Characters: Conforming or Rebelling? And Exciting Contest Update

Before I begin, I have some exciting news about this weeks contest at the end. Go ahead, scroll down and read it and then come back. I’ll wait. :)

I was sent an email this morning about an older woman, who I’ll call Mary, goes to lunch with several much younger women. When it’s time to order, the younger women order healthy food, while the Mary orders dessert and adds chocolate ice cream to it.

Funny thing about this story is the YW’s didn’t actually enjoy their lunch as they watched the Mary eat her dessert. They wished they had done the same thing, but knew in their hearts they couldn’t, wouldn’t, because it wouldn’t be right. Not at all what you should do.

After a second lunch, with much the same effect, one of the women asks Mary why she does this.

Come on, you know that answer to this. She older and doesn’t want to miss out on what she wants in life. Mary also decides to do some of the things she used to love and never takes the time to do them anymore. She says if she dies, then she knows she did what she wanted.

Of course I had to check it out and no, I can’t find that it is a true story, however, that didn’t stop me from thinking about my characters in my book.

What is it they want to do? And do they care what others think of them for doing or not doing such. Now, I’m not talking about murder (okay, maybe I could be), I’m talking about the daily life stuff. The stuff that makes them real in our heads and our hearts.

Do they have to conform to the rules? Is that what makes them tick? If they do, then is it okay with them deep down, or would they really like to (take a deep breath all of you writers) wake up and eat chocolate for breakfast even if that is not consider a meal.

Or maybe simpler still, would they call into work sick, when their not and enjoy the day at the amusement park, or would they go and not eat the corn dog or ride that killer roller coaster because they just plain felt to guilty to be there.

I don’t know about you, but I have both types of characters in my book. Having them and realizing that you have them are two different things. If the one, who conforms to all the ‘expected’ rules, breaks one, then she is miserable. But her friend is totally the opposite. She believes in live and let live, enjoy the ride because you only get one ticket.

Biggest question is this. Am I writing them as such? Do I find that emotion within each of them to convey that to the reader? Will the reader say to herself, ‘OMG, I know just what (insert character name) feel, I want to do that too, but can’t let myself. Or (again insert character name), ‘I’m with you, I say do it, enjoy it, and who cares what others think.’

Knowing this will give your characters more depth and your readers more sympathetic feelings for them either way.

So your turn, do you show this side of your characters? Do you think it makes a difference if do or do not show it?

And remember to leave your comments for this week’s contest. And the big news is this: Diana has linked to the contest on her site. She has also said that rather than make the winner wait until June as soon as she has the ARC’s she’s going to send one to me to give to the winner. How cool is that??? But then, Diana Rocks Big Time!

One last question. Which did you do? Did you read the blog from the top to the bottom even though you wanted to scroll down and read the exciting news first?

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Tuesday Checking In - Pay It Forward (Ellie's) Winner Announced

Ellie's winner for her Pay It Forward contest is Jill James. Jill please email Ellie at sauble @ tennis.com
She will then coordinate your prize.

Also, I haven't heard from Flick yet. You won my contest last week. Email me with your info and I'll send your prize.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

This past weekend I worked at getting all the handwritten edits into the manuscript, which added another 1914 words. I swear I’m cutting words along the way as well. It just keeps growing.

I’m finding things that I mentioned once and either need to cut them out completely or add them again somewhere else.

My goal for next week is to have the remainder of the hardcopy edited. I’d like to have them entered or cut from the remainder of the manuscript, but with the day job that’s not likely to happen. At any rate, in two weeks, I should be through with this first pass. Then it’s print it out and start again. If I’m lucky the second pass through will be it and then it’s on to the synopsis, query letter and submitting.

I can’t wait for that first rejection. :) Sound weird? Yes, but it’s bound to happen and it means I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. Insert major props to my local chapter, TARA for teaching us that rejection happens, take 24 hours, and have a pity party if you need it and then pick yourself up and continue on. It’s the name of the game so to speak.

With my other manuscripts, I’ve never went all the way. I wrote them and stuck them under the proverbial bed. No query or synopsis. I knew they weren’t going anywhere. But this one…this ones different. I love to hate this book. Okay, I truly don’t hate it, but there are moments in the revision process that I think, ‘If I read that scene one more time—’ Then I get a grip and read it again.

How about you? Did you write this week? Delete scenes? What is the hardest or best part of the revisions for you?

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Contest Time

It’ Monday and time to start a new contest! But before I do, there are a couple of things I wanted to tell you.

First check out Sarai’s blog today. She has Michele Lang guest blogging about her book Netherwood, which releases tomorrow!! On Tuesday Sarai will also post a review of the book.

Secondly, I haven’t heard from Ellie yet on her winner for the PIF contest, but as soon as I do I’ll add it today’s post.

I am so excited about this weeks contest and the book doesn’t even come out until June!! Don't you love the cover!!! Makes me want to grab a beach chair, this book, a long cool drink, and yes sunscreen, and just read till the end.



Diana Peterfreund, is the author of Secret Society Girl, Under The Rose, and now the third in the series Rites of Spring(Break).

If you haven’t read the first two, then now is the time to go get them and devour them. :)

Since the book is not out yet, I’ll pre-order it for the winner to arrive on the release date. How cool is that!!!

So, what do you need to do? Leave comments this week. On Sunday I’ll post the winner. Oh, and in case you are not the lucky one this time around, I’ll be giving it away several times, prior to the release date.

Now for a video that I would have loved to be a part of. This is so cool!!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

We Have A Winner!

The winner for my contest giveaway of Stacey Kayne's fabulous book Maverick Wild is...(insert the drum roll here), Flick.

Email me your information at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com and I'll get the book out to you.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the winner of Ellie's Pay It Forward contest. Once I post her winner, I'll give you her contact info for the prize.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday doing what you love best. Me, I'm working edits, but it's getting closer! Woot!

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Saturday Check Outs

Check out the The Plotmonkeys today. They have HelenKay Dimon in the jungle and she’s posting about Recycling, Reusing and Any Other R You Can Think Of (her title). The post rocks and every aspiring or published author should read it.

Come back and tell me what you think? Have you recyled or reused a wip before? Did you have cut it all and start over or could you use most of it.

Tomorrow I’ll post the winner of Stacey Kayne’s book Maverick Wild.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Check Out Stacey On Bookends

Stacey Kayne is blogging over on Bookends about promoting yourself and your book. The post is great, go check it out.

She is also the author of this week’s book contest, Maverick Wild. Don't you just love this cover!!!

Don’t forget the Ellie is running her Pay It Forward contest through my blog until Monday the 25th. Cool prizes and so forth. Leave your comments for her. :)

WW's & PD's,
Vicki

Tuesday Checking In

Yep, it’s that time again. Time to check in with the past weeks writing. I love this journey. Don’t get me wrong there are moments, especially during the edit process that I don’t like at all. When all I really want to do is open a new document and type Chapter One, hit the enter key and let my mind and fingers have fun. I just keep reminding myself this too shall pass and the new world is waiting for you.

I’m two-thirds completed with the revision process. One third left to go. At least for the first pass. Hopefully the second one will not be as brutal, since I’ve been pretty hard on it this go round.

I did add 1413 words to it this week. I was in a couple of major dialogue driven scenes which needed a little more depth sprinkled in.

And I entered the Bookends contest for paranormal, along with what I am sure will be half the world. It was already at 80 entries and the thing goes until tomorrow morning at 9:00 EST.

Next week I hope to have three or four more chapters completed. Synopsis??? Yeah, not so much. I’m thinking about it.

Little reminder: This week I’m giving away a copy of Stacey Kayne’s book, Maverick Wild and Ellie is running her Pay It Forward contest. Leave your comments to be entered.

So, how about you? Did you write this past week? Are you doing edits? Reading? If so, what are you reading right now that is blowing you away?

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki