All I want for Christmas is...

Not my two front teeth. I already have those, but thank you any way.



No, what I want is PROPER GRAMMAR!

That's right folks, the grammar nazi in me is coming out.





Grammar is a pain in the arse, I know. It's annoying to have to remember different rules, tenses, pronouns, adjectives. YUCK! I know. It's boring.

It is important to remember, though, that proper grammar is the foundation for any good story. Now granted, in our modern society, we do actually end sentences in propositions. Even I have done that. Especially when in the context of dialogue, that's fine! I think it's important to remember rules like that, though, so you don't end every sentence on the word "to." Oooh, I just got a shiver. LOL



Grammar does not have to be boring, believe it or not. I'm gonna use a football analogy here, ok? Football is great. It's a fun sport, it's intense. It just rocks. But, there are rules in football, aren't there? Haven't you ever heard of "holding," "unnecessary roughness," and all those other glorious football terms? We've all seen those stupid little yellow flags go flying onto the field. Why? Because the players have to go by the rules.




Writing is OUR game. But we can be called out on a foul if we use improper grammar, people. Just like the players know what they can and cannot do, we need to be aware of the rules of grammar so that we keep our game honest. Fair?

When I was in college 100+ years ago, we got a small spiral bound book. "A Pocket Style Manual" by Diana Hacker. this little book is our play book, folks. You need help with sentence structure, vocab, anything? This book has it! I have held on to it all these years because it is key to writing GOOD stories. I also have a dictionary of synonyms, antonyms and homonyms. Your desk should not be cluttered with reference books. Just have a dictionary, the pocket manual & perhaps the book of synonyms, antonyms & homonyms like I do. Those are really the only three things you should ever use regularly as a writer. Don't dimsiss these play books. They can REALLY help you to improve as a writer.



With the new year fast approaching, make a r4esolution to improve your grammar - and your writing! ;)

Finding Your Voice

You've seen me mention a few times now, that every writer has their own voice. What exactly does that mean?



We all speak a certain way. We use specific emphases; structure our sentences just so. We may even speak and write with an accent!

Oh don't get offended. I had to teach my father English. Trust me, I KNOW I've got an accent! LOL



So, what is a writer's voice? It is that sentence structure; those emphases. It is the way we think. The way we perceive the story in our mind that we are trying to put into words. THAT is our voice.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am ridiculously animated. I use hand gestures, voices, accents, the whole nine yards. I grew up in the theatre, what do you expect? I speak as if I'm always on stage. LOL. So, that is my voice. My animation, my accents, my facial expressions - they all create my voice. So does my tendency for short sentences. I tend to write staccato, which means short and choppy. Sometimes, that is a GREAT tool to have. Other times, not so much. So I am learning how to lengthen my sentences, but use the staccato when appropriate.



Don't deny it. You're looking at the monitor all confused wondering what your voice is. I don't know, you tell me. What is your sentense structure like? Are your sentences short and choppy like mine, or are they unending? What words do you find yourself using repeatedly? THAT is your voice.

But just as your voices change with age, so do our writing voices. The more you write, the more you challenge yourself to write in different genres, your voice will change. It will grow. It will evolve.

Bear in mind, as you write that these are written words. Unfortunately for us, our readers miss our animation. They may not emphasize the same part of the sentence that we might. Be sure that when you write, not only do you use your voice, you do so with clarity. An easy way to lose your readers is to be vague or even possibly offensive because the reader took something the wrong way. We've all been there! Who hasn't written or read that e-mail that just gets right under our skin only to find out it wasn't meant like that at all?!



Ok, folks. Write, write, write! Use your unique voice. It adds to color of your story. Just remember to use your voice and to be sure that you're using it the right way. :)

Good writing versus boredom

Good morning, good morning!

So, the other day, we all took a family trip to Vermont (long story). As we were driving home & the little one was sleeping, I was asked to tell a story. So, I went over the basic synopsis of Impeccable. Since I've bearly just started it, I'm not quite sure where this book is going to take me. Anyway, we discussed the one key factor in this book. It can either be really good, deep & moving, or it can be BORING.



Having known since day 1 that would be the case, I have approached this book with some trepidation. The last thing I want to do is to write a BORING book. Ugh.

So, how does one execute a book that is deep, meaningful & moving without losing their readers? It's a very fine, really. Just like all art forms, writing is subjective. What some may enjoy, others may be bored to tears. It's very tricky to fenagle.



I am by no means an expert on this subject, but I'll give it my best shot.

First, emotions and strong dialogue.



If you are looking to create an emotional story with more talk than action, you need to make sure you really convey the emotions. Make them so deep that they are palpable. Make your reader feel what the character is feeling. Go back and check out my blog from 12/17.

In that blog, I say, "In my opinion, that sensitivity makes me a better writer. How so? Because I fully understand the depth of various emotions. I have seen what my charcters have seen. I have endured what they have endured. I know exactly how they feel. I think empathy is key in being able to relay emotions through words and to be able to genuinely touch the reader.As writers, we want to convey every detail of our story(-ies) to our readers. We want them to see the movie in our minds. We want them to hear and smell the same things the characters do. We want them to FULLY experience our books.

Thus, it is important as writers to open up. A clammed up writer has no readers. Why? Because their work will be dry and boring. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, but it's true. In order to really get your readers hooked, you have to make them laugh, to make them cry, to make them scared, or to make them smile. For me, good literature isn't always about the most eloquent wording (though there are some writers past and present who continually blow me away with their verbage). For me, it's all about "relate-ability." Can I as the reader relate to the people in the story? Do I care about the,? Do I like them or hate them (some times appropriately so, sometimes just because)? Am I getting sucked into their world because of their depth, and the depth of their emotions? If you find yourself struggling to truly relay emotions and reactions, do what actors do. Go back into your life. Whether it was a happy moment, a devastating moment, a moment of glory, whatever. Go back in your head and let yourself feel that emotion. Then take that feeling to put into words that will best suit your characters. Remember that your characters are people too. They deserve every opportunity to think, feel and experience. Don't short change them, your readers, or even yourself."

Ok, that was wordy and long, I know. But sometimes that's the best way to explain things.

Anyway, moving on. Dialogue is also key in these kinds of books. If your dialogue is weak, your story will be weak. Your dialogue is going to be the main vessel and the action of the book. Keep your dialogues true (write it out like people really speak. Seriously. One of the things that has annoyed me about various books throughout my life time is their lack of truth. If you write dialogue like, "Thou dost hateth me." And your characters are set in modern times, please don't even bother! LOL).


We know that there are an infinite number of stories yet to be told. Some are scary and captivating. Others are heartwarming. Others move us, make us think. Anyone ever hear of a little book called "Tuesdays with Morrie"? Yeah, that book will movie you. There are no hostage scenes. No shoot outs. No steamy sex scenes. But if that book doesn't move you, I don't know what will. Books like that are to be our models. Not that we need to steal from them, but we need to look at how they were written and emulate that so that we may convey those emotions as well.

You can absolutely have a book that is deep and meaningful. Not every book has to have you on the edge of your seat. That's one of the advantages to being a story teller. We can choose which genre we want to use. Just as you use words to create gripping, suspenseful scenes, use words that will move your readers, maybe change their perspective, or just let 'em cry!



Words are our friends. They are the tools of the writer. If you're working on a deeper book but find that your vocabulary is lacking (and thus your point is not coming across correctly), then learn a new word ever day. Start integrating it not only into your writing, but into your daily vernacular. The more you study and use your tools, the better you will be at using them and creating the depth you want.

Writing and the Subconscious

Today, class, we are going to discuss writing and the subconscious.



Writers write for a reason. Not just are we here to tell stories, but our minds are filled with memories and emotions that are expressed through our writing. Things we may not even be aware of, are expressed through our work.

I read, re-read, re-re-read, re-re-re...Well, you get the point.



There are elements in ALL of my stories that I am not even aware of. I will read those sections and ask myself why that's in there. Sometimes I know, sometimes I don't. For whatever reason, though, they are there. My brain needed those words, that situaton, those emotions to be there. So they are.

Let me give you some examples.

Loving Her


Ok, in Loving Her, Katie & Linda's story has quite a bit in there.
First off, there is "Every Rose Has its Thorn" playing. Yeah, I dig me some good old 80's rock. Anyhoo, Originally that came about because that "Monster Ballads" cd commercial was on TV when I began writing. Then at the end you can see that even Katie has her own thorn (Gasp! Not our precious little Katie! Yep, guys. The same. She does. If you haven't read Loving Her yet, I suggest you do so in order for all of this to make sense).


Also in Loving Her, there is the incredible scene between Linda and Katie's parents. I had an image on Linda on her knees & not moving, but I didn't know why. The scene actually wrote itself. That scene is extremely important to me. I've been lucky in that I never experienced anything to that degree, but my subconscious mind had all of that stored away & it just became the scene between Linda & the Wolfes. Kind of crazy, huh?


Unbreakable Hostage


Ok, this book is CHOCK full of subscious matter!

First off, there's the whole "X = 2" thing. Not quite sure WHY my brain did that, but it did. And X does, in fact, equal two! Weird, but it's what my mind needed.


Lareina's religious beliefs really come into play as well. She is, like most Hispanics, a Catholic.

Now, I was raised in a Catholic home & there are some traditions I love, but I am far from a practicing Catholic. Why did I make her Catholic, and why did I make Catholicism so important to her? I have NO freakin' clue! But my subscious does! ;)

So what does all this tell us?

Well, first off, it tells us that writing is more than meaningless words. Whatever book you're reading - or writing - right now, has more meaning behind it than you may ever realize.

As well, when you're writing: let yourself be free! Let your characters, settings, and situations surprise you. Don't control every breath they take. Have you ever tried to control a cat? Yeah, ain't happening, right? Exactly. Our characters are living, breathing people too! Let them do what they need to do. We as writers, are the VESSELS for these stories to be told, not some controlling omnipotent deity. Brear that in mind every time you write. You might just surprise yourself (and clear your subconscious at the same time)!

Remember the Titans and The Night Before Christmas

Ok, I know already that you are confused as hell about the title of this entry. Again, that x-ray vision is kicking in & I'm hearing A LOT of people saying, "Say what?!" Lemme 'splain, Lucy. :)



My partner and I just watched Remember the Titans.
What a great movie. I had always wanted to see it & we just happened to catch it on TV. They cut out a few things, but it's all good. Anyhoo, what a great story. That got me thinking. Someone had to do research or hear about this story somehow. Now, I am a HUGE football fan, but I know jack about high school & college football. I'm sorry. I grew up on the NFL and have only stayed there.




Anyway, since I knew someone had to have researched that story, it got me thinking about my recent blog about every story being told. That movie reiterated to me that there are so many stories out in the world yet to be told (Seven Pounds did the same thing. What a PHENOMENAL movie! A must for everyone. Sorry, no exceptions). So, fellow scribes, WRITE. If you can't think of anything, go research for an interesting story. There is a place for EVERY story to be told. Don't let inhibitions or fears hold you back. Tell that story. You never know, you could end up with the next Remember the Titans or Seven Pounds! :)





Now what is up with Night Before Christmas?



Well, I'll tell you. We have it for the little one. We've been reading it to her a lot. She LOVES it. You know what struck me? Not the familiarity of it. Not the pictures or impeccable rhymes. On the front there were these magic words that said "Written by Clement Clarke Moore." Excuse me?! Yeah. Someone actually wrote that! Some versions say that Henry Livingston wrote it. Nonetheless, a HUMAN BEING wrote that! And that wasn't just some kids' book - it's integrated into the fibre of the American culture. We ALL know the words to it. It's freakin' amazing! Don't we all, as authors, want to have that kind of impact on our society and culture? Sure! Now we all have to be realistic and realize that gaining that kind of popularity is nearly impossible, but there is no reason why your writings cannot influence your readers and then some. If nothing else, I am using this as a motive to continue writing and promoting my work. Maybe, just maybe, my books will have an impact on my readers. That would be really f*ing cool! :)



...And to all, good night! ;)