Writing – Page 26 – WRITE TIME AND AGAIN

Humility

Posted on October 13, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Writing success can come fast and hard. It can also come slow and steady. Regardless of the speed at which it comes, remain thankful, grateful, and most importantly humble. Keep in mind that you aren’t the only one working for that success. There are other people on your team who work to get you that success you are striving for. So, in a nutshell, it is not all about you.

You might be thinking, ‘Wait, I’m the only one working toward my success. I’m the one writing the stories that people like.’ Well, yes and no. Yes, without your stories, articles, or blog posts, etc, there wouldn’t be a career. But, let’s not forget, there are people along the way who help to get you where you are going. There are supportive family members who stay quiet so you can write (if you’re married with kids or just you and the spouse). If you’re single this alone time will be easier to come by. There are others who help you to promote your book/work, social media plays a large role, editors, beta readers, those who hire you to write for them, and the list goes on.

How can you remain humble? Thank people from your heart. Appreciate what they do for you by doing for them. Above all else…..give thanks to God. Without Him we are nothing.

Characterization

Villains (Part IV)

Posted on October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Years ago, I had this “friend” who, when I first met her, appeared to be very nice. I’ll call her Gina for purposes of this story (It’s not her real name). She invited me to her house. We talked and shared information like pre-teen girls usually do. We had a lot of fun…..at first. Then the blowback came. One day she started telling all the other girls in our class all the information I shared with her. I’m not the only one she did this too. She would apologize and gain my trust again then turn around and manipulate the situation to her advantage. From that point forward, she began pitting all of us against one another. She was so good at trickery and conniving that she was never suspected of anything. This story could go on and on but for purposes of this blog, I’ll just leave this story here, LOL. This went on for two years (7th and 8th grade). During my 8th grade year I stopped hanging around her and that group of girls all together. She didn’t make it easy on my though.

I can honestly say that Gina is the perfect example of a story villain. They can not be trusted with anything whatsoever. This doesn’t mean they won’t try to gain one’s trust. They will because they are masters at knowing how to do that. Keep in mind, villains have very high social IQ’s and so they know how to manipulate people and situations. Ultimately, gaining the advantage and keeping it in any situation that serves themselves is what their goal is.

People are naturally trusting, so use this to your advantage when plotting your story. Here again, the villain will exploit the trust of others to obtain the advantage. And, YES, they are ALWAYS looking for ways to back stab anyone, this means adversaries and allies alike.

Poetry

Love’s Journey by L. M. Montes

Posted on October 9, 2021April 28, 2022 by L. M. Montes

Our love, a ruby crown
On high that soars in the breeze,
Grows aloft,
But no one ever sees.

Through pink cotton mist
With rubies above so adorned,
Walk with me
For our future there is born.

On eagles’ wings we fly
Our souls locked with love
For today, today
Our love carries us high above.

Time’s window of love, everlasting,
Passes fleet footed then gone in half minute’s time,
Hurry, hasten with me
Or remain ever repentant.

The joyful village of our hearts,
Beyond the beauty glistens,
Stay and venture to long lost gifts,
For which only you are smitten.

by L. M. Montes
from The Triunix of Time (book 1 in the Time Series)

Writing

Journaling

Posted on October 9, 2021October 8, 2021 by L. M. Montes

What helps you to keep your writing ideas fresh? Do you have a bulletin board you pin them on? A three ring binder with sections for different types of ideas? Perhaps you have a journal you write in daily. If you do any of these, continue reading. Below are some ideas to chew on for writing ideas.

What is the worst nightmare you’ve ever had?
How would someone else describe you?
Describe your ideal getaway.
If you could have three things, what would they be? Why?
How can some of the trials and tribulations you’ve been through turn into something good/blessings?
What are 3 or 4 things you are grateful for?
Describe your favorite season if you were to combine two of them together.
If you could go anywhere in the past, where/when would you go? Why?
Describe your ideal day.
Write down three of your favorite things, and create a cartoon scenario using them.
What does happiness mean to you?
How have you changed in the last 5 years?
Write about your hobby.
Complete this sentence. I was walking in the forest when…..
What distractions are keeping you from being productive?
How do you spend your Sundays?

Characterization

Villains (Part III)

Posted on October 8, 2021 by L. M. Montes

You’re running in a race. You’re ahead. But, in order to keep your lead you must keep going strong. If you let up even once, you risk losing or falling behind. Think of your villain as running in a type of race. It’s the kind of race where he/she is coming at your main character (MC) and not letting up (remember, this is their job). So much so, that your MC gets kicked back down before they get even half way back up. Your villain is on a roll. They can’t stop because, if they do, they run the risk of losing and the MC overtaking them.

Think of many different ways for your villain to trip up your MC. Think outside the box. I am currently reading a set of books by Jeff Carson. They’re David Wolf mysteries. OH MY GOSH!!! Talk about heart pounding suspense. The villain(s) never let up. Often times, while in the middle of one of these books, I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, so I went to Amazon and read the summary of the next book. Doing this reassured me things would turn out ok in the current book I was reading. Then I would start the next book right after the one I finished and go through the cycle all over again.

What caused this mind blowing suspense? The villain(s). AND, in most cases there were more than one. All from multiple subplots and all out to get the MC. If you want a great example of a true villain(s), read those books. You can find them on Amazon. See the link below for book 1:

Foreign Deceit by Jeff Carson

Poetry

The Casket Tree by L. M. Montes

Posted on October 8, 2021April 1, 2022 by L. M. Montes

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

In the forest stands a fingered tree,
With leaves and prickles that snatches me,
I stop and stare, its spell it casts,
And a wind doth blow the strongest blast.

Now out I gaze with unmoving eyes,
Upon the next victim who saunters by,
My leaves they prickle and snatches thee
As you pass by the casket tree.

By L. M. Montes

Writing

Writing a Novel/Books: Must Do’s

Posted on October 7, 2021October 6, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Pexels.com

What do you love? What do you think a lot about doing? What is your dream? Many people go through their life dreaming about something they want to do/achieve but never do it. Maybe the opportunity never presented itself. Maybe waiting for that opportunity isn’t the answer. Maybe you have to decide to just go for it and stop making excuses. Ultimately, it is your choice.

My dream was to be an author. I achieved that, and I keep on going with it. Yes, there are obstacles that get in the way. That doesn’t mean I don’t stop. That just means I work around those things. When something comes up and I am not able to work on my manuscript, I am thinking about my story. I am plotting in my head. I am writing in my journal. You might think that just thinking about your manuscript/story doesn’t constitute working on your novel. OH, but I think it does. The way I see it, when I get back to the actual writing, I am ready with the words, and I end up typing like a mad woman, HAHAHA. Being consistent is what it’s all about. Stay on task, whether you are working on it in your head or on paper/computer

Here are some must do’s in the world of book writing (some but certainly not least) :

Write everyday. If something gets in your way and all you can do is jot down ideas and thoughts in a journal, do so.
Come up with a target word count to reach everyday and reach it, whether you are writing in your journal or on your computer.
Read other books of authors who have been at it for a long time. Truth be told, they know more than you do because they’ve been at it for a while. Learn from them.
You get better by editing and rewriting. I like to edit after all is said and done because it frees up my mind for sticking to the story and getting it on paper.
Rejection. That nasty word. Nobody likes it, but that makes you better as well. When someone gives you constructive criticism and tells you they didn’t like something in your story, listen to what they’re saying. Think of what they are saying from their point of view. Then fix it, if you think what they are saying holds merit. Remember, it’s your choice. After all, it’s your work. But don’t get upset over rejection. It’s part of the process of writing.

Have fun with your writing, and think of these must do’s as part of the process of making it fun for yourself. You are at the wheel. Where you steer your story and how you achieve that dream is up to you.

Plot/Story

Connections

Posted on October 6, 2021February 23, 2023 by L. M. Montes

Bridges, websites, people, situations, events. What do all of these things have in common? They all have an opportunity to link. Whether the link is two shores connected by a bridge, a website that connects us to information, two people having a lot in common, or two or more situations or events having some kind of link/connection between them; they all allow for a connection in some way.

So too are the events, situations, and people within your story. How are they connected? How will you connect them? The answers to these questions only you can answer because it’s your story(s). A good way to check and make sure that the parts of your story connect is to ask yourself why something is happening. If they connect and have something to do with your story, that’s great. That’s what you want. But if they don’t, and they sound disjointed, ask yourself what is it you can do to bring them together. Otherwise, it sounds like random information that has no place in your story. The result is a confused reader.

On the other hand, some random events shed some light on something else. For example, Let’s say you have Mary who is with her boyfriend Charles. They are in the middle of a heated discussion as they are walking down the street. Charles is speaking to Mary, but a beautiful sunset caught her attention as they are walking by an open area that displays a beach in the distance. Charles could care less about the sunset. He is more focused on the discussion (even though she points out the sunset).

In the above example, the sunset plays no part in the story itself. It’s random. BUT, what it DOES do is give the reader insight into the character of Mary. Thus, making a connection between the character of Mary and the reader. That’s good. You want that. It creates empathy. But that’s a whole other blog post.

Characterization

Villains (Part II)

Posted on October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Have you ever played chess? If you have, you know that it’s imperative to stay one or more moves ahead of your opponent in order for you to have a chance at winning the game. The same goes for the villain in your story. They must always be thinking ahead of the main character. They have to do this so they are doing their job within the story. Otherwise they won’t be believable. Villains are devious. They plot and scheme, making your main character’s life miserable. They love it when the main character is down because that’s when they have a better opportunity to take advantage of them.

To best get a hold of your villain and understand him/her, do a character analysis of them just like you would your main character. They are three dimensional characters too and come with their own set of “baggage”. What in their life infected them so? To the point they are so nasty and evil?

In this character bio also include (and most importantly) a list of ways they can stay ahead of the MC. You might not use all of your ideas. That’s ok. Work what you can into your story. If you are the kind of person that doesn’t like to think in terms of evil, don’t worry about that. It’s only fiction.

Characterization

What Makes a Good Villain (Part 1)

Posted on October 3, 2021October 2, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Never underestimate your villain. They are more clever than you think they are. Creating them goes beyond having them do bad nasty things to your main character. Oh no. They go much deeper than that. They must know your MC well in order to know how to act against them. Part of the villain getting to know your MC means they must get to their weaknesses, AND they are well gifted at getting to know this information, AND they will know exactly how to use it against them.

Your villain is the architect of the inciting incident and the stories plot twists that follow. Their job is to create tension. Think of them as the mudslingers. They throw everything they can think of to thwart your MC.