Why?

Jennifer looks at why we write.

We all talk about how we are writers, implying that writing is a “job.” It might not be our only job, but we learn about it, perfect our craft, schedule time to devote to it and market our books. Even if we’re not yet published, we attend conferences and take classes, read books and devote hours to it. No one could call it merely a hobby.

But what do we get out of it? Putting aside the whole “publish a book” aspect of it, what makes us write? Is it a calling? Does it silence the voices in our heads? Is it a way to make our world a more perfect place?

For me, reading is a way to escape, and writing often provides that for me too. When I’m in the groove, all the daily stressors disappear and I disappear into a world where I can create all the drama, and fix all the problems. It’s cathartic to make my hero or heroine say the things I might wish to say in a similar situation. It’s satisfying to tie up all the loose ends and even to create an ending that is so much better than a situation might be in real life.

And it’s cheaper than therapy. ;)

Scoring your WIP

I have scored six unpublished paranormal entries in the Pages of the Heart contest and two in the unpublished contemporary category. Four more contemporaries to go and I will be available as a backup judge.

Scoring is challenging. First I read like a critique partner, making suggestions. Then I read again to see if, or how, my first read-through impression changed.

Here are the criteria. How would you score your WIP?


PAGES FROM THE HEART CONTEST

FIRST-ROUND JUDGE SCORE SHEET 

1. Opening/hook – 5                                                                                    SCORE:

·       Did the opening draw you in?

·       Did it make you want to read more?

Comments:

2. Setting – 10                                                                                                 SCORE:

·       Is the world building interesting and appropriately paced?

·       Is the location/setting clearly established within the first chapter?

·       Does it fit the time period?

Comments:

3. Characters - 20                                                                                                 SCORE:

·       Are the characters likeable and sympathetic? If not, could they be redeemed?

·       Are they believable? 

·       Are they unique and multi-dimensional?

·       Are their actions and reactions realistic and consistent throughout the scene?

·       If the hero and heroine have both been introduced at this point in the story, is there obvious and realistic “chemistry” between them?

Comments:

  

4. Secondary characters - 5  (if no secondary characters, use 25 points to score the main characters)                                                                                                                         SCORE:

·       Do the supporting characters have distinct personalities?

·       Do they seem important to the story?

Comments:

  

5. Dialogue - 15                                                                                                 SCORE:

·       Is there a good balance between narrative, dialogue, and introspection?

·       Does dialogue seem natural or stilted?

·       Is each character’s voice distinct and consistent?

·       Is the dialogue tagging easy to follow?

·       Does the dialogue move the story forward?

Comments:

6. Conflict/Plot - 10                                                                                                 SCORE:

·       Can you detect what drives the characters?

·       Is the plot feasible? (For example, not a simple misunderstanding or something that could be cleared up by h/h simply talking honestly to each other.)

·       Is the plot line/conflict interesting and complex enough to sustain the length of the book?

·       Were you hooked by the plot? Is it fresh and original?

·       Do both hero and heroine have clearly defined goals/problems?

·       Is a major conflict presented early in the story?

·       Is there focus on character growth and development?

·       If no romantic interest has been introduced in the entry, is there at least the potential for life change/character growth that will lead the character in new directions and ultimately to love?

Comments:

  

7. Style/Voice - 20                                                                                                  SCORE:

·       Did the writer’s voice seem unique?

·       Was there balance between “showing” and “telling”?

·       Did the scene flow smoothly and at a nice pace?

·       Did the author have an enjoyable voice/writing style?

·       Did the story flow well, unimpeded by unimportant/unneeded information?

·       Is backstory/character background integrated into dialogue or action (vs. an information dump)?

·       Are switches in point of view easy to follow?

·       Does the author exhibit good use of all five senses?

·       Is the writing active?

STYLE SPECIAL ELEMENTS - Score only the section that corresponds to the entry category.

Historical Romance: 

·       Does the opening chapter include historical details that indicate the historical period/setting?

·       Is the language, behavior, setting and facts historically accurate?

·       Were research details and historical facts included in a smooth manner (vs. info dump)?

Contemporary Romance: 

·       Does the opening chapter create an expectation of an in-depth romantic story with a subplot?

·       Do the heroine and hero have an interesting meeting in the opening chapter?

Paranormal/Futuristic Romance: 

·       Does the opening chapter indicate the paranormal aspect to the story?

·       Is the world-building logical, well-explained, consistent, and integrated into the story without being an information dump?

Romantic Suspense/Mystery:

·       Does the opening chapter show the hero or heroine involved in a suspenseful/dangerous situation?

·       Is the suspense believable and sustained throughout the entry?

Inspirational:

·       No sex, graphic violence, swearing or euphemisms for cuss words, gambling, smoking, or alcohol

Young Adult/New Adult:

·       Is the story theme and conflict something Young Adult (YA) or New Adult (NA) readers can identify with or care about?

·       Will YA or NA readers find the characters sympathetic and believable?

·       Do the behavior and emotions of the characters seem appropriate to their ages?

·       Is the language understandable to and reflective of that of YA or NA?

·       Do you think this story “works” for YA or NA readers?

Comments:

 8. Mechanics - 5                                                                                                 SCORE:

·       Is POV clear at all times?

·       Any major grammar/punctuation questions or issues?

Comments:

  

9. General Feelings  - 10                                                                                     SCORE:

·       Would you like to read more of this story?

·       Were the descriptions, imagery, world‐building, language and vocabulary powerful and unique?

·       Would you buy this book?

·       Does this entry make you want to read more books by this author?

Excellent: minimal revisions necessary, mostly copy-editing

Very Good: almost there, some revisions needed beyond copy-editing

Average: shows promise; has potential but needs some revisions

Below Average: needs revision in all areas (conflict/plot, characterization, story structure, scene execution, voice)

Comments:

                                                                                  TOTAL SCORE:

PAGES FROM THE HEART CONTEST

HERO OF OUR HEART AWARD SCORE SHEET

Judge Identification NUMBER: 

Entry NUMBER: 

Entry TITLE: 

Directions: This score should be completely independent of all other scores. This award is separate from the regular contest scoring and in no way reflects adversely or advantageously to the general scoring system. For this award, first round judges will give 1.0 - 10.9 points per question with decimals allowed (76.3 points possible per judge).

Is the hero multi-dimensional?                                                                             SCORE:

Unselfish and caring, or does his character hint at that trait?                               SCORE:

Sexy/beddable?                                                                                                   SCORE:

Interesting?                                                                                                          SCORE:

Responsible and strong?                                                                                      SCORE:

Daring and capable?                                                                                            SCORE:

Does he demonstrate worthiness even if he is committing a crime or working against the heroine at the story outset?

                                                                                                                           SCORE:

                                                                              TOTAL SCORE:  

                                                                                                  

Building Bridges

Debra had taken a liking to those structures that take us from one place to another.

Tuesday I spent a wonderful day out and about with my mom and dad. Our first stop was the Anderson Japanese Gardens. The Gardens were beautiful, with water features, sculptures, stone paths leading here and there, and trees, bushes, and plants galore, a traditional guest house and a tea house. But what really stood out to me were the bridges placed throughout. I'm not sure why they spoke to me, but every photograph I took (and I did control myself) featured a bridge.

The three above photos were taken at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL.

After the Gardens, we moved to the conservatory down the street. We toured the outdoor rose garden and then headed indoors. Once again, even surrounded by beautiful foliage, bubbling water, and soaring trees, my eye was drawn to the bridge.

Photo above taken at Nicholas Conservatory: Rockford, IL.

I honestly don't know what it is about the bridges that draws me in, but I find them compelling...and very photograph worthy.

If I really stretch, I can say those bridges are a symbol of my writing right now. My WIP has become a series of scenes that I wrote willy-nilly as ideas struck me. Over the last couple of days I've sat down with it and started doing some connecting, some bridging if you will, to bring those ideas together. And I have to say, it's great to finally be back to doing some writing. It really feels like it's been forever.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Meeting 'online' friends

So here are Jennifer and Paula, at George and Martha's restaurant in Morristown, NJ, last Friday!

 

We had about 4 hours together, and hardly stopped talking the whole time! As Jen has already said, we already knew a lot about each other and, of course, recognised each other the instant I came round the corner from the parking lot. After that, it was as if we had known each other for years, which, in a sense, we have.

 

After meeting up with several online friends during the past few years (including four others last month), I've ceased to be amazed at how they can become instant friends when you meet in 'real' life. I'm sure it would be exactly the same if all four of us here at HWH managed to meet up at some time. Maybe one day we will be able to do that!

 

After about six months of planning my trip, it's hard to believe it's now over! But, if you're interested, I'm going to re-live it with a day-by-day account on my own blog. The first blog is here http://paulamartinpotpourri.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/day-1-first-class-manchester-to-newark.html

and I'll add a new blog each day - but I promise I won't upload all the 94 photos I took of the Grand Canyon!

Voice

Jennifer is hearing voices again J

I met Paula the other day. In person, on American soil. I’ll let her blog about it and post the picture, as our meeting was a result of her month-long vacation in the U.S., but suffice it to say, we had a wonderful lunch and afternoon together.

When I told people about it, they all thought it was wonderful that we were getting to meet in person. And it was. But the thing that struck me about it was this: because of social media, blogging, emails and critiques, we knew almost everything about each other—EXCEPT OUR VOICES.

I know she’s not a morning person, and was pleasantly surprised that she was willing to talk to me before lunch (J). I know she likes savory, not sweet, so I didn’t expect us to do dessert. I know she used to be a history teacher, so we talked about Morristown’s link to America’s Revolutionary War past.

What I didn’t know was what she sounded like.

As writers, we often talk about voice, but we mean our author’s voice. An author’s voice makes us unique. It enables a writer to pick up one of our books and, without looking at who wrote it, automatically know it’s ours based on how we write.

But what about character voices? Sure, I hear voices in my head (as do most authors and all crazy people), but do we hear their actual voices? Do we hear accents, pitch and tone? When we create a character, how do we convey those things? Or can we?

Should I simply say that my character is from New York to let the reader know how she speaks? Mark Twain wrote using actual dialect, which made the reader know exactly what the character sounded like, but was cumbersome to read.

What would you do?