6530 Words in Two Days

February 28, 2012August 14, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

It’s amazing what you can do when you ‘re able to focus and shut out all the distractions around you. I took a mini sabbatical this weekend. Packed my little laptop up and drove to Charlotte to baby sit my daughters two cats, well that was the ruse I used. After all, she was going to be gone five whole days!

My plan was to get some serious writing done on my novel, which lately I had been unable to do. Now, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mislead my family. My husband knew exactly what I was up to, and was completely supportive. Although, I must say he had some rather unrealistic expectations. I told him coming back with a “Complete novel ready for the publisher” was not likely. Hell, at home over the last week or so I’d been lucky to met my goal of 500 words a day. Coming back with a complete novel in two days, I just couldn’t see happening.

Life just kept interfering, but you learn to roll with the punches. Anyway, I was excited about my plan, and I wanted to tell you how it played out. Saturday through Monday was all I had available, but here’s what I accomplished during my mini sabbatical.

Once I arrived, sometime after two o’clock pm, on saturday, I didn’t leave, not even to eat. I had my food delivered. I was on a mission.

Since saturday, I have written over 6530 words on my novel and plotted out the rest of it. In fact, I’m pretty certain I know how it will end. I’d have to say, It was a very productive sabbatical.

Life happens to all of us. We want it to. We want to be engaged and involved with our loved ones and the community around us, but sometimes we need time, me time. Uninterrupted time. You may not be able to get a weekend or even a whole day away like I did, but you can ask for an hour or two.

And when you do here are my recommendations:

1: Prepare your mind for writing – Clear it. Tell yourself: your time is limited. The only thing you need to be thinking about during that time is writing.

2: Tell your family – “If you need me, here is how you let me know it’s important, otherwise I won’t answer.” For me, I tell them to put 911 after their text. I’ll know it’s important and I call immediately.

3: Have a plan for what you want to accomplish. Whether it’s a word goal, chapter goal, or to complete a project, and have a way to MEASURE IT. Hold yourself accountable.

4: Last but not least, keep writing. The world needs to hear from you.

The Power of Words

February 20, 2012August 14, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

A member of my writing group shared this with me and I want to share it with all of you. I’d seen it before, but it is a reminder for all of us who write : Words Matter. Words make a difference in people’s lives.

All of us working on projects strive to tell a story others want to read. Sometimes we struggle with what or how to say it. We get caught up, especially if you’re a new writer like myself, in all the rules of writing. We lose focus. Stop.

Don’t forget why you started writing. Words matter and when they are simple words of truth, they matter most, leaving the biggest impact You had a story to tell. Tell it.

Character Development

February 17, 2012August 15, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

This past week I lead a discussion on LinkedIn. The topic was characters. “Where do your main characters come from?”

The most often cited method used to create characters included:people watching, a reflection of self, and family and friends. Some characters “just walked in,” and others were researched to the most minute detail. In each case the goal was always to create believable, full characters that leap off the page as story unfolds, whatever the genre.

Lillie Ammann, writer and editor has a done a great job discussing character development in her eight part series, Creating Fictional Characters. It’s worth checking out. Other resources you may find helpful include:
Holly Lisle’s, Character Workshop, and The Writer’s Resource, Motivation for Characters in Fiction.

Since last week I’ve given a second look to my own characters, making a few changes. The changes were improvements I think. However you choose to develop your characters, here’s to good, strong, full and believable characters that tell our story the way it was meant to be told.

Where Do Your Characters Come From?

February 11, 2012August 15, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 5 Comments

I belong to two different writing groups and each time, I learn something new. The insight I gain isn’t always about writing. For example, when I worked I was respected as an excellent RN and later, an Administrator. I did my job well. The difference between me and most other women had to do with the delivery. The voice, the tone you might say. I was a very organized, focused, direct person, a strong, independent woman.

All of us bring a little something of ourselves and experiences into what we write. Whether it is in tone, voice, words or characters. I’ve discovered I bring that strong personality into my characters. I have other characters. Some with a sarcastic wit about them that bring a mischievous smile to my face. Others can be rather sexy, but by far it is the strong character that wants to take center stage. It is a challenge for me.

How do you tell your story? Is it with humor? Sarcasm? Bitterness?

When you tell a story are your characters funny? Magical? Strong? All powerful? Silly? or Loving?

Where do your characters come from? Do you tame them? Should you?

Tell me. Share. An aspiring writer would like to know.