Redux
When I’m writing, sometimes I’m at a loss to find the right word. A word that not only describes what a character is doing or feeling. One that makes the character interesting, yet giving life to the story. When the time arises, I reach for the almighty thesaurus…or resort to great lists like these found on Pinterest.
Storylines that are confusing can seem as senseless as using a hammer on a screw or a wrench on a nail. Sure the intention is there, but at the end of the day will the goal be met successfully?
As a writer, we all want our story to be great. And from our perspective it is. But if our readers (or watchers in this case) can’t follow along, they will lose interest and we may not get them back when we put out our next great thing.
by Christopher Slater
Just the other day I was watching a movie with my wife. I thought that the movie had potential, but I kept getting really confused during a good portion of it. Terminology, technology, concepts, and relationships that I didn’t understand or had never heard of kept popping up. I was getting lost in trying to figure out some of the minutiae instead of enjoying the storyline of the film.
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Until I read this post, I did not consider clothing in the grand scheme of character development. My thoughts focused on personality, dialect, family background, and the like for breathing life into the character. If you really think about it, all of those things could paint a picture for the reader when there is action. But what if the character hasn’t said a word yet? How else would another character pick up on these things?
That’s where clothing can play a role. Sure we shouldn’t judge people by the way they dress. That is true. But in a realistic way, we assess people by how they present themselves. For instance, if a character donned a ballet bun, colorful sports bra, tennis shoes, and knee-length leggings, we’d assume the character liked to exercise.
Or consider the photo for this post. The women are dressed in clothing from the 1920s. Could the storyline be a modern Gatsby party? Or could it be a peek into the sophisticated lives of people from that era? It’s hard to tell. But the clothing does tell a story all on its own.
All in all, this is an excellent post. And I truly appreciate the insights that help me and others become better writers.
Clothes can play an important role in depicting mystery novel characters. Clothing descriptions can build impressions and reveal social standing and character personality or values. Clothes are a way to describe class, taste. body image, mental health and even intent. Clothes can make your characters.
But, clothing description must have a purpose. Only describe a character’s clothing if it is important to the story. Here are some ways writers can use clothing descriptions to enhance their novel characters:
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They say laughter is the best medicine. The image below is a realistic yet humorous spin on the writing journey.
No matter whether the peaks and valleys occur while writing your amazing piece, don’t let it discourage you. Ride the wave. It just might be material for your next work. 😉 Continue reading “Laughter and Encouragement in the Midst of the #Writing Journey”
Here’s a great list of writers associations, writers groups, and organizations for writers! Many local writers organizations have affiliations with national groups, but some writing groups stand alone within their communities. If you want to find national writing associations, look no further! If you’re interested to find local writing groups, check out this great list we’ve compiled of writing groups by state.
Writing organizations offer wonderful resources for writers. Some writers associations or organizations are free; others charge membership fees. These fantastic writers associations can help you find a literary agent, arrange meetings with editors, go to writing conferences, learn craft techniques, and keep up with changes in the publishing industry.
Before you join a writers association or organization, be sure to ask a lot of questions to make sure that the group is appropriate for you! Continue reading “Writers Associations: Local And National Organizations For #Writers”
I totally agree with the sentiment of this post. Writers (me included) attempt to fill every gap so the reader does not misinterpret a thing. We want the world to see the story thru the same eyes and imagination. But why?
When I was a member of a book club many moons ago, one of the most fascinating aspects was discussing the different viewpoints of the story. There were perspectives I didn’t consider or bonded with others who shared similar insight. I believe that the reader’s imagination adds an extra spice that can enhance a story.
Redux
In elementary school when holidays approached, my teachers gave the history on why we celebrated them. Year after year, we’d cutout shapes, color pre-made outlines, or glue cotton balls to construction paper to commemorate the monumental day. But for the life of me, I can’t remember the purpose of Labor Day. So being the Google-master that I am, I looked it up. 😉
According to the United States Department of Labor, Labor Day is
a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Great job workers! Now let’s kick back and have some barbecue.
Melanie V. Logan 