The Writer And The Reader- The Author That Cares

          When motivation kicks in and we are on a role, nothing can stop us!  Ideas are coming...and going...  What happens when inspiration is there but what we have is not coming out in words.  There is only one thing you can do:  If information is already accredited, the story is developed and all that is left is writing it all out, be silent.  -  In other words, relax.


     Like I have said before, a scattered mind only gives scattered results.  So you must wait until something develops.  This is just part of the writing process that we always expect to skip every now and then.  Writing a book takes time.  And no matter how short on time you are, do things in the order that they come to you.  Wait to write until you feel like writing and don't force it.


     Don't get me wrong, sometimes pushing through things can get you to where you needed to be quite successfully, but it is all on the time that you decide to do it.  You know best!

The Writer And The Reader- The Author That Cares

        As an author, you know why you write.  You love to!  There are countless reasons for every writer.  So reminding yourself on these reasons are healthy ways to keep you writing and inspired.  Don't give up!


     If you're down on yourself or frustrated with your writing progress, and reminding yourself of these reasons doesn't help, try thinking of your audience - the many waiting to be inspired by your words.  Why do the readers read?  They share a lot of the same reasons that you have for why you write.  The writer and the reader share a deep connection.  Concentrating on this relationship is inspiring.

My Book- A Movie?

     Not only do tough questions put forth an awesome story line, but they also relate the reader to the character and to the scene at hand.  Put us there, right then, with that person(s).  We like to be on the edge of our seats, to cry, to laugh and to be embarrassed.  We want it to happen to us, because we're there. Right?  Are we there?


     Find out by asking the tough questions.  They are fun for both the reader and the writer.  Like in our previous example, saving one person out of a group of people that we love would be the most difficult thing to do both mentally and physically because we would be straining to save just one more person even though we know that we simply can not.


     Just think of what we do when we watch a movie.  Lots of the times we say, "I would have done this..." or "I don't know what I would have done!".  The author leaves its audience thinking and that's exactly what you want them doing!

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.

My Favorite Settings In Action Books Continued

There is a lot to look forward to in the setting of an action book.  I like settings where characters are already struggling to survive.  In a fire, for example.  There would be a lot of tension with any action in this setting.  Any action in this setting would give a further threat to some hard times.  In this type of a setting the reader does not know what to expect.  Another example would be a famine area.  I like settings to take place in these areas.  The main character does not necessarily have to be there.  I just like how it feeds the imagination.  You ask yourself, "How are they going to survive?"

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- 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.

Novella Books Make the Best Movies

Novellas are special in that they give the reader a good book to read that is a little longer than the normal short story.  I love it because if I want to carry out the story a little more, I have time to finish the extra bit at the end because it is shorter than a novel.  It is exciting to see this carried out into a movie.  Some popular movies that have been based on novellas are A Christmas Carol based on the book by Charles Dickens, The Invisible Man based on the book by H.G. Wells, and The Mist based on the book by Stephen King.  Some of my favorites are I Am Legend based on the book by Richard Matheson, The Time Machine based on the book written by H.G. Wells, and Apocalypse Now based on the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.  These books make a great break to sit down and enjoy.    

What Inspires the Writer In Me- Short Stories

How do we know whether we are going to write a short story, novella, or a novel?  As writers I think we get a feeling.  Something inspires us.  I like to write short stories.  What inspires me to write them are situations that I could put myself in for a moment.  Kind of like a short break.  Maybe a moment to drink a cup of coffee, or a walk in the park.  A story that centers on something like this that gives the reader a break is my idea of a short story.  I also get inspired when I think of situations that center on emotion.  I focus on a specific emotion of anger, sadness, happiness, or fear.  These are situations that I can put myself in as well.  Writing about a happy situation would be a kid that lost a tooth, or  winning a sports game.  I would use a sick person and a dying pet for a sad situation.  No matter what genre the story, I like to think of these things to start with.  That is what works for me!

What Inspires the Writer In Me- Short Stories Continued...

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The Power To Write- Get Inspired

     The writer's experience is a novel in itself!  We go through so many adventures and trials both in our books and in real life.  Every author's experience is different!  How fun is that?  Our readers only get to go through half the fun that we do.  It's like some of those movies where people leave on a quest, go through and learn so much, and actually have a great, unforgettable time.  But once they're back home - they never want to do it again - they don't want to leave.  If people who don't write could go through what we do, without the hassle of writing, I'm sure they wouldn't forget it either.  It's fun, self-fulfilling, and it makes you full - as if to say, " the cake was the best cake I've ever had and my stomach's so full there isn't room for any more." -  Ha, ha - it's kind of like kids when they're worn out.  Give them time and they'll go at it again.

The Power To Write- Get Inspired

There hasn't been a movie without a soundtrack.  Every movie has one.  Music brings out the feelings/emotions, problems/tensions, direction, and mood/setting of a subject matter.  Although the reader may not be able to read with music playing, the words on the pages play themselves out as such, and the writer of a book can certainly apply this technique to "feel" the material that he writes.  You might even find that your book is inspired by a song.  If nothing else, the song could inspire you.

The Writer And The Reader- The Author That Cares

     In writing, there begs a cause; in truth, in embellishment, and in reason.  Every writer must give the reader a reason to read on, the means to become engaged, and to provide indefatigable details/material.  Through the tools available we persist at this with the writing techniques that we learn.


     Why should I care about what happens to so-and-so?  Where is this leading- (pages being skimmed to find the next climatic point).  All of these questions, and more that the individual author thinks of, should be answered before advancing plot.  You know your story, keep in mind what has to happen- write it down, advance the character, the plot, and the interest as much as possible, giving every piece a reason to be there.  Then you can say, "Now we begin."