend, their mother, the antagonist, an observer, their dog... you name it. Sometimes it's fun to play around with perspective by altering who's seeing the story unfold.
But what is first person? When we sit down with our family or friends and tell stories of what happened in our lives, we obviously don't tell any that are novel length. We don't recount dialogue word for word, yet in a first person novel, we do. So right off the bat, writing in first person is artificial. The narrator in the story must, by definition, already know how the story ends, because we're holding the book, right? But we play along like he doesn't, and we discover what happens right along with him. First person is just a device we can use and readers accept it.
Of course, it has strict limitations, too. Let's take description, for instance. How many of you take a paragraph to describe your characters like they're on the police blotter? Aside from the fact that you shouldn't do that unless they are, in fact, being hunted by the police, in first person, would you describe people like that?
"Oh, yes, I'm dating a new girl... she's 5'2", has blue eyes, red hair, and weighs 120 pounds. She perfectly complements my dashing 5'8", 185 pound frame, and her hair goes well with my coal black tresses."Yeah, right! No one talks like that, even in books! You have to work it in when it naturally fits.
I stumbled across the room to the mirror, running my hand through the tangled mess of black hair on my head. I couldn't believe I'd overslept. Staring back at me were two hungover brown eyes with deep circles beneath them. Shit. How was I going to get rid of them before I met Jennifer's parents for lunch in half an hour? I wanted to make a good impression. I glanced down at the rest of me. My belly sagged a bit. I sucked it in... nah. Too much effort. Work on the face.While it can be more work to do it right, first person gives us a wonderful opportunity to really get inside the character's head so we can see the character as he sees himself.
Actions also appear different in first person. They can reveal how the character feels about himself, the situation, and anyone else involved. Instead of describing how a character got out of a car and tripped over the curb, you can include how that made them feel. Did they blame the curb? The city? Did they immediately think about how it ruined their nylons? Did they scrape their shin? Are they worried that they'll disappoint the person they're meeting by their appearance now?
Every story has some form of exposition. In first person, it usually is found in the character's thoughts. There are several ways to handle it. First, you can ignore it and treat it like any other exposition you might write, regardless of whether someone would really think that way or not. This is fine if it's more important to you to get the style and image across.
You could also limit the exposition to the style your character would use, thus exploiting the first person point of view.
You could also leave out almost all exposition altogether and confining your story to only what your narrating character things about in the story.
And the final option would be to have a dual first person point of view. This is where you also have an older version of your narrator who can recall the story that has already occurred. This person would have the advantage of time to think about the what if's and the repercussions of what happened and bring them into the story.
No matter which you use, be sure to include your character's attitude. Why use first person at all if you're not going to include the character's attitude and opinions? It's the attitude that makes the character more real. It fleshes him out, helps us identify with him or want to dislike him.
#attitude, #description, #exposition, #firstperson #pointofview, #POV, #writing
Friday, July 26, 2013
Unusual Points of View
by Toni Rakestraw
So is that all I have to say on point of view? No. Today I want to talk about unusual points of view. You don't see these often.
Out of these rarities, probably the most common is the epistolary. A dear friend of mine, Jodi Cleghorn, collaborated on one of these with Postmarked: Piper's Reach, which you can read online if you're quick... they're taking it down at the end of July as they prepare it for traditional publication. The entire story is told through letters. These days, you can find the epistolary form to include diaries, memos, emails, interviews, and all sorts of written communications.
Second person puts the reader as the protagonist. It can be unsettling for the reader, and it's hard to pull off because the reader's first reaction is usually to resist.
First person plural uses "we" as the viewpoint, while third person plural uses "they." These points of view are usually limited to works of experimental science fiction because they are most suitable for hive mindsets, like the Borg from Star Trek.
For fans of children's books and fantasy/science fiction, you may run across nonhuman POV. Usually, we find they talk, think, and act just like we do. Not only does that help us relate to them, it helps us understand them. If they didn't, we might have a difficult time understanding what they were doing and why. One of my favorites that deals with nonhuman characters is Watership Down by Richard Adams. The complex lives of the rabbits in the warren hooked me completely.
#epistolary, #firstpersonplural, #nonhumanpov, #POV, #secondperson, #thirdpersonplural, #unusualpointsofview, #writing
So is that all I have to say on point of view? No. Today I want to talk about unusual points of view. You don't see these often.
Out of these rarities, probably the most common is the epistolary. A dear friend of mine, Jodi Cleghorn, collaborated on one of these with Postmarked: Piper's Reach, which you can read online if you're quick... they're taking it down at the end of July as they prepare it for traditional publication. The entire story is told through letters. These days, you can find the epistolary form to include diaries, memos, emails, interviews, and all sorts of written communications.
Second person puts the reader as the protagonist. It can be unsettling for the reader, and it's hard to pull off because the reader's first reaction is usually to resist.
You step up to the monument, scanning the list of names, looking for the one with meaning. That should have meaning. There it is. You run your fingers lightly over the embossed letters.As the reader, it's a bit strange at first, especially when the character does something you personally wouldn't do. Your natural inclinations want to resist, which pulls you out of the story.
First person plural uses "we" as the viewpoint, while third person plural uses "they." These points of view are usually limited to works of experimental science fiction because they are most suitable for hive mindsets, like the Borg from Star Trek.
For fans of children's books and fantasy/science fiction, you may run across nonhuman POV. Usually, we find they talk, think, and act just like we do. Not only does that help us relate to them, it helps us understand them. If they didn't, we might have a difficult time understanding what they were doing and why. One of my favorites that deals with nonhuman characters is Watership Down by Richard Adams. The complex lives of the rabbits in the warren hooked me completely.
#epistolary, #firstpersonplural, #nonhumanpov, #POV, #secondperson, #thirdpersonplural, #unusualpointsofview, #writing
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Branding & Social Media Networking in this New Era of Multi-Screens
I had a great Hangout On Air with Rachel Thompson and we talked...
Branding & Social Media Networking
Watch the Bad Redhead herself Rachel Thompson, published author and social media consultant talks the business and craft of using social marketing.
BadRedHead Media! http://badredheadmedia.com/
Indie Book Promo http://indiebookpromo.com/
Rachel's Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Thompson/e/B004KTY7Q0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1371181110&sr=1-1
Site: http://RachelintheOC.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelintheOC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelThompsonauthor
Email: Email Rachel
My merry band of minds brought a lot to the table today... R. Harlan Smith asked about blogs and their use. Joseph Giacalone talk business plans. Jim Ault, Susanne Ramharter and Sergey Andrianov brought their wonderful thoughts about these beasties (social media) to the group.
Finding your voice and bring it forward is the challenge.
Making Social Media Work Best For You...
We need to center ourselves on the idea of solving people's problems , worries and fears in a way that makes you that source they look for and can't live without. We must be the cure for their pains and have that remedy that moves them towards a call to action. When we listen to our readership, followers and circles... we truly need to hear their concerns and build our social design around the core social media channels that they flow with.
#brandingtips, #hangoutsonair, #hoa, #OnlineMarketing, #SEOMarketing, #socialmarketingtips, #TwitterMarketing, #authors, #Brand, #HangoutOnAir, #socialmedia
Monday, July 22, 2013
Omniscient Point of View
by Toni Rakestraw
Omniscient gives the power to see and know all. It was used much more frequently in the 18th century than it is now, though many beginning writers use it without realizing it.
Writing in omniscient point of view allows you to pop into the mind of any character you choose when you choose... once, or repeatedly. As the author, you may also include your own observations or opinions on the action, even to the point of addressing the reader directly.
Some books written in omniscient POV include The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles and Howards End by E. M. Forster.
Some readers don't like omniscient and will accuse the reader of head hopping. Others say it creates distance. Beginning writers may write like this unintentionally because they want to include descriptions of how everyone is feeling in a scene, not realizing they're actually popping into everyone's heads to do that. So it must be easy, right? Nope. Writing omniscient well is far from easy. While it's true that one of the strengths of this POV is that it allows these things to be revealed, there are some problems with this POV as well, such as:
#omniscient, #pointofview, #writing
Omniscient gives the power to see and know all. It was used much more frequently in the 18th century than it is now, though many beginning writers use it without realizing it.
Writing in omniscient point of view allows you to pop into the mind of any character you choose when you choose... once, or repeatedly. As the author, you may also include your own observations or opinions on the action, even to the point of addressing the reader directly.
Some books written in omniscient POV include The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles and Howards End by E. M. Forster.
Cynthia scowled. "You don't know anything about it," she said, trying to hide her true feelings on the subject.In the example, we're sent to both Cynthia's mind, who's trying to control her true feelings, and her cousin's, who is hoping to read between the lines, then plops next to her in defeat.
"Says you," her cousin retorted hotly, hoping to read between the lines. He scanned her face for clues, then plopped on the grass next to her in defeat. "Tell me, then."
Some readers don't like omniscient and will accuse the reader of head hopping. Others say it creates distance. Beginning writers may write like this unintentionally because they want to include descriptions of how everyone is feeling in a scene, not realizing they're actually popping into everyone's heads to do that. So it must be easy, right? Nope. Writing omniscient well is far from easy. While it's true that one of the strengths of this POV is that it allows these things to be revealed, there are some problems with this POV as well, such as:
- Omniscient POV loses the willing suspension of disbelief that we cultivate in a work of fiction.
- It destroys the sense of reality we try to create in our new world because the author can insert their own opinions.
- It creates more distance between the reader and the characters.
- Reminding the reader that this is a work of fiction can be a terrific device by highlighting the artificial nature of the story.
- By increasing the distance between reader and character, the reader gets an entire panorama of reality itself.
- The author has more control in steering the story and its meaning where s/he wants it to go.
#omniscient, #pointofview, #writing
Friday, July 19, 2013
Third Person
by Toni Rakestraw
Third person. In this point of view, you're telling the story from a distance, as if you're watching the people in it.
Like first person, third person has strengths and weaknesses. Some of its strengths include:
However, if you want your reader to strongly identify with your POV character, to see the world with their eyes, you may want to choose limited third person or first person. Try a chapter or two in each and see what works best for you.
#pointofview, #thirdperson, #writing, #writingtip
Third person. In this point of view, you're telling the story from a distance, as if you're watching the people in it.
Katie faced the black wall with determination, scanning the endless rows of names. There it was. Dennis McDermott. Her fingers traced the letters. She hadn't been sure how she'd feel, seeing his name there. The father she'd never known. The father who'd never known her. Her heart swelled against an ever-tightening band. It was just a name, after all. It wasn't him. It wasn't a real person who could wrap his arms around her. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized, maybe that tight band around her heart was him. Holding her close in the only way he could.Third person allows us to go into the head of the the third person point of view character, but we also get to see what's going on outside of this character. If we only see inside one character's head, that's called limited third person viewpoint. If we get to see inside more than one character's head, it's called multiple third person viewpoint.
Like first person, third person has strengths and weaknesses. Some of its strengths include:
- POV characters can be described from the outside (what they look like, what they're doing).
- You're not limited to your character's world view. In third person, you can present objective facts without coloring them with a character's opinion. Third person opens up the story, so it feels less claustrophobic.
- It's easy to include more than one point of view in third person. As the author, you can move through the plot as needed to expose the information necessary through all the major characters instead of just one or two.
- In third person, you can withhold information until you need to reveal it by having it known only to characters who are not point of view characters.
- It's easier to remain objective with your characters when you aren't writing "I," so you can easier evaluate and imagine them.
- Third person creates more distance between the character and the reader. This can be controlled, but this takes practice and is a topic for another post.
- You lose the effect of language patterns that you can get with first person.
- Flashbacks, memories, opinions, and other devices are more awkward to put in. They can be done, but it takes greater skill to manage them smoothly.
However, if you want your reader to strongly identify with your POV character, to see the world with their eyes, you may want to choose limited third person or first person. Try a chapter or two in each and see what works best for you.
#pointofview, #thirdperson, #writing, #writingtip
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Investing in Your Book
by Toni Rakestraw
I urge you to invest in your book.
What does that mean? It means a lot of things.
First, you need to invest the time to do it right. Take your time writing and researching your book. Revise it. Get feedback. Are there holes in your plotline? If so, fix them! Are your characters flat? Fill them out! A rough draft isn't enough.
Get it edited. Allow enough time for a good edit, don't expect 150,000 words to be done overnight. Give your editor the time to go through it carefully. Rush jobs usually result in something being missed because they were rushed. Can you do your best work when you're in a rush? Schedule enough time in your production timetable to allow for a proper edit. Then add a little bit more for bumps in the road, like an unplanned for revision, or a family emergency. It's better to be ready ahead of time than to be squeezed for time at the end.
Proofread it. After you, your editor, and your trusted beta readers have all read it, get someone else to go over it for errors. If you can afford it, pay a professional. Trust me, even after all those others have gone over it, there will still be some errors. No one is perfect enough to catch everything. Could you? If you were given a 50,000 word manuscript, could you catch every single error? Especially if the author wanted it in a week or two? That's why the more sets of eyes you have go over your book, the better. And spell check doesn't catch everything, either. It doesn't know the difference between there, their and they're. Or to and too. Or rein and reign. Or wait and weight. Or right and write. All it knows is if they're spelled correctly.
Get a good cover design. If you don't know the first thing about designing a cover that looks good, find someone who does. It's worth the money to have one that catches the eye. People do judge a book by its cover, whatever they may say.
Your book represents you. This is your product that you want people to buy. Putting a substandard book out there can create a reputation that will follow you no matter how much work you put into later publications. Today's readers aren't shy about complaining in a review about shoddy writing or editing (or lack thereof). If you fix your book later, those reviews are still there. Those readers have already told their friends and the damage has been done.
I know I harp about this repeatedly here, but I can't emphasize this enough. As an author, your book is you. Do you want to go out in public with a big smudge on your face? Of course not! So why let your book do the same? Yes, editing and a good cover can cost a lot of money, depending on who you hire and the length of your book. But isn't your book worth some scrimping? Isn't your reputation as an author worth it? Many editors, like me, offer payment plans. Payment plans, however, don't work well if you're on a quick deadline (just another reason to plan well for your production time). We also offer a discount for payment in full, so there are multiple ways to save some money on editing services.
You want to put your best book forward.
#editing, #importanceofediting, #writing
I urge you to invest in your book.
What does that mean? It means a lot of things.
First, you need to invest the time to do it right. Take your time writing and researching your book. Revise it. Get feedback. Are there holes in your plotline? If so, fix them! Are your characters flat? Fill them out! A rough draft isn't enough.
Get it edited. Allow enough time for a good edit, don't expect 150,000 words to be done overnight. Give your editor the time to go through it carefully. Rush jobs usually result in something being missed because they were rushed. Can you do your best work when you're in a rush? Schedule enough time in your production timetable to allow for a proper edit. Then add a little bit more for bumps in the road, like an unplanned for revision, or a family emergency. It's better to be ready ahead of time than to be squeezed for time at the end.
Proofread it. After you, your editor, and your trusted beta readers have all read it, get someone else to go over it for errors. If you can afford it, pay a professional. Trust me, even after all those others have gone over it, there will still be some errors. No one is perfect enough to catch everything. Could you? If you were given a 50,000 word manuscript, could you catch every single error? Especially if the author wanted it in a week or two? That's why the more sets of eyes you have go over your book, the better. And spell check doesn't catch everything, either. It doesn't know the difference between there, their and they're. Or to and too. Or rein and reign. Or wait and weight. Or right and write. All it knows is if they're spelled correctly.
Get a good cover design. If you don't know the first thing about designing a cover that looks good, find someone who does. It's worth the money to have one that catches the eye. People do judge a book by its cover, whatever they may say.
Your book represents you. This is your product that you want people to buy. Putting a substandard book out there can create a reputation that will follow you no matter how much work you put into later publications. Today's readers aren't shy about complaining in a review about shoddy writing or editing (or lack thereof). If you fix your book later, those reviews are still there. Those readers have already told their friends and the damage has been done.
I know I harp about this repeatedly here, but I can't emphasize this enough. As an author, your book is you. Do you want to go out in public with a big smudge on your face? Of course not! So why let your book do the same? Yes, editing and a good cover can cost a lot of money, depending on who you hire and the length of your book. But isn't your book worth some scrimping? Isn't your reputation as an author worth it? Many editors, like me, offer payment plans. Payment plans, however, don't work well if you're on a quick deadline (just another reason to plan well for your production time). We also offer a discount for payment in full, so there are multiple ways to save some money on editing services.
You want to put your best book forward.
#editing, #importanceofediting, #writing
Monday, July 15, 2013
First Person
by Toni Rakestraw
Ah, first person. Many of the books that cross my desk are written in first person. The reader gets to experience the story inside a character's head. I find that many first-time authors choose first person as their chosen point of view, at least in the books I edit.
#firstperson, #pointofview, #writing, #writingtips
Ah, first person. Many of the books that cross my desk are written in first person. The reader gets to experience the story inside a character's head. I find that many first-time authors choose first person as their chosen point of view, at least in the books I edit.
I peered into the bassinet. There was a tiny person, wrapped in a fluffy pink blanket. She squirmed, threatening to wake. I squirmed. What would I do if she cried? I was afraid to touch her. I heaved a sigh of relief when she seemed to settle. How could they send her home with me? I had no clue what to do with her. How could I take care of her? What if I dropped her? What if I failed? It wasn't like I could just find another home for her, like a puppy. She was supposed to be mine. I swallowed hard. My daughter. It didn't seem real. It couldn't be real.One of the great things about first person is you really get into that person's character. The narration is in that character's speech pattern, we get the immediacy of their experience, and the reader feels as if they are feeling what the character feels. First person offers range that can be awkward in third person. You can wander through impressions, feelings, memory, opinion as they pass through the character's head. This is one of the great strengths of this point of view. There are, however, equally strong weaknesses that you need to keep in mind if you choose to write in first person.
- You can't include a scene in which your character is not present. Likewise, you can't include any information your character wouldn't have access to. If you must include crucial information your character doesn't have direct access to, you must be creative in finding ways to make it accessible, like letters, overheard conversations, and so on.
- You must include any information you character does have. This is especially important if you're writing a mystery. Suddenly springing a clue upon your readers that your character already knew about is bad form.
- As the author, you're limited to your character's view of the world. If your character is a Pollyanna, then s/he must see the good in everyone, no matter how evil they are. Their evilness must be shown in other ways.
- Don't confuse yourself with your character. It is so easy to do. If you feel a certain way about something, make sure your character doesn't feel that way just because you do. You need to remain objective. If your character has a strong political pull to the right or left, for example, and you're the opposite, you can't let your own leanings color your character in any way. You need to be able to become the reader enough to judge what you put on the page. This is why many authors consider first person to be extremely difficult. It is the also what many beginning authors forget when they choose to write in first person.
#firstperson, #pointofview, #writing, #writingtips
Friday, July 12, 2013
Point of View
by Toni Rakestraw
When you write a story, you need to choose a point of view. Who will be telling the story? Will it be one of your characters? Will it be you, the author?
Who you choose can change the story. Let's say you want to tell a story about a bank robbery. Major characters may include the robbers, the hostages inside the bank, and the police officers on the scene. If you choose one of the robbers, the story may consist of adventure, planning the heist, danger, a falling out between partners, and lack of trust.
If the story is told through the eyes of one of the hostages, it becomes one of bewilderment and fear. Do they hope to escape? Maybe several band together to stand up to the robbers or maybe they learn their lesson when one gets injured for doing something foolish and they await rescue.
If a detective on the case is the one who relates the story, it becomes a procedural... we get treated to the protocols of the case, talking down the robbers, negotiating for the release of the hostages, the stress when one is shot.
As you can see, each angle tells a different tale, although the main story remains the same. If you have a large cast of characters in your book, use as few points of view as possible to tell the story. Figure out the least amount you need to adequately cover the story and any internal dialogues you need in your story. Having too many can get confusing, not only for the reader, but for you. Now you must decide between first person, third person, omniscient, or those rarely used second person, plural first, plural third, and epistolary forms.
Over the next several posts, I'll be covering some of these various forms of point of view, including the pros and cons of choosing them, as well as what pitfalls to watch out for when you use them.
#pointofview, #writing, #writingtips
When you write a story, you need to choose a point of view. Who will be telling the story? Will it be one of your characters? Will it be you, the author?
Who you choose can change the story. Let's say you want to tell a story about a bank robbery. Major characters may include the robbers, the hostages inside the bank, and the police officers on the scene. If you choose one of the robbers, the story may consist of adventure, planning the heist, danger, a falling out between partners, and lack of trust.
If the story is told through the eyes of one of the hostages, it becomes one of bewilderment and fear. Do they hope to escape? Maybe several band together to stand up to the robbers or maybe they learn their lesson when one gets injured for doing something foolish and they await rescue.
If a detective on the case is the one who relates the story, it becomes a procedural... we get treated to the protocols of the case, talking down the robbers, negotiating for the release of the hostages, the stress when one is shot.
As you can see, each angle tells a different tale, although the main story remains the same. If you have a large cast of characters in your book, use as few points of view as possible to tell the story. Figure out the least amount you need to adequately cover the story and any internal dialogues you need in your story. Having too many can get confusing, not only for the reader, but for you. Now you must decide between first person, third person, omniscient, or those rarely used second person, plural first, plural third, and epistolary forms.
Over the next several posts, I'll be covering some of these various forms of point of view, including the pros and cons of choosing them, as well as what pitfalls to watch out for when you use them.
#pointofview, #writing, #writingtips
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