The Importance of a Character's Name

I am an author, so as far as I am concerned, the 
pen is mightier than the sword! I can give or take life with the stroke of a pen. Very few professions have that luxury outside of the literary and entertainment industry. One aspect I enjoy the most is naming the characters.

Author choose names that resonate with them. Sometimes the names of my characters pop up randomly or I let the characters traits lead me to their name. However, there are instances when an author can get away with using odd names. Otherwise, the character names should be easy to pronounce, unless it is a nonfiction book.  On the other hand, sometimes fiction and nonfiction collide.  This was the case in my novel, Thin Skin Soul Pinned a paranormal mystery. The story is a work of fiction, but it is loosely based on actual events.   The character with a questionable name exists, so the peculiar name was used. 

“The name of a man is a numbing blow from which he never recovers.”-Marshall McLuhan

Naming a character is an important aspect of telling a story. In the story/poem Jack and Jill, the story would be less memorable if the character names were Arthur and Ruby. The name you give your character is as important as naming your child. After all, the name will stay with the character for the duration of their lives. Unlike real people, characters do not have the luxury of changing their name. The last thing a reader wants to do is mull over the pronunciation of a name.   

What are your thoughts on this subject?

The Cover MATTERS!

Don’t let the cliché, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ sway you. Everything is judged by its cover, whether it’s an object or a person! The presentation of a product for sale is important.  If you’ve ever been attracted to a particular product while shopping, 9 out of 10 times it had everything to do with the presentation.  However, the contents are equally important, but this article will focus on what’s on the outside. 

I went to a small business workshop a few months ago and the instructor recommended a book by Paco Underhill, WHY WE BUY.   It’s worth the read and it’s available in audio book.  It was helpful and reinforced aspects of marketing that I already knew.  As an independent publisher/author, I devote as much time to choosing a cover as I do to writing.  Without a cover that represents the essence of your story, you are simply nailing your foot in the “No Name Brand,” market.  I think we all have a sense of how people feel about “No Name Brand” products….low grade, cheap, imitation…you get the idea. 

When your cover has the presence of attracting the naked eye, the odds are, they will move in and investigate the product.   If the Blurb grabs them, you caught one! However, you had to get their attention first!  It took two weeks to find the cover for IN THE VALLEY OF MUD AND WORMS, but I knew it was ‘the one’ when I saw it. It represented the character and the story, but you wouldn’t know until you read it. I was not as lucky with finding a cover for NO STRAYS ALLOWED, so I illustrated it myself. The optical illusion tricks the eye to think that something is wrong.  The effect …you move in closer to see if your eyes can correct the error, but there is none. It’s effective because the potential customer interacts with the product.  Finally, the cover for THIN SKIN SOUL PINNED took three mind-numbing weeks to find, but it was worth it! 

You can purchase In The Valley of Mud and Worms at the following link: 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Valley-Mud-And-Worms/dp/097941721X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371073703&sr=8-1&keywords=in+the+valley+of+mud+and+worms

So by all means, judge a book by its cover.  It is something we do unconsciously and it plays a major factor into what we buy.  Also, I could have easily included examples of covers that aren’t the best representation of a book, but it is not my desire to muddy anyone’s hard work. Instead, I will provide an avenue where you can obtain photos that will improve your chances of finding the PERFECT cover!  Bigstock.com is an excellent site and one of the easiest to use.  http://bigstock.com

Marketing a product is not an easy task.  The next time you go shopping, think about why you buy something.  I am interested to hear your thoughts on this subject. 

You can purchase Thin Skin Soul Pinned at the following link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=thin+skin+soul+pinned

Navigating Marketing Mania

In a world where we are bombarded with advertisements to buy products, Authors have to find new and creative ways to reach out to the public.  There is no clear-cut way to market a product.  The audience is complex; what excites one may turn off another.  So what do you do? Get creative!

·         On rainy days: GIVE away umbrellas to people who do not have one. TIP: Introduce yourself; tell them about your book!

·         If it is a hot day, camp out at a park. Cover the picnic table with a sign “FREE WATER.” You have to spend money to make money! Prepare fliers with your beautiful book cover.  

·         Volunteer in the circle of your target audience.  You give back to your community and they will too!

Connecting on social media is also a valuable tool. It is highly saturated, but you can still reach your audience.   No one said it was going to be easy, but if you want it bad enough, you will go the extra mile.

Also, on July 16, 2012, I will be celebrating the launch of a Paranormal Mystery and a Children’s Picture Book. You are invited. Join me on Facebook for six hour of PRIZES.  If you don't come, you can't win

How do you get the word out when you have a new title?

From My Lips To Your Ears

I had an interesting vegetarian style lunch over the Veterans Day weekend and I would like to share it with my readers. Everyone loves a good sandwich and many love Bacon, but not everyone can eat it.  So, I used morning griller vegetarian bacon, but you can use turkey.

Veggie-Bacon Sandwich

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp oil

 

 1 tsp butter

 

Spinach (handful)

 

Morning Griller, bacon

 

Pillsbury French bread (freshly baked taste better)

 

Swiss cheese

 

Utensils

 

Frying pan

 

Spatula

 

Directions

 

Bake, Pillsbury French bread.

 

Add oil in a pan on low heat, sate Morning Griller bacon in for 1 minute on each side on low heat, add 1 tsp butter, and then add spinach.  Stir until the spinach has steamed, and continue cooking for 2 minutes on medium heat. Slice an opening in the side of the French bread and insert the ingredients.

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For starters, much of what we try in society is based on a recommendation from someone we know.   Nowadays with the internet, we rely on reviews when deciding to make purchases.  I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a laggard when it comes to the latest gadgets.   So, I rely on reviews when deciding on making a purchase.  

 

There is a science to everything we do and it includes shopping.  Teams of scientist have dedicated studies to learn how and why we buy.  Though there are many aspects that go into marketing a product, presentation plays a big part in the process.  During my journey of making my book ready for print, I developed a newfound appreciation for what it takes to make a product attractive to the public.  The audience plays crucial role in considering packaging.   For example, the cover of my children’s book, IN THE VALLEY OF MUD AND WORMS is visually appealing to parents and children. 

It took me awhile to find the perfect fit but it was worth the effort.   So, the next time you buy a product think about why you made that choice.  Reflecting on your actions can aide you in presentation of your own business ventures.

 

I am curious, why do you buy a product that is not a necessity?

 

 

 

 

A Look Inside,The Mind's Eye

There are so many things going on in the mind of an artistic person. Writers suffer from a constant stream of information. Authors and inventers have many things in common. Inventors create objects and authors create worlds. Inventors make our lives easier, authors provide an escape from the real world.

The journey to novel writing was an overnight impulse. During the joy of sleeping, I mentally thought of the beginning of a story. I woke up the following day and frantically searched for a paper and pen. I began to write. I wrote every day, on the way to school, during my lunch break, and while waiting in line at the bank. Every ounce of my free time was dedicated to writing. I finished writing three months later with a 40,000-word manuscript.

The writing process allows me to put my thoughts on paper, it's relaxing and it frees up  space in my head. I often wondered, was I the only one with all those thoughts running around in my head? Two years later, I enrolled in a writing course at the university and my question was answered. For the first time since my writing episode, I felt that I was somewhere where like minded people could be themselves. I learned many things, but the most valuable lesson was that I was not the only one with chapters in my head. Taking a writing intensive class freed my creativity. I felt complete.

My advice for anyone who desires to get into the business of creative writing:

·    Take a writing course at a community college. (It's cheaper than a writers workshop)

·    Improve your writing. (Quality sells)

·    Choose a genre you love ( Do not write a genre because it is in style)

·    Join a writers group or get a critique partner (It may take some time to find the right fit) Also, if you have a critique partner he/she should be someone who is supportive of your desire to write, but not afraid to tell you when something sucks!

·    Write every chance you get

·    Always take a writing pad and pen wherever you go. (Don't forget to put one next to your bed)

·    Network with other writers (Published and unpublished)

It is important to mention, there is no single method that guarantees success. Keep writing, continue on the endless pursuit of improving your craft and never give up on your dream of being published.

 

 

What About The GIRLS?

The topic of puberty has always fascinated me.  It is one of the most important topics a parent will discuss with their preteen daughters. Puberty is a complex topic and this story can make it easier to discuss the topic whether you are a mother or father.

Girls grow up to be women but the journey is not easy.  Puberty is a passport to womanhood and the change is by no means seamless.   A few years ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was blessed with a daughter.  Her demeanor was carefree and she felt her daughter would remain a child forever. Her daughter was 11 at the time. The following year when her daughter turned 12, a mother’s comfort that was once wrapped in the veil of childhood unraveled.   Her daughter came to her and said, “Mom, my period came.” The look on her face was of someone who heard news they were not prepared to handle. She managed to remain calm and they discussed puberty. I have yet to meet a parent who truly enjoys explaining the changes their child will go through.

   

Times have changed, and girls are going through puberty as young as eight years old. Therefore, parents have to talk to their children at a younger age about a complex issue.  I tried to see the situation through the eyes of a mother and of a child. I hoped to provide a simpler way to begin the conversation about one of the most important journey in a girl’s life.  A story about a mother and her daughter's experience with puberty came to me.  As a result, the children’s book, In The Valley Of Mud And Worms was born.  It is a thought provoking segway into a discussion about puberty.

 Let us inform our girls and prepare them for the changes to come.   If we do not inform our girls, who will?

                        Take a little time to enjoy my movie trailer:

How would you discuss puberty with your child and was it seamless?

When Editing Is Not Enough

Laura has received her manuscript from an editor, after spending about $0.016/word for a 10,000 + manuscript.  She feels confident; a proclaimed specialist in editing has gone over her manuscript with a fine toothcomb. Laura accepts and rejects suggestions in the manuscript and VOILA, the book is ready for the printing stage.  The book is available for purchase and the reviews start to come in.  Her eyes eagerly read a review for the book on amazon.com, “It’s a good read, but it has too many errors.” Comments like this can knock the wind out of a writers sail. A writer has to have tough skin to survive in a world where everything written is critiqued.

          Still, authors are sensitive and their stories are like a beloved child.  I think many writers can relate to Laura’s experience.  I found that doing a visual edit was not enough. So, I tried using  the Natural Reader 10.0 software and it has become a crucial part of the editing process.  

          Arguably, the more mistakes a manuscript has the easier it is for the editor to overlook mistakes.  Natural Reader is a synchronized text to speech software that reads and highlights the words spoken.  When actively listening, you can hear when a word is missing, discover plot holes, and find out of sequence scenes.  The software is easy to use, and reads MS Word, PDF and emails. The only down side is getting use to listening to a mechanical voice, but the benefits are priceless. Disclaimer: This software does not take the place of an editor.  Once, you have gone over the text without hearing any errors, send it to an editor.  

          Now, it is up to you to test the software and experience the benefits.  I have included a link to a free Natural Reader 10.0 download. An upgraded version is available with realistic voices. http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.htm