Understanding

We talked about this word a little bit last week, but I promised I'd delve further into it later on. The time has come.

Understanding

Writers, as our main goal, strive to reach understanding. We know that people everywhere across this world are searching for some form of understanding, and we wish to give it to them in some small way.

But how is it that we achieve this goal? I'm glad you asked.

1. We make stories that make sense

This is one of the first rules of writing, actually. Whatever you write, it has to make sense. Why? Because if it doesn't make sense, no one will actually want to read it. It just becomes a confusing jumble that no one really has the willpower to follow.

By making stories that make sense, we've made something very different from the real world. Let's face it, half of the stuff that happens around us every day doesn't actually make any sense. It's illogical and insane, and that's what we're trying to escape by reading.

When we give our readers a story that is filled with sense, with logic and emotion that follows order, we've given them something they're likely searching for in their lives. 

2. We shape worlds into something believable and relatable (even if it's on another planet)

Readers are looking for characters they can relate to, ones who have similar goals and beliefs, or ones who break them away from the monotony of their own lives.

We given them this escape by creating realistic and believable characters who understand what the reader is going through, because they're going through it themselves. It doesn't matter where in time and space your characters are. If they're believable and relatable, you've made something every reader is looking for -- whether they realize it or not. 

3. We give our readers more information than what they would have in their real lives

Truth be told, half the time we have no idea what's going on in our own lives. And it's not our fault. It's just the way things go. We only have our own thoughts to listen to, and we can't get inside someone else's head to figure out what they're thinking.

In stories, however, we often can. This allows us to give the reader a better understanding of the way other, real, people think -- by putting them into the minds of several believable and relatable characters we talked about above.

Doing this helps them to understand their own lives, and really, it helps us to understand our own as well -- as well as the lives of those around us.


It's what we do. It just takes time to do it well.

[love]

{Rani D.}

Self-Control

Some of you know the fruits of the spirit, yes? Well, one of those fruits is the topic of our discussion today.

Self-Control

Possibly more than anything we've discussed so far, writers need self control. If we don't have it, our work goes a little haywire.

Okay, more than a little.

But with it, everything can fall into place. The story can be what it wants to be.


With that in mind, four particular places in which writers need self control:

1. Characterization

Sometimes, our characters TALK. Sometimes they're a little crazy. Sometimes they don't want to do what they're supposed to do. 

Self control in this area is where we find the will to nix whatever it is that's getting in the way. A lot of the time, that means not writing down our characters rant-like monologues or their strange eating habits that might (but probably won't) at some point make some sort of strange sense in the story, because really, it all comes out for the better if we control ourselves and remove what needs removing.

I've yet to meet anyone who likes doing it, and yet, we all still do it when it needs doing.

2. Plotlines

Crazy plotlines thrive within the minds of most women I've ever met. Have you spoken to a woman during her time of the month? Then you'll know what I mean. We can go a little nutso. Not all of us, mind you, but a great many. (Don't worry, guys do it too, they just don't have something to blame it on)

We can get a little crazy. We know it, and we're okay with it (for the most part).

It's self control that helps us to not insert too much of the crazy into the writing. Guys, this goes for you too. I know you. Many of you are just as crazy as women, if not more so. Do not -- I repeat, DO NOT -- insert all of the crazy into your stories. Some is okay. We like some crazy. We don't like insanity.

I trust you'll all agree. 

3. Wording

How many of you are word abusers? I'll admit, I used to be one. I used more words in certain instances than was entirely necessary, and I didn't care.

Now, however, I care.

Wordiness is one of writing's greatest enemies. Readers don't like to have to decipher that many words, nor do editors like trying to figure out what that many adjectives strung together is actually supposed to mean.

Control thyself, friends.

Use your words appropriately.

4. Organization

For many of us, this is the greatest of struggles. Organization is the enemy of many people, and I understand (although I'm not one of those people). But it is also the way that we're able to get things done and to get our stories written to where they actually make sense and no plot holes exist.

If you don't practice enough self control to keep yourself organized while you're writing, your work will suffer.

There's no maybe in there. It will.


The moral of the story is:

 Control your characters, your plotlines, and your wording by use of organization through self control, and you'll be good to go.

At least, you'll be good to go for this particular topic.

We'll see about the next one. *wink*

[love]

{Rani Divine}

Patience

The day after Mother's Day, it seemed only fitting to talk about something mothers have to have an abundance of, especially when their children are little. It's also something all writers have to have, and I'm about to explain why.

Patience

Just like time is something that gnaws at the back of our minds, patience is something we have to delve deep within ourselves to find -- if only to block out the annoying tick of the clock in the background.

Patience, young padawan.

But how, you ask?

Well that's simple. (Note: I didn't say it was easy)

1. Remember that not everything is going to happen according to your time table

This is the biggest thing when it comes to patience. People, especially in the States, like to think that things are going to happen according to these neat and tidy little time tables, but that's just not the case. Nothing really happens like the charts or the stars or whatever you want to consult tells you it's going to.

No, it's going to happen in its own time table, and we have to be okay with that. We have to be okay with relinquishing some control, in believing that we're going to get through all of this with a bright shiny story sitting in our laps at the end of it all.

2. Remember that it's important to take time for you

Yes, your story is important. It's probably even one of your priorities. But it is not, nor should it ever be, greater on the totem pole than you.

If you feel burnt out, it's because you're lacking in patience. The story will get written in its time, remember? So there's no problem in taking a day off to kick your feet up and binge watch Halt and Catch Fire on Netflix.

That might have been what I did on Saturday.

I'm not telling.

3. Remember that it's not you writing the story

This one is a little hard for some people to wrap their heads around, but it's not really you writing that story. The story is already written in your head somewhere, you're just transcribing it. That means it's going to be there waiting for you if you don't want to work on it right here right now.

If you're not feeling it today, then don't write today.

Why? Because if you're not feeling it, your reader (or more likely your editor, since you definitely use one) will be able to tell. 

4. Remember that your characters are not a part of you

Again, a little tricky. We writers like to think that all our characters are living somewhere in our heads, and that we all actually have some strange form of multiple personality disorder, but I'll tell you the truth:

We don't.

Even if there's a little voice from one of your characters talking in the back of your head, it's not actually a character. It's you. And it's okay not to listen to parts of yourself, for the greater good. If one of them is feeling antsy because you haven't sat down to write in the last twenty minutes, it's a pretty safe bet that you have a story coming on.

But that doesn't mean you have to write it right here, right now. It just means you have a new idea. And we have these handy little smart phones with built in notepads to write down our little ideas as we move about the day. 

5. Remember that if it's in you, it's going to come out at some point

If that story is in you, if it's gnawing at your mind even as you read this, then it's going to find its way out. It's just a question of whether it comes out now or later on down the road.

When would you rather have it happen: now or later?


So then, the real question becomes, can you find the patience inside yourself (because it is in there, whether you feel it or not) to write the story now?

If you can, then you're a writer.

If you can't, you're only an aspiring one. We'll work on you, don't worry.

[love]

{Rani D.}

Flow

These one-word-a-day things are pretty fun, aren't they? I hope you're enjoying reading them as much as I'm enjoying writing them!

Today's word is...

Flow

You might think that I'm picking very obvious words for this series, but there's a reason for each and every one of them. Even the best of writers can have trouble grabbing hold of all of these -- and flow can be a very difficult one to master.

Here, my four step way of flowing out the words:

1. Sit down and write the words

Words not coming to you? Carry on to step two.

2. Take a deep breath, sit down, and write the words

Still not working? Step three...

3. Put on instrumental music, take another deep breath, sit down, and write the words

If it's still not happening, well then we'll have to go on to step four.

4. Pray

Stories flow out of us because they were given to us by our creator. When I write, my fingers are moving across the keys faster than my brain is thinking of the words. Why is that? Because it's not really me doing the writing. I'm the conduit between heaven and earth, writing down the story that I've been called to write.

So if it's not coming to you, then pray.

And if it's still not coming to you, then it's probably not the time to write, or you've not opened up your mind to the possibilities the creator has in store for you.


[love]

{Rani D.}

Passion

Today's word? I'm glad you asked.

Passion

 

Seems obvious, doesn't it? So instead of explaining why we need passion, I'll tell you five things you should be passionate about, if you want to be writer (or if you are one)

1. Writing

Obvious again, isn't it? Well, sometimes it's the obvious things that we need pointed out to us or shoved in our faces, if only so that we'll be able to see them.

If you want to be a writer, or if you consider yourself one, then you'd better be passionate about it. If that fire goes out, so will your will to write -- and your writing will die. Trust me, because I've seen it happen before. It's happened to me, and it's happened to many others.

If you want to write, then hold onto that passion like its a lifeboat and the ship's going down. 

2. Reading

Another obvious one. Why write if you don't like to read? If all you do is write and not read, then how will you ever know what people actually want to read?

You see my point.

Writers read because it helps us understand craft, because it helps in understanding what readers nowadays want to read, and because it's just plain fun and something we can be passionate about while still sticking within the realm of our love.

3. Grammar/Punctuation

Yes, people won't like you for this one. But we'll just forget about that for a moment.

If you're going to write, you'd better be good at it. So develop a passion for grammar, for punctuation marks and their uses. Find out what every single symbol really means, and then discover for yourself how to use them.

This will both help you keep your writing and reading passion alive, and help you to further cultivate that passion for writing.

Do it.

4. Words

This is my personal favorite. Why? Because I have a passion for words. I look up their etymologies and histories, their multiple meanings and many facets, and I use them every which way I can. Because that's what words are for, and because that's what I have a passion for doing.

I want to write, and writing is nothing but words.

If you want to write, you'll need a passion for these little tools. 

5. Understanding

People strive for understanding. Writers strive to give it to people. We have such passion for understanding that we can't help but put it into every facet of our work so that everyone can see it, so everyone can touch it and taste it and feel it for themselves. We weave it in and out of our stories so the world can see it and find the truth.

But in order to do that, we first must have that passion, that desire, for truer and deeper understanding.

As for myself? I've found a great deal of it. I dare you to ask me where.

[love]

{Rani}

Time

It's May.

That's new.

So I thought I'd do something I've never done before. For the entire month of May, I'll be focusing on a single word per post: a word that I believe helps to create a writer.

Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I do. *wink*

Today's word?

Time

For very many reasons, writers need to have time. We need to have the time to sit down and get the words down on the page, and we need to have an understanding of multiple forms of time in which to write.

Here, three forms of time every writer needs to know, have, and understand:

1. Linear Time

This, essentially, is the flow of your story. It's the easy one. It's the time from chapter one to chapter fifty, the order in which the story will flow.

You probably see where I'm going here, but it is extremely vital that writers know how to construct linear time, and how to do it in a way that keeps the reader interested. We need to know what scenes will gain interest, what scenes will be boring and need chopping, and what order to list all of those scenes in.

The best way to do that? Well, that will be explained later on in the series. 

2. Chronological Time

Yes, this is different from linear time -- but not always. In many stories, the linear time and chronological time are the exact same thing. However, in many other stories, linear time does not follow the chronological pattern.

For instance, chapter one might be in the 1700's, but chapter two might then be in present day. They're not chronologically arranged, but they're set up for linear time.

In the mind of the writer, we have to keep these two things separated (especially when working with multiple timelines). We have to make sure everything flows both chronologically and linearly, because there will be readers out there who will go back and read only one timeline, and read it chronologically even if it wasn't linearly listed that way. 

3. Physical Time

This one is probably the most important. If you're going to write, you need to have the time to do so. If it's something that you're passionate about, something that you've been gifted with, then it is your God-given right to sit down and put something on paper. It's a privilege that we've been given, and it's important that we find enough physical time to sit down and cultivate it.


I sincerely hope that you will.

[love]

{Rani Divine}

What's coming

Just to give you a heads up about what's going on with me in the coming weeks and months, here's a list:

1. I actually released a short excerpt from my piece in Mavguard Magazine's first edition! Click Here to check it out, or Here to go to RAD Writing's online store and get a copy of the whole magazine!
2. Excerpts. Always excerpts. Why? Because we're here to write, and we're here to read about writing. I have a few new projects on the shelf, and the plan is to get you some teasers in the coming weeks. (after all, my 200th post is fast approaching)
3. Teasers. As many of you know, Deanna Leah has signed with RAD Writing to have one of her novels published! The release date is still TBA... BUT that doesn't mean we can't get you some teasers in the meantime.
4. More teasers. If you haven't read Coetir, you'll want to now. I'll be posting another excerpt from the book (and maybe a cut scene or two) as well as some teasers for Coetir and its companion books, to give you all a taste of what's to come.
5. Last but not least, BOOK SIGNINGS! I know, I wanted to get some in earlier in the year, but everything has just been far too busy to even think of it. So, we'll be doing as many signings as we can in Albuquerque and Gallup, New Mexico. If you have somewhere else you'd like me to come, or you're a part of a book club that would be interested in seeing me, email Kristina@RAD-Writing.com and she'll get to work!

Lastly, speaking of my 200th blog post coming up in a couple weeks... I have a big surprise for you. As previously said, it's an excerpt.

But an excerpt of what?

Well you'll just have to keep checking in for teasers and stop by for the 200th to find out.


I hope you all are as excited as I am for this summer and all the fun stuff that's right around the corner! I'll post dates for signings as soon as they've been made available to me, and I can't wait to see each and every one of you in person!

[love]

{Rani Divine}