Tag: Writing

Posted in Characterization

Character Moments

Posted on by L. M. Montes

Creating book characters can be a lot of fun, but there is a process. How you wield that process is really up to you as the author. Many authors create a character bible consisting of everything from physical attributes to personality analysis. Some do this before writing that first chapter. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always a good idea to know who your character is before you place them in your story. But you will not know everything about them when you start writing that first chapter.

There will be moments while you’re writing your story when ideas about your character will begin to germinate in your mind, thereby giving him/her more depth. That’s great! Go with that! Those are unplanned parts of the character’s personality. Now, that type of situation typically works out great. But there are times when that happens, and it can throw a monkey wrench into the situation. For example, years ago when I was in the middle of writing my first novel, I had one of my male characters do something out of character. And I’m talking WAY out of character. I sat there, stared at the screen, and said, “What do I do now? I like what I had him do?”

The easy way to fix this situation would have been to change his action and move on. The complex way to fix it was to go back to the beginning and change his whole character, moving forward to that point. So that is what I did. In the end I was happier with him, and the story was better off as a result.

Can you plan everything about your characters from the start? You can try, but be ready when that runaway moment comes that makes your story that much better.

Posted in Prompts

A Fear I Overcame

Posted on by L. M. Montes

When I was in the Navy Reserves, I took a course called Firefighting and Damage Control at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island. If any of you have been there, you know where I am talking about. The course was two weeks long with the first week covering firefighting and the second week covering damage control. The first week consisted of a lot of classroom instruction (Monday – Thursday), then Friday was hands on. Now keep in mind I was a novice at this. I had seen firefighting on TV shows, but I was never part of the act in real life. Until that course. Yes, I was nervous, fearful, and Oh My Gosh all wrapped into one emotion. The key is not letting that show.

The hands on consisted of various scenarios. In each scenario we had to put out a fire in a different type of environment as it pertained to Naval situations. For some scenarios we worked with a partner, and for others we were put into teams of six. My fear at that time was claustrophobia. Let’s just say it isn’t my fear anymore.

Let me explain. This school had a small Navy ship built into the pavement for training purposes. The galley (kitchen) was below the surface. The stairwell to get to it was painted black. The fire (Yes, there really was one, albite it being controlled) was in the kitchen. My team of six headed down the stairs (keep in mind that if we didn’t do any of these scenarios, we didn’t pass the course). I was in the middle of the line of sailors heading down the stairs. We got halfway down. It grew darker. The walls closed in. I froze, slapped my hands on the walls on either side of the stairwell, turned and ran back up the steps. When I reached the top, my instructor asked, “What’s the problem?” To which I replied, “Claustrophobia.” He told me to relax and breath. He didn’t force me to go down. After all, I did have a choice. But I needed to pass that course. That fact kept slapping me in my head more than anything. So I said, “I have to do this. I’m going down.” And I did. I trotted down the stairs, met my team mates who where fighting the kitchen fire, took hold of the hose and did what I was supposed to do.

I know I made this sound like the decision was easy at the end when I decided to finish the scenario. But, trust me, it wasn’t. The fear of failing won out in the end. We put the fire out and passed.

Posted in motivation

Music and Writing

Posted on by L. M. Montes

Sometimes we need an extra push while we write that ramps up our creative juices. For me, I listen to music while I write. The music I listen to depends on the type of scene I am writing. Mostly , I listen to instrumental music, but there are times I include lyrical pieces. Here’s a list of music I listen to when I write.

The Sound of Silence by Disturbed (Cyril Remix)
Hero by Alan Walker & Sasha Alex Sloan
Pilgrim by Enya
Heart over Mind by Alan Walker & Daya
Welcome to Walkerworld by Alan Walker
Fantasy Music – Daydream Mix by CacnaPaul
Dragon Empress by BrunuhVille
The Realm of the Fallen King (feat. Sharm) by BrunuhVille

Posted in Poetry

The Troubles by L. M. Montes

Posted on by L. M. Montes

Before me rolled the ocean
in to shore then ran away,
tis like a problem,
washing over,
then gone to bug another day.

There stood on wooden steps
my thoughts aloft and set adrift,
a noise behind me niggled,
with crescendo starting in
to send me to an early crypt.

But I moved past in safety’s arms,
ignoring evil’s threats,
the noise rolled in,
then ran away,
for me it did not get.

Posted in Prompts

Broken Bones

Posted on by L. M. Montes

Yes, three. When I was four, I decided it would be fun to hang on the arm of one of the flower pots on the side of the house. It was approximately 2 feet by 6 inches and about 6 or 7 inches deep. It was filled with dirt at the time. I wrapped my foot in the angular arm protruding out from the house, grabbed hold of it with my hands, and started swinging. It took one swing and the flower pot came down on my left ankle. I remember that pain like it was yesterday. I am thankful to God for not letting it come down on my head, or I probably would not be here today reliving that experience. Then…..

Last year, July 29 2024, I was on a walk. I had my cellphone in my left hand playing music (no headphones) and going at a pretty good clip. I was on the sidewalk (usually I walk on the street). As I approached the next street, I tripped over a piece of cement sticking up from crack. My knees went out from under me, I couldn’t right myself, and I flew over the curb into the street. I landed on my left side. My phone went flying, my left arm twisted, and the left side of my face smacked against the pavement. My right arm was trying to do its job, and in so doing, twisted as well but not as much as the left. The result? My left arm was dislocated at the elbow (radius), and the ulna was broken in three places. I have a plate and screws keeping it all together. The right arm had a tiny hairline fracture in a small round bone inside the elbow. No cast for the right arm, but it still hurt to the point I needed my husband to do tiny favors for me like opening the tube of toothpaste, LOL. The left had a splint for the first two weeks (after the ER doctor put the radius back in its socket). Two weeks later I had surgery on the three breaks on the ulna to put the hardware in, then it was wrapped for a month.

Now, ten months later, my arms are as good as new.

Posted in Anecdotes

Depleted

Posted on by L. M. Montes

As I lay here dark and depleted, wondering if I can return from battles and travels of a hard fought war, can I make it for one more?

Posted in Setting

Where Do You Write

Posted on by L. M. Montes

Finding the best place to write is up to you. There’s no right or wrong setting. Whether you are writing an essay, poetry, short story, novel, or journal entry doesn’t matter.

Sitting on the beach, looking out at the sunset, and hearing the waves hover over the sand as they reach forward, will open your creative mind.

Imagine sitting and looking out at the mountains pictured above. Such a rich environment filled with so many possibilities abound.

Now this photo could go either way. Perhaps something romantic is brewing. On the other hand, maybe there is sinister intent going on.

Whichever setting you are in writing, take in your environment, work with it, and mold it to suit your creative juices.

Posted in Fiction

K. McMahill

Posted on by L. M. Montes

I’ve introduced this gentleman once before, but it bears repeating. Pictured below is my new co-author, K. McMahill. You may have viewed a couple of his writings on this blog over the last two days. Welcome Mr. McMahill. We are very happy and excited to have you here.

Posted in Fiction

A Thousand Miles from Nowhere by K. McMahill

Posted on by L. M. Montes

When was the last time you smelled a rose,
when was that last time you smelt that sweet smell of morning dew or grass after a rain? What would you do if there was one more day, like a last sunset on the winter fire, wishing I had one more day?

Photo by Lisa Montes


Being a thousand miles from nowhere
not knowing where I’ll be tomorrow,
waking up to bruises on my memory. Blood stains all around, the smell of iron and sulfur surrounding me a thousand miles from nowhere…

not knowing who I’ll be.

I try not to call out in the night to the dream that calls my name a thousand miles away. Burning of the bodies is the same every time, burying the pain in the old cold heart, while being a thousand miles away. Wishing and hoping for it to rain like hell, dreaming of a bad day of fishing, wishing I had one more day. Sometimes I sleep, sometimes I weep not knowing why, like I’m dead…but…alive trying to ride but end up falling…

The whiskey can’t bring me back, and I can’t drink it away. I pricked my thumb on the rose I was smelling to see if I still bleed…a thousand miles from nowhere.

Posted in Characterization

Blocks of Knowledge

Posted on by L. M. Montes

Think of your main character as you would a lump of clay. At first that’s all they are, someone ready for molding and maneuvering into whoever you want them to be. People are complex, so there is much information that goes into creating them. First think of the different types of qualities, traits, and information needed for a character’s creation. Then break that information down into categorical blocks. Then fill in each block with the type of information assigned to it. Please see the example below.