#TipfulTuesday - A New Way to Deepen Your Story

#TipfulTuesday New Year topic: A New Way to Deepen Your Story. 

This year, consider deepening your story by adding characters of different cultures. This is not easy and will require a bit of work, but your labor will not be in vain. Trust me. 

Nearly every city across the world has a dominant people group. Among them are men and women from other cultures, skin colors, religions, etc. Therefore, our stories should not solely be built on any one people. We should include in our cast of characters men and women representing others who live in the same community.

The setting for my novel, "Daring to Live", was New York City. Ah, perhaps you understand now. NYC is a potpourri of cultures, races, genders, ages, etc. To make my story strong, my cast of characters included Hispanic (which I drew from experiences on mission trips to Mexico and Honduras), African American (I lived in inner-city Detroit for a time), Cowboy (I lived in Montana and spent time on ranches), military (I have several family members who were in the military), urban, suburban, foster care, and more. All of which have been a part of my life at some time. You probably have had a taste of Americana as well.

Including characters from other people group that are not your own is not easy to write. We must be respectful. Not typecast. A huge key to writing these characters is not to use labels. For example, I should not say, Brian, a white man wearing... These characters deserve the same respect you would want.

So how can this be done? You might be surprised how much you already know. My experiences have helped me include unique local islander language in one story and inner city jargon in another. Think back to your school days. A time you went on vacation. Shopped at a mall (not so much anymore, eh?). 

You have been around other people groups. You know what they might wear. What they might choose to say and how they might say it. Expand your reading to include stories about Middle Eastern characters, Asian, and more. These are fascinating people. Men and women who have also moved to your community.

I play a game of sort with my critique partners and beta readers. I purposefully don't include character descriptions like skin color unless done in a creative way, no name clues either. Instead, I write the character as true as I can to their culture. Then I ask those readers to describe the character for me. No answer is incorrect. Their imagination and background filled in the picture in their mind.

So, what do you say? Will you choose just one novel that has characters representing a group other than your own? Will you include at least one in your current or next WIP to deepen the story? 

~Mary Vee

#amwriting #characters #TheWritersAlley #TipfulTuesday #writing #multiculture

Photo credit: Pixabay

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

BOOK LINK CLICK HERE

#TipfulTuesday Merry Christmas

#TipfulTuesday

Enjoy the blessing God has given. Merry Christmas from the Writer's Alley

This photo was taken of an alley in Jerusalem. Seemed fitting for today.

Photo by Mary Vee

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Christmas With The Enemy, is available on Amazon.
EBOOK ON SALE FOR  $ 0.99!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Pitfalls in Story Layering

#TipfulTuesday

Today's topic is Pitfalls in Story Layering

Quality stories have layers. That is just a fact. Readers want to know more than just the thin line leading MC from the first page to the last. We thicken that line with layers.

In today's example, I will not only provide an epic story with layers but also point out how the layering benefited the MC's journey. Within this discussion, you will see what must be included when layering to avoid pitfalls. 

Here is the story:

Scene

A very pregnant young woman, ready to give birth at any time, and her husband set out on a journey forced upon them by the King. They climb over mountains and through valleys sixty miles to the south of their home to a small village. When they reach the village, the husband stops at every inn, begging for a place to stay. He informs them of his wife's condition. Late that night, an innkeeper takes pity on them and allows them to stay in the stable. It was all he had. 

Scene

Far to the east, a group of scholars, very wise men, become intrigued by a certain star. Their studies reveal something special was happening to the west. Upon further examination, they determine the star points the way to a king. This is no ordinary king, but a special one. To visit such a king would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Without a moment's hesitation, they pack for a great journey, including valuable gifts to honor the special king. 

Scene

On a hill overlooking a small village, shepherds tend to the care of their sheep. Typically, these shepherds are not allowed in any village because, well, the truth is they smell terrible. At night they make a fire to keep warm and ensure all the sheep have a safe place for the night. While sitting around their campfire, an angel suddenly appears. The shepherds leap and back away, afraid at what might happen. The angel tells them not to be afraid. They would be privy to a special message. A grand announcement of an event taking place in the village that no one knows about. A Savior which is Christ the Lord is born. A host of angels join in the message, praising God for the grand event. After hearing the news, the shepherds could not contain themselves. They ran to the village to see the baby, telling everyone they met the great news. 

Here we have three distinct layers on one epic story, the birth of Christ the Savior. All three layers point to the one message, each filling in a grad story with deep colors, information, and details, giving us, the readers, a fuller sense of understanding.

You may know even more layers in this story. The wise men's visit with Herod, and etc.

The point here is that although each scene appears to have its own story they are all distinctly and completely related to the overarching story. God demonstrates not only a powerful message but also the perfect means to communicate that message.

From this, we can learn not only the Spiritual message but also principles of writing with layers.

~Mary Vee

#TipfulTuesday #Layers #amwriting #writing 

Photo by Mary Vee. How many layers do you see in the photo?

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Christmas With The Enemy, is available on Amazon.
EBOOK ON SALE FOR  $ 0.99!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Thankful Writers-Raise Your Song!

#TipfulTuesday

Hey all! This is the week. 

Don't contain yourself. 

Don't hold back your harvest.

It's a great time to boldly blab/share/proclaim our praises to God for the bounty He's given us as writers.

T H A N K F U L

Qualifiers: 

1. Direct your comment to God 

2. No self-promotion

3. Nothing is too little. Nothing is too large.

BRING ON THE PRAISES FOR THE GOD WHO HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH.

I'll start:

Thank you, God, for the amazing Alley friends you've given us here on the Writers' Alley. Through them, we feel Your encouragement, smiles, mercy, grace, kindness, and so much more. We are blessed.

Okay, writers, your turn. Oh, and share this post. Let's inundate God with the praises He so deserves.

~Mary Vee

Photo by Mary Vee

#amwriting #ampraising #thankful #Thanksgiving #writers #kindredspirits #praises 

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Christmas With The Enemy, is available on Amazon.
EBOOK ON SALE FOR  $ 0.99!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

#TipfulTuesday Vital Ingredients For Writing Well

#TipfulTuesday Today I am presenting Vital Ingredients for Writing Well. 

1. A vital ingredient for writing well is social interaction. (Observation/ideas) Sometimes we feel solitude is most important in order to write. We want a quiet, uninterrupted time. Hemingway thought that as well. Rent a small cottage back in the woods, far away from everyone and everything then we can have blissful writing. Just like the grass is not always greener on the other side, this solitude may not always be wise. There are many advantages to getting out and socializing among the masses. We overhear one-liners, see clothing, watch gestures. The truth is--much of our writing has hit a rut. We smile. We walk. We .... repeat and are not challenged or inspired by fresh new ways of communicating. I recently saw a series of movies with writers as the main character. In every case, the writer walked away from their screen and went out among the masses to find, morph, and create.

2. A vital ingredient for writing well is building your platform. (Encouragement/Marketing) Here is a new idea for you: I attended a mini-conference a week ago and learned about Instagram pods from Cyle Young. Joining an Instagram pod is great for connecting, networking, and building numbers. After researching the details and examining the pros and cons, I chose to present it to you. Instagram users can join a pod in which other users have the same interest. Each member is expected to like the post of other users. Participating in one builds your numbers. If the pod is big, members will be busy, because members must like everyone's post. Still, this is a new networking opportunity, and when you no longer want to fulfill the commitment, leave the group.

3. A vital ingredient to writing well is participating in a critique group. (New and refining Ideas from others) You will be amazed how many of your ideas can be deepened, sharpened, and tweaked by fellow writers. I joined the ACFW main Critique loop. From there I requested to join a small group. I bounced to a few different groups before landing on the perfect one, the one I've been with for many years. Nearly every writing organization has a small critique group opportunity. It may be through your local chapter, or like ACFW, through the main loop. Contact your organization and ask! You might be surprised how easy it is to find one. 

To write stories, we need to have something to draw from. Experiences. Networking. Fresh ideas. Refined Ideas. New words. All of this only comes from walking away from the computer for a time and recharging. 

I'm so glad you chose to stop by the Alley today. Hopefully, this short time has refreshed your mind and has enabled you to return to your scene with vitality.

~MaryVee

Photo by Mary Vee-Samaria, A hillside by one of Herod's Temples, Israel

#TipfulTuesday #amwriting #TheWritersAlley #Writing #InstagramPods #CritiqueGroups @MaryVeeWriter 

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Christmas With The Enemy, is available on Amazon.
EBOOK ON SALE FOR  $ 0.99!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

#TipfulTuesday Timeline Details

Today's topic is Timeline Details.

I like to pick a topic I am currently duking it out with...and sometimes winning. It doesn't seem like the timeline in our story should be difficult, but today's discussion might help you rethink the importance of examining and reexamining the details.

Let's look at issues that even a plotter might miss. 

Here is the issue: Some of the days in our story require more text time than others. We skim over unimportant things that would naturally happen, a meal, travel time, etc. The reader knows this. At other times crucial details fill chapters, all for one day! Keeping an eye on the day seems easy when we're writing. Morning. Afternoon. Night. Next day. 

But...

Where we might face trouble in those crucial detail chapters is falsely assuming all the events can happen in the given time period. 

While captivated in a story, time seems to flow. But when tested, we might find too many hours of activity for the allowed time.

To solve the problem in my WIP, I walked through the days and assigned real time for each activity. This conversation and the ancillary details would last 1 hour. This drive would take 4 hours, (I googled the journey to determine this one). This activity lasted 2 hours including walking out the door and getting to the next action.

The day causing my concern had a lot packed into it. When my character arrived home that night, I wondered, could this character really do all of these things in one day? So I mapped out not only the activity but the time required in between to get from one task to the next. Everything had to be considered to keep the readers moving forward in the story and not hung up doubting the validity of the story. How long does it take to walk from the house to the car? How long does it take to order a meal in a busy restaurant or a rather empty restaurant? 

Time is crucial. 

It's easy to think the reader will morph because they are captivated in the story. But a detail like unrealistic time can snag the reader and cause them to fall out of the story and close the book. This reader may not return to the pages.

Time is crucial.

Map out not only the years, the months, the days but also the hours and the minutes. If you're not a plotter, like me, then test these components in the editing process. Actually, plotters need to do this as well. 

Time is crucial. 

A story must move forward from page one to the last. Even in a time-slip, even in flashback, the story always moves forward with realistic allocated units of time. Never assume. Always test. Do this for your readers.

Photo by Mary Vee

Basil, Switzerland

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Christmas With The Enemy, is available on Amazon.
EBOOK ON SALE FOR  $ 0.99!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

#TipfulTuesday: Taking The Next Step

A few months ago I went to Basil, Switzerland and had my eyes opened to a topic that I believe is appropriate for all of us. Please note, this was my observation in Basil and how that observation could apply to our writing. 

Today's Tipful Tuesday topic is Take the Next Step.

In Basil, I saw elderly men and women, young children, and all ages in between move about the very hilly city, going to whatever place they needed to be. A job, school, etc. I saw people walking, riding a bus, on a motorcycle taking the next step to get where they needed to be. 

I was surprised not to see strollers. Instead, small children rode scooters and kept up. Younger ones clung to their parent on a bicycle or other form of transportation. I was surprised not to see wheelchairs. Those in need had one or two canes. There were so few cars, I truly can't recall seeing many. There was a very efficient bus system that also connected to a railway for day trips to Paris and other locations.

I sensed a prevalent mentality, take the next step no matter your situation. Be mobile.

Some writing days can handicap us. Restrict us to our writing bed. We struggle to think of ideas, creative words, we miss obvious correction, we are unsure how to find an agent, etc. The uncertainties pile so high we sometimes walk away from a wonderful calling.

But God...

Called you to write the story in your head and no one can write that story like you.

Will supply words according to his riches in glory.

Will provide resources to help if we will only use them.

Has readers who need to read this message in your story.

In Basil, I saw people who stepped out of their homes and took the next step to do the task they were supposed to do that day. 

Caveat, the intent of this post is not to convey we should not rest, seek and use aids, etc. This is solely an observation of the people in Basil and the application to our writing spirits.

So. How are you doing today?

I have a friend who has been suffering from a lingering cold. She has pressed through with her writing, talking with her writing sisters for encouragement, taking medicines, and not allowing the spirit of discouragement to hamper her. To hear her talk about her story is inspirational.

No matter how you feel. No matter what seems to block your way. Take the next step. It will be like a medicine, bringing you joy.

Blessings on you my writing sisters and brothers. May your words flow.

~Mary Vee

#amwriting #TakeTheNextStep #GodIsCallingYou #TheWritersAlley 

Photos by Mary Vee 

Basil, Switzerland

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Daring to Live, is a new release on Amazon.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Post Conference Calming Tips

#TipfulTuesday Lordy, Lordy, the conference is over! The laundry basket is piled to the ceiling and the home to-do list drips onto the thirtieth page. There isn't time to even begin thinking about what was learned, what was requested, or all the new friends that need connecting. 

We here at the Alley TOTALLY understand. We've been there. Done that. And...oddly enough have no desire to burn the tee shirt! No, we're not weird. We're writers!

Here are a few calming tips to hopefully de-stress your day. 

1. Instead of running the television/online programming in the background while going through your day, choose a session you attended and reflect on the teachings. I adapted a memory game for myself that has kept any teaching alive in my brain. I started using this for the Sunday sermon. On Monday, I quiz myself: what was the topic. I keep my questions basic. If in the hype of the day I can recall the Sunday sermon, I am ecstatic. 

So, right now. Think back to the last conference you attended. Now choose a class. It doesn't have to be your favorite, just the first one that pops into your mind. What was the topic? Picture the instructor and recall their name. Imagine the setting, oddly enough this will help you recall the instructions. Now, name as many points taught as you can. Take no more than about ten minutes at one time for this. It can be done while driving, loading the washer, vacuuming, preparing dinner.

The idea is to silence the extraneous sounds (not the kids of course) and focus, deeply focus on the setting of your class to help you recall what you learned.

On Tuesday, take the recall a step farther. List not only what you remembered Monday but new points. This is essential to moving forward as a writer. The more we recall and plant in our heads, the more these concepts will seep into our writing. Seriously. In the middle of a sentence, one of the conference principles will flash into my mind. I instantly apply the idea and POOF my writing is like--wow! I wrote that??? Is it okay to say I smile at those moments? That I feel supercharged to keep writing? That ideas flow? 

2. Connecting with your new friends, sorry to say, is not a number one priority. It is important but not this week. Trust me, all those great new friends are in the same boat as you. Yes, you need to friend them on FB and connect in hundreds of other ways, but your family needs you. God needs your attention. Your writing needs you. You need to remember what you learned. I find that the massive friend requests leap into my box one to two weeks later. No need to overextend this week.

3. If you received a request for material, a query, proposal, chapter, or full manuscript, congratulations!Does the agent or editor expect to receive these items today? NO! These individuals are wading through number one above like you. Also, they expect your absolute best. Take the time to edit, review, and ensure what you plan to send is the absolute best you can do. It is wise to work on this for about a week. Two weeks or more is not bad either. The agents and editors would much rather you gave them your best than to receive the material right away.

If you did not receive a request for material, no sweat. There are so many of us who have rowed in that boat. Deep down we knew it wasn't ready.

4. Breathe. God designed twenty-four hours for a reason. Cramming thirty-six hours into a twenty-four hour day--I am so guilty of this--is not quality anything. Hug your babies. Kiss your hubby. Call your mom. Sip a cup of tea. Enjoy and be productive. This is the day that the Lord Has Made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

You can do this!!

~Mary Vee

Photo by Mary Vee 

A Garden in Colmar, Germany

Mary Vee -  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, earned her MA in Counseling, 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

Mary's new release, Daring to Live, is a new release on Amazon.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION