Writers in the Storm

Oh, shoot me. It's been three weeks that I've licked my wounds enough to write this. My beloved friends hated, I mean really hated, Chapter Eight. They said my character would never have made the choice she did.

Now, normally, I don't argue with their opinions, because they are talented writers and adept readers. If they say something doesn't work, it doesn't work on some level and must be re-written. But this character came about as a form of catharsis after the death of my father. And I know her like the back of my hand. Apparently not, because not a one of my critique partners agreed with what she did. They said she would never have chosen to do what I "made" her do.

In the interim, I've thought about my husband's answer years ago to "Why did you fall in love with me?" My alpha-male-to-the max husband said, "Because you're not a normal woman." Well, after I almost cold-cocked him, he explained that I didn't behave like most women. He reeled off his list of "typical" female behaviors. His comment still makes sense because I was "socialized" by a pack of wolves taking the same physics and math classes. My geeky guy friends had no more social skills than I had. With no close female friends during those formative years--thank goodness that's very different now!--I still, obviously, at times think as I did years ago.

So I've examined my heroine's actions and revised them for her true character, instead of forcing her to do what I would have done. Interesting how we conceive a character, but that character grows beyond us into her own person. I guess that's one reason I write.

By Charlotte Carter

Both Linda Seger (Creating Unforgettable Characters) and Robert McKee (Story) talk about using Image Clusters and Image Systems. Here’s my take on using images.

1. Use images that represent the individual’s character or his values. A wealthy heroine may well wear designer jeans, drive a BMW and have beautifully manicured nails. In contrast, a firefighter is likely to think and talk using words like flash over, combustion and nozzle man.

The images and details you choose help to define the character.

2. Use images from the physical world to support the overall theme of your story. For instance, in a story set in the bayou, any number of water images might be used: creek running into the bayou, tap water, water fall, shower. In the movie Witness images of wheat were repeated as grain, bullets hidden in a flour canister, and finally the villain killed in a grain silo.

These images are subliminal and your reader’s experience will be richer for them.

3. Use images to represent the relationship between the hero and heroine. In one of my books, the h/h were metaphorically unable to see each other clearly until the end of the story. They saw the other’s reflection in a mirror and the chrome fender of a car. They stood in half moonlight and half darkness, and saw each other in through flickering candlelight. Finally, when they acknowledged their love, they stood together in the sunlight.

No need to be heavy handed using images but the added layer will make your story shine. Besides, it’s fun to do stuff like this.

Charlotte Carter
Books that leave you smiling
from Love Inspired
Montana Hearts, 12/10
Big Sky Reunion, 5/11
Visit my blog:
www.CharlotteCarter.com

by Fae Rowen

First, I should say that I'm on my fourth cell phone--in my entire life. My service provider sent me my third phone after numerous letters offering a "free" upgraded phone. I didn't bite. I wasn't going to pay for a phone with some camera. When they sent a free phone I called them to find out how to return it. Turned out my second phone was so old that in three days it would no longer be able to decode the satellite signal.

Well, Saturday I finally joined the modern world and purchased a "smart" phone. Now I understand why it's so named. It is smarter than me, that's for sure! The young man who sold it to me said as I left the store, "Just play with it. You can't break it--unless you throw it on the floor or drop it in the toilet." Like a twelve-year-old-boy with a new electronic toy I rushed home to download free apps and my music library. Couldn't figure out how to answer the darned thing when my friend called, but, what the heck. I spent what was left of Saturday and all day Sunday between my phone and my computer. And I had fun! Why had I waited so long?

Monday morning after I made a call a message asked if I'd like to lock the sim card. Now, my security frame of mind is on high alert since my laptop, iPod, and camera were stolen on a trip a couple of months ago, so of course I said YES! I gave a password, re-entered it and felt quite smug. Until I tried to call another friend ten minutes later and couldn't get the phone to do anything but demand a PUK code. I did start to feel sick when I got the warning about so many more tries at my password until I had to call my provider.

Yep, you guessed it. I fried my sim card and had to traipse back to the store for a new one. How embarrassing is it to hand your phone over to someone less than half as old as you? New sim card installed, I returned home to read the tutorials and manual--and regained some of that twelve-year-old-with-one-purpose-in-life focus. Three days later I can take flash and zoom pictures and post them to my new Facebook account and e-mail them to friends. And I feel like an accomplished fourteen-year-old adolescent.

Meeting with (younger) friends today for lunch, I showed off my new phone and its glam case, only to have it grabbed out of my hand as they loaded apps that they wanted me to have to make it easier to connect with me. Apps I had to pay for! Now I'm not THAT old, but I used to write code for computers when you only used on-off to get everything done. I am so far out of my league it's not funny. But, when one of my friends said, "Heh, you look younger." And the other one said, "Yeh, I think it's the phone," I thought, "Yep. Definitely worth the money."