My Book- A Movie?

     Have you ever told yourself that you were born a writer, so to speak?  Or that you've always been interested in writing; a young story teller.  Are you?  If that's true then you have an advantage over us all!


     Do you remember playing toys with a friend or sibling and being able to make up scenes on the spot?  That's your advantage.  Going back to those times, it was so easy to make up a story.  You knew the characters you were playing as much as you knew yourself or your friend.


     What? - It's not the same thing.  Well, of course it is!  Writing is much more difficult than playing out a story, especially if you're a youngster, but now you have literature on your side.  Our dilemma is the force that we put on our writing, which in many cases is severely needed in order for the book to be finished.  Remember how it felt to make your story like a movie?  You imagined in your mind the twists and the turns of your character's bodies that were not at all possible for your toy figurine to make.  If only writing was as playful as story making, we'd all be better off.  But it can be just as fun!

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Describe yourself as a character.  On the days that you choose this writing exercise, try to change yourself slightly in stances, beliefs, flaws, and strong holds.  This helps to develop good character invention skills;  i.e. learning to walk in their shoes.  As you develop different characters in this way change up on some days, putting a particular "you" character into a situation and really try to ask yourself what you would do.  Be honest.  You can learn different takes on stances and what actually keeps people in line with what they know is right and wrong.  Anyone can slip or slack on certain issues but it is the amount of discipline and to the degree of discipline that they project onto themselves that makes them who they are.  And to a certain point, that can change every day.  Make your characters ALIVE.

My Favorite Settings In Action Books

The settings that I like in action books are the ones that make the character feel boxed in like they can't get out.  Some of my favorite are settings like a crowded city or town and settings with a small room that is hard to get out of.  I think these make great action settings.  They are my favorite settings for action books because it creates a lot of tension needed for action settings.  For me, the more tension the better in action settings!  They are also my favorite settings because it makes it almost impossible for the character to escape, which leads them to do some fighting.  I like action books that have settings like this.  It is always fun to see what is coming next in these books!

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Do you ever feel happy reading your mail or emails?  Do reminders in the mail help you stay on track?  Here's an idea:  there is someone who wants to see you finish your book and is emailing you constantly, everyday, to remind you and to give suggestions.


     Okay if the message isn't worth seeing you might end up with a crowed inbox, but say that it is worth it.  Sometimes ideas roll in and suggestions of ways to go in the story.  Who?  An agent.  No.  A publisher?  I wish.  A friend?  hmmm....you might call it that.  It's a character from your book!


     What?!  Ha, ha!  A character from your book is a very important individual to be speaking to you because they know how much your book has to offer.  There is no one else who has that special insight.  The author that spends valuable time to put together something that can be shared and provide a joyful experience for those who read the material, should be as eager as the character in their book to get this thing finished!

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Answering questions can be your worst nightmare.  In many situations around the world it is the fear that we might answer them wrongly or draw the wrong impression from our response.  The writer certainly has questions he/she must be able to answer about their work.  They have to know the answers to the questions because for most of these questions, the author has already asked it to himself (sometimes instinctively, without knowing).  The author has character questions to answer as well.  But when relating to your story line, have you asked the "tough questions"?


     Asking tough questions can bring forth story ideas and room for development.  For example, who do I save first?  Knowing that there is a possibility you will not be able to save everyone, put in an extreme situation, and think of what you would do if you and the people you know were the characters.  How horrible it would be for these characters in their dying moments to see you choose from them in order of importance.  We do this all the time when watching movies and reading books.  We relate to the characters in this way.  We try to feel what they are experiencing.

Romance Books Make the Best Movies- Revisited

Romance books are fun and entertaining.  They make some of the best movies.  Romance books focus on things unique to the characters.  Their movies are unforgettable.  Some movies based on romance books are Letters to Juliet based on the book by Lise Friedman, Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks, and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.  Each of these books follow and focus on something that is different about each character and their lives.  Romance books make nice stories and have a unique experience for each reader.  I love how there are different characters in every romance book that I read.  They make some of the best movies to me because they focus on these things.  It is fun to see these characters in real life when you watch romance movies based on books.  These are good reads, and the movies are fun to watch.    

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Being able to answer basic questions about your book and story line is essential for the novels sake.  It is in these basic questions that we sometimes assume to know already but don't, that every author should be able to answer, and the simplicity brings on a broader perspective as you go from one question to another or idea that develops into material used in your novel.  Ask yourself these basic questions, but go even further to ask character questions.

     For example, try thinking of basic questions that people ask themselves in the real world.  "What am I doing?"  "Who am I?"  "What now?"  All of these questions provide large range thinking and developing of character.  For instance, my favorite, "Who am I?", can help you expand on your characters, and know them better, by helping them answer the questions.  What does this character think of himself?

     You might even use some of the questions that you came up with in your book.  And when your character gets to a certain emotional point, one of these questions might arise.  You will relate to your character's feelings and help the reader to also.

The Writer And The Reader- The Author That Cares

     Can we have a moment?  Allow the reader to talk, "have a moment", with the character as he calls them aside.  Furthermore, allow the reader to "know" your character.  Let them be able to weigh the goods and the bads in each of the characters that are presented no matter the length of their part in the novel.  From a walk-by on the street to the one who owns the screen the reader should be able to see who's there and to make judgements if they wish.  Don't make the reader shy to judge.

The Writer And The Reader- The Author That Cares

     Writing is something we love, it's something we work towards and build; like a relationship.  To feel down about your writing is just a strive to perfect something you care about.  To be blocked, i.e. with writer's block, is a tender moment in time when you or your mind simply has nothing to say at the moment.  Think about actual books and their story line.  There are times when a character(s) aren't sure where to move, or come to a point of affection that can only be answered by silence; by thought.  There's nothing wrong with this pause.  When you embrace it, maybe find something else to write, is when you will let the author in you take control.

What Inspires the Writer In Me- Romance Genres Continued

Romance genres are so unique in that they provide a story that fits in with a single human emotion.  What is even more inspiring to me is that this emotion is mixed in with so many others along with it and can be seen as part of the climax of the story.  I am inspired to write a romance book when I think of this.  I elaborate on how different emotions can fit in with the main emotion.  I also focus on bringing in the main emotion in the book to the climax of the story.  Maybe in a book the main character might be forced to leave their loved one behind in the climax during a battle.  The main character would fight to stay alive.  I would find a way to mix other emotions into the story as well.  Maybe regret if the main character was not sure if their loved one is still safe or not as the story develops.  There are so many emotions, and so many ways for the writer to incorporate them into their book.  People are filled with countless emotions.  This is one of the many reasons I am continued to be inspired to write a romance book. 

What Inspires the Writer In Me- Action Genres Continued

Action genres are so fun.  They provide a way to get the reader on the edge of their seat nonstop.  I think the writer experiences just as much when they are writing this as the reader does, if not more!  I love to be inspired by these genres.  Something that inspires me to write an action book the most would be things that I would find very difficult to do.  Of course, finding a bomb and disabling it would be a very hard and stressful situation to be in.  Trying to stop a train before it heads towards a broken bridge would be another.  These situations would inspire me to be able to write an action book that would keep my readers on the edge of their seat.  Naturally my character would be doing all of the work and risk all of the danger.  Something I could live with.

My Favorite Settings In Mystery Books

I love to solve mysteries!  My favorite settings for these types of unsuspecting books are settings that are fast paced, like in a busy city.  Anything can happen in these places.  There are a lot of clues to look for.  Now to be more specific, I find a setting like in a bar, or in an apartment, where there a lot of people around to be most interesting.  There you will definitely find a lot of potential suspects and clues.  Anything that keeps me in the unknown for as long as possible makes a good mystery book to me.  I think it is fun when I read a mystery book to see how the character can solve a mystery in a setting like this, and yet stay sharp and focused.  

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Sometimes writing a poem for your story can help bring out the details you must focus on.  What I call a "writer's block" poem takes apart what you know of your novel and the keys that your character holds to it all.  Find the most important set back that a character experiences and his/her adoration and link the two together.  Basically, tell the characters story in summary, focusing on key details, and let it be in their psychological world, if you will.  For example, a problem should be symbolized  by something, or by the setting (dark, gloomy, etc.).  The long term goal or happiness that the character experiences everyday can be symbolized by many things; usually it's best to have it go along with the setting and other symbols.

The Power To Write- Get Inspired

     It's never too late to write your book!  If you enjoy writing, keep it that way.  Writing is a gift you've been given.  The awesome part to this gift is that it is one meant to be shared with others.  It starts as your own inspiration and then grows to inspire many more hearts.  But the only way it can come out of your pocket is if you write for yourself and no one else.

     Relax when you write.  A lot of the time, if you think about writing as an art, you become patient and keen for detail like an artist, painting a portrait.  If writing in your pajamas makes you relax, then do just that.  If drinking a cup of coffee, etc. will help, then have a cup.  Maybe you're thinking about writing a scene where a character from your novel is in his/her pajamas, or a small impression of a cup of coffee; if so, this might bring you into character as well.

My Book- A Movie?

     We've put our book on the big screen; thought of it as a movie, looked at visual techniques, and much more.  But have we put ourselves in the character's shoes?  Like an actor knows his script and becomes the character in mind, body, and soul, authors must play the part of every character in their book.

     So, can we become as close to the character as the cast of a movie becomes to each of their roles?  I say yes.  It's hard, but I think we manage to get to this point in different ways.

     Screen writing has it's advantages in this area.  The writer can put forth a setting, actions, and appearances as plainly and matter-of-factly as I would tell you in conversation.  But still, when taking an acting class in college, I really did question  whether the author was able to to put as much time in getting to know his characters as I was.  I remember pairing up with partners and helping each other in many exercises that we did.  Mossing around the campus, we "walked like our character".  Other times we were in conversation as our character.  It definitely helped me play my part.  Sometimes I wish there was a writing class like this; helping each other get to know and develop our characters.  When it's a class, it's not as embarrassing to do these activities.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Expanding your vocabulary to include terms that describe your character, a chapter, book, scene, or genre opens up the door for new ideas to come flowing in.  You may never use any of them, but they inspire you to write with that defined tone.  I decided to search "horror vocabulary" to see what comes up and defined horror with a few words of my own also.  Here is a link to some horror vocabulary words:

Vocabulary list #1

Vocabulary list #2

     Notice how there are always contrasting tones to the one that you choose.  In a horror book there will be "scary words", and there will be words that make you calm; and unprepared for what is to come.  In a romance there will be words of love and words of conflict.  We already know this as writers, but it put me in a writing mood!

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Has writer's block struck again?  Relax, your story is not going anywhere- hand it over to the pros!  Try letting a character from your book write the story.


     The character is in a climax, he's at the edge of that cliff, and actually feels much like you right now- frustrated, exhausted, and challenged.  They'd laugh if you told them that they could write the rest of the story.  But then they would realize, it's no joke.  Imagine their emotions, and the outcomes they make for themselves.


     Did the character create an even better story?  Has this new author written you over?  Ha!  By the time this is finished, you might feel like the character yourself!

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     We have all experienced Writer's Block at one time or another, but what about when it's the other way around- too many ideas leave us cycling off a cliff to a dead end (to our death...)?  Just today I had too many expectations, wound up with a migraine, and what did I do?  After getting rid of the migraine, I wrote this post.  Going back to #1 on my list of ways to cope with writer's block I realized I could apply the same techniques to this situation.  I'm looking back on these activities to smooth out my writing- and my mind.


I revisited this post about 6 fun ways to cope as well as the newer activities that I have listed in the past. Don't forget: making a list of small adorations, bringing a poetic sense into the picture, the trash book, character group meetings, physical stimulation, and gift cards.

My Favorite Settings in Books

I love it when books are set out in someplace familiar to me.  Just the appearance of a familiar environment makes me feel right at home with the story.  One of my favorite settings are family environments.  I can see the characters interacting and get a feel of how they fit in.  Whether it is action, romance, drama, or horror I love to meet the characters this way.  I like to meet the characters at work in their lives.  It is almost like meeting the character's base.  Someplace I think I might know helps me relate to the story, and it remains that much more vivid in my mind.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     It's never too late to get to know your character.  If you're having trouble writing, your time could be better spent catching up with these guys.  That's why I say, I love it when I have writer's block, because it gives me an excuse to slack off, in a good way.  One comical way to do this, is to put the characters in a group.  I choose a plain room, with dim lights and a circle of chairs, with one chair for you.


     Record what order everyone is sitting in and have everyone introduce themselves, starting with you.  Think about what everyone's body language looks like, what they are feeling; thinking, and what they think of you.  Ask yourself, who knows each other already, when is this taking place in respect to my novel, did some of them have to change their schedule to be here, and depending on the time it takes place, would meeting each other today somehow change their relationships and the outcomes that are featured in the book?