Theme

Themes in fiction are something that tend to happen all by themselves. Theme in fiction isn’t the moral of the story; it is more like an outlook on life, or on the interaction of people, of culture.

The author may not be aware they are constructing a theme. The author’s preconceived ideas with how characters interact with each other and their environment add to theme. The choice of the hero’s background and outlook on life, of the challenges s/he faces, all add to theme. Usually, theme is something best identified after a story has already been written.

The theme of Inevitable is: No man is an island.

To me, theme is the lasting impression you want your book to have on the reader. My main character Samantha, is quite stubborn and determined to do things on her own, but no man is an island. We all need people from time to time.

Personally, I love strong heroines and read paranormal books fanatically, but the overly strong heroines refusing any help, and successfully defeating the bad guys on her own strikes me as a bit unrealistic. Granted, we're dealing with paranormal books, but the best fantasy incorporates reality to make it believable. I wanted to tell a story where the heroine is strong, but still needs others to help her on her path, whether she wants them to or not, she needs them. Part of her journey is learning to trust people. We all need people and some of the strongest people in the world know that. A true leader surrounds him or herself with people who are strong where they are weak. I wanted to show this in my book--that a hero can be strong and still have help. That is where the theme of Inevitable came from.

A few links to help you identify the theme in your work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_%28literature%29

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writingabookreport/a/theme.htm?once=true

http://www.learner.org/interactives/literature/read/theme1.html

Revision Check List

Revising a manuscript can be a painful process. The writer puts their heart and soul into this piece and then has to tear down its walls and see what parts of their soul don't fit with the others. Revising is like the worst SAT test problem known to man.

The revision process is a necessary evil. It is the cooking down process that boils away the water and leaves a full bodied flavor behind--one that lingers on the palette.

But I'm not here to argue the benefits of revision. I'm here to break down the process into manageable bits by making a list.

WARNING: Do not start revision until you are done writing the piece. Revising while still writing will only lead to heartache and loss of quality time. Get your story out. Don't worry about rules, just write your story. You can always go back and fix it later, but you can't fix what you don't have. Write it, put it away and a few days/weeks/months later take it out and see what you can do to make it the best it can be.

There are a few ways of starting the revision process. For me, a person more creatively bent than structural, I start with theme and characterization. Others may start with plot, or even grammar, but I suggest editing grammar last.

Things to think about while revising:
1. Theme
2. Characterization
3. Plot/Structure/Pacing
4. Setting
5. Voice/Tone
6. Tricks of the trade: What to avoid
7. Writing Craft/Grammar

For the next few days/weeks I will touch upon each of these elements, so keep checking back for updates!

The Cheerleader of Doom has her own blog!

My Bff and personal cheerleader, the Cheerleader of Doom has taken Team Doom to the next level.

She's started a wonderful blog here on blogger, The Deadly Doom Digest. I recently interviewed my favorite SF Romance author Linnea Sinclair for the CoD's blog.

To check it out click here:



Make sure you drop her a line and tell her what an awesome job she's doing!

Synopsis writing...

I wish I could tell my readers, many of whom are writers, that synopsis writing is easy, but frankly it isn't. It could possibly be one of the most frustrating endeavors you undertake. There is an emotional element to writing a synopsis. And here I'm talking about a synopsis that is written after the book is complete, not a play by play to help you remember where you are in the plot.

Writing a synopsis is emotional because you have to deem some parts/characters of your book more important than others--it's on par with choosing which one of your children you love more. Not an easy feat.

For me, synopsis writing started out of desperation. I was a new writer with an unfinished manuscript eager to enter a contest with my first chapter, as contest winners get published. But, I had to have a 5 page synopsis to go along with my entry. I puked out the synopsis after a few tries and ended up writing it first person (just like my book) I found it easier to write the synopsis the same way I wrote the book. The manuscript wasn't finished, so the end of my synopsis was very general.

A few months later as I finished the book and was ready to undertake the editing process. I sat down and tried to write the synopsis. I found I just couldn't do it. Nothing felt right, nothing was fresh--I just flat out wasn't into it. In a moment of divine inspiration, I went to my old computer and fished out the old synopsis. The energy level was good, it still felt fresh. I had to tweak a few more things but then I had a working synopsis.

Except of course that it should be written in third person present tense. I went through and changed all of the tenses and all the I's and my's to her, she or Sam. Done right?

Not quite. I had to cut characters and scenes to tighten up the flow of the story. Not good. Not Easy and a damned near annoying process.

Hints? Tips? Suggestions?

First let me say that the synopsis process could be a bit more difficult for us fantasy, paranormal, sci fi writers. Why? Because we write about things that not everyone will understand. But there is a benefit in all that--it's easy to find readers who aren't familiar with your genre. This is key, find readers who know nothing about your book, your genre and aren't afraid to tell you what they think. Show them the synopsis and ask if it makes sense. Have them point out parts that don't seem to go, or that they don't understand.

Then please please please take these considerations to heart. Really Really Really think about them. Get into an emotional place where you care about your book, but where you care about its end result. This is tough love people. Get into the ruthless militarian state of mind where the greater good of the many overrules the good of the individual. It is just a synopsis after all, merely a marketing tool. It isn't the end all, be all of your book.

Answer one question and then focus on that.

The question?

What is your book about? One sentence, that's it. Mine is: My book is about a woman, going through a major life changing event, seeks to find who she is.

Doesn't sound like fantasy, scifi, paranormal much does it? No, but despite the vampires, werewolves, witches, special powers, murders... that is the purpose of my book. Samantha is trying to find out who she is, where she fits in, what her purpose is. In fact, that is the purpose of my whole series.

Answer your question. The answer is the direction of your synopsis. What parts of the story are most important to show your question and answer?

Then edit the shit out of your synopsis. Cut characters, cut special powers, cut secondary character's motivations and get down to brass tacks. Your synopsis should have a logical train of though containing a beginning, a middle, a climax and a falling action. It should read as a complete story. Emotional lines and plot lines should be tied off nicely. Your best resource is to have people unassociated with the book, read the synopsis.

For more resources...

http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml
http://www.charlottedillon.com/synopsis.html - a lot of links there.
http://www.fictionwriters.com/tips-synopsis.html
http://www.vivianbeck.com/writing/5_steps_to_writing_a_synopsis.htm - an agent talks about how to write a synopsis

The Writer's Journey.

My new writing group

I've perused the local resources and have come upon a great writers group. It is for fiction writers and we actually do more than back patting. We offer construct criticism and so far the group helped me tighten and clean up my synopsis. I may actually be confident enough to send my manuscript out sometime soon. Imagine that!

Let me say here that not all writing groups are created equal. Some are genre oriented, some are for poets, some are mixed media... some are for back patters.

You know what I mean here... Several people come, dressed to the nines, holding a professional looking leather folder under their arm with their poetry inside. Handing copies to everyone in the room, they clear their throat and read aloud. Their voice is calm and resonates through out the room. They don't stutter or read too fast. They are in complete control. They are performing.

The poem ends and everyone takes a minute to take it in

Meanwhile: I'm thinking, what the hell was it supposed to mean? Am I supposed to keep thinking about it? Does anyone understand the juxtaposition of a bomb and a ceiling fan, the Pink Panther and Paris Hilton? I sure don't. Am I supposed to clap? Perhaps snap my fingers and say it's far out man while resisting the urge to iron my hair? I have no idea so I just sit back and watch what others do.

They praise the poet. Beautiful wording! Great imagery!.

I pipe up then. I thought the line about the exploding manure chemical compound was redundant. They already had a line about a shit bomb going off. A hush falls over the crowd and the crickets even seem to disarm their chirps. All eyes fall to me and I smile vaguely.

Commit. You started this, now finish it Sandra.

I shuffle the papers of the 5 page long single spaced, one stanza poem and clear my throat. It's time for my performance now. I explain that while different words are used, the concept is redundant.

Tighten it up! Make it punch! Omit needless words!

At this point a few mouths gape open and one cricket tentatively chirps. The poet glares toward the window and the cricket promptly shuts up.

The poet comments, "I appreciate your thoughts,fiction writer" Fiction writer went unsaid, but the tone was there. All spittle and contempt as the title flew and stuck to me with his snobby phlegm. I was not a poet. I took things literally. I didn't understand.

Hell they were right. I didn't understand. I do read poetry from time to time and can enjoy it. I've even been known to write a poem from time to time, but hell people, mine make sense. I swear they do!

But my lack of understanding was not my crime here. My crime was to infer that the poem wasn't perfect. Well excuuuuuse me people, I didn't know this was a circle jerk. I thought I was at a writer's meeting.

There in lies the problem with some writer's groups. We all want feedback, sure, and praise is great, but constructive criticism is better.

Writers are artists, and as artists we don't tend to see the whole picture sometimes. Writing is like pointilism, you have to take a step back to see what you've really created, but when your heart is written into every line, every point that went into your picture, sometimes it's impossible to detach. Therefore you need a guide, someone who stands a few feet behind you and points your red pen in the right direction.

Back patters place their hand on your shoulder and push you even further into the blurred mass.

I need no back patters in my world, for I want to make it better.

Lucky for me, I found the right group.

*** Warning the following is a PC message meant to leave everyone with warm fuzzies, but since I wrote it, it probably won't but here is is anyway--the cover my ass clause.

Let me say that there is nothing wrong with poetry or even with back patters, but if you want to be a better writer, learn to take criticism. As I said, I write poetry and have nothing against poets, using a poet just worked better for my example. I know fiction writers who do the same thing, surround themselves with people who inflate their egos. This behavior spans genres, fields, races, genders, classes... if one wants to become better at anything at all, they must face reality and the reality is that nothing is perfect. Find the faults--then fix them.