When Introducing a New Character...

#TipfulTuesday

Of all the zillions of characters introduced since the first book published eons ago, several probably stand out to you. You could probably rattle off several, right? Sure.

On the other hand, we've read--and probably have written--some characters that have evaporated from readers' minds the second the page was turned. 

I'm thinking about the many characters who are introduced like this: a man wearing blue jeans a brown jacket and round glasses ...and blah, blah blah...his hair was brown, walked into the room. 

Usually, these character introductions droll on for a whole paragraph, and sometimes more. I'm bored. Seriously, the unique glasses did not help me see this guy as anyone interesting.

**Authors don't need to specifically describe a character when introducing them. A character simply needs to stand out from the crowd.**

Say my established characters are sitting in a restaurant and a waitress enters the scene. She is important (after all she is the one who killed the detective, but the readers won't know this until page 273.) She is wearing the same uniform as all the other waitresses in the restaurant, so why bother mentioning her black pants, white shirt, and company tie? She also has her hair pulled back like all the other waitresses and has a name tag that no one can read until she stands at the table. All of this can be summed up with a waitress burst into the room. 

What makes her interesting is the tattoo above her wrist. Ah, now we know which waitress. Your turn. Tell me what the tattoo looks like. Where have readers seen similar markings before? Uh-huh. Now you have it. The seed introducing this waitress has been planted. 

Such a unique description initiates a good character introduction. What other striking details say something about the waitress's personality? 

While the reader is distracted by the action, he/she later remembers the way this waitress scanned the restaurant. A typical waitress focuses on her tables, her orders, her food that is ready to be delivered, but the waitress with the tattoo kept tabs on the entire restaurant. Why? Now that the clues are all in on page 273, we remember that it was the waitress with the tattoo who kept tabs on the entire room who happened to pick up a steak knife from the floor, twirled it around to sit point side out on her tray. Like a knife pro.

Since this is a suspense story, we, the writer, will let this waitress, the one with the tattoo, fade after the introduction, not totally disappear from the storyline. She will make tiny, periodic appearances before page 273, so insignificant the readers will be shocked in the discovery, aghast they hadn't seen the clues laced in story after a fabulous introduction. muwhahaha. 

I am a suspense author. You may write a different genre. You too can introduce characters in a memorable way. Look back at the moment when your hero or heroine first stepped on stage. He may seem like the amazing handsome hero...but aren't all heroes? What caused the heroine to take notice of him and only him? What helps the hero notice the heroine over all the other girls. Something is different. What is it?

~Mary Vee

Photo by Mary Vee

Mary Vee's newsletters take readers on virtual trips to various places. No umbrella. No packing. No passport. Explore something new in each letter! Sign up today at http://eepurl.com/dITkz5 The next newsletter hits email boxes on November 15.

Sylvia's Secret. A Christmas Story. I have a new book release! 

Fifteen days before Christmas, the staff at Sylvia Duvet's mansion discover she is missing. Her daughter arrives at Detective Carhill's office in a panic, concerned the gossipers and media will create their own story, embarrassing the family name. After all, a wealthy widow only disappears if...she simply can't bear to think of the possibilities.  

Click on the link below to read more.

Link to Mary's books: https://amzn.to/2Fq4Jbm

Christmas is Mary Vee's favorite holiday. She loves to travel to places like New York City and Paris. Mary has been a finalist in several writing contests and writes for her king.  

Visit Mary at her Website, Blog, and her ministry blog to families: God Loves Kids. Or chat on Facebook or Twitter

Truth Bombs for the Hesitant Difference-Maker

As followers of Christ, our number one calling, job, and purpose on earth is to make his name known. That's the common denominator further specialized by the gifts and talents and desires the Father has placed in our hearts.

If we're writers, we write to spread the truth. If we're speakers, we preach it. If we're teachers or parents, we shepherd little ones. If we're natural-born leaders, we rally people.

And when we're obedient to this calling, we're vulnerable. There's nothing that makes the enemy squirm more than to see someone using their gifts to light up the darkness in the world. One of his favorite ways to trick us is by whispering lies into our ears. 

You're not enough.

You're not important.

You don't have what it takes.

It's not the right time.

Nobody's listening.

Today, I want to speak truth into your heart so you can remember it the next time you delete a post, close the speaking engagement or job application, archive the book proposal, or skip an opportunity with the belief that the right time will be later. 

You, brothers and sisters, already have what it takes, through the power of the Spirit in you, to do this good work. You are qualified. You are able to be used right where you are, right now, with what you have in your hands. And if you feel like you're still en route to your big dreams and destination, you'd better believe you can make plenty of difference along the journey. 

If you have a posture of obedience to make his name known and the truth you're speaking aligns with the Gospel, then he will open the doors, make the connections, and direct your words to the lives who are meant to receive them.

Whether it's the five people on your newsletter list, the 5000 in the crowd you're speaking to, the one woman you see at the grocery store after work several times a week, or the children your hands tuck into bed, your work and your words matter to the Lord. Whether you are the one on the stage or the one making sure her microphone works or building her up before her book releases, your purpose is important. 

When more brave souls wake up and see through the lies and decide to do the work, even scared, that's when the enemy's agenda is thwarted and every small yes makes a huge ripple through this world.

---

Laurie Tomlinson is the award-winning contemporary romance author of That’s When I Knew, With No Reservations, and The Long Game, currently featured in the Once Upon a Laugh novella collection. She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles.

You can connect with her on her Website, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Post-Conference Slump

Ashley here! I don't know about all of you, but I am still battling the after-conference slump as I try to return to my normal routine after ACFW. I'm still so tired, I miss my friends, and I'm behind on everything! Sound familiar?

Mary recently blogged about the importance of sending those requested manuscripts to their intended agents/editors, to which I say a resounding YES! Make that happen.

But in the meantime, if you too are wrangling to make your day-to-day more writing friendly, let's talk about some tips that may be helpful. And let the record state, I am very much preaching to myself here!

• Start small. I have this bad habit of feeling like every little thing I do has to be perfect, and often, the desire for perfection prevents me from taking little and necessary steps toward a goal. I feel like it has to be done masterfully, and if I can't do it masterfully, I'll wait until I can. And then... I never get anything done. Sound familiar? Consider Zechariah 4:10 which tells us do not despise small beginnings. Starting small will help you build steady momentum.

• Rest. I know, I know. Easier said than done. But try to catch any rest you can, be it physical rest, mental rest, or emotional rest. If you're pushing hard to get a proposal done, give yourself a little breathing room before sending it off. Your subconscious may be working harder than you realize. Try to squeeze in a nap this weekend. Visit a coffee shop or a bookstore or spend an extra five minutes snuggling a dog. You have to give back to your heart if you want to create from a healthy place.

• Dream big. You'll have plenty of time to be emotionally paralyzed by the fear of rejection. Purposely remind yourself of the highs and excitement you felt during the conference, whether they were professional, or God-moments, or moments with friends. Let your heart dwell among those places a little while, and let your hope be fed.

• When all else fails, watch a Hallmark movie. You only think I'm kidding.

Let's hear from you! What do you have to add to the list?

###

Ashley Clark's debut novel releases next fall with Bethany House. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her website, Facebook, and Pinterest. She is represented by Karen Solem.

Resolve to Send the Requested Proposal

#TipfulTuesday

And yet another writing conference has ended. We scribbled reams of notes, made new friends, and hopefully had invitations to send documents to an agent or editor.

Most of us have had a day to rest.

Let's resolve to work on those requested documents this week. Write. Edit. Polish. AND set a reasonable date to send the information to those who asked for them.

Perhaps you heard an agent or editor say, "I have requested proposals for wonderful stories at conferences. Many are never sent to me."

We find the courage to make the appointment, present our work to the agent or editor, then go home and listen to the one who wants to ruin the gift given by God. Don't listen.

Let's start right away. Make a plan to complete the work to the best of our ability. Then, and this is the big one, pray and press the send button.

I am working on two proposals. I would like to send them to the two individuals who requested the documents within one month, two at the most.

How about you? How can we pray for you? We are cheering for you!

~Mary Vee

#TipfulTuesday #ACFW #Conference #MaryVeeWriter #resolve #WritersAlley #writingcommunity

Mary Vee's newsletters take readers on virtual trips to various places. No umbrella. No packing. No passport. Explore something new in each letter! Sign up today at http://eepurl.com/dITkz5 The next newsletter hits email boxes on November 15.

Sylvia's Secret. A Christmas Story. I have a new book release! 

Fifteen days before Christmas, the staff at Sylvia Duvet's mansion discover she is missing. Her daughter arrives at Detective Carhill's office in a panic, concerned the gossipers and media will create their own story, embarrassing the family name. After all, a wealthy widow only disappears if...she simply can't bear to think of the possibilities.  

Click on the link below to read more.

Link to Mary's books: https://amzn.to/2Fq4Jbm

Christmas is Mary Vee's favorite holiday. She loves to travel to places like New York City and Paris. Mary has been a finalist in several writing contests and writes for her king.  

Visit Mary at her Website, Blog, and her ministry blog to families: God Loves Kids. Or chat on Facebook or Twitter

Hope for a Writerly Existential Crisis

If you've reached a point in your writing life where you dread sitting down at your laptop, you're not alone. 

If you've found yourself questioning if you're writing the right thing or wasting your time and resources, we've been there. 

If you're wondering if you can even call yourself Writer anymore if Procrastinator, Second-Guesser, and Impostor seem like more appropriate titles, even the New York Times bestsellers have felt that way.

Let's do a little heart work today. In your favorite journal, the comments of this post, or even a clear corner of your mind, let's start with this question:

What does low maintenance, joyful, sustainable writing look like for you? 
What do you need to do to get there?

I wish we had a blog post with the perfect answer for you, the secret formula to clear, productive writing regardless of inspiration, mood, or energy levels. 

If we told you that, you might focus more on the doing than the being.

But we do have some reminders as you work through this question:

• A little bit of progress in regular intervals really adds up.
  
• Writing is like a muscle that needs exercise and gets easier with repetition.
  
• If you're called to be a writer, it may look different in different seasons. Sometimes it might even be just for your own eyes, but every. single. word serves a purpose.
  
• When trying to redefine your writing life, *WHY* you write is more important than *WHAT* you write.
  
• If you wait for the energy burst, the whiff of inspiration, or the right mood to start writing, it may never come. You create the energy, the inspiration, and the mood by writing scared, writing often, and writing anyway. 

---

Laurie Tomlinson is the award-winning contemporary romance author of That’s When I Knew, With No Reservations, and The Long Game, currently featured in the Once Upon a Laugh novella collection. She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles.

You can connect with her on her Website, Facebook, and Instagram.

7 Conference Countdown Tips-It's Two Weeks Away!

I am an unusual mix. I make lists, organizing my day, yet when a conference approaches, I come down with a terrible case of procrastination. 

This can be a deadly disease...for the story we hope to pitch, the classes we think we might be taking, the individuals we might get appointments with, and the crucial networking we can do.

This alone is a good reason for me to start preparing TODAY for the conference.

1. Let's start with the easy task. What outfit should I wear to the awards ceremony? 
I had this taken care of two months ago. Note the word had. Last night, I tried on my dress and looked in the mirror. Sigh. I rummaged through other dresses back in my closet and chose one. Tried it on. Added accessories and checked the mirror. Yes, I could check this off my list. 

If there will be a character costume night, try this outfit on as well. Put all the pieces in one place.

2. For networking, check your business card stash. If you have bookmarks or any other related items get them out. Blow off the dust. It may be too late to order more. Perhaps a local vendor can make up a few for you. Yes. You should bring business cards.

3. Prepare or review your one sheet. At the first conference I attended, I had no clue what this was. A one sheet is an organized flyer providing information about one, or one of the manuscript/s you will pitch at the conference. Editors and agents will say, "Do you have a one sheet?" in your meetings. Search our blog's topics for past posts addressing one sheets.

4. Practice your pitch ten times every day. Know it as well as your name.

5. As conference time draws near, I will look over the scheduled classes. The houses and agencies represented at the panels. I reread the information provided for the agents, editors, and mentors. The more prepared I am, the less nervous I will be, and the better chance I will have to well represent my manuscript.

6. Gather all flight, shuttle, hotel, and conference reservation information. Have you asked someone to take you to the airport? Will there be someone there to pick you up when you fly home?

7. The conference has an app. The best feature is the updates. You will know classroom changes, additions, cancellations. Download the app ahead of time.

These are a few of my favorite reminders. What did I forget? Take a sec and comment below something to remember for the upcoming conference.

The Alley Cats are excited to see you there. Nearly the entire group is able to attend this year. Look for us. Say hi!

~Mary Vee
Photo by Mary Vee
#TipfulTuesday #ACFW #Conference #MaryVeeWriter #procrastination #WritersAlley 

In Mary Vee's newsletter, readers take a virtual trip to various places. No bug spray. No packing. No passport. Explore something new in each letter! Sign up today at http://eepurl.com/dITkz5 The next newsletter hits email boxes September 15.

Link to Mary's books: https://amzn.to/2Fq4Jbm

Mary Vee -Rock climbing, white-water rafting, and hiking top Mary’s list of ways to enjoy a day. She was homeless for a time, was a teacher, a missionary, and married an Air Force vet. Mary has been a finalist in several writing contests and writes for her King.

Visit Mary at her Website, Blog, and her ministry blog to families: God Loves Kids. Or chat on Facebook or Twitter

The Next Right Thing + A GIVEAWAY

Laurie here with a book recommendation! If you've been reading my posts for any length of time, you know my love language is goals and dreams. This book, The Next Right Thing, and the podcast that it sprang from, have been so instrumental in my life. (And it's on super Kindle sale!)

To put it figuratively, I tend to sprint toward my goals at full speed until I get to a brick wall. And the author, Emily P. Freeman, is a gentle voice that not only encourages me to slow my pace and find some peace, but shows that in most cases, that brick wall of a dream is totally doable. I might not be able to plow through it, but I can climb it, brick-by-brick -- one "Next Right Thing" at a time.

The story of how and why I went back to school is a long and complicated one, but the right one. Despite the fact that my favorite shows growing up were Rescue 911, Trauma: Life in the ER, and Dr. G: Medical Examiner, I didn't think I had what it took to be in the medical field, but I always felt drawn toward it. After graduating with an English degree, I worked in PR, started a family, and the bricks in that wall started getting taller. The programs I'd looked into would all required 8+ prerequisite classes, losing my income for a little while, upending my family's routine, missing my kids' formative years, derailing my writing career. That was if I even remembered how to balance an equation or study for an exam.

So finding Emily P. Freeman's podcast and then reading her book helped show me that I didn't have to have all the answers and ducks lined up ahead of time. I didn't even have to quit writing and my family wasn't going to suffer if I was working hard for a season. All I had to focus on was the Next Right Thing, the closest brick I could reach on the wall.

It somehow feels like ages have passed and *yesterday* that I enrolled in that first chemistry class almost 2 years ago. I'm now beginning my 8th prerequisite, waiting on my last transcript to clear on my nursing school application. And I've found all of the doubts I had were unfounded because, when the Lord calls you to do something, he gives you the strength and the tools and the favor to do it, even if it doesn't look exactly how you envisioned it.

What's the dream that feels insurmountable in your life? What brick walls have you scaled with the Lord's help? Since it's Laurie and Sherrinda's birthday week, we're giving away Kindle copies of The Next Right Thing to a few lucky commenters! Good luck!

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Laurie Tomlinson is the award-winning contemporary romance author of That’s When I Knew, With No Reservations, and The Long Game, currently featured in the Once Upon a Laugh novella collection. She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles.
You can connect with her on her Website, Facebook, and Instagram.